“What is it?” Gu An asked, hoping in his heart that it wouldn’t be trouble.
He had no desire to get involved in the strife that whirls around the Outer Sect.
Li Ya smiled and said, “Don’t you enjoy planting? You mentioned before that you even helped an Outer Disciple manage his cave. Now you have the opportunity, and the compensation is quite good. Take care of it for a year and you’ll get a mid-grade Spirit Stone and a bottle of Spirit Energy Elixir.”
Upon hearing this, Gu An breathed a sigh of relief.
He wouldn’t refuse a chance to earn Life Span, especially since he rarely practiced cultivation and had plenty of time on his hands.
He began to inquire about the employer’s identity, and Li Ya didn’t hide the fact that the Outer Disciple was a good friend of his and that the cave was near the Outer City.
After Gu An agreed, Li Ya immediately took him there.
Li Ya flew on his sword, with Gu An standing behind him, sharing the blade. Their figures drew envious gazes from Xiaochuan, Ye Lan, and others.
Who wouldn’t yearn for Sword Control flight?
The tall Tang Yu lamented, “If only our master could learn the Sword Control Technique from Martial Uncle Li Ya and teach us, wouldn’t that be great?”
The slim and handsome Su Han nodded in agreement. Although he had been in Medicine Valley for four years, he still yearned for the Outer Sect.
Not just him, Tang Yu and Zhen Qin felt the same.
Ye Lan didn’t say much and pulled Zhen Qin back to their residence to cultivate.
Elsewhere.
Above the mountains, Li Ya’s Sword Control flight was very fast. He looked straight ahead, his black clothes fluttering and hair dancing wildly, exuding a carefree and unruly temperament.
“I’ve noticed that there are more Servant Disciples in Medicine Valley than before, Junior Brother Gu. You should recruit fewer disciples and invest more Spirit Stones into your own cultivation,” Li Ya said earnestly.
Although Gu An always said his talent was not up to par, Li Ya still held out hope for him.
He didn’t want to be still in the prime of life a hundred years later, while Gu An had already entered his twilight years.
In his years at the Supreme Sect, Li Ya had a few good friends and some friends of convenience, but in his heart, none could compare to Junior Brother Gu.
Junior Brother Gu was the only one who treated him well without expecting anything in return. He didn’t want to lose such a friendship.
Gu An laughed and said, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother Li. The reason I recruit more disciples is that the farming land inside Medicine Valley has expanded. Each year I hand over more medicinal herbs, and the Elixir Hall is gradually improving my treatment. I won’t give up my cultivation.”
Upon hearing this, Li Ya showed a smile.
“That’s true, you’re diligent and always achieve something great.”
“How can I compare with Senior Brother? Your reputation in the Outer Sect is so brilliant.”
The two started flattering each other. Li Ya usually hated this kind of flattery, but for some reason, coming from Junior Brother Gu, he didn’t mind it at all.
Two Ancient Hours later.
Li Ya sent Gu An back to Mystic Valley and then left on his sword.
No sooner had Gu An landed than he was surrounded by two disciples, Su Han and Zhen Qin.
They were curious where Gu An had gone, and he didn’t hide it from them. After a few words, he sent them away.
The departure of Lu Jiujia greatly stimulated the disciples of Medicine Valley, causing a quietness in the valley. Whenever they had free time, disciples would cultivate in their rooms, hoping to catch up with Lu Jiujia’s progress.
Gu An returned to his room, picked up the Yin Yang Art, and began to flip through it. Starting tonight, Jiang Qiong would teach him sorcery, and he was looking forward to it.
What Cultivator would mind having multiple spells?
Besides, Gu An lacked many fundamental spells.
…
Late at night, in the Eight Scenic Caves.
Under the Green Vine Tree, Jiang Qiong, dressed in white with her black hair casually draped, looked like a Fairy descending to earth, but her stunning face was full of annoyance.
