Chapter 80: Black Tortoise Tidal Palm and the Rare Heavenly Spiritual Root

Hearing of Li Ya’s injury, Gu An felt a flicker of annoyance.

Lü Xian’s methods were excessively harsh, and now he was openly belittling Li Ya!

Gu An had initially thought that even if Lü Xian bested Li Ya, he would show some restraint out of respect for Li Xuandao. Yet, not only had Lü Xian been ruthless, but his tone also carried a blatant disregard for Li Xuandao himself.

Yi Liuyun suddenly appeared before Lü Xian, frowning. “Why did you injure His Highness? Knocking him unconscious would’ve sufficed.”

It was obvious that Li Xuandao had frequently spoken to Yi Liuyun about Li Ya.

“What? Am I not allowed to hurt him? He’s not the crown prince, and he’s far inferior to the crown prince anyway,” Lü Xian retorted, his tone tinged with irritation.

“Even if he’s not the crown prince, he’s still a prince the Emperor cares about!” Yi Liuyun’s voice carried a hint of reproach.

Luo Hun remained silent, but his expression made his displeasure clear.

Lü Xian snorted. “What’s the big deal? If you don’t like it, you can break my limbs in return!”

Just then, Lü Xian noticed Gu An approaching and immediately perked up, walking over with enthusiasm.

“Valley Master, I’ve secured the championship at the Hundred Clans Conference! So, how about it? Will you train with me?” Lü Xian asked. He retrieved the golden token from his storage pouch, which bore the words Hidden Dragon Ranking Champion.

Gu An nodded. “Alright, let’s train.”

Thrilled, Lü Xian grabbed Gu An and led him to a nearby clearing.

Watching them leave, Yi Liuyun turned to Luo Hun and asked, “Should we inform His Majesty about this?”

Luo Hun considered for a moment before shaking his head. “No need. His Majesty has undoubtedly assigned people to keep an eye on Prince Li Ya.”

Yi Liuyun sighed, shook his head, and vanished into thin air.

Lü Xian led Gu An to an open space where three monkey demons quickly gathered to watch out of curiosity.

“What kind of technique do you prefer?” Lü Xian asked, cracking his knuckles with eagerness.

“Anything but swordsmanship,” Gu An replied, recalling their prior agreement. Though he had promised to train with Lü Xian, he couldn’t just let go of the grudge over Li Ya’s injury.

“Then I’ll teach you a palm technique! It’s the one I used to break Li Ya’s limbs,” Lü Xian said proudly, casting a glance toward the distant Yi Liuyun, clearly meant as a jab.

“Fine, show me what you’ve got,” Gu An replied evenly.

Lü Xian began demonstrating the technique, combining physical moves with a detailed explanation of the mental cultivation method.

Black Tortoise Tidal Palm—the name alone carried an air of dominance.

Gu An watched carefully, hiding his intentions to mess with Lü Xian.

The sun climbed high and then slowly dipped toward the horizon. By the time evening arrived, Lü Xian was in complete dismay.

“Are you genuinely unable to learn, or are you doing this on purpose?” he exclaimed in frustration.

His voice was so loud that Yi Liuyun and Luo Hun rushed over, fearing he might lose control and attack.

Gu An sighed. “I told you, my talent and comprehension are terrible. You didn’t believe me and insisted on teaching me. Now you’re upset.”

“No way... No one can be this bad at learning, can they?” Lü Xian muttered, unable to make sense of the situation. Gu An’s clueless demeanor didn’t seem fake. Ȑ�

Yi Liuyun interjected, “The Valley Master’s cultivation has always been reliant on pills. It’s understandable. I’ve told you before—don’t force others. Everyone’s circumstances are different.”

Luo Hun added, “What His Majesty values is his talent in herb cultivation.” He emphasized the word “values.”

Taking a deep breath, Lü Xian declared, “I refuse to believe it. I

will

teach him!”

Gu An quickly replied, “Maybe next time. I need to go now.”

“You’re not leaving!” Lü Xian shouted, but Gu An had already turned and walked away. Yi Liuyun and Luo Hun immediately stepped in to restrain Lü Xian.

“Valley Master! You must return! If you master the Black Tortoise Tidal Palm, you’ll have the power to protect yourself and even compete for destiny, reaching new heights!” Lü Xian shouted after Gu An’s retreating figure.

Gu An found himself bewildered. How could someone so ruthless to opponents be so enthusiastic about teaching?

Was this some sort of split-personality delusion?

Shaking his head, Gu An flew away on his sword, disappearing into the dusk.

Over the following days, each time Gu An visited, Lü Xian would try to teach him techniques. Gu An always failed to learn, but Lü Xian refused to give up. When one technique didn’t work, he tried another.

Time flew by, and the year came to an end. Snow blanketed the mountains and forests.

Clad in white robes and wearing a mask, Gu An emerged from the woods, followed by An Hao and An Xin.

Even the usually cheerful An Hao was uncharacteristically silent.

Gu An stopped and gazed at the snow-covered mountains ahead. “A few hundred miles from here, you’ll reach the Outer Sect of the Taixuan Sect. Once you reveal your spiritual energy, they’ll take you into the city to assess your spiritual roots.”

An Xin, her eyes red from tears, couldn’t help but ask, “Master, when will we see you again?”

Gu An, his back to them, replied, “Saving you was a chance encounter, a bond that shouldn’t have existed. From now on, we won’t meet again, and you mustn’t mention me to anyone.”

Gu An had indeed taught An Hao and An Xin to cultivate without any particular agenda—just on a whim. He neither expected nor needed anything in return, hoping their relationship would end here.

Suddenly, An Hao knelt down, and An Xin followed suit. Both bowed to Gu An, their foreheads touching the snow-covered ground.

