Chapter 332: Earthly Spirit

Chapter 332 Earthly Spirit

Gu An put down the Qingtian Peak and ended his conversation with the black-robed elder, feeling a sense of calm settle in his heart.

Since the threat wasn’t serious, he had no reason to flee. He would only choose to preserve himself when he was truly powerless.

Besides, there was a time gap between higher and lower realms. Ten or even a hundred years might seem long for lower-realm beings, but in the eyes of Immortal Dao cultivators, it was merely a fleeting moment.

The black-robed elder wasn’t going anywhere. He’d keep him around for now and see just how enlightened he could become.

Raising his hand, Gu An summoned some paper with a gesture. He was preparing to write another manual.

The sun set, the moon rose.

Time turned its pages, day by day.

Winter snow eventually arrived. Before the world was swallowed in white, Gu An went to the wooden railing to admire the falling snow.

He hadn’t stood there long when Ji Xuanyu came over and stood beside him.

But Ji Xuanyu didn’t look up at the sky—her gaze was fixed far ahead, locked on An Xin.

An Xin was holding a plump White Spirit Mouse, her lips opening and closing constantly—clearly whispering something to it.

“She’s progressing fast,” Ji Xuanyu said softly.

Wasn’t that obvious?

Whenever Gu An had time, he helped An Xin with her cultivation. Although her lifespan limit wasn’t growing quickly, she was still progressing with half the effort and double the results.

He truly planned to cultivate her to surpass An Hao and Yang Jian.

“She’s doing okay. Her cultivation level is still growing slowly,” Gu An replied. Because of the Innate Reincarnation Technique, An Xin’s cultivation had always been suppressed. Even in the future, when she released it, it would remain hidden. On the surface, her cultivation was kept at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

It seemed like it was time for her to tone things down—too many people were starting to notice the changes in her.

“Recently, the Ji Family discovered an underwater hidden realm. They invited me to explore it. I could bring your disciple along—what do you think?” Ji Xuanyu asked.

Gu An immediately shook his head. “An Xin’s timid. No need to bring her.”

“She won’t be in danger with me there.”

“Still unnecessary. I don’t want to burden you.”

“Is that so?”

“Mm.”

“I just feel like her comprehension is improving. Staying in Medicine Valley too long might waste her talent.”

“I don’t like the sound of that. Are you saying I’d be holding her back?”

Gu An shot Ji Xuanyu a glare—on purpose. That way, she’d think there was some hidden master behind An Xin’s rapid progress.

Ji Xuanyu smiled. “Alright, I won’t bring her. Let’s see how far you can take her.”

Gu An chuckled. “So when are you leaving? How long will you be gone?”

This wasn’t Ji Xuanyu’s first trip out, but Gu An had a feeling that this underwater hidden realm was bound to bring trouble.

Maybe that’s just how those with great fortune were—they were constantly tested but always made it through.

“I’m leaving at dawn. Right now, all the noble families are fiercely fighting over marine resources...” Ji Xuanyu began talking about the situation at sea.

Although the oceans were vast, all the resource-rich areas had long been divided up by the major powers. It was incredibly difficult to gain a foothold. The Ji Family was trying to secure their own region and take root.

That hidden realm was the reason the nearby sea was so rich in spiritual energy. It didn’t interest Immortal Dao beings, but to Profound Mind Realm cultivators, it was worth fighting over.

She spoke not just about the Ji Family but many other big events at sea, and Gu An listened with interest.

As they spoke, a powerful divine sense swept across the Taicang Continent.

Gu An was used to it. The person was probably still searching for Yang Jian.

Ever since Yang Jian awakened his past-life memories, he had alarmed quite a few Holy Court cultivators. They were still searching for him.

But Yang Jian hadn’t been wandering. He was quietly cultivating on that island.

“Out at sea, only those at the Immortal Dao Stage can truly protect themselves. Even someone at the Nirvana Stage has to be extremely cautious,” Ji Xuanyu remarked. The higher her cultivation grew, the more she could sense—and the more those dreams of her past lives made her respectful and wary.

Gu An smiled. “With your talent, reaching Nirvana is just a matter of time.”

Forget the ocean—there was already a Celestial Ascension cultivator’s divine sense sweeping the continent right now.

And all the mortals had no idea.

“What about you?” Ji Xuanyu asked calmly, looking at Gu An.

“Nirvana? I probably won’t get the chance.”

Gu An shook his head and laughed, carefree.

Ji Xuanyu didn’t try to comfort him. She knew well that Nirvana was a major threshold for all mortal beings, one that couldn’t be passed with help.

She stood with Gu An, both gazing up at the sky, where the snow was falling harder and harder.

Over the vast ocean, Li Ya sat on the back of a Black Eagle, which flapped its wings rapidly. The sea wind whipped through his hair, but his eyes never blinked—they were locked on the horizon.

The Divine Anomaly Spirit stood on his shoulder, tilting its head. “Are you sure about this? Without using my power, it’ll be hard to cross that stretch of sea. I can feel heavy demonic aura up ahead—there’s an Immortal Dao Great Demon hiding there.”

Li Ya’s expression didn’t change. “Wait until I’m about to die. Then save me.”

Ever since he’d learned in the Divine Anomaly Realm that Divine Anomaly City belonged to the Primordial Ancestor, his pride had been shattered.

But he didn’t blame the Ancestor. On the contrary, he was more grateful than ever. The one he resented... was himself.

