Gu An originally wanted to use the name of the original author of "Investiture of the Gods," Xu Zhonglin, but he envisioned writing other books for extra income, so he came up with a different name.
Liu Chang and Zhu Qinglu didn't give it much thought, and as for Pan An, compared to Gu An, he only changed his surname, which they could understand.
Afterwards, Liu Chang began to instruct Gu An, mainly reminding him of what he shouldn't write, and implicitly suggesting that he include the Supreme Sect and portray it in a positive light.
Even if he didn't write about the Supreme Sect directly, he could imply it. In short, the more he praised the Supreme Sect, the better treatment he would receive in the future.
To this, Gu An could only agree outwardly, leaving the decision for later.
Writing books was just a pastime for him; he wouldn't spend too much effort on it.
Once Liu Chang finished speaking, Gu Yu came over excitedly and asked: "Brother, have you written any other books?"
Gu An shook his head and said: "This is my first time writing."
"Hahaha, not bad, not bad. I have high hopes for you. Maybe you could surpass Green Hero's status within the Supreme Sect." Gu Yu said, patting Gu An's shoulder with a friendly look.
Gu An sparked with interest, and asked: "Do you know Green Hero?"
Gu Yu raised an eyebrow and said: "You like his travelogue too? I don't know him; I only know that he's a cultivator from the Supreme Sect. I asked Elder Liu, but he wouldn't say anything."
Liu Chang laughed heartily, pulling Zhu Qinglu aside and saying: "Accompany me for a walk, let's catch up and let the juniors chat."
Zhu Qinglu nodded, and the two quickly left the main hall.
Gu Yu then questioned Gu An about the details of writing "Investiture of the Gods." Seeing Liu Chang's favorable attitude towards Gu Yu, Gu An patiently answered.
After a whole ancient hour passed, Gu An finally left the Book Collection Hall following Zhu Qinglu.
"The disciple named Gu Yu has an extraordinary background. It's rare for Liu Chang to treat a junior this way." Zhu Qinglu remarked with meaning.
Gu An nodded, but he had no intention of forming a close relationship with Gu Yu; such people could make his life unstable.
The two didn't travel together for long. After parting, Gu An began to purchase medicinal herb seeds and some clothes.
It wasn't until nightfall that he returned to Mystic Valley.
Days passed one by one.
A new year's spring came again. The second Spring Festival in Mystic Valley went even more smoothly, without any setbacks, and the atmosphere was much more joyful than the first year. As usual, Gu An delivered food to Jiang Qiong.
He began calculating the days, preparing to see Jiang Qiong off.
After Jiang Qiong left, he planned to make a big move in the Eight Scenic Caves, filling it with Spirit Flowers and Spirit Grass.
When the new spring ended, Gu An brought Wuxin to the Outer Sect and selected three more servant disciples, this time two women and one man, named Yan Mei, Yang Min, and Ye Yan respectively.
All three were the same age, merely eighteen, and they looked forward to the life in Mystic Valley.
Becoming a servant disciple not only allowed them to earn Spirit Stones but also gave them a chance to learn their master's spells.
This time, Gu An wasn't just recruiting servant disciples but also intended to make Wuxin fully accustomed to his status as a senior disciple, so he could run errands in the future.
After returning to Mystic Valley, Gu An let Wuxin introduce the three to the others in the valley, while he went into the northern forest to make some plans.
He wanted to plant the surrounding forest full of medicinal herbs. The herbs he handed over last year already ranked in the top ten of the Outer Sect's Medicine Valley. Zhu Qinglu valued him even more and improved his treatment. Now he supported nine servant disciples, more than enough, and he even considered recruiting more.
People rarely settled for their current situation. Gu An had such thoughts about his annual lifespan income; he would be upset if it didn't grow as much as last year.
Standing under a tree, Gu An scanned the forest and began drawing a blueprint for the area in his mind.
The White Spirit Rat suddenly darted out of the forest. Seeing it, Gu An both had a headache and was full of anticipation.
He feared it would bring trouble, yet he hoped it would bring treasures.
It hopped to Gu An's feet, spitting out a jade ring from its mouth.
Gu An raised his hand and grabbed the jade ring, tucking it into his belt to examine later in private.
He picked up the White Spirit Rat and didn't let it run around.
"Good job, I'll reward you with a Green Vine Fruit tonight." Gu An smiled.
The White Spirit Rat seemed to understand and stopped struggling, lying obediently in his arms.
After standing there for half an hour, Gu An turned and left the forest, waiting on the grassy area near the planned zone for someone to arrive.
Soon, the sound of something breaking through the air came.
An Outer Sect disciple came via Sword Control and landed quickly beside Gu An, his appearance catching other disciples' attention in Mystic Valley.
"Senior Brother! I'm back!"
The newcomer was Lu Jiujia, who had gone to take the Outer Sect test. Wearing the Outer Sect robe, he looked completely different from before.
Gu An smiled and said: "I thought you wouldn't come back."
Lu Jiujia scratched his head and said: "How could that be? As soon as I got the Foundation Establishment Pill, I went into seclusion. After successfully reaching Foundation Establishment, I came back immediately to share the joy with you all."
Gu An smiled, pinched his shoulder, and noted that his physique indeed became stronger.
Others gathered around, excitedly asking him about his Foundation Establishment experience, and he answered them all with spirited confidence.
