https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-102-The-Ephemeral-Wind-Arch-Nemesis/12575266/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-104-Ephemeral-Tree-Gu-An-the-Demon-Subduer/12575268/
Chapter 103: Defying Heaven to Change Fate, the Fear of the Cyan Grapevine
Chapter 103: Defying Heaven to Change Fate, the Fear of the Cyan Grapevine
Gu An waited for over half a year, passing his sixtieth birthday, yet he still hadn't received the seven-tiered spirit tree from the Ji family.
He trusted that Ji Xiaoyu wouldn't deceive him and estimated that the processes of the Ji family were a bit intricate, so he would have to wait a bit longer.
In this regard, the Tai Xuan Gate was much better. Back then, the Xuan Qing tree promised by the Tai Xuan Gate had arrived swiftly!
On a scorching summer day, Gu An was sowing seeds in the Third Medicine Valley, with Gu Yu by his side, chattering incessantly about the "Tai Xuan Xianzun."
This year, the plot of "Tai Xuan Xianzun" reached its climax, with the protagonist Gu Yu meeting the second male lead, Zhou Tongyou, to join forces and battle the evil mastermind wreaking havoc in the world, leaving countless readers on the edge of their seats.
Gu An was in a good mood because he had just spent ten millennia of his lifespan the night before to advance his Grand Yin-Yang Transformation to the Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body.
The Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body retained his previous abilities to resist scrutiny and deduce cause and effect, and it also enhanced his ability to create illusions. He could now create up to nine illusions of himself, which he could control in battle or for other purposes.
However, when he returned and specifically tested it by using an illusion to pluck herbs, he found that, unfortunately, it was the same as before, and he couldn't steal lifespan.
He could only continue to work hard!
As Gu An buried the seeds, he contemplated what combat techniques he should improve next.
Initially, he had planned to enhance himself once a month, but throughout this year, he had frequently sensed battles between Grand Amalgamation Realm grand cultivators in the Northern Sea Mountains, so he had postponed his plan to become stronger.
Gu Yu couldn't help but glance at Gu An and asked, "Hey, are you even listening to me?"
Without looking up, Gu An casually replied, "I won't write the story according to your wishes. You'll just have to wait and see."
"How much longer will you write 'Tai Xuan Xianzun'?" Gu Yu asked in a low voice.
There was no one else within a ten-mile radius, so there was no worry about being overheard.
"It should be soon. It won't be more than a few years," Gu An replied.
"What will the next book be about?"
"We'll see. Maybe I won't write another one."
"Don't say that! If you stop writing, it would be a great loss for the cultivation world," Gu Yu exclaimed.
"Me stopping writing would be a good thing. That way, cultivators won't slack off in their cultivation and spend all day secretly reading books," Gu An said.
"Nonsense! Who would read books every day? You only write a few words a year. We only read during our breaks from cultivation," Gu Yu argued.
The two bickered back and forth, and it was only when Gu Yu took out the latest "Tai Xuan Secret Record" that Gu An finally believed that he hadn't been slacking off and reading books.
Gu An put away the "Tai Xuan Secret Record" into his storage bag and then asked, "Have there been any major events in the cultivation world lately?"
Gu Yu secretly despised his behavior but replied, "There actually is one. The Demon Path and the Ephemeral Flower Sect have been waging a grand battle in the Northern Sea Mountains for over half a year now. The Qianqiu Pavilion and the Wanyin Sect have suffered slaughter at the hands of the Ephemeral Flower Sect and are nearly disbanded. At this rate, it won't take more than two or three years for the Ephemeral Flower Sect to unify the Demon Path."
As he mentioned the Ephemeral Flower Sect, his tone became excited.
"The Ephemeral Flower Sect and the Tai Xuan Gate will definitely clash, and this battle will unify the cultivation world of the Grand Cyan Dynasty. The fact that the sects aren't in a hurry shows that they are confident in their victory."
Hearing his words, Gu An couldn't help but think of Lu Baitian's life limit, and he became doubtful about whether Lu Baitian would be able to successfully break through.
Regarding the life limit, Gu An could do nothing. He couldn't very well tell people about the existence of the life limit.
The life limit was like a destiny that all those who embarked on the path of cultivation had to struggle against. Who could truly accept their fate?
Gu An felt that there must be a way to break this destiny in the world; it was just very difficult to find.
