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

"My Martial Master speculated that it might be the arrival of the Silent Karma Demon Lord from the Heavenly Extinction Sect!" Ye Lan said solemnly.

Gu An frowned and asked, "Why do you think so?"

"Last night, the Spiritual Energy of the Outer Sect was drained, even affecting the Inner Sect; combined with the recent killing of Lin Futian from the Wanyin Sect by the Flying Leaf Sword Immortal, all these incidents together prove that the Demon Path is preparing to besiege the Supreme Sect.

Draining the Spiritual Energy of the Outer Sect is their first step, and among the Demon Path, only the Silent Karma Demon Lord of the Heavenly Extinction Sect is capable of such an act. It is said that his Heaven-Swallowing Demon Skill could make a thousand miles of land devoid of life," Ye Lan said, her eyes revealing a hint of fear as she spoke.

This...

Gu An was somewhat choked up.

Lin Futian was killed by him, and last night's events were also his doing...

Is the Demon Path taking the blame for him?

Although Gu An was reluctantly turned into a spy for the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion, he never considered himself a Demon Cultivator.

He thought for a moment and then comforted her, "Junior Sister, don't worry. If the sky falls, there will be tall ones holding it up. The Supreme Sect is the top Sect of the Taicang Dynasty; even if the Demon Path attacks, shaking the Supreme Sect will be extremely difficult."

Ye Lan took a deep breath, her eyes resolute as she looked at Gu An. Clenching her teeth, she said, "Senior Brother, let's flee far away. I am now at the Foundation Establishment Realm, and we can hide in uninhabited mountains to cultivate in seclusion. I will help you reach Foundation Establishment!"

Gu An almost lost his composure.

Goodness, she really wants to take this chance to pledge her life to me?

Gu An helplessly said, "Junior Sister, you are exaggerating a bit. Moreover, where in this world is absolutely safe? If we hide in the mountains and encounter a Core Formation Realm Demon Cultivator, how would we deal with him? And you are only guessing; I don't think the Demon Path will attack."

"If the Demon Path really plans to besiege the Supreme Sect, shouldn't they have come by now? Making so much noise but not making a move, could it be that they are giving the Supreme Sect time to gather the Great Cultivators from abroad?"

Hearing this, Ye Lan found it reasonable.

She thought for a moment and said, "Or why don't you come with me to the Outer Sect to avoid the limelight?"

Gu An gravely said, "Junior Sister, you really don't need to worry about me. Don't let me affect your cultivation. If you truly care about me, then strive to become stronger. In the future, you can take care of me then. It's also for your own good, for cultivators who don't prioritize cultivation will eventually encounter situations where they are powerless."

Ye Lan felt ashamed and realized she was indeed being too anxious.

"Senior Brother, I am now at the ninth layer of the Energy Cultivation Realm. It won't be easy for a common Demon Cultivator to kill me!" Gu An said with a proud smile.

Upon hearing this, Ye Lan burst into laughter. She quickly covered her mouth and said, "Senior Brother, would any Demon Cultivator who dares to infiltrate the Supreme Sect be at the Energy Cultivation Realm? The previously deceased Lin Futian is said to be a Nascent Soul Realm old monster."

Gu An scoffed, "What? Does a Nascent Soul Realm old monster not need to lift a finger to kill me?"

"Yes, yes, Senior Brother is the most formidable," Ye Lan laughed, easing the tense atmosphere in her heart.

Afterward, Gu An inquired about the situation of the Outer Sect, and Ye Lan did not hold back, telling him everything.

It was not until dusk that Gu An bid her farewell.

Originally, he planned to enhance his cultivation and spells tonight, but hearing that the Outer Sect was already preparing for battle, he dared not act recklessly and decided to lay low for now.

He still had a doubt in his mind.

If the nearby Spiritual Energy was drained while he continued to break through, what consequence would it bring?

He estimated that the Life Span Barrier would devour the Spiritual Energy of even farther places; in such a case, the Supreme Sect would definitely not be able to sit still anymore.

...

In the following three days, Gu An stayed within Mystic Valley, not even going to the Eight Scenic Caves.

