https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-104-Ephemeral-Tree-Gu-An-the-Demon-Subduer/12575268/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-106-Transcending-the-Void-Realm-Is-It-Powerful-/12575270/
Chapter 105: Attack of the Ascended
Chapter 105: Attack of the Ascended
"What bad news?" Gu An asked, sensing that Lu Baitian's aura was weak, and sent out a life probe.
Lu Baitian (Union Realm, Ninth Layer): 764/2050/3200
He seemed unchanged on the surface.
Wait a moment!
His lifespan had dropped by 1,100 years!
Gu An recalled that his lifespan had previously been 3,150 years.
Could it be that he failed his tribulation? Gu An was secretly alarmed. No wonder during his evolution cultivation, each failure would set him back many years before he could attempt the tribulation again. The same was true in reality, and one might even perish in the process. Even if one survived, they wouldn't be able to attempt the tribulation consecutively.
Lu Baitian took a deep breath and said, "I failed my tribulation and couldn't break through to a higher realm. I'll even need many years to recover from my injuries and regain my peak cultivation."
Upon hearing this, Gu An's expression changed drastically, and he took two steps forward, asking anxiously, "Are you alright, Master? Please take care of yourself. The Tai Xuan Gate needs you!"
Hearing this, a smile appeared on Lu Baitian's gloomy face, and Gu Zong also felt relieved.
However, Ji Hantian was displeased and said, "What do you mean the Tai Xuan Gate can't do without you? If you die, there's still me."
Which deputy sect master didn't harbor the desire to become the sect master?
But is it really appropriate to be so straightforward? Gu An wondered silently, his face still filled with worry.
"Rest assured, I won't die, but it will be difficult for me to strive for a higher realm in this life. If I fail again next time, that will truly be the end," Lu Baitian said in a low voice, his face reflecting the lingering fear from his tribulation experience.
Gu An couldn't help but ask, "Is the tribulation that difficult? Even a great cultivator like you couldn't overcome it?"
Ji Hantian humphed, "The fact that he could undergo the tribulation already puts him above the masses of cultivators and demons throughout the ages. How many people and demons spend their entire lives without even reaching the Union Realm?"
Gu Zong nodded and self-deprecatingly laughed, "I myself have not been able to reach the Union Realm."
Gu An took a deep breath and bitterly smiled, "Never mind the Union Realm, I haven't even reached the Foundation Establishment Realm."
His current apparent cultivation level was still at the Qi Refining Realm.
"Rest assured, even if I have to crush pills and precious treasures, I will help you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. But to attain the Nascent Soul Realm, it will depend on your personal luck and opportunities. Even the sect can't help with that. Of course, you have another choice, and that is to become my disciple. I can directly pass on my cultivation to you," Lu Baitian said, his sleeves fluttering as he spoke with an air of dominance.
Here it comes again! Gu An was about to refuse when Ji Hantian interrupted, "Don't think about passing on your cultivation for now. The Uvularia Sect is eyeing us like a tiger watching its prey. They might attack us tomorrow. Even if he inherits your cultivation, he won't have your strength. The Tai Xuan Gate truly needs you right now."
Gu Zong nodded and said, "I've already contacted the Grand Elders, but I don't know how many will be able to return."
With the topic shifting to the Grand Elders, Lu Baitian's attention was diverted as well, and he began to reminisce.
It turned out that the reason the Grand Elders had left the Tai Xuan Gate was to seek opportunities to break through to the realm beyond the Union Realm. Throughout history, only one in ten of the Grand Elders who left returned, and among that one, only one in ten successfully broke through. The rest returned to spend the remainder of their days in peace.
Ji Hantian brought up the true disciple heir, believing that he was the most promising Tai Xuan Gate cultivator to surpass the Union Realm, even more so than the Grand Elders.
This piqued Gu An's curiosity about the true disciple heir. What kind of talent did he possess to earn the admiration and anticipation of everyone in the Tai Xuan Gate?
Gu An stood quietly to the side, listening and learning more about the Tai Xuan Gate's past.
