Chapter 224: Gu An and Fu Dao Jian Zun

Chapter 224 Gu An and Fu Dao Jian Zun

Xuan Valley, Inside the Loft

Thud!

Li Ya slammed a small city onto the table. The miniature city, no larger than a palm, was intricately detailed and complex in its internal structure.

It was none other than a scaled-down version of Divine Anomaly City!

With his chin raised, he looked extremely smug.

Gu An stared at the tiny Divine Anomaly City and curiously asked, “Is this some kind of carved artwork?”

Li Ya's mouth twitched as he glared, “This is Divine Anomaly City!”

Hearing that, Gu An’s expression turned to one of shock, which immediately made Li Ya feel pleased. But Gu An’s next words nearly made him explode with anger.

“Amazing, Senior Brother! You actually managed to create a replica of Divine Anomaly City!”

“What do you mean, a replica? This is the real thing! If you don’t believe me, I’ll summon the Divine Anomaly Spirit to show you!”

With that, Li Ya began calling out to the Divine Anomaly Spirit in his mind. However, no matter how much he called, there was no response.

He started panicking.

What the hell? Why are you playing dead at a crucial moment?!

Network error. Refresh and try again.

Gu An nearly burst out laughing, but thankfully, his years of refined acting skills held firm. Feigning confusion, he reached out to pick up Divine Anomaly City, only for his expression to change drastically.

He pretended that he couldn’t lift it. The entire loft trembled, and yet, he still couldn’t raise the miniature city.

“Could it really be real?” Gu An muttered.

Li Ya had no time to scold the Divine Anomaly Spirit in his heart; he was too busy basking in his triumph. “Do you know how many Grandmasters reside within Divine Anomaly City?”

He then launched into a grand tale, conveniently omitting the part where the Divine Anomaly Spirit had sought him out on its own. Instead, he claimed that he had endured countless trials before finally earning its recognition.

Gu An listened with admiration.

Who would’ve thought that his acting skills were this good too?

If I hadn’t personally handed it over to him, I might’ve actually believed he won it through trials!

Of course, Gu An only ridiculed him in his heart. Outwardly, he played along, fully indulging Li Ya’s vanity.

Li Ya went into great detail about his battles against the Seven Star Spirit Realm Immortals, making Gu An exclaim in awe from time to time.

They talked for two full hours before Li Ya finally, and reluctantly, stopped.

Damn, that felt good!

Bragging is the best when you have a good brother to listen!

If it were an ordinary sect member, he wouldn’t have even bothered.

As he watched Gu An pour him tea, Li Ya’s smile never faded. He retrieved a jade ruler from his storage pouch, nearly two feet long, with a bluish-white hue.

“This is a top-tier magical artifact. I originally wanted to give you an Immortal Treasure, but your cultivation is too low. That kind of treasure would only bring you trouble.”

He then took out several Natural Treasures and placed them on the table, explaining each one as he handed them over.

Gu An was genuinely touched.

Even though Divine Anomaly City was technically his, Li Ya—without knowing the truth—still went out of his way to take care of him. That was proof of how much Li Ya valued their friendship.

Gu An had always been generous with those close to him, but most of the time, his kindness cost him nothing. True reciprocity was rare.

“I need to leave for the Starsea Sect Alliance soon. I probably won’t be back for at least a hundred years. You better not miss me too much.” Li Ya smirked, though deep down, he felt reluctant.

A hundred years was a long time. No one could predict what might happen by then.

He worried about Gu An, but he had his own path to follow.

Gu An nodded. “A hundred years later, as long as you return, I’ll still be here waiting for you. Living for a thousand years is difficult, but now that I’ve reached the Core Formation Stage, a few hundred years shouldn’t be an issue.”

Li Ya smiled, reminiscing about their childhood before he finally left through the window after another hour.

Gu An stared at the footprints Li Ya left behind and suspected he had done it on purpose.

No way, I have to get the Divine Anomaly Spirit to mess with him a little—call it a ‘lesson’!

Gu An made his decision and issued the command mentally.

Evening

Zhang Bukui arrived to visit Gu An. He and Li Ya had planned in advance to meet Gu An separately.

Zhang Bukui had things he wanted to say privately, while Li Ya didn’t want to disrupt the seniority order. Plus, three people in one room would’ve been too cramped!

As expected, Zhang Bukui immediately exposed Li Ya’s bluff. He revealed that Li Ya had simply been lucky—the Divine Anomaly Spirit had approached him on its own. However, Zhang Bukui bore no resentment; in fact, he was genuinely happy for Li Ya.

In his words:

If Li Ya weren’t strong enough, I’d be worried we’d all die on our adventures together.

By the end of their conversation, Zhang Bukui also gifted Gu An a considerable amount of Natural Treasures as a token of gratitude.

Gu An tried to refuse, but Zhang Bukui insisted, leaving him no choice but to accept.

Being able to repay Gu An made Zhang Bukui truly happy. He then started reminiscing about his childhood—how he wished his father could see his achievements today.

Unfortunately…

They talked until nightfall before Zhang Bukui finally left.

Winter Snow Falls, Taixuan Sect’s Main Force Returns

The first person to visit Gu An was Zhen Qin, bringing numerous treasures along.

Gu An didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he didn’t refuse either.

Four days later, at night, another visitor arrived.

It was Jiang Qiong.

The two of them entered the Eight Views Celestial Realm for a private conversation.

“It’s been years. How have you been?” Gu An asked softly, sitting beneath the Spirit Tree, as two vines emerged and began massaging his shoulders.

Seeing his relaxed expression, Jiang Qiong rolled her eyes and tossed him a look of disdain.

