https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-13-All-I-Remember-is-His-Lightning-Fast-Legwork/12573978/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-15-The-Millennium-Pavilion-Master-of-the-Dark-Valley/12573990/
Chapter 14: Daily Routine, Poisonous Gu
Chapter 14: Daily Routine, Poisonous Gu
Fast leg technique?
Xiao Chuan, Lu Jiujia, and Ye Lan were all moved by the display. They thought of Gu An, but instead of looking at him, they pondered quietly.
Meng Lang asked, "What do you mean? Didn't you two fight that demonic traitor?"
Shi Yang's face turned grim at the question. Taking a deep breath, he explained, "It's true that we were outclassed. My cultivation is at the fifth layer of the Qi Refining Realm, and my cousin here is at the fourth layer. For a demonic cultivator to defeat us with ease, their cultivation must be immeasurable. If you have any leads, it's best to share them early on to avoid future troubles."
As he revealed their cultivation levels, Meng Lang, Xiao Chuan, and the others inhaled sharply in surprise.
Meng Lang felt a twinge of fear and quickly asked, "Since you weren't a match for him, why did you dare to seek him out? Why didn't you ask inner sect disciples for help?"
"We have our backup plans," Shi Yang replied, his tone conveying his growing annoyance with Meng Lang. This kid was asking for a beating, poking at their sore spots so bluntly.
Gu An seized the opportunity to speak up. "If that person is truly a demonic traitor, it doesn't make sense for the two of you to be easily defeated and yet only sustain minor injuries. I observed that your wounds aren't severe; would the demonic path be so merciful?"
Shi Yang turned to look at him, his gaze inscrutable. After a moment's thought, he replied, "It's hard to come to a conclusion right now. But it's unusual for outer sect disciples to have their own caves in this area, and they shouldn't be here breaking through. There's definitely something amiss, and I'd like to know if you have any leads at all."
Li Xuan Yu sized up Gu An, who pretended to be nervous and avoided making eye contact with the two outer sect disciples.
"It seems my disciples truly haven't seen any demonic traitors," Cheng Xuandan spoke up, breaking the tense atmosphere.
Shi Yang was about to say something more, but Li Xuan Yu beat him to it. "Since that's the case, we'll take our leave."
She gave a polite salute to Cheng Xuandan and then turned to leave. Shi Yang had no choice but to follow in her footsteps, shooting a glare at Meng Lang as he departed.
Xiao Chuan turned to face Gu An, about to say something, but Ye Lan stopped him. She raised a finger to her lips, signaling for silence, and then made a series of subtle gestures.
Without adding anything further, Cheng Xuandan turned and headed toward her tower.
After seeing Shi Yang and Li Xuan Yu off, Gu An made his way back to his courtyard, with the others trailing behind. Xiao Chuan wanted to say something but hesitated.
Glancing at him, Gu An smiled and asked, "What is it? Do you think my leg technique is powerful enough to defeat two cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm?"
Xiao Chuan's face reddened, and he scratched his head sheepishly.
Meng Lang let out a snort of laughter. "Your senior brother has only reached the third layer of the Qi Refining Realm, and the Phantom Wind Leg he practices is one of the most common leg techniques among outer sect disciples. How could he possibly be the demonic traitor that the outer sect disciples are talking about?"
Lu Jiujia nodded; he hadn't considered Gu An as a potential demonic traitor. In his eyes, his senior brother was the kindest and gentlest person he had ever met.
Ye Lan, however, was a little displeased. "Even if it's the most common leg technique, senior brother will eventually master it and make it formidable."
The incident where Gu An had subdued Meng Lang with a single kick had been kept from Meng Lang at Gu An's request, and his junior siblings had kept the secret.
Meng Lang shook his head, finding the situation amusing. He then left on his own, intending to practice his spells in the forest.
Ye Lan watched his retreating figure, her small face scrunched up in anger as she clenched her fists.
"Alright, let's all cultivate diligently and strive to become outer sect disciples as soon as possible," Gu An said with a smile, waving his hand to dismiss his junior siblings.
Meanwhile, on the mountains...
