Chapter 100: The Shenzhou Sutra and the Fear of the Integration Stage

Gu An had no idea what Yang Ni was thinking. His choice of Lu Jiu Jia as his disciple was simply because he had no better option. As for Yang Ni, he assumed she would leave sooner or later, so he never considered her as a potential True Legacy First Disciple.

Late at night, after the banquet had ended and everyone had returned to their rooms, Gu An quietly headed to the Eight Views Celestial Realm. For some time now, he had been delving into the Ten Thousand Gu Mystical Art and had made significant progress.

Beneath the Spirit Tree, Gu An’s thoughts stirred, summoning a figure from within a cave. The figure moved like a gust of wind, kicking up blades of grass in its wake—it was none other than Meng Lang, now transformed into a Gu corpse.

Gu An mentally commanded Meng Lang to pick a mature herb. After the task was complete, Gu An waited for a long time, yet the expected notification of lifespan absorption never arrived.

The plan had failed!

It seemed that future endeavors would require his personal intervention. Gu An felt a twinge of regret but wasn’t too disappointed. After all, the harvests from the Third Medicine Valley and Horizon Valley had already started yielding results. His annual lifespan gains were at least 100,000 years, and the number continued to grow.

In less than a century, he could accumulate ten million years of lifespan!

At this pace, Gu An was already satisfied. After all, for ordinary cultivators, how many realms could they ascend in a hundred years?

After sending Meng Lang back to the cave, Gu An drew the Tianxiu Sword and began practicing the Wood Spirit Sword Technique.

The next morning, Gu An descended from the pavilion to lead his disciples in their morning exercises. Yang Ni also joined in. After the exercises, she quickly headed toward the forest.

Gu An noticed her unusual behavior. She seemed different today, so he decided to observe her. He saw Yang Ni sowing seeds in the forest, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

The seeds looked unfamiliar!

As a Grand Ascension Stage cultivator, Gu An had a photographic memory and keen observational skills. One glance told him that these seeds were of an unknown variety. He walked over, stopping behind Yang Ni.

“What are you planting?” Gu An asked curiously. As Yang Ni straightened, he discreetly cast a lifespan probe toward her palm.

[Nightshade (Sixth-Grade): 0/120/5000]

A sixth-grade spirit flower? And its name was Nightshade?

Gu An couldn’t help but associate it with the Nightshade Sect.

Yang Ni replied, “I found these seeds in the storage pouch of an enemy I defeated long ago. I don’t know their exact name. They’ve been sitting in my pouch for decades, and I only thought to plant them today.”

“Is that so?” Gu An murmured, thoughtful.

Yang Ni observed his expression and asked, “Is there a problem with planting them?”

“Go ahead and plant them.”

Gu An smiled, not revealing the flower’s origins. If Yang Ni wanted to plant a sixth-grade spirit flower, why would he stop her? After all, he would be the one harvesting the herbs she cultivated.

After offering a few encouraging words, Gu An turned and left. Yang Ni watched his departing figure, finding him increasingly hard to understand.

“To think I was intimidated by a mere Core Formation cultivator,” Yang Ni thought to herself with self-mockery. Then, she crouched down and continued planting the Nightshade seeds.

No matter what Gu An speculated, as long as she had the chance to plant the flowers, she would plant them!

She glanced at Gu An’s retreating back and thought, Once I achieve great merit, I’ll spare your life and even introduce you to the Nightshade Sect.

Having spent years together, she had grown fond of Gu An and thought it would be a pity if someone like him perished in sectarian conflicts. He would thrive as part of the Nightshade Sect.

With the advent of spring, life began to flourish anew. The Taixuan Sect buzzed with activity again.

In early March, Gu An and Shen Zhen were discussing books in the pavilion when they suddenly sensed something. Setting their books aside, Gu An cleared his throat and said, “Put these things away.”

Shen Zhen’s cheeks flushed as she hastily stored all the drawings on the table into her storage pouch. Once everything was tidied up, they headed downstairs.

