Saint Who Lay Low

Following Gu An's gaze, a man dressed in simple clothing was meditating above the large character for "Dao." His appearance and presence were entirely unremarkable—he seemed just like any ordinary person, and even his aura was nothing extraordinary.

If not for Gu An's constant use of Lifespan Investigation, he would have never noticed this man's extraordinary nature.

[Huangquan Demon Emperor (Void Crossing Realm, Ninth Layer): 3847/5700/14000]

A demon!

Gu An knew that demons and monsters had far longer lifespans than human cultivators at the same cultivation level, but seeing this being's maximum lifespan of 14,000 years still made his heart skip a beat.

What cultivation technique was this demon practicing to hide his demonic aura so perfectly? Even someone like Gu An, who had reached the Body Fusion Realm, couldn't detect his true nature.

And more surprisingly, demons practiced swordsmanship too?

Gu An couldn't help but think of Sky Dragon, the dragon he raised, who was also obsessed with the way of the sword.

Not wanting to draw attention, Gu An didn't keep staring at the Huangquan Demon Emperor and instead scanned the rest of the figures meditating on Heaven Mending Platform.

Those who dared to meditate and comprehend sword intent here had to be of considerable cultivation level. After all, cultivators in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages were still busy absorbing qi and had not yet reached the stage of contemplating the Dao in this way.

Gu An realized he had underestimated the impact of the Sword Master of the Dao.

Although he hadn't heard of Chu Xian before the incident, it was clear that Chu Xian was renowned in the cultivation world, especially among powerful cultivators. Anyone at Chu Xian's level would certainly have been well-known.

The death of a Void Crossing Realm cultivator would surely cause ripples across the entire Tai Cang Dynasty and beyond.

It seemed like it was time for him to lay low for a while. As the fame of the Sword Master spread, who knew how many unwanted characters—devils, ghosts, and worse—would be drawn his way?

After looking over everyone present at Heaven Mending Platform, Gu An finally decided to leave.

He had now developed the habit of using Lifespan Investigation on any unfamiliar face. It gave him a sense of security, knowing the background and power of those he encountered.

For the next few years, it was time to return to the peaceful life of farming, giving the cultivation world time to forget the Sword Master of the Dao.

He had already completed writing the book about the Sword Master and the scandal within the outer sect. Ji Hantian had been urging him, and last month, Gu An had finished it. The book wasn't a long novel—just a single volume would suffice.

...

As spring spread its warmth over the land, life in the Third Medicine Valley was thriving.

Gu An and Gu Yu sat inside, sharing drinks.

"Your book Righteous and Demonic has already spread across the entire Tai Cang Dynasty. Now, no one's talking about Tai Xuan Immortal Lord anymore. Everyone's focused on Tai Xuan Sect and the Sword Master of the Dao," Gu Yu said with a hint of envy.

Gu An chuckled. "After all, Tai Xuan Sect is the leading righteous sect, and now something like this has happened. It's only natural that people are curious. But don't worry—within a few years, the cultivation world will lose interest. By then, people will still want to hear more about your legendary battle against the Demonic Emperor from the Otherworld."

Hearing this, Gu Yu beamed and began praising Gu An's writing, pestering him for hints about the next part of the story.

But Gu An refused to reveal anything, leaving Gu Yu itching with curiosity.

"Oh, by the way, I recently got my hands on another book. The protagonist's name is also Gu An. Quite amusing," Gu Yu suddenly said, pulling a book from his storage pouch.

Tai Xuan Secrets!

Seeing the title, Gu An's heart skipped a beat.

This isn't good!

So Shen Zhen managed to spread the book after all!

My reputation is doomed!

Gu Yu waved the book in front of him, grinning. "Have you seen this, Brother Gu? It's a good read."

Feigning curiosity, Gu An asked, "What's it about?"

