Chapter 229: Yang Jian's Aspirations

As summer transitioned into autumn, the Third Medicine Valley was gradually painted with the colors of withering leaves.

Yang Jian approached the Blood Prison Saint, respectfully holding a tray laden with fruits and flowers.

The Blood Prison Saint sprawled lazily on the ground. Glancing at the offering with disinterest, he asked, "Did you clean them properly?"

"Yes, I washed them three times," Yang Jian replied in a low voice, nodding earnestly.

The Blood Prison Saint sniffed at the tray, then casually said, "Not bad. Keep it up. You can leave now."

Yang Jian bowed deeply, then backed away and left.

Ever since Gu An had affirmed his name, Yang Jian had become more motivated than ever. Not only did he diligently complete the menial tasks around the valley, but he also took it upon himself to care for the Blood Prison Saint and the White Spirit Mouse. His servitude, however, drew disdain from the other menial disciples, who gradually began to distance themselves from him.

Yang Jian paid no mind to their scorn. Instead, he brimmed with hope and anticipation.

He understood his own mediocre aptitude. If he only followed the path of the average disciple, his efforts might earn him a single Foundation Establishment Pill, at best.

But breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage would not significantly change his fate. The outer sect was already filled with Foundation Establishment disciples, most of whom remained at the bottom rung of the hierarchy.

To Yang Jian, earning Gu An's favor represented a completely different trajectory.

He had no connections, no exceptional talent—Gu An was his greatest opportunity.

While he wasn't sure how to win Gu An's approval directly, Yang Jian resolved to dedicate his free time to tending to the Valley Master's mounts and spirit pets.

As he reached the wooden fence and gazed out at the sprawling medicinal gardens of the Third Medicine Valley, Yang Jian wiped the sweat from his brow. His eyes shone with a deep yearning for the future.

To have joined such a valley was already a stroke of incredible fortune!

Now, he was determined to make the most of it.

Time flowed steadily, and the days passed.

Late into autumn, an unexpected visitor arrived at the Third Medicine Valley: someone Gu An hadn't seen in years—Wu Jue.

It was Wu Jue's first time visiting the valley, and even he was taken aback by its grandeur.

"I'm looking for Gu An," Wu Jue said, stopping one of the disciples to ask for directions. By sheer coincidence, the disciple happened to be Yang Jian.

Yang Jian was sweeping the ground when Wu Jue addressed him. He paused and asked cautiously, "May I ask for your name, Senior? What is your relationship with the Valley Master?"

"I am Wu Jue, Gu An's sworn brother. I've been traveling for years, but today I've come specifically to visit him," Wu Jue explained.

Hearing this, Yang Jian dared not be negligent. He asked Wu Jue to wait momentarily while he ran to inform Xiao Chuan, who would decide the next steps.

Xiao Chuan immediately went to Gu An's study and relayed the message outside the door.

Gu An, of course, had already sensed Wu Jue's presence. However, Wu Jue had clearly been cultivating a Qi Concealment Technique, making it difficult to pinpoint his identity. Gu An chose to wait for the disciples to report the matter properly.

"Bring him up," Gu An's calm voice came from within the room.

Xiao Chuan called down to Yang Jian, instructing him to guide Wu Jue.

Yang Jian turned to leave, but before he could take another step, Wu Jue shot forward like a gust of wind, startling Yang Jian with his speed.

Yang Jian froze, eyes wide, as Wu Jue left behind a series of afterimages, ascending the stairs in a blur. Even Xiao Chuan, standing upstairs, was momentarily stunned as his hair was swept back by the gust.

Wu Jue pushed the door open, and upon seeing Gu An, broke into a grin before stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

As Xiao Chuan regained his composure, he turned and descended the stairs.

Yang Jian remained rooted in place, his mind racing. Watching Wu Jue's effortless display of power left him with a burning determination.

One day, I'll be like that—a cultivator who can make others hold their breath in awe!

Meanwhile, inside the study, Gu An poured tea for Wu Jue and listened as his old friend recounted his adventures over the years.

As Wu Jue spoke, Gu An couldn't resist indulging in a small gamble, using Lifespan Investigation to probe his lifespan.

