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

Li Ya finally agreed to join the Ephemera Sect, and Gu An did not comfort him much, maintaining his image as a mysterious senior.

After leaving the North Sea Mountains, Gu An returned to Mystic Valley.

Next, he planned to start a long-term life-prolonging project, aiming straight for the grand goal of ten million years of life span!

The cold winter had eventually passed, and the Spring Festival had arrived. The entire Taicang Dynasty was celebrating, with lanterns and streamers everywhere. Even the Supreme Sect began to hold the Spring Festival.

That day, Gu An took Xiaochuan and Lu Lingjun to roam the Outer Sect.

Lu Lingjun was very interested in the Spring Festival. This was her initiative to come to the city of the Outer Sect, and since Heavenly Spirit Lake, formed by the Heavenly Spirit Water, had indeed won Gu An's favor, he brought her along.

It just so happened that Lv Baitian had failed his Tribulation Crossing. If Gu An could win Lu Lingjun over as a cultivator for the Supreme Sect, she could shield him in the future.

Gu An's foundation had been established, and the stronger the Supreme Sect, the more he could survive.

These years, the Supreme Sect was improving, with fewer dark events occurring, which increasingly strengthened Gu An's sense of belonging to the sect.

Upon arriving at the city of the Outer Sect, Xiaochuan went off on his own, having his own friends in the city as well.

Gu An took Lu Lingjun to the Heavenly Repair Platform, wanting her to see the characters for "Righteous Path."

When he had carved the "Righteous Path" characters, he had just reached the Unification Realm. This was also why the Demon Path was more wary of Lv Baitian, as the Sword Intent on the Heavenly Repair Platform was not unbelievably strong for those in the Unification Realm, after all, he was remotely engraving.

"So many years have passed, and Sword Venerable Fudao's Sword Intent still attracts so many cultivators to observe; it is truly impressive," remarked Gu An.

Lu Lingjun had seen the characters "Righteous Path" when she first came to the Supreme Sect, and she nodded, "Indeed impressive."

In her world, she had never seen such strong Sword Intent, which made her full of expectations for the Supreme Sect.

If the Outer Sect had such powerful Sword Intent, what would the foundations of the Inner Sect be like?

And the higher status Main City of Sect!

Just thinking about it excited Lu Lingjun, feeling that she could find ways to breakthrough to higher realms in the Supreme Sect.

Gu An found Lu Lingjun's reaction quite flat, and his tone was somewhat perfunctory.

Oh no!

This person looks down upon his Sword Intent!

Could it be that she is confident in defeating him in his Unification Realm?

Thinking this, Gu An's complacency was considerably restrained.

There are so many geniuses in the world, let alone those who can emerge from one world to another. He couldn't underestimate anyone.

Gu An continued to scan the Heavenly Repair Platform, throwing in Life Span Detection at those unfamiliar cultivators.

Because it was the Spring Festival, there were fewer people on the Heavenly Repair Platform than usual, all wandering in the city, relaxing their Daoist hearts.

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"Valley Master, may I wander alone, if that's okay?" asked Lu Lingjun.

This hurt Gu An even more. My Sword Intent isn't attractive at all?

"Go ahead, let's regroup here at dusk," Gu An nodded, secretly deciding that he must keep Lu Lingjun at the Supreme Sect.

Such an impressive person should serve the Supreme Sect!

Wait a minute!

Why am I suddenly thinking like a Sect Leader?

It's all Lv Baitian's fault!

Gu An shook his head, then turned towards the Elixir Hall.

He also had many friends in the city of the Outer Sect, mainly in the Elixir Hall and Book Collection Hall. Each visit, he would hang out with a few good friends, have a few drinks, and listen to their cultivation experiences, enjoying this simple and leisurely life.

Elsewhere.

Lu Lingjun wandered around until someone stopped her.

"Miss, I have good books here, buy one, many female disciples are reading them," said the disciple mysteriously, glancing around as if afraid of being noticed.

Lu Lingjun raised an eyebrow, asking, "Do you know about 'Green Hero Travelogue'?"

