"What secret technique?" Gu An asked expectantly. He had already learned many spells from Jiang Qiong, but when it came to spells, the more the merrier.
Once Jiang Qiong left, it would be hard for him to find another grandmaster who devoted herself so wholeheartedly to teaching him.
Jiang Qiong bit into a huge chicken drumstick and grinned smugly. "One of the Nine Great Secret Techniques of our Thousand Autumn Pavilion—the Demonic Shadow Divine Technique!"
Demonic Shadow Divine Technique?
It sounded...
Gu An frowned and asked, "Is it a cultivation technique?"
He did not lack cultivation techniques. Switching techniques and cultivating anew meant rebuilding his spiritual power from scratch, and he did not want to waste his lifespan.
"I already told you, it's a secret technique. The Demonic Shadow Divine Technique will help you become a better spy. You'll find out soon enough," Jiang Qiong said indistinctly, her mouth stuffed so full of chicken that it could barely hold any more.
Gu An's face twitched.
I don't want to be a Demonic Path spy!
Forget it. He would first endure until Jiang Qiong left. Afterward, he could speak human words when he met people and ghost words when he met ghosts. Roaming the world, one's identity was something one gave oneself.
At noon the next day, Gu An was reading beneath a tree. Seven steps away, Ye Lan and Zhen Qin were practicing swordsmanship, their figures light and graceful. Unfortunately, they could not draw Gu An's gaze.
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother Li Ya is here!"
Xiao Chuan ran over as he spoke. Someone followed behind him—it was Li Ya.
Gu An immediately rose to his feet, tucked Travels of the Green Hero into his robe, and walked toward Li Ya.
"Let's talk inside," Li Ya said first.
Gu An nodded and led him upstairs.
Zhen Qin stopped swinging her sword and looked at Ye Lan. Nervously, she asked, "Martial Aunt Ye, could Martial Uncle Li Ya be here because of those two Demonic Cultivators from yesterday?"
"Perhaps," Ye Lan replied softly, glancing back.
Inside the room.
Gu An and Li Ya sat facing one another. As Gu An poured tea for him, he asked, "What is it?"
Li Ya said, "I plan to stay in Mystic Valley for half a year. Is that all right?"
"Of course it is. Stay as long as you want. Did something happen to you?" Gu An agreed without hesitation, naturally following up with concern.
Li Ya hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to tell him about yesterday's encounter. If Junior Brother Gu knew about such matters, perhaps the pressure would spur him to cultivate diligently.
After hearing him out, Gu An's eyes widened. "Those two died? Will the Ten Thousand Yin Sect come looking for trouble?"
Li Ya snorted. "He attacked Li Xuanyu and me. If anyone is going to seek trouble, it will be the Taixuan Sect seeking trouble with the Ten Thousand Yin Sect. Besides the Taixuan Sect, the imperial court will also pressure them. Li Xuanyu is my imperial father's most beloved daughter."
Gu An asked in surprise, "Then they still dared attack Senior Li?"
"Xu Ruye and Cicada Concubine have committed countless evils and will stop at nothing. Cicada Concubine had formed a grudge with Li Xuanyu in Ye City before. Having finally found Li Xuanyu alone, they naturally would not let the chance slip away. And besides..."
Li Ya spoke disdainfully, but in the end, he held himself back.
"And besides what?"
"Nothing."
Gu An wanted to hit someone. Then you might as well not have said 'and besides' at all!
Li Ya looked at Gu An and asked, "From yesterday until now, have you seen anyone else pass by Medicine Valley?"
Gu An shook his head.
"You didn't see it. If that Nascent Soul Realm senior had not intervened yesterday, Li Xuanyu and I would likely have met a grim fate. That senior's swordsmanship was truly terrifying. He plucked leaves to kill enemies; a Ninth-layer Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was like melons and vegetables in a field before him—one leaf was enough to kill..."
The moment Li Ya began recounting yesterday's battle, he became excited and started vividly describing the scene.
Gu An's eyes widened, and from time to time he drew in a cold breath, as though he were listening to a Heavenly Book.
