Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses

Gu An couldn't help but use Life Span Detection on Shen Zhen.

[Shen Zhen (Divinity Transformation Realm, second layer): 329/1200/5800]

Her maximum life span had increased by more than a thousand years!

Could it be that she also possessed an Innate Enlightenment Saint Body?

Filled with curiosity, Gu An decided to observe Shen Zhen more in the future.

As Shen Zhen began to narrate the process of her painting, Gu An carefully looked at the scroll before him.

It seemed to depict a mortal pleading for the compassion of an Immortal, but the execution was quite strange; the person kneeling on the ground was smiling, while the high and mighty Immortal had a frown.

The outline of the clouds, the lines of the mountains, the currents in the rivers, etc.—all were manifestations of the rules of Heaven and Earth. Once this scroll was unfurled, the actual rules of Heaven and Earth subtly drew closer to it. In the eyes of a Divine Thought True Immortal, the world became both bizarre and splendid.

Shen Zhen, immersed in it, couldn't feel the changes in the rules of Heaven and Earth and continued to excitedly share her creative process.

Gu An began to probe into the causality surrounding Shen Zhen and saw all of the experiences of her life.

He suddenly realized that, without being aware of it, he had become the person most closely tied to the causality of Shen Zhen's life.

The relationship between Shen Zhen and the Daotian Sect grew increasingly distant. Although she was the daughter of the Sect Hierarch, her father had many children. Without regular contact, the bond between father and daughter became ever more distant, with her mother having passed away long ago.

Gu An suddenly had a bold thought.

Could it be that Shen Zhen was influenced by him?

After all, he was a Divine Thought True Immortal. Even though he concealed his Cultivation Level, his essence of life was still different from the surrounding disciples.

Over the years, the time it took for disciples to enter Medicine Valley and complete their apprenticeship had become increasingly short, which could also be due to his influence.

The degree to which Shen Zhen had reached was not to be underestimated; her innate comprehension was remarkable. But without Gu An, it might have been very difficult for her to achieve this step.

Gradually, Gu An's understanding of the Way of Cause and Effect deepened.

On reflection, Gu An had influenced the entire Supreme Sect. Regardless of the reason, the Supreme Sect indeed had entered an unprecedented phase of rapid development.

After a while.

Shen Zhen's voice brought Gu An's thoughts back to the present, "Hey, are you listening?"

Gu An turned to look at Shen Zhen, who had a gritted teeth expression that didn't look fierce, but rather made Gu An want to reach out and pinch her.

"I'm listening, you are really incredible. I can't understand how you did it. If what you say is true, you might really have the talent for enlightenment," Gu An praised.

Upon hearing this, a broad smile broke across Shen Zhen's face. She chuckled proudly and said, "This painting is for you then. I'll continue to meditate!"

With that, she turned and left.

Gu An didn't see her off, but instead turned his gaze back to the scroll on the table.

He felt the energy from below returning to normal, Ji Xiaoyu was once again immersed in her cultivation, but he didn't care.

He sat on the chair, looking at the scroll, lost in thought.

The influence he had on his surroundings wasn't just active from his side but also aided by the momentum of Heaven and Earth, which gave him a deeper understanding of the ways of Heaven and Earth.

He had this inexplicable feeling that he wanted to hide, but the way of Heaven and Earth did not want him to hide, hence it influenced the environment around him.

The great momentum of Heaven and Earth was like a surging tide, the nets of Cause and Effect were like heaven-trapping webs; all beings could neither resist them nor escape.

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. While helping the environment around him, he would also be drawn into more webs of causality.

In that moment, Gu An suddenly understood why many Great Powers retreated into seclusion indefinitely—it might not be merely because enlightenment took so much time.

Just like the Great Cold Demon Sect, there must be many Great Cultivators hidden away in seclusion, who had evaded disaster precisely because they withdrew from the world. Is this not a way of surviving?

