Daily Plan, Medicine Gu

The leg technique was fast?

Xiao Chuan, Lu Jiujia, and Ye Lan's expressions all changed slightly. They thought of Gu An at the same time, but none of them looked at him. They merely muttered to themselves inwardly.

Meng Lang asked, "What do you mean? You two haven't fought that Demonic Path spy?"

Shi Yang's expression immediately became awkward upon hearing this.

He took a deep breath and said, "It is indeed because our skills were inferior. My cultivation is at the fifth layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, while my cousin is at the fourth layer. The Demonic Path cultivator who defeated us so easily has unfathomable cultivation. If you have any clues, tell us as soon as possible, lest you leave trouble behind for yourselves."

The moment he revealed their cultivation levels, Meng Lang, Xiao Chuan, and the others all sucked in a cold breath.

Meng Lang felt frightened and hurriedly asked, "Since you weren't his match, why did you still dare to seek him out? Why not invite Inner Sect disciples?"

Shi Yang replied, "We have our own backup plan."

He found Meng Lang increasingly unpleasant to look at. This brat was begging for a beating, every word stabbing straight into the heart.

Gu An seized the chance to say, "If the other party truly is a Demonic Path spy, and the two seniors were defeated so easily, then that doesn't make sense. From what I can see, your injuries aren't serious. Would the Demonic Path really be so kindhearted?"

Shi Yang looked at him with a subtle gaze. After considering it, he answered, "It is indeed too early to decide. But Outer Sect and Inner Sect disciples all have their own Cave Mansions. It is impossible for them to come here to make a breakthrough. There must be something suspicious about it. Do you truly have no clues?"

Li Xuanyu scrutinized Gu An. Gu An deliberately put on a nervous appearance and did not dare meet the gazes of the two Outer Sect disciples.

"Seems my disciples truly have not encountered any Demonic Path spy, you two," Cheng Xuandan said, breaking the delicate atmosphere.

Shi Yang still wanted to speak, but Li Xuanyu beside him said first, "In that case, we shall take our leave."

After saying that, she raised her hands in salute toward Cheng Xuandan, then turned and left.

Shi Yang could only follow her. Before leaving, he still glared at Meng Lang.

Xiao Chuan turned to look at Gu An and was about to say something, but Ye Lan stopped him. She raised a finger to her lips in a silencing gesture and kept giving him meaningful looks.

Cheng Xuandan said no more and turned toward his pavilion.

Only after watching Shi Yang and Li Xuanyu leave the valley did Gu An head toward his own courtyard. The others followed closely behind, while Xiao Chuan hesitated as if he wanted to speak.

Gu An glanced at him and asked with a smile, "What? Do you think your senior brother's leg technique could really be strong enough to defeat two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators?"

Xiao Chuan's face reddened, and he could not help scratching his head.

Meng Lang burst out laughing. He said irritably, "Your senior brother is only at the third layer of Qi Refining, and the Residual Wind Leg he practices is one of the most ordinary leg techniques in the Outer Sect. How could he possibly be the Demonic Path spy those Outer Sect disciples mentioned?"

Lu Jiujia nodded. He truly had never suspected Gu An of being a Demonic Path spy. In his eyes, his senior brother was the gentlest and kindest person he had ever met.

Ye Lan was somewhat dissatisfied. "Even if it's the most ordinary leg technique, Senior Brother will someday train it to greatness."

The matter of Gu An suppressing Meng Lang with one kick that day had not reached Meng Lang's ears. Gu An had instructed them not to mention it, and none of his junior brothers or sister had let it slip.

Meng Lang shook his head with a laugh, then left alone. He planned to practice spells in the woods.

Ye Lan watched his retreating back and angrily waved her fist, her little cheeks puffed up like two buns.

"Alright, cultivate on your own. Strive to enter the Outer Sect as soon as possible," Gu An said with a smile, then waved for his junior brothers and sister to disperse.

Elsewhere.

Above the mountain ranges, Shi Yang and Li Xuanyu flew side by side on their swords. They were not moving quickly, their gazes sweeping over the ground below.

