Hearing Zhu Xi's words, Gu An felt an inexplicable awkwardness.
Could this girl be planning to pocket the medicinal herbs herself and blame him for the theft?
Gu An decided to keep watching. He wanted to see what tricks Zhu Xi would pull.
Fixing his gaze on her, Gu An observed that no matter how much spiritual energy Zhu Xi absorbed, her cultivation level showed no signs of improvement. Her petite frame seemed to harbor an endless black hole capable of devouring everything.
Interesting.
This girl's physique was no ordinary one. No wonder her maximum lifespan reached an astounding 9,999 years.
After nearly half an hour, all the spirit flowers around the lake had been drained of their spiritual energy and withered completely.
Zhu Xi took a deep breath, her expression suddenly shifting to one of panic, before she turned and fled.
Suspended in the night sky, Gu An watched thoughtfully.
The spiritual energy and medicinal effects Zhu Xi had absorbed were enough to help a typical Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator reach the Nascent Soul Realm. Of course, in reality, no Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator could ingest so much spiritual energy from spirit flowers all at once.
Not only did Zhu Xi accomplish this feat, but her cultivation level remained unchanged.
What kind of physique is this?
Gu An began to sift through the memories of Long Zhan and Lu Han. With lifespans spanning hundreds of thousands of years and countless battles fought, they might have encountered similar physiques before.
After a while, Gu An frowned.
Could it be...
A peculiar gleam flashed in his eyes, and his interest in Zhu Xi deepened.
Moments later, a group of cultivators arrived, flying over the lake. When they saw the pile of withered spirit flowers by the shore, their faces turned pale.
"Did we have a thief?"
"Who dares trespass into Falling Moon Divine Lake to steal such treasures? They must be courting death!"
"For someone to infiltrate the lake and drain the spiritual energy from the Purple Yun Flowers in one go, their cultivation level must be incredibly high."
"Could it be a spirit beast from the ocean?"
"Or perhaps one of the Immortal Spirits from the Immortal Dynasty? They've been stirring up trouble quite a bit recently."
While the elders speculated, Zhu Xi stood off to the side, feigning fear and worry. No one would have guessed that she was the one who had drained the flowers.
The discussion continued for some time, but the cultivators of Falling Moon Divine Lake could not reach a conclusion. They decided to report the matter to their superiors. Before leaving, they reassured Zhu Xi, telling her not to be too afraid.
Zhu Xi returned to her quarters alone. Along the way, she appeared lost in thought, her brows furrowed, and her eyes darting nervously from side to side. Gu An couldn't help but admire her acting skills and dedication to her role.
Once she entered her room, however, Gu An watched as Zhu Xi's expression transformed into one of satisfaction and delight.
The speed at which she switched from anxious to contented left Gu An impressed.
When Zhu Xi began to change clothes, Gu An ended his observation and turned to leave, continuing his nocturnal herb-harvesting journey.
That same night, Gu An harvested even more herbs around Falling Moon Divine Lake, further heightening the sect's alertness.
After that night, Gu An decided not to return to Falling Moon Divine Lake.
There were countless sects across the world, and traveling from one to another to harvest herbs allowed him to quickly accumulate lifespan.
As summer gave way to autumn, the Third Medicine Valley was adorned in hues of yellow.
Gu An gazed at his attribute panel, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He was only one million years away from reaching One billion years of lifespan.
Indeed, straying from the orthodox path had proven to be a fast track to longevity.
Meanwhile, the sects Gu An had targeted were on high alert, convinced that a great calamity was upon them.
Gu An deliberately chose sects far apart from one another to prevent them from connecting the dots and escalating the situation.
Though he hadn't stolen a single herb, his actions raised enough suspicion to make sects wary.
Some sects attributed the phenomena to demonic beasts or spirit beasts. Others believed it was an enemy's warning. Regardless, their responses were sharp—each time Gu An finished harvesting, the sect would quickly reinforce its defenses.