Gu An was not fearful because of this revelation; rather, he was contemplating how Heaven and Earth operated the laws of causality and destiny, creating a set of rules that most beings fear.

Destiny!

Gu An never believed in an irresistible destiny; that which is irresistible is only so because it still lies within the rules. If one's strength surpasses the rules, how can one be manipulated?

As for how to transcend destiny and surpass the ways of Heaven and Earth, that was the real direction Gu An needed to think about.

He sat in his room without moving all night, and early the next day, he rode the Blood Prison Great Saint to the Outer Gate City to watch the excitement.

A night had passed, and Zuo Yijian was still in deep enlightenment, with over a hundred Great Cultivators from the Supreme Sect protecting him and temporarily suspending the inheritance assessment of the Heaven-Cutting Axe, not allowing anyone to approach Zuo Yijian.

Zuo Yijian's Cultivation Level was not worth mentioning in the current Supreme Sect, but as he received the Sword Intent inheritance of the Sword Venerable Fudao, it had a completely different significance. The Supreme Sect placed great importance on it, as a way to show respect to the Sword Venerable Fudao.

As Gu An arrived at the Outer Gate City not long after, he encountered a man—a middle-aged man accompanied by several young men and women. They were walking among the crowd, looking around curiously, finding everything new and amazing.

"Chuanyue, long time no see."

A voice reached Chuanyue's ears, prompting him to turn his head instinctively, only to see the Blood Prison Great Saint standing next to Gu An.

The Blood Prison Great Saint was as tall as an adult and had a domineering presence, but Chuanyue had seen larger demon pets and mounts, so he was not flustered.

Chuanyue looked at Gu An with doubt and asked, "You are...?"

The fact that the other person was riding a mount meant he must be a Cultivator, and Chuanyue had to approach him cautiously.

The descendants of the Chuanyue family following behind were just as curious, sizing up Gu An, surprised to find that someone in the Supreme Sect knew their grandfather.

Gu An smiled and said, "Have you forgotten? I met you in your home, when you were only fifteen years old. You kept nagging your grandfather to take you on the path of Immortal Cultivation."

Chuanyue was stunned, then his eyes widened in astonishment and he asked, "You're the person who visited my grandfather back then, how come you..."

So young!

Gu An asked, "How is your grandfather?"

Chuanyue hurriedly replied, "He's quite well, spends his days cultivating and drinking tea, with no need to worry about anything..."

The descendants of the Chuanyue family looked at one another in confusion. Their grandfather's grandfather was the Primordial Ancestor of their family, wasn't he?

They had only seen Xiaochuan once or twice, and in their minds, Xiaochuan was amiable, but with a status far beyond theirs, they could only feel reverence.

After a conversation, Gu An learned that Chuanyue had come to bring his descendants to broaden their horizons, while also seeking opportunities.

Gu An took out a Token from his sleeve and tossed it to Chuanyue, "If their aptitude is not exceptionally outstanding and there are no other connections, they can seek to become Servant Disciples at the Chores Hall. With this Token of mine, you can enter the Third Medicine Valley."

Chuanyue instinctively caught the Token and was about to inquire further when the Blood Prison Great Saint took a step forward and brushed past him.

Chuanyue turned to look at Gu An's retreating figure and asked, "Senior, how should I address you?"

Gu An simply raised his hand and made no sound.

Chuanyue couldn't help but stare at the Token in his hand, deeply puzzled.

At that moment, another male Cultivator came over and laughed, "Brother, you're in luck to be connected to the Third Medicine Valley. With such good fortune, Foundation Establishment is as good as certain, making a solid foundation for your path of Immortal Cultivation."

Foundation Establishment!

The descendants of the Chuanyue family immediately brightened up, their breathing quickening.

Chuanyue quickly saluted the male Cultivator and inquired about the situation in the Third Medicine Valley.

