World Outer Sect Assembly

"What is it?" Gu An asked, praying internally that it wasn't something troublesome.

He had no desire to get swept up in the whirlpool of conflict within the Outer Sect.

Li Ya laughed, "Don't you like gardening? I heard you mention before that you've helped other Outer Sect disciples manage their caves. Well, there's an opportunity right now with decent pay—manage one for a year and you'll get one mid-grade spirit stone plus a bottle of Spirit Qi Pills."

Upon hearing this, Gu An realized that was all it was, and he felt a wave of relief.

He naturally wouldn't refuse anything that could earn him lifespan; after all, he didn't spend much time cultivating on a daily basis and had plenty of time to spare.

He began to ask about the identity of the employer, and Li Ya didn't hide it—the Outer Sect disciple was a good friend of his, and his cave was located near the Outer Sect city.

Once Gu An agreed, Li Ya immediately took him along.

Li Ya flew on his sword, and Gu An stood behind him, sharing the same blade. Their figures drew looks of longing from Xiao Chuan, Ye Lan, and the others.

Who wouldn't yearn for the Sword Flight Technique?

The tall and sturdy Tang Yu sighed, "If Master could learn a trick or two of the Sword Flight Technique from Senior Brother Li Ya and then teach us, wouldn't that be great?"

Beside him, the thin and handsome Su Han nodded. Although he had been in Medicine Valley for four years, he still yearned for the Outer Sect in his heart.

It wasn't just him; Tang Yu and Zhen Qin felt the same way.

Ye Lan didn't say much, pulling Zhen Qin back to their courtyard to cultivate.

On the other side.

Above the mountains, Li Ya's sword flight was swift. He looked straight ahead, his black robes fluttering and his hair dancing in the wind, fully displaying a dashing and uninhibited temperament.

"I've noticed you have more chore disciples in Medicine Valley than before. Junior Brother Gu, try to recruit fewer disciples and invest more spirit stones into your own cultivation," Li Ya said earnestly.

Although Gu An always claimed his talent was lacking, he always felt there was still hope.

He didn't want to be in the prime of his life a hundred years from now while Gu An had already entered his twilight years.

Li Ya had been in the Taixuan Sect for many years and had a few good friends, as well as some friends of convenience, but in his heart, none of them compared to Junior Brother Gu.

Junior Brother Gu was the only person who treated him well without asking for anything in return, and he didn't want to lose such a bond.

Gu An smiled, "Senior Brother Li, don't worry. The reason I'm recruiting more disciples is that the gardens in Medicine Valley have expanded. Every year, I hand over more herbs, and the Alchemy Hall is gradually improving my benefits. I won't give up on cultivation."

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Li Ya's face.

"That's true. You kid are diligent and always manage to achieve some results."

"How could I compare to you, Senior Brother? Your reputation in the Outer Sect is so illustrious."

The two began to flatter each other. Li Ya usually hated such polite pleasantries, but for some reason, hearing these words from Junior Brother Gu made him inexplicably happy.

Two hours later.

Li Ya dropped Gu An off at Mystic Valley and then flew away on his sword.

As soon as Gu An landed, he was surrounded by two disciples—none other than Su Han and Zhen Qin.

They were curious about where Gu An had gone, and Gu An didn't hide it, dismissing them after saying a few words.

Lu Jiujia's departure had greatly stimulated the disciples of Medicine Valley, making the valley much quieter. Whenever they had free time, the disciples would cultivate in their respective rooms, hoping to catch up to Lu Jiujia's pace as soon as possible.

Gu An returned to his room and picked up the Yin-Yang Art to start reading. Starting tonight, Jiang Qiong was going to teach him spells, and he was very much looking forward to it.

What cultivator would mind having more spells?

Besides, Gu An lacked many basic spells.

Late at night, Eight Sceneries Grotto-Heaven.

Under the Azure Vine Tree, Jiang Qiong, dressed in white with her black hair draped loosely, looked like a fairy descended to earth. At this moment, her beautiful face was full of annoyance.

