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

Chapter 105 The Ascended Arrive

"What bad news?"

Gu An asked, as he could sense that Lü Baitian's aura was very weak, so he sent out a lifespan probe.

[Lu Baitian (Ninth Level of the Integration Realm): 764/2050/3200]

It doesn't look like there's been much change.

and many more!

His lifespan was reduced by 1,100 years!

Gu An remembered that his previous lifespan was 3,150 years.

Could it be that he failed to transcend the tribulation?
Gu An was secretly alarmed. No wonder that in the evolutionary cultivation, he had to wait many years to continue to undergo tribulation after each failure. The same was true in reality. Moreover, in reality, he might die directly. Even if he didn't die, he couldn't continuously attempt to undergo tribulation.

Lu Baitian took a deep breath and said, "I failed to transcend the tribulation and cannot break through to a higher realm. I will need many years to recover from my injuries before I can regain my peak cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Gu An's expression changed drastically. He immediately became agitated, took two steps forward, and asked anxiously, "Sect Master, are you alright? You must take care of yourself; the Tai Xuan Sect cannot do without you!"

Upon hearing this, Lü Baitian's gloomy face broke into a smile, and Gu Zong also felt gratified.

Ji Hantian was displeased and said, "What do you mean I can't live without him? If he dies, I'll still be here."

Which deputy sect leader in the world doesn't want to be the sect leader?

Is it really okay for you to be so blunt?
Gu An thought to himself, his face still full of worry.

"Don't worry, you won't die, but it will be very difficult to reach a higher realm in this life. If you fail again next time, you will really die." Lu Baitian said quietly, recalling his experience of transcending the tribulation, his face showing lingering fear.

Gu An couldn't help but ask, "Is the Heavenly Tribulation really that difficult? Even a great cultivator like you can't handle it?"

Ji Hantian snorted, "His ability to transcend tribulation has already surpassed the masses of the Nine Dynasties. Countless humans and demons spend their entire lives trying to reach the Integration Realm."

Gu Zong nodded, then chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I just can't even reach the Integration Realm."

Gu An took a deep breath and said with a wry smile, "Let alone the Integration Realm, I can't even get close to the Core Formation Realm."

His current apparent cultivation level is still at the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Don't worry, even if I use pills and rare treasures, I can still get you to the Core Formation stage. But if you want to reach the Nascent Soul stage, that depends on your own fortune and luck. Even the sect can't help you. Of course, you have another option, which is to become my disciple, and I will directly transfer all my cultivation to you." Lu Baitian waved his sleeve and said domineeringly.

Again!
Gu An was about to refuse when Ji Hantian couldn't help but say, "Don't think about transferring your cultivation yet. The Ephemeral Flower Sect is eyeing us covetously and might attack us tomorrow. Even if they inherit your cultivation, they won't have your strength. The Tai Xuan Sect really can't do without you right now."

Gu Zong nodded and said, "I have already contacted the Supreme Elders, but I don't know how many will be able to return."

When the conversation turned to the Supreme Elder, Lü Baitian's attention was diverted, and he began to sigh.

It turns out that the reason why the Supreme Elders left the Tai Xuan Sect was to seek opportunities to break through to the Integration Realm and beyond. Since ancient times, only 10% of the Supreme Elders who left have been able to return, and of those 10%, only 10% have successfully broken through. The rest return to live out their remaining years in peace.

When Ji Hantian mentioned the eldest disciple, he believed that the person was the most promising Tai Xuan Sect cultivator to surpass the Integration Realm, even more so than the Supreme Elders.

This made Gu An curious about that true disciple. What kind of talent did he possess that made everyone in the Tai Xuan Sect admire and look up to him?

Gu An stood aside, listening quietly, learning more about the past of the Tai Xuan Sect.

A full half hour passed before the three of them finished their conversation.

"The most important thing I've asked you to do today is that we'll be sending more high-level seeds soon. You must cultivate them carefully, as it concerns the future war between the Tai Xuan Sect and the Tan Hua Sect," Ji Hantian said earnestly to Gu An.

Sending seeds?
The more the merrier!
Gu An quickly assured him, "No matter how many are sent, I will do my best to cultivate them and will not be careless!"

