Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Your Sword is Quick

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Under Gu An’s watchful eyes, a figure flew swiftly and landed in front of Ye Yan.

Seeing him, Ye Yan instantly became nervous and even took two steps back.

[Zhou Tongyou (Core Formation Realm Nine Layers): 62/900/3100]

It turned out to be him!

Gu An didn’t expect to encounter Zhou Tongyou, who had recently made a name for himself in the Supreme Sect.

Zhou Tongyou had been challenging and defeating the young disciples everywhere, earning a reputation that even extended to the outer sect.

Because the Jueshan Sect, which Zhou Tongyou belonged to, was also a reputable sect and had a good relationship with the Supreme Sect, the great cultivators of the Supreme Sect couldn’t target him specifically. Consequently, Zhou Tongyou roamed freely in the Supreme Sect for half a year without anyone being able to punish him.

Zhou Tongyou only engaged in combat and did not kill anyone. Moreover, he claimed only to challenge those under the age of a hundred. The many cultivators of the Supreme Sect could only watch and feel secretly angry.

The entire Supreme Sect was being suppressed by Zhou Tongyou; no one dared to question his rules. After all, his opponents were under a hundred years old, but he still had thirty-eight years to reach a hundred. When he challenged the ninety-nine-year-old disciples of the Supreme Sect, it was actually making the Supreme Sect seem at an advantage. Even so, no one could defeat him.

Zhou Tongyou glanced at Gu An on the nearby hillside, his expression calm.

Gu An put the book in his bosom, then stood up and walked down.

He came between Zhou Tongyou and Ye Yan, turned to look at Zhou Tongyou, clasped his fist, and said, “I am Gu An, Ye Yan’s master. May I know how my disciple has offended you, senior?”

Ye Yan looked at Gu An standing in front of him and felt deeply moved.

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Gu An had previously mentioned that the cultivators here were all inner sect disciples, implying they were of Core Formation Realm cultivation.

For Gu An, who was only at the first layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, to stand up to a Core Formation Realm cultivator on his behalf, how could Ye Yan not be moved?

“You are his master? Your cultivation disappoints me.” Zhou Tongyou scrutinized Gu An, frowning.

Gu An replied, “My disciple is only at the Qi Cultivation Realm. As his master, how high can my cultivation be?”

Zhou Tongyou snorted, “I did not bully your disciple; I see potential in him.”

At these words, Ye Yan’s face turned green, wanting to speak but holding back.

Gu An stared at him and said, “If you intend to guide him, you can be straightforward. My disciple can remember your kindness, but you didn’t say, and you struck hard. Perhaps you genuinely wanted to guide him, but in your heart, you must look down on him, so you didn’t bother to explain.”

If Zhou Tongyou were the top genius of the Supreme Sect, Gu An might have considered it more, but he wasn’t.

Gu An did not want to provoke Zhou Tongyou for no reason, but if Zhou Tongyou bullied him, he would not be merciful.

Zhou Tongyou frowned even more upon hearing Gu An’s words.

He wanted to refute, but he understood that Gu An saw through him. He did look down on Ye Yan somewhat and only guided him on a whim.

“Hmph, it seems you’re here to question me. Very well, same rules, no use of spiritual power, just techniques. If you can defeat me, I will apologize to your disciple and give him a complete body refining sorcery. How’s that?” Zhou Tongyou said coldly, staring at Gu An.

“Master, let it go!”

Ye Yan hurriedly said; he knew Zhou Tongyou’s strength best, even in techniques, was unfathomable.

Gu An asked, “Only techniques?”

“Correct!”

Seeing Gu An interested, Zhou Tongyou grinned, though somewhat sinisterly.

Gu An frowned and said, “If you lose, you can’t mention losing to me, and don’t come to pester me and my disciple again.”

Heh, want to compare techniques with me?

Zhou Tongyou laughed and said, “Agreed, now take your weapon.”

Gu An raised his right hand, summoned a tree branch from the forest, and held it like a sword. His left hand gestured towards Zhou Tongyou.

Zhou Tongyou immediately walked towards Gu An; the distance between them began to shorten. Ye Yan hurriedly stepped aside, afraid of hindering his master.

When they were less than seven steps apart, Zhou Tongyou suddenly accelerated, stepping in front of Gu An, punching towards Gu An’s abdomen with his right hand.

Though he did not use spiritual power, this punch roared like tigers and leopards. Even before his fist reached Gu An, Gu An felt a fierce force surging towards him.

Whoosh——

Zhou Tongyou’s fist stopped; his pupils trembled violently, and he looked shocked.

Ye Yan’s eyes widened, unable to believe what he was seeing.

Gu An’s body slightly leaned back, the tree branch in his hand pressed against Zhou Tongyou’s throat, while Zhou Tongyou’s fist was still two feet away from Gu An.

“If I had a real sword, would it have hurt you?”

Gu An asked calmly, making Zhou Tongyou’s expression change.

After a few moments, Zhou Tongyou withdrew his fist, followed by Gu An retracting his sword.

Zhou Tongyou took a deep breath, looked at Ye Yan, and said, “Sorry, I was too much.”

He took out a secret book from his storage bag and threw it to Ye Yan, then looked at Gu An again.

“Your sword is fast, who exactly are you?”

Gu An threw the tree branch into the forest and said calmly, “I am just a cultivator with mediocre spirit root qualification, not fond of energy absorption, and I practice sword techniques daily. Though my techniques aren’t exquisite, they are fast enough. Without the rules, I wouldn’t be your match.”

