Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Heavenly Destiny Returns to Ji

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Lv Baitian…

Isn’t that the recently deceased sect leader?

Gu An speculated many possibilities, but his expression did not change much. He curiously asked, “Since he is your father’s distant relative, why not arrange a better place for him? This Medicine Valley is dirty and tiring.”

Gu Yu smiled and said, “The Supreme Sect wasn’t built by my father, and being placed in this Medicine Valley is already better than the Medicine Valley in the Outer Sect.”

From his demeanor, it seemed that he didn’t know Elder Tian’s true identity.

Gu An found it difficult to refuse directly. Refusing would mean he knew Elder Tian’s true identity.

Gu Yu pulled Gu An upstairs, and throughout, Elder Tian did not look back at Gu An even once.

After entering the room, Gu Yu closed the door. He turned around excitedly and asked, “How is it? The book should be ready, right?”

Gu An smiled and said, “It’s ready. After deep consideration, I made you the protagonist.”

“Really?”

“Really, you’ll be able to see it soon.”

Gu An nodded with a smile. The name Pan An was already famous in the Taicang Immortal Cultivation World. His second book, with the name Supreme Sect in it, would definitely be heavily promoted by the sect.

This book was to satisfy the upper echelons. After this one, Gu An wouldn’t write about them anymore.

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It was worth mentioning that the Book Collection Hall had allotted him an additional twenty percent of the profits this time. This was conceded by the Supreme Sect.

Upon hearing Gu An’s words, Gu Yu became immediately exhilarated. He took out a spirit stone from his storage bag and heavily placed it on the table, saying, “Thank you!”

Gu An glanced at the spirit stone on the table, raising his eyebrows.

What a rich spiritual energy!

Gu Yu proudly smiled and said, “This is a Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone, equivalent in value to one hundred top-grade spirit stones. I only have two of these, given to me by my mother. Sincere enough, right? You can write without worries; I can handle everything else for you!”

One hundred top-grade spirit stones?

Gu An was stunned. This guy was truly extravagant.

The wealth disparity in the Immortal Cultivation World was just too vast!

One Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone was equivalent to one million low-grade spirit stones, while a servant disciple’s monthly salary was just one low-grade spirit stone!

Rich fool!

Gu An felt a pang of envy but accepted the Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone with a smile, saying, “I won’t let you down.”

Gu Yu became highly excited and began asking about the book’s details, but Gu An kept his lips tight, making Gu Yu even more eager.

Not long after, Gu Yu left, and Gu An guessed he was heading to the Book Collection Hall.

After bidding farewell to Gu Yu, Gu An came in front of Elder Tian and introduced himself. Elder Tian did the same, maintaining a respectful demeanor, with no sign of being the Supreme Sect Leader.

The 742-years-old Elder Tian had a current lifespan of 850 years, meaning he could live only another 108 years.

Gu An speculated it was related to his injuries. At the sect leader’s level, the current lifespan should be near two thousand years.

Then, Gu An took him on a tour, introducing the situation of Medicine Valley and explaining what he should usually do.

Elder Tian listened carefully, occasionally asking about the types of herbs they passed by, seeming genuinely interested in farming life.

Could it be he truly fell from grace due to deviation?

When Gu An previously heard of the sect leader’s plight, he instinctively thought the sect leader had been ambushed. After all, the sect leader’s struggle with the elders had lasted for many years. Now looking at Elder Tian’s state, it didn’t seem so.

Life Span Detection couldn’t lie to him. The person before him was indeed the sect leader, Lv Baitian!

The arrival of Elder Tian did not change the rhythm of life in the Third Medicine Valley. Zhen Qin and the other two mostly spent their time cultivating and rarely interacted with him. However, Gu An would chat with Elder Tian every time he returned.

Half a year passed quickly.

Autumn arrived, and falling leaves drifted into Tianya Valley.

