Saint Who Lay Low

"What are you afraid of? There are plenty of people named Gu An in the world; you're not the only one. Unlike you, I can't just make up characters. I need to recognize someone's worth to write about them. In my eyes, you're the most fitting for the male protagonist. The only flaw you have, from what I see, is that your cultivation level is too low," Shen Zhen said seriously, her words causing Gu An's face to twitch.

Was this supposed to be a compliment?

Why did it sound more like a personal attack?

If I revealed my true cultivation, even your father might not be able to compete!

Despite Gu An's attempts to persuade her otherwise, Shen Zhen adamantly refused to change the name of her character.

In the end, she offered to exchange a secret technique for the use of his name, and Gu An had no choice but to agree.

After Shen Zhen left, Gu An stayed in his pavilion, flipping through the technique she had given him.

Mysterious Melody Art!

It was a technique based on sound, capable of damaging an opponent's internal organs and confusing their senses—a very versatile skill.

It just so happened that Gu An lacked such a technique, making this a good one to focus on for further study.

After finishing his first read-through of the Mysterious Melody Art, he stored it away in his storage pouch and got up to leave.

...

A month later, Gu An visited the outer sect's city, heading first to the Pill Hall to submit this year's harvest.

Elder Zhu Qinglu was there to receive him. Gu An noticed that Zhu Qinglu looked exhausted, with a faint trace of demonic energy swirling within him—similar to Lu Jiujia.

"Elder Zhu, you don't look well. What's wrong?" Gu An asked.

He still didn't fully understand how the outer sect's demonic cultivation worked. There had been disappearances, but this time, when Gu An came to the outer sect's city, he noticed that many of the disciples had faint traces of demonic energy within them. These weren't ordinary disciples but members of the various halls.

Whether they were complicit or had been deceived, Gu An couldn't be sure, and Shen Zhen hadn't provided any more details.

Zhu Qinglu smiled and replied, "It's just from cultivation—nothing serious. Since you've got an inner sect medicine valley now, you should move there quickly. The outer sect has become too dangerous with all the demonic cultivators running wild."

Gu An probed further, "Many people have warned me about the dangers of the outer sect lately. If it's so dangerous, why hasn't the sect sent more people to eliminate the demonic cultivators?"

"And what's that large construction in the center of the city? It's taking up nearly a quarter of the area now."

Upon arriving, Gu An had noticed that many disciples were laying stones in the city center, and these stones weren't ordinary—they could store spiritual energy.

To him, it looked like they were building a massive sacrificial altar.

Zhu Qinglu casually replied, "The higher-ups have their reasons. We're not in a position to speculate. All we can do is protect ourselves. As for the construction, it's a formation platform meant to protect the outer sect in the future."

Seeing his casual demeanor, Gu An couldn't shake the feeling that Elder Zhu knew more than he was letting on and was likely benefiting from the situation.

Not wanting to push further, Gu An exchanged a few more polite words and then left.

As he exited the Pill Hall, he stood in the street for a while, gazing at the construction site.

Dark clouds covered the sky, casting an oppressive shadow over the once-bustling and sunny outer sect city, making it feel like a demonic domain.

Gu An stood there for a long time before finally turning away.

The autumn wind blew through the streets, fluttering his robes, while the Azure Swan Sword at his waist swayed slightly, its scabbard gleaming with a cold light.

After leaving the outer sect city, Gu An went to tend to some of the disciples' caves.

When he reached Li Xuanyu's cave, he found her inside.

"From now on, you don't need to come anymore. I'm heading to the inner sect. Here's your payment." Li Xuanyu was seated at the table, and with a wave of her hand, a pile of spirit stones appeared on the table.

Gu An immediately bowed, then moved forward to collect the spirit stones into his storage pouch.

Without saying much more, he turned to leave.

As he walked away, Li Xuanyu's voice suddenly cut through the silence, "I've heard that your leg technique is quite impressive?"

Gu An paused and turned back to look at her. "Did Senior Brother Li Ya tell you that? My leg techniques are nowhere near his level."

During his stay in Xuan Valley, Li Ya had seen Tang Yu practicing the Remnant Wind Kick and learned about the story of how Gu An had defeated Meng Lang using the technique.

It hadn't taken him long to mention it to Li Xuanyu…

"Hmm, I was just curious," Li Xuanyu replied, her expression remaining calm. After a moment, she added, "I look forward to the day you join the inner sect. Then we can compete."

Gu An was perplexed. "I'm no match for you, Senior Sister. I can't possibly catch up."

"Go on then."

Without responding to his words, Li Xuanyu dismissed him.

Left with no choice, Gu An departed.

After leaving her cave, he didn't feel much pressure.

As long as I refuse to admit it, what can Li Xuanyu do to me?

...

That night, Gu An trekked through the forest. Earlier in the afternoon, he had told Wu Xin that he would be away for a day and would return tomorrow.

The reason he had mentioned it in advance was because he was preparing for a breakthrough.

A breakthrough of this magnitude would inevitably cause a stir. If his disciples came looking for him and found he wasn't in his pavilion, they might become suspicious.

Since his visit to the outer sect city, Gu An had felt an increasing sense of danger.

The sect's leadership practicing demonic techniques, the noble disciples fleeing the outer sect—these signs had all left him deeply uneasy.

Though being at the ninth layer of the Void Crossing Realm was powerful, Tai Xuan Sect had other Void Crossing cultivators. After days of deliberation, Gu An decided to break through to the next realm.

If necessary, the unlocking of his next lifespan feature could be delayed by a year.