If Zhou Tongyou hadn’t kept his promise, Gu An would have made him regret it. Now that he kept his word and apologized to a servant disciple, Gu An’s view of him changed.

This person was proud but not inherently bad.

Hearing this, Zhou Tongyou’s expression changed. He bit his lip and asked, “You really won’t spread today’s events?”

“I don’t even know your name; how could I?” Gu An retorted.

Zhou Tongyou let out a sigh of relief, immediately cupped his fists to Gu An, and then departed swiftly, faster than when he arrived.

Ye Yan came over excitedly, “Master, I didn’t expect your sword to be so fast. You defeated him with just one move!”

Gu An glanced at the valley, where Zhen Qin was absorbing energy in the house, and Su Han was practicing sword techniques in the forest miles away. Neither had noticed the earlier contest.

“Don’t mention this to anyone, let this be our secret. Don’t even tell your senior brothers or sisters,” Gu An instructed Ye Yan.

Ye Yan nodded vigorously, feeling closer to his master.

Teaching Zhou Tongyou a lesson was just a small episode for Gu An. After that, he could go out peacefully without guarding the Third Medicine Valley.

However.

A month later, returning to the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An saw Zhou Tongyou at the entrance of the valley.

Ye Yan was practicing spear techniques, while Zhou Tongyou watched from the side.

Noticing Gu An’s gaze, Zhou Tongyou beamed and waved enthusiastically.

Gu An’s eyes showed displeasure as he immediately walked over.

Reaching the valley entrance, Gu An frowned, “Why are you back?”

Is this guy sticking to the Supreme Sect?

“I thought of a way to break your sword technique; let’s spar again!” Zhou Tongyou said excitedly.

“You promised not to pester me. Liar?”

“It’s not pestering; name your terms. I just want to test your sword technique,” Zhou Tongyou quickly explained.

Ye Yan chimed in, “Master, he’s been waiting here for four days.”

Gu An frowned, hesitating.

Zhou Tongyou pulled out a small cloth bag from his storage bag and said, “Here are seeds of fourth-grade medicinal herbs. All for you. Just spar with me. I’m not here for victory, but to learn from you.”

Gu An took the bag, weighed it, and sighed, “Just this once.”

“Never again, I swear!”

Zhou Tongyou said excitedly, thinking he must defeat Gu An this time convincingly!

He took out a sword from his storage bag and tossed it to Gu An, “This is a mid-grade flying sword, ideal for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. It’s yours, use it to fight me!”

Then, he himself took out a long spear.

Impressive move!

A longer weapon equals a stronger one?

Gu An held the flying sword, feeling helplessly amused.

Zhou Tongyou looked a bit uneasy under Gu An’s gaze and quickly explained, “Same rules, no spiritual power, just techniques!”

“Let’s begin!”

This time, Zhen Qin and Su Han also heard the commotion and hurried over. But before they reached the valley entrance, Gu An made his move.

He threw the flying sword directly at Zhou Tongyou!

Zhou Tongyou’s pupils dilated, thinking it was fast!

No, his strength is tremendous!

Zhou Tongyou dodged sideways, followed by thrusting his spear forward as he saw Gu An following the flying sword.

In a flash, Gu An tilted his head, grabbed the spear shaft with his left hand, pulled it back, and with his right hand, made a sword gesture, pointing at Zhou Tongyou.

Everything happened so fast that Ye Yan couldn’t keep up with his eyes.

When they stopped, Gu An’s fingers were already at Zhou Tongyou’s Adam’s apple.

Zhou Tongyou still held his spear, but his body had stiffened.

“How are you so fast… Are you really at the first layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm?” Zhou Tongyou asked through gritted teeth, sweating.

Gu An replied, “If spiritual power was used, you’d be faster. Your rules gave me an advantage. I’m no match for you. Why insist on beating me with such rules? We common cultivators have our pride too.”

He let go of his hands, Zhou Tongyou’s face turned red, and he gritted his teeth, “I meant no insult to your pride.”

“Farewell!”

He left hurriedly.

Zhen Qin and Su Han arrived; Gu An ignored them, picked up the flying sword, and walked into the valley.

To the three disciples, his back radiated the aura of a master.

A month later, Zhou Tongyou returned, this time bringing more medicinal herb seeds, and Gu An reluctantly accepted.

This time, Gu An defeated him in three moves, frustrating Zhou Tongyou but leaving a glimmer of hope.

Zhou Tongyou’s generosity made Gu An reluctant to drive him away.

Time flew, year-end approached.

Winter snow covered Tianya Valley.

Gu An patrolled the Medicine Valley with three monkey demons. After checking, he walked towards the loft, glancing at his life span. Although busy with planting this year, his life span grew steadily. With the outer sect disciples’ chambers and Mystic Valley, he gained considerable life span.

In a few years, when Tianya Valley and the Third Medicine Valley yielded harvests, his life span would soar.

Just as Gu An reached the loft, Luo Hun approached, looking embarrassed and hesitant.

“Where is your book recently?”

“You want to read? I thought you didn’t like it.”

“The Medicine Valley is boring; one needs something to relax the Daoist Heart.”

“Alright, next time I’ll bring the latest volume of Investiture of the Gods.”

“Cough, cough, a few volumes of Green Hero Travelogue would be nice too.”