If I become a saint, a celestial official will summon me to raise horses.

Chapter 46 Innate Dao Talisman, Demonic Ambition

"He is Gu An!"

Du Ye gave Gu An a shove, and Gu An staggered slightly before looking at the summoning cultivator and saying, "I am Gu An."

"bring it on."

The monk responded and then turned to walk into the mansion.

Gu An followed in his footsteps, puzzled. What did Ji Xiaoyu want with him?
He didn't have much interaction with Ji Xiaoyu when he was a child, after all, the difference in their social status was huge.

After Gu An left, the Ji family cultivators guarding the gate surrounded Du Ye, asking him about Gu An. Du Ye's expression was somewhat unnatural, and he could only answer their questions one by one.

the other side.

Gu An followed the messenger for two miles before arriving at Ji Xiaoyu's courtyard.

The messenger stopped outside the courtyard gate, gestured for Gu An to enter, and then turned and left.

Gu An could already sense Ji Xiaoyu's aura. According to his judgment, Ji Xiaoyu was also at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, but was much stronger than Ji Lin.

He stepped into the courtyard, where a bamboo grove stood, a scene of springtime beauty, unlike autumn.

He walked along the path through the bamboo forest, and soon he saw a pool of water with white spiritual mist swirling around its surface. A figure was meditating and practicing martial arts in the mist, and he could vaguely make out that it was a woman.

As Gu An approached, he clasped his hands in greeting to Ji Xiaoyu in the pond and said, "Gu An greets the Third Miss."

Ji Xiaoyu, dressed in green, sat cross-legged on the surface of the pool. Her hands were clasped together on her knees, and her long hair was tied on top of her head with three pearl-inlaid hairpins. Two strands of hair fluttered beside her cheeks. Her forehead was as white and bright as jade, with a thin red line that was faintly visible. In terms of facial features, only Jiang Qiong could compare to her in Gu An's opinion.

Unlike Jiang Qiong's charming and enigmatic nature, Ji Xiaoyu was like a celestial maiden descended from heaven. Her face was devoid of any emotion, radiating a sacred aura that inspired awe and reverence.

Gu An recalled the scene when he first met Ji Xiaoyu when he was a child. At that time, he felt that Ji Xiaoyu was not like a child. Her eyes seemed to have been weathered by the years.

He immediately cast a lifespan probe:
Ji Xiaoyu (Foundation Establishment Realm Level 9): 34/830/8900

What the hell?

A lifespan of 8,900 years?

The most crucial point is that she is only at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, so how can she have a lifespan of eight hundred and thirty years?

Gu An was surprised and suddenly realized that Ji Xiaoyu was more than just someone with dual spiritual roots.

“You did very well before. After the banquet, go see Gu Zong and you can become his disciple.”

Ji Xiaoyu spoke without opening her eyes, her voice melodious, gentle yet authoritative.

This fellow was eavesdropping on the conversation in front of the mansion gate!

Gu An thought to himself, but replied aloud, "Third Miss, I really don't want to become his disciple. I can tell that he is not a simple person and his cultivation must be very high. But I am of mediocre talent. If I become a disciple of a famous master, I will only get into trouble. I just want to stay in my medicine valley, live out the rest of my life in peace, and contribute a batch of medicinal herbs to the Third Miss every year. That will be enough to satisfy me."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaoyu opened her eyes. The mist in front of her dissipated, and she turned her head to glance at Gu An.

The corner of her eye seemed to be drawn with a stroke, slightly upturned, adding a touch of fierceness to her gentle eyes, and those bright eyes seemed to want to see through Gu An's heart.

Gu An lowered his head slightly, avoiding her gaze.

It wasn't that he was afraid of her, but his current public identity was that of a servant at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and he had to play his part convincingly.

“Then I won’t become your disciple. However, since the Ancient Sect wants to see you, you still have to go. This matter is indeed difficult for you. Tell me, what can I do for you? As long as it’s within my power, I will do it,” Ji Xiaoyu said softly.

Perhaps because Ji Xiaoyu had saved Gu An when he was a child, Gu An had a good impression of her. So when he heard her words, he didn't stand on ceremony and said, "Third Miss, the Xuan Valley where I am is too small. I want to plant more medicinal herbs. Could you help me get another medicinal valley? Of course, please don't transfer me away from Xuan Valley. My hard work is there, and I can't bear to part with it."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaoyu fell silent.

Gu An wasn't in a hurry.

If she can't do it, then ask Gu Zong to do it.

He could roughly guess what Gu Zong wanted to talk to him about.

What could you possibly need from a writer like him?
Ji Xiaoyu said, "I cannot make a complete promise regarding the Medicine Valley. After all, this is not the Ji family, and you do not wish to leave your Medicine Valley. I will try my best. In addition, you can make one more request."

Gu An immediately said, "Then could you give me a teleportation array? I want to connect the two medicine valleys for easy travel."

"That's not difficult. I'll have someone bring it to you after the banquet."

"Thank you, Third Miss!"

Gu An smiled and bowed again with his hands clasped.

Ji Xiaoyu closed her eyes and asked, "By the way, what exactly did you write? Why does the Ancient Sect value you so much, and even want to take you as their disciple?"

Gu An thought about it and felt that he couldn't hide this matter any longer. After today, Ji Xiaoyu might investigate him, so he might as well be frank and let the Ji family protect him in the future.

"Investiture of the Gods"

When Gu An uttered those four words, Ji Xiaoyu suddenly opened her eyes, turned her head to look at him, and for the first time, her eyes revealed a look of surprise.

"You wrote Investiture of the Gods? How do you know so much?" Ji Xiaoyu asked, frowning.

Gu An said helplessly, "That was just my imagination, it's not true."