Gu An stood on the path in the garden, watching three monkey demons sweep the fallen leaves. In the distance, Luo Hun sat on the hillside, holding the Green Hero Travelogue and reading intently. His spear stood beside him, absorbing strands of spiritual energy that formed a faint vortex.

Suddenly.

Gu An sensed something, glancing into the distance.

He looked only once before retracting his gaze.

Soon after, a figure walked from the mouth of the valley. The person was dressed in a black and white long robe, exuding elegance, holding a folding fan.

Li Xuandao!

After many years, the Emperor of Taicang’s demeanor was still the same.

Gu An turned his head and cast a Life Span Detection.

Divinity Transformation Realm, Nine Layers!

On the hillside, Luo Hun also noticed Li Xuandao’s arrival. He quickly stood up, put the Green Hero Travelogue into his storage bag, and then descended the mountain, spear in hand.

Luo Hun first paid respects to Li Xuandao, followed by Gu An.

As Li Xuandao walked towards the Medicine Valley Pavilion, he turned to Gu An beside him and asked, “How is it? Are you satisfied with this Medicine Valley of mine?”

Gu An replied, “Very satisfied, it exceeded my expectations. Some high-rank medicinal herbs are completely new to me. Fortunately, Your Majesty provided me with a Medicinal Herb Chronicles.”

“Hmm? Have you forgotten how I previously instructed you?”

“Uncle.”

“That’s more like it.”

Li Xuandao laughed heartily, while the expression of Luo Hun, standing on the other side, turned subtle.

Uncle?

Luo Hun seemed to realize something, and his gaze became strange.

The three of them, chatting and laughing, arrived in front of the pavilion. Li Xuandao sat down at the stone table, and Luo Hun immediately poured wine for him.

Li Xuandao raised his hand, signaling Gu An to sit as well. He looked at Gu An and asked, “Li Ya should have returned to the Supreme Sect, right?”

Gu An nodded and said, “He returned last year.”

“Did he tell you about his experiences over the years?”

“Yes, uncle should have sent people to follow him, right?”

“Who would dare to follow him? It’s just that there are informants everywhere. Tell me, how could a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator escape from the possession of a Divinity Transformation realm great cultivator? What secret is he hiding?”

As Li Xuandao asked this, he lifted his wine cup, drank it in one gulp, and then smiled at Gu An.

Gu An frowned and said, “Secret? He didn’t tell me, and it’s not something I can ask directly.”

Li Xuandao smiled knowingly and said, “This son of mine has been of ordinary talent since childhood, the least talented among all my children. But ever since he joined the Supreme Sect, he has soared, constantly surprising me. His growth pleases me greatly; I just fear he might be taken advantage of by someone with ill intentions.”

Looking at his expression, Gu An found it hard to judge his attitude toward Li Ya.

However, regardless, Gu An’s heart was certainly inclined towards Li Ya.

“Then I’ll try to subtly inquire in the future.” Gu An said thoughtfully. He said so but had no intention of actually asking.

Li Xuandao nodded in satisfaction. He turned to Luo Hun standing nearby and asked with a smile, “Luo Hun, do you think Li Ya has the potential to be the Crown Prince?”

Luo Hun’s expression changed slightly, and he responded in a deep voice, “Your servant dare not speak out of turn!”

“You really are no fun.” Li Xuandao shook his head and laughed.

His gaze then turned to Gu An, who quickly said, “Uncle, please don’t ask me such questions. I don’t want to get involved in trouble. I just want to grow herbs and flowers for you!”

“Hahaha!”

Li Xuandao laughed heartily, grabbing the wine jar beside him and pouring it directly into his mouth, much more boldly than before.

Then, he picked up another wine jar and continued to drink.

Gu An sensed something was wrong. This emperor had concerns!

Luo Hun noticed it too and frowned as he asked, “Your Majesty, has something happened?”

After drinking three jars of wine in one go, Li Xuandao laughed and said, “There’s no big deal. You’ve read the Investiture of the Gods, haven’t you?”