The two chatted for another half an hour before Gu Yu finally left. Gu An heard that the Ancient Sect was recently in seclusion, presumably to prepare for the battle against the Ephemeral Flower Sect. Gu Yu also needed to cultivate well and contribute to the Tai Xuan Gate when the time came.
On the seventh day after Gu Yu's departure, the Pill Hall issued an instruction to collect herbs from the various medicine valleys ahead of schedule. Even the Third Medicine Valley had cultivators from the Lu and Ji families coming to collect large quantities of herbs. All signs indicated that something big was about to happen.
However, Gu An didn't think of the impending attack by the Ephemeral Flower Sect but instead thought that Lu Baitian was preparing to challenge fate and assault the Heaven's Mandate Realm.
Time passed, and summer turned to autumn.
One day at noon, Gu An arrived at the End of the World Valley and found Li Xuandao there as well. His cultivation had reached the Crossing Void Realm.
Among those over two hundred years old, Gu An had only seen one other cultivator at this level.
This fellow's apparent cultivation base was only the first layer of the Golden Core Realm. What a fraud!
The two sat down at the stone table in front of the pavilion and chatted. Li Xuandao praised Gu An's outstanding planting abilities, crediting his smooth breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm to the herbs cultivated by Gu An.
Without these herbs, Li Xuandao had planned to ask Yi Liuyun to help him transplant his Golden Core. Doing so would undoubtedly result in a weaker core than if he had broken through on his own.
To this, Gu An could only smile and attribute it to his uncle's strong aptitude.
Seeing Li Xuandao's smile, Gu An could guess that he was feeling smug, thinking that his cultivation at the Crossing Void Realm was unknown to others.
"Gu An, how is Yang Ni doing over there with you?" Li Xuandao asked with a smile as he picked up his tea bowl.
"She's doing well," Gu An replied. "She has also started planting herbs and has become a fellow cultivator."
"Planting herbs?" Li Xuandao's expression became intriguing.
Gu An suddenly thought of something. Lu Baitian had once said that the Ephemeral Flower Sect had controlled the royalty two hundred years ago. Could it be that Li Xuandao's cultivation technique came from the Ephemeral Flower Sect?
Zong Ying was the best proof of this. He could hide his cultivation base, and even if someone's realm was higher than his, it would be difficult to sense it.
And then there was Yang Ni, who was planting the Ephemeral Flower...
Wow!
Was there a spy from the Ephemeral Flower Sect right under his nose? The more Gu An thought about it, the more he felt it was possible.
Li Xuandao continued, "The cultivation world hasn't been peaceful lately. You two should be careful."
Gu An followed his train of thought and asked, "Are you talking about the Ephemeral Flower Sect, Uncle?"
"Yes."
"Your Majesty, what are your thoughts on the Ephemeral Flower Sect as the emperor?" Gu An asked.
With a calm expression, Li Xuandao replied, "They are wolves in sheep's clothing, bringing calamity to the people."
Upon hearing this, Gu An was stunned. These words didn't sound like something someone from the Ephemeral Flower Sect would say.
Li Xuandao proceeded to recount past events, revealing that his father, the previous emperor, had once been controlled by the Ephemeral Flower Sect. They had used the imperial court as a tool for their own gain, until their scheme was exposed. His father had been brutally murdered by the sect, forcing him to seek help from the Tai Xuan Gate. It was because he had provided valuable intelligence that the Tai Xuan Gate had supported his ascension to the throne, as he was not the crown prince.
Li Xuandao's tone was filled with hostility towards the Ephemeral Flower Sect, leading Gu An to believe that he truly despised them.
"I want to stand against the Tai Xuan Gate, but that is merely an internal struggle within the royal family. If the Ephemeral Flower Sect were to clash with the Tai Xuan Gate, I would definitely support the Tai Xuan Gate without hesitation," Li Xuandao said coldly, his eyes glinting with murderous intent directed at the Ephemeral Flower Sect.
Gu An asked in surprise, "The Ephemeral Flower Sect acts so despicably, and yet no one knows the location of their headquarters. How is it that so many people still join their ranks?"
Li Xuandao answered, "It is because of the Ephemeral Flower. It is said that the flower can change a cultivator's aptitude and even prolong their lifespan. Moreover, the sect provides abundant cultivation resources to its members, so it is only natural that people are drawn to join them."
"Based on the information I have gathered, the Ephemeral Flower Sect's foundation is extremely strong, and they may even be more powerful than the entire Grand Cyan Dynasty. After all, the sect we are facing is merely one of their branches," Li Xuandao added.
