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

Chapter 58: If you were made the sect leader, what would you do?
A seventh-tier spirit tree!

This is a Cang Teng tree of the highest quality. How could the Tai Xuan Sect produce a spiritual tree comparable to the Sacred Tree of Qian Qiu Pavilion?

Could it be that the ancient vine tree in the Eight Views Cave is not a true sacred tree, or perhaps it has not yet fully matured?
Gu An immediately became excited; he simply couldn't refuse such a treasure.

What's so difficult about keeping the saintess?
Doesn't she like reading?

Write her some side stories from Investiture of the Gods!
"When will the Holy Maiden arrive?" Gu An took a deep breath and asked. He did not show his joy, but instead pretended to be worried and deep.

Gu Zong smiled and said, "It will be here in a year at most, so you don't need to feel pressured."

Gu Yu, standing to the side, teased, "Don't worry about her wanting you to repay her with your body. After all, there's a difference in cultivation levels. She just likes your books."

Gu An nodded. He wasn't that narcissistic; there were countless people in the world who loved the Investiture of the Gods.

Gu Zong looked at Elder Tian standing to the side and asked, "How are you feeling here?"

Elder Tian nodded and said, "It's very good. The Valley Master treats me very well."

Gu An felt helpless. Did Gu Zong bring in his distant relatives because he was afraid Gu An wouldn't suspect anything?

No!

If you're going to put on a show, you have to go all the way!
Gu An looked at Gu Zong, hesitating to speak.

Gu Zong seemed to see his confusion and laughed, "He already knew your identity as Pan An. It was because he liked the Investiture of the Gods that I sent him here. Apart from him, only the people in the Elder Hall knew. Don't worry, we are more afraid than you of your identity as Pan An being exposed."

Before the Investiture of the Gods appeared, disciples had been writing books, but the impact brought by Pan An was unprecedented. No one could have imagined that a book could bring more disciples and cultivation resources to a sect, or even help the sect to conduct diplomacy with other forces. Especially after the book Tai Xuan Immortal Venerable was published, all eyes in the world were on the Tai Xuan Sect, and he, standing in a high position, saw it most clearly.

Gu An breathed a sigh of relief.

Gu Yu suddenly said, "Zhou Tongyou is very good to Gu Yu. I take back what I said before. Let's not let Gu Yu bully him."

Gu An looked at him with a strange expression.

Gu Zong laughed and said, "My image is not bad either. Wherever I go, I hear people mention my name and ask me when I will return to deal with that villain for my son?"

"Ahem, I can't reveal it beforehand, otherwise there will be no suspense."

"Too."

Gu An changed the subject, asking the Holy Maiden of the Dao Tian Sect. He needed to find out as much as possible in order to better face her.

Gu Zong began to introduce the saintess.

Shen Zhen, a three-elemental root, is the youngest daughter of the Dao Tian Sect leader. Her aptitude is not top-notch, but she has an extremely high comprehension of music and magic. She usually loves playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Based on the introduction alone, Gu An felt that Shen Zhen's personality was not particularly assertive.

He enjoys playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and should have a very good temper.

……

Late at night, at Bajing Cave.

Beneath the ancient vine tree, Gu An was practicing his swordsmanship, specifically the Wood Spirit Sword Technique.

The Wood Spirit Sword Technique was taught to Gu An by Zuo Lin to test his abilities. This sword technique is not rare and can be purchased in the outer city.

Because it is of the wood element, Gu An plans to practice it on his own and not invest his lifespan into this sword technique.

However, isn't real time also a form of lifespan?
With his mastery of the Tai Cang Jing Shen Sword and his current top-grade Five Elements Heavenly Spiritual Root, Gu An has found his genius in the Wood Spirit Sword Technique.

He has already mastered the Wood Spirit Sword Technique and is now pursuing an even higher level.

Every skill, technique, and unique art has its minor stages, which, according to his summary, are ranked from lowest to highest as: Beginner, First Steps, Entering the Mastery, Achieving Some Success, Mastery, Perfection, Reaching the Pinnacle, and Returning to Simplicity.

