https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-120-The-Renown-of-the-Sword-Sovereign-Lu-Lingjun-s-Speculations/12575393/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-122-The-Number-One-Battle-Under-Heaven/12575395/
Chapter 121: Sword Intent Startles the Sect
Chapter 121: Sword Intent Startles the Sect
"No."
Gu An immediately rejected the offer. Having just gone through a calamity, what kind of opportunity could the Tai Xuan Gate possibly offer?
Lu Baitian was stunned by his blunt refusal and immediately became annoyed. "You brat! I haven't even told you what the opportunity is yet!"
Gu An sat down and said, "I won't become the sect leader, I won't write any books, and I won't entertain any more visits from the chosen children."
Hearing this, Lu Baitian laughed angrily. "So, in your eyes, I'm that kind of person?"
"I just don't want any more trouble. Have I wronged you? If so, then I apologize." Gu An replied seriously.
Lu Baitian's expression froze, and he coughed lightly. "Of course you've wronged me. I actually came here for another matter."
"What is it?" Gu An asked.
"You must have heard of the Nine Nether Roads. The Nine Kingdoms have joined forces to seal it, and each sect has sent cultivators to guard it. Even if the master branch of the Ephemeral Sect were to attack, it would be difficult to shake them. Now, all the sects of the Nine Kingdoms are leading their disciples into the Nine Nether Roads to temper themselves. Inside, demons and monsters roam, and one can slay demons and claim treasures, and the spiritual energy is also dense, making it ideal for cultivation." Lu Baitian explained slowly, surprising Gu An.
He never expected the Nine Nether Road to become a place similar to a secret realm for tempering.
"I thought the Nine Abyssal Road was very dangerous?" Gu An asked.
"It is indeed dangerous, which is why there will be powerful cultivators leading the disciples. I want to give you a spot. Once you enter the Nine Abyssal Road, someone will protect your life. You can cultivate, slay demons, or seek treasures. No matter what you do, someone will have your back. Isn't that a great opportunity? Later, the Tai Xuan Gate also plans to establish a city within the Nine Abyssal Road for disciples to rest and cultivate..." Lu Baitian continued enthusiastically.
He felt that by developing the Nine Abyssal Road, the Tai Xuan Gate would soar to new heights. Perhaps, under his leadership, the sect would enter its most prosperous era in history, and his own status in the sect's annals would rise accordingly.
Gu An listened intently, feeling that the plan was indeed feasible.
It seemed like Lu Baitian wanted to reverse a long-standing trend: since ancient times, cultivators who reached the Combined Realm would leave the Nine Kingdoms to seek opportunities elsewhere. Lu Baitian, however, wanted to enhance the foundation of the Tai Xuan Gate, strengthen the sect, and ensure that future disciples wouldn't need to venture outside in search of opportunities.
The Nine Abyssal Road was just his first step! He also planned to open up an Ocean Road, led by the recently returned Mysterious Spring Elder.
The more he spoke, the more excited he became, stopping just short of declaring his intention to unite the entire continent.
Gu An, on the other hand, listened with great interest, admiring Lu Baitian's vision.
The stronger the Tai Xuan Gate became, the more he could benefit from it.
After a long while, Lu Baitian finished speaking, his eyes still full of fervor as he looked at Gu An. "Well? Are you going or not?"
Gu An shook his head. "I won't go. I need to stay here and look after the Medicine Valley."
"You can have someone else take care of it," Lu Baitian insisted.
"No, I don't trust anyone else. To be honest, I'm also afraid. I always feel that the Nine Abyss Road is very dangerous, and my combat abilities are weak. I'd rather not go. How about this: can I give my spot to someone else?" Gu An proposed.
"You won't go, but you still want to give your spot to someone else?" Lu Baitian asked, incredulous.
"After all, I have made contributions to the Tai Xuan Gate. This Medicine Valley is so vast, and I haven't taken any of it for myself. Don't you think I deserve a reward?" Gu An argued reasonably.