The male Cultivator gave a rough introduction, mentioning thousands of Servant Disciples, countless medicinal herbs, and the high-ranking members of the Supreme Sect that could be seen in the valley every day, among others. The information left Chuanyue dumbstruck.

Just who was the person they had just met to have such influence!

Unable to contain himself, Chuanyue asked, "Do you know the person we just met?"

The male Cultivator shook his head with a smile, clapped Chuanyue on the shoulder, and walked away, leaving Chuanyue even more curious and in awe of Gu An.

The now distant Gu An couldn't help but smile wryly to himself. That kid has always loved playing these little tricks back in Medicine Valley.

The Cultivator who had introduced Chuanyue to the Third Medicine Valley was precisely a disciple who had graduated from there.

By now, the number of disciples who had graduated from the Third Medicine Valley and Mystic Valley had reached tens of thousands, which is why Gu An often encountered familiar faces.

Gu An's reputation had also spread far and wide, and considering the number of Foundation Establishment Pills needed by these disciples, who else within the Inner and Outer Sects could supply them?

Moreover, over the years, Gu An had indeed made no additional demands of the Servant Disciples, which is what made him admirable.

Gu An soon arrived at the Book Collection Hall, ready to chat with the book enthusiasts there for a while.

Seven days later.

The Golden List Grand Tournament officially commenced!

The Nine-Finger Divine Lord also represented the Supreme Sect in the battle. With Li Ya unable to return, the Supreme Sect needed the combat strength of a Wandering Immortal. How the Supreme Sect persuaded the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, Gu An did not know; he had not watched at that time and wasn't interested in finding out now.

That day, Lv Baitian came to find Gu An, pulling him who was watching the Golden List Combat into the attic. Aside from the new disciples who were curious, many people ignored it as commonplace.

Once seated inside the house, Lv Baitian, unusually, did not discuss official matters but instead talked about his son, Lv Xian.

"That kid really is blindly loyal to Li Xuandao. I have no idea what he's thinking. No matter how the Taicang Dynasty develops, it remains the world of the Li Family. What could he possibly gain?" Lv Baitian complained indignantly.

Gu An was reluctant to comment on their father-son matters.

It must be said that Lv Baitian and Li Xuandao were similar, both in their actions and their relationships with their sons.

Originally, Li Ya also despised Li Xuandao, while Lv Xian still seeks the life of Lv Baitian to this day.

Gu An had no interest in untangling their causality; an outsider's clarity was useless on family matters.

"Recently, Li Xuandao arranged for him to go to the Domain Master City of Broken Sea Domain. I'm not sure if it's a blessing or a curse. The establishment of the Broken Sea Domain Master City makes me feel like it's targeted against the Sword Venerable Fudao," Lv Baitian said with concern.

Gu An inquired, "Why do you think so?"

"The Great Cold Demon Sect appeared long before this Domain was established, which means that even though the Holy Court sets the order, it does not manage specific locales. When I put myself in the place of the Holy Court, no matter how I speculate, establishing the Broken Sea Domain seems to be a means of defense, while also investigating the Sword Venerable Fudao."

"In that case, why don't you go to the Heaven-Cutting Axe and ask the Sword Venerable Fudao to leave?"

"Nonsense! Don't spout such things in the future!"

Lv Baitian glared and spoke sternly.

Gu An smiled helplessly; this man was prone to irritation.

Lv Baitian, following that, brought up Li Lingtian. Over the years, Li Lingtian had gained a great reputation, having previously participated in and topped the Golden List Grand Tournament and the Hundred Clans Grand Meeting, creating a bigger sensation than An Hao and Lv Xian of years past.

To this, Gu An had no particular stance. With Li Lingtian's return to the Taicang Continent, it was obvious he was targeting Yang Jian. Gu An found it hard to take an interest in the squabbles of the younger generations.

What he cared more about was the identity of the mysterious Great Cultivator who had arrived at the Supreme Sect that day.