Ten Thousand Yin Sect, Xu Ruye

World Outer Sect Assembly?

The Outer Sect geniuses of the major sects would gather at Taixuan Sect?

That included Thousand Autumn Pavilion disciples?

Gu An listened with great interest. Such a grand gathering was bound to be exciting, but he could not help worrying that Thousand Autumn Pavilion cultivators might take the chance to find him and force him to provide intelligence on Taixuan Sect.

Chen Li and the other two began discussing other matters, and the topic gradually turned to the Inner Sect. Chen Li was very interested in the Inner Sect and curious what it was like.

Xiao Chenjun gave a brief account: the prosperous Inner Sect City, the profound legacies of the various peaks, the abundant mission bounties, and more. Gu An felt as though he were listening to a storyteller.

Yet Gu An still did not yearn for it.

Inner Sect disciples had to defend the Great Cang Dynasty. Not only did they have to slay demons and exterminate fiends within its territory, they also had to help the dynasty resist invasions from other dynasties. Just hearing about it made his head ache.

Once Gu An finished his work and harvested several hundred years of lifespan, he walked up to Chen Li, intending to take his leave.

"You are quite meticulous in your work. Why not help me look after my Cave Mansion as well?" Li Xuanyu suddenly asked.

Chen Li immediately smiled. "This lad's work is indeed satisfactory, and he follows the rules well. Li Ya recommended him too, so he is trustworthy."

Li Xuanyu stared at Gu An, waiting for his answer.

With everyone watching, Gu An could hardly refuse. He nodded in agreement.

"You two senior brothers may continue your conversation. I will take him around so that he can learn the way," Li Xuanyu said before rising and leaving.

Gu An hurriedly saluted Chen Li and Xiao Chenjun, then followed after Li Xuanyu.

Once the gates of the Cave Mansion closed, Xiao Chenjun smiled and asked, "The Li Family's grudges are truly tangled beyond measure. Tell me, do Junior Sister Li and Li Ya actually have a feud?"

Chen Li shook his head. "How could they? If they had a feud, she would not have spoken up for Li Ya back then. Li Ya would have long died at Shi Yang's hands. Shi Yang has now been missing for years. I even suspect Li Ya killed him."

Xiao Chenjun lifted his teacup, his expression turning subtle.

After leaving the Cave Mansion, Gu An followed Li Xuanyu away. The two rode the same sword, though they maintained a proper distance between them.

Standing behind Li Xuanyu, Gu An caught a unique fragrance from her. It smelled far better than Jiang Qiong's scent.

Although Jiang Qiong had washed herself clean, that corpse-like stench had not completely faded.

Neither spoke along the way. Li Xuanyu's temperament was too cold, leaving Gu An too lazy to start a conversation.

Her Cave Mansion was not far from Chen Li's. Before long, they landed.

Gu An could clearly sense that the restrictions around her Cave Mansion were stronger. Once inside, that feeling became even more pronounced.

What dense spiritual energy!

Li Xuanyu began explaining the origins and cultivation methods of the medicinal herbs within the Cave Mansion, and Gu An listened carefully.

After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Li Xuanyu handed him a token. With it, he could directly open this Cave Mansion. The treatment she offered was the same as Chen Li's.

For Gu An, harvesting the lifespans of medicinal herbs was enough. If he could also obtain Spirit Stones, he would not refuse them.

Gu An cupped his fists in salute and took his leave.

"Wait. What is your relationship with Li Ya?" Li Xuanyu suddenly asked.

Gu An stopped and turned back. "Li Ya is my senior brother. Naturally, we have a good relationship."

He could tell that Li Xuanyu and Li Ya likely got along well. If they bore a grudge, she could not possibly use him, a Handyman Disciple, to scheme against Li Ya, could she?

Li Xuanyu said nothing more and merely nodded slightly.

Gu An took his leave once again.

