Chapter 350: Reincarnation Order

An Xin brought Ye Yan to Gu An’s loft and went upstairs to ask permission.

Gu An had already sensed Ye Yan’s presence, but he couldn't show it. Only after An Xin knocked did he let her bring Ye Yan up.

Seeing the aged Ye Yan, Gu An smiled. “Long time no see. Come, sit.”

An Xin was quietly curious but didn’t linger. She obediently closed the door and left.

Ye Yan sat down at the table, looking at Gu An, emotions welling up inside him.

After all these years, his master still looked so young—if anything, even more refined and composed.

Gu An wore the Immortal King’s Crown, a golden mark glimmered on his forehead, and just sitting there, he radiated the presence of a Divine Soul Lord.

Ye Yan could tell they were both at the Core Formation Stage, but the difference in their vitality and spirit was stark.

“You… what happened…” Gu An frowned, hesitating as he asked.

Fifty years ago, Ye Yan had been in his prime—young and formidable—one of Li Xuandao’s most capable generals.

Now, he looked so old.

Gu An could see that Ye Yan was at the end of his lifespan, but he couldn’t say it aloud, so he asked instead.

In truth, Ye Yan’s Lifespan Limit had increased slightly over the years, but only by a little.

Ye Yan chuckled. “Everyone has a time. Mine’s just about here. Before I go, I wanted to come back and have a look.”

Hearing that, Gu An sighed and got up to pour tea.

Ye Yan’s eyes followed him. “Master, don’t sigh for me. I’ve had a full life, no regrets.”

He had followed Li Xuandao across the land, played a key role in unifying the world, was granted the title of marquis, and for decades enjoyed wealth, status, and the joys of family. He truly had no regrets.

“You coming back to see me is enough to warm my heart,” Gu An said as he turned and handed him the tea.

Even if Gu An were to share insights with him now, it might only extend Ye Yan’s life by a few years. Besides, he wasn’t one to casually teach the Dao—it could easily expose his cultivation.

Dozens of disciples left the Third Medicine Valley and Xuan Valley each year. He couldn’t possibly teach them all.

“If it weren’t for you, Master, I wouldn’t have lived such a brilliant life. If I hadn’t heard from His Majesty that you were doing well, I’d have come back long ago to repay you,” Ye Yan said with a smile as he took the tea.

The years of bloodshed had been shed from his aura. Now, he was gentle, just like Xiao Chuan.

Gu An sat down and began asking him about his experiences over the years.

Ye Yan didn’t hide anything. He started from the day he left the valley, and Gu An listened intently.

He listened all night long.

As dawn approached, Ye Yan made a request—he wanted to be buried in the Third Medicine Valley.

Gu An stayed silent for a moment, then nodded.

And so, Ye Yan stayed.

Gu An had An Xin fetch Zhen Qin. That evening, Zhen Qin returned. When she saw the now white-haired Ye Yan, her heart felt heavy.

They stood by the wooden railing, watching the snow fall as they reminisced.

Back when the Third Medicine Valley had just been founded, it was just Zhen Qin, Su Han, and Ye Yan. Back then, Zhen Qin had the weakest talent and strength among the three.

Three hundred years had passed. Su Han had long since died, and now Zhen Qin was about to send off Ye Yan. How could she not be heartbroken?

When Ye Yan mentioned Su Han, Zhen Qin didn’t hide anything. Hearing that Su Han had died long ago, Ye Yan fell silent too.

Su Han, who had once made a name for himself throughout the Taicang Empire with the Hatred Heaven Divine Sword, had a glorious history—but Ye Yan never knew how it ended.

“Life’s path… truly unpredictable,” Ye Yan sighed.

He was near death. He no longer dwelled on sorrow.

He looked at Zhen Qin and smiled. “Don’t be sad. When I go down there, I’ll say hi to him for you.”

Those words made Zhen Qin’s eyes turn red.

Gu An stood at the window, watching their backs, lost in thought.

Long Qing arrived downstairs, grabbed a handful of snow, and was about to throw it at Gu An. But seeing how serious Gu An looked, Long Qing held back, and in the end, hurled the snow at the Blood Prison Grand Sage instead.

The Grand Sage, woken by the snowball, opened his eyes just in time to see Long Qing running away.

“You little brat!”

The Blood Prison Grand Sage was furious and immediately chased after him. His massive ox body kicked up clouds of snow as he ran.

The winter snow kept falling, as if trying to blanket the entire Third Medicine Valley.

Time moved to year’s end.

On a mountain at the valley’s edge, Gu An stood before Ye Yan’s grave. The falling snow melted before touching him.

His expression wasn’t sorrowful—just calm.

There was no overwhelming sadness in his heart. He simply stood there, reflecting on the past.

Ye Yan wasn’t the first disciple he’d buried. He was merely looking back on his life and reliving old feelings.

Gu An pondered a question:

In the Heavenly Spirit Great Realm, how does reincarnation work after death?

What are the rules of this so-called cycle?

Why do so many powerful cultivators choose reincarnation? Is it only to understand Karma and Destiny?

Gradually, he entered a mystical state of Enlightenment.

Summer, in the Taixuan Sect Branch.