Upon hearing this, the disciple's eyes lit up, "Expert indeed! I knew from Miss's demeanor that you are well-versed in this area. Indeed, I have 'Green Hero Travelogue.' Buy one 'Supreme Secret Records,' and I'll give you two 'Green Hero Travelogue' for free!"

"Oh? How many books are in the complete 'Green Hero Travelogue'?"

"There are many, Miss. Would you like the whole set?"

"Yes."

"Alright, for two hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, buy ten 'Supreme Secret Records,' and I will give you the complete set of the 'Green Hero Travelogue.'"

"Okay."

The two completed the transaction, and afterward, the book-selling disciple quickly left, as if he were a thief.

Lu Lingjun felt she had been duped. No way such unique and secretive books could be so cheap, but two hundred low-grade Spirit Stones were trivial to her. She stored all the books in her Storage Bag, planning to read them back at the valley.

When Gu An reached the Elixir Hall, he saw an acquaintance.

It was An Xin, a disciple he had taken in at the Outer Sect before.

An Xin was of mediocre talent, only able to stay at the Outer Sect, and An Hao did not forget her, occasionally sending various elixirs. Unfortunately, her cultivation level still improved slowly.

Both born in the same village, they had entered the Immortal Path but their paths were vastly different, which made Gu An lament the unfairness of fate.

An Xin was doing odd jobs in the Elixir Hall. She felt she couldn't always rely on An Hao; she wanted to make efforts on her own.

Seeing the fragile An Xin dealing with a male disciple giving her a hard time, Gu An sighed internally.

Perhaps, should he just take care of her for life?

Although he valued An Hao more, An Xin was his disciple as well.

Moreover, if he didn't take action, he feared that one day, An Xin would die because of An Hao. As An Hao's level got higher, his enemies would only increase, and sooner or later they would target An Hao's vulnerability, which was An Xin.

With that thought, Gu An walked over to An Xin. The disciple who saw Gu An approaching hurriedly smiled apologetically and bowed in greeting.

In the Elixir Hall, Gu An held a significant status. After all, he visited every month, and the disciples who were often there knew he was close to the elders of the Elixir Hall.

After dismissing the disciple, Gu An turned to An Xin.

"Valley Master Gu, what do you need?" An Xin asked nervously.

She understood Gu An's identity better than any of the Outer Disciples here; he was someone who could converse and laugh freely with the Sect Leader.

The last time Lv Baitian brought An Hao to confront Gu An during a dispute, An Hao took the opportunity to move An Xin to the Third Medicine Valley, and the two had met then. Although Gu An had not spoken to An Xin at that time, she remembered him distinctly.

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"You're An Xin, right? Why not come with me to the Third Medicine Valley? You're just doing chores anyway. Work for me, and the treatment will be better, plus, it'll be easier for you to see An Hao. I'm quite familiar with your senior brother," Gu An said with a smile.

An Xin, upon hearing this, hesitated slightly.

Seeing through her thoughts, Gu An spoke earnestly, "It's good to be independent and strong, but there's no need to deliberately make yourself suffer. What's good for you is good for An Hao too, so why hesitate?"

An Xin was silent.

This was the first time Gu An found the girl to be so stubborn. He said in a low voice, "I have a cultivation technique here that might change your natural talent. As long as you perform well in Medicine Valley, I'll pass it on to you."

He was referring to the Daoist Expansion Skill, a technique passed to him by Wuxin, which accumulated spiritual energy to suppress cultivation levels, allowing for a breakthrough that could alter one's destiny when unleashed.

Wuxin described it very mystically, but the skill had yet to be verified.

Upon hearing this, An Xin finally felt tempted. She bit her lip and said, "Thank you, Valley Master Gu. Shall I go back and pack up now?"

"No need to explain anything to the people at the Elixir Hall. I'll handle it. Just go back directly; I'll wait here for you. Don't rush; returning before evening will be fine," Gu An said with a smile, unconsciously wanting to pat An Xin's head, but he restrained himself.

The child had grown up; such gestures were not suitable, and since they had not yet recognized each other, it would be somewhat presumptuous.

An Xin smiled broadly, bowed to him, and then left.