Sky Dragon had already begun his training, and it didn't matter that he hadn't eaten meat for several days, as Gu An had prepared a batch of ripe Green Vine Fruits in advance, which it could eat if hungry.

Gu An shared a soul resonance with Sky Dragon, so it remembered everything he instructed. Since its birth, it had never caused him any trouble, making him feel reassured about this child.

That night.

Gu An was reading in the attic, possessing a Five Elements Heavenly Spirit Root; he could exhaust the Spiritual Energy within ten yards with a mere breath, and the conversion efficiency to Spiritual Power was extremely high.

Since the Spiritual Energy of the Outer Sect was still recovering, he refrained from cultivating and continued suppressing it.

Suddenly, Gu An sensed something, his expression subtly shifting.

He did not get up but continued reading.

Thirty minutes later, a figure appeared outside his window, who quietly pushed open the window and then leaped in.

Gu An immediately threw a Life Span Detection.

[Fuxiong (Foundation Establishment Realm Second Layer): 160/198/240]

After encountering Li Xuandao and Lin Futian, Gu An relied even more on Life Span Detection; after all, there were too many cunning old foxes in the Immortal Cultivation World.

Fuxiong appeared to be around fifty years old, of mediocre stature, clad in black clothes, with dark eye sockets and eagle-like eyes, giving off a deeply scheming impression.

He stood up and looked at Gu An, asking, "Are you the Valley Master?"

Gu An frowned and asked, "I am. Who are you?"

Fuxiong did not answer but continued to size him up. After a few moments, he suddenly said, "Unregretful heart of the Thousand-Autumn Green Vine!"

Gu An was silent.

His Divine Sense had already spread out, confirming that Fuxiong had come alone.

Reluctantly, he responded, "All Dharma withered hard to find root..."

Upon hearing this, Fuxiong's expression relaxed, he walked to the table and sat down, as if he were in his own home. While pouring himself a cup of tea, he asked, "What about Cheng Xuandan? Is he dead?"

Gu An nodded, "My master has passed away. May I know why the elder is seeking me?"

"Do you know the whereabouts of the Green Vine Tree?" Fuxiong took a sip of tea, then continued, his gaze sweeping around the room.

The room, besides books, was filled with various herbs wrapped in Spirit Protection Paper.

Gu An saw that he didn't really care about the Green Vine Tree, so he asked, "What is the Green Vine Tree?"

Upon hearing this, Fuxiong withdrew his gaze and looked back at Gu An, asking, "Hasn't your master told you about it?"

Gu An shook his head, indicating no.

"The Green Vine Tree is the Holy Tree of the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion. More than two hundred years ago, our pavilion sent a Green Vine Tree to the Outer Sect of the Supreme Sect, but over time, the clues were lost, and it's unclear where exactly the Green Vine Tree is hidden," Fuxiong said with a frown.

It arrived more than two hundred years ago?

Gu An frowned and pondered in silence. Could Jiang Qiong have hidden something from him?

Fuxiong sighed and said, "To be honest, my master is about to break through to the Divinity Transformation Realm. The Tribulation Crossing is extremely perilous, and I want to find the Green Vine Fruit to lend him a helping hand."

Upon hearing this, Gu An curiously asked, "What realm is Divinity Transformation?"

"Above Foundation Establishment is Core Formation, above that is Nascent Soul, and above Nascent Soul is Divinity Transformation," Fuxiong said, stroking his beard and smiling as if the one about to break through to Divinity Transformation was he himself.

"Even a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator's tribulation is perilous? I heard that Nascent Souls are already akin to immortals!" Gu An exclaimed in surprise.

"What immortals? It's still far off. From Foundation Establishment to Core Formation also requires passing through tribulations. Every tribulation is dangerous and mostly lethal. The higher the realm, the more deadly the Lightning Tribulations become. My master has been preparing for ten years to overcome his tribulation," Fuxiong said, his face revealing a look of longing.

Gu An asked, "What needs to be prepared? Can't one directly undergo the tribulation?"