When Gu An first saw Lu Jiujia, he was only fifteen. Now, seeing his success, Gu An felt only gratification.
On the path to longevity, it was too lonely to journey alone. If those they interacted with could end well, he would have fewer regrets.
Lu Jiujia's return brought excitement to Mystic Valley, greatly encouraging the newly arrived Yan Mei, Yang Min, and Ye Yan. They saw a path for advancement.
Working hard in Mystic Valley offered the hope of promotion to the Outer Sect!
That night, Gu An examined the jade ring the White Spirit Rat brought back. Using Divine Sense, he broke through the restriction inside and discovered a trove of Spirit Stones.
Unexpected fortune?
Gu An had higher expectations of the White Spirit Rat. He rewarded it with the right to eat a Green Vine Fruit.
Lu Jiujia stayed in Mystic Valley for a month before leaving. Everyone knew his departure might mean they would never see him again in this lifetime, unless they also became Outer Sect disciples.
...
In the blink of an eye, two years passed. Gu An was now thirty, but after consuming the Youth-Preserving Pill, he looked just around twenty.
His lifespan had exceeded thirty thousand years!
Mystic Valley was expanding, and the number of Outer Sect disciples seeking his help to manage their caves had reached eleven. His monthly lifespan increase kept rising.
Life was busy and fulfilling, but he didn't feel tired at all; instead, he was full of vigor.
Summer arrived, and under the starry night sky, fireflies dotted the serene forest.
In the forest, Jiang Qiong, clad in white, walked ahead, barefooted. She didn't feel any discomfort even when stepping on the tree branches.
Gu An followed silently behind.
"Alright, this is far enough."
Jiang Qiong stopped, turned, and said to Gu An.
Gu An nodded, and after hesitating for a moment, he said: "Martial Master, be cautious on your way out. After all, this is still within the Supreme Sect's territory."
After so many years together, with Jiang Qiong teaching him many spells, it would be a lie to say he had no feelings.
But more than those feelings, he preferred her leaving.
Jiang Qiong nodded, raised her right hand, and a blue book appeared in her hand, which she tossed directly to Gu An.
"Train hard. When I return next time, I'll check your cultivation. If you disappoint me, I'll beat you up," Jiang Qiong said, shaking her fist in a child-threatening manner, making Gu An laugh ironically.
Before he could respond, Jiang Qiong vanished into thin air, and Gu An could sense her Demonic Qi quickly fading away.
In the dim forest, Gu An's lips curled into a smile as he turned back towards Mystic Valley, inspecting the secret book in his hand.
The Ziwei Array Chronicles!
He skimmed through it briefly and found each page had a special restriction, describing formations in text, but their cultivation methods required Divine Sense to probe.
Impressive!
Gu An thought of the formations in the Eight Scenic Caves. Those formations prevented even Great Cultivators of the Supreme Sect who flew over Mystic Valley from detecting the Green Vine Tree's presence.
Although Jiang Qiong only had a cultivation level of the Ninth Layer Core Formation Realm, her formation and alchemy achievements far surpassed the Core Formation level. After all, she reached the Core Formation Realm at forty and then focused on formations and alchemy. She said she continued pondering formations even during her years of feigned death.
Gu An suddenly felt the weight of the Ziwei Array Chronicles in his hands.
The moon set, and the sun rose.
Morning arrived.
Jiang Qiong's departure only affected Gu An; life in Mystic Valley continued as usual.
After leading the disciples in exercises, Gu An brought Ye Lan back to his loft.
He took out a small wooden box he had prepared earlier and handed it to Ye Lan. The small box was square and finely crafted, as if it contained a jewel inside.
Ye Lan paused, then curiously opened the wooden box, quickly seeing an elixir inside.
"Senior Brother, what is this elixir?" Ye Lan asked.
Gu An, sitting at the table and pouring himself tea, smiled: "Foundation Establishment Pill, prepared just for you. Don't tell anyone. In the future, if a disciple in the valley reaches the Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation Realm, I'll give them one too, but don't let anyone know I have these elixirs beforehand to avoid trouble."
Foundation Establishment Pill!
Ye Lan widened her eyes and instinctively tried to refuse, but Gu An preempted her, saying: "Don't worry, I kept one for myself. Once you succeed in Foundation Establishment, you might even become my support in the Outer Sect. Work hard; that's the best way to repay me."
"I..." Ye Lan felt complicated, wanting to say much but couldn't find the words.
Gu An advised earnestly: "Life is long, and one will have many thoughts. But never forget your greatest pursuit in this life."
Although Ye Lan hadn't frequently clung to him all these years, her eyes were always so tender when she looked at him. Sometimes, he even eavesdropped on other disciples chatting; everyone could see her affection for him.
Gu An's feelings for Ye Lan were purely sibling-like, not yet reaching the level of wanting to spend a lifetime together. Moreover, his heart was set on immortal cultivation.
Ye Lan nodded firmly and gently said: "Senior Brother, don't worry. I will train hard and not disappoint you. I'll strive to climb higher and take care of you in the future."
As she said this, she winked at Gu An.
Gu An smiled and motioned for her to leave.
Ye Lan carefully put away the Foundation Establishment Pill and turned to leave, closing the door behind her. But just before it shut completely, she added: "Senior Brother, no matter where I go, I won't give my heart to any other man. You will be the only one in my heart."
With that, she quickly shut the door and left as if fleeing.