“Why are you so dumb? I’ve told you the sorcery technique multiple times, why can’t you remember it?” Jiang Qiong said, barely holding back her anger.
She stood beside Gu An, her gaze fixed on the black energy in his hands.
She was teaching him the Soul Capturing Skill, a sorcery that could snatch a person’s Soul, extreme in its malignancy.
Gu An replied helplessly, “Martial Master, you’ve only taught me for a short while, can you be a bit more patient?”
“It’s not that… It’s just…” Jiang Qiong suddenly didn’t know what to say.
Before she recovered her strength, she had looked forward to teaching Gu An. After all, he was a genius in her eyes, but the reality was different from what she expected.
This kid was too odd.
When she taught him Sword Control Technique, he got it with a snap, but teaching him anything else, he was like someone just starting on the Traditions of Immortal Cultivation.
In terms of the Sword Dao, Gu An was definitely the strongest genius she had ever seen, but the key was she wasn’t skilled in the Sword Dao.
“If I could easily learn everything, wouldn’t I have avoided being a Servant Disciple?” Gu An sighed.
Jiang Qiong held back for a long time before she managed to say, “But you shouldn’t be this foolish, right?”
Gu An’s hand twitched.
True to a person of the Demon Path, her words hurt so damn much!
Angered, Gu An said, “I have my strengths too. When it comes to talent in the Sword Dao, even you, Martial Master, might not compare to me!”
Jiang Qiong laughed upon hearing this and teasingly said, “Then shall we try? Neither of us will use Spiritual Power, just sword moves to spar?”
“Alright!”
Gu An’s hands loosened, and the dark aura dissipated. He then stood up, ready to teach Jiang Qiong a lesson.
Jiang Qiong shifted two steps to the side and raised her right hand, extending her forefinger and middle finger together, and with a smile said, “Since we are just sparring, let’s not harm our camaraderie. Let’s use our fingers as swords.”
Gu An nodded, his left hand resting behind his waist, his right hand in front.
Jiang Qiong narrowed her eyes, for some reason, when Gu An raised his hand, she felt inexplicably panicked.
“What’s happening to me, how could I be scared by a Foundation Establishment junior?”
Jiang Qiong cursed herself for being useless, having lost the pride that once looked down upon everything.
She immediately thrust her fingers towards Gu An; as she made her move, she revealed the speed of someone in the Elixir Formation Realm.
Gu An’s right hand, with two fingers extended, struck hers horizontally, like flicking a sword, deflecting her arm away.
Jiang Qiong’s eyes sharpened. She shifted her stance, moving past Gu An’s side like a ghost, her fingers pointing towards his ribs as if they were swords.
Gu An turned around, his fingers pointing downward, stabbing swiftly and touching the back of her hand, causing her a sharp pain and an instinctive withdrawal.
The two of them moved around under the tree, countering each move made by the other.
Jiang Qiong’s attacks were fierce, while Gu An’s movements flowed smoothly like drifting clouds and flowing water.
After thirty moves, Gu An clearly felt Jiang Qiong’s impatience and intentionally exposed a flaw, allowing her to touch his abdomen. He then clutched his belly and staggered back.
Jiang Qiong did not pursue her advantage. She stood up and stared at Gu An with intense eyes.
Gu An feigned a pained expression, frightened by her gaze.
What kind of look was this?
As if she wanted to devour him whole.
Jiang Qiong took a deep breath and said, “Very well, I still underestimated your Sword Dao comprehension. The sword moves you just performed lacked structure, but each was straightforward and direct, targeting the opponent’s weaknesses. You are a rare Sword Dao genius, unseen for a century. Should you find a good master, you will surely become renowned across the world as a sword cultivator one day.”
Gu An shook his head and replied, “Renowned across the world? Let’s not. That would surely bring lots of trouble my way, and I hate fighting the most, not to mention life-and-death battles.”
Jiang Qiong was stunned for a moment, finding it quite interesting.
It was her first time encountering such a timid genius.
