Chapter 45 ·The Dragon Egg Hatches, A Lan!

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the following months, Nether Soul gradually came to understand what kind of sect the Azure Wave Sect was.

This ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sect was both righteous and unorthodox—it could not be called a model of the righteous path, yet neither was it brutally demonic.

Its ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍rules were lax, encouraging competition. As long as one did not openly harm fellow disciples or betray the sect, most struggles were tacitly permitted.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sect’s highest cultivation level was held by two late Nascent Soul ancestors. Below them were over twenty Golden Core elders, Foundation Establishment deacons, several hundred inner sect disciples, and thousands of outer disciples and laborers.

In ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍terms of resources, aside from the Southern Sea No. 73 mortal world, it also controlled three miniature secret realms.

There ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was one medium-grade spirit vein, and it maintained trade relations with several nearby medium and small sects.

The sect’s atmosphere was pragmatic and utilitarian. Competition for resources and missions among disciples was the norm.

Nether Soul’s impression of it was acceptable.

At the very least, it did not engage in hypocritical righteous slogans, nor did it indulge in wanton slaughter.

It was more like an enlarged martial world sect.

On this day, while browsing miscellaneous records in the sect’s Scripture Pavilion, Nether Soul happened upon a passage.

Lower world spiritual seedlings are harvested once every three hundred years.

One must carry the Spirit Appraisal Mirror and follow the established route. Do not disturb mortals, do not leave traces.

This perfectly matched Liu Qingyun’s actions.

In other words, the mortal world where the original body resided would receive a visit from the Azure Wave Sect once every three hundred years.

And until the next visit, there were still over two hundred years remaining.

With the timeline clarified, Nether Soul felt somewhat at ease, and his thoughts became clearer.

As an incarnation of the original body, he could not actively cultivate to raise his realm.

But as long as the original body broke through, his strength would increase accordingly.

At present, Nether Soul only needed to steadily raise his apparent cultivation within the Azure Wave Sect, striving for more resources and freedom.

Step by step, he would figure out the connection channels between the Azure Wave Sect and the Tianyan Dao Sect, as well as the specific methods by which they controlled the mortal world.

Once the original body’s strength was sufficient, or when an opportunity arose, he would quietly transfer ownership of the mortal world into his own hands.

......

Ten years later.

Southern Sea No. 73 mortal world, Taiyi Dao Sect, Longevity Peak.

【Gu Yan】

【Lifespan: 253/4000】

【Realm: Nascent Soul · Seventh Layer】

【Entries: “Fortune-Blessed Immortal Lord · Red”, “Traceless Dao Concealment · Gold”, “Five Elements Spiritual Body · Orange”, “Life Is Like a Dream · Purple”】【】

【Cultivation Technique: “Grand Five Elements Reincarnation Scripture”......】

【Spells: “Five Elements Escape Technique”, “Five Elements Protective Incantation”, “Little Five Elements Annihilation Divine Light”, “Little Five Elements Yin-Yang Primordial Magnetic Divine Light”......】

【Magical Treasures: “Sumeru Star Ring · High Grade”, “Lihuo Heaven-Burning Cauldron · Supreme Grade”, “Nine Heavens Thunder Pattern Evil-Slaying Sword · Supreme Grade”......】

Feeling the vast and harmonious spiritual power surging within him like a great river and ocean, Gu Yan nodded slightly.

Nascent Soul Seventh Layer—he was not far from the Transformation Spirit realm.

......

Spirit Realm, Azure Wave Sect, outskirts of Qingxia Peak.

At this moment, Nether Soul was being blocked in a remote mountain hollow by four black-clad cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, their faces covered.

The cultivation he displayed outwardly was clearly at Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

His aura was pure, his foundation solid—anyone who saw him would praise that reaching Qi Refining Ninth Layer in ten years meant a promising future in the Golden Core realm.

“Junior Brother Lin, my apologies.” The leading black-clad man spoke hoarsely, yet his eyes held no remorse—only cold killing intent.

“If you must blame someone, blame your excessive prominence for blocking others’ path.”

Nether Soul appropriately revealed anger and panic, pressing his back against a rock wall as he shouted:

“Who are you? Daring to attack an inner sect disciple within sect territory—aren’t you afraid of investigation by the Enforcement Hall?!”

“Investigation?” another black-clad man sneered.

“This place has already been set with a Concealment Formation. Aura is cut off, sound does not spread.”

“You’re just a Qi Refining Ninth Layer disciple. Even if you’re somewhat talented, if you die, you die—who would pursue it?”

Before his words even ended, the four attacked simultaneously!

A poisoned flying needle, two explosive flame talismans, a pitch-black flying sword, and a binding vine technique.

Their coordination was seamless, sealing off all of Nether Soul’s escape routes.

Clearly, they were experienced in killing and plundering.

Boom!

Poison, flames, sword light, and vines struck the target almost simultaneously.

Dust rose, rocks shattered and flew.

“Done?” one of the black-clad men let out a breath.

“Just Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Even if he’s a genius, he—”

The dust slowly cleared.

Nether Soul stood there calmly, his dark robes spotless, not even his hair disheveled.

Those attacks, enough to trouble early Foundation Establishment cultivators, landed on him like a breeze over a hill—not even leaving a mark.