It felt like improving one's skills in a game, which Gu An found very interesting.

A ten-foot-long Haolong watched Gu An practice his swordsmanship from the tree. Now it possessed the majesty of a true dragon and had not gone astray.

Gu An moved nimbly within a three-zhang radius of the tree, creating afterimages as if there were nearly ten of him practicing swordsmanship. The Heavenly Destiny Sword in his hand was extremely sharp, overflowing with energy. This energy dissipated after being thrown two zhang away, without damaging the flowers and plants.

Gu An stopped practicing after an hour.

Clang——

The Heavenly Sword was sheathed, emitting a light, melodious sound like a dragon's roar.

He tossed the Heavenly Sword into his storage bag and then stretched.

Haolong descended from the sky, uttering a childlike voice: "Master, you're so amazing! Can you teach me?"

Gu An glanced at it and asked with a smile, "Can your dragon claws hold a sword?"

"Can't I use my claws as swords?" Haolong asked, blinking his dragon eyes.

Gu An was taken aback when he heard this.

Something!
He immediately took out the Wood Spirit Sword Technique manual he had drawn from his storage bag, tossed it to Haolong, and said, "Then practice it yourself. Ask me if you don't understand anything when I come back."

Haolong grabbed the sword manual with its dragon claws and hurriedly said, "Remember to bring me roast chicken!"

Gu An smiled and nodded, then turned and left.

Haolong landed, placed the sword manual on the ground, and flipped through it with his claws.

After leaving Bajing Cave, Gu An walked into the mountains and forests. Under the cover of night, the forests were covered with snow, but he left no footprints.

The next morning, Gu An had just finished practicing with his disciples and was preparing to head to the Third Medicine Valley when Ye Lan arrived.

Since his junior sister had arrived, Gu An naturally had to keep her company.

The two went into the attic to chat. Gu An first inquired about her recent situation. No matter how busy she was, she would visit Gu An every year. It would be impossible for Gu An not to be moved.

“Since last year, disciples from the outer sect have been frequently going missing. No matter how hard we investigate, we in the Enforcement Hall can’t find the real culprit. On the other hand, the Demon Extermination Hall always manages to find spies from the demonic path to confess their crimes,” Ye Lan sighed.

After the sect leader changed, she and Lu Jiujia stopped contacting each other, mainly because the two factions were already at odds and had reached the point of irreconcilable differences.

Gu An laughed and said, "Then let the Demon Extermination Hall catch it. This will give you time to cultivate."

Ye Lan shook her head and said, "It's not that simple. The leader of the Demon Extermination Hall wants to annex the Law Enforcement Hall, and the Grand Elder of the Outer Sect also seems to be interested. If our Law Enforcement Hall does nothing, it will be disbanded sooner or later."

"It's alright. If we disband, we can always come back. The pills that Senior Brother can provide are no worse than the treatment in the Enforcement Hall."

"That won't do. What will you do if you give it to me?"

Ye Lan refused outright, her expression very serious.

Seeing this, Gu An didn't say much and could only change the subject to talk about other things.

Because Ye Lan wanted to stay a few more days, Gu An decided to stay in Xuan Valley until after the Spring Festival before leaving.

……

After the Spring Festival, the winter snow completely melted. Gu An first went to Tianya Valley, harvested thousands of years of lifespan, and then sowed seeds. After staying for two days, he came to the Third Medicine Valley.

Xuan Valley is crowded, and Tianya Valley has three monkey demons, so neither is deserted. But the Third Medicine Valley is different; every time Gu An comes, it is completely silent.

Ye Yan and Elder Tian both enjoyed the quiet and did not disturb each other.

Gu An walked into a park and began picking ripe herbs.

Old Tian walked over and asked curiously, "Why do you always pick them yourself?"

Gu An replied, "I have to do something, and I feel a sense of satisfaction from picking the fruit and wrapping it up myself, as if I'm contributing to the sect."

