https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-76-Exaggerated-Lifespan-Limits-Gu-An-Takes-on-Disciples/12575217/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-78-A-Duel-Decided-by-Two-Leaves-/12575219/
Chapter 77: The World's Gaze, The Path of the Sword Cultivator
Chapter 77: The World's Gaze, The Path of the Sword Cultivator
Upon seeing Gu An approaching from the valley entrance, Wu Xin hurried over.
Lu Jiujia was also following the servant disciples in their morning exercises. As Wu Xin's left and right-hand man, he merely gazed at Gu An from a distance and did not approach.
Even though he had returned several years ago, Lu Jiujia still dared not face Gu An. He avoided him as much as possible, feeling a sense of shame for his past actions.
Gu An had smashed so many pills for him, yet he had strayed from the path and ended up a waste of a cultivator. Lu Jiujia now regretted his past actions.
He even felt that he deserved his fate, as he had indeed done many despicable things during his time in the Demon-Subduing Hall.
Gu An, however, did not specifically guide or lecture Lu Jiujia, allowing the young man to reflect on his own.
"Senior Brother, the spirit energy in the valley sank again last night," Wu Xin said as he reached Gu An. "Although it wasn't as severe as the previous times, you should still be careful when going out."
Gu An nodded. "I returned because I sensed it as well. How is the situation in the Medicine Valley?"
"It's fine. By the way, Senior Brother, will you be watching the battle between the Sword Maniac of Dayu and the Sword Sovereign of Fudao later?"
"Has Sword Sovereign Fudao agreed to participate?"
"No, but the news has spread far and wide. Sword Sovereign Fudao will likely show up."
The two chatted as they walked towards the pavilion.
Nowadays, Xuan Gu had recruited another batch of servant disciples. These new disciples frequently glanced at Gu An while they trained, curious about the true master of the valley.
Rumors spread that this Medicine Valley produced an outer disciple every few years, and they couldn't help but anticipate such an opportunity.
After chatting with Wu Xin for a while, Gu An went upstairs to make new clothes for An Hao and An Xin.
Half a period of time later, he headed towards the Third Medicine Valley to inspect his territory.
The Third Medicine Valley was too vast, and he had to personally check to avoid any mishaps.
If even a single herb withered, it would cost him a portion of his lifespan!
The disciples in the Third Medicine Valley were also discussing the sinking of spirit energy the night before, and Gu An chatted with them for a while before leaving at dusk.
...
The sky was tinted with a reddish hue, and the mountains were shrouded in darkness.
An Hao stood on a tree branch, gazing into the distance, searching for Gu An's figure.
Below the tree, An Xin anxiously asked, "Do you think Master isn't coming back?"
"He will," An Hao said firmly, his voice resolute, although his heart was filled with uncertainty.
The thought of Master possibly not returning made him feel wronged and like crying, but with An Xin there, he had to stay strong.
His father had once told him that it was alright for boys to cry, but never in front of girls.
Suddenly, a hand landed on An Xin's head, causing her to let out a startled yelp and jump back.
Hearing this, An Hao turned around and saw the figure he had been eagerly awaiting all day. Overjoyed, he exclaimed, "Master!"
He jumped down from the tree and rushed towards Gu An, hugging his waist, just as An Xin had done that morning.
An Xin, upon recognizing Gu An, also rushed forward to embrace him.
In just two days, Gu An had already become an irreplaceable figure in their hearts.
Gu An pushed them away gently, placing a hand on each of their heads. "Cultivate diligently. If you don't work hard, I will leave you."
"If we show progress in our cultivation, will you stay with us?" An Hao asked.
Gu An took out two sets of clothes from his storage bag and said, "Didn't I tell you? In the future, you will go to Tai Xuan Gate. I won't accompany you forever. Once you have the strength to protect yourselves, I will leave."
Hearing this, An Hao's face fell, and An Xin pouted, her eyes welling up with tears.
Gu An ignored their emotions and handed them the clothes before leading them towards the river in the mountains.
Half a period of time later, An Hao and An Xin had changed into their new clothes, and their hair had been neatly combed. The pair exuded a sense of innocence and purity, a fitting match for the titles of golden boy and jade girl. No wonder the monster had kept them until last; perhaps it had been reluctant to part with such delicious treats.
Gu An decided that from then on, he would spend every night with them and return to Tai Xuan Gate during the day.
Within a thousand miles, there were no powerful demonic creatures, only numerous villages and towns, making it a safe place for them to cultivate.
And so, the days passed.
Finally, the month-long period arrived.
The outer sect city was packed with people. Even the mountains outside the city gates were filled with cultivators meditating. Many disciples from the other seven outer sect cities, the four inner sect cities, and the main sect city had come to witness the battle, and even cultivators from other sects had gathered to watch.
Tai Xuan Gate did not stop them, and soon, the entire cultivation world of the Great Cang Imperial Court was abuzz with talk of the impending battle.
At the south gate, Han Ming stood proudly, his eyes closed as he held a sword box in front of him, his hands resting on top. The warm wind of late summer ruffled his robes.
Many cultivators on the city walls stared at him, whispering among themselves.
"I wonder if Sword Sovereign Fudao will come."
"I think it's better if he doesn't. If he does, his true identity will be exposed, and he'll surely face endless trouble afterward."
"Of course he'll come. He's so powerful that even if his true identity is revealed, who in this world can defeat him?"
"It's said that Sword Sovereign Fudao is actually the Sect Master. The reason he hasn't shown himself is that he wants to create another figure within Tai Xuan Gate who is as powerful as himself."
