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Chapter 15: The Millennium Pavilion, Master of the Dark Valley
Chapter 15: The Millennium Pavilion, Master of the Dark Valley
"Poison Gu? Master, you..." Gu An feigned horror and asked.
Could Cheng Xuandan be planning to turn on him as well?
Without turning his head, Cheng Xuandan brushed aside the branches blocking their path and walked forward, bending low as he continued, "Meng Lang has slightly better talent than you, but the difference is negligible. Even with my support and elixirs, it would be difficult for him to build a foundation. The Medicine Valley only needs one successor, and his presence is a threat to you. You should be able to sense the flaws in his character."
Gu An fell silent at these words.
Something about this didn't sit right with him. It sounded as if Meng Lang was killed to clear the way for him. But he hadn't wanted Meng Lang to die.
Although Meng Lang was despicable, his true nature wasn't inherently evil.
"Don't overthink it, disciple. While it's true that I killed him to pave the way for you, blame it on the fact that his talent was superior to yours. I'm only helping the Master of Medicine Valley." Cheng Xuandan replied nonchalantly.
"Shouldn't the choice of the Master of Medicine Valley be based on who has superior talent?" Gu An asked.
"But if one possesses exceptional talent, how can they be expected to spend their entire life in Medicine Valley?"
"Is there something special about this valley?"
"Indeed. I'm not just a disciple of Tai Xuan Gate. I'm also a spy for the Millennium Pavilion, a demonic sect. As their strength pales in comparison to Tai Xuan Gate, they've planted numerous spies like me."
What a revelation! Gu An was at a loss for words, suddenly realizing the weight of the spy's burden that Cheng Xuandan intended to pass on to him.
"After I'm gone, you can focus on being the Master of the Valley. You don't have to do anything special. When the Millennium Pavilion needs you, someone will find you, and you just need to follow their instructions. Of course, you can also report to Tai Xuan Gate. In any case, I don't have many years left, but you need to consider if Tai Xuan Gate will tolerate you. For miscellaneous disciples like you, they'd rather err on the side of overkill than let one slip through the net." Cheng Xuandan's tone carried a hint of satisfaction, which made Gu An want to hit someone.
"Remember the secret code of the Millennium Pavilion: 'The millennium evergreen vine regrets not the heart, and all methods of barrenness find it hard to find the root.'"
"Don't I have any other choice?"
"What do you think?"
Gu An fell silent once more.
"A spy like me is insignificant even to the Millennium Pavilion. Perhaps you won't encounter them coming to find you in your lifetime." Cheng Xuandan said with a hint of self-mockery.
Gu An pondered his situation and realized that resistance was futile.
It was like being stuck in mud—he had no choice but to become a spy for the demonic path.
"Master, if you're a cultivator of the Millennium Pavilion, there must be a reason why you stayed in this Medicine Valley. Why hide it?" Gu An asked in a low voice.
"You're indeed clever. Yes, there's a seventh-rank spirit tree buried beneath the valley. After we return, I'll take you to see it."
"Seventh... seventh-rank?"
Gu An's voice trembled, and his eyes shone with anticipation.
...
Fine flakes of winter snow drifted between heaven and earth, and a majestic city stood between the mountain ridges. The city gate towered at a height of ten zhang, and people entered on foot, while Tai Xuan Gate disciples flew in on swords or rode on spirit beasts.
Gu An walked along the mountain path, his eyes widening in surprise as he gazed upon the outer city of Tai Xuan Gate from a distance.
What a massive city!
"Tai Xuan Gate has eight outer cities, and further in are four inner cities. Within the inner cities lies the main sect city, a place only accessible to the heaven-defying elites of the sect. It's said that when viewed from above, Tai Xuan Gate resembles a exquisite compass, with each mountain holding its own mysteries." Cheng Xuandan explained, his voice filled with emotion and a hint of regret in his eyes.
Gu An couldn't help but ask, "Just how big is Tai Xuan Gate?"
They had been traveling for over half a month, and the distance from Medicine Valley to this city was astonishing.
"It's boundless, and even I don't know its full extent." Cheng Xuandan continued toward the outer city, with Gu An following closely behind.
When Gu An had first joined Tai Xuan Gate, he hadn't come to the outer city. One of the sect's elders had received Ji Xiaoyu in a mountain forest pavilion and, out of respect for her, had sent a disciple to escort Gu An to Cheng Xuandan's Medicine Valley after hearing his request.
This was his first time visiting the outer city.
As master and disciple approached the city gate, Cheng Xuandan presented his token, and Gu An caught a glimpse of two words inscribed on it.
'Dark Valley.'
After entering the city, Gu An was astonished by the deafening clamor that filled the air.
There must be a restriction at the city gate! With his enhanced hearing, he hadn't been able to hear any sounds from the city while they were outside.
"Fine medicinal herbs, first come, first served! Only ten plants available today!"
"Come and see the legacy treasures left behind by a Nascent Soul cultivator's cave abode!"
"Pure-blooded Snow Mountain Spirit Foxes! With proper care, they'll be able to speak human language in just five more years!"
"Treasure hunt! Treasure hunt! Only ten low-grade spirit stones per item. What you uncover is up to your luck!"
"Maps to the cave abodes of ancient great cultivators are available for purchase by those with sufficient strength!"
Gu An was drawn to the hawkers on both sides of the street. The streets were lined with pavilions and shops, spacious and devoid of makeshift stalls.
He even spotted a brothel.
Impressive! As expected of a renowned righteous sect!