Outside the pavilion, they saw a group of cultivators flying toward them. Among them, Gu An spotted a familiar face—Ji Xuanyu.

A total of eleven cultivators landed, and Gu An scanned them with his lifespan probe. Aside from the leading cultivator, the other ten were all under 100 years old. Their cultivation levels ranged from the eighth level of the Core Formation Stage to the Nascent Soul Stage, with two having already reached the latter.

A Nascent Soul Stage cultivator under 100 years old—what astonishing talent! The minimum lifespan of these prodigies exceeded 2,000 years.

The lead cultivator, Lü Chen, was at the second level of the Void Transformation Stage. After landing, he cupped his hands toward Gu An and said, “These ten disciples are the ones the Sect Master has entrusted to you for training, Valley Master.”

His polite tone, devoid of the arrogance typical of a Void Transformation Stage grandmaster, piqued Gu An’s curiosity about Lü Baitian’s leadership style. The Lü family certainly knew how to treat people well.

Gu An returned the courtesy with a bow and said, “Thank you for your trouble, Senior.”

Lü Chen, pleased with Gu An’s respectful demeanor, smiled and nodded before leaving.

Gu An turned his attention to the ten Taixuan Sect prodigies, who were also sizing him up.

“Miss Shen, why are you here?” A young man in green robes frowned, clearly displeased to see Shen Zhen standing behind Gu An.

This man, Liu Yu, was at the ninth level of the Core Formation Stage with a maximum lifespan of 2,409 years!

Ignoring him, Shen Zhen addressed Gu An, “Since your Medicine Valley has guests, I’ll take my leave. Let’s meet alone next time.”

With that, she leaped away, quickly vanishing behind the mountains.

Solitude?

Everyone’s gaze toward Gu An became peculiar, while a cold gleam flashed in Liu Yu’s eyes.

[Liu Yu has developed hostility toward you and intends to attack. Would you like to perform a lifespan probe on him?]

He wants to attack me? Just how deep is his hatred?

Gu An spoke calmly, “Miss Shen and I simply share an interest in reading and occasionally exchange ideas. There’s nothing more to it. She has even mentioned that her ideal partner is the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path.”

The group, all talented young cultivators, burst into laughter upon hearing this. Liu Yu awkwardly forced a smile and cast Gu An an apologetic glance.

They weren’t fools. Since Lü Baitian had personally assigned Gu An to guide them, Gu An must possess some extraordinary qualities. Even if he didn’t, being under Lü Baitian’s protection was enough to make them tread carefully.

While the Taixuan Sect cherished its prodigies, being a prodigy didn’t mean one could act with impunity. If Lü Baitian decided to target them, even their families would have to weigh the consequences.

Ji Xuanyu broke the silence. “Valley Master, just tell us what to do. We’ll follow your instructions.”

Her words immediately wiped the smirks off everyone’s faces as they looked expectantly at Gu An. After all, the Sect Master had said that coming here would aid their cultivation.

Gu An smiled and said, “Follow me, then. But don’t complain about being tired or bitter. No one can quit halfway—only failures give up mid-journey.”

His words sparked a competitive glint in the eyes of the prodigies.

Gu An led them to a forest dozens of miles away and instructed them to clear the land, plant seeds, and inspect herbs.

Though the tasks were mundane, the ten disciples took them seriously, scrutinizing even the smallest stones along the way.

After several days, one of the disciples, Chang Cang, couldn’t hold back any longer. He stopped, looked at Gu An, and asked sharply, “Are you playing with us? Is ‘training the heart’ just making us herb farmers?”

The others turned to Gu An, even Ji Xuanyu frowning slightly.

Gu An had anticipated this reaction. Unfortunately, Lü Baitian had insisted on this method.

With a sigh, Gu An retrieved ten books from his storage pouch and handed them out.

The group’s mood brightened as they caught the books, their eyes lighting up at the title: The Shenzhou Sutra.

