Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses - Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Shrouding the Sky and Blocking the Sun, Heaven-Swallowing Dark Bird!

Learning the Emperor-Level Sword Technique secures the position of Crown Prince?

Gu An picked herbs while eavesdropping.

The Emperor-Level Sword Technique, now that was something he knew well!

In the future, perhaps he could ask Li Ya about it; if Li Ya wanted to compete for the throne, he might offer some pointers.

Wait!

This old man had some malicious intentions!

Gu An felt uneasy, suddenly suspecting that Li Xuandao had said it deliberately for him to hear, as the pavilion hadn’t been isolated by any restrictive barriers.

Another thought struck him: Li Xuandao’s ambition was to become an immortal emperor.

For an emperor, the greatest threat could be the crown prince. Even without pursuing immortal cultivation, a mortal emperor in his old age would be wary of the crown prince; not many crown princes smoothly inherit the throne.

Could it be that Li Xuandao wanted to use Li Ya to eliminate the crown prince?

It’s quite possible!

Gu An stopped thinking about it, focusing on picking herbs and letting the father and son deal with each other.

Because of Li Xuandao’s presence, Gu An didn’t leave immediately after finishing collecting the herbs. He only left the next morning.

When he was leaving, Li Xuandao hadn’t left yet, saying he wanted to stay for a while longer. Gu An suspected that Li Xuandao wanted to watch the drama of the righteous and demonic conflict.

…

After returning to Mystic Valley, Gu An instructed Wuxin and others, telling them that the Demon Path was about to invade and that they shouldn’t wander around casually, making all the disciples, including Wuxin, very nervous.

Gu An planned to stay overnight in Mystic Valley from now on. The Third Medicine Valley had Elder Tian and fifty Core Formation Realm cultivators, making it very safe. Mystic Valley was different, with only a group of servant disciples.

Currently, Mystic Valley contributed less and less to his life span income, but the Eight Scenic Caves beneath Mystic Valley were different. Even if Mystic Valley’s life span income wasn’t much, he was reluctant to abandon it.

Ten days later.

The Nascent Soul Realm cultivator arranged by Li Xuandao arrived at Mystic Valley.

Gu An stood in front of the wooden fence, watching from a distance as a woman in green with a sword walked over, her conical hat swaying in the cold wind, accentuating her ethereal presence.

[Yang Ni (Nascent Soul Realm, Nine Layers): 214/780/1360]

A Nascent Soul Realm cultivator at two hundred years old, quite impressive quality.

Gu An thought silently, then stepped towards Yang Ni.

“I am Gu An, the Valley Master of this Medicine Valley. May I know who you are…”

As he approached, he raised his hand and asked.

Yang Ni suddenly appeared in front of him, so he pretended to be startled and took a step back.

“Let me see your other Valley Master token.” Yang Ni transmitted her voice, her tone cold yet melodious. Just by the sound, one could tell she was a beauty.

Gu An immediately produced the token from Tianya Valley. Yang Ni snatched it, inspected it, and then returned it to him.

“I was sent by His Majesty to protect you. I will be your outer disciple from now on.” Yang Ni transmitted her voice again.

Gu An nodded and said: “You must have been recommended by Elder Han. I have been waiting for you for a long time.”

After saying this, he turned and led Yang Ni towards the pavilion.

Yang Ni followed him inside, attracting curious glances from other disciples in the valley. Her appearance naturally drew people to take a second look.

Once inside, Gu An closed the door and said: “Everyone here is in the Qi Cultivation Realm, so you don’t need to worry.”

Yang Ni waved her hand, and spiritual power turned into a green restriction, imprinting on the door.

Very cautious!

After doing this, Yang Ni walked to the table, put down her treasure sword, and removed her conical hat, letting her waterfall-like white hair cascade down. She turned to look at Gu An, her face remarkably youthful, appearing just over twenty.

Her features were exquisite and delicate, but her eyes carried a coldness that gave her the aura of an ice queen. This coldness made it easy to overlook her beauty, making people afraid to look directly at her.

She scrutinized Gu An and asked: “I heard you have a good relationship with Li Ya?”

“Indeed, Senior Brother Li was also a servant disciple in this Medicine Valley. We joined on the same day.” Gu An responded.

Hearing this, Yang Ni smiled, her smile stunningly captivating.

Gu An didn’t think much of it, as he knew Ji Xiaoyu was even more beautiful.

“That stubborn child never got along with his siblings, yet he managed to build a friendship with a servant disciple like you.” Yang Ni said, admiringly.

That statement…

From her storage bag, Yang Ni took out a blue jade bracelet, saying: “This is a top-grade magic artifact that can store spiritual power. Consider it a gift for our first meeting.”

Store spiritual power?

How rare.

Gu An quickly waved his hand and said: “I can’t accept this. You are here to protect me; how could I dare to take your gift?”

“Just take it. Li Ya’s mother is my sister. Since you’re close to Li Ya, you’re naturally considered my junior!” Yang Ni said impatiently, tossing the jade bracelet to him and then turning to the bookshelf.

“You go about your business; don’t concern yourself with me.”

Gu An caught the jade bracelet, wanting to say this was his building and it wasn’t convenient. But seeing Yang Ni’s stance, obviously wanting to stay, he could only give up.

Ever since his encounter with Shen Zhen, Gu An no longer left anything incriminating in the building, so he hesitated briefly before leaving without disturbing Yang Ni.

Yang Ni’s presence didn’t disrupt the rhythm of life in Mystic Valley, as she rarely left her room and didn’t interact with other disciples.