Looking after the Cave Mansions of Outer Sect disciples was not tiring work. He only needed to visit once every half month or once a month. Gu An felt he could take on more jobs.

The tree of his livelihood was becoming ever more lush. Eight Sceneries Grotto-Heaven and Mystic Valley formed the main trunk; he only needed to spread more branches and leaves, and lifespans would come pouring in.

He would strive to reach one hundred thousand years of lifespan as soon as possible!

As the winter snow melted and spring arrived, Mystic Valley began hanging lanterns and decorations before dusk.

Before the pavilion, Zhen Qin, the youngest of them all, squatted on the ground cutting paper decorations as she softly asked, "Master, what does Spring Festival signify?"

She was nine years younger than Gu An. Her features were sweet, her eyes large, her figure petite, and her temperament gentle. Even Lu Jiujia and Xiao Chuan were fond of her.

"When I was young, I heard an old man say that Spring Festival marked the beginning of a brand-new year, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new. At this time every year, people would offer one another blessings. Medicine Valley happens to have no festival worth celebrating, so we set Spring Festival as one," Gu An said from nearby, weaving a lantern in his hands.

Not far away, Wuxin, Xiao Chuan, and Tang Yu were hanging lanterns and pasting red paper. Ye Lan was preparing ingredients, while Su Han inspected the various garden plots.

After hearing that, anticipation appeared on Zhen Qin's face.

Gu An had only thought of Spring Festival a few days earlier. When he heard the people of Medicine Valley talking about their respective hometowns, he could not help recalling his home on Earth in his previous life. Since it was the season of the new year, he established Spring Festival as Mystic Valley's first holiday.

In the future, he could arrange other festivals as well, so that life in Medicine Valley would not be so dull.

He just wondered whether there were other transmigrators from Earth in this world.

Gu An silently pondered. The reason he claimed that he had heard about Spring Festival from an old man was to keep a card up his sleeve.

Just then, Gu An's brows furrowed slightly. He caught two auras that made him uncomfortable approaching Mystic Valley. They were already less than ten li away.

Both had Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation, but their auras carried an intense stench of blood.

They had killed many people!

With the World Outer Sect Assembly about to begin, could Demonic Cultivators be paying a visit?

Gu An prayed inwardly, hoping they would not enter Medicine Valley.

Yet whatever he feared came to pass. The two flew straight toward Mystic Valley. Before long, their figures appeared atop the mountain, overlooking Medicine Valley.

They were a man and a woman, both dressed in deep purple robes. Their temperaments were sinister and alluring; even in broad daylight, they looked like vengeful ghosts.

The woman had a seductive figure, dark makeup on her face, and nails as long as claws. Covering her mouth, she giggled. "Brother Xu, Taixuan Sect's Outer Sect is not far from here. Why not rest here for a while? We can also ask these Handyman Disciples for some information."

The man beside her was powerfully built and stern-faced. He wore a purple crown inset with a ruby that resembled a scarlet vertical eye.

"What can we learn from the mouths of a pack of Qi Refining insects?" the man in purple said coldly.

He came from the Ten Thousand Yin Sect and was named Xu Ruye. This time, he had brought his Dao companion, Cicada Concubine, to participate in the World Outer Sect Assembly.

Cicada Concubine smiled. "You know what those Taixuan Sect people are like. Their strength is lacking, yet they love to bully the few with the many. If the two of us arrive first, trouble will surely come knocking. Waiting here would not be a bad idea."

Xu Ruye found her words reasonable. He then leaped down, with Cicada Concubine following close behind.

Gu An looked up and immediately cast Lifespan Inspection.

[Xu Ruye (Ninth-layer Foundation Establishment Realm): 67/389/920]

[Cicada Concubine (Seventh-layer Foundation Establishment Realm): 74/370/605]

They both looked like geniuses.

Gu An rose to his feet. Zhen Qin followed his gaze, and upon seeing Xu Ruye and Cicada Concubine, she was so frightened that she hurriedly hid behind her master.