Half an hour passed before the three of them finished their conversation.
"The most important reason I came to see you today is that we will be sending more high-level seeds, and you must cultivate them well. It concerns the future war between the Tai Xuan Gate and the Uvularia Sect," Ji Hantian said seriously, looking at Gu An.
Sending seeds?
The more, the merrier!
Gu An quickly assured, "No matter how many seeds you send, I will do my best to cultivate them and won't be sloppy!"
Gu Zong laughed heartily and said, "I like your enthusiasm. None of the other Medicine Valley masters are as diligent as you. Some neglect their duties, while others embezzle. Keep up the good work, and I'll promote you to an inner disciple in the future."
Gu An quickly expressed his gratitude.
Subsequently, Lu Baitian and the other two took their leave.
As they exited the pavilion, Lu Baitian's aura instantly recovered. As the sect master, he couldn't let his disciples see him in a weakened state.
Gu An went downstairs and watched them leave.
He felt a bit regretful that he hadn't asked Ji Hantian about the seventh-rank spirit tree.
...
Neither the news of the Uvularia Sect's destruction nor Lu Baitian's tribulation failure spread in the cultivation world. At least, Ye Lan didn't mention these matters when she came to see Gu An.
During the upcoming Spring Festival, Ye Lan wouldn't be able to participate as the Enforcement Hall had an important mission that would keep them away for several months.
Gu An stood at the edge of the tower, seeing Ye Lan off until her figure disappeared into the snowy sky. Only then did he turn back.
He looked at Yang Ni, who was walking out of the woods, and called out to her when she passed below his tower. "You said the Uvularia Sect has no foundation, yet they attract so many cultivators to join. Are the cultivators in this world that foolish?"
Yang Ni stopped and looked up at Gu An, "Perhaps the Uvularia Sect has something they want?"
"Really? But I feel it's more like a scam. The Demon-Extermination Hall from the outer sect was like that before. Lu Jiujia trusted them at first, thinking he could rise quickly through the ranks, but he ended up being persecuted," Gu An said with a sigh. He shook his head, "In the end, everyone in this world is driven by one word: greed. It's better to be in my position in the Medicine Valley, where I don't have to compete for anything."
After saying this, he turned and went back inside.
Yang Ni frowned, feeling that Gu An was indirectly criticizing her.
If Gu An suspected that she had something to do with the Epiphyllum Sect, why didn't he just say it directly?
Yang Ni thought for a moment and decided to go find Lu Jiujia to chat and find out what Gu An was talking about.
...
As snowflakes danced in the winter sky, the seven-ranked spirit tree that the Ji family had promised finally arrived.
【Pure Yang Tree (7th Rank): 2/8999/64000】
Gu An, holding the sapling that was taller than a person, began searching for a suitable place to plant it.
In the end, he decided to plant the Pure Yang Tree in the empty space in front of the pavilion and immediately called for his disciples to come and shovel the snow and dig the soil.
When they heard that it was a seven-ranked spirit tree, many disciples gathered around to watch.
Even in its sapling state, the Pure Yang Tree began to melt the surrounding snow as soon as it was planted, making everyone around feel warm, as if it were a fiery tree.
This Pure Yang Tree was Gu An's personal treasure, and he felt a sense of accomplishment listening to the disciples' discussions.
His gaze suddenly turned towards the distance, where he saw a group of cultivators flying over the mountain, led by Elder Lu Songhan.
Following Lu Songhan were two hundred miscellaneous disciples, all with cultivation bases at the seventh layer of the Qi Refining Realm and above.
Hmm? Why is she here?
Gu An noticed that among them was Lu Lingjun, a cultivator who had ascended. Her apparent cultivation base was at the eighth layer of the Qi Refining Realm, but she was hiding her true strength.
Who would have thought that this miscellaneous disciple was actually a great cultivator comparable to Lu Baitian at the ninth layer of the Union Realm?
If it came to a fight, Gu An felt that Lu Baitian might not be a match for Lu Lingjun. After all, Lu Baitian had only lived for over seven hundred years, while Lu Lingjun was a nearly two-thousand-year-old monster.