This time, Gu An did not stop them, quietly accepting their three resounding kowtows. An Hao’s forehead cracked open, blood dripping down his face, but he seemed unfazed. His gaze was resolute as he looked at his master’s back.

He would never forget the terrifying experience in the demon’s cave or the despair when facing the wolf demon.

“Master, no matter who you are, I will always remember your kindness. I will cultivate diligently, make my name known across the land, and become the strongest person in the world. When that day comes, if you ever hear of me and need anything from me, I will not hesitate, even if it costs me my life!” An Hao declared solemnly. Though barely fourteen, his demeanor exuded a maturity and determination beyond his years.

Gu An waved his sleeve, and a fierce gust of wind and snow swept down from the heavens, causing the siblings to instinctively raise their arms to shield their faces.

“If you wish to help me, first survive for a thousand years,” Gu An’s voice carried on the wind, fading into the distance.

When the storm passed, the siblings looked up, only to find that Gu An was gone.

An Xin glanced at An Hao, awaiting his decision.

He stood, staring at the snow-filled horizon. “An Xin, we must not let Master down!” he said softly.

An Xin nodded firmly, and the siblings pressed forward into the blizzard, the swirling snow seeming ready to engulf them.

Gu An returned to Xuan Valley.

He first inspected the herbs in the valley, then walked back to his loft. Throughout, his divine sense remained locked on An Hao and An Xin. Though they were less than 300 miles from the Taixuan Sect’s Outer Sect, he couldn’t help but worry—after all, the sect was rife with both heroes and scoundrels.

For the next several days, no matter where he went or what he did, a portion of his divine sense tracked the siblings until they safely reached the Outer Sect.

When the fourteen-year-old An Hao revealed his ninth-level Qi Refining Stage cultivation, it immediately caught the attention of the Outer Sect elders, one of whom personally received them.

Gu An had chosen this particular Outer Sect city because of the number of grandmasters residing there. This reduced the risk of An Hao being ambushed or having his body seized.

A new year began, and the Spring Festival arrived.

In Xuan Valley, Gu An, Ye Lan, Zhen Qin, Wu Xin, Xiao Chuan, Tang Yu, and others gathered around a long table for the festivities. Meanwhile, the other disciples sat at a separate table, laughing and toasting one another.

“Have you heard? The Outer Sect recently accepted a disciple with a Heavenly Spiritual Root! Even the elders of the main sect city were alarmed. His name is An Hao, and he’s only fourteen—almost at Foundation Establishment. It’s unbelievable! Compared to him, I feel like my cultivation has gone into a pig’s body,” Zhen Qin exclaimed, her wine cup in hand.

Heavenly Spiritual Root!

The news immediately grabbed everyone’s attention. Wu Xin couldn’t help but ask, “Is that true? The Taicang Empire hasn’t produced a Heavenly Spiritual Root in centuries.”

“It’s true. Our Law Enforcement Hall even guarded him for a few days until the Sect Master took him in,” Ye Lan confirmed, her tone far calmer than Zhen Qin’s.

The group buzzed with speculation about the Heavenly Spiritual Root. Wu Xin shared several legends, prompting Ye Lan to frown.

“How does this guy know so much? Could there be something off about him?” Ye Lan wondered, silently resolving to check Wu Xin’s entry records despite their years of acquaintance.

Meanwhile, Gu An listened to the discussion about An Hao, a smile forming on his lips.

His peaceful days of tending fields now had an added excitement—watching just how far An Hao would rise.

The conversation eventually shifted to broader topics in the cultivation world. Reports claimed that Changluo in Cangzhou was in turmoil due to a demon attack on the emperor. Though the emperor had narrowly survived, his fury was boundless, and entire clans were being executed as part of the investigation.

Gu An, knowing that Li Xuandao concealed a ninth-level Transformation Stage cultivation, was unconcerned. He listened with interest, even amusement.

The New Year celebrations lasted through the night, ending only at sunrise. As the first rays of dawn broke, Ye Lan and Zhen Qin departed.

Instead of leaving Xuan Valley, Gu An quietly entered the Eight Views Celestial Realm, bringing delicacies for Hao Long.

Under the Spirit Tree, Hao Long greeted Gu An with excitement, darting around him. Now nearly two zhang (approximately seven meters) long, its dragon horns were fully developed, giving it the appearance of a true dragon. Its black scales gleamed with a cold luster.

“Master, when will you take me outside?” Hao Long asked pitifully, rubbing against Gu An’s face.

Gu An patted its head with a smile. “I told you before—when you’re fully grown. Outside, too many people are eyeing your meat like you eye lamb.”

"How big counts as grown? I feel like I’m already really strong—Master, you might not even be my match," Hao Long said pitifully.

Though Gu An had occasionally practiced swordsmanship under the Spirit Tree, he had never revealed his full strength. Even Hao Long didn’t know the extent of his power.

Hearing this, Gu An realized he couldn’t let things continue this way.

“I’ll think of a solution,” he said thoughtfully.

Gu An decided to seek out Jiang Qiong to see if she knew any transformation techniques. If Hao Long could change into a snake, he might be able to accompany Gu An outside without drawing attention.

Hao Long brightened immediately, even letting out a cheer that made Gu An laugh.

After spending an hour in the Eight Views Celestial Realm, Gu An left. He had sensed a familiar presence approaching Xuan Valley, prompting him to cut his visit short.

Back at his loft, Gu An pretended to read a book, keeping an eye on his surroundings.

Before long, a figure leaped through the window.

Before they even landed, a lively voice rang out: “Junior Brother Gu, guess what treasure I’ve brought back for you!”