When Gu An planned to go to the Third Medicine Valley, she insisted on accompanying him, leaving him no choice but to take her along.

Upon arriving at the Third Medicine Valley, she was shocked, beginning to reassess Gu An.

This servant disciple was no simple character!

Gu An also wasn’t afraid she’d report to Li Xuandao; perhaps Li Xuandao had long discovered the Third Medicine Valley. It was hard to hide this matter.

After all, he had a clear conscience.

If Li Xuandao grew suspicious of him because of this, he didn’t care.

In his mind, he feared Li Xuandao far less than the Supreme Sect.

Thus, Yang Ni followed Gu An as he patrolled the Medicine Valley, watching him pick herbs and sow seeds.

A month later, Yang Ni developed some goodwill towards Gu An.

Gu An was too honest and treated the servant disciples very kindly. Such a person posed no threat to anyone. She also understood why Li Ya could favor Gu An.

Days passed one after another.

Snowflakes flew, covering every part of Gu An’s Medicine Valley.

Li Xuandao had said that the Demon Path would invade the Supreme Sect at the end of the year, making Gu An worry about this every day. Perhaps any day now, the Demon Path would attack.

On this day.

Mystic Valley.

Gu An and Wuxin led the disciples in shoveling snow, with Yang Ni standing at a distance by the wooden fence, holding her sword.

“Senior Brother, what realm is that outer disciple in?” Wuxin whispered to Gu An, very curious.

Yang Ni’s stance alone looked very strong.

“What’s it to you? She’s my disciple; don’t get any ideas.” Gu An said in a bad mood.

Wuxin chuckled: “Senior Brother, you know me so well. When are you going to get me a Foundation Establishment Realm disciple as an assistant? I would be so impressive wherever I go.”

“If I really arranged it, would you dare accept?”

Hearing this, Wuxin seemed to remember something, grinning awkwardly and falling silent.

Gu An continued to shovel snow.

After a while, he seemed to sense something, furrowing his brow, but he didn’t stop working.

In the distance, Yang Ni also sensed something. She leaped to the southern mountaintop, attracting everyone’s gaze in the valley.

Snow flew incessantly, casting the world in a white blur. From within the valley, Yang Ni’s silhouette on the mountaintop appeared faint, as if she might be swallowed by the violent snowstorm at any moment.

“What’s wrong with her?” Wuxin couldn’t help but ask Gu An.

Gu An looked up and said: “I don’t know either; we’ll ask her when she comes down.”

Goo goo—

A light bird cry echoed, reverberating through the world, even masking the sound of the wind.

The sudden bird cry made everyone frown, looking around, trying to find the source of the sound.

Wuxin seemed to remember something, his face changing dramatically. He hurriedly shouted: “Everyone, back to the rooms! Quick!”

As he spoke, he pulled Gu An towards the pavilion group.

Gu An shook off his hand and said: “You all head inside; I need to watch the Medicine Valley.”

Wuxin turned and said urgently: “That’s the Heaven-Swallowing Dark Bird of the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion, a demonic beast that Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators can’t deal with!”

“You go inside first. I’m not going to fight it! Don’t forget your identity!” Gu An said sternly.

Hearing this, Wuxin could only grit his teeth and run inside.

Soon, only Gu An remained in the valley, while the disciples all leaned out of their windows, watching the sky in extreme tension.

Gu An already sensed the presence of the Heaven-Swallowing Dark Bird.

Very strong!

Comparable to the Void Crossing Realm!

Whoosh—

A fierce wind came from the south, stirring up a snowstorm that swept through the Medicine Valley. Gu An, watching the swaying herbs, felt distressed but couldn’t expose his cultivation level in front of Yang Ni and the other disciples. He could only go to the section with the highest-grade herbs and use his Foundation Establishment Realm spiritual power to protect them.

At this moment, Yang Ni suddenly appeared beside him, taking out a large flag and planting it in the ground. She raised her palm to infuse spiritual power into the flagpole.

The flag fluttered, forming a light screen that enveloped them, blocking the wind and snow.

Yang Ni breathed a sigh of relief, turning to Gu An and scolding: “Are you crazy? What do these herbs have to do with you? Can’t you sense the demonic qi?”

Gu An replied: “I sensed it, but if I can sense it, the great cultivators from the Supreme Sect will definitely…”

Boom—

A terrifying pressure descended suddenly. Gu An looked up, as did Wuxin and the other disciples. Everyone’s eyes widened.

The vast snowy mist was dispersed, revealing an enormous bird covering the sky. It flew over Mystic Valley, plunging the valley into darkness that wouldn’t dissipate for some time.

Even someone as calm as Gu An was stunned by the Heaven-Swallowing Dark Bird’s size. In his view, its wingspan exceeded a hundred miles, extremely exaggerated.

On the bird’s back were numerous demonic cultivators, at least ten thousand of them.

Its destination was precisely the Outer Gate City of the Supreme Sect!

“That’s the Heaven-Swallowing Dark Bird of the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion, a sixth-tier demonic beast with the power to destroy empires. It’s my first time seeing it too.” Yang Ni muttered, gazing up at the sky in awe, her eyes showing fear.

Gu An didn’t say anything, focusing on the Heaven-Swallowing Dark Bird, hoping it wouldn’t target his Mystic Valley.

When the bird flew past Mystic Valley, sunlight poured down, illuminating the Medicine Valley while snowflakes fell, creating a scene of cascading white mist.

All the disciples in the valley sighed in relief at this sight.

Gu An already sensed the aura of great cultivators fighting in the distance.

Void Crossing Realm!

And there were more than two!

The battle was quite far away, likely occurring at another Outer Gate City.