That Nascent Soul Realm senior had merely thrown two leaves, yet Li Ya used every word he had learned in his life to describe it, utterly impassioned.
"A sword cultivator ought to be like that—no sword triumphing over a sword. Whatever one holds in one's hand is a sword. Even I... In short, Senior Brother has found his path. From now on, I will focus on practicing the sword and studying the Sword Dao..."
Li Ya's face was filled with longing. Gu An nodded, inwardly delighted.
Brother, the senior you are praising to the skies is standing right in front of you. Sadly, your cultivation is too shallow to see through me!
Gu An interrupted Li Ya's reverie and asked, "The World Outer Sect Assembly is such a grand event. Why doesn't the sect send disciples to patrol, or send people to protect us Handyman Disciples?"
Within fifty miles of Mystic Valley, there were at least six Outer Sect disciples' Cave Mansions. Though most were not currently inside, if the sect gave the order, someone would surely come.
Li Ya's smile vanished. He said quietly, "Think about why someone in the sect dared raise a Greed-Hatred Demon Ghost outside the Outer Sect. Isn't it because the sect never considered Handyman Disciples worth noticing? But don't worry. I'll stand guard until the World Outer Sect Assembly ends."
Gu An fell silent for a moment, then asked, "You aren't participating?"
"My cultivation is insufficient. If I recklessly participate, I'll only be injured. Such a grand gathering will surely be the domain of Ninth-layer Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators," Li Ya said, shaking his head.
Those words made Gu An look at him in a new light. Li Ya had quite a clear understanding of himself.
Of course, Xu Ruye might simply have dealt him too great a blow.
The two continued chatting for quite some time before finally going downstairs. Gu An had Xiao Chuan and Tang Yu clear out a courtyard so Li Ya could live alone.
When everyone learned that Li Ya would be staying for half a year, they were all delighted. First, they would have someone to protect them. Second, they could learn swordsmanship from Li Ya.
In their eyes, Gu An was good at everything except spells—he simply knew too few to guide them. Li Ya was different. He was a genuine Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator!
In the days that followed, cultivators often flew over Mystic Valley on swords. Gu An also saw many flying artifacts and Demon Beast mounts, making him sigh inwardly.
This is what a cultivation world should be!
One month later, in the dead of night.
Jiang Qiong leaned against the Azure Vine Tree, one leg dangling. Beneath the hem of her robe, her smooth, fair calf was exposed, bright and gleaming. She held a book in her hand and glanced toward Gu An in the distance, who was harvesting medicinal herbs.
She suddenly flipped herself upright. The book in her hand flew into the pendant around her neck, and she stretched lazily, extending her body.
"Good disciple-grandson, stop working for now. Practice the Demonic Shadow Divine Technique first."
Jiang Qiong called out as she leaped down and landed before the pill furnace. Pills were brewing within it, and wisps of white smoke drifted from beneath the lid.
Without turning around, Gu An replied, "It's fine. I'll be done soon."
Jiang Qiong shook her head with a smile. This boy truly is diligent. That's rare and precious. I should refine some pills for him.
Half an incense stick later.
Gu An came to Jiang Qiong's side with the herbs he had gathered. He sorted them carefully on the ground by type, making Jiang Qiong even more satisfied.
This child is flawless!
Gu An had harvested more than thirteen hundred years of lifespan in one go, putting him in an excellent mood. Opportunities for such a harvest did not come easily.
"Continue cultivating. If there's anything you don't understand, ask me at any time," Jiang Qiong said softly, watching the pill furnace.
Gu An nodded and began cultivating the Demonic Shadow Divine Technique. He had been practicing it for a month already, yet it still had not appeared on his Attribute Panel, leaving him quite irritated.
He had to master it now, no matter what!
Eight Sceneries Grotto-Heaven fell silent. Gu An and Jiang Qiong sat cross-legged beside the pill furnace, their figures obscured by the hazy pill smoke.
Four more days passed before the Demonic Shadow Divine Technique finally appeared on Gu An's Attribute Panel.