Seeing Gu An's confident expression, Lu Baitian shook his head and laughed.
After some thought, he agreed to Gu An's request. He would allow Gu An's companion to take the spot, hoping that it would foster a greater sense of belonging to the Tai Xuan Gate in Gu An.
Lu Baitian was determined to bestow the position of sect leader upon Gu An, no matter what. He believed that, given time, Gu An would eventually accept.
With this thought in mind, a smile appeared on Lu Baitian's face, and he felt a sense of anticipation.
"What do you think the Tai Xuan Gate needs to do to become the number one sect in the Nine Kingdoms?" Lu Baitian asked abruptly, wanting to test Gu An and guide him towards thinking like a sect leader.
Gu An answered directly, "Using force won't work, as it will easily breed resentment. We can, however, invade through culture, just like the previous Outer Gate Assembly. In the future, the Tai Xuan Gate can hold various assemblies, such as formation techniques, pill refining, sword duels, and talisman making. We should strive to make the Tai Xuan Gate host an event that captures the attention of the Nine Kingdoms every few years. The initial investment may be large, but once the world gets used to it, they will gradually come to regard the Tai Xuan Gate as the orthodoxy."
"Think about it. When you first stepped onto the path of the sword cultivator, if you heard that the Tai Xuan Gate's sword duel assembly was a must-attend event for sword cultivators and a chance to make a name for yourself, you would subconsciously believe that the Tai Xuan Gate holds a high status in the way of the sword."
"When people in the world casually mention the Tai Xuan Gate, or when the Tai Xuan Gate becomes the sect that people talk about most frequently, then it will be very close to becoming the number one sect in the world."
"Of course, the sect's own strength is the most important." Gu An spoke with conviction.
Lu Baitian soon became engrossed in Gu An's words, seeing how seriously he was listening. Gu An's enthusiasm for the topic grew, and he even began to discuss the details.
The assemblies shouldn't just be about strength; it would be best to have other competitions of skill as well. These assemblies could be held in different outer and inner gate cities, boosting the economies of each city.
He even suggested that various associations could be established among the disciples, such as the Pill Association and the Sword Association, to facilitate communication among disciples and provide opportunities for those with leadership potential to exercise their abilities.
Lu Baitian was astonished by Gu An's words. This kid is not just a coincidence; he truly has great talent!
After Gu An finished speaking, Lu Baitian picked up a bowl of tea and drank it in one gulp, feeling thoroughly satisfied.
Lu Baitian looked at him with piercing eyes and said, "And here I thought you weren't fit to be sect leader!"
Gu An waved his hand and said, "I don't have the qualifications to be sect leader. I don't have a prominent background, nor do I have the courage and boldness to implement grand plans. I can only offer suggestions at most."
Execution is the most challenging part.
Gu An could never be the sect leader!
Lu Baitian smiled and then began to ask questions about the strategies Gu An had just mentioned, to which Gu An patiently replied.
Half a shichen later, the two finally exited the pavilion.
Lu Baitian followed behind Gu An, still pondering over his ideas.
As soon as they descended the stairs, Lu Baitian bid farewell, saying he had lost the mood for the festival.
Gu An didn't try to keep him, and with Lu Baitian's departure, the festive atmosphere in the Third Medicine Valley became even more relaxed.
After the new spring, news of the training opportunity in the Nine Abyssal Road quickly spread throughout the Tai Xuan Gate.
Treasures, heavenly materials, demon pills, spiritual energy, and other benefits of the Nine Abyssal Road began to circulate, and it was clear that Lu Baitian had heeded Gu An's words. He heavily promoted the specific benefits of the opportunity, stirring up the disciples' enthusiasm and enhancing their sense of belonging to the sect.
Inside the Enforcement Hall.
Ye Lan was summoned to meet with the Enforcement Hall Elder.
The Enforcement Hall Elder smiled and said, "Ye Lan, you've been given a spot on the Nine Abyssal Road. You're truly impressive. Rest assured, the Enforcement Hall won't treat you unfairly. We will help you prepare for your journey into the Nine Abyssal Road."
