As soon as Gu An took the first bite of the Ancient Vine Fruit, he felt a warm energy flow into his stomach, warming his entire body.

It’s working!

He immediately began to eat in large mouthfuls, and before long, the large Ancient Vine Fruit was completely devoured.

While digesting, Gu An called up his status panel, eagerly awaiting the lifespan increase.

However, he waited for half an hour, and his lifespan didn’t increase at all!

His blood and vitality had indeed strengthened, and his physical strength had improved significantly.

“What’s going on? Is my realm too high, or is this fruit only effective for spiritual beasts or demonic beasts?” Gu An wondered to himself.

He glanced at the White Spirit Mouse on the table, still sound asleep. Its lifespan hadn’t increased any further, but its aura was steadily rising.

I’ll wait and see!

The White Spirit Mouse slept for three whole days, and when it finally woke up, it had grown to the size of an adult cat. It leaped into Gu An’s arms, affectionately nuzzling him, though its eyes darted toward the cabinet.

“No more eating!”

Gu An, who was reading a book, scolded it. If the rat kept growing, it would inevitably attract unwanted attention, especially from Xiao Chuan and the others.

While disciples like Lu Jiu Jia and Ye Lan would eventually go to the Outer Sect, Gu An didn’t want them knowing too much about his secrets.

The White Spirit Mouse looked up at Gu An pitifully and even nodded, which caused Gu An to widen his eyes.

It understands me?

Gu An pointed to a spot nearby and said, “Come over here.”

The White Spirit Mouse immediately hopped over without hesitation.

He continued giving it commands, and as long as they weren’t too complicated, the White Spirit Mouse would obediently follow them. This only made him grow fonder of the creature.

Finally, it’s starting to act like a proper spiritual beast!

Gu An picked up the White Spirit Mouse and took it outside.

It was autumn, and the various gardens were littered with fallen leaves. Xiao Chuan and the others were busy sweeping, and the entire Medicine Valley was peaceful and serene. Ř

Gu An walked down the stairs and set the White Spirit Mouse on the ground. “Don’t eat anything you shouldn’t.”

He pointed at the rat’s mouth as he spoke. The White Spirit Mouse nodded with a look of vague understanding, then hopped away, bouncing merrily.

Gu An watched, feeling puzzled.

Why does it act like a rabbit?

Has it not only increased its lifespan but also had its genes altered?

The first to notice the White Spirit Mouse was Ye Lan, mainly because Gu An had caught her attention, and then she saw a large white rat running toward her. She was so startled that her face turned pale.

“A demonic rat!”

Ye Lan shouted in alarm, immediately attracting the attention of Lu Jiu Jia, Xiao Chuan, and Wu Xin.

When they saw the White Spirit Mouse, they were equally shocked—they had never seen such a large rat before.

“White Spirit Mouse, slow down!”

Gu An’s voice came from behind them, and as soon as the White Spirit Mouse heard it, it stopped in its tracks. It turned its head to glance at him before slowly hopping into the forest at a much more leisurely pace.

Seeing this, Ye Lan and the others put down their tools and rushed toward Gu An.

“Senior Brother, is that your White Spirit Mouse? Why is it so big?”

“It must be a different White Spirit Mouse, right?”

“It seems kind of clumsy, like its legs don’t work well.”

“This spiritual beast has a remarkable bloodline.”

Listening to his junior brothers and sisters’ chatter, Gu An smiled without responding, letting them speculate.

He then looked at them and said, “In a few days, I plan to visit the Outer Sect. Who wants to come with me?”

As soon as Gu An asked, everyone except Wu Xin expressed interest.

“Great opportunity!” Wu Xin maintained a calm expression, but inside, he was thrilled.

After some deliberation, Gu An decided to bring Ye Lan and Xiao Chuan to the Outer Sect, scheduling the trip for seven days later.

Why seven days?

Because he planned to thoroughly explore the Eight Views Heavenly Cave first.

Gu An glanced toward the valley’s entrance, where a figure was approaching—Li Ya had returned.

It had been years since they last met, and Li Ya now appeared more weathered and cold. His black robes fluttered in the autumn wind, and with the sword at his waist, he exuded an aura of a solitary, proud swordsman.

Xiao Chuan and the others also noticed Li Ya, and his appearance made them tense up.

Anyone who came to Medicine Valley usually had a higher status than them, and this man, who looked so formidable, was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

Gu An checked Li Ya’s lifespan and found that he had already reached the fourth layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

That’s fast!

No wonder he’s the first person I discovered with a protagonist’s fate!

Gu An immediately walked over, and the others followed suit.

As Li Ya scanned Medicine Valley, he felt a moment of nostalgia when his gaze landed on Gu An.

Back then, Gu An had always followed others. Now, he was leading the other disciples—it was true, times had changed.

Gu An approached him with a smile, clasping his hands. “Brother Li, it’s been a long time.”

Are you injured?

Gu An could sense the turbulence in Li Ya’s qi and blood, as well as his shallow breathing, clear signs of internal injuries.

Li Ya smiled. “Indeed, it’s been many years. Where is Master, and what about Senior Brother and Meng Lang?”

Gu An sighed helplessly. “Master’s time came, and he passed away not long ago. After you left, Senior Brother also left the valley. As for Meng Lang, he went to take the Outer Sect exam and never returned.”

Upon hearing this, Li Ya was stunned.

Xiao Chuan and the others stood behind, whispering to each other. They had guessed Li Ya’s identity; after all, Meng Lang had often boasted about being friends with a royal disciple who had once worked as a menial servant here.