He looked at his Attribute Panel, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
[Name: Gu An] [Lifespan: 27/12268] [Spirit Root: First-rate Five Elements Spiritual Root (wood and earth attributes relatively prominent)] [Cultivation: Nascent Soul Realm Eighth Layer] [Cultivation Techniques: Fire Control Art (not mastered), Divine Wood Pure Yang Technique (mastery), Dragon Strength Divine Origin Technique (mastery), Alchemy (Entry Level), Myriad Gu Profound Technique (not mastered), Yin-Yang Art (not mastered)] [Ultimate Arts: Gale Absolute Shadow Leg (complete understanding), Great Vast God-Startling Sword (complete understanding), Eight Directions Step (not mastered), Demonic Shadow Divine Technique (not mastered)] [Spells: Soul Capture Technique (not mastered), Sword Flight Technique (complete understanding), Soul Bewitching Eyes (not mastered), Poison Wood Formation (Entry Level), Wind Control Technique (not mastered), Corpse Control Technique (not mastered)]
If it could appear on the Attribute Panel, that proved it was real!
Over the course of more than five years, Jiang Qiong had taught him eight cultivation techniques and spells.
She was truly conscientious!
It also changed Gu An's opinion of her. Though she was a Demonic Cultivator, her teaching attitude surpassed that of the Righteous Path.
Gu An stood and bowed to Jiang Qiong. "Grandmaster, let's end here for tonight. I want to go back and rest."
Jiang Qiong remained seated cross-legged before the pill furnace, demonic qi swirling around her. Without opening her eyes, she said, "Cultivate well after you return. At most, I'll remain here another two years before leaving."
Gu An said nothing and turned away.
Jiang Qiong opened one eye and glanced at his retreating back. This boy seems rather sad. Well, of course he is. Where else could he find such an excellent grandmaster as me? Seeing how lonely and helpless he is, once I return, I'll find someone to take his place so he can cultivate under me in Thousand Autumn Pavilion. Then I'll have Father ask that person to teach him swordsmanship.
With his back to her, Gu An hurried toward the cave entrance.
He forcibly suppressed the joy in his heart and did not let himself laugh.
She's finally leaving!
Jiang Qiong had treated him well, but he wanted even more to enjoy Eight Sceneries Grotto-Heaven by himself.
After returning to the mountain forest, Gu An did not immediately return to the building. He headed into the distance, intending to find a place to invest one year of lifespan into his cultivation.
He felt that he was already close to the Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm. Perhaps he would break through within the next few days.
Even though he felt it was near, he remained restrained, investing only one year of lifespan each day.
After traveling twenty miles, Gu An sat cross-legged beneath a tree. He suppressed his aura to its lowest point, becoming almost indistinguishable from the flowers and grass.
He immediately invested one year of lifespan into his cultivation. Right afterward, spiritual qi surged toward him.
The flowers and grass around him swayed along with it, as though waving banners and shouting encouragement, wishing for him to break through soon.
Before long, the spiritual qi of heaven and earth returned to calm, signaling that he had completed one year of qi absorption cultivation.
Gu An rose to leave. Just as he was about to take a step, he suddenly sensed something and immediately hid behind the tree.
About four breaths later, two sounds of something cutting through the air approached. They streaked across the sky above Gu An's head.
Gu An's eyesight was far beyond that of ordinary people. He caught sight of the two figures and swiftly cast Lifespan Inspection twice.
[Zuo Yijian (Golden Core Realm Ninth Layer): 142/490/980]
[Zuo Lin (Foundation Establishment Realm Second Layer): 27/280/1400]
Golden Core Realm Ninth Layer!
Gu An was secretly curious about what sect or school these two came from.
Only after they had gone far away did Gu An quietly return to Mystic Valley.
Early the next morning, he led the disciples through their exercises as usual. Li Ya greeted him and said that he was going to the Outer Sect.
It was not until noon that Li Ya returned on his sword. He had also brought someone back with him.
It was none other than Zuo Lin, whom Gu An had inspected last night.
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