Ye Lan was stunned.
The Nine Abyssal Road?
Her first thought went to Gu An.
Although she had been rooted in the Enforcement Hall for many years, how could she be included in such an opportunity as the Nine Abyssal Road?
She had heard that the first batch of spots for the Nine Abyssal Road was limited to only two hundred people, and outsiders basically had no chance.
The corners of Ye Lan's mouth turned up, and she felt nothing but surprise and sweetness at being taken care of by Gu An.
Senior Brother, it seems you do have me in your heart, even if you pretend otherwise!
Ye Lan could understand Gu An's thoughts. Romantic entanglements could indeed hinder one's cultivation.
Precisely because of this, she wanted to seize every opportunity to become stronger and prove her determination to her Senior Brother.
...
As winter turned to spring, the world came to life.
Time arrived at the beginning of the third month.
In the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An squatted by the side of a pond formed by the Tianling Water, having just released a batch of carp into it. He watched them swim freely, observing whether they could absorb the spiritual energy in the pond.
Lu Lingjun stood beside him and said, "If we raise them like this, they might even develop spiritual intelligence."
"Will the Tianling Water continue to expand?" Gu An asked curiously.
Lu Lingjun replied, "With the amount of water I've given you, it should be able to reach a diameter of ten zhang."
Gu An listened, feeling that it was a bit small.
He was about to speak when suddenly, a sword intent arrived from afar, startling the heavens.
Lu Lingjun's expression changed, and she turned her head, her eyebrows furrowed.
Gu An looked up and saw thunderclouds rolling in the sky, moving rapidly toward the inner sect.
The sword intent of the Great Azure Astonishing God Sword!
Gu An could sense An Hao's presence.
Good job, kid! To cultivate the sword intent of the Great Azure Astonishing God Sword so quickly!
Gu An felt both relieved and shocked.
An Hao's talent was truly inconceivable.
Lu Lingjun exclaimed, "This sword intent is similar to the one left by the Fudao Sword Immortal on the Butian Platform, but it's not as vast. Could it be that the Fudao Sword Immortal's disciple has achieved initial success in the sword path?"
Gu An asked curiously, "Disciple? How can you judge so clearly? I can't even sense it."
Lu Lingjun remained calm and said, "Perhaps I've seen someone else achieve sword intent before."
After being a miscellaneous disciple for so long, she had come to understand the Tai Xuan Gate, and she intended to improve her status.
To raise her status, cultivation was the key!
She didn't plan to start as an outer sect disciple but instead wanted Gu An to recommend her.
On the other side.
In a place surrounded by clouds and mist, a mountain peak rose above the sea of clouds, like a fairyland. At the top of the peak sat An Hao.
An Hao's white clothes fluttered wildly, and in front of him, a sword shadow condensed, exuding a vast and remote aura.
One figure after another appeared around him, and Lu Baitian and Xuanquan Laozu also arrived.
The Ancient Sect looked at An Hao in surprise and said, "This sword intent is..."
Another elder said in a deep voice, "It's the sword intent of the Fudao Sword Immortal. Did he gain this from the Butian Platform?"
"No, it's not just the Butian Platform. He must have obtained the Fudao Sword Immortal's inheritance!" a female elder said in a low voice.
"He's the Fudao Sword Immortal's disciple? No wonder such a genius would voluntarily join the Tai Xuan Gate, and he has no background. It turns out the Fudao Sword Immortal has been cultivating him for us," the Ancient Sect marveled.
Lu Baitian stared intently at An Hao, his eyes flickering.
Xuanquan Laozu stroked his beard and said, "What a domineering sword intent. It can be called the number one sword path of the Great Azure Empire."
His evaluation excited the elders even more, and they began to discuss An Hao's background and talent.
Xuanquan Laozu waved his sleeve, and flag after flag flew out from his sleeve, surrounding An Hao. The flags fluttered, gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and channeling it into An Hao's body.
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(End of Chapter)
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