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

Chapter 98: Ancestor of the Li Family and the Rising Power of the Nightshade Sect

"Teach me a sword technique?"

Li Ya doubted his ears, but the mysterious figure didn’t seem to be joking.

In his mind, the ancestor’s voice echoed: "Don’t overthink it. With his level of cultivation, there’s nothing about you worth scheming over—not even the entirety of the Li family. He likely has some connection to us, which gives him a reason to look out for you."

Gu An gripped the Northern Sea Heavy Sword and raised it, pointing the blade at Li Ya.

In that instant, Li Ya felt his heartbeat nearly stop. The mere gesture of the sword aimed at him created an oppressive atmosphere. Before he could react further, a burst of sword intent erupted from the sword’s tip and shot into his eyes, leaving him momentarily paralyzed.

If one looked closely, a figure could be seen in his pupils, demonstrating the Taicang Frightening God Sword Technique.

When Li Ya came to, Gu An was nowhere to be seen. Only the Northern Sea Heavy Sword remained, standing upright before him, unmoved even by the autumn wind.

“Taicang Frightening God Sword…” Li Ya murmured, a realization dawning upon him. His face paled as he exclaimed, “This sword intent—it’s from the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path!”

He vividly remembered his visit to the Heavenly Mending Platform, where the sword intent hidden within the words "Righteous Path" had left a lasting impression. It was, in his view, the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

“Ancestor, that person was the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path! He’s not a demonic cultivator!” Li Ya’s excitement bubbled over, and he clenched his fists in joy.

The elegance of the Taicang Frightening God Sword made his blood boil. He felt as though he had received an unparalleled inheritance, one that even surpassed the Dragon Force Divine Essence Art. If he could master this sword technique, he was confident he could outshine all contemporary geniuses.

But as his excitement subsided, Li Ya noticed the ancestor’s silence. Growing uneasy, he asked in his mind, “Ancestor? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

A pang of fear hit him. Could the Sword Sovereign have taken his ancestor away? Despite their frequent bickering, the ancestor was his lifeline in the cultivation world.

"I’m still here," the ancestor finally replied, easing Li Ya’s nerves. However, his next words brought confusion: "The Taicang Frightening God Sword is a technique of the Li family. The Emperor’s Extreme Sword Art is merely a fragmented version of it."

Li Ya was stunned.

"In the current era, no one should know the Taicang Frightening God Sword. It was already lost in my time. The Emperor’s Extreme Sword Art that exists now is something I pieced together…" The ancestor’s tone grew complex.

Li Ya swallowed hard and cautiously asked, “Ancestor, what are you trying to say? Be clear!”

"He may be the founder of the Li family. That would explain why he’s looking after both you and me," the ancestor replied, his voice tinged with emotion.

The founder of the Li family?!

Li Ya’s eyes widened as he opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. Countless thoughts swirled in his mind, yet he couldn’t express a single one.

After guiding Li Ya, Gu An left the Northern Sea mountain range without lingering. He raced toward the Taixuan Sect, planning to return in a month to further refine a combat technique. In six months, he would begin his grand plan of stockpiling a million years of lifespan.

Instead of heading straight to Xuan Valley, Gu An visited the Outer Sect City to relax. Feeling particularly good, he decided to explore the bustling city.

His first stop was the Heavenly Mending Platform. Despite the passing years, it remained a gathering point for numerous cultivators. On the platform were over five Void Transformation Stage Grandmasters, including the infamous Nightshade Ghost Mother.

The Da Yu Sword Maniac, Han Ming, was still there as well. Under his tutelage, Zuo Lin had made modest progress in swordsmanship—just enough to surprise those who had lost hope in him. Meanwhile, Zuo Yijian had left, reportedly obsessed with finding his own sword path by studying the Romance of the Gods.

“Master!”

A cheerful voice broke Gu An’s train of thought. He turned to see Zhen Qin, wearing her Law Enforcement Hall robes, hurrying toward him.

Gu An smiled warmly. When she reached him, he asked, “How have you been?”

Zhen Qin, who had been working under Ye Lan, described her life in the Law Enforcement Hall as leisurely, with her cultivation progressing steadily. “Not much to tell,” she said before adding with a frown, “But, Master, have you heard? Senior Brother Su joined the Nightshade Sect.”

Her face was clouded with worry as she mentioned Su Han.

Gu An replied calmly, “Everyone makes their own choices. Let him be.”

He had once tried to dissuade Su Han, even offering to spare his cultivation base, but his efforts were in vain. Since Su Han had chosen his path, Gu An decided to respect it. From now on, he wouldn’t involve himself in Su Han’s affairs unless the man’s life hung by a thread directly in front of him.

“Sigh… I wonder if I’ll ever see him again in this lifetime,” Zhen Qin murmured, her tone heavy with melancholy.

Gu An couldn’t resist ruffling her hair with a chuckle. “You silly girl, you’re all grown up now, waxing poetic about love and loss.”

The two stood by the Heavenly Mending Platform, chatting for a while before Zhen Qin had to resume her patrol duties. Watching her leave, Gu An felt a pang of sorrow.

In two hundred years, she’ll be gone.

Even as a Grand Ascension Stage cultivator, Gu An couldn’t yet alter others’ lifespans, nor did he intend to. Interfering with the natural cycle of life would only create obsessions that might ultimately lead to despair if his efforts failed.

Life, to him, was a series of fleeting encounters. While he sought eternal life, he valued the connections he made along the way.

After scanning the Heavenly Mending Platform one last time, Gu An headed toward the Alchemy Hall, overhearing disciples discussing the growing influence of the Nightshade Sect.

The sect’s rise was becoming impossible to ignore. Judging by their momentum, they seemed poised to unite the demonic path. However, Gu An paid little attention to such matters. The Nightshade Sect posed no immediate threat to the Taixuan Sect, let alone to him.

His primary concern was how to increase the lifespan harvest from Medicine Valley. Despite his formidable cultivation, he preferred stockpiling lifespans through herbs over reckless slaughter. He wasn’t arrogant enough to assume he was invincible, especially with the likes of Lu Lingjun proving otherwise.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

An hour later, Gu An visited Jiang Qiong at the Grand Elder’s residence. Jiang Qiong, upon closing the door to his chambers, spoke bluntly: “I’m leaving.”

Gu An’s curiosity was piqued. “Where to?”

“The Taixuan Sect’s suspicion of me grows stronger. I can feel the killing intent closing in. I plan to join the Nightshade Sect,” Jiang Qiong said evenly.

The Nightshade Sect again!

Gu An couldn’t help but wonder about the sect’s true origins. After a moment, he retrieved several Spirit Tree Fruits from his storage pouch and handed them over.

“Take these with you,” he said.

Jiang Qiong glanced at the fruits, then smirked. “You’ve been hoarding these, haven’t you?”

Gu An shook his head. “With my average talent, consuming these would only draw attention and bring trouble. Better to remain mediocre.”

Jiang Qiong laughed. “You’re far from untalented! Your swordsmanship alone is exceptional.”

“I dislike sword training and have no desire to become a swordsman. Imagine assigning me a master—how would a Foundation Establishment cultivator with peerless swordsmanship fare? Not well, I assure you,” Gu An replied earnestly.

Jiang Qiong found herself agreeing with Gu An's perspective—cultivation was the ultimate priority in the immortal world. She brushed aside the topic and said, "The Nightshade Sect and the Taixuan Sect will inevitably clash. Once I establish myself within the Nightshade Sect, I might be able to return and fetch you in the future."

Another conflict? Gu An frowned. Why was the Taixuan Sect plagued with so much turmoil?

"The Nightshade Sect is no simple force," Jiang Qiong remarked. "It could be an external power. Half of the Thousand Autumn Pavilion’s leaders have already aligned with them. Even while I’ve been hiding in the Taixuan Sect, they’ve reached out to recruit me. Their intelligence network is terrifying."

"The Nightshade Sect has infiltrated the Taixuan Sect?" Gu An asked, concern flickering across his face. "You didn’t mention me, did you?"

"Of course not. With your level of cultivation, even if I did, they wouldn’t care," Jiang Qiong retorted, rolling her eyes.

Gu An smiled warmly, and in Jiang Qiong’s eyes, his expression appeared endearingly naive.

This foolish disciple-grandchild… Jiang Qiong shook her head with a wry smile but couldn’t help worrying about how he would survive in the future.

She added a reminder, "The new Outer Sect Grand Elder is said to be ruthless. Be cautious. The Law Enforcement Hall has already investigated you once. It’ll be hard for your junior sister to keep shielding you alone. When you enter the Eight Views Celestial Realm, stay vigilant and avoid selling Spirit Tree Fruits anymore."

Gu An nodded earnestly. "I’ll keep that in mind."

After chatting for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Gu An bid farewell and left.

As autumn turned to winter, snow began blanketing Xuan Valley. One day, the valley welcomed a visitor, whom Gu An received in his pavilion.

"The Sect Master has instructed that if you encounter any issues in the Outer Sect, you can come directly to me." Lü Songhan, the new Outer Sect Grand Elder, spoke with a hearty laugh, his expression warm and welcoming.

Lü Songhan was a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, a figure Jiang Qiong had described as a difficult and formidable opponent despite his cheerful demeanor. With his full head of white hair and deceptively youthful face, his broad smile gave him the air of an affable giant.

Gu An raised his cup in a toast. "Many thanks for Elder Lü’s care."

The two drank together, their conversation growing livelier with each passing round. By the end, they were calling each other brothers.

At noon, Gu An saw Lü Songhan off. Once Lü had left, Yang Ni appeared beside Gu An like a ghost, clicking her tongue in amazement. "You’re getting more impressive by the day—befriending even Nascent Soul cultivators!"

Gu An shrugged. "You can call me Brother Gu too, if you like."

"Do you want a beating?" Yang Ni glared at him, her hand poised as if to draw her sword.

Gu An coughed lightly to defuse the tension. "I’ve heard the Nightshade Sect is on the rise. Be extra vigilant here in Xuan Valley. Don’t let their people steal any herbs."

Yang Ni’s expression grew serious as she nodded slightly.

After giving her the warning, Gu An turned to leave. Yang Ni watched him step onto the teleportation array and vanish in a flash of light.

Her brows furrowed in thought. "Why would he suddenly bring up the Nightshade Sect? Could he have figured out my identity?"