[Wu Jue (Nascent Soul Stage, Eighth Layer): 124/890/7600]

Gu An sighed inwardly. Wu Jue's maximum lifespan hadn't increased, a clear indication that he hadn't achieved any moments of enlightenment in decades.

While Gu An had hoped Wu Jue might continually achieve breakthroughs, it seemed Wu Jue's current limits were set. That said, with his current potential and standing, reaching the Nirvana Realm well before his 7,600-year limit seemed entirely feasible.

Still, Gu An couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. Wu Jue likely wouldn't reach the fabled 9,999-year maximum lifespan, a true rarity among cultivators.

Oblivious to Gu An's thoughts, Wu Jue continued his animated recounting of his travels. Gu An listened patiently, marveling at how far his once-timid brother had come. Wu Jue had matured into a capable and confident individual, capable of facing the challenges of the world head-on.

After some time, Wu Jue's tone turned somber.

"The Emperor treats me exceptionally well, constantly trying to pull me into his inner circle. At the same time, my master has been nothing but kind, pouring countless resources into my cultivation. But now the Zhou Family, who stand behind my master, have turned against the Tai Cang Dynasty. They're even in conflict with the Tai Xuan Sect…"

Wu Jue's expression darkened as he continued. "I owe the Tai Xuan Sect so much. It's where I began my journey in cultivation. When the Zhou Family split from the sect, I was caught in the middle. To escape the strife, I chose to serve Li Xuandao, distancing myself from the chaos. But now that the Zhou Family is backing the Great Jiang Dynasty, the three dynasties are on the brink of war, and I'm being dragged back into this mess."

His voice carried an unmistakable weight of anguish. Wu Jue had returned to the valley to seek Gu An's advice, hoping for clarity amid the turmoil.

Hearing his friend's plight, Gu An could only sigh inwardly. Of all burdens in life, the weight of human relationships was often the hardest to bear.

Gu An pondered for a moment and asked, "Who do you think is the most important?"

Wu Jue fell silent, reflecting deeply. After a pause, he replied, "In my heart, the Tai Xuan Sect is the most important. Whether it's my master or the Emperor, they only chose me after I had already grown stronger. Without the Tai Xuan Sect, I wouldn't have met them in the first place."

He raised his gaze to meet Gu An's eyes, his expression gradually firming with determination.

Gu An smiled and said, "Since you've already made your choice, I won't say much more. No matter what you decide, I will support you."

Hearing this, Wu Jue's face lit up with a smile. However, he sighed and said, "I still need to think about how to face them later."

"It's simple—don't make them your enemies. You can support the Tai Xuan Sect unilaterally. There are many ways to repay kindness; you don't have to blindly obey their every command," Gu An reassured him.

Wu Jue nodded. He then pulled out a series of treasures from his storage pouch, carefully laying them out on the table.

"This is a Demon-Repelling Pill; it can suppress the birth of inner demons."

"This is the Golden Sleeve Sword Formation. Don't let their size fool you—infuse them with spiritual energy, and they will automatically form a massive sword array."

"This is a Talking Cricket. It doesn't do much, but it can mimic your speech and keep you entertained when you're bored."

"And this—an upper-grade magical artifact, the Cloudstep Boots. They allow you to summon clouds beneath your feet, letting you soar through the air. The Emperor rewarded me with them after I defeated the enemy general."

Wu Jue introduced each treasure one by one, a total of eight items, each with unique functions.

When he finished, Gu An feigned hesitation, declining them with courtesy. Wu Jue, however, insisted, reminding him that he had received countless pills from Gu An in the past and felt obligated to repay the kindness.

After several rounds of back-and-forth, Wu Jue narrowed his eyes and said sternly, "If you don't take these, are we still brothers? You must accept them, or our brotherhood is over!"

Left with no choice, Gu An relented with a helpless smile.

"Next time, don't bring so much. I really don't need them. Besides, our relationship shouldn't be measured by treasures," Gu An said earnestly.

He genuinely didn't want to trouble Wu Jue and hoped his friend wouldn't go to such lengths in the future.

