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

"The guy behind him is no simple matter!"

Lu Lingjun reminded Gu An using the Sound Transmission Skill, her gaze bypassing Zhou Tongyou to look at the obese elder behind him.

Gu An had already discerned the other's Cultivation Level, yet he still performed a Life Span Detection.

[Zhou Li (Unification Realm, Seventh Layer): 1478/3000/3100]

Same surname Zhou!

Gu An was secretly curious—Zhou Tongyou hadn't had a Great Cultivator accompany him during his last visit.

Zhou Tongyou sized up Lu Lingjun, laughing, "Brother Gu, it's been many years since we last met—you also have a master to protect you, it seems you've done quite well over these years."

Gu An smiled and asked, "I wonder, Brother Zhou, did you come this time to participate in the Golden List Conference?"

"Indeed, this time, I aim to claim the top spot, become famous throughout the world. What do you think about sparring in your Medicine Valley?" Zhou Tongyou asked, his eyes sparkling.

Although it had been many years since they last met, Gu An's Cultivation Level was still mediocre, but he felt that Gu An had his strengths.

Gu An shook his head, "Let's not. I won't go looking for trouble now. The Supreme Sect has a wealth of talent these days; you should find someone else."

"Haha, I actually came especially after hearing the name of An Hao and decided to visit ahead of time. Since you're not interested, I'll go look for An Hao now," Zhou Tongyou said with a laugh, turning around to leave.

The seventh layer Unification Realm Zhou Li nodded with a smile to Lu Lingjun, then followed the steps of Zhou Tongyou.

Once they were far off, Lu Lingjun turned around and asked, "A Nascent Soul Realm cultivator challenging you to spar?"

Zhou Tongyou had already achieved the Nascent Soul Realm and didn't hide his aura.

"Back then, he suppressed his cultivation level to spar with me, and I was slightly better," Gu An said pretentiously proud.

Lu Lingjun chuckled, "Who would have thought you had such skills? Truly, appearances can be deceiving."

After living together for five years, the two were quite familiar with each other and dispensed with formalities.

Of course, she still harbored some resentment towards Lv Baitian's arrangements, so her attitude towards Gu An was not as reverent as before.

"What does that mean, I don't look handsome?"

"You do look a bit handsome, suitable for being a cauldron for a female demon,"

"Cough cough, and you're still a female cultivator. Please watch your words!"

Gu An glanced at Lu Lingjun, then marched forward.

Ever since Lu Lingjun returned, her temper had changed, and Gu An felt somewhat embarrassed. Knowing he was in the wrong, he could only accommodate.

It's all Lv Baitian's fault!

What kind of situation is this?

Gu An didn't need Lu Lingjun's protection; thankfully, Lu Lingjun was also quite lazy. The reason she came to the Outer Sect today was that she had her own matters to attend to and just came along casually.

Lu Lingjun watched Gu An's retreating back, snorted, and then turned to walk in a different direction.

Gu An was preparing to visit Wu Jue.

He noticed that there were many Great Cultivators in the city, most of them concealing their cultivation levels.

It looked like the Golden List Conference was going to start problems. Naturally, if the Supreme Sect succeeded, it would be easier to hold such conferences in the future, and other sects certainly couldn't sit by and watch.

Gu An wasn't worried at all; besides the Mystic Heart Realm old ancestor Xuan Quan, the Supreme Sect had recently welcomed back a Supreme Elder. His Cultivation Level was slightly weaker than Xuan Quan's, but he was also of the Mystic Heart Realm.

With two Mystic Heart Realm figures stationed, those sects were going to have a hard time shaking the Supreme Sect.

Thirty minutes later, Gu An arrived at Wu Jue's separate residence.

Wu Jue was practising boxing in the courtyard, not employing Spiritual Power, just practising the moves. Bare-chested, he looked very strong, with each punch capable of shaking the air.

[Wu Jue (Foundation Establishment Realm, Nine Layers): 69/350/3500]

The limit for his life span had risen again.

