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

Chapter 103 Defying Fate, the Fear of the Azure Vine Tree

Gu An waited for more than half a year, and even after turning sixty, he still hadn't received the Ji family's seventh-tier spirit tree.

He believed that Ji Xiaoyu wouldn't lie to him; he guessed that the Ji family's procedures were a bit complicated, and he would have to wait a little longer.

In this respect, it is not as good as Tai Xuan Sect. The Xuanqing Tree that Tai Xuan Sect promised came down very quickly!
On a sweltering summer day, Gu An was sowing seeds in the Third Medicine Valley, while Gu Yu stood beside him, talking incessantly about the Supreme Immortal Venerable Tai Xuan.

This year, the plot of "Tai Xuan Immortal Venerable" reached its peak, with the protagonist Gu Yu meeting with the second male lead Zhou Tongyou, preparing to join forces to fight against the demon who was wreaking havoc on the world, which whetted the appetite of countless readers.

Gu An was in a good mood because he had just spent 100,000 years of his lifespan last night to upgrade the Great Yin-Yang Transformation to the Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body.

The Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body retains its previous abilities to prevent spying and deduce cause and effect, and adds the mystery of clones. It can create nine clones, and it can manipulate the clones to fight or do other things.

After returning, he even tried using his clone to gather herbs, but unfortunately, just like before, it failed to steal his lifespan.

We have no choice but to be down-to-earth!
As Gu An planted the seeds, he pondered what combat techniques he should improve next.

Originally, he wanted to improve once a month, but during this year he often sensed that there were Nascent Soul Realm cultivators fighting in the North Sea Mountains, so he postponed his plan to become stronger.

Gu Yu couldn't help but look at Gu An and ask, "Hey, were you listening carefully?"

Gu An didn't look up and casually said, "I can't possibly write a book according to your ideas. Just wait and see."

"How much longer will Immortal Venerable Tai Xuan write?" Gu Yu asked in a low voice.

There were only the two of them within a ten-mile radius, so they weren't afraid of being overheard.

"It'll be soon, in just a few years."

What will you write next?

"We'll see, I might not write it at all."

"No, if you stop writing, it will be a great loss to the cultivation world."

"It would be a good thing if I stopped writing, so that cultivators wouldn't neglect their cultivation and instead spend their days secretly reading books."

"Nonsense. Who reads books every day? You only write a few words a year. We only read books in our spare time from cultivation."

The two started bickering, and only after Gu Yu pulled out the latest version of the Tai Xuan Secret Manual did Gu An believe that he hadn't been slacking off on reading.

Gu An put the Tai Xuan Secret Manual into his storage bag, and then asked, "Has anything major happened in the cultivation world recently?"

Gu Yu secretly despised his behavior, and then said, "There really is one. The Demonic Path and the Ephemeral Flower Sect have been fighting a great battle in the North Sea Mountains for more than half a year. The Thousand Autumns Pavilion and the Ten Thousand Yin Sect have been slaughtered by the Ephemeral Flower Sect and are almost disbanded. If this continues, it won't be more than two or three years before the Ephemeral Flower Sect can unify the Demonic Path."

His tone became excited again when the topic of the Ephemeral Flower Sect was mentioned.

"The Tanhua Sect and the Taixuan Sect are bound to have a battle, and this battle will unify the cultivation world of the Taicang Dynasty. The sect is not in a hurry at all, it seems that victory is in their grasp."

Upon hearing his words, Gu An couldn't help but think of Lü Baitian's lifespan limit and wondered if Lü Baitian could successfully break through it.

Gu An was helpless regarding the lifespan limit; he couldn't very well explain its existence to people.

The limit of lifespan is like a destiny. Everyone who embarks on the path of cultivation is fighting against destiny. Who can believe in fate?
Gu An believes there is always a way to break free from fate, but it is very difficult to find.

The two chatted for another half an hour before Gu Yu left. He said that Gu Zong had been in seclusion recently, seemingly to prepare for the battle against the Tan Hua Sect. He also needed to cultivate diligently so that he could contribute to the Tai Xuan Sect.

