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Chapter 198: The Ambitions of Tai Xuan Gate
Chapter 198: The Ambitions of Tai Xuan Gate
Gu An proudly showed off his newly acquired mount, causing the disciples to crowd around Blood Inferno Great Sage and pet it, much to its frustration. However, out of fear of Gu An, it could only endure this indignity silently.
Even Chu Jingfeng, who usually practiced his swordplay at the mountaintop, came down to join the commotion. He had seen many mounts, but this was the first time he had laid eyes on such an impressive bull. Its massive horns and fiery mane blowing in the wind gave it an air of grandeur.
After spending half an hour in Xuan Valley, Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley with Blood Inferno Great Sage.
From then on, he decided to bring Blood Inferno Great Sage with him wherever he went, as long as it was within the vicinity of Tai Xuan Gate.
Lately, the number of cultivators in Tai Xuan Gate had been increasing, and one could even spot cultivators riding their mounts in the skies above.
The disciples of the Third Medicine Valley were equally intrigued by Blood Inferno Great Sage, and the rich spiritual energy of the valley impressed the great sage. Such dense spiritual energy was a rarity even in the Spirit World, and it made him look forward to his new life here.
However, just as he was settling in, an incident sparked his fury.
There was an enormous rat in this valley, and it was incredibly annoying!
As he was napping downstairs, the White Spirit Mouse took a bite out of his backside, startling him. How could he, the Great Sage who reigned supreme in his realm, tolerate such an insult?
What happened next only added to his frustration.
He couldn't catch the White Spirit Mouse no matter how hard he tried!
This night was the darkest moment in Blood Inferno Great Sage's life.
The next day, Gu An brought Blood Inferno Great Sage to Tianya Valley.
"Why are you riding a bull?" asked Luohun as he approached them, his curiosity getting the better of him. He reached out to stroke Blood Inferno Great Sage's fur.
"Just bought it," Gu An smiled. "Pretty impressive, huh?"
"It's certainly unique. What breed is it?" Luohun inquired.
"I'm not sure. I call him Ox King," Gu An replied.
"Ox King?" Luohun shook his head, finding the name amusing. Meanwhile, Blood Inferno Great Sage hung his head low, his eyes dull and lifeless.
Lu Xian and Ji Ruolai were also drawn to Blood Inferno Great Sage and greeted Gu An.
With countless demons and beasts in the world, they didn't pry further.
"Have you seen my third sister lately?" Ji Ruolai asked Gu An.
Gu An shook his head. "No, I rarely go to the inner sect. Is there something you need me to tell her?"
Ji Ruolai nodded. "The family wants to summon her back to the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Can you please pass on the message?"
Gu An readily agreed and then set off to gather herbs.
Three monkey demons surrounded Blood Inferno Great Sage, their curiosity piqued.
Seeing them scratch their heads and look puzzled, Blood Inferno Great Sage felt they were mocking him, adding to his irritability.
The third day after his ascension was even more challenging.
...
Towards the end of autumn, Lu Baitian paid a visit to Gu An.
After going upstairs, he instinctively closed the door and set up restrictions before sitting down at the desk. Smiling, he asked, "Is the bull downstairs your pet? Its talent seems a bit lacking; it's only at the first stage and not much use. Do you want me to get you a third-stage mount?"
Gu An shook his head and smiled. "Never mind, I don't really have any enemies, so I don't need such a powerful mount. Besides, I feel a connection with this bull. It's quite understanding."
"Understanding?" Lu Baitian raised an eyebrow. "The way it looks at you, it seems ready to kick the bucket."
Gu An chuckled but didn't argue.
Lu Baitian didn't press the matter further and shifted the topic to the affairs of the sect.
Although the First Sword Conference had not yet begun, he was already looking ahead to the next major event.
Gu An's natural inclination towards teaching was ignited, and he began to enthusiastically share various ideas, captivating Lu Baitian with his vision.
Gu An not only discussed the methods but also painted a picture of a bright future, and Lu Baitian found himself thoroughly enjoying the conversation.
After a while, as Gu An took a sip of tea, Lu Baitian seized the opportunity to ask, "What do you think is Tai Xuan Gate's stance towards demons?"
During the Demon-Devil Calamity, the Demon Emperor had sent a group of powerful demons, and they still resided in Tai Xuan Gate, following Di Xie's lead. Tai Xuan Gate had treated them well and provided each of them with a cave abode.
"Sometimes, human hearts can be more sinister than demon hearts," Gu An began. "Since we're already on the path of cultivation, why have racial prejudices? Why can't Tai Xuan Gate accept demon disciples?"
Lu Baitian nodded, then sighed. "But won't this create potential risks?"
"Everything has its pros and cons," Gu An said calmly. "We shouldn't avoid doing something just because of potential drawbacks. If we succeed, it will set a precedent, bringing humans and demons on the continent closer together. If we fail, we can simply suppress them. Isn't that your specialty?"
He proposed this idea to strengthen Tai Xuan Gate's power.
Sooner or later, Tai Xuan Gate would have to face the Seven Stars Spirit Realm!
Ji Xuanling, representing the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, had tried to woo Tai Xuan Gate, but Tai Xuan Gate had only maintained friendly relations without submitting. This stance reflected the attitude of the Elder Hall.
Nowadays, the upper echelons of Tai Xuan Gate had become increasingly ambitious, dreaming of becoming the second holy land on the continent, or even surpassing the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
With Gu An's support, Lu Baitian's confidence soared, and his smile widened.
The two chatted for a long while before Lu Baitian finally left, satisfied.
As he reached the downstairs area, he spotted Blood Inferno Great Sage lying on the ground and felt a surge of interest. He walked over, patted its head, and said with a smile, "Little creature, work hard on your cultivation. Who knows, you might even become a disciple of Tai Xuan Gate one day. Reaching the Nascent Soul stage might not be impossible."
