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

Gu An had stayed in Hu Xiaojian's residence for an ancient hour. After he left, Hu Xiaojian was brimming with excitement, and his face was a bouquet of smiles.

The predecessor had entrusted him with so many matters, which assuredly meant he wouldn't easily forsake Immortal Seeking Island. He hadn't deceived him.

Moreover, what need had the predecessor to deceive him?

He was just a Minor Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Realm. If the predecessor wished not to take him, a single stern glance would have sufficed to silence any further pleas from him.

Meanwhile.

Gu An had returned to the premises of the Supreme Sect, pondering, as he walked into the Third Medicine Valley, which Wandering Immortal should assist him.

Wandering Immortals were not Minor Cultivators; how could one easily control them?

The Nine-Finger Divine Lord was not an option, for Gu An feared exposing himself, given that the Nine-Finger Divine Lord had been to Immortal Seeking Island.

Neither Shen Xinzi nor "Stealing the Five Elements" were reliable.

Gu An was not in a rush. There was still time. If need be, he could use the Mortal Jade to sway someone, asking Mortal World Peak to dispatch a Wandering Immortal to Immortal Seeking Island to assist him.

Now as the Peak Master of Mortal World Peak, which was rivaled only by Great Cold Demon Sect in strength, and surpassed it in heritage, he felt Mortal World Peak would not fear the Great Cold Demon Sect.

The Great Cold Demon Sect needed to do the Holy Court's dirty work to survive, whereas Mortal World Peak was different; it could hold office in the Holy Court. Over the long years, Mortal World Peak had sent how many Immortals to the Holy Court? Gu An believed Mortal World Peak would not fear the Great Cold Demon Sect.

Of course, Mortal World Peak would not oppose Great Cold Demon Sect unless sufficient benefits tempted them to dare offend both the sect and its backing, the Holy King.

Reflecting on this, Gu An suddenly felt sentimental. No matter how high one's Cultivation Realm, one could not escape the web of relationships and favors.

Only those strong enough to disregard the entire Immortal Path could act recklessly and willfully.

The karmic ties of the world were too complex, with the karma of all beings interlinked in a tangled mesh. Even the weakest beings, when followed through their karmic associations, were connected to immensely powerful entities.

Gu An surveyed Medicine Valley and did not spot Nine-Finger Divine Lord or "Stealing the Five Elements," but found Shen Xinzi, who was engrossed in studying "Journey to the West."

He could not understand Shen Xinzi's fascination with "Journey to the West" and felt that he had grown increasingly distant from the Bitter Sea Buddha Sect, barely mentioning Buddhism these days.

Gu An did not disturb Shen Xinzi but instead headed towards his loft.

Compared to worrying about the affairs of the world, what to read next concerned him more.

With strange occurrences being commonplace in books through the ages.

Recently, Gu An took pleasure in reading histories.

...

Five years later.

Two hundred and ten-year-old Gu An practiced his exercises in Mystic Valley and glanced at his Attribute Panel, realizing he was short just under six hundred thousand years from a two billion-year Life Span.

Compared to others' understanding of their own Cultivation Level, Gu An felt a greater sense of achievement watching those numbers of Life Span.

But was it really just Life Span? These numbers were clearly his Cultivation!

After morning practice, Lu Jiujia approached Gu An, seeking guidance on the Primordial Reincarnation Skill.

Since lifting his cultivation restriction, his maximum Life Span had broken through to four hundred and ten years. Consequently, Gu An taught him a more potent Primordial Reincarnation Skill. Despite his diligent practice over the many years, he still had much to learn about the technique.

Gu An listened and then patiently guided him, enlightening Lu Jiujia with a few words, which left him thrilled.

Through the Primordial Reincarnation Skill, he was sure his senior brother was no ordinary person and clearly also practiced this Cultivation Technique. With the access to Medicinal Herbs his senior brother had, he was bound to far surpass him.

After imparting his advice, Gu An turned and departed. Lu Jiujia didn't follow, instead standing still and savoring his words.

Gu An walked into the forest and followed the path leading to the Eight Scenic Caves.

By now, the Eight Scenic Caves were no longer a secret needing concealment, with Lu Jiujia aware of his secret abode beneath Mystic Valley. Given the chance, Lu Jiujia would watch over the disciples entering the forest, anxious lest any covet his senior brother's cave.

Mystic Valley was never short of spies!

Gu An arrived within the Eight Scenic Caves, first picking ripe Medicinal Herbs, then directing the Poison Corpse to plant anew.

The origins of Myriad Poison Mystic Skill left by Jiang Qiong had started to bear fruit. Although he couldn't exploit the Poison Corpse to seize life from the herbs, sowing was straightforward without too much concern.

He lay down under a Green Vine Tree, and quickly two tendrils stretched over his shoulders and began massaging them.

The Green Vine Tree possessed Spiritual Wisdom but on ordinary days, it preferred silence. Gu An didn't press it, rather he relished the tranquility of life in the Eight Scenic Caves.

Accustomed to life in Medicine Valley, taking the time to be alone in the Eight Scenic Caves was also enjoyable.

He planned to stay overnight, as someone would visit him that evening.

After finding a comfortable position, he pulled out a history book purchased from Immortal Seeking Island, recording the rise and fall of a powerful force.

Time swiftly passed.

Until late at night, footsteps echoed in the corridor. Gu An remained seated and did not even cast a glance that way.

Soon,

A figure approached him, accompanied by a faint fragrance.

The visitor stood with her hands on her hips, clad in an exquisite purple robe, ornate with jade beads on her belt. Her long hair casually tied and two wooden hairpins inserted, her celestial beauty cloaked behind errant strands of black hair, a subtle smile adorning her face, and her eyes sparkling with mischievous delight.