"How could that be possible? One must prepare elixirs to maintain Spiritual Power and heal injuries, have formations for support, and have several sets of magic artifacts ready. I haven't heard of anyone who can just directly undergo the tribulation," said Fuxiong, glaring at Gu An as if he found the question rather foolish.

After hearing this, Gu An felt much more at ease.

Suddenly, Fuxiong laughed and said, "I see your Medicine Valley has plenty of medicinal herbs. How about taking me as your master? I'll back you up and teach you spells, and you give three-tenths of Medicine Valley's harvest to me every year. How about it?"

Gu An frowned again.

In a low voice, Fuxiong said, "Boy, my master, who is also your Martial Master, is in the Inner Sect. Once he breaks through Divinity Transformation, he will surely become an Elder. By then, you can have whatever you want!"

Gu An widened his eyes, asking in surprise, "Your master could become an Inner Sect Elder? Then doesn't that mean he has been lurking for many years? Why doesn't he know the whereabouts of the Green Vine Tree?"

"It's a long story. Let's talk about taking me as your master first," Fuxiong said gravely.

Gu An hesitated and asked, "Is this your master's intention?"

"How could it be? My master doesn't even know that I'm here in this Medicine Valley. Boy, you're just a Servant Disciple. What kind of person is my master, and why would he take notice of you?" Fuxiong stated displeasedly.

Gu An stood up, towering over him, and asked, "One last question."

Fuxiong frowned and asked in a deep voice, "What question?"

He really wanted to kill this annoying kid. So many nonsense questions!

"Do you know what realm is above Divinity Transformation?"

"What?"

Fuxiong was taken aback, then burst into a rage. He had no idea what lay beyond Divinity Transformation and felt the other was mocking him.

Just as he was about to get up, Gu An's right hand was already on his head.

He looked up to see Gu An's face so cold, his eyes gleaming with a cold light, and his whole demeanor had suddenly changed.

In that moment, Fuxiong felt as if he was facing his master.

No, even his master wasn't this terrifying!

He wanted to speak, but his consciousness quickly drifted into oblivion, and his eyes became listless.

Gu An was using the Soul Capturing Skill. Until then, he had never mastered the Soul Capturing Skill, but now, with a superior Five Elements Heavenly Spirit Root, he grasped it immediately.

It might not be proficient, but it was enough to deal with Fuxiong.

His Spiritual Power suppressed Fuxiong, while his Divine Sense forcefully invaded Fuxiong's mind, searching brutally.

After an hour, Fuxiong had passed away.

Gu An reopened his eyes and heaved a sigh of relief.

This guy indeed didn't know the whereabouts of the Green Vine Tree, nor had his master sent him here.

Gu An lifted his right hand, raising Fuxiong into midair, and from his palm, a burst of Spirit Power Fire began to incinerate the other.

He closed his eyes, unwilling to watch this brutal scene.

The Spirit Fire of the Void Crossing Realm was so powerful that within just four breaths, Fuxiong turned to ash, leaving behind only a Storage Bag. He had successfully seized four years of life span.

Gu An checked it, took out all the medicinal materials and Spirit Stones. As for the magic artifacts and talisman paper, he didn't dare touch them and instead burned them together with the Storage Bag to prevent someone from tracing him here.

The next morning, Gu An went downstairs as if nothing had happened.

While the disciples were assembling for drill, he secretly felt guilty.

Oh no, I'm acting like a demon!

And so it continued until a month later, with no cultivators from the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion coming to find Gu An, he finally felt at ease.

One day, Du Ye suddenly came looking for him, and the two talked on the penthouse floor.

"The Third Miss has mastered the Qilin Step, and the clan leader is very pleased. He plans to come to celebrate for the Third Miss, and at the same time, a banquet will be held in the Inner Sect. As a servant of the Ji Family, you must attend to help welcome the guests. In ten days, I'll wait for you in front of the Law Enforcement Hall in the Outer Sect.

Prepare some medicinal herbs these days as a gift; perhaps you can gain the favor of the Third Miss," Du Ye said earnestly.

Gu An nodded, having made up his mind.

Tonight, I'll practice the Eight Directions Step!

Let's see how strong Ji Xiaoyu's mastered Qilin Step really is.