Gu Zong chuckled and said, "I like your spirit. None of the other Medicine Valley Masters are as serious as you. They either neglect their duties or embezzle funds. Keep up the good work, and I'll promote you to an inner disciple in the future."

Gu An quickly bowed and thanked him.

Afterwards, Lü Baitian and the other two got up and left.

As he stepped out of the pavilion, Lü Baitian's complexion instantly returned to normal. As the sect leader, he couldn't let his disciples see him in a weak state.

Gu An went downstairs and watched them leave.

He felt a little regretful. He had wanted to ask Ji Hantian when the seventh-tier spirit tree would arrive.
……

Neither the news of the destruction of the Epiphyllum tree nor the news of Lü Baitian's failed tribulation spread in the cultivation world. At least, Ye Lan did not mention these two things when she came to see Gu An.

Ye Lan will be unable to participate in the upcoming Spring Festival because the Enforcement Hall has a major mission that will take her away for several months.

Gu An stood at the edge of the terrace, watching Ye Lan's departing figure until she disappeared into the swirling snow before he withdrew his gaze.

He looked at Yang Ni, who was walking out of the woods, and waited for her to pass by his building before asking, "You said that the Ephemeral Flower Sect has no foundation, yet it can attract so many cultivators to join. How foolish are all the cultivators in the world?"

Yang Ni stopped and looked up at Gu An, saying, "Perhaps the Ephemeral Flower Sect has something they want?"

“Is that so? But I feel it’s more like a scam. The Demon Extermination Hall in the outer sect was like that before. Lu Jiujia trusted the Demon Extermination Hall back then, thinking that he could embark on a path to success, but he was persecuted instead.”

Gu An said with a sigh, shaking his head, "No matter how you look at it, everyone in this world can't escape one word: competition. My Medicine Valley is the best; there's nothing to compete for here."

After saying that, he turned and went back into the house.

Yang Ni frowned; she felt that Gu An was subtly targeting her.

If Gu An suspected that she was connected to the Ephemeral Flower Sect, why didn't he just say so directly?
After thinking about it, Yang Ni decided to go and talk to Lu Jiujia to see what Gu An was talking about.

……

As winter snow fell, the seventh-tier spirit tree promised by the Ji family finally arrived. [Pure Yang Tree (Seventh Tier): 2/8999/64000]

Gu An carried the sapling, which was taller than a person, and began looking for a suitable planting site.

Ultimately, he decided to plant the Pure Yang Tree in the open space in front of the pavilion, and he immediately called his disciples to come and shovel snow and dig soil.

Upon hearing that this was a seventh-order spirit tree, many disciples gathered around to watch the spectacle.

Even though the Pure Yang Tree was still a sapling, as soon as it entered the soil, the surrounding snow began to melt, making everyone around feel warm and cozy, as if it were a tree of fire.

This Pure Yang Tree was Gu An's personal treasure, so he felt a great sense of accomplishment listening to the disciples' discussions.

His gaze suddenly turned to the distance, where he saw cultivators flying over the mountain on their swords, led by the outer sect elder, Lü Songhan.

Two hundred Qi Refining Realm servants followed behind Lü Songhan, all of whom were at least at the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm.

Ok?
Why is she here?

Gu An noticed that the ascendant Lu Lingjun was also behind Lü Songhan. This guy's apparent cultivation level was the eighth level of Qi Refining, but he was hiding it very well.

Who would have thought that this menial disciple was actually a great cultivator at the ninth level of the Integration Realm, comparable to Lü Baitian?

If they were to actually fight, Gu An felt that Lü Baitian might not be a match for Lu Lingjun. Lü Baitian had only lived for a little over seven hundred years, while Lu Lingjun was an old monster who had lived for nearly two thousand years.

After landing, Lü Songhan clasped his hands and smiled, "Brother Gu, these are two hundred handymen disciples that I specially selected for you to use. I have already obtained approval from above."

The reason for choosing menial disciples is that it would be difficult for them to steal the herbs here. After all, this is the territory of the inner sect, and there is an entire outer sect city blocking the way, so security is not a concern. The main thing is to have manpower.