"Cousin, I keep feeling there was something wrong with Medicine Valley just now," Shi Yang said, cold light flickering in his eyes.

That fellow was far too infuriating!

What Shi Yang thought of was Meng Lang's ugly face. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

Li Xuanyu's expression was cool and detached as she said softly, "I think that Handyman Disciple was right. Perhaps the other party was not a Demonic Path spy at all, but merely did not want to be recognized. The fact that you and I are alive is the best proof."

Shi Yang frowned. "There is someone like that in the Outer Sect? It feels like he is at least at the ninth layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and I have never seen that leg technique before. It must be some peerless art. His background is probably extraordinary."

"We will find out sooner or later."

Li Xuanyu raised her eyes toward the horizon, seemingly thinking of something as her delicate brows knitted tightly.

Shi Yang also fell silent. Both of them were renowned geniuses of the Outer Sect. The thought that their opponent from the night before was also an Outer Sect disciple dealt him a heavy blow.

Summer gradually arrived. Summer in the Taixuan Sect was scorching, the entire world seeming to warp in the heat. Lu Jiujia, who was turning over the soil, was even steaming all over.

Twenty-one-year-old Gu An was refining pills in the courtyard. A small cauldron sat before him, and he stared at the boiling medicinal liquid, hesitating over whether to toss in the herb in his hand.

Pill refinement really was a technical craft!

Just as Gu An was at a loss, Meng Lang rushed into the courtyard at a brisk pace, charging into his room in a panic. Less than ten breaths later, he came out carrying a bundle.

"Gu An, I'm going to take the Outer Sect assessment. Once I make a name for myself, I'll come back and look after you!"

Meng Lang threw down those words and left excitedly.

Outer Sect assessment?

Gu An was surprised. Meng Lang was only at the seventh layer of Qi Refining. How could he take the assessment?

If one could not display outstanding talent upon entering the sect, one could only enter the Outer Sect after successfully reaching Foundation Establishment.

This was the Taixuan Sect, the number one sect of the Great Cang Dynasty!

Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators would be treated as Attendants in some third-rate sects, yet in the Taixuan Sect, they could only be Outer Sect disciples.

Gu An looked in the direction Meng Lang had run and saw Cheng Xuandan coming downstairs.

Cheng Xuandan was actually taking Meng Lang out of the valley with him.

Gu An felt there was something fishy about this, but even if he stopped Meng Lang now, Meng Lang would not listen. For the status of an Outer Sect disciple, that fellow had already become obsessed.

Why meddle? I'm pursuing the path of immortality. If I meddle in this and meddle in that, will I ever have any peace in the future?

Thinking this, Gu An's gaze became firm.

He continued refining pills, striving not to think about Meng Lang.

Thus, he sat in front of the small cauldron for an entire day and successfully refined a pile of medicinal dregs.

He waited until deep into the night before sneaking out.

He left Medicine Valley not for Meng Lang, but for his own cultivation. Two months had passed since Shi Yang and Li Xuanyu left, and he was ready to begin his daily plan.

Every midnight from then on, he would sneak out and invest one year of his lifespan into his cultivation.

This time, the lifespan investment to raise his cultivation also caused quite a stir, fortunately far less than before, and it ended quickly.

The next day, Gu An took the opportunity to ask Ye Lan how her cultivation had gone the previous night. This time, Ye Lan had not heard any disturbances and had cultivated smoothly.

Gu An was completely relieved. His daily plan could be carried out!

Day after day passed.

Half a month after Cheng Xuandan and Meng Lang left, they still had not returned. Gu An could determine that Meng Lang was more likely dead than alive.

When Zhang Chunqiu had gone to the Outer Sect before, he had returned within seven days at most. He had never been delayed for so long.

Xiao Chuan and the other two asked when their master would return. Gu An could only divert their attention and have them focus on cultivation.

Two months later, Cheng Xuandan finally returned.

Cheng Xuandan's head was full of white hair, and he was not even wearing his cloth cap. His appearance shocked Xiao Chuan and the other two, who all hurried over. Gu An did the same.