Gu An lifted his head to look at her, appraising her, then chuckled, "Long time no see. How is it you seem younger? Did you practice some forbidden art?"

The person standing before him was none other than Jiang Qiong, the creator of the Eight Scenic Caves.

Juhua Sect, founded by Jiang Qiong, was now a top Sect in the Immortal Cultivation World, even collaborating with the Supreme Sect. Of course, Juhua Sect's overall strength didn't yet match the Supreme Sect.

"What nonsense, your Martial Master already appears youthful,"

Jiang Qiong glared at Gu An, then slid off her shoes, placing her bare feet on the grass.

She stretched languidly and sighed, "This place still feels comfortable after so many years. Just like home."

Gu An stood up and chuckled, "I've kept that coffin of yours. Want to lie inside for a while?"

"Looking for a beating?"

Jiang Qiong raised her hand to strike Gu An, who promptly dodged.

She huffed and then inquired, "Little brat, feeling anxious lately?"

Gu An asked curiously, "Why would you think so?"

"The Life-Seizing Immortal from the Great Cold Demon Sect declared he would wipe out all life; how can you not be anxious? You're the one who fears death the most."

"Well, sure, it is worrying, but what use is angst? When the sky falls, there are tall ones like you to hold it up."

Gu An spread his hands and spoke, eliciting a chuckle from Jiang Qiong, seeing him still as lighthearted as ever.

Jiang Qiong took a step closer and whispered, "Would you like to join the Great Cold Demon Sect?"

Gu An gave her a peculiar look.

He didn't always keep an eye on Jiang Qiong, only sending his Divine Sense her way occasionally when she came to mind. Upon sensing no danger, he would swiftly retract his focus.

He hadn't expected Jiang Qiong to establish ties with the Great Cold Demon Sect.

How did she manage that?

Gu An began to explore Jiang Qiong's karmic ties while asking, "You know someone from the Great Cold Demon Sect?"

A flood of karmic images entered Gu An's vision as he saw her past.

It turned out, the continent from which the Ephemera Sect hailed was under the thumb of the Great Cold Demon Sect, which was why the Seven Stars Spirit Realm dared not use Nine Nether Road to reach the other worlds.

There, the Great Cold Demon Sect was sovereign while the Ephemera Sect was merely a regional sect—no comparison between the two could be made.

According to the Ghost Mother of Ephemera's words to Jiang Qiong, the decline of the Ephemera Sect was influenced by the Great Cold Demon Sect. Long ago, that continent did not belong to the Great Cold Demon Sect.

Following the unification, Juhua Sect, like other sects, shared access to the Nine Nether Road, which allowed the Ghost Mother to return to her roots, with Jiang Qiong bridging connections through her to the Great Cold Demon Sect.

The Ghost Mother knew a Great Cultivator within the Great Cold Demon Sect—a Great Cultivator with only Mahayana Realm cultivation, likely a lowly figure within the sect.

"Although Sword Venerable Fudao has recently protected the continent, how can his sole strength contend with the Great Cold Demon Sect? He did not charge me with any tasks, so I deliberately returned to take you to the Great Cold Demon Sect. What harm in cultivating Medicinal Herbs there? By joining the Great Cold Demon Sect, that too could be arranged," Jiang Qiong earnestly suggested.

Gu An felt moved yet amused.

Why did she always flip sides so easily?

Gu An shook his head, "No, thanks. How comfortable could I be, tending herbs in the powerful Great Cold Demon Sect? Perhaps no sooner than joining would I be refined into an Elixir—that's a Demon Sect!"

Jiang Qiong glared at him, annoyed, "With me around, who could dare to bully you?"

"Are you highly cultivated?"

"Surely not among the highest in the Great Cold Demon Sect. But to protect you? More than enough. Just calmly stay with me then."

"So I'd have to wait on you, curry favor with you?"

"Exactly, how about that? Right now, my feet are a bit sore, come give me a rub."

"Spit, shameless!"

Gu An would never agree. A man might be slain, but not insulted.

Looking down, his face betraying disgust, he noted that Jiang Qiong's feet, which she had only bared moments ago, were already stained with mud and grass.

Jiang Qiong watched Gu An's stubborn reaction, amused and keen to tease further, but she first needed to address serious matters.

She spoke gravely, "Gu An, this time it's different. The Great Cold Demon Sect has sent vast numbers of Cultivators here, their might unmatched by Seven Stars Spirit Realm or Star Sea Congregations. Even Star Sea Congregations contemplates retreat. Not to mention them, do you know about Nine Nether Road? Almost every sect on this continent has members desiring to flee through Nine Nether Road, including your Supreme Sect!"

Gu An fell silent.

Jiang Qiong continued, "Actually, joining the Great Cold Demon Sect might not be ill-fated; perhaps you'd even discover great opportunities. While innate aptitude is fated, there are plenty in this world who turned their lives around with later-day fortunes. Don't you desire the pursuit of eternal life?"

Gu An gazed at her, replying, "Thanks for your kindness, but I truly don't want to go. There are too many things and people here that I cannot abandon. As for fortunes you mentioned, when has this world ever offered fortune free from danger? Even venturing into the Eight Scenic Caves once nearly brought me peril."

Hearing this, Jiang Qiong grew frustrated. Why was this boy so stubborn?

Gu An added, "Moreover, I feel this catastrophe might not be insurmountable. I believe in Sword Venerable Fudao, believe in the triumph of good over evil. Surely, there are many Great Powers in this world who can stand against the Great Cold Demon Sect."

"I often read books, and don't they all say, 'If man will strive, then heaven will thrive'? The Great Cold Demon Sect, which treats life so wantonly, no matter how powerful, will eventually meet its reckoning. Aligning with them is not a righteous path."

With that, he raised the book in his hand with a determined expression.