Seven days after Gu Yu left, the Pill Hall issued an order to collect herbs from various medicine valleys ahead of schedule. Even the Third Medicine Valley had cultivators from the Lü and Ji families come to collect a large amount of herbs. All signs indicated that something big was about to happen.

Gu An wasn't thinking about the attack from the Ephemeral Flower Sect, but rather about Lü Baitian's preparation to challenge destiny and break through to the Profound Heart Realm.

A blink of an eye.

Summer passes and autumn comes.

At noon that day, Gu An arrived at Tianya Valley and found Li Xuandao in the valley, whose cultivation had reached the Transcendent Realm.

Of all the cultivators at the Transcendent Realm who were over two hundred years old, Gu An had only seen one like him.

This guy's cultivation level is only at the first level of the Core Formation Realm on the surface; he's very cunning.

The two sat down at the stone table in front of the pavilion and talked. Li Xuandao praised Gu An's outstanding planting ability, saying that he was able to successfully break through to the Core Formation Realm thanks to the medicinal herbs cultivated by Gu An.

Without these herbs, Li Xuandao planned to have Yi Liuyun help him transplant his Golden Core, but that would definitely not be as effective as breaking through and condensing his own Golden Core.

Gu An could only smile at this and say that it was all because his uncle was highly talented.

Judging from Li Xuandao's smile, Gu An could tell that he was secretly pleased, thinking that no one knew about his cultivation level in the Void Transcending Realm.

"Gu An, how is Yang Ni doing with you?" Li Xuandao asked with a smile, picking up his teacup.

“That’s good. She’s started growing medicinal herbs now and has become a fellow traveler with me,” Gu An replied.

"Planting medicinal herbs?"

Li Xuandao's expression became intriguing.

Gu An suddenly thought of something. Lu Baitian had said that the Tanhua Sect had controlled the royal family two hundred years ago. Could it be that Li Xuandao's cultivation method came from the Tanhua Sect?

Zong Ying is the best proof of this; he can hide his cultivation level so that even those with higher cultivation levels would find it difficult to detect.

Then I thought of the epiphyllum flowers that Yang Ni planted...

Good guy!
Do I have a spy from the Ephemeral Flower Cult among my acquaintances?
Gu An thought about it more and more and it seemed very possible.

Li Xuandao continued, "The cultivation world has been quite turbulent lately, so you must be careful."

Gu An followed up by asking, "Uncle, are you referring to the Ephemeral Flower Sect?"

“That’s right.” “Uncle, as the emperor, what is your view on the Ephemeral Flower Sect?”

Li Xuandao remained calm and said, "A wolf in sheep's clothing, bringing chaos to the common people."

Upon hearing this, Gu An was stunned; these words didn't sound like they came from the Ephemeral Flower Sect.

Li Xuandao began to recount his past. It turned out that his father had been controlled by the Tanhua Sect, which turned the court into a tool for the sect to amass wealth. When the truth was exposed, his father was brutally murdered by the Tanhua Sect. He had no choice but to ask the Taixuan Sect for help. He ascended the throne because of the intelligence he provided at the time, which is why the Taixuan Sect supported him, since he was not the crown prince.

Li Xuandao's tone was hostile towards the Ephemeral Flower Sect, which made Gu An feel that it wasn't fake.

"I do want to contend with the Tai Xuan Sect, but that is merely an internal struggle within the dynasty. If the Tan Hua Sect were to fight the Tai Xuan Sect, I would certainly support the Tai Xuan Sect without holding back," Li Xuandao said coldly, his eyes flashing with killing intent, which was directed at the Tan Hua Sect.

Gu An asked in surprise, "The Ephemeral Flower Sect acts so despicably, and no one knows their headquarters, so how come so many people have joined the Ephemeral Flower Sect?"

Li Xuandao replied, "Because of the Epiphyllum oxypetalum. It is said that the Epiphyllum oxypetalum can change the aptitude of cultivators and even postpone their lifespan. In addition, they do provide generous cultivation resources to those who join them, so people always join them."

"Based on my current understanding, the Tanhua Sect has an extremely strong foundation, possibly even stronger than the entire Taicang Dynasty, because the Tanhua Sect we are facing is just a branch."