She took out a pill cauldron, lit a fire, and poured in water before responding, “Not bad. I recently went to Divine Anomaly City and had quite the haul.”

She began adding medicinal herbs to the cauldron.

Gu An immediately congratulated her.

“Do you know who I serve now?” Jiang Qiong asked casually.

Gu An shook his head. “How would I know? I’m just a nobody in the cultivation world. I hardly know any Grandmasters.”

“The Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path.”

“…What?”

Gu An was stunned. He cursed internally—

Didn’t I tell you not to say anything?

If she casually mentioned this today, who knew how many more people she’d tell tomorrow?

This wasn’t a problem for him, but Jiang Qiong might attract trouble—possibly even death.

“I’m only telling you. Don’t let it slip,” Jiang Qiong warned, her fierce gaze locking onto Gu An.

Gu An sighed. “You shouldn’t have told me in the first place. If the Sword Sovereign overhears, won’t I be in trouble too?”

Jiang Qiong chuckled. “Relax. The Sword Sovereign doesn’t waste time killing nobodies. I just wanted to chat.”

She then shared her perilous adventures in Divine Anomaly City, explaining how she had barely survived thanks to the Sword Sovereign’s intervention.

Gu An comforted her, but the conversation soon took a strange turn…

Jiang Qiong sighed. “It was a disaster. I nearly died multiple times. If the Sword Sovereign hadn’t stepped in, you’d never have seen me again.”

Gu An reassured her, “But you made it back, didn’t you? You have good fortune on your side. Who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll become an Immortal.”

Jiang Qiong shook her head. “Immortal? Do you know how hard that is? The higher you climb, the more terrifying the dangers become.”

Then, her gaze turned playful. “Speaking of which, why do you think the Sword Sovereign is treating me so well? You don’t suppose he has an eye on my looks, do you?”

As she spoke, she watched Gu An closely, eager to see his reaction.

Gu An frowned. “I doubt it. Someone like him—renowned across the world—wouldn’t lack female admirers.”

I only took care of you because you taught me so many spells!

How could you even think that way? That’s just insulting!

Gu An felt a little offended. There was no way the Sword Sovereign would be that shallow.

Noticing his frown, Jiang Qiong felt somewhat relieved. But his words made her displeased.

“There may be plenty of women in the world, but have you ever seen one more beautiful than your master?” Jiang Qiong huffed, stepping forward until she was just inches away from Gu An.

Their faces were barely ten centimeters apart. Sitting on the ground, Gu An instinctively scooted to the side.

Jiang Qiong raised her left foot and braced it against the Spirit Tree behind him, blocking his retreat.

“What are you dodging for? Do you find your master so unbearable?” she grumbled.

Gu An felt awkward. “Of course not. I’m just worried about offending you.”

His eyes briefly flicked downward.

Jiang Qiong was wearing a dress. Although she had pants underneath, her posture was still rather... improper.

“Offend me?”

Jiang Qiong suddenly crouched down and started tugging at Gu An’s clothes.

“What are you doing?!” Gu An gasped in alarm.

Jiang Qiong smirked. “If that Sword Sovereign really does take an interest in me, how could I refuse? But before that happens, maybe I should let you have me first…”

Though the Sword Sovereign was powerful, in Jiang Qiong’s heart, Gu An was more important—perhaps the most important.

Gu An immediately scrambled backward, but Jiang Qiong pressed down harder. He couldn’t reveal his true cultivation level, leaving him momentarily helpless.

“Stop! This isn’t right…”

Gu An’s robes were already in disarray, and even his long hair had come loose. His face was flushed with embarrassment.

Jiang Qiong burst into laughter and finally let go. “Relax. Even if you refuse, it’s too late. I’m going to force myself on you tonight.”

“You…”

Gu An panicked.

Is she actually serious?!

I haven’t even touched my junior sisters, and now my own master is trying to—?!

Gu An was just about to summon the Sword Sovereign to intervene.

But then, Jiang Qiong abruptly stood up and rolled her eyes. “Look at you—such a coward! Hurry up and strip, then get in the cauldron. You really thought I was going to do something to you? I just prepared some top-grade Body-Refining Medicine.”

Gu An froze for a moment before exhaling in relief. He quickly stood up.

As he walked past Jiang Qiong, she suddenly kicked him on the backside.

“Hurry up and take off your clothes!” she snapped impatiently.

She was actually feeling a little annoyed.

Just now, she’d genuinely felt an impulse—but seeing Gu An’s horrified expression, she couldn’t go through with it.

Which made her even angrier.

This brat really looks down on me, huh?

Or is it because of his sense of propriety?

Jiang Qiong reminded herself that Gu An had grown up in the Righteous Path, where strict etiquette was observed.

Whereas she was from the Demonic Path, where such things were more… flexible.

The thought made her feel better.

Still… If he didn’t feel anything at all, why did his eyes wander just now?

Jiang Qiong smirked.

Gu An stood before the pill cauldron, quickly undressed, then leaped in.

Water splashed everywhere.

“It’s a little hot,” he muttered.

Jiang Qiong scoffed. “Bear with it. What kind of man is afraid of a little heat?”

Gu An wisely kept his mouth shut.

The Eight Views Celestial Realm fell into silence.

After adding the final ingredients, Jiang Qiong took out a Blood-Colored Tower and sat down, carefully examining it.

Gu An peeked out of the cauldron. “What kind of treasure is that?”

Jiang Qiong’s eyes remained fixed on the Blood-Colored Tower as she replied, “This is the Soul-Suppressing Tower of the Blood Domain. It’s an Immortal Treasure—incredibly powerful. I was lucky to obtain it.”