Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses - Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Mystic Tortoise Surging Wave Palm, Shockingly Revealed Heavenly Spirit Root

Gu An felt annoyed when he heard about Li Ya’s injury.

This guy was too harsh with his moves, and now he was belittling Li Ya!

Previously, Gu An thought that even if Lv Xian defeated Li Ya, he would show some mercy for Li Xuandao’s sake, but he hadn’t expected such arrogance, with a tone that showed no regard for Li Xuandao.

Yi Liuyun appeared out of nowhere in front of Lv Xian and frowned as he asked, “Why did you injure His Highness? Couldn’t you just knock him out?”

Clearly, Li Xuandao frequently mentioned Li Ya in front of him.

“What’s the matter? He can’t be injured? He’s not the Crown Prince, and compared to the Crown Prince, he’s far inferior.” Lv Xian frowned and retorted, his tone filled with dissatisfaction.

“Even if he’s not the Crown Prince, he’s still a prince that His Majesty cares about!” Yi Liuyun’s tone was somewhat heavy.

Luo Hun remained silent, but from his expression, it was clear he was also displeased.

Lv Xian snorted, “Is it forbidden? Then you beat me up and break my hands and feet!”

At this moment, he saw Gu An approaching, immediately became excited, and walked up to him.

“Valley Master, I’ve already won the championship of the Hundred Clans Tournament. How about training with me?” Lv Xian said, taking a golden token from his storage bag with the words ‘Hidden Dragon List Champion’ inscribed on it.

Gu An nodded, “Then let’s learn.”

Upon hearing this, Lv Xian immediately pulled him aside.

Yi Liuyun looked at Luo Hun and asked, “Do we need to inform His Majesty about this?”

Luo Hun thought for a moment and said, “No need, His Majesty surely has people watching over His Highness Li Ya.”

Yi Liuyun sighed, shook his head, and then disappeared from the spot.

Gu An followed Lv Xian to an open space, with three monkey demons following and watching curiously from the side.

“What kind of spell do you like?” Lv Xian asked, rubbing his hands, eager to teach.

“Anything but swordsmanship.”

Gu An replied. This had been agreed upon earlier; he didn’t want to break his word.

However, the matter of Lv Xian injuring Li Ya couldn’t be overlooked.

“Then I’ll teach you the hand technique, alright? I have a powerful hand technique, the very one I used to break Li Ya’s hands and feet.” Lv Xian said with a proud smile, glancing at the distant Yi Liuyun, clearly meant for him to hear.

Gu An nodded, “Then teach it. Let’s see how powerful it is.”

Lv Xian immediately began teaching the hand technique, demonstrating the moves while explaining the mental method.

Mystic Tortoise Surging Wave Palm!

The name alone sounded domineering!

Gu An watched intently.

He was ready to thoroughly torment Lv Xian.

The sun shone brightly and gradually set in the west.

By the time evening fell, Lv Xian, looking frustrated, asked, “Are you really that forgetful, or are you deliberately messing with me?”

His loud voice startled Luo Hun and Yi Liuyun, who hurriedly flew over, fearing he might get violent.

Gu An sighed, “I already said my aptitude and comprehension are very poor, but you didn’t believe me and insisted on teaching me. Now you’re getting impatient.”

“No… no one could be this dumb, right?”

Lv Xian couldn’t understand, yet Gu An didn’t seem to be faking it.

Yi Liuyun said, “The Valley Master’s cultivation was all piled up with elixirs, understandable. I’ve told you before, don’t always try to persuade others; everyone’s situation is different.”

Luo Hun reminded, “What His Majesty values is his cultivation ability.”

He emphasized the phrase “values.”

Lv Xian took a deep breath and said, “I don’t believe it. I must teach him!”

Gu An hastily said, “Next time. I need to go back.”

“You can’t leave!”

Hearing this, Gu An turned to leave, and Yi Liuyun and Luo Hun quickly stopped Lv Xian.

“Damn it, Valley Master, you must come back! Once you master the Mystic Tortoise Surging Wave Palm, you’ll have the power to protect yourself, and you might even compete for heavenly destiny, reaching higher levels!”

Lv Xian watched Gu An’s retreating figure and shouted loudly.

Gu An didn’t understand him. Cruel to opponents, yet he enjoyed teaching people to cultivate?

Was he having split dreams?

Gu An thought as he flew away on his sword, quickly disappearing into the twilight.

In the days that followed, every time Gu An visited, Lv Xian would try to teach him spells. No matter how he taught, Gu An couldn’t learn, but Lv Xian never gave up. If he couldn’t teach one spell, he’d move on to another.

Time flew by.

The end of the year arrived.

Heavy snow covered miles of mountains and forests.

Gu An, dressed in white and wearing a mask, walked out of the forest, with An Hao and An Xin following behind him.

The usually lively An Hao was now silent as well.

Gu An stopped and looked at the snowy mountains ahead, then said, “A few hundred miles ahead, you’ll reach the Outer Sect of the Supreme Sect. Once there, unleash your spiritual power, and they will bring you into the city to test your spirit roots.”

An Xin’s eyes were red as she couldn’t help but ask, “Master, when will we see you again?”

“I saved you because I happened to pass by. This is a fate that shouldn’t have been. We will not meet again, and you must not mention me to anyone.” Gu An said, turning his back to them.

He had taught An Hao and An Xin to cultivate without any ulterior motive; it was just a whim.

He didn’t need them to repay him and hoped their relationship would end here.