Wu Jue waved dismissively. "I don't care. Whenever I see something good, I think of you. Since you rarely venture out, focus on your cultivation. I'll find the artifacts and manuals for you."

Gu An chuckled but let the matter drop.

As evening fell, Wu Jue finally left. He had resolved to choose the Tai Xuan Sect and planned to meet with the Sect Master.

Standing on the pavilion balcony, Gu An watched Wu Jue's figure disappear into the distance.

The setting sun bathed the horizon in golden hues, painting the sky with fleeting brilliance.

Glancing down, Gu An noticed Yang Jian staring at the direction where Wu Jue had departed, lost in thought.

Over the past few months, Yang Jian's performance had been commendable. In Gu An's mind, the boy had already taken a step toward becoming his disciple.

Gu An mused to himself. One day, if Yang Jian's name shakes the world and even surpasses Wu Jue, will Wu Jue remember that the young servant who led him today was the future-renowned Yang Jian?

The thought brought a smile to Gu An's lips.

He realized he was increasingly indulging in such whimsical thoughts, often imagining the surprise of those around him as their fates unfolded.

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and five years slipped by.

During this period, An Hao broke through to the Divine Transformation Realm, while Wu Jue reached the Nascent Soul Stage, Ninth Layer, nearing a breakthrough.

After deciding to remain loyal to the Tai Xuan Sect, Wu Jue stopped wandering and settled there. When he conveyed his intentions to Lü Baitian, the Sect Master, the latter was deeply gratified. From then on, the Sect poured resources into Wu Jue, elevating his status and helping him rise to become one of the top three prodigies in the Sect, earning a position as a core disciple.

Meanwhile, Gu An, now 127 years old, had accumulated a lifespan approaching 16.4 million years. Though still far from the milestone of 100 million years, he eagerly anticipated harvesting the high-grade spirit herbs cultivated in his Paradise Realm.

Over the years, Gu An frequently visited Xunxian Island to purchase high-grade spirit herbs. Within his Paradise Realm, the number of seventh-grade herbs had surpassed 100,000, while eighth-grade herbs numbered over 10,000. Once these herbs fully matured and were harvested, Gu An's lifespan would see an exponential increase.

One day, after returning from Xunxian Island, Gu An stepped into the Third Medicine Valley, his brow slightly furrowed.

Lately, more and more Loose Immortals had been tracking his movements. He began considering shifting his herb purchases to other islands.

The price of a single seventh-grade herb was exorbitant. Given Gu An's large-scale acquisitions on Xunxian Island, his spending ranked among the top ten on the island, naturally drawing envious eyes.

Passing by the Blood Prison Saint, Gu An noticed Yang Jian nearby, diligently scrubbing the bull demon's body.

"Don't spoil him too much. All he does is eat, sleep, and laze around," Gu An remarked casually.

Yang Jian quickly replied, "It's no trouble. I didn't have much else to do anyway."

Gu An offered no further comment and ascended the stairs.

The Blood Prison Saint, thinking he had upset Gu An, lowered his voice and said, "Yang Jian, come here."

Startled, Yang Jian hurried over and crouched before him.

"Come find me at midnight. I'll teach you a spell," the Blood Prison Saint said mysteriously.

Yang Jian's expression turned awkward as he replied, "No, no, that's not necessary. My care for you isn't about expecting anything in return."

What he truly sought was Gu An's favor. What could a bull demon possibly teach him?

"I don't care. You must come!" the Blood Prison Saint insisted with a glare. Reluctantly, Yang Jian nodded in agreement.

As he walked away, his gaze drifted toward the pavilion where Gu An resided.

If only it were Master himself teaching me a technique, how wonderful that would be.

Inside the study.

Gu An sat down and extended his divine sense eastward, toward the great fissure in the ocean.

The rift had ceased expanding but remained a prominent feature of the sea, regularly attracting high-level cultivators to investigate.

Gu An sensed a powerful presence—one surpassing the Roaming Immortal Realm—hovering above the rift. The individual flaunted their overwhelming aura without restraint, drawing countless divine senses to observe.