Ephemeral Flower?
Change aptitude?
Gu An raised his eyebrows, no wonder Yang Ni had been meditating and cultivating in the Ephemeral Flower Garden.
However, he remained skeptical about the effects of the Ephemeral Flower. Could a sixth-tier herb really defy the heavens and alter one's fate?
Li Xuandao continued to share stories about the deeds of the Ephemeral Flower Sect from two hundred years ago. Back then, entire cities would be emptied of their inhabitants, leaving only empty shells. To this day, Li Xuandao had not been able to discover what happened to those people, but their fate was most likely tragic.
Gu An listened intently, as if he were hearing ghost stories, completely engrossed.
This Ephemeral Flower Sect is truly sinister!
Rumor has it that the sect's followers are not just cultivators, but also demons and ghosts. This reminded Gu An of the Ephemeral Flower Demoness who was still residing in the Heaven-Mending Pavilion.
The two chatted for a full hour before Li Xuandao finally finished his tale, and Gu An was still intrigued.
Suddenly, a prompt appeared before Gu An's eyes.
["Zhong Liang bears hostility towards you and harbors murderous intent. Do you wish to use Lifespan Probe on him?"]
Zhong Liang?
Who is that? I don't recognize the name at all.
Gu An was taken aback, as he usually got along well with others and rarely made enemies.
The name sounded ominous, and Gu An silently chose 'yes'.
["It will cost 100 years of your lifespan. Do you wish to continue?"]
That's expensive!
Gu An asked aloud, "Your Majesty, have you heard of someone named Zhong Liang?"
As soon as Li Xuandao heard the name, his eyebrows furrowed deeply. "Has the Ephemeral Flower Sect already made contact with you?"
"Is he a member of the Ephemeral Flower Sect?" Gu An asked, his voice filled with concern. Upon hearing this, he immediately chose 'yes' in his mind.
["Zhong Liang (Combined Realm, Layer 3): 1462/2900/3000"]
Combined Realm, Layer 3!
Gu An's eyebrows knitted together as he thought carefully, trying to figure out how this person knew about him.
Could it be because of Zong Ying?
No, he had checked numerous times and was certain that Zong Ying did not possess any other means of communication with powerful cultivators. Moreover, Zong Ying had been dead for half a year already.
Then who could it be because of?
The realization that he was already under the Ephemeral Flower Sect's surveillance filled Gu An with a strong urge to raid their headquarters and eliminate any potential threats.
However, the Ephemeral Flower Sect did not seem to have a fixed headquarters, at least none that Zong Ying was aware of. The mysterious black-robed figure always met with Zong Ying in different locations.
"Two hundred years ago, Zhong Liang was the leader of the Ephemeral Flower Sect. He was heavily injured by Lu Baitian and fled. Where did you meet him?" Li Xuandao asked gravely.
Gu An shook his head and replied, "I met him by chance outside the outer gate of the Tai Xuan Gate. He wanted to invite me out to seek some kind of opportunity, but I refused. Today, after chatting with you for so long, I suddenly remembered him, and I never expected that he would be a demon from the Ephemeral Flower Sect."
Li Xuandao did not doubt Gu An's words but instead considered the various possibilities.
Could it be that Zhong Liang is targeting Li Ya, or perhaps even me?
Li Xuandao's expression turned gloomy as he considered these possibilities.
The name Zhong Liang dampened the mood, and the two fell silent. Soon after, Gu An inspected Tianya Valley and hurriedly took his leave.
Upon returning to Xuangu Valley, Gu An made his way to the cave within the Eight Scenic Wonders.
He wanted to search through Zong Ying's storage bag once more, just in case.
However, as soon as he arrived, he noticed with his spiritual sense that a vine from the Cangteng Tree was fiddling with Zong Ying's storage bag. Gu An approached quietly, maintaining his concealed aura and making no sound.
When he stepped out of the cave, the Cangteng Tree visibly trembled, and the vine quickly retracted.
Gu An walked up to it and said coldly, "Now that you have attained sentience, why are you still hiding? Are you afraid of me? Be careful, or I'll burn you to ashes with a single flame!"
As he finished speaking, his right hand ignited with spiritual fire.
The hostility from Zhong Liang had put him in a foul mood.
The Cangteng Tree trembled at his words, its leaves falling. A soft, feminine voice spoke up, "I... I'm not afraid of you, I'm afraid of that tree..."
(End of Chapter)
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