"Your master is fine. A few days of rest will do," Cheng Xuandan said, waving his hand with a weak tone. He gently pushed Lu Jiujia aside, then walked toward his pavilion.

Gu An frowned tightly.

He saw that Cheng Xuandan's cultivation had fallen back to the second layer of Qi Refining, and his lifespan had shortened as well, leaving him with only two years.

He had originally thought Cheng Xuandan intended to plot against Meng Lang, either possess Meng Lang's body or refine him into a puppet. Yet Cheng Xuandan instead looked as though he was about to die.

Gu An watched Cheng Xuandan's back and fell into deep thought.

Ye Lan thought he was worried about Cheng Xuandan and comforted him. "Senior Brother, don't worry. Master will be fine."

Gu An looked at her and smiled as he nodded.

After chatting with his junior brothers and sister for a few sentences, Gu An left alone.

"I feel that Master isn't right," Lu Jiujia said in a low voice, pulling Xiao Chuan along. His brows were furrowed, and his gaze was somewhat sharp.

Xiao Chuan nodded. "Something really is wrong."

Lu Jiujia leaned close to his ear and began whispering.

Ye Lan, meanwhile, kept looking at Gu An's retreating back.

After Cheng Xuandan returned, he kept himself shut in his room. Gu An could sense that he was practicing to heal his injuries, but his aura grew weaker by the day.

Not until winter was nearly upon them did Cheng Xuandan finally leave his room. He called to Gu An from afar, and Gu An immediately ran over.

"Master." Gu An saluted respectfully.

Cheng Xuandan's hair was entirely white. Even his beard and eyebrows had turned white, brown spots had appeared on his face, and he looked incomparably aged.

"Come, I'll take you to the Outer Sect," Cheng Xuandan said, stroking his beard and smiling kindly.

Gu An could not help asking, "What are we going to the Outer Sect for?"

"Don't you want to become the valley master in the future?" Cheng Xuandan asked in return.

At once, Gu An's heart began racing. Yet his expression changed drastically as he asked in alarm, "Master, what happened to you? Don't scare me!"

Seeing how flustered he was, Cheng Xuandan's gaze softened further.

"Come. We'll talk on the way," Cheng Xuandan said, then turned and walked toward the valley entrance.

Gu An hurriedly gave Xiao Chuan, who was closest to him, a quick instruction before following Cheng Xuandan.

After leaving the valley, Cheng Xuandan headed toward the woods. He could no longer fly on a sword, which meant they would have to walk all the way to the Outer Sect.

Gu An suddenly wanted to turn back and tell Xiao Chuan and the other two not to pick those medicinal herbs that were about to ripen, but wait for him to return and harvest them.

Master and disciple walked through the woods. Gu An wanted to support Cheng Xuandan, but Cheng Xuandan politely declined.

"The stipend the sect gives a valley master is limited. When you recruit Handyman Disciples in the future, you must think carefully. You also have to hand over a certain amount of harvest every year..." Cheng Xuandan said casually as he walked ahead.

Gu An looked as though he were listening carefully, but inwardly, he remained on guard.

After all, Meng Lang's fate was still uncertain.

Cheng Xuandan did not walk quickly. Coupled with the many hills and ridges nearby, after half an hour, the two had only covered several miles.

Gu An was starting to crack mentally. How long would it take to walk to the Outer Sect?

He even wanted to carry Cheng Xuandan on his back!

After the two crossed a stream, Cheng Xuandan suddenly asked, "Why haven't you asked about Meng Lang's whereabouts?"

Gu An feigned confusion and asked, "Didn't he go to take the Outer Sect assessment? Could it be that he failed?"

"Your master deceived him. He has already been refined into a medicine gu by your master."

Cheng Xuandan answered as he continued walking, seemingly unafraid that Gu An would attack him from behind.

Gu An heard this without changing expression. He carefully sensed his surroundings and confirmed that there was no one else nearby.

Thanks to Little Bee for the 5,000 Qidian Coin reward, and Book Friend 20240407220137319 for the 100 Qidian Coin reward~~

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