"Oh, it's quite something. Come on, be honest—did you write it yourself?" Gu Yu asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"How could it be? Let me see that," Gu An replied, snatching the book from Gu Yu's hands and flipping through it.

Gu Yu raised an eyebrow. "Really? Not yours? Maybe someone you know wrote it?"

As Gu An read the first page, he furrowed his brows, pretending it was his first time seeing it.

Seeing Gu An's serious expression, Gu Yu refrained from teasing him any further and poured himself another drink.

But as Gu An's expression grew darker, Gu Yu began to rethink his jest. "The book's been circulating in the inner sect. You probably don't know many inner sect disciples, so it's most likely just a coincidence. After all, 'Gu An' isn't exactly a rare name."

Closing the book, Gu An took a deep breath and asked, "Does the Scripture Pavilion allow this kind of book to circulate?"

"This one didn't go through the Scripture Pavilion. It's being passed around privately among the disciples," Gu Yu explained with a shrug.

Gu An fell silent.

Sensing the awkward mood, Gu Yu made his excuses and left, but not before offering a few consoling words.

After Gu Yu had gone, Gu An sat down and read Tai Xuan Secrets in its entirety.

He had to admit, Shen Zhen had certainly studied The Adventures of Green Hero well. In fact, Tai Xuan Secrets was even more polished, surpassing the former in many ways.

Though some parts were questionable, the portrayal of the character Gu An was actually quite positive. He was depicted as a heroic figure, carefree and unrestrained—traits that made him rather likable. It wasn't exactly a slander against him.

After reading for an hour, Gu An finally set the book aside and stepped outside to continue his work.

His goal was to eventually plant herbs across the entire hundred-mile territory. Today, his first task was to secure the boundaries, ensuring no inner sect disciples accidentally trespassed.

...

Meanwhile, at the Ji Residence in the inner sect city, Ji Xiaoyu sat at a table reading, with Ji Hantian sitting across from her.

"What do you think of this book, Righteous and Demonic?" Ji Hantian asked, putting down his cup of tea.

Flipping through the pages, Ji Xiaoyu replied, "It's well-written. The storytelling really draws you in, making you feel like you're right there in the middle of things. It doesn't gloss over Tai Xuan Sect's crimes but also emphasizes the unity and resolve of the outer sect disciples. It paints Tai Xuan Sect in a way that, despite the corruption, still conveys the strength and spirit of the top righteous sect."

Ji Hantian smiled. "Do you know who Pan An really is?"

Ji Xiaoyu fell silent.

"It's none other than your servant, Gu An. Surprised?" Ji Hantian asked with a chuckle.

Ji Xiaoyu sighed. "I've actually known for a while. I just didn't think you would find out too. Grandfather, you didn't instruct him to write this, did you? This is going to bring him a lot of trouble."

Ji Hantian coughed awkwardly. "No need to worry. I'll make sure he's protected. Thanks to this book, I now have more influence in the Elder's Hall. Overthrowing Chu Tianqi might not be so impossible after all."

Ji Xiaoyu kept reading, her tone casual. "Honestly, I don't think the Ji Family should aim for the sect master position. Things are fine the way they are. With our influence spread across multiple sects, we won't become easy targets."

"You don't understand how much pressure I was under with Lü Baitian suppressing me all those years. Do you think I let you join Tai Xuan Sect just for fun? I hoped your talents would bring honor to our family name," Ji Hantian huffed, clearly still harboring bitterness toward Lü Baitian.

"And what compensation have you given Gu An for all the trouble you've caused him?"

"Of course, I've compensated him! I expanded his Medicine Valley to a hundred miles. Oh, and you can send him some high-grade herb seeds from the Ji Family. I've investigated him—he really knows how to manage the valley. Build a good relationship with him. He could one day polish the Ji Family's reputation. After all, he did write Investiture of the Gods, and with his portrayal of Ji Fa, it's clear he respects our family."

Ji Hantian's tone grew more earnest, trying to impart some wisdom, but Ji Xiaoyu only frowned.