Closing his attribute panel, Gu An stood and stretched.
As he loosened his muscles, his divine sense once again swept toward Falling Moon Divine Lake.
He remained curious about Zhu Xi, whose actions seemed to mirror his own. It was like seeing a kindred spirit.
Despite her exceptional talent, Zhu Xi was currently just an ordinary disciple at Falling Moon Divine Lake, which was likely why she was tasked with tending to the lake.
Gu An speculated that her willingness to guard the lake might be motivated by a desire to "oversee and help herself."
Suddenly, an earth-shattering boom echoed from outside the valley.
Gu An wasn't startled; the source of the commotion was far from Tai Cang Continent.
The disciples of the Third Medicine Valley, however, were shaken but not panicked. Instead, they were curious about which mighty figures were clashing this time.
The frequency of skirmishes between the Immortal Dynasty and Sacred Court was increasing, with full-scale war seemingly just around the corner.
In Gu An's eyes, both sides were still probing each other's strength.
Last year, Gu An had witnessed two Dao Void Profound Immortals battling in the skies. The intensity of their fight was such that it drew the divine senses of great cultivators from the mortal realm to observe.
Gu An took a step down the stairs.
Descending the staircase, his gaze landed on the valley entrance, where a figure was approaching.
It was none other than Zhang Xianwang from the Immortal Dynasty.
Upon entering the valley, Zhang Xianwang surveyed his surroundings.
The Third Medicine Valley was renowned within the Tai Xuan Sect, a frequent stop for cultivators visiting the sect. Despite this, Gu An rarely greeted visitors in person, as the valley had plenty of disciples to handle such duties.
Zhang Xianwang's sharp eyes swept past Shen Xin Zi and the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, who were engaged in a game of chess. He inwardly acknowledged the valley's reputation as deserved.
Two roaming immortals weren't enough to startle someone of his status as a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal. However, what intrigued him was how a mere Nascent Soul Realm cultivator like Gu An had managed to attract so many significant Immortal Dao figures to gather here.
From a distance, Zhang Xianwang spotted Gu An and immediately walked towards him.
Standing at the foot of the stairs, Gu An feigned ignorance and began walking towards a nearby herb garden. Stopping at the wooden fence, he appeared engrossed in inspecting the herbs within.
As Zhang Xianwang approached, Gu An turned and, with a surprised expression, greeted him warmly.
"Zhang Daoist, what brings you here?"
Zhang Xianwang smiled and said, "I've come to invite you to the Immortal Dynasty."
Hearing this, Gu An hesitated for a moment before replying, "I've thought it over and decided against it. Zhang Daoist, I appreciate your kind offer."
Zhang Xianwang frowned. "After witnessing the blessings bestowed by the Immortal Dynasty, you still doubt its strength?"
"I don't doubt it," Gu An responded helplessly. "But I can't bear to part with what I have here."
Zhang Xianwang fixed his gaze on Gu An. "If you join the Immortal Dynasty, you can rebuild everything you have now. You should know that in cultivation, nothing is more important than one's future prospects."
Taking a deep breath, Gu An replied, "Each person has their aspirations. Mine aren't limited to just personal advancement."
Zhang Xianwang's frown deepened. Before he could continue, Ji Xiaoya suddenly appeared.
"Joining the Immortal Dynasty isn't necessarily the path to a brighter future," Ji Xiaoya interjected, her tone indifferent. Her blunt words made it clear she held little regard for Zhang Xianwang.
Zhang Xianwang's expression shifted as his gaze fell on the Dao marks on Ji Xiaoya's forehead. His eyes darted between her and Gu An, suspicion creeping into his mind.
Ji Xiaoya moved to stand beside Gu An, facing Zhang Xianwang directly.
"What do you mean by that?" Zhang Xianwang asked. Despite his curiosity about her identity, her earlier remark had annoyed him.
