Saint Who Lay Low

As Gu An approached the entrance to the valley, Wu Xin hurriedly ran over to greet him.

Lu Jiujia was also following the group of labor disciples as they practiced their exercises. Now that he had become Wu Xin's right-hand man, he merely looked at Gu An from a distance without approaching. Even though it had been a few years since his return, Lu Jiujia still couldn't bring himself to face Gu An. Whenever possible, he avoided seeing him, believing that he had failed his master.

Gu An had spent countless pills on him, yet Lu Jiujia had strayed onto the wrong path and ended up as a cripple. Every time he thought about it, he felt deep regret.

He even felt that his fate was deserved. After all, he had indeed committed several wrongdoings during his time in the Demon-Suppressing Hall—it was a punishment he had earned.

Gu An, however, did not make any special effort to counsel him, feeling that it was better to let Lu Jiujia reflect and grow from his mistakes.

"Senior brother, there was another instance of spiritual energy depletion last night. Though it wasn't as severe as the previous times, you should still be cautious when going out these days," Wu Xin said as he approached Gu An to warn him.

Gu An nodded and replied, "I felt it too, which is why I returned. How is everything in the Third Medicine Valley?"

"No issues. By the way, senior brother, what about the upcoming duel between the Mad Sword of Great Yu, Han Ming, and the Sword Master of the Dao? Will you attend?"

"Did the Sword Master of the Dao agree to fight?"

"Not yet, but the rumors are spreading like wildfire. I'm sure the Sword Master of the Dao will show up."

The two chatted as they walked toward the tower.

Now that Xuan Valley had recruited another group of labor disciples, many of these new recruits glanced curiously at Gu An while practicing. They were eager to get a glimpse of the real valley master.

It was said that every few years, a labor disciple from this medicine valley would rise to become a full-fledged outer sect disciple. How could they not be excited?

After exchanging a few more words with Wu Xin, Gu An ascended the tower. He planned to make new clothes for An Hao and An Xin.

Half an hour later, Gu An left for the Third Medicine Valley to inspect his vast herb fields.

The Third Medicine Valley was too extensive, so he had to personally check every area to prevent any mishaps.

Losing even one herb would cost him precious years of lifespan!

The disciples in the Third Medicine Valley were also discussing last night's spiritual energy depletion, speculating wildly about its cause. Gu An mingled with them briefly before leaving at dusk.

The sky was tinted a deep red, and the forests below grew dark.

Standing on a tree branch, An Hao peered into the distance, searching for any sign of Gu An.

Below him, An Xin anxiously asked, "What if Master doesn't come back?"

"He will. Master said he would return, and he always keeps his word!" An Hao replied firmly, his voice filled with conviction.

In truth, he wasn't entirely sure. The thought that their master might not return made him feel a lump in his throat, but with An Xin watching, he couldn't allow himself to cry.

His father had once told him that boys could cry, but never in front of girls.

Suddenly, a hand touched An Xin's head, startling her into a scream as she jumped back.

Hearing her, An Hao quickly turned and saw the figure he had been waiting for all day. Overcome with joy, he shouted, "Master!"

He immediately leaped down, rushing toward Gu An and hugging his waist, much like how An Xin had done that morning.

Seeing Gu An, An Xin's face lit up with excitement, and she, too, ran forward to embrace him.

Though they had only known Gu An for two days, he had already become an irreplaceable figure in their hearts.

Gu An gently placed a hand on each of their heads, pushing them away as he said softly, "Train diligently. If you slack off, I'll leave you both behind."

"If we become skilled enough, will you stay with us?" An Hao asked, his voice tinged with hope.

Gu An took out two sets of clothes from his storage pouch and said, "I've already told you, when the time comes, you'll both join the Tai Xuan Sect. I won't stay with you forever. Once you're strong enough to protect yourselves, I'll leave."

Upon hearing this, An Hao's expression instantly darkened, while An Xin bit her lip, her eyes quickly welling with tears.

Gu An paid no mind to their reactions, handing them their new clothes and leading them toward a nearby river.

Half an hour later, An Hao and An Xin had changed into their new outfits, their hair now neatly combed. Looking at them, Gu An couldn't help but think that they resembled a pair of fairy-tale figures—no wonder the monsters had left them for last. Perhaps they had been reluctant to eat such beautiful children.

Gu An decided that from now on, he would spend every night with them and return to the Tai Xuan Sect during the day.

The surrounding area was relatively safe, with no powerful monsters in the vicinity, and there were many villages and towns nearby. They would be secure as long as they stayed here.

Thus, day by day, time passed.

Finally, the day of the duel arrived.

The outer sect city was overflowing with people. Even the mountains outside the city gates were dotted with cultivators sitting in meditation. Disciples from the other seven outer sect cities, the four inner sect cities, and the sect's main city had all come to witness the event. There were even disciples from other sects in attendance.

The Tai Xuan Sect did nothing to stop the influx of onlookers, allowing the entire Tai Cang Dynasty's cultivation world to buzz with anticipation.

Standing proudly before the south city gate was Han Ming. His eyes were closed, his sword box placed in front of him, and his hands rested on the box's lid. The warm late-summer breeze gently swayed his robes.

On the city wall, countless cultivators observed him, their voices filled with speculation.

"Do you think the Sword Master of the Dao will show up?"

"I hope not. If he does, his identity will be exposed, and trouble will follow him."

"He has nothing to fear. He's so powerful—who could challenge him, even if they knew who he was?"