"Grandfather, you shouldn't be so calculating in your dealings with people," she said, her voice tinged with disapproval.

"Silly child, this isn't scheming. It's a win-win situation—what's wrong with that?"

Ji Xiaoyu lowered her head, focusing once again on the book. Her discontent was evident, but she didn't press the issue any further.

Ji Hantian rose to leave. "The Hundred Tribes Assembly is coming soon. You need to prepare. I expect you to claim the top spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

With those parting words, he vanished from the room in an instant.

Ji Xiaoyu remained seated, her eyes fixated on the book in her hands.

...

By March, as the spring breeze swept across the land, a group of Ji Family cultivators arrived at the Third Medicine Valley to deliver a large batch of high-grade herb seeds to Gu An. Even the lowest quality seeds were at the fourth grade, much to Gu An's delight.

Before leaving, the Ji Family representative hinted that the Third Miss had high hopes for him and had personally selected the seeds. They assured him that if he needed anything in the future, he could always reach out to her.

Gu An naturally didn't refuse and gratefully expressed his appreciation, promising not to forget the kindness of the Third Miss. Only then did the cultivators leave, satisfied.

With seeds coming in from the Ji Family, Gu Hao Sect, and Jiang Qiong, Gu An's costs were significantly reduced. He was now considering recruiting more servant disciples to fill all twenty available spots, each paired with a spirit beast for maximum efficiency.

That same day, Gu An and Old Tian traveled to the outer sect city together. Old Tian insisted on coming along, saying he wanted to witness the "Righteous Dao" inscription on Heaven Mending Platform.

Once they arrived in the outer sect city, they split up.

As Gu An approached the entrance to the Servant Hall, a male disciple approached him, speaking in a low voice. "Fellow Daoist, I've got a treasure here. Only two lower-grade spirit stones."

"Two? Why don't you just rob someone?" Gu An responded dismissively, pushing past him.

But the disciple blocked his path again and pulled out a book from his storage pouch, speaking conspiratorially. "Take a good look. Do you recognize this? A lot of inner sect disciples read this after coming out of seclusion. There's great fortune to be found within."

Gu An glanced at it briefly and saw four words.

Tai Xuan Secrets.

He brushed the man aside, saying, "Sorry, I'm reading Investiture of the Gods."

The disciple cursed under his breath before turning to pitch his wares to someone else.

Half an hour later, Gu An left the Servant Hall, now accompanied by eleven new disciples, male and female, all young and brimming with excitement.

Being able to join under someone like Gu An, who could recruit so many servant disciples at once, meant he wasn't an ordinary figure. Following such a powerful senior could drastically change their cultivation path.

Gu An led his new disciples in a grand procession to Heaven Mending Platform.

The servant disciples had long been curious about the legendary platform but hadn't dared to visit before, fearing they might offend the powerful cultivators who frequented it.

It didn't take long for Gu An to spot Old Tian among the crowd, standing beneath the character for "righteousness," studying it intently.

Glancing around, Gu An's gaze landed briefly on the Huangquan Demon Emperor, who was still present. At that moment, the demon's right hand was moving as if practicing a sword form.

Gu An only watched for a couple of seconds before silently exclaiming to himself, "Goodness!"

That was the Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword technique!

This demon was comprehending sword techniques just by studying the sword intent left behind?

This is terrifying talent!

I need to refine my Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword and invest a few thousand more years of lifespan in it, just to maintain my edge in swordsmanship.

Turning his attention away, Gu An approached Old Tian.

"Hahaha! I've figured it out! I've figured it out!"

Suddenly, a loud burst of laughter echoed from Heaven Mending Platform, capturing the attention of everyone present.

The source was an old man in Daoist robes, though his disheveled white hair made him appear slightly unkempt.

The old man leaped into the air, soaring high, and extended two fingers toward the inscription of "righteous path" on the platform.