“It was Martial Master who was too hasty and shouldn’t have scolded you. Come now, continue cultivating the Soul Capturing Skill. Even though you are suited for the Sword Dao, you must master some spells. Only then will you be well-prepared for anything,” Jiang Qiong gestured.
Gu An immediately approached her and continued to cultivate the Soul Capturing Skill.
After the sparring session, Jiang Qiong’s attitude had indeed improved a lot. She spoke in a warm and gentle tone, and occasionally gave him goosebumps.
Thus, Gu An came to the Eight Scenic Caves every night to cultivate spells with Jiang Qiong, and as soon as he mastered a spell to the point it appeared in the Attribute Panel, he would start cultivating the next one.
Jiang Qiong thought he was discouraged but did not press the issue. After all, she had many spells.
While recovering from her injuries, she also found it quite interesting to instruct her juniors.
Besides, every month Gu An would visit the Outer Disciple’s cave abode to tend to the medicinal herbs within.
…
At the end of the year, with winter snow fluttering and filling the sky.
Gu An, wearing a straw hat, climbed halfway up the mountain and arrived in front of a cave abode. Just as he was about to take out his token, he suddenly sensed something.
There were people inside!
And not just one person!
Gu An immediately thought of leaving, but the conversation inside the cave had abruptly stopped. If he left now, it would prove he could penetrate through the restrictions and detect what was happening inside the cave.
He could only press the token against the mountain gate, which obediently opened.
He stepped inside the cave, through the passageway, and into the chamber, where he saw three people and momentarily paused, quickly bending down to greet them, “Sorry, I didn’t know the predecessors had returned. I won’t disturb you any further.”
After speaking, he turned around, preparing to leave.
The master of the cave, Chen Li, appeared to be in his early forties, with the refined air of a scholar. He raised his hand with a smile and said, “No need, you do your thing, and we’ll continue with ours.”
Upon hearing this, Gu An could only turn back around, bow again, and then head to the area with the medicinal herbs not far off.
Gu An noticed the other two people, a man and a woman. The woman was none other than Li Xuanyu, who had previously sparred with him.
The man was not Shi Yang, but someone else, handsome and graceful, with the appearance of a gentleman who might have stepped out of a painting, stunning even men with his beauty.
Li Xuanyu looked at Gu An; she clearly recognized him but said nothing.
Gu An discreetly checked the handsome man’s life span.
[Xiao Chenjun (Core Formation Realm, First Layer): 58/621/1508]
Core Formation Realm, first layer!
Inner Sect Disciple?
Chen Li, after observing Gu An start to harvest the herbs, turned to glance at Li Xuanyu and Xiao Chenjun, sighing and saying, “The Outer Sect Great Competition is about to begin. This time it’s hosted by Supreme Sect, putting a lot of pressure on us.”
Xiao Chenjun laughed and said, “What’s there to worry about? There are many talents in the Outer Sect. Even if those schools and sects join forces, it’s difficult for them to overpower Supreme Sect. In the Taicang Dynasty, Supreme Sect is the strongest.”
Chen Li shook his head and replied, “I heard that Ancient Sky Sect, Heavenly Extinction Sect, and Thousand-Autumn Pavilion each have Outer Sect geniuses with Dual Spirit Roots, who are deliberately holding back their realm, waiting for this competition.”
He paused and looked at Xiao Chenjun with a hint of reproach, “Junior Brother Xiao, why didn’t you wait to make your breakthrough? Your master should have been aware of this.”
Xiao Chenjun laughed and responded, “Senior Brother Chen, the Outer Sect Great Competition is held at least twice every century. As cultivators, how can we be so concerned with winning or losing? Besides, Supreme Sect has new geniuses emerging every year. Don’t worry, the burden won’t fall on you alone.”
The three of them chatted and laughed about the Outer Sect Great Competition, with Xiao Chenjun and Chen Li doing most of the talking while Li Xuanyu occasionally interjected.