Many people now say that the Investiture of the Gods is a story about ancient history, and Zuo Lin, Wu Xin and others think so too, which made him nervous for a time.

If he hadn't checked the outer sect's library and found no records related to China, he would have almost thought the Investiture of the Gods was real. "Just wild speculation? But the world of the Investiture of the Gods you described is so vast, and those Taoist techniques are truly captivating," Ji Xiaoyu said softly.

It's obvious that she also enjoys reading Investiture of the Gods.

Gu An pretended to be flustered, looking as if he didn't know how to respond.

"You must not tell anyone else about this. The influence of Investiture of the Gods is too great. Pan An's name has spread throughout the Taicang Dynasty, and other sects all want to find you," Ji Xiaoyu instructed.

She thought for a moment, then raised her right hand. The jade ring on her middle finger shone brightly, and a small bronze sword appeared in her palm.

"This is a talisman treasure. It can be activated by injecting spiritual power into it. This treasure can kill cultivators in the Core Formation stage. Keep it to save your life."

Ji Xiaoyu's words made Gu An take another look at the bronze sword.

This was his first time encountering such a talisman. Jiang Qiong had mentioned to him before that talismans could not recognize a master and required the storage of spiritual power to be used. They were often left by great cultivators to their juniors to save their lives. He never expected that he would be able to enjoy one today.

He did not refuse and accepted the bronze sword.

"Go back inside and rest. You don't need to guard the door anymore."

Ji Xiaoyu closed her eyes again, her tone returning to its previous indifference.

Gu An raised his hand in greeting, then turned and left.

After leaving the courtyard, Gu An was secretly curious. He sensed an inexplicable aura about Ji Xiaoyu, an aura that made him inexplicably want to possess it.

Without giving it much thought, he walked towards his own yard.

As more and more guests arrived, the Ji residence became lively, filled with people everywhere.

The Nascent Soul cultivators chatted and laughed, while the Core Formation cultivators kept them company. The Core Formation cultivators could only run around and busy themselves. The difference in status brought about by their cultivation level was clearly evident in the Ji family mansion.

As Gu An walked, he suddenly spotted someone.

Jiang Qiong.

The two met in a corridor, face to face. Gu An remained calm, his expression unchanged, as did Jiang Qiong.

The two brushed past each other, about half a meter apart, when Gu An suddenly felt a jade pendant being inserted into his left hand.

"Go back inside and use your divine sense to investigate. We'll pretend we don't know each other."

Jiang Qiong's voice reached Gu An's ears; she was using a telepathic technique.

Gu An clenched the jade pendant in his hand and left without looking back. The two passed each other by as if they were complete strangers.

……

Inside the room, Gu An sat cross-legged on the bed, his left hand clutching the jade pendant, the back of his hand facing up. Even inside the room, he did not allow the jade pendant to be exposed.

He probed the jade pendant with his divine sense, and soon his brows furrowed.

Inside the jade pendant was a fragment of Jiang Qiong's lingering consciousness, telling him why she came to the Ji residence.

Jiang Qiong's target this time was Ji Xiaoyu.

Not only her, but also Qianqiu Pavilion and other demonic sects sent spies, all wanting to seize the innate Dao talisman in Ji Xiaoyu's body.

The Innate Dao Talisman is a very special power, like bloodline, something you are born with. But once the owner forms a Golden Core, the Innate Dao Talisman will appear on the Golden Core. At this point, if the Golden Core is taken away, the Innate Dao Talisman will leave the cultivator's physical body.

According to Jiang Qiong, Dao talismans are extremely rare, even rarer than celestial spiritual roots, and possess the great power to change one's destiny.

No wonder Ji Xiaoyu's lifespan was so extraordinary; it turns out it was due to the innate Dao talisman.

Gu An was now in a dilemma. On one side was Jiang Qiong, and on the other was Ji Xiaoyu. Whom should he support?
never mind!

Never mind, Jiang Qiong won't make a move until the banquet ends. We'll have to wait until Ji Xiaoyu forms his core, by which time Gu An will have already returned to Xuan Valley.

Gu An was very curious about the Innate Dao Talisman. Could the special aura he had sensed on Ji Xiaoyu be the aura of the Innate Dao Talisman?

Even he, a great cultivator at the Transcendent Realm, couldn't resist the temptation, which shows just how powerful the innate Dao talisman is.

As time went by, the banquet proceeded smoothly, and none of the lurking demonic cultivators made any rash moves.

At noon, Ji Xiaoyu even demonstrated the Qilin Step to the guests, a scene witnessed by Gu An in the courtyard.

Ji Xiaoyu stepped out of the courtyard, ascending to the heavens step by step. With each step, a Qilin Dharma image appeared beneath her feet. After seven steps, the Qilin Dharma image covered her body. At first glance, it seemed as if seven dark red Qilins were standing in the air, which was quite spectacular.

With Gu An's eyesight, he could tell that Ji Xiaoyu could take two more steps; nine steps was the limit of her Qilin Step.

However, the limit of the Qilin Step is not nine steps. When it is mastered to the highest level, it can take a thousand steps, and a thousand Qilins are like clones that can surround and attack the opponent or confuse the opponent.

Regardless, it is truly remarkable that Ji Xiaoyu was able to master the Qilin Step at the age of thirty-four. With the Qilin Step, she is more than capable of sweeping aside those of the same cultivation level.

In the evening, Du Ye brought Gu Zong and Gu Yu to find Gu An.

Du Ye left after leading the way, not daring to disturb them.

An hour later, Gu Zong left with a satisfied smile.

Gu An escorted them to the courtyard gate. Gu Yu turned back, winked at Gu An, and said, "Remember, in the book, I must have many female confidantes. In six months at most, I will come to find you. The medicine valley you want will definitely not be small!"

(End of this chapter)