Shi Yang and Li Xuan Yu flew side by side on their swords, their speed unremarkable as they scanned the area below.
"Cousin, I feel like something was off about that disciple from the Medicine Valley," Shi Yang said, a chill in his eyes.
That guy was so infuriating! Shi Yang's thoughts turned to Meng Lang's ugly face, and his anger only grew.
Li Xuan Yu's face was cold as she replied softly, "I think that menial disciple was right. Perhaps he isn't a demonic traitor at all and simply doesn't want to be recognized. The fact that we're still alive is proof of that."
Shi Yang frowned. "There's someone like that among the outer sect disciples? He must have at least the cultivation of the ninth layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and that leg technique I've never seen before must be some kind of supreme art. His background is probably not simple."
"We'll find out eventually."
Li Xuan Yu lifted her eyes to the horizon, her brows furrowed as if deep in thought.
Shi Yang fell silent as well, both of them renowned geniuses among the outer sect disciples. The thought that their opponent from the previous night was also an outer sect disciple was a hard pill to swallow.
...
Summer was approaching, and the summers in Tai Xuan Gate were scorching. The very heavens and earth seemed to twist with heat, and Lu Jiujia, who was turning the soil in the field, was emitting white steam.
Gu An, now twenty-one years old, was in the courtyard refining pills. In front of him was a small pill furnace, and he stared at the boiling medicine within, hesitating about whether to throw in the herbs he held.
Pill refining truly was a technical skill!
Just as Gu An was struggling, Meng Lang rushed into the courtyard, quickly entering his own room. In less than ten breaths, he emerged carrying a bundle.
"Gu An, I'm off to take the outer sect assessment. Once I make a name for myself, I'll come back and take care of you!" Meng Lang exclaimed excitedly before dashing off.
Outer sect assessment?
Gu An was taken aback. Meng Lang was only at the seventh layer of the Qi Refining Realm. How could he participate in the assessment?
Usually, one had to display extraordinary talent upon entering the sect, or they would have to wait until they achieved the Foundation Establishment Realm to enter the outer sect.
This was Tai Xuan Gate, the number one sect in the Tai Cang Empire!
A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator would be revered in a third-rate sect, but in Tai Xuan Gate, they were only considered outer sect disciples.
Gu An watched the direction of Meng Lang's departure, and he saw Cheng Xuandan descending from her tower.
Cheng Xuandan was actually going to take Meng Lang with her out of the valley.
Gu An felt that something was amiss, but even if he tried to stop Meng Lang now, the stubborn boy wouldn't listen, as he was obsessed with becoming an outer sect disciple.
"What's there to manage? I'm pursuing the path of longevity, so I have to manage this and that. Will I ever have peace?" Gu An thought to himself, his gaze firming with determination.
He continued to refine pills, trying his best not to think about Meng Lang.
And so, he sat idly in front of the small pill furnace for an entire day, only to end up with a pile of useless medicinal dregs.
It wasn't until late at night that he quietly slipped away.
His departure from Medicine Valley wasn't because of Meng Lang, but for his own cultivation. It had been two months since Shi Yang and Li Xuan Yu left, and he was ready to commence his daily routine.
From that night on, he would sneak out every night, investing a year of his lifespan into his cultivation.
This time, investing his lifespan to enhance his cultivation still created a noticeable disturbance, but it was far less intense than before, and it ended much quicker.
The next day, Gu An took the opportunity to ask Ye Lan about her cultivation the previous night. Ye Lan hadn't heard any strange noises, and her cultivation had gone smoothly.
Gu An was finally relieved, and he could now implement his daily plan!
Days passed.
Half a month after Cheng Xuandan and Meng Lang left, they still hadn't returned, and Gu An could surmise that Meng Lang's chances of survival were slim.
Previously, when Zhang Chunqiu went to the outer sect, he would return within seven days and never stayed away for so long.
Xiao Chuan and the others asked Gu An when their master would return, and he could only divert their attention, encouraging them to focus on their cultivation.
Two months later, Cheng Xuandan finally returned.