Along the way, Cheng Xuandan's introductions broadened Gu An's horizons.
No wonder so many people were desperate to join Tai Xuan Gate. The sect truly had abundant cultivation resources.
Gu An listened intently while also frantically probing with his lifespan.
After walking for two li along the street, he had already spotted five cultivators with maximum lifespans exceeding five hundred years.
The outer sect was indeed a gathering of dragons and crouching tigers!
Half a mark later, Cheng Xuandan led Gu An into a massive mansion, with a plaque bearing three large words:
Dan Yao Tang!
Within the Dan Yao Tang, people came and went, some hurrying, some with furrowed brows, and others laughing heartily.
Gu An followed Cheng Xuandan into a courtyard and paid respects to an elder of the Dan Yao Tang.
Zhu Qinglu, a Ninth Layer of the Foundation Establishment cultivator and one of the elders of Dan Yao Tang, oversaw fifty-one Medicine Valleys, and was Cheng Xuandan's superior.
He had a plump build, donned a loose cyan Daoist robe, and wore a benevolent smile, giving off a harmless impression.
In the main hall, Zhu Qinglu received Cheng Xuandan and instructed his disciples to serve tea.
"Xuandan, why does your complexion look so poor?" Zhu Qinglu asked with concern.
Gu An took this opportunity to discreetly use his lifespan to probe.
Zhu Qinglu (Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer): 211/267/510
He had lived for two hundred and eleven years!
Gu An stood beside Cheng Xuandan, mindful of his manners.
Cheng Xuandan laughed, "To be honest, my time is near. Today, aside from submitting medicinal herbs, I'm also here for my disciple. I wish to pass on the position of Valley Master of Xuan Valley to him."
Zhu Qinglu turned to Gu An and smiled, "At the third layer of Qi Refining, this child must have exceptional qualities."
Pui!
What a dirty mouth!
Cheng Xuandan smiled, "This child has a pure character and can unite the disciples. Moreover, he is willing to stay in the Medicine Valley for life, making him the best choice."
Zhu Qinglu didn't say more. He waved his hand, and a disciple entered the hall.
After the incense stick burned out.
Gu An followed Cheng Xuandan out of the Dan Yao Tang, fiddling with a bronze token in his hand, which had the words 'Xuan Gu' etched on it, and he could sense the presence of restrictions within it.
From this day forward, within the Tai Xuan Gate's Dan Yao Tang, his identity would be that of the Valley Master of Xuan Gu.
"The Valley Master's storage bag is with me, and I will pass it on to you." Cheng Xuandan's voice interrupted Gu An's thoughts.
Gu An hurriedly asked, "Master, where are we going next?"
He wanted to return, as there was a batch of medicinal herbs ready for harvesting, and he was afraid his junior disciples would do it for him.
"Before we go back, I'll take you to the Miscellaneous Tasks Hall. You can recruit a miscellaneous disciple there. Today, you can select one to bring back with you, so you can familiarize yourself with the process." Cheng Xuandan replied without turning his head.
Gu An gazed at his back, his emotions stirring.
People have many faces, and this was perfectly exemplified by Cheng Xuandan.
In the past, Cheng Xuandan had been cold to his disciples, and now he had even refined one of them into a Poison Gu, not to mention that he was also a spy for the demonic path. He seemed like a villain through and through.
Yet, his kindness towards Gu An was genuine.
The Miscellaneous Tasks Hall was not far from the Dan Yao Tang; they reached it after turning a few streets. This mansion was even larger, and upon entering the main gate, Gu An saw a spacious square filled with people.
Looking at the candidates waiting to be selected, Gu An realized how fortunate he was.
If not for the presence of the Ji family, his spiritual root talent would have landed him here, waiting to be chosen like the rest.
"You can look around by yourself, and I won't interfere. Once you've made your choice, I'll take you to register." Cheng Xuandan said softly, rubbing his chest as his body seemed to be in some discomfort.
Gu An nodded and took a step forward.
No need to judge?
Activate the golden finger!
Gu An frantically used his lifespan to probe, examining each person.
Most of the people here had very low maximum lifespans, and there were even some short-lived ones among them. There was someone who only had a year left to live, yet they still hoped to be chosen.
Gu An quickly discovered a genius with a maximum lifespan exceeding five hundred years.
He wasn't in a hurry to decide; he would look at everyone first.
The Medicine Valley didn't need geniuses; he was looking for someone with a long current lifespan.
The maximum lifespan was the limit of a person's cultivation, and reaching that limit was extremely difficult, requiring a great deal of fortune to fill the gap.
The reason there were so many overlooked talents was that spiritual root talent couldn't solely determine one's future potential.
Current lifespan, however, was different. As long as one didn't suffer severe injuries, they could live that long.
Soon, Gu An's gaze landed on a young monk. He had an ordinary appearance, wore tattered cloth, and was meditating in a corner of the square.
Wu Xin (Qi Refining, Second Layer): 15/330/380
To have a lifespan of three hundred and thirty years at the Qi Refining stage was extraordinary!
Perhaps this boy had a unique physique or had cultivated some special technique.
Gu An immediately walked up to Wu Xin, who sensed something and opened his eyes, meeting Gu An's smiling face.
"Would you like to come to my Medicine Valley? It's not too busy there, and you'll have plenty of time to cultivate." Gu An said gently with a smile.
Wu Xin saw his smile and nodded subconsciously.
Cheng Xuandan, standing beside Gu An, sized up Wu Xin and seemed to discern something. He then glanced at Gu An, his expression turning strange.
(End of Chapter)
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