"It is said that the Sword Maniac of Dayu has surpassed the Transformation Realm for many years. If this battle truly commences, it will surely be a legendary duel that will echo through the ages."
Zuo Lin stood on the city wall with his father, Zuo Yijian, gazing down at Han Ming's figure.
Zuo Lin's face was filled with worry as he had taken Han Ming as his master, and naturally, he was concerned about his well-being.
Jiang Qiong and Hu Mo, a Ninth Layer of the Transformation Realm cultivator, stood on a massive gourd floating in the air, also discussing the upcoming battle.
Ye Lan stood atop a tall building, gazing toward the South Gate in the distance. The sky was a vast canvas of blue, without a cloud in sight. The mountains outside the city rose and fell, their contours uneven, but there was no sign of the Sword Sovereign Fudao.
Standing beside her were over ten disciples from the Enforcement Hall, all of them her subordinates, including Zhen Qin. They were filled with excitement.
Five li away, Shen Zhen, her face covered by a black veil, stood atop a pagoda, also looking toward the South Gate. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
This impending duel between sword cultivators, brewing for a month, had captured the attention of the entire Tai Xuan Gate and even the wider cultivation world, with all eyes waiting for the outcome.
Under the gaze of countless onlookers, Han Ming kept his eyes closed, patiently waiting.
At the same time, fifteen thousand li away...
In a spacious forest, Gu An was instructing An Hao in swordplay.
Having absorbed qi for three days, An Hao had reached the second layer of the Qi Refining Realm, and now he was already at the third layer. Thus, on this day, Gu An imparted to him the sword techniques of the Great Cang Astonishing God Sword, giving him a means of combat.
Meanwhile, An Xin was still cultivating, trying to condense her first wisp of spiritual qi.
The gap in their talents was like a vast chasm! Gu An only needed to teach once, and An Hao would memorize the sword techniques, making it a smooth and effortless process.
Is this what it feels like to teach a genius? No wonder great cultivators dote on geniuses. Even he felt a bit of favoritism toward An Hao.
As An Hao practiced his swordplay, he curiously asked, "Master, what is the name of this sword technique?"
He held a wooden sword, and yet his swings already carried a sharp and fierce aura.
"The Great Cang Astonishing God Sword," Gu An said. "You are the only one who has learned my sword techniques, so don't disgrace them in the future."
With An Hao's talent, he would surely be cherished and revered once he entered the Tai Xuan Gate. And if he also had the legacy of the Sword Sovereign Fudao, it would be even more extraordinary.
In the future, if the Tai Xuan Gate wanted to suppress An Hao, they would have to consider if it was worth offending the Sword Sovereign Fudao.
"The Great Cang Astonishing God Sword..." An Hao murmured, his eyes shining with excitement. He could sense the profoundness of this sword technique, and with each practice, he gained new insights, a feeling that captivated him.
The sound of the sword blade slicing through the air echoed through the forest, and Gu An stood by, watching quietly. His wooden mask concealed his expression, preventing An Hao from seeing his emotions.
In the distance, An Xin opened her eyes, her gaze filled with envy.
She also wanted to learn the sword.
An hour later...
An Hao had actually cultivated sword qi. As he swung his sword, the sword qi swept across, passing by Gu An's shoulder and hitting the tree trunk behind him, leaving a thin sword mark.
After cultivating sword qi, An Hao seemed to have opened his meridians, and his movements became even faster. His swordplay flowed like a flowing stream, swift as a startled swan. The spiritual qi in the forest seemed to be drawn to him.
Gu An watched, his heart pounding with nervousness.
What kind of monster is this?
He felt that he had dug himself into a hole. If he hadn't saved An Hao, he would have perished in the belly of a demon, and the world would have lost such a monstrous genius.
He began to mourn for those who sought to be renowned throughout the world, like Li Ya, Ji Xiaoyu, Lu Xian, and Zhou Tongyou. Sorry, but the position of the number one in the world now belongs to my disciple.
Gu An himself was not interested in being the best in the world. After all, even if one became invincible, there might still be enemies from above. What he sought was the end of the path of cultivation, and he believed that there was more to existence than just this one world.
It wasn't until noon that Gu An spoke up, "Alright, that's enough for today."
Upon hearing this, An Hao immediately sheathed his sword. He was drenched in sweat, breathless, but his spirit was high, and his eyes shone brightly.
"Master, how was my performance?" An Hao asked with a proud smile. At the age of twelve, he already showed signs of a promising future.
"You pay too much attention to the sword in your hand," Gu An said. "Remember, the sword is not in your hand, but in your heart. Whatever your heart desires can be a sword. Now, go and pluck a leaf."
Hearing this, An Hao scratched his head and then walked to the side.
Gu An waved at An Xin, who had been eagerly waiting, and she immediately broke into a smile and ran over.
"An Xin, you also pluck a leaf," Gu An said softly.
An Xin immediately did as she was told.
After a few breaths, the two returned to Gu An, curious about what he intended to do.
Gu An took the leaf from An Hao's hand and said, "A true sword cultivator, even with an ordinary leaf in hand, can display the might of an unparalleled divine sword."
He held the leaf between two fingers of his right hand and gently flicked it toward the distance. An Hao and An Xin watched as the leaf flew away.
Boom!
A gust of wind suddenly blew, messing up their hair. Their eyes widened in disbelief.
The leaf suddenly erupted with terrifying sword qi, shattering the forest in front of them. With an overbearing and unparalleled momentum, it shot toward the horizon and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
A ten-zhang-wide clearing appeared in the forest ahead, with dust and debris flying everywhere, creating a shocking scene.
That direction was precisely toward the outer gate of the Tai Xuan Gate!
(End of Chapter)
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