Ji Xiaoya replied, "The Immortal Dynasty's opponent is the Sacred Court. Recruiting him now doesn't lead to a brighter future; it's sending him straight into the line of fire. Can you guarantee that the Immortal Dynasty will prevail against the Sacred Court?"
Zhang Xianwang's expression darkened. He said in a low voice, "I firmly believe the Immortal Dynasty will emerge victorious. I have no intention of harming him."
Ji Xiaoya continued, "Your intentions may be good, but in the current climate, joining the Immortal Dynasty is far from wise. At the very least, he should wait until this conflict has passed. Wouldn't you agree?"
Gu An could sense the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor's divine sense locking onto Zhang Xianwang. If Zhang Xianwang made any reckless moves, he would likely be obliterated in an instant.
Quickly stepping forward, Gu An said, "Zhang Daoist, I appreciate your kindness. She's only speaking out of concern for me. I apologize on her behalf; her words were indeed a bit blunt."
Gu An raised his hand in a gesture of respect toward Zhang Xianwang, prompting Ji Xiaoya to purse her lips in dissatisfaction.
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xianwang forced a smile. "No need for an apology. She does have a point. It seems I hadn't fully considered the situation. Let's leave it at that."
Sensing Zhang Xianwang's lingering displeasure, Gu An invited him to share a drink. Ji Xiaoya did not join them, instead watching Zhang Xianwang's retreating figure with a cool gaze.
After staying in the Third Medicine Valley for an hour, Zhang Xianwang departed for the Immortal Dynasty, uncertain if he would ever return.
Though Gu An had refused his invitation, Zhang Xianwang still wished him a peaceful life. Before leaving, he gifted Gu An a magical artifact.
Gu An declined at first, but Zhang Xianwang insisted, saying solemnly, "Our meeting was fated. The world is about to descend into chaos. Having an extra artifact for protection is always a good thing. I hope we'll have the chance to share another drink someday."
Hearing this, Gu An finally accepted the gift, thanking Zhang Xianwang and wishing him well.
After seeing Zhang Xianwang off, Gu An made his way to a hillside on the edge of the valley. Sitting on the grass, he watched the sunset.
His gaze encompassed the entire world, taking in all its joys and sorrows.
Witnessing the battles raging across the land only strengthened Gu An's resolve to advance.
Once his lifespan reached One billion years, he would immediately break through to the next realm.
Looking up at the skies beyond the heavens, Gu An began searching for the ideal place to make his breakthrough.
Late at night.
Gu An resumed his activities, this time targeting the Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect.
Located in a desolate region, the Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect cultivated numerous rare herbs. Its foundation far exceeded that of the Purple Pill Palace or Falling Moon Divine Lake.
The sect was guarded by several Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal cultivators. Fortunately, there were no Dao Void Profound Immortals, leaving no one capable of detecting Gu An's movements.
To his surprise, Gu An spotted Lu Lingjun meditating beneath an ancient tree within the sect.
Silently, Gu An entered her herb garden, harvesting the ripe herbs without alerting her.
Tonight, Gu An would reach his one-billion-year milestone.
The Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect was situated on a massive mountain, with countless herb gardens dotting its landscape. Even by harvesting only mature herbs, Gu An managed to gain over a million years of lifespan after covering just a third of the mountain.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. Two notifications appeared before his eyes:
[Your lifespan has surpassed One billion years for the first time. The Lifespan Simulation feature has been unlocked.]
[Lifespan Simulation: Consume lifespan to simulate scenarios. You can recreate real events or imagine hypothetical ones. The lifespan consumed will vary based on the complexity of the simulation.]
A smile spread across Gu An's face. At last, a new feature had appeared, allowing him to proceed with confidence.
The ability to simulate anything sounded immensely powerful.
Gu An's mind raced with possibilities: simulating tribulation breakthroughs, battles, or even complex schemes.
However, he wondered if the simulated scenarios would align perfectly with reality. If they did, the implications were profound.
Determined, Gu An resumed harvesting herbs.
Since he was already here, he might as well finish the job.