Tonight, Gu An traveled three hundred miles under the cover of night, stopping in a dense forest. The reason he stopped was that he sensed two Nascent Soul cultivators, one of whom he recognized.

Zuo Yijian!

The Sword Madman of Cang Lake, who had once been meditating near Xuan Valley and had been injured by Gu An while he was disguised as the Flying Leaf Sword Immortal. Afterward, Gu An had only seen him once at the Ji Family's estate.

Gu An suppressed his aura as low as possible, confident that Nascent Soul cultivators wouldn't detect him.

A few miles away, in the sky above the forest, Zuo Yijian stood in mid-air, dressed in blue, five swords floating around him, radiating the dignified presence of a sword cultivator.

Facing him was a burly man in a flowing black robe, holding a long staff. The man had thick brows and piercing eyes, with a square, authoritative face. His black robe billowed in the wind as his overwhelming aura bent the trees below.

"Zuo Yijian, instead of staying in the inner sect, you come here to stop me?" the man in the black robe asked coldly.

Zuo Yijian remained expressionless. "Chen Xuanjin, as the Grand Elder of the outer sect, you practice demonic cultivation and harm your fellow disciples. I am not stopping you out of choice but out of duty. Heaven has sent me to collect your soul."

Chen Xuanjin sneered, his laugh full of disdain.

"Do you not realize who I'm doing this for?" Chen Xuanjin's voice dripped with scorn as he struck the ground with his staff, sending waves of purple light across the land, forming a complex array that spanned over a hundred meters.

As the edge of the array neared Zuo Yijian, an invisible sword intent blocked it, leaving a gap in the formation from above.

"I know very well. I cannot defeat the one behind you, but I can defeat you. Killing you won't stop the next Grand Elder from doing the same, but it will buy the outer sect some time for peace," Zuo Yijian declared, his face still devoid of emotion as his five swords unsheathed, their lights dazzling against the night sky.

"You want to kill me?"

Chen Xuanjin seemed to have heard the biggest joke of his life. His expression grew vicious, and his aura erupted, sending a fierce wind through the forest, shaking the trees violently.

Zuo Yijian's face tensed, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"You think a mere Nascent Soul cultivator at the first layer can kill me, a Nascent Soul cultivator at the ninth layer? Zuo Yijian, just because your master supports you doesn't mean I won't kill you!"

"If you insist on walking this path of power, ignorant of your place, you're a fool. Saving a few mediocre outer sect disciples is nothing compared to saving the entire Tai Cang Dynasty. Can't you see the bigger picture?"

Chen Xuanjin's imposing presence crushed Zuo Yijian's sword energy, causing his five swords to tremble.

"I'll give you one last chance. Turn back now, while you still can. Otherwise, you can return to your books, or you can die." As Chen Xuanjin spoke, black demonic energy coiled from his staff, forming a massive black dragon that curled around him.

Zuo Yijian took a deep breath. "Since you mentioned Investiture of the Gods, do you know of the Immortal Execution Sword Formation?"

The Immortal Execution Sword Formation!

Chen Xuanjin's face twisted in shock, his eyes widening.

Even Gu An, who had been watching from a distance, was taken aback.

Can someone truly comprehend a formation from reading a book? Is he a genius?

Zuo Yijian chanted, "One breath divides into three pure essences, mysterious techniques unfold within the cosmos…"

As he recited, his five swords trembled violently, then spread out, forming a sword array that radiated a terrifying killing aura.

Gu An, still hiding in the trees below, was utterly stunned.

He really learned this from reading a book?

Is he a prodigy?

Even Chen Xuanjin was shocked and immediately launched his attack.

The battle began!

The earth quaked, and the forest was torn apart.

Gu An remained motionless beneath the trees, his pupils reflecting the gleaming swords as he watched Zuo Yijian's figure intently.

Ten breaths later.

The battle ended.

Gu An let out a sigh of relief.

That scared the life out of me!

Gu An had truly believed that Zuo Yijian had grasped the Immortal Execution Sword Formation from Investiture of the Gods.

If that were the case, it would mean that Investiture of the Gods was real, and that would be terrifying!

Zuo Yijian's technique was powerful—it was a creation of his own. He was able to hold his ground against a Nascent Soul ninth-layer cultivator, but not for long.

As the night sky cleared and the forest turned into a wasteland, dust rose into the air.

Chen Xuanjin floated in mid-air, panting heavily, his face filled with lingering fear. He scanned the ground below, watching the billowing dust.

He could sense that Zuo Yijian was still alive, but he hesitated.

Although he wanted to kill Zuo Yijian, reason told him that doing so might bring trouble.

Even as a Nascent Soul cultivator, Chen Xuanjin knew he was still just a pawn in the grand scheme of the Tai Xuan Sect.

Just then, a sharp sound pierced the air, startling Chen Xuanjin. He turned his head to see a flash of cold light speeding toward him, scattering the dust in its wake and sending leaves swirling through the air. It was like a sword cutting through the very fabric of time.

Lying in the rubble below, Zuo Yijian sensed the movement and instinctively opened his eyes. The dust above him was blown away, revealing the night sky, where a single brilliant streak of light shone.

"It's him…"

Zuo Yijian's eyes widened in awe as he watched a leaf, surrounded by sword energy, pierce through Chen Xuanjin's chest, spilling blood into the night sky.

At that moment, Zuo Yijian finally understood.

Back when the Flying Leaf Sword Immortal injured him, it wasn't out of malice—it was guidance. Otherwise, how could he have survived?

Now, the Flying Leaf Sword Immortal had come to save him, leaving him both surprised and ashamed.

Who exactly is this senior?