An Hao suddenly knelt down, and An Xin followed, kowtowing to Gu An.

This time, Gu An didn’t stop them and accepted their three kowtows. An Hao’s forehead was directly broken, blood and flesh mingling, but he felt no pain, staring firmly at his master’s back.

He could never forget the terrifying experience in the demon cave and the despair when facing the wolf demon.

“Master, no matter who you are, I will always remember your kindness. I will strive to cultivate, make a name for myself, and become the greatest person under the heavens. When you hear my name and need anything, disciple would die a thousand deaths without hesitation!”

An Hao said solemnly. Though he had just turned fourteen, there was a determination in his eyes fiercer than that of an adult man.

Gu An waved his sleeve, and the wind and snow swept in from the horizon, causing An Hao and An Xin to instinctively raise their arms to shield their faces.

“If you want to help me, live for a thousand years first!”

Gu An’s voice drifted away in the wind. When the snow passed, the two raised their eyes, and he was already gone.

An Xin couldn’t help but look at An Hao, waiting for his decision.

He stood up, looked toward the horizon, and said softly, “An Xin, we must not disappoint Master!”

An Xin nodded firmly. The siblings stepped forward into the flying snow that seemed ready to swallow them.

Gu An returned to Mystic Valley.

He first inspected the medicinal herbs in Mystic Valley and then returned to his loft, keeping his divine sense focused on An Hao and An Xin the entire time.

Although they were less than three hundred miles from the Supreme Sect, he still worried, as the Supreme Sect was now a mix of fish and dragons.

For the next few days, no matter where he went or what he did, he kept part of his divine sense watching over An Hao and An Xin until they safely reached the Outer Sect of the Supreme Sect.

When the young An Hao revealed his Qi Cultivation Realm Nine Layers cultivation level, it immediately shocked the elder of the Outer Gate City, who personally attended to them.

The reason he chose the nearby Outer Gate City was mainly because there were many Great Cultivators in the city, and An Hao wouldn’t be easily plotted against or possessed.

…

As the new year arrived, during the Spring Festival.

Mystic Valley.

Gu An, Ye Lan, Zhen Qin, Wuxin, Xiaochuan, Tang Yu, and others sat around a long table celebrating. Other servant disciples sat at another table, clinking glasses together.

“Have you heard? Recently, the Outer Sect recruited a disciple with Heavenly Spirit Root. Even the elders of the Sect’s main city were alerted. His name is An Hao, and he’s only fourteen years old, almost at Foundation Establishment. It’s unbelievable. Compared to him, I feel like my cultivation has turned me into a pig.” Zhen Qin marveled while holding a wine bowl.

Heavenly Spirit Root!

Everyone was intrigued, and Wuxin couldn’t help but ask, “Is that true? The Taicang Dynasty hasn’t had a Heavenly Spirit Root for hundreds of years.”

“It’s true. Our Law Enforcement Hall even guarded him for a few days until the Sect Leader took him away.” Ye Lan nodded, much calmer than Zhen Qin.

Everyone continued discussing the Heavenly Spirit Root, with Wuxin sharing many legends, making Ye Lan frown.

“How does this kid know so much? Is there something suspicious about him?”

Ye Lan thought silently as she looked at Wuxin. Although she had known him for years, people could change.

No, she had to check Wuxin’s entry records.

Listening to everyone talk about An Hao, Gu An couldn’t help but smile.

From now on, there would be another interesting aspect to his farming life—watching how high An Hao could grow.

After a long discussion, the topic shifted to the Immortal Cultivation World. It was said that a demon disaster was occurring in Changluo, Cangzhou, with a demon attempting to assassinate the Emperor. The Emperor narrowly survived, resulting in anger and a pursuit of those responsible, with entire families being executed.

Gu An knew that Li Xuandao hid the Nine Layers of Divinity Transformation Realm, so he wasn’t worried, listening with great interest.

The New Year’s celebration, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, lasted until dawn. When the sun first rose, Ye Lan and Zhen Qin left.

Gu An did not immediately leave Mystic Valley but quietly entered the Eight Scenic Caves to bring delicacies to Sky Dragon.

Under the Green Vine Tree, seeing Gu An arrive, Sky Dragon was very happy, swimming quickly around him. Now it was nearly two zhang long, with dragon horns fully grown, looking like a real dragon, its black dragon scales gleaming with cold light.

“Master, when can you take me outside?” Sky Dragon rubbed Gu An’s face, asking pitifully.

Gu An stroked its head, smiling, “Didn’t I tell you? When you grow up completely. Outside, many people are eyeing your flesh, just like you look at mutton.”

“How big counts as grown up? I feel I’m very strong now, even stronger than you, Master.” Sky Dragon said aggrievedly.

Although Gu An had practiced swordsmanship under the tree, he had never shown his true strength, so even Sky Dragon didn’t know his real abilities.

Hearing its words, Gu An thought he couldn’t continue like this.

“I’ll think of a way.” Gu An pondered.

He decided to find Jiang Qiong to see if she understood transformation skills, to turn Sky Dragon into a snake so that it could follow him outside.

Upon hearing this, Sky Dragon immediately became happy, even cheering, making Gu An laugh.

After staying in the Eight Scenic Caves for an ancient hour, Gu An left, leaving quickly because he sensed a familiar presence approaching Mystic Valley.

Gu An returned to his loft, pretending to read a book.

After a while, a figure leapt in through the window, and before landing, the voice rang out, “Junior Brother Gu, guess what treasure I brought back for you?”