After landing, Lu Songhan bowed and smiled, "Brother Gu, these two hundred miscellaneous disciples are specially selected by me and will be under your command. I've already received approval from above."
The reason for choosing miscellaneous disciples was that it would be difficult for them to steal medicinal herbs from this place since it was an inner sect territory, and there was also an outer sect city nearby. Safety was not a concern, and they could be put to good use.
Gu An stepped forward and greeted Lu Songhan warmly.
Lu Lingjun stood in the crowd, observing Gu An with curiosity. She wondered how a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm could be on such familiar terms with a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator? Who exactly was this person?
The other miscellaneous disciples, on the other hand, were excited. This medicine valley was within the inner sect territory, and to them, it was a heavenly opportunity.
After Lu Songhan left, Gu An called for Ogawa to arrange accommodations for the new miscellaneous disciples.
He didn't pay much attention to Lu Lingjun, not wanting to get too entangled with an ascended cultivator.
On this day, the newly arrived miscellaneous disciples were busy constructing the pavilion and then exploring the Third Medicine Valley.
When Lu Lingjun saw that there were two seven-ranked spirit trees in the Third Medicine Valley, she was astonished.
Before her ascension, she had only seen one seven-ranked spirit tree, one that was over twenty thousand years old and larger than a mountain.
The depth of Tai Xuan Gate's foundations was truly terrifying, and she knew she had to take root here!
And so, in the following days, Lu Lingjun displayed an exceptional work ethic, so much so that Gu An couldn't help but take notice.
After the new year, Gu An instructed Ogawa to select ten people to be the valley stewards, responsible for managing the other miscellaneous disciples. Among the ten people Ogawa chose was Lu Lingjun.
Lu Lingjun looked at Gu An with burning eyes, making him feel uncomfortable.
With her exceptional appearance and no female disciple in the valley more beautiful than her, her diligent behavior made it difficult for Gu An to deliberately ignore her.
Gu An faced the ten valley stewards, offered them words of encouragement, and then dismissed them.
However, Lu Lingjun approached him, her eyes shining as she said, "Valley Master, I have something to tell you. May I speak with you in your room?"
Gu An hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement and leading her towards the pavilion.
The other stewards who hadn't left yet threw envious glances at Lu Lingjun.
Being beautiful is indeed a form of capital!
Once inside the room, Lu Lingjun closed the door. Gu An walked to the desk and sat down, casually flipping over the "Green Hero's Journey" that was on the table.
Lu Lingjun came to the desk and took out a secret manual from her bosom, handing it to Gu An.
Gu An glanced at it.
Nine Revolutions Golden Body Technique!
What an imposing name!
Lu Lingjun introduced in a low voice, "This is my family's inherited technique. I hope you won't dislike it."
Frowning, Gu An said, "What are you doing? Put it away quickly. If someone sees it, it will be embarrassing!"
Understanding his concern, Lu Lingjun put away the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Technique and took out a treasure from her storage bag.
"I told you, don't mess around!" Gu An scolded in a low voice, fearing that the disciples outside would hear.
Lu Lingjun secretly cursed his greed.
She suddenly thought of something and took out a white jade flask from her storage bag. "This is Heavenly Spirit Water. Don't look at the fact that there's only one flask. When sprinkled on the ground, it can gather spiritual energy to form a lake. The lake water can improve the surrounding soil, causing the heavenly treasures here to grow faster. Moreover, it can also condense spirit pearls every year, which can be consumed or used for pill refining."
Gu An's eyes lit up as he took the flask from her, his expression turning serious. "Don't let this happen again. Now, tell me what you want, but it must not threaten the interests of the Tai Xuan Gate."
A smile appeared on Lu Lingjun's face as she said, "Valley Master, can you allow me to cultivate under the Xuan Qing Tree?"
Previously, she had paused in front of the Xuan Qing Tree and noticed a giant white spirit rat. Although the rat seemed to be sleeping, with her insight, she could tell that the rat had entered a profound state of enlightenment.
(End of Chapter)
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