Epiphyllum?

Change qualifications?

Gu An raised an eyebrow. No wonder Yang Ni was meditating and cultivating in the Tan Garden.

However, he remained skeptical about the efficacy of the Epiphyllum oxypetalum. Could a sixth-tier herb really defy fate?

Li Xuandao continued to tell Gu An about the deeds of the Tanhua Sect two hundred years ago. At that time, it was common for the people of a city to disappear without a trace, leaving only an empty city. To this day, Li Xuandao has not been able to find out where those people went, but it is certain that they are in grave danger.

Gu An seemed to be listening to all sorts of ghost stories, completely engrossed.

The Ephemeral Flower Cult is extremely wicked!

It is said that the followers of the Ephemeral Flower Sect are not only cultivators, but also demons and ghosts, which reminds Gu An of the Ephemeral Flower Ghost Mother who is still at the Heaven-Mending Platform.

They talked for a full hour, and Li Xuandao still hadn't finished speaking, nor had Gu An gotten tired of listening.

Sudden.

A notification appeared before Gu An's eyes.

[Zhong Liang harbors hostility and murderous intent towards you. Do you wish to use your lifespan detection ability on him?]

Zhong Liang?

Who is this?
I don't know them at all.

Gu An was taken aback. He was usually kind to others and rarely made enemies.

The name sounded extraordinary, and Gu An silently chose yes.

[Requires 100 years of lifespan, continue?]

so expensive?
Gu An couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, have you ever heard of Zhong Liang?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xuandao frowned and said, "The Ephemeral Flower Sect has already begun to contact you?"

"Is this person a member of the Ephemeral Flower Sect?" Upon hearing this, Gu An immediately tensed up and mentally chose "yes."

Zhong Liang (Level 3 of the Integration Realm): 1462/2900/3000

The third level of the Integration Realm!
Gu An frowned, pondering how the other party knew about him.

Is it because of Munekage?
No, he checked many times and confirmed that Zong Ying did not have any communication items belonging to other great cultivators, and that Zong Ying had been dead for half a year.

Who exactly is responsible?

The thought that he had been targeted by the Ephemeral Flower Sect made Gu Anyi feel an urge to storm into the sect's stronghold and silence him.

Unfortunately, the Ephemeral Flower Sect had no stronghold, at least not in Zong Ying's memory. Zong Ying and that mysterious shadowy figure met in different places each time.

"Two hundred years ago, Zhong Liang was the leader of the Tan Hua Sect. He was severely injured by Lü Baitian and fled. Where did you come into contact with him?" Li Xuandao asked in a deep voice.

Gu An shook his head and said, "I met him by chance at the outer gate of Tai Xuan Sect before. He wanted to invite me to go out and seek an opportunity, but I refused. Today, after talking with my uncle for so long, I suddenly remembered him. I didn't expect that he really was a demon of the Tan Hua Sect."

Li Xuandao did not doubt Gu An's words, but instead considered many possibilities.

Could it be that Zhong Liang has his eye on Li Ya, or on him?
Li Xuandao's face darkened.

The name Zhong Liang killed their interest in chatting. After checking Tianya Valley, Gu An hurriedly left.

After returning to Xuan Valley, Gu An went to the cave entrance of the Eight Views Cave.

He wanted to search Zong Ying's storage bag again, just in case.

As a result, as soon as he arrived, he used his divine sense to see a vine from the Cang Teng tree fiddling with Zong Ying's storage bag. He kept his aura concealed and approached quietly without making a sound.

As soon as he stepped out of the cave, the old vine tree was clearly startled, and its vines snapped back.

Gu An walked up to it and said coldly, "Now that you have developed sentience, why are you hiding? Are you afraid of me? Be careful, or I'll burn you to the ground!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his right hand ignited with spiritual energy.

Zhong Liang's hostility made him feel very bad.

Upon hearing this, the old vine tree trembled violently, its leaves falling in droves, and a soft female voice rang out: "I...I'm not afraid of you, I'm afraid of that tree..."

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There will be another update tonight!
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(End of this chapter)