The Blood Inferno Great Sage shot him a dirty look and didn't bother to acknowledge Lu Baitian any further.
This left Lu Baitian stunned for a moment, questioning if he had misjudged the situation.
Ah, what's the point of arguing with a beast?
Lu Baitian rose to his feet and walked away.
Watching his retreating figure, the Blood Inferno Great Sage secretly seethed.
You old coot! You just wait! he vowed. How dare you insult me? A thousand years from now, I'll make you kneel before me and beg for mercy!
...
As winter snowflakes fluttered in the air, Gu An rode the Blood Inferno Great Sage, patrolling the Third Medicine Valley. In truth, his spiritual sense had ventured overseas, searching for a place to break through his current cultivation level.
An Xin approached him curiously and asked, "Master, why do you ride it everywhere you go? Don't you find it slow?"
Gu An chuckled softly and replied, "I'm training its physique. Although it's my mount, I won't mistreat it. Eventually, I'll set it free."
At these words, the Blood Inferno Great Sage's eyes lit up, and its bovine body straightened proudly, no longer resembling the listless, aging ox it had been before.
An Xin nodded, about to say something, when two figures flew towards them from the horizon.
It was Lu Lingjun and Shen Zhen.
After landing, Shen Zhen enthusiastically greeted Gu An, sharing stories of their adventures and good fortune over the years. Even An Xin, standing by, felt a pang of longing.
Gu An feigned emotion and admiration, fueling Shen Zhen's sense of accomplishment.
Currently, Shen Zhen had reached the fifth layer of the Yuan Ying realm, a testament to her incredible good fortune.
They chatted for a while before Shen Zhen finally took her leave, mentioning that she planned to publish a book soon, which gave Gu An a slight start.
After Shen Zhen's departure, An Xin also made an excuse to leave Gu An and Lu Lingjun alone.
Lu Lingjun stomped her foot lightly, using her spiritual power to form a barrier that isolated the area within a three-zhang radius, causing even the Blood Inferno Great Sage to glance at her with newfound interest.
"Gu An, I heard that a person who ascended to immortality appeared in the Northern Lands. You're close to the Sect Master; have you heard anything about this?" Lu Lingjun asked straightforwardly.
Ascended immortal!
At these words, the Blood Inferno Great Sage lowered his head, feeling ashamed.
How humiliating!
Gu An thought for a moment before shaking his head. "I haven't heard about this. Why are you so interested in ascended immortals?"
Lu Lingjun hesitated for a moment before confessing, "To be honest, I'm also an ascended immortal. That's why I asked you to write 'Shattering the Void.'"
Gu An's eyes widened in disbelief.
The Blood Inferno Great Sage raised his head once more, and this time, there were tears glistening in his eyes.
Lu Lingjun had wanted to share this for a long time, and her good fortune over the years had only added to her confidence. "I want to recruit ascended immortals and form my own connections within the Tai Xuan Gate. What do you think?"
She knew that Lu Baitian often visited the Medicine Valley, and through Gu An, she had heard about many of Lu Baitian's plans.
She also wanted to convey her intentions to Lu Baitian through Gu An.
Gu An replied excitedly, "Of course, it's a great idea! It will not only benefit the Tai Xuan Gate but also enhance its strength. However, I don't have any information about that ascended immortal."
Hearing this, the Blood Inferno Great Sage was filled with confusion.
By now, he had realized that no one seemed to know the true cultivation level of the person riding on his back.
Moreover, the cultivators he had encountered so far were relatively weak and didn't seem to match the standards of a top cultivator in the Spirit World. He couldn't understand why a powerful cultivator like Gu An would hide in such a small place.
"In the future, help me pay attention to any related news. I won't treat you unfairly," Lu Lingjun assured him.
With the emergence of the Great Vehicle realm and the existence of immortals, she felt a sense of urgency to devote most of her time to cultivation. The Xuan Heart realm no longer seemed sufficient.
Gu An smiled and nodded in agreement.
After some small talk, Lu Lingjun took her leave.
Gu An patted the Blood Inferno Great Sage, signaling him to continue moving forward.
"People always want to go to places they haven't been before, but once they arrive, they realize that everywhere is the same," Gu An said contemplatively. "And when they want to turn back, it's often too late."
The Blood Inferno Great Sage felt that Gu An was hinting at him.
If it weren't for you, would I be so humiliated? the beast thought.
The snow fell thicker, and the snow on the ground grew deeper. The Blood Inferno Great Sage left two ox hoof prints in the snow as their figures disappeared into the vast white landscape.
This continued until nightfall.
In the Land of Demons and Monsters...
On a barren plain, Xuan Tianyi and An Hao sat across from each other by a campfire. The falling snow couldn't land on them, and the area within ten zhang of their surroundings had already melted, creating an isolated snow-free zone.
Xuan Tianyi held a book in his hand and said softly, "The demonic energy in this area is very heavy. We might be able to find the hiding place of the powerful demon soon."
An Hao, who was cultivating, opened his eyes and asked, "Senior, what should we do after finding the powerful demon?"
With the world in an uproar about the northward journey to immortality, he couldn't suppress his adventurous spirit any longer. He had bid farewell to Si Yan'er and set out on his own northward journey.
His goal was to become an immortal, and he refused to be tied down to any one place or person.
Xuan Tianyi replied, "After that, you will bring the information back, and I will stay here alone."
"Why would you stay here?"
"I want to be a hero too, and I can't always rely on Fu Dao Jianzun."
As he spoke, Xuan Tianyi turned the page and continued reading.
Second Watch!
(End of Chapter)
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