"Why are you so dense? I've told you the method for circulating energy several times; why can't you remember it?" Jiang Qiong suppressed her anger and scolded him.

She stood beside Gu An, her eyes fixed on the black energy in his hands.

She was teaching him the Soul-Absorbing Technique, a technique that could snatch a person's soul—extremely sinister and poisonous.

Gu An said helplessly, "Grandmaster, how long have you even been teaching me? Can you have a little patience?"

"It's not... it's just..." Jiang Qiong suddenly didn't know how to put it.

Before recovering her body, she had looked forward to teaching Gu An, as she viewed him as a genius, but the results were different from what she had imagined.

This kid was just too bizarre.

Teaching him the Sword Flight Technique, he understood it instantly, but when teaching him anything else, he was like someone just starting on the path of cultivation.

When it came to sword dao, Gu An was absolutely the greatest genius she had ever seen, but the problem was that she wasn't proficient in sword dao herself.

"If I were easy to teach in everything, would I have ended up as a chore disciple?" Gu An sighed.

Jiang Qiong held back for a long time before blurting out, "That still doesn't explain why you're so stupid!"

Gu An's hand trembled.

She really was a member of the demonic path; her words were damn hurtful!

Gu An's temper flared, and he said, "I have my own strengths. If we're talking about talent in sword dao, you might not even be able to compare to me, Grandmaster!"

Jiang Qiong was amused the moment she heard this, laughing as she asked, "Then shall we try? We won't use spiritual power, just spar with sword techniques?"

"Alright!"

Gu An relaxed his hands, the black mist dissipating. He stood up, ready to teach Jiang Qiong a lesson.

Jiang Qiong shifted two steps to the side, raised her right hand, and extended her index and middle fingers together, smiling, "Since it's a spar, let's not hurt our harmony. We'll use our fingers as swords."

Gu An nodded, placing his left hand behind his waist and his right hand in front.

Jiang Qiong narrowed her eyes. For some reason, the way Gu An raised his hand made her feel inexplicably flustered.

What is wrong with me? Why am I being intimidated by a Foundation Establishment kid?

Jiang Qiong silently cursed herself for being pathetic, having lost the arrogance she once held that looked down on everything.

She immediately thrust her fingers toward Gu An, unleashing the speed of a Golden Core realm cultivator from the very start.

Gu An struck her fingers horizontally with his own, as if flicking a sword, knocking her arm aside.

Jiang Qiong's eyes sharpened. She shifted her feet, gliding past Gu An's side like a ghost, her fingers pointing toward his ribs like a sword.

Gu An turned, his fingers pointing downward, and thrust them out, tapping the back of her hand. The stinging sensation made her subconsciously pull back.

The two moved back and forth under the tree, parrying and countering.

Jiang Qiong's offensive was fierce, while Gu An appeared as fluid as flowing water.

After thirty moves, Gu An clearly sensed that Jiang Qiong was becoming impatient, so he revealed a flaw, allowing her to tap his abdomen. He then clutched his stomach and stumbled back.

Jiang Qiong did not press her advantage. She stood upright, staring at Gu An with burning eyes.

Gu An feigned a look of pain, intimidated by her gaze.

What kind of look was that?

It was as if she wanted to devour him.

Jiang Qiong took a deep breath and said, "Fine, fine, fine. I still underestimated your aptitude for the sword. Although your sword techniques just now lacked structure, every move was simple and direct, pointing straight to the opponent's flaws. You are a once-in-a-century sword genius. If you have a good teacher, you will surely become famous throughout the world as a sword cultivator one day."

Gu An shook his head and said, "Fame is unnecessary. If that happens, many people will definitely come to trouble me. I hate fighting the most, let alone killing."

Jiang Qiong was stunned, finding it quite interesting.

This was the first time she had encountered such a cowardly genius.

"It was this ancestor who was impatient; I shouldn't have scolded you. Come, let's continue practicing the Soul-Absorbing Technique. Although you are suited for the sword, there are some spells you must master to be prepared for any eventuality," Jiang Qiong beckoned.