Luo Hun nodded and said, “It’s well written. Didn’t you like it too?”

“I do like it, but recently, some used the Investiture of the Gods to criticize me, saying I am King Zhou, and the Li Family’s rule has lasted for five hundred years, so it’s time for a change. Heavenly destiny belongs to the Ji Family. In recent years, the Ji Family has frequently sent their disciples to various places to slay demons and exterminate evil, earning a great reputation and popular support.” Li Xuandao chuckled.

Gu An’s heart skipped a beat.

Luo Hun was furious and said in a deep voice, “Your Majesty, who says that the heavenly destiny belongs to the Ji Family? Your servant is ready to take orders at any time, even if it means killing Pan An!”

Good heavens!

I won’t bring you the Green Hero Travelogue again!

Gu An was inwardly indignant, while his face showed a look of concern.

Li Xuandao snorted and said, “Foolish, killing Pan An would only confirm that I am narrow-minded, unable to tolerate even a writer!”

Hearing this, Gu An was very satisfied with Li Xuandao.

This is a wise ruler!

Your Majesty, don’t worry. I’ll write Journey to the West next, and the emperor in it will have the surname Li.

Although Journey to the West has a critical element, it targets the Jade Emperor. The portrayal of Li Shimin in the book is still quite good.

Though there is no Heavenly Court in this world, there is an Immortal Cultivation World. Criticizing the Immortal Cultivation World also fits well with the current cultivator’s expectations of Pan An, as long as he doesn’t directly name the Supreme Sect.

As Gu An was contemplating, Luo Hun remained furious.

“The prefects of various states all have backgrounds and are increasingly slipping out of the court’s control. Now there is widespread public discontent, criticizing me through the Investiture of the Gods is likely just their first step. One day, swords will be pointed directly at me. I need to build my own power. The Tianya Valley plays a crucial role; don’t let me down.” Li Xuandao said with a smile. He stood and walked towards the garden, with Gu An and Luo Hun hurriedly following.

It was three full days before Li Xuandao finally left.

During these three days, Li Xuandao often hinted at his expectations for Li Ya to Gu An.

The more he did so, the more Gu An felt it wasn’t that simple.

Still, he just let his words go in one ear and out the other, avoiding getting involved in their father-son matters.

After Li Xuandao left, Gu An also decided to leave. Before departing, Luo Hun instructed him to stop bringing Investiture of the Gods and only bring the Green Hero Travelogue.

In response, Gu An chuckled.

…

Seasons changed, and another three years passed.

This year, Tianya Valley saw the first batch of medicinal herbs mature, and Gu An harvested nearly five thousand years of life span in one go, leaving him in a pleasant mood.

Starting this year, his annual life span income would soar. Currently, his total life span had exceeded seventy thousand years, and he was set to keep striving for a million years.

On that day, Gu An took Su Han and Zhen Qin to the Outer Sect.

Both had reached Foundation Establishment. Besides continuous cultivation, Gu An had also refined many low-rank elixirs for them, aiding their smooth Foundation Establishment.

After sending them to the Hall of Elders in the Outer Sect, he turned to leave. Servant disciples had to register their identities at the Hall of Elders to officially become outer disciples.

As he walked past a street, a familiar voice called out, “Senior Brother, long time no see!”

Gu An turned and saw Lv Jiujia, dressed in black from the Demon Extermination Hall, walking towards him, followed by six disciples from the same hall.

“How have you been?” Gu An asked with a smile.

Since the change in the sect leader, the Demon Extermination Hall had gained momentum, even surpassing the Law Enforcement Hall. It was common to encounter their members in the Outer Gate City.

Lv Jiujia came up to him, nodding and said, “Pretty good. Master just promoted me. Besides better treatment, I have more authority now. Senior Brother, if you ever need anything, feel free to come to me.”

He took out a black token from his storage bag and handed it to Gu An.