Li Ya, oh Li Ya, what were you so arrogant about all these years?

He always relied on the Ancestor. Always needed help. Without Divine Anomaly City, what would he even be?

After returning to the Starsea Sect Alliance, he entered closed-door cultivation, pondering this question.

He stayed in seclusion for years.

Now, he had clarity. He needed to strengthen his physique and comprehension. If An Hao could cultivate an Ancient Treasure Body, why couldn’t he?

That’s why he’d begun the journey to find a treasure body.

He’d heard from an old senior that in a certain stretch of sea, a treasure body had once perished—possibly leaving behind an opportunity.

“Li Ya, you’re still young. You’re already impressive,” the Divine Anomaly Spirit scratched its head, trying to comfort him.

It had been with Li Ya for years. It genuinely liked the guy and didn’t want to see him go off the deep end.

“Relax. I’ll act within my limits. No need to trouble the Ancestor again.” Li Ya’s voice was calm, but his gaze turned steely.

Looking in the direction he faced, dark clouds appeared at the edge of the horizon. They were small, but ominous.

Meanwhile, on the mountain path of Dingtian Peak, part of Renjian Peak—

Gu An was riding the Blood Prison Grand Sage, while An Xin walked ahead, occasionally turning back to joke and chat.

The sea wind blew, ruffling Gu An’s temples. He withdrew his divine sense from watching Li Ya and looked at An Xin.

“How much of today’s herb knowledge do you remember?”

It had been eight years since Ji Xuanyu left for the underwater realm.

She hadn’t returned, but Gu An had confirmed she wasn’t in mortal danger. So he let her face her trials alone.

During those years, Gu An didn’t teach An Xin any new techniques or divine abilities. Aside from Qi absorption, he had her focus solely on practicing Time-Stepping Path Technique.

An Xin, wearing a mask, turned back and said, “Don’t worry, Master. I remembered everything.”

“Good. When we return, compile it into a book for the other disciples to learn from,” Gu An nodded.

An Xin was just about to respond when two figures descended from the sky, landing ahead on the stone steps.

Seeing them, An Xin immediately tensed.

It was none other than Daoist Yongnian of the main peak, and his disciple Fu Shenxiu.

She thought they had come to demand the return of the Supreme Immortal Treasure.

Daoist Yongnian raised a hand in greeting. “Would you have some time, my friend? We have a request.”

Gu An replied, “Go ahead, what is it?”

Daoist Yongnian glanced at Fu Shenxiu, then said, “Since my disciple had no fate with Qingtian Peak, I’ve found another great opportunity for him—located in the Thunder Sea Demon Domain. It’s a treasure left by a powerful ancient cultivator, called the Earthly Soul Essence. One soul condenses every hundred thousand years, but the location is never fixed. What’s known is that it always appears somewhere in the Thunder Sea Demon Domain…”

Earthly Soul Essence!

It was Gu An’s first time hearing of it, but he was already intrigued.

According to Yongnian, that ancient cultivator had incomprehensible strength. Before death, he used a divine technique to refine his Supreme Immortal Treasure, fusing it with the sea in the Demon Domain—leaving no trace to follow.

Later, someone accidentally obtained one of the Earthly Soul Essences, revealing the secret.

This treasure could strengthen one’s soul, making it desirable even to demons.

Eventually, the Holy Court took control of the Thunder Sea Demon Domain. A Holy God decreed it to be unclaimed land—no sect could monopolize it. Whoever wanted the Earthly Soul Essence had to earn it through power.

Renjian Peak had tried before. Sometimes, they had no fate with it. Other times, they found it but were too weak to seize it.

Daoist Yongnian had heard that signs of a new Earthly Soul Essence had appeared—so he thought of Gu An.

“Fellow Daoist Meng, if you could help, I’d be deeply grateful,” Yongnian said sincerely. He believed Gu An had already surpassed the Free Soaring Immortal Stage—a cultivator of that level could easily claim the treasure.

Gu An pretended to hesitate. “Wouldn’t this offend other sects?”

Yongnian replied, “Treasure belongs to the capable, doesn’t it? I also heard you like to grow spirit herbs—I’d be willing to transplant a batch of Immortal Dao herbs from the main peak to Dingtian Peak. What do you think?”

“You’re too kind. I’ve said before, if Renjian Peak needs help, I’ll step in. When are we leaving?”

Gu An asked earnestly, prompting a smile from Yongnian.

Fu Shenxiu’s expression twitched, but he said nothing. Gu An had taken Qingtian Peak from him—he’d be lying if he claimed he held no grudge. But all he could do now was remain polite.

“Three days from now—how about that?” Yongnian asked.

“No problem. We’ll leave in three days.” Gu An nodded.

Yongnian thanked him again, then left with Fu Shenxiu.

An Xin looked back at Gu An, hesitating.

Gu An glanced at her. “Wanna come?”

An Xin instinctively wanted to nod, but after thinking it over, she shook her head. “Forget it. I don’t want to cause trouble.”

“I could bring you along…”

“Really?” Her eyes lit up with joy.

Gu An replied, “But if you come, you’d better work hard on that step technique I taught you. No slacking.”

An Xin hesitated briefly… then nodded.

Though she’d trained in Time-Stepping Path for years, every time she used it, it felt awful. That’s why she preferred Qi absorption when Gu An didn’t push her.