Chapter 116: Kindred Spirits |
Chapter 116: Kindred Spirits
A Snowy Night in the Deep Mountains.
Gu An squatted down, plucking the last Nightshade Flower from the snow and tossing it into his storage pouch.
Once again, it only granted him one year of lifespan. But he wasn’t dissatisfied—this month alone, he had harvested nearly five hundred thousand years of lifespan, pushing his total beyond a million years.
Too satisfying!
By the end of tonight, there would be no more Nightshade Flowers in the Taicang Empire—at least on the surface.
Over the past month, he had plucked over a million of them, with half of them barely holding a year of lifespan, having just recently sprouted.
If he didn't pick them, other cultivators would—so he simply picked as many as he could and hoped for the best.
After all, he couldn't just forbid the entire world from clearing out the Nightshade Flowers. The Nightshade Sect still posed a real threat.
Under the dim moonlight filtering through the forest canopy, Gu An stretched lazily before heading toward a nearby city.
Dawn was approaching, and he planned to spend some time there.
Staying cooped up in Medicine Valley all the time wasn’t healthy. Occasionally stepping out to see new landscapes could broaden his insights.
Ever since he had witnessed Wu Jue comprehending the Dao, he had been pondering enlightenment.
He had a feeling that besides pure luck, one’s life experiences also played a role in achieving it.
As the sun rose, the city a hundred miles away awakened to the noisy bustle of daily life, marking the start of a new day.
At noon, Gu An sat in an inn’s second-floor window seat, sipping wine while watching the streets below.
Down below, wandering martial artists performed stunts to attract crowds.
Where there are people, there is a Jianghu (martial world).
Even in the Taicang Empire, where cultivation was widely known, ninety percent of people couldn't cultivate.
Thus, the martial world emerged—separate from the cultivation world, yet filled with its own drama, glory, and vendettas.
Throughout the entire city, Gu An only detected three other cultivators, all of whom, like him, were pretending to be ordinary people.
The cultivation world was at war with the Nightshade Sect. Countless demons and monsters lurked beyond the Nine Dynasties, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
But to ordinary mortals, life went on unchanged.
Their lifespans were a mere few decades—by the time this generation passed, the demonic catastrophe might still not have arrived.
This was the difference between cultivators and mortals.
They existed in different timelines.
Pondering this contrast, Gu An’s mind swirled with emotions.
Could he achieve enlightenment by thinking about the mortal world from this perspective?
He tried.
But even after an entire day, he failed to enter the Dao Comprehension state.
Still, he didn’t consider it a waste of time.
Sometimes, simply sitting in silence, observing the ebb and flow of life, had its own unique satisfaction.
As twilight fell, the snowfall that had paused for a day resumed.
Gu An stood up, left some silver, and departed.
Instead of leaving the city immediately, he strolled through the streets, letting the snow settle on his shoulders, immersing himself in the hustle and bustle of mortal life.
By dawn, Gu An returned to Medicine Valley.
Upon arrival at the Third Medicine Valley, he saw disciples gathered together, excitedly discussing something.
From afar, he overheard their conversation.
A Supreme Elder had returned!
This news had shaken the entire Taixuan Sect.
The elder’s identity had been revealed—a fifteen-hundred-year-old cultivator with near-immortal might.
At a time when the Taixuan Sect was facing the Nightshade Sect's threat, his return boosted morale immensely.
Once again, the righteous path stood above all others!
This Supreme Elder’s Dao title was Xuan Quan, and he was known as Ancestor Xuan Quan.
Gu An guessed that his return was due to the Taixuan Sect informing him of Xuantian Ancestor’s death at the hands of the Nightshade Sect.
After listening for a while, Gu An resumed picking herbs.
As he worked, he reflected on his experiences from the past two days.
Although he hadn't entered Dao Comprehension, his Profound Heart had gained another rune.
The Profound Heart could condense divine abilities. Gu An had reached the ninth level of the Grand Ascension Stage, but his divine ability was still forming.
Divine abilities were not cultivated through sheer strength but through profound insights.
He already had an idea of what his divine ability might be, and now, he just needed to refine his understanding.
Three days later.
Gu An arrived at the Outer Sect’s Library Hall, where Elder Liu Chang personally received him, as always.
After months apart, Gu An noticed that Liu Chang had aged significantly—his energy had visibly declined.
【Liu Chang (Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer): 258/270/340】
Seeing Liu Chang’s lifespan, Gu An sighed inwardly.
Clearly, Liu Chang had used pills to boost his cultivation, causing his lifespan to shorten.
They had been close friends for years, despite their age difference. Liu Chang was one of the few people Gu An could consider a true friend.
Watching old friends pass away one by one was inevitable on the path of longevity.
Even if he discovered a way to extend lifespan, it would only be a temporary solution.
To truly make someone immortal?
Impossible.
Gu An couldn’t transfer his own lifespan to others, either.
Yet, rather than depressing him, this realization strengthened his resolve.
The more people he lost, the more he wanted to live.
He wanted to witness the world ten thousand years from now, to see civilizations rise and fall, to observe the endless passage of time.
"Elder Liu, this is the final volume of Taixuan Immortal Venerable." Gu An took out a book with a smile.
Liu Chang accepted it curiously. "I thought you’d wait a few more years—why release it now?"
"The story needed an ending. The protagonist joins forces with the world to slay demons and bring peace. Doesn't that fit perfectly with the current state of affairs?" Gu An laughed.
He paused, then said, "I may not have the power to change the world, but if my stories can inspire people to fight, then that’s a contribution in itself."
Liu Chang didn’t open the book. Instead, he smiled in admiration.
"Your books have already influenced many. Before you, cultivators rarely read anything unrelated to cultivation. Now, the name Pan An carries the air of a sage."
Gu An chuckled. "You're exaggerating."
"Haha! So what’s next?"
"I haven’t decided. We’ll see."
"That’s how masterpieces happen—no need to rush."
They chatted for hours.
Eventually, Liu Chang sighed.
"Once I finish arranging this final volume, I’ll be leaving the sect—returning to my homeland."
"I’ve spent two hundred and forty years here. I wonder if my hometown has changed."
He could already sense his life nearing its end.
Before death, everyone longs to return home.
Gu An thought of Cheng Xuandan, who had also left alone before his time ran out.
With a faint smile, Gu An simply said, "I wish you a safe journey, Elder Liu."
That evening.
Gu An stood in front of Pavilion of Techniques, lost in thought.
Suddenly, a voice called out.
"Brother, are you alright?"
It was Wu Jue.
Fate is truly strange.
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