Ye Residence.

Gu An and Ye Lan sat inside, drinking wine. After hearing his story, Ye Lan was calm.

“Everyone dies. It’s just a matter of when. One day I’ll die too. When that time comes, don’t be too sad, Senior Brother,” she said softly.

Gu An set down his cup. “If you had the chance to live forever—but had to sacrifice a lot and follow certain rules—would you take it?”

Ye Yan’s death had left Gu An uneasy. He feared his teachings wouldn’t keep pace with time.

Teaching the Dao to Ye Lan, Xiao Chuan, and the others could indeed extend their lifespans, but the gains were getting smaller. He had only helped Ye Lan gain two hundred years total—and the last two times together barely added one.

The Heaven’s Fate was terrifyingly relentless.

Ye Lan asked, “Would those rules separate me from you?”

Gu An replied, “Hard to say.”

He recalled Tianzong saying that after becoming Tianzong, he’d had to abandon many people—including his family.

“Then forget it. Maybe immortality’s a curse. Honestly, I’m not interested,” Ye Lan said with a shake of her head.

Gu An fell silent.

Ye Lan seemed to sense his unease. She placed her hand over his and smiled. “Senior Brother, don’t forget our final hundred-year promise. If I get to spend that time with you, that’s enough for me. A hundred years is actually a long time.”

Gu An smiled. “Just a hundred?”

“Maybe it is enough. I’ve chased power for so long that I’m tired. Lately, I’ve been cultivating and thinking of doing something new—like your writing…”

She began sharing her own experiences from recent years.

She was now over three hundred years old, with her own views and understanding of life.

Having reached the Transformation Stage, Ye Lan held a high position in the Taixuan Sect, but her goals were evolving.

Listening to her, Gu An couldn’t help but smile—for her, and for what she’d realized.

Life shouldn’t revolve around just one goal. Her desire to enrich her life was, in itself, a form of insight.

“Senior Brother, if you really get that kind of chance, leave it to someone desperate for immortality. I’ve come to see that cultivation level isn’t everything,” Ye Lan said.

Gu An smiled. “Then if you die, and I’m left chasing eternal life alone… wouldn’t that be lonely?”

Ye Lan blinked and grinned. “I didn’t say I’d give up. I’m just telling you how I feel. Some things aren’t meant to be. Don’t carry the burden. Whether it’s me, Zhen Qin, or your disciples—if we go before you, don’t lose yourself.”

Gu An reached out and playfully pinched her cheek. She didn’t dodge.

“Our final hundred years—what would you want to do? Where would you go?” he asked.

Ye Lan raised an eyebrow. “Can I dream big?”

“Of course. Daytime is made for dreams.”

“Then I want to see how big this world really is. They say there are other continents beyond the seas. I want to go up into the sky too—to see how high it is, and what lies beyond…”

She spoke with excitement. Gu An listened seriously, his thoughts drifting far with her words.

Two days later.

Gu An went to the Northern Sea Mountain Range to pick herbs, then returned to the Xuan Valley for an hour.

Back in the Third Medicine Valley, he was in good spirits and played two games of Go with the Nine-Fingered Divine Lord.

Toward dusk.

Shen Xinzi and Long Qing walked along the path between the herb gardens. Long Qing drooped his head, clearly dejected, stealing glances at his master with timid eyes.

Shen Xinzi looked composed on the outside but was feeling lost inside.

After teaching Long Qing for so long, the boy still hadn’t cultivated a shred of spiritual energy.

No matter how poor someone’s talent was, it shouldn’t be this bad…

Was he teaching wrong?

“Master, do I still have hope?” Long Qing couldn’t hold it in. He had lost his fighting spirit and even started to fear cultivation. He dreaded the disappointment in his master’s eyes.

Without turning, Shen Xinzi replied, “Maybe your physique is unique. Starting tomorrow, I’ll teach you Body Cultivation.”

“Body Cultivation?”

“Yes. The path of cultivation isn’t limited to Spiritual Absorption. Maybe your body just needs long-term refinement before it explodes with potential…”

As he spoke, Shen Xinzi’s voice grew more certain.

Whether Long Qing believed him or not, he believed it now.

Yes, that must be it!

Even Yang Jian had a powerful physique. Maybe Gu An had chosen Long Qing because they were similar.

Hearing this, Long Qing perked up and started hopping around joyfully.

When they returned to the Pavilion District, An Xin greeted them with a smile. “Senior, why are you always with this rascal lately?”

Shen Xinzi pressed his palms together. “Amitabha. I’m fated with this child, so I’m just taking him around.”

Since Long Qing had no cultivation, no one could tell he was secretly training.

“Oh please, Senior Sister, why do you care so much?” Long Qing grumbled.

Hmph! Just wait till I master body cultivation—you won’t be able to control me!

An Xin smiled sweetly at him, thinking, You little punk. Got guts now? I’m curious to see what you’ll learn from him.

Out loud, she said, “Fine, I won’t meddle.”

With that, she saluted Shen Xinzi and took her leave.

Shen Xinzi watched her go, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Her cultivation hadn’t improved, yet there was something subtly unusual about her presence—something he couldn’t quite describe.