Li Ya sighed. “So it’s just you left.”

Gu An asked, “Would you like to come inside?”

Li Ya nodded.

The reason he had come was not just to revisit an old place but also to recover from his injuries. This was the only place where he felt safe.

Gu An led Li Ya to the pavilion while signaling the others to continue cleaning up the fallen leaves.

As they reached the Valley Master’s Pavilion, Li Ya’s emotions reached their peak. He couldn’t help but start coughing, and his face turned pale.

Walking ahead, Gu An’s expression shifted slightly.

He sensed a faint spiritual fluctuation from Li Ya.

Interesting!

This guy really has a mysterious elder spirit attached to him?

Turning back, Gu An asked with concern, “Brother Li, are you alright?”

Li Ya waved his hand. “I’m fine, just a bit injured.”

“Injured? Then stay and rest for a while. There are plenty of places to stay here in Medicine Valley.” Gu An immediately suggested.

Li Ya smiled and thought to himself, Gu An is still as considerate as ever. I’ll have to repay him this time.

The two entered the pavilion, and after Li Ya sat down, Gu An began preparing tea for him.

Li Ya scanned the room and quickly noticed the Ancient Vine Fruit inside a wooden cabinet.

Over the past three days, Gu An had stored most of the Ancient Vine Fruits in his storage pouch, leaving only two in the cabinet, mainly to prevent the White Spirit Mouse from sneaking in and eating them.

If the rat ate more, Gu An would feel bad about killing it, so he hid the fruit instead.

“This fruit…”

Li Ya squinted at it but didn’t look for long. His gaze soon returned to Gu An.

It had been many years since he last saw him, and Li Ya was actually surprised by Gu An’s refined temperament. Although Gu An had always been handsome, he now had an air about him that was both steady and slightly transcendent, much like a senior cultivator from the Inner Sect.

If it weren’t for the fact that he could sense Gu An’s cultivation still at the fourth layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, Li Ya would have doubted whether this was the same person he once knew.

As the water boiled, Gu An sat down at the table and chatted with Li Ya.

To keep the conversation flowing, Gu An asked about life as an Outer Sect disciple, and Li Ya answered each question in turn.

“Outer Sect disciples are required to complete one Outer Sect bounty task per year?” Gu An asked curiously.

Li Ya smiled. “That’s right, and it’s always an external task.”

“Have you encountered any demons?”

“Almost every time I go out, I encounter them. The Tai Cang Dynasty is vast, and there are always places plagued by demons. Last year, I almost died when facing a third-tier demonic beast—equivalent to a Core Formation cultivator. My friends and I fought hard, but one of us died, and the rest of us barely escaped with our lives.” Li Ya recounted, a look of lingering fear on his face.

“Third-tier? Core Formation?”

Gu An feigned surprise, helping to dispel the tension on Li Ya’s face.

Li Ya then went on to describe the specific events of that encounter, and Gu An listened with genuine curiosity.

After hearing the whole story, Gu An had one thought.

That’s way too dangerous!

Luckily, I didn’t become an Outer Sect disciple.

“Besides demons, you also have to be wary of other cultivators. During a treasure hunt, I had a run-in with disciples from another sect. We fought and entangled with each other for half a month. After finally killing him, guess what happened next?” Li Ya said, his excitement building.

Gu An guessed, “His father showed up?”

Li Ya looked at him in surprise and shook his head. “Not his father, but close enough—his master!”

Well then!

Gu An felt even more grateful that he hadn’t joined the Outer Sect.

If this was what life was like in the Outer Sect, the Inner Sect must be even more treacherous!

Li Ya continued recounting how he outwitted and outlasted the enemy’s master, making Gu An feel like he was listening to a storytelling performance.

Very entertaining!

When the water finally boiled, Gu An stood up to brew the tea.

Li Ya casually asked, “Gu An, did Master leave those fruits in the cabinet?”

Gu An, his back to Li Ya, replied, “I found them outside. Don’t you remember? The White Spirit Mouse is a treasure-hunting rat.”

Li Ya raised an eyebrow at this.

It can really find treasures?

He suddenly found himself wanting to raise a White Spirit Mouse, too.

After a moment of hesitation, Li Ya said, “Gu An, could I have one of those fruits to heal my wounds? I won’t take it for free. Would you prefer a cultivation technique or a magical weapon in exchange?”

Gu An turned around, carrying the tea tray, and casually placed it in front of Li Ya. In an unconcerned tone, he said, “I’ll just give you one. No need for anything in return—we’re friends, right?”

Li Ya was deeply moved by these words.

During his time in the Outer Sect, although he had made friends, those friendships were always based on mutual benefits. No one had ever treated him so kindly without expecting something in return.

After hearing Gu An’s words, he felt immense gratitude.

Gu An walked over to the wooden cabinet, took out one of the Ancient Vine Fruits, and placed it next to Li Ya’s teacup.

Li Ya felt even more ashamed.

Li Ya, you looked down on him before, and now you’re relying on him to heal you…

Li Ya quietly mocked himself, then pulled a sword from his storage pouch.

The sword’s sheath was a deep green, inlaid with precious gems. The intricate patterns and the golden dragon coiled around the hilt gave it an air of majesty and elegance.

When Li Ya placed it on the table, it made a crisp, heavy sound.

He gently stroked the sword and said softly, “My mother gave me this. I’ll give it to you now. This sword might save your life one day.”

Gu An was stunned by the beauty of the sword. Although he had only seen the sheath, he could feel the power contained within the blade. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, he could sense things that Li Ya couldn’t.

This is definitely a divine weapon!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep