Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses
Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Promotion in Status, Searching for Pan An

"Have me write it?"

Gu An dared not respond, unclear about why Ji Hantian was angry.

If Ji Hantian wanted Gu An to slander himself, he definitely wouldn't write it!

"Why are you so loud?"

Gu Zong said discontentedly as he sat down and motioned for Gu An to sit next to him. Gu An nodded and took a seat on the stool beside him.

Ji Hantian struggled to calm his emotions and said, "Using over a hundred thousand disciples to forge a formation, is this truly the righteous path? If it hadn't been for that mysterious sword cultivator's intervention, I would still be in the dark!"

He was genuinely distressed.

At that time, while in seclusion, he had felt a powerful sword intent and, startled, immediately left his retreat. He traveled tens of thousands of miles, and though he failed to save Chu Xian, he overheard the Outer Sect disciples' curses. This made him furious yet curious about the identity of the sword cultivator, so he chased after him.

To his surprise, he was easily defeated by the opponent...

Since reaching the Unification Realm, Ji Hantian felt he could roam across the Taicang Dynasty unopposed, with few capable of challenging him, most being old freaks in prolonged seclusion. He had not tasted defeat for too long.

Most crucially, the opponent had not only defeated him but also helped him!

"Had that person not intervened, once I emerged from seclusion, would the hatred for the extermination of that Outer Sect segment have fallen upon the Demonic Sect?" Ji Hantian stared at Gu Zong as he asked.

Gu Zong gave a bitter smile and did not respond, but his answer was clear.

Ji Hantian then looked at Gu An and said, "You must write out everything about the incident three days ago, including the nefarious deeds of the Demon Extermination Hall and the sword cultivator who averted the disaster for the Outer Sect. That person intervened, signifying they are also from the Supreme Sect, albeit discreetly.

Promoting his feats will help maintain the image of the Supreme Sect, at least not branding it as demonic all at once."

Hearing that he could praise himself, Gu An felt no pressure.

However, he couldn't agree too readily.

Gu An feigned difficulty, hesitating to speak.

Ji Hantian frowned and asked, "What? Don't you want to do it?"

Gu Zong replied irritably, "For such a major issue, if he writes it, he'll certainly offend a ton of people. You just put him in great trouble with a single request, daring you are to ask indeed!"

At this, Ji Hantian appeared somewhat embarrassed.

Gu An took a deep breath and said, "I am willing to work for the Supreme Sect, but..."

Gu Zong, smiling, asked, "What do you want? Just say it."

Ji Hantian frowned but remained silent.

"I want my Medicine Valley to expand, specifically the Third Medicine Valley of the Inner Sect. Allocate an area of a hundred square miles to me. I will cultivate more medicinal herbs there. The herbs provided to the Sect will remain as usual, and I won't be greedy," Gu An stated earnestly.

Upon hearing this, Ji Hantian couldn't help but ask, "That's it? You could ask for much more."

He had expected Gu An to make exorbitant demands but was met with such a minor request.

Gu An nodded and said, "I only want these. With my mediocre talent, seeking treasures and cultivation techniques would only invite trouble. Cultivating medicinal herbs is my hobby; it gives me inspiration when I write and also contributes to the Supreme Sect."

Ji Hantian looked at Gu Zong.

Gu Zong laughed and said, "Don't underestimate him; that's really what he thinks. You are unaware of Pan An's fame; just get to know more about him in the coming days. If he speaks up, the Hall of Elders will surely promote him to True Disciple."

"Oh? Are his books really that powerful?"

"Take a look at 'Investiture of the Gods'; you will definitely like it."

"Alright then, I'll make the decision right now and allocate that hundred square miles to you. You can plant whatever you want there, and you'll also receive a set of sixth-tier Spirit Protection Formations. Gu Zong, handle this matter," Ji Hantian said earnestly.

Gu Zong nodded with a smile.

Gu An immediately raised his hand to thank Ji Hantian.

Gu Zong began to inquire how the Sect Leader viewed this matter; Ji Hantian said with a sarcastic tone that he definitely pretended to be unaware.

The Sect Leader and the Vice Sect Leader don't get along!

In the meantime, Ji Hantian also mentioned Lv Baitian, also known as Elder Tian, expressing dissatisfaction with him.

It appeared that Elder Tian had changed his appearance and physique, which is why Ji Hantian hadn't recognized him.

Only then did Gu An realize that Elder Tian had truly deviated. Elder Tian usually loved seclusion and seldom managed the Supreme Sect, leading many to misuse his name. Only after he deviated did they elect Elder Chu Tianqi as the Sect Leader.

From Ji Hantian's words, it was clear he considered Elder Tian as already dead.

This gave Gu An more to speculate about the relationship between Gu Zong and Ji Hantian.

A full hour had passed before Ji Hantian and the other left.

Gu An stood on the grass, watching them depart.

Suddenly, Elder Tian approached, curious and asked, "Was there trouble in the Outer Sect?"

Gu An nodded and briefly explained the situation, causing Elder Tian to frown.

"Elder Tian, what do you think? Do you consider the Supreme Sect righteous or evil?" Gu An asked casually as he squatted down to examine a medicinal herb in front of him.

Elder Tian responded, "The boundary between righteousness and evil is not easy to define. Discussing righteousness and evil should not be based on the present but judged by posterity."

Those words...

No wonder the Supreme Sect is so warped!

Gu An didn't inquire further, no longer bothering with Elder Tian.

He began planning how to fully cultivate the hundred square miles, as Gu Zong had already promised. Besides Shen Zhen, he would ask the Inner Sect disciples in nearby caves to move further away to avoid future conflicts.

Inner Sect Disciples differed from Outer Sect Disciples. Those who became Inner Sect Disciples were not only highly talented but also possessed complex connections. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that anyone you met in the Inner Sect was a person with a significant background.

Following this incident, Gu An had come to understand that the Taicang Dynasty didn't belong to the Emperor, nor did it belong to the sects, but to the influential families.

Members of the Ji Family could not only become the Vice Sect Leader of the Supreme Sect, but they also managed to place members of the Ji Family in every sect throughout the Taicang Dynasty.

Not to mention the Gu Family and the Zhou Family.

Gu An felt that Chu Jingfeng and Sect Leader Chu Tianqi also came from the same clan, proving that the Chu Family was also formidable.

However, this was of no concern to him, as he had no intention of establishing his own family. He did not want too many attachments.

First pursue the path, then follow your heart!

...

The actions of the Gu Sect were swift. In less than a week, the arrangements were complete. Nearby Inner Sect Disciples were relocated, and he also received a set of Sixth Layer Spirit Protection Array.

The Spirit Protection Array was specifically used to enhance and contain Spiritual Energy.

In the vast expanse of the world where Spiritual Energy flowed, every Great Sect began by locating Spirit Lineages and then sealing off the Spiritual Energy, ensuring an abundance of it within the sect. This, however, caused the Spiritual Energy available to the common folk to become sparse.

With this array and the expansive resources of medicinal herbs, even if his Cultivation Level reached the Core Formation Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, or Divinity Transformation Realm, he could always downplay his talents by saying that his advancements were solely through the accumulation of resources, thus eliminating any perceived threat from others.

Moreover, the Gu Sect allowed him to keep twenty Servant Disciples in the Third Medicine Valley. Normally, Servant Disciples are not allowed in the Inner Sect. Bringing four initially was already an exception, but his relations with the Gu Sect made it possible.

Gu An had recruited seven people from Mystic Valley, including Tang Yu.

As for Xiaochuan and Wuxin, they still remained in Mystic Valley, but Gu An now allowed them to visit the Third Medicine Valley anytime they wished.

The days ahead were looking up.

Time flew by, and a month had passed since the calamity at the Outer Sect.

One day, Gu An went to the Outer City. Without the Demon Extermination Hall, the Outer City had regained its prosperity from years ago, and the going-and-coming disciples were not so tense anymore.

As he walked, Gu An suddenly spotted someone.

Jiang Qiong!

During the confrontation with Chu Xian, Gu An had sensed Jiang Qiong with his Divine Sense but pretended not to notice. He thought she would have left after a month but was surprised to see her still around.

Jiang Qiong walked up to him and smiled, "Come with me."

Gu An looked at the hunchbacked elder behind her and launched a Life Span Detection.

[Hu Mo (Divinity Transformation Realm Nine Layers): 970/1300/1570]

Gu An could feel the Demonic Qi hidden within the old man.

Jiang Qiong was really bold. It was one thing for her to come alone, but bringing a fellow Divinity Transformation Sect member wasn't she afraid of revealing too much?

Seeing Gu An hesitate, Jiang Qiong raised her hand, displaying a token.

Great Elder of the Outer Sect!

Equivalent to the head of the Outer Sect!

Gu An looked at her in surprise. How did she manage it?

Jiang Qiong smirked and then brushed past him. He quickly followed her pace.

Later, Gu An entered Jiang Qiong's residence, where there were several Servant Disciples, none of whom had an aura of the Demonic Path.

Jiang Qiong led Gu An into a great hall, while Hu Mo stood at the doorway. Gu An could feel him enacting a spell, isolating the room to prevent anyone from peeping inside.

Gu An watched Jiang Qiong sit at the head of the table, casually crossing her legs, lacking the demeanor of a Great Elder of the Outer Sect.

"How did you manage it?" Gu An couldn't help but ask.

Jiang Qiong snorted, "Your Martial Master has vast Divine Skills. Becoming a Great Elder of an Outer City is nothing, not to mention that one day I might even become the Sect Leader."

Gu An laughed, then inquired, "If you became the Sect Leader, would your loyalty lie with Thousand-Autumn Pavilion or the Supreme Sect?"

"If I were the Sect Leader of the Supreme Sect, then I wouldn't be a Demon Cultivator. Naturally, I would align with the Supreme Sect. Even if they offered me the position of Pavilion Master in the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion, I wouldn't accept," Jiang Qiong casually replied, her words filled with disdain for the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion.

Gu An suddenly understood why the Supreme Sect had so many spies from the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion, yet the Pavilion failed to overthrow the Supreme Sect.

In the eyes of the cultivators from the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion, the Pavilion was far inferior to the Supreme Sect!

Wuxin would rather remain a Servant Disciple in the Supreme Sect than go back to being a Young Master at the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion.

"From now on, if any cultivators from the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion come looking for you, you must not reveal the whereabouts of the Green Vine Tree. That tree belongs only to you and me, no longer to the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion. Understood?" Jiang Qiong earnestly said.

Gu An nodded.

Sorry, it belongs only to me.

Jiang Qiong laughed, "Apprentice, tell me, what do you need? Just speak up."

Gu An thought for a moment and replied, "Could you promote Ye Lan from the Law Enforcement Hall? She is my martial sister. As for other requests, there's no need at the moment. My Medicine Valley in the Inner Sect has already expanded; I don't need more. If you have seeds of high-rank medical herbs, you can give them to me. I'll plant them and harvest them for you once they're ready."

Jiang Qiong's smile grew brighter as she assessed Gu An, "Not bad, I indeed did not choose the wrong apprentice. Don't worry, your Martial Master won't be formal with you, and of course, I won't let you suffer."

"Additionally, I have a task for you."

Gu An couldn't help but ask, "Besides planting medicinal herbs, what else can I do for you?"

"Keep an eye on Pan An's activities from day to day. From the information I've gathered, Pan An is not high in cultivation level and is hidden in the Outer Sect. Exactly who he is, the Hall of Elders keeps it extremely confidential."