Gu An realized that if he didn't visit Wu Jue for more than two months, the guy always achieved a Path Enlightenment. There was a year where he visited every month and Wu Jue couldn't achieve enlightenment.

After achieving Path Enlightenment, Wu Jue would emit a lonely, solitary aura.

This made Gu An think crooked thoughts.

Could it be that this guy only achieved enlightenment when neglected?

Well, let's not visit him for the next year and see just how far he can achieve enlightenment.

Gu An was looking forward to Wu Jue catching up to An Hao, adding another competitor so An Hao wouldn't develop an arrogant nature.

Being too smooth is not good either!

Seeing Gu An approaching, Wu Jue glanced at him but didn't speak.

"Look at what good thing I brought you?" Gu An's voice came.

Upon hearing that, Wu Jue immediately stopped, walked toward Gu An unwillingly, and asked, "What good thing?"

Gu An took out a poster from his Storage Bag, gold-rimmed and red-backed, with four big characters engraved on it.

Golden List Conference!

"You... how do you have it?" Wu Jue asked in astonishment.

The Golden List Conference was not something just anyone could participate in; one must have a certain reputation and pay ten Top-Grade Spirit Stones for an entry pass.

The rewards of the Golden List Conference were also very rich, with awards for the top hundred participants, the higher the ranking, the better the reward.

Wu Jue knew about it and had once envied those geniuses.

Gu An said with a proud grin, "It took me quite the effort."

"But with my current Cultivation Level, participating would be futile," Wu Jue shook his head.

Gu An reassured, "Don't worry, the Golden List Conference tests talent, not Cultivation Level. As long as your strength within the same realm is strong enough, you will be able to break through."

"Really?"

"Truly."

The rules are set by me, how could it not be true?

Gu An thought to himself, Wu Jue's biggest lack was resources. Muddling along like this was not a solution. In fact, Wu Jue also wanted to stand out, he was just too shy to ask others for help.

Wu Jue took the poster, hugged Gu An tightly, patted his back heavily, then grasped his shoulders and said, "Brother, I won't say much, I definitely won't let you down!"

Having achieved enlightenment several times, he could feel his own transformation. He had developed confidence, and this confidence was gradually altering his personality.

Confidence of the strong!

Gu An smiled and said, "There are still five years left, you must work hard in your cultivation. For the next five years, I won't come looking for you."

Upon hearing this, Wu Jue immediately became anxious, "Why? What is so important that it will occupy you for five years?"

"It's naturally a major affair of the sect. It's not convenient to tell you." Gu An shook his head.

Could it be because of this invitation?

Suddenly, Wu Jue felt that the invitation for the Golden List meeting he held in his hands was very heavy, and he hesitated to speak.

Gu An reminded him, "In addition to the Sunset Fist, don't forget to practice the Gale Shadowless Leg. It will make you faster."

Wu Jue nodded heavily.

This time at the Golden List meeting, he vowed to make a name for himself!

...

At the end of summer, within the Mystic Valley.

Gu An lay under a tree, one hand propping his head and the other holding a book, thoroughly engrossed.

A shadow approached him and looked down. It was none other than Li Ya.

Li Ya still carried his heavy sword on his back, wore tight black clothing, and his long hair was tied back with a blue scarf, revealing a resolute and handsome face.

"Cough cough, Junior Brother Gu." Li Ya coughed deliberately.

Supreme Secret Records...

Unexpectedly, Junior Brother Gu was also reading it.

Well, sharing the same name, he must feel a strong connection to it.

Li Ya thought silently.

Gu An quickly stood up and tucked the Supreme Secret Records into his robes; he had noticed Li Ya's arrival earlier, but since Li Ya had practiced a type of Energy Concealing Sorcery, he had to pretend ignorance.

"Senior Brother Li, what brings you here?" Gu An asked with feigned surprise.