Cheng Xuandan's hair had turned completely white, and he wasn't wearing his cloth hat. His appearance shocked Xiao Chuan, Lu Jiujia, and Ye Lan, and they all rushed forward, with Gu An doing the same.
"I'm fine, I just need some rest," Cheng Xuandan waved his hand weakly, gently pushing Lu Jiujia away before walking towards his tower.
Gu An furrowed his brows, concerned.
He noticed that Cheng Xuandan's cultivation had regressed to the second layer of the Qi Refining Realm, and his lifespan had shortened as well, leaving him with only two years left.
Gu An had initially thought that Cheng Xuandan was plotting against Meng Lang, either to possess his body or refine him into a puppet. But now, it seemed like Cheng Xuandan was the one on the verge of death.
Gu An watched his master's retreating figure, deep in thought.
Ye Lan thought he was worried about Cheng Xuandan and comforted him, "Senior Brother, don't worry, Master will be fine."
Gu An turned to her and nodded with a smile.
After chatting with his junior brothers and sisters for a while, Gu An left by himself.
"I feel like something is wrong with Master," Lu Jiujia pulled Xiao Chuan aside and whispered, his brows furrowed and his eyes sharp.
Xiao Chuan nodded, "Yes, something is definitely off."
Lu Jiujia leaned closer to Xiao Chuan's ear and started whispering.
Ye Lan continued to stare at Gu An's departing back.
...
After returning, Cheng Xuandan locked himself in his room. Gu An could sense that he was cultivating to heal his injuries, but his aura grew weaker day by day.
It wasn't until the onset of winter that Cheng Xuandan finally stepped out of his room. He called out to Gu An from a distance, and Gu An immediately ran over.
"Master," Gu An greeted respectfully.
Cheng Xuandan's hair, beard, and eyebrows had all turned white, and there were even some brown spots on his face, making him look extremely old.
"Let's go, I'll take you to the outer sect," Cheng Xuandan stroked his beard and smiled kindly.
Gu An couldn't help but ask, "Why are we going to the outer sect?"
"Don't you want to become the Valley Master in the future?" Cheng Xuandan countered.
Upon hearing this, Gu An's heart raced, but he feigned a terrified expression and asked anxiously, "Master, what's wrong? Please don't scare me!"
Seeing his disciple's flustered reaction, Cheng Xuandan's gaze softened.
"Let's talk on the way. We're leaving now," Cheng Xuandan said and turned towards the exit of the valley.
Gu An quickly instructed Xiao Chuan, who was closest to him, before catching up with Cheng Xuandan's pace.
After leaving the valley, Cheng Xuandan headed towards the forest. Since he couldn't fly with his sword anymore, it meant that they would have to walk all the way to the outer sect.
Gu An suddenly felt the urge to turn back and tell Xiao Chuan and the others not to pick those soon-to-be-ripe medicinal herbs, and to wait for him to return to do so.
As the master and disciple walked through the forest, Gu An wanted to support Cheng Xuandan, but the latter gently refused.
"The sect only provides a limited allowance to the Valley Master, so you must consider carefully when recruiting servant disciples in the future. Moreover, you'll have to hand over a certain amount of your harvest every year..." Cheng Xuandan walked ahead, speaking casually.
Gu An appeared to be listening attentively, but he remained vigilant.
After all, Meng Lang's fate was still unknown.
Cheng Xuandan's pace wasn't fast, and with the numerous hills and mountains along the way, it took them half an hour to cover a few li.
Gu An's mental fortitude was being tested; how long would it take to reach the outer sect?
He even considered carrying Cheng Xuandan on his back!
As they crossed a small stream, Cheng Xuandan suddenly asked, "Why haven't you asked about Meng Lang's whereabouts?"
Gu An feigned confusion and asked, "Didn't he go to take the outer sect assessment? Did he fail?"
"I lied to him. I've already refined him into a medicinal Gu," Cheng Xuandan replied without turning back, as if he wasn't afraid of Gu An attacking him from behind.
Upon hearing this, Gu An remained calm and carefully sensed their surroundings, confirming that there was no one else nearby.
(End of Chapter)
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