Xiao Chuan, Wuxin, and Tang Yu also noticed the two Demonic Cultivators' arrival. They immediately threw aside what they were doing and ran toward Gu An.

Xu Ruye and Cicada Concubine landed in the garden. Their gazes swept across the medicinal herbs, making Gu An's heart tighten.

Taixuan Sect's security was far too poor!

With such a grand event approaching, they had not even sent disciples out to patrol?

Gu An cursed inwardly. Of course, he also knew that Mystic Valley was of little value to Taixuan Sect. The herbs planted here were all low-grade and specifically served the Outer Sect.

Cicada Concubine turned her head toward Gu An and the others. "Who is the valley master here?"

Gu An stepped forward and cupped his fists. "That would be me. May I ask why you two seniors have come?"

Cicada Concubine cast Gu An a flirtatious glance and asked with a smile, "Little brother, my husband and I have come to attend Taixuan Sect's grand assembly. We would like to rest in your valley for a few days. What do you think?"

Xu Ruye's gaze fell upon Ye Lan and Zhen Qin behind Gu An. His cold and sinister eyes unsettled both women. Ye Lan frowned and stepped in front of Zhen Qin.

Gu An was displeased, but he sensed a familiar aura approaching.

He asked, "May I ask which sect you two come from?"

Cicada Concubine's gaze turned cold as she was about to speak.

"Why waste words with him? If we wish to stay, can someone at the fifth layer of Qi Refining drive us away?" Xu Ruye said impatiently.

A terrifying killing intent erupted from his body, changing everyone's expression as though they had fallen into an icy cellar.

"Are the two of the Ten Thousand Yin Sect seeking to become enemies with Taixuan Sect?"

A clear, cold voice descended from the sky. Everyone looked up to see Li Xuanyu standing upon a Flying Sword, robes fluttering in the wind like an exiled immortal.

"Li Xuanyu!" Cicada Concubine said through gritted teeth, each word bitten out separately.

Li Xuanyu said, "Come with me."

With that, she turned and departed, swiftly disappearing beyond the mountain peak.

Xu Ruye leaped into the air. The gourd at his waist flew out and rapidly expanded beneath his feet. Cicada Concubine followed him into the air and landed behind him, and the two rode the gourd away.

Everyone in Medicine Valley breathed a sigh of relief.

"Those two were Demonic Cultivators?" Su Han could not help asking. Xu Ruye's killing intent had frightened him so badly that his face was pale.

Wuxin said, "Yes. The Ten Thousand Yin Sect is a major sect of the Demonic Path and possesses formidable strength."

Xiao Chuan said unhappily, "Isn't Taixuan Sect a famous righteous sect? Why would it invite Demonic Path sects here?"

The disciples began discussing the matter. They were all still shaken. Had Li Xuanyu not appeared, disaster might have descended upon them that very night.

Gu An turned to look toward the horizon, his brows faintly knit.

Afterward, he told everyone to continue preparing for Spring Festival, while he returned to his room to rest for a while.

Dusk fell, and the sky turned crimson.

Gu An stood by the side window of the pavilion. He could already sense faint sounds of battle in the distance, likely thirty li away from Mystic Valley.

He suddenly sensed something. At once, he vaulted through the window and swiftly vanished into the forest.

In the distant woods, trees lay toppled in all directions, and shocking cracks covered the ground. Xu Ruye and Cicada Concubine stood side by side, contemptuous smiles on their faces.

Opposite them stood not only Li Xuanyu, but another person as well: Li Ya.

"The Li Family's Astonishing Nine Swords are indeed formidable, but your cultivation is not worth looking at," Xu Ruye said with a cold smile. The fingers of his right hand twitched as wisps of purple qi coiled around his fingertips.

Blood stained both corners of Li Ya's mouth, and even the right hand gripping his sword was trembling. Li Xuanyu beside him was no different, though her injuries were not as severe as Li Ya's.

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