Gu An watched her leaving figure, feeling a deep emotion in his heart.

The An Xin of the past was like a little bean, thin and weak. Now, she had grown up tall and beautiful, which pleased him greatly.

After stepping out the threshold, An Xin breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why did he look at me with such a smiling face? He doesn't have any ill intentions towards me, right?"

An Xin felt somewhat worried in her heart, but thinking that there were many disciples in the Third Medicine Valley and that Gu An would hardly dare to act recklessly, her heart felt steadier.

...

After returning to the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An asked Lu Lingjun to take care of An Xin, in case the two got closer and Lu Lingjun could give An Xin some guidance.

This arrangement also eased An Xin's nerves.

During the journey, Gu An had noticed that An Xin was somewhat nervous, but he didn't think much of it.

Subsequently, he used the Transmission Array Platform to return to Mystic Valley.

Back in Mystic Valley, he summoned Chu Jingfeng and Lu Jiujia, and formally passed on the Daoist Expansion Skill to them.

After hearing Gu An explain the effects of the Daoist Expansion Skill, both men's breathing quickened. The first to come to his senses was Lu Jiujia, who immediately knelt to Gu An.

Chu Jingfeng clenched his teeth, yet he did not kneel.

Gu An quickly helped Lu Jiujia up. He didn't need anyone to kneel to him; kneeling did not represent loyalty.

It was just right to let these two try the Daoist Expansion Skill. If it proved effective, he would let An Xin cultivate it.

After the two left, Gu An took out the latest volume of Green Hero Travelogue to enjoy.

So many years had passed, and Green Hero Travelogue was still being published. Gu An truly admired the author. Didn't this guy cultivate? How could he journey outside all year round?

...

Under the night sky, in the woods, a dilapidated temple sat.

Traveler of Graceful Crane sat on the eaves, holding a scroll in his hands, he read by the moonlight and softly said, "Have you decided? Once you join the Ephemera Sect, you can't leave, and you must also bear the Ephemera Seal on your body."

Li Ya stood in the courtyard, his North Sea Heavy Sword on his back, and stared intently at the Traveler of Graceful Crane, saying, "Didn't you want me to join the Ephemera Sect? What now? You don't want me to join anymore?"

The Traveler of Graceful Crane turned his head toward him, his demeanor aloof, his expression indifferent, his gaze seemingly piercing through Li Ya.

"The Ephemera Sect's purpose is to pursue the Nine Nether Road. A hundred years from now, a great demon calamity will sweep across the lands of the nine dynasties. At that time, only by following the Nine Nether Road will one be able to escape the mortal hell. Joining the Ephemera Sect is to secure a path for oneself.

If you perform well, you might obtain Ephemera, which can enhance your natural qualities," the Traveler of Graceful Crane said profoundly. The words "great demon calamity" made Li Ya frown.

Li Ya inquired about what the great demon calamity was.

The Traveler of Graceful Crane didn't conceal it and explained it to him.

Hearing that the lands of the nine dynasties would be trampled by endless demons, Li Ya was also alarmed.

"Your words are absurd. The sea lies to the south; if we can't beat them, can't we still escape? Do we have to rely on your Nine Nether Road?" Li Ya challenged.

"Since ancient times, how many cultivators have gone south, and how many have returned? The demons of the sea are even more terrifying."

"If the cultivators of the nine dynasties unite, we might be able to withstand the great demon calamity."

"Beyond the nine dynasties, demons have already been born that surpass the Unification Realm. Do you know what the Unification Realm is? It's the existence above the Void Crossing Realm! Such supreme great demons can sweep across the nine dynasties with their power alone. Moreover, there's not just one, and they command endless legions of demons."

The tone of the Traveler of Graceful Crane was cold, as if narrating the fate of all beings.

Li Ya fell silent.

Above the Unification Realm...

He couldn't help but think of the Primordial Ancestor of the Li Family, unsure if the ancestor had surpassed the Unification Realm.

The Traveler of Graceful Crane then added, "I forgot to tell you, the Ephemera Sect also has existences that surpass the Unification Realm. When he arrives, it will be the day the Supreme Sect turns to ruins."