Gu An immediately stepped forward to continue practicing the Soul-Absorbing Technique.

After the spar, Jiang Qiong's attitude had indeed improved significantly. She spoke in a gentle, soft voice, which occasionally gave him goosebumps.

Just like that, Gu An came to the Eight Sceneries Grotto-Heaven every night to follow Jiang Qiong in practicing spells. As soon as he practiced a spell enough for it to appear on his attribute panel, he would begin practicing the next one.

Jiang Qiong assumed he was discouraged and did not force him; after all, she had plenty of spells.

Teaching a junior while recovering from her injuries was quite interesting to her.

Besides this, Gu An would visit the outer sect disciples' cave dwellings every month to look after the medicinal herbs inside.

At the end of the year, winter snow drifted down, blotting out the sky and sun.

Wearing a straw hat, Gu An walked halfway up the mountain and arrived before a cave dwelling. Just as he was about to take out his token, he suddenly sensed something.

There was someone inside!

And more than one person!

Gu An immediately wanted to leave, but the conversation inside the cave dwelling came to an abrupt halt. If he left now, it would prove that he could penetrate the restriction and detect the situation inside.

He had no choice but to press his token against the mountain gate, which then opened.

He stepped into the cave dwelling, walked through the tunnel, and arrived in the main chamber. When he saw three people inside, he was momentarily stunned, then quickly bowed and said, "Apologies, I did not know the senior had returned. I will not disturb you."

With that, he turned to leave.

The owner of the cave dwelling was named Chen Li. He looked to be in his early forties and possessed the elegant temperament of a scholar. He raised his hand and smiled, "No need. You do your work, and we will continue our chat."

Hearing this, Gu An could only turn back, bow again, and walk toward the herb area not far away.

Gu An noticed the other two people, a man and a woman. The woman was none other than Li Xuanyu, whom he had sparred with before.

The man was not Shi Yang, but someone else—graceful and handsome, like a gentleman who had stepped out of a painting. Even a man would be stunned by his appearance.

Li Xuanyu looked at Gu An. She clearly recognized him but did not speak.

Gu An quietly checked the handsome man's lifespan.

[Xiao Chenjun (Golden Core realm, 1st layer): 58/621/1508]

Golden Core realm, 1st layer!

An inner sect disciple?

Seeing Gu An begin to harvest the herbs, Chen Li turned his head to look at Li Xuanyu and Xiao Chenjun, sighing, "The World Outer Sect Assembly is about to begin. Since it is being hosted by the Taixuan Sect this time, the pressure on us is immense."

Xiao Chenjun smiled, "What is there to fear? There are plenty of geniuses in the outer sect. Even if those other sects and factions join forces, it will be difficult for them to suppress the Taixuan Sect. Within the Great Cang Dynasty, the Taixuan Sect is the strongest."

Chen Li shook his head and said, "I heard that the Guhao Sect, the Heavenly Absolute Cult, and the Thousand Autumn Pavilion each have geniuses with dual spiritual roots. They are even intentionally stalling their cultivation realms, waiting for this World Outer Sect Assembly."

He paused, cast a glance at Xiao Chenjun, and said with a hint of resentment, "Junior Brother Xiao, why didn't you wait a while longer before breaking through? Your master should have known about this."

Xiao Chenjun laughed and replied, "Senior Brother Chen, the World Outer Sect Assembly is held at least twice every hundred years. How could cultivators like us be so obsessed with winning or losing? Besides, the Taixuan Sect sees geniuses emerge every year. Rest assured, the burden won't fall solely on your shoulders."

The three of them chatted and laughed about the Outer Sect Assembly, with Xiao Chenjun and Chen Li doing most of the talking, while Li Xuanyu chimed in occasionally.

Thanks to Zhi Qiu Da Zi Zai for the 333 Qidian coin tip, | Xiao Ai | for the 100 Qidian coin tip, and Book Friend 20221202214910450 for the 100 Qidian coin tip~~

How did you spend June 1st? Even though it's Children's Day, it feels like everyone is wishing each other happiness, haha.