Li Ya replied, "I've been back for several years and am preparing to return to Cangzhou for a visit before coming back for the Golden List meeting."

Gu An remarked, "You're really busy, Senior Brother Li. You must be very powerful by now, right?"

Li Ya lifted his chin with a spirited expression, "Not very powerful, but making it into the top ten of the Golden List meeting wouldn't be difficult."

"Just as expected of Senior Brother Li, the pride of Mystic Valley."

"Indeed."

"You haven't suffered any injuries over the years, have you?"

"How could that be? Since the last time we parted, I haven't shed any blood. I'm not the same person I was back then." Li Ya said earnestly.

What an act!

Gu An really wanted to hear Li Ya address him as a great-grandfather.

Li Ya pulled out two items from his storage bag, an invitation and a long wooden box.

"This is an invitation to the Golden List meeting. You should also participate. This box contains the Ten Thousand-Year Wood Spirit Ginseng. Digest it over five years, and it will definitely transform your spiritual power significantly, helping you achieve a decent ranking." Li Ya explained.

Gu An was stunned.

Li Ya pushed the items into his arms, saying, "Don't refuse, or I'll be upset."

After saying this, he let go, and Gu An swiftly caught them.

Li Ya turned and walked away.

"Leaving just like that?" Gu An quickly asked.

Li Ya raised his hand and said, "Pursuing the path of immortal cultivation leaves no time for reminiscing. If you want to see me again, perform well at the Golden List meeting."

He then leaped into the air, turning into a beam of sword light that flew over the mountains and disappeared without a trace.

Gu An looked at the invitation in his hands, silent for a long time.

At the mountain peak, Chu Jingfeng turned his head towards the direction Li Ya had left, his brows tightly furrowed.

He remembered Li Ya; back when Li Ya was a prince, he had spoken with him a few times, encouraging him to cultivate diligently.

After many years without seeing each other, their statuses were now worlds apart—but he was not the heavens.

Gu An shook his head with a wry smile, then put the items into his storage bag.

This guy, every time he saw Gu An, he had to give something, seemingly knowing his nature, always giving things that increased cultivation level and talents.

...

Another year, and the Spring Festival arrived.

After nightfall, the Mystic Valley was very lively.

Gu An had just come from the Third Medicine Valley, and he sat around a long table with his disciples. Zhen Qin sat to his right, continuously pouring him wine and talking about matters of the Immortal Cultivation World.

"The Hateful Heaven Divine Sword has appeared in the neighboring Great Jiang Dynasty, causing an uproar in the Immortal Cultivation World. It's said that the sword has reached the Transformation Realm and is accompanied by demons, very terrifying. I wonder if it's Senior Brother Su Han..." Zhen Qin said, sighing towards the end.

Mentioning Su Han made her sad; after all, they had been so close, but now they followed paths of virtue and vice.

Gu An spoke, "He's no longer your senior brother. Don't refer to him like that in the future. It could bring trouble to you and to us."

Zhen Qin wanted to argue, but seeing so many disciples of the Medicine Valley, she remained silent.

Gu An began serving her food while watching other disciples play drinking games.

After drinking a bowl of wine, Zhen Qin's spirits lifted, and she began to talk about An Hao, looking up to him with admiration and speaking without stopping.

Gu An listened intently. Suddenly, he sensed something, and his expression subtly changed.

Once Zhen Qin finished speaking, he then said, "I'll return to my room briefly. Continue later; I want to know about the specific grievance between An Hao and the demon heads of the Wanyin Sect."

After speaking, he stood up and went back to his room.

Zhen Qin didn't seem puzzled and began clinking cups with Lu Jiujia.

Back in his room, Gu An activated the room's restrictions, then in one step, he arrived a hundred miles away.

In the dark forest, thirteen figures resembling fierce ghosts were moving forward, four of whom were carrying a large coffin.

They did not notice Gu An's presence nearby, spying on them in the shadows.

A group of Unification Realm cultivators!