Gu An stepped forward and exchanged pleasantries with Lü Songhan.

Lu Lingjun stood in the crowd, sizing up Gu An. She was secretly curious: how could someone with Foundation Establishment cultivation be on friendly terms with a Nascent Soul cultivator?
Who is this person?
The other disciples were very excited. This medicine valley was in the inner sect's territory, which was a tremendous opportunity for them.

After Lü Songhan left, Gu An summoned Xiao Chuan and asked him to arrange for the servant disciples to stay.

He didn't look at Lu Lingjun much, not wanting to get entangled in any close karma with the ascended beings.

On this day, the newly arrived menial disciples were all building pavilions, and then each of them traveled to the Third Medicine Valley.

Lu Lingjun was quite surprised to find that there were two seventh-order spirit trees hidden in the Third Medicine Valley.

Before her ascension, she had seen a seventh-order spirit tree that was over 20,000 years old and larger than a mountain.

The Tai Xuan Sect's foundation is truly terrifying; she must establish herself here!
And so, Lu Lingjun became very diligent in the days that followed, so diligent that Gu An could not ignore her.

After the New Year, Gu An asked Xiao Chuan to select ten people to serve as stewards of the Medicine Valley, responsible for managing other miscellaneous disciples. Lu Lingjun was one of the ten people Xiao Chuan selected.

Lu Lingjun stared intently at Gu An, a gaze that made him very uncomfortable.

Her appearance was already outstanding; no female disciple in the valley was more beautiful than her. Moreover, she performed so well that if Gu An deliberately ignored her, it would only arouse suspicion.

Gu An offered a few words of encouragement to the ten stewards of Medicine Valley before dismissing them.

Lu Lingjun stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Valley Master, I have something to tell you. May we talk in your room?"

Upon hearing this, Gu An hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement and led her to the attic.

The other stewards who hadn't gone far all cast envious glances at Lu Lingjun.

Being good-looking is an asset!

After entering the room, Lu Lingjun closed the door, while Gu An walked to the desk and sat down, casually flipping over the Qingxia Travelogue on the desk.

Lu Lingjun came to the table, took out a secret manual from her bosom, and handed it to Gu An.

Gu An glanced at it.

Nine Revolutions Golden Body Technique!

The name sounds intimidating!
Lu Lingjun introduced in a low voice, "This is my family's inherited cultivation technique. I hope the Valley Master will not find it offensive."

Gu An frowned and said, "What are you doing? Take it back immediately. What kind of behavior is this if someone sees this!"

Lu Lingjun understood, put the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Technique into her bosom, and took out a magic artifact from her storage bag.

"I told you, don't do anything reckless!"

Lu Lingjun changed the bottle of pills again, saying that they could enhance qi and blood and improve meridians.

"You're using this to test me? You're questioning my commitment to the Tai Xuan Sect!" Gu An stood up angrily and rebuked in a low voice, as if afraid that the disciples outside the building would hear.

Lu Lingjun cursed greed inwardly.

Suddenly remembering something, she took out a long white jade bottle from her storage bag and said, "This is Heavenly Spirit Water. Don't underestimate this bottle. When you sprinkle it on the ground, it can gather spiritual energy and form a lake. The lake water can improve the surrounding soil, allowing the surrounding natural treasures to grow faster. Moreover, it can condense spiritual pearls every year. You can swallow it or use it to refine pills."

Upon hearing this, Gu An took the bottle from her hand and said seriously, "This is a one-time exception. Tell me what you want, but it cannot threaten the interests of the Tai Xuan Sect."

Lu Lingjun smiled and said, "Valley Master, may I cultivate under the Xuanqing Tree?"

She had previously stopped in front of the Xuanqing Tree and seen a huge, fat white spirit rat. The fat rat seemed to be sleeping, but with her insight, she could tell that the fat rat had entered a mysterious state of enlightenment.

Seeing everyone's urging me to continue, I wrote another chapter. Please don't scold me; I didn't want to stop writing either. Ten years of writing has made it muscle memory QAQ
First update of the day, a midnight bombshell!

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Give me some monthly votes to boost my motivation!

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(End of this chapter)