"I've heard that the Sword Master of the Dao might actually be the sect master. He's been hiding his true identity to create the image of another powerful force within the Tai Xuan Sect."

"They say the Mad Sword of Great Yu has surpassed the Divine Transformation Realm for many years now. If this battle happens, it will definitely be one for the ages."

Zuo Lin and his father, Zuo Yijian, were also standing on the city wall, gazing down at Han Ming.

Worry was written all over Zuo Lin's face. Having already accepted Han Ming as his master, he naturally feared for his safety.

Jiang Qiong and the ninth-layer Divine Transformation Realm expert Hu Mo hovered in the sky on a massive gourd, also discussing the upcoming duel.

Ye Lan stood atop a tall building, staring into the distance toward the southern city gate. The sky was clear, and the rolling mountains beyond seemed endless, but there was still no sign of the Sword Master of the Dao.

Beside her stood a dozen disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall, all of them her subordinates, including Zhen Qin. Each of them was brimming with excitement.

Five miles away, Shen Zhen, her face veiled, stood atop a tower, her gaze also fixed on the southern gate. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

This duel between sword cultivators had been brewing for a month, drawing the attention of the entire Tai Xuan Sect, and even the broader cultivation world was eagerly awaiting its outcome.

Under the watchful eyes of all, Han Ming remained still, patiently awaiting his opponent.

Fifteen thousand miles away.

In a spacious forest, Gu An was instructing An Hao in swordsmanship.

An Hao had reached the second layer of the Qi Refining Realm after just three days of absorbing spiritual energy. Now at the third layer, Gu An was teaching him the Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword, giving him a method of self-defense.

An Xin, meanwhile, was still in the process of cultivating her first wisp of spiritual energy.

The gap in their talent was as vast as a chasm!

Gu An only had to demonstrate the sword technique once before An Hao memorized it perfectly, making the teaching process smooth and effortless.

So this is what it feels like to teach a genius?

No wonder cultivators favored prodigies. Even Gu An found himself becoming slightly biased toward An Hao.

As An Hao practiced his swordsmanship, he asked curiously, "Master, what is this sword technique called?"

He wielded only a wooden sword, but the sharp wind generated by his swings was unmistakable.

"This is the Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword. You are the only person to learn it from me. Don't bring shame to this sword technique," Gu An replied.

With An Hao's talent, he was sure to be revered in the Tai Xuan Sect. And if people knew he had inherited the sword technique of the Sword Master of the Dao, his status would be even more untouchable.

Even if the sect wanted to suppress An Hao, they would have to think twice before challenging the disciple of the Sword Master of the Dao.

"Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword..."

An Hao repeated the name, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He could sense the profound power of the technique. With each repetition of the movements, new insights came to him, deepening his understanding of the sword.

The sounds of the sword's wind echoed through the forest. Gu An stood nearby, silently observing, his wooden mask concealing his expression.

From afar, An Xin watched, her eyes filled with envy.

She wanted to practice the sword as well.

An hour passed.

An Hao managed to generate sword energy. As his sword slashed through the air, a sharp wave of energy shot past Gu An, striking a tree behind him and leaving a thin cut on its surface.

After producing sword energy, An Hao's body seemed to open up, and his movements became fluid, as swift as the wind. The spiritual energy from the surrounding forest even began to gather toward him.

Gu An watched in silence, growing increasingly alarmed.

What kind of monster is this?

He felt like he had uncovered a world-shaking prodigy. If he hadn't saved An Hao from being eaten by that monster, the world would have lost such a genius.

He began to feel sorry for all the other prodigies, like Li Ya, Ji Xiaoya, Li Xuandao, and Zhou Tongyou. Sorry, but the title of the world's number one cultivator now belongs to my disciple.

Gu An wasn't particularly interested in becoming the strongest himself. After all, even if one dominated the mortal realm, there was still the possibility of encountering greater enemies from the heavens. He was more focused on discovering the true end of the cultivation path, which he believed lay far beyond this world.

When noon arrived, Gu An spoke up. "That's enough for now."

An Hao immediately stopped, lowering his sword. His body was drenched in sweat, and he was panting heavily, but his eyes remained bright with excitement.

"Master, how did I do?" An Hao asked proudly, a hint of youthful arrogance already creeping into his tone despite his young age.

Gu An calmly replied, "You're too focused on the sword in your hand. Remember, the sword isn't just in your hand—it's in your heart. Whatever your heart desires, anything can become a sword. Now, go pluck a leaf for me."

An Hao scratched his head in confusion but quickly followed Gu An's instructions, walking over to pluck a leaf.

Gu An gestured for An Xin to come over, and her face lit up with joy. She quickly ran over to join him.

"Xin'er, you go pluck a leaf as well," Gu An said gently.

An Xin eagerly complied.

A few moments later, both children stood before Gu An, curious about what he had planned.

Gu An first took the leaf from An Hao's hand and said, "A true sword cultivator can unleash the power of a divine sword, even with something as simple as a leaf."

Holding the leaf between his fingers, Gu An flicked it gently toward the horizon. An Hao and An Xin followed its path with wide eyes.

Boom!

A sudden gust of wind blasted through the area, sending their hair flying in all directions. Both children stood frozen, their eyes filled with disbelief.

The leaf had released a terrifying burst of sword energy, tearing through the forest with overwhelming power. In the blink of an eye, it had disappeared beyond the horizon.

In its wake, a ten-zhang-wide path of destruction cut through the forest, leaving dust and debris swirling in the air. It was a scene of utter devastation.

And that path… led directly toward the outer sect of the Tai Xuan Sect.