Upon hearing this, Old Tian smiled and said, "You are indeed making a contribution, not just being self-satisfied."

"I hope the higher-ups think the same way," Gu An said with a light laugh as he picked some fruit.

Old Master Tian suddenly asked, "If you were to become the sect leader, what would you do?"

Gu An's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't stop. He said irritably, "Don't think nonsense. You're not the sect leader. Do you think you can give it to me? Besides, I can only manage the Medicine Valley, not the millions of disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect."

"With my current cultivation level, if I really became the sect leader, who would be convinced?"

He doesn't want to be the sect leader!
He wanted to cultivate discreetly, not wanting to face pressure directly. If he became the sect leader and encountered an invincible enemy, could he escape?

Gu An was not absolutely loyal to the Tai Xuan Sect!

Old Tian smiled and didn't press the matter further.

After Gu An finished picking the fruit, he followed Gu An to the attic.

"Actually, I know an extraordinary cultivation technique. Would you like to learn it? Even the elders of the ancient sect don't know about it," Elder Tian suddenly asked.

"If I don't study, wouldn't it be better to use that time to write books? You've seen it yourself, I don't usually cultivate; my cultivation level is entirely boosted by pills."

"You're still so young, how could you be like this..."

"You don't understand, do you? This is called enjoying life. I like to do what I can. Of course, this is just me. Everyone's pursuit is different."

Gu An casually remarked, "Why is this old guy talking so much today?"
You want to destroy my Dao heart?
Just as Elder Tian was about to continue speaking, a sound came from the horizon. The two turned to look and saw Gu Zong flying over, manipulating a magical artifact. Behind him stood a woman in black, her face veiled, revealing only a pair of bright and captivating eyes.

Has the Holy Maiden of the Daotian Sect arrived?
Gu An asked Elder Tian to put the herbs inside the house first, while he turned around to greet Gu Zong and the other two.

He discarded a lifespan probe.

Shen Zhen (Second Level of Core Formation): 78/660/1050

After the golden wheel landed, Gu Zong laughed and said, "Gu An, this is Shen Zhen, the Holy Maiden of the Dao Tian Sect. You must treat her well."

He turned to face Shen Zhen, who raised her hand in greeting. He nodded and then quickly departed on his golden wheel.

Shen Zhen looked at Gu An, scrutinizing her with her eyes. Just by looking at her eyes, one could imagine that she was a rare beauty.

Gu An raised his hand in greeting and said, "I am Gu An, and I greet Miss Shen."

Shen Zhen nodded slightly and asked curiously, "Which do you prefer, Investiture of the Gods or Tai Xuan Immortal Venerable?"

Are you testing me right off the bat?

Gu An remained expressionless and said, "I like them all. It's impossible for a person to like only one book. Different moods will make people want to read different books, right?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhen's eyes lit up immediately.

"Actually, I've also written a book. Would you like to take a look?" Shen Zhen said, blinking.

Gu An naturally wouldn't refuse, and said, "Shall we go upstairs to take a look?"

Shen Zhen nodded, then followed Gu An up to the second floor of the attic.

Gu An wanted to leave the door open, since it would be awkward for a man and a woman to be alone in a room, but Shen Zhen closed the door instead.

The two sat down at the table. Shen Zhen took out a book from her storage bag. She frowned slightly, seemingly hesitant. After thinking for a moment, she handed the book to Gu An.

Gu An took a look and his eyelids twitched wildly.

Black Knight's Journey?

what the hell!

感谢星灵之血打赏5000起点币、鲜肉小馄饨打赏500起点币、只求大自在打赏233起点币、清风兮打赏100起点币、艳骨飘香打赏100起点币~~
The second update will be at 12 PM. We'll be back to the original update schedule of midnight and 12 PM. Since the new book period is ending, there's no need to adhere to the strict time limits anymore; the daily word count will remain the same.
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(End of this chapter)