“The Shenzhou Sutra?” someone read aloud, their curiosity piqued.

Gu An turned his back to them and said, “Comprehend it on your own.”

With that, he left, leaving the group to pore over the text.

Liu Yu opened the first page and began reading aloud: “The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name…”

Behind him, Gu An’s lips curled into a smirk.

The Shenzhou Sutra wasn’t the Dao De Jing—it was a mishmash of famous phrases from ancient Chinese classics that he remembered. It was just convincing enough to fool them. There was no way he’d transcribe the real Dao De Jing. What if someone actually comprehended its truths? That’d be a disaster!

After receiving the Shenzhou Sutra, Ji Xuanyu and the others each found a secluded spot to meditate, keeping to themselves. Their presence didn’t disrupt the usual rhythm of the Third Medicine Valley.

Five days later.

Closing her copy of the Shenzhou Sutra, Ji Xuanyu looked down at the errand disciples laboring in the valley below. After a moment of thought, she descended the mountain to assist them.

A genius sitting on the opposite peak saw her actions and seemed to have a realization. He also began descending the mountain.

Though they couldn’t make sense of the Shenzhou Sutra, its profoundness was undeniable. They connected its mysteries with Gu An’s initial arrangements, wondering if enlightenment might come amidst pastoral toil.

Ten days passed.

One by one, the other prodigies joined in the herb farming and other menial tasks of the Medicine Valley. They diligently worked during the day, studied the Sutra during breaks, and cultivated their energy at night.

Gu An was thoroughly pleased. Lü Baitian’s selection of top-tier prodigies proved accurate—not a single one of them was foolish. Once they deemed something meaningful, they committed themselves wholeheartedly.

Six months flew by.

Gu An turned 59. On this day, while gathering herbs in Horizon Valley, his expression suddenly shifted. Handing the herbs to Sun Da, he left the valley without explanation, leaving the onlookers puzzled but uninterested in questioning him.

Since mastering the Black Tortoise Tidal Palm, Lü Xian had ceased antagonizing Gu An. Instead, Lü Xian had thrown himself into relentless cultivation, seemingly possessed. His rapid progress suggested he might achieve the Nascent Soul Stage within a few years.

A hundred miles from Horizon Valley, Gu An vanished into thin air, reappearing thousands of miles away in the Xuan Valley, then using a teleportation formation to arrive at the Third Medicine Valley.

Stepping off the platform, he hurried toward the Sevenfold Purity Tree, where he saw a figure standing in contemplation.

From a distance, Gu An performed a lifespan probe:

[Zong Ying (Integration Stage, Level 4): 860/2800/3100]

This man practiced a unique technique that masked his cultivation as Nascent Soul Stage, Level 2.

Gu An’s interest was piqued. Though his Grand Ascension Stage divine sense could discern hidden cultivation, it couldn’t fully unravel Zong Ying’s technique.

Walking up to the Sevenfold Purity Tree, Gu An greeted him, “I am Gu An, the master of this Medicine Valley. May I ask who you are?”

Zong Ying, with his sharp features, small eyes, and goatee, looked every bit like a villain. Smiling, he raised a hand in greeting. “I am Zong Ying, an Inner Sect disciple. Passing by, I sensed the extraordinary aura of this tree. Could it be the legendary Sevenfold Purity Tree?”

Gu An stepped closer, grasping Zong Ying’s wrist firmly with his Foundation Establishment Stage strength. “Indeed, it is. Do you want it?”

Zong Ying found the situation laughable. A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator dares lay hands on me?

The Taixuan Sect must be short on talent if they’ve tasked someone so weak with growing the Sevenfold Purity Tree. Then again, perhaps it’s to avoid drawing attention.

Zong Ying prepared to shake Gu An off with the strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator, confident it would suffice.

But in the next moment, his expression shifted dramatically. His eyes narrowed, his brows furrowed, and he began to struggle.

Surprise turned to terror as his face paled.

How is this possible?!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep