When I Achieved Sainthood, the Immortal Official Actually Called Me to Raise Horses!

Li Xuandao finished speaking, smiling as he watched Gu An, awaiting his decision.

Gu An was numb.

Even the emperor wanted him to become a spy?

This was essentially forcing him to become a triple agent!

This was far from the kind of life Gu An sought, but he was stuck in a difficult position. Whether in cultivation or status, the emperor held overwhelming power over him.

If he didn’t refuse, he would face endless troubles in the future.

But if he refused, the trouble would come right now!

However, as Gu An thought of the high-level medicinal herbs Li Xuandao had mentioned, he couldn’t help but feel his heart beat faster.

In a hesitant tone, Gu An asked, “Do I... have a choice?”

“You do. If you refuse, I’ll erase your memory of today, and it will be as if we never met,” Li Xuandao replied with a soft chuckle.

Gu An asked in frustration, “Why choose me? My talents are mediocre. With your status, recruiting disciples from Tai Xuan Sect should be as easy as lifting a finger.”

Li Xuandao shook his head. “I’m not deliberately trying to poach disciples from Tai Xuan Sect. It just so happens that you and Li Ya have a close relationship, so I wish to help you. And because your talents are mediocre, I feel more at ease. After all, I can fulfill your needs.”

After a pause, he added with a light, teasing tone, “People don’t want the emperor to live forever, and I, too, don’t want the master of my medicine valley to live forever.”

You have quite the sense of humor, don’t you?

Gu An could only respond, “Since that’s the case, I have no choice but to accept.”

“In a few decades, when you look back, you won’t regret today’s decision,” Li Xuandao said with a hearty laugh, his voice full of confidence.

Unable to resist his curiosity, Gu An asked, “Has Your Majesty always been watching over Brother Li?”

“The matter is settled. There’s no need to call me Your Majesty anymore. Just call me Uncle, so it feels more like family,” Li Xuandao said, a stern expression on his face.

Seeing that Li Xuandao wasn’t testing him, Gu An hesitated for a moment before calling him “Uncle.”

Li Xuandao smiled, his expression softening. “To be honest, I have quite a few informants in the Outer Sect of Tai Xuan, so I’m well aware of Li Ya’s situation.”

Previously, Gu An had thought that the relationship between Li Ya and his father was strained, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

Could it be a misunderstanding?

Gu An wanted to ask on Li Ya’s behalf but ultimately held back.

This emperor before him desired immortality, which complicated his feelings toward his children. Even if he loved his sons, there was likely an underlying sense of caution.

After all, no prince wants to be a prince forever, and no son doesn’t harbor some ambition for the throne.

Gu An sighed inwardly. He had thought that Li Ya and Li Xuanyu were exceptionally talented, but now he understood why—they had inherited their powerful bloodline! Ꞧ

At two hundred and thirty years old, and already at the eighth level of the Divine Transformation Realm…

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He must have broken through to Divine Transformation over a hundred years ago, right?

That’s insane!

What’s more, this guy had cultivated a technique to conceal his aura. Without Gu An’s ability to see lifespans, he wouldn’t have been able to discern Li Xuandao’s true cultivation level at all.

Perhaps the court and the rest of the cultivation world couldn’t see through him either, which was how he had been able to cultivate so steadily for so long.

Li Xuandao soon shifted the conversation to ask Gu An about matters in the valley and expressed interest in the disciples’ mention of the Spring Festival.

Gu An responded with the same vague explanations he had given others before.

Intrigued by the Spring Festival, Li Xuandao decided to join in the celebration that evening, and Gu An, of course, could not refuse.

Half an hour later, the two of them descended the pavilion to join the disciples in preparing for the festival. The disciples were overjoyed, their laughter infectious, even causing Li Xuandao to smile.

As night fell, Gu An brought out the fireworks he had made. The sound of explosions echoed throughout Xuan Valley, loud and deafening.

Firelight reflected on Li Xuandao’s face, his expression full of delight. He even drank with Xiao Chuan, making it hard for anyone to associate him with the emperor of Tai Cang Dynasty.

Tang Yu, Su Han, and other disciples put on performances, including storytelling, sparring, and acrobatics, keeping the festivities lively deep into the night.

The next day at noon, Gu An escorted Li Xuandao as he left.

“Two more years, huh? Something to look forward to,” Gu An thought to himself. Li Xuandao had said that in two years, he would send someone to take Gu An to the new medicine valley.

Gu An planned to push for ten thousand years of lifespan during those two years and then break through to the Divine Transformation Realm.

No, not just the Divine Transformation Realm. He had to surpass it. Unless he was stronger than Li Xuandao, he wouldn’t feel safe. After all, serving a monarch was like serving a tiger. What if Li Xuandao one day decided to turn against him?

Gu An watched as Li Xuandao disappeared into the distance, his mind buzzing with curiosity. Why had the emperor come to the Outer Sect alone?

Was it possible his real reason for coming was to visit Li Xuanyu?

Li Ya had once said that Li Xuandao’s favorite child was Li Xuanyu.

Gu An dismissed the thought and returned to the valley to plant more medicinal herbs.

…

Spring passed, and summer arrived. Gu An turned thirty-four in the heat of the season.

On this day, he bid farewell to Du Ye, who had come to collect medicinal herbs.

At the valley entrance, Du Ye turned and said, “Over the years, you’ve provided many medicinal herbs. Young Master Ji Lin is quite pleased with you. Before long, he’ll send someone to deliver a Foundation Establishment Pill to help you reach Foundation Establishment. Once you become a true Outer Sect disciple, he’ll find a way for you to take over the management of this medicine valley.”

With that, Du Ye turned and soared away on his sword, leaping over the mountains.

Gu An shook his head with a smile. Earlier in the year, when he’d bid farewell to Li Xuandao, the emperor had said something similar.

It seemed he needed to keep a certain distance from the Ji family. Otherwise, if they ever plotted against the Tai Xuan Sect, they might expect his help.

Though sects were powerful, the strength of noble families couldn’t be underestimated.

On this land, dynasties rise and fall, sects are destroyed and rebuilt, but certain families have remained throughout it all—like the Ji family.

Sigh!

I just want to tend to my flowers and herbs, so why are so many people trying to recruit me?

With these thoughts swirling, Gu An entered the nearby forest.

In the woods, someone was practicing swordsmanship. It was Su Han.

By now, Su Han had reached the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm, making him second only to Gu An and Tang Yu in the valley.

While Tang Yu practiced leg techniques, Su Han focused on swordsmanship, though the techniques he usually practiced were passed down from Li Ya and weren’t particularly advanced.

Gu An watched him from a distance, hesitating over whether to offer him guidance.

Su Han was diligent and hardworking, both in his duties and his cultivation. Gu An couldn’t find any faults with him.

Hmm?

Wait a minute, that’s not the Li family’s Seven Sword Technique.

Looking more closely, Gu An realized he had never seen the sword technique Su Han was practicing before.

This kid also had a fortuitous encounter?

When did this happen?

Intrigued, Gu An deliberately stepped on a dry leaf, making a noise.

Su Han, who had been practicing, noticed Gu An’s approach and immediately stopped to bow.

“Xiao Han, to enter the Outer Sect, you rely on your cultivation. Why are you working so hard on swordsmanship?” Gu An asked with a smile.

Su Han scratched his head with his left hand. “I’m not in a hurry to enter the Outer Sect. I want to master my swordsmanship first.”

“Why the delay?”

“If I enter the Outer Sect, I’ll have to complete missions. If my strength isn’t sufficient, I’ll ruin my future.”

Su Han’s response made Gu An laugh.

Good, this boy suits my taste.

Curious, Gu An asked, “Is your swordsmanship inherited from your family?”

Su Han nodded. “It was my father’s sword technique, but it’s so profound that I’ve only recently managed to grasp it.”

“Your father must have been quite remarkable. Although I’m not fond of practicing the sword, I’ve seen many exquisite techniques in the Outer Sect, none as refined as what you just displayed,” Gu An remarked with interest.

Su Han shook his head. “My father was a cripple. Since I can remember, he was blind and had no spiritual power. He passed away when I was seven, and I later found this sword technique manual in his belongings.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a manual from his robes and handed it to Gu An.

Gu An took a look and raised his eyebrows slightly.

Heaven-Hating Divine Sword!

What a strange name!

The moment he saw the name, Gu An had the urge to expel Su Han from Xuan Valley.

This guy was clearly carrying some kind of deep-seated grudge!

Gu An skimmed through the manual. With his cultivation at the ninth level of the Nascent Soul Realm, he had a photographic memory. However, mastering the technique required personal comprehension of swordsmanship.

He handed the manual back to Su Han, musing, “This technique is indeed exquisite, but the cultivation method seems somewhat sinister. Are you sure you want to practice it?”

The technique required tempering the internal organs with sword energy, subjecting the practitioner to unimaginable pain. Some parts of the method were so complex that even Gu An couldn’t fully decipher them.

With his expertise in swordsmanship, he could confidently say that this sword technique was dangerous!

Su Han was stunned for a moment and asked, “Master, do you think I shouldn’t practice it?”

Gu An shook his head. “I just think this technique will bring you suffering. But I don’t know your background, and I can’t understand your feelings. Whether you practice it or not is up to you. If you choose not to, you can stay in Xuan Valley as long as you like—you’ll always be my disciple.”

Su Han was deeply moved by Gu An’s words. He tucked the Heaven-Hating Divine Sword manual back into his robes and nodded firmly.

Gu An then pulled out a book from his own robes. It was the latest volume of The Adventures of the Green Hero, a gift from Du Ye, who had mentioned that Ji Lin was obsessed with the story, to the point that even his servants had started reading it.

“Here’s the book you wanted,” Gu An said, handing Investiture of the Gods to Su Han before turning to leave.

Su Han accepted the book with a smile on his face.

Back in the Medicine Valley, Gu An began observing the other labor disciples.

First Li Ya, then Wu Xin, and now Su Han—all with extraordinary backgrounds. This Xuan Valley was far too mysterious!

Something felt off!

After half an hour of checking on the other disciples, Gu An finally returned to his pavilion.

The other labor disciples seemed normal for now, which allowed him to relax.

On second thought, it made sense. Anyone who entered the cultivation world came with an extraordinary background or past. In their eyes, each of them was the protagonist.

That night, Gu An quietly entered Eight View Cave Heaven.

After spending half an hour playing with Sky Dragon, he took out the Heavenly Solemn Sword and began practicing the Heaven-Hating Divine Sword.

The more techniques, the better. First, he wanted to master it to add it to his skill panel!

The sound of his sword slicing through the air echoed under the Ancient Vine Tree. From several yards away, Sky Dragon curiously watched, its dragon eyes reflecting Gu An’s sword-wielding figure.

…

As summer drew to a close, Gu An traveled to the Outer Sect city. His first stop was the Pill Hall, where he submitted his year’s worth of herb harvest. Then, he went to the Scripture Hall to submit his manuscript.

Ever since Investiture of the Gods became a hit, Elder Liu Chang had treated Gu An with extra care, always receiving him in private to prevent leaks.

Liu Chang openly admitted that he feared if Gu An’s true identity was exposed, demonic sects would abduct him, causing the Scripture Hall to lose a considerable source of spirit stones. This made Gu An even more cautious.

After finishing his official business, Gu An visited Lu Jiu Jia, who was overjoyed and invited him to meet Ye Lan, who happened to be in the city.

Not all Outer Sect disciples had established their own residences outside the city. Building a private residence required significant resources, so many disciples chose to live within the Outer Sect to enjoy its spiritual energy.

In the courtyard, the three of them sat down. As Lu Jiu Jia poured wine for Gu An, he spoke mysteriously, “There’s big news in Tai Xuan Sect!”