He raised his head and gave the four stunned men a gentle smile that sent chills down their spines.

“That’s it?”

“Y-you’re not Qi Refining Ninth Layer?!” the leader’s pupils shrank in terror.

“Correct answer. Unfortunately, no reward.” Nether Soul slowly raised his right hand, fingers slightly spread, then gently pressed downward.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Four dull explosions sounded almost simultaneously.

The four Foundation Establishment cultivators, along with their protective artifacts,

were like flies struck by an invisible giant palm, instantly reduced to four masses of mangled flesh embedded deep into the ground.

Only their heads, intentionally preserved by Nether Soul, rolled aside intact.

“Why bother.” Nether Soul shook his head, stepping forward and skillfully looting the corpses.

At the same time, a faint glow flashed at his fingertips—the Soul Search Technique activated, and four fragmented memories flooded into his consciousness.

Moments later, he withdrew his hand, now holding four ordinary-looking storage rings.

From the fragmented memories, he learned why they had targeted him.

The Demon Blade Sect had long been hostile toward the Azure Wave Sect.

It had three late Nascent Soul ancestors.

Due to fear of the Tianyan Dao Sect behind the Azure Wave Sect, they dared not wage open war.

Instead, they resorted to such despicable means—sending people to infiltrate Azure Wave Sect territory to assassinate promising disciples, attempting to sever its foundation…

Nether Soul shook his head, then extended his divine sense into the rings to quickly assess the spoils.

“Three low-grade magical artifacts, one mid-grade—trash.”

“Various first- and second-grade talismans—trash.”

“Some pills, poor quality—trash.”

“Spirit stones, though, are decent…” Nether Soul’s eyes lit up slightly. The combined wealth of the four Foundation Establishment cultivators amounted to nearly two thousand low-grade spirit stones.

There were also several dozen mid-grade spirit stones of richer quality.

“Hard currency of the Spirit Realm. The original body would find these quite valuable.”

“And these miscellaneous things—‘Blood Fiend Palm’, ‘Aura Concealment Technique’, ‘Basic Formation Diagram Explanations’…”

“Though crude, some ideas are worth referencing.”

With a wave of his hand, he stored the useful items and flicked a strand of flame to burn all traces and remains clean.

“Demon Blade Sect, huh… I’ll remember this.”

......

Time continued to flow, and another ten years passed.

Mortal world, summit of Longevity Peak.

Clouds surged like a sea, radiant light filled the sky.

Gu Yan stood at the cliff’s edge with his hands behind his back. Behind him lay the increasingly magnificent and spiritually vibrant architecture of the Taiyi Dao Sect.

His gaze, however, fell on a small creature circling around his leg.

It was a small dragon, entirely azure-blue, its scales gleaming like the finest sapphire.

Deer antlers, camel head, rabbit eyes, snake neck, clam belly, fish scales, eagle claws, tiger paws, ox ears—every feature of an Eastern divine dragon was present.

It was the being hatched from the Deep Sea Azure Dragon Egg.

Gu Yan had given it a rather casual name—A Lan.

Although still a young dragon, A Lan was already the size of a small calf.

Moreover, upon hatching, it possessed Foundation Establishment-level strength, with high intelligence and extreme affection toward Gu Yan.

It seemed to require no deliberate cultivation. Simply growing and consuming spiritual energy and spiritual materials would naturally increase its strength.

Over these ten years, it had become a spectacle within the Taiyi Dao Sect.

It would often sneak into an elder’s herb garden to steal freshly matured herbs.

Or lazily lie atop the Teaching Hall roof basking in the sun, astonishing new disciples while older ones had long grown accustomed.

“Look, the Longevity True Lord’s dragon is out for a stroll again!”

“It must be the methods of an immortal—only then could such a mythical auspicious beast be tamed as a pet.”

Such remarks had long become background noise to Gu Yan.

He bent down and flicked A Lan’s cool dragon horn as it leaned closer. “Went to Pill Glow Peak to steal herbs again?”

A Lan let out a soft growl, rubbing its head against Gu Yan’s palm, its dragon eyes showing a surprisingly human-like hint of grievance.

Then it opened its mouth and spat out a fruit larger than its own head.

Gu Yan laughed, took the fruit, and casually stuffed it back into A Lan’s mouth. “Eat it yourself.”

After that, his gaze swept across the sect once more.

Under his deliberate guidance and resource support, the Taiyi Dao Sect had now fully embraced the immortal path.

Most disciples had stepped into Qi Refining, and several elders had reached the later stages of Qi Refining.

Lin Wei and Elder Chen, who were closest to him, had steadily advanced and successfully reached Foundation Establishment three years ago.

However, one thing had always puzzled Gu Yan.

When Lin Wei and Elder Chen established their foundations, he had personally stood guard.

The heavens were calm—there was no lightning tribulation, not even a single dark cloud.

He had specifically asked whether they experienced any heart demon illusions, and both had shaken their heads in confusion, saying the breakthrough had come naturally, with the bottleneck shattering effortlessly.

“When I established my foundation, I truly went through a Heart Devil Tribulation…”

Gu Yan stroked his chin and looked toward the sky.

Forget it—if he could not figure it out, he would set it aside for now.

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