When I Achieved Sainthood, the Immortal Official Actually Called Me to Raise Horses!

Chapter 104: The Arrival of the Ascender

"What bad news?"

Gu An asked, sensing that Lü Baitian's aura was incredibly weak. He immediately cast a lifespan examination.

【Lü Baitian (Integration Stage, Ninth Level): 764/2050/3200】

No major changes... wait!

He had lost 1,100 years of his lifespan! Gu An remembered that Lü Baitian's lifespan had previously been 3,150 years.

Could it be a tribulation failure? Gu An was startled. No wonder when he practiced through simulations, every failure meant many years were required before he could attempt the tribulation again. Reality seemed to be just as harsh—failure could mean death, and even survival often left little room for immediate recovery.

Taking a deep breath, Lü Baitian said, "I failed the tribulation and couldn’t advance to the next realm. I’ll need years of recovery just to regain my peak strength."

Hearing this, Gu An's face changed drastically. He quickly stepped forward, his voice filled with concern: "Sect Master, are you alright? You must take care of yourself! Taixuan Sect cannot do without you!"

However, Ji Hantian was displeased. "What do you mean by 'the sect cannot do without him'? If he dies, I’m here to take over."

Every Vice Sect Master dreamed of becoming the Sect Master—but being this blunt? Really?

Gu An couldn’t help but think so, though he kept his expression filled with worry.

"Don’t worry, I won’t die," Lü Baitian said with a sigh. "But trying to ascend again in this lifetime will be near impossible. Another failure could really mean my death." His face betrayed a lingering fear as he recalled the ordeal.

"Is the tribulation really that difficult? Even someone like you can’t handle it?" Gu An pressed.

Ji Hantian scoffed. "The fact that he even faced a tribulation already puts him above the masses of the Nine Dynasties. Countless humans and demons alike spend their entire lives unable to even touch the Integration Stage."

Gu Zong nodded with a self-deprecating laugh. "I know I won’t reach the Integration Stage in this life."

Gu An took a deep breath and chuckled bitterly. "Forget the Integration Stage—I can’t even touch the Core Formation Stage." His current cultivation level remained stuck at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Don’t worry. Even if it means burning through pills and treasures, I can push you to the Core Formation Stage," Lü Baitian declared confidently. "However, reaching the Nascent Soul Stage will depend on your own talent and opportunities. Even the sect can’t help beyond that. Of course, there’s another option—become my disciple, and I’ll directly transfer my cultivation to you."

Not again!

Gu An was about to refuse when Ji Hantian interjected, "Forget about transferring cultivation for now. The Nightshade Sect is eyeing us closely. They might strike any day. Even if he inherits your cultivation, he won’t be as strong as you. For now, Taixuan Sect truly can’t do without you."

Gu Zong nodded. "I’ve already contacted the Supreme Elders. We’ll see how many of them can return."

As the conversation shifted to the Supreme Elders, Lü Baitian began reminiscing. It turned out that most Supreme Elders left the sect in search of opportunities to break through the Integration Stage. Only one in ten ever returned, and of those, only a fraction succeeded in advancing. The rest returned to live out their days in peace.

Ji Hantian then brought up the True Legacy First Disciple, claiming that this individual had the best chance of surpassing the Integration Stage, even more so than the Supreme Elders.

This piqued Gu An's curiosity. Just what kind of genius could inspire such admiration and hope from everyone in Taixuan Sect?

Standing quietly, Gu An listened attentively, gleaning more about the sect’s history. It wasn’t until half an hour later that the conversation ended.

"Today’s most important matter," Ji Hantian said, turning to Gu An with a serious expression, "is that we’ll be sending more high-grade seeds your way. You must cultivate them carefully; the future of Taixuan Sect in the battle against the Nightshade Sect depends on it."

Sending seeds? The more, the better!

Gu An eagerly promised, "No matter how many you send, I’ll give it my all and not cut corners!"

Gu Zong chuckled. "That’s the spirit I like! None of the other Medicine Valley Masters are as dedicated as you. Most either neglect their duties or hoard resources for themselves. Keep it up, and you might become an Inner Sect disciple."

Gu An immediately bowed in gratitude.

Afterward, the three men rose and left. As they stepped out of the pavilion, Lü Baitian's complexion immediately recovered. As the Sect Master, he couldn’t let his disciples see him in a weakened state.

Gu An descended the stairs, watching them depart with a sense of regret. He had wanted to ask Ji Hantian when the Seventh-Grade Spirit Tree would arrive.

Neither the news of the Nightshade Sect’s destruction nor Lü Baitian’s tribulation failure spread in the cultivation world—at least, Ye Lan didn’t mention them when she visited Gu An later.

As Spring Festival approached, Ye Lan had to leave due to an important Law Enforcement Hall mission that would take several months. Standing on the pavilion’s edge, Gu An watched her disappearing figure amid the falling snow before turning his gaze to Yang Ni, who emerged from the woods.

When Yang Ni passed beneath his pavilion, Gu An called out, "You say the Nightshade Sect has no foundation, yet it attracts so many cultivators. How foolish can people be?"

Yang Ni stopped and looked up at him. "Perhaps the Nightshade Sect offers them something they want?"

"Maybe," Gu An replied, shaking his head. "But it feels like a scam. Look at the Demon-Slaying Hall from the Outer Sect. Lu Jiu Jia trusted them, thinking they’d help him rise to glory, only to be betrayed."

With a tone of lament, he added, "The world revolves around a single word: competition. That’s why I like Medicine Valley—there’s nothing to compete for."

With that, he turned and went back inside.

Yang Ni frowned. Was Gu An hinting at her? If he suspected her connection to the Nightshade Sect, why not confront her directly?

After some thought, Yang Ni decided to speak with Lu Jiu Jia to better understand what Gu An meant.

Amid the falling snow, the Seventh-Grade Spirit Tree promised by the Ji family finally arrived.

【Pure Yang Tree (Seventh-Grade): 2/8999/64000】

Carrying the sapling, which was taller than a person, Gu An searched for a suitable planting spot. Ultimately, he decided to plant it in the open space before the pavilion. He immediately summoned disciples to clear snow and dig a hole.

The Pure Yang Tree, even in sapling form, melted the surrounding snow the moment it was planted, radiating a warmth that everyone nearby could feel. It seemed like a fiery tree.

The tree was Gu An’s private treasure. Hearing the disciples’ murmured admiration filled him with pride.

Suddenly, his gaze shifted to the distance. A group of cultivators soared over the mountain, led by Lü Songhan, the Outer Sect Grand Elder.

Behind Lü Songhan were 200 errand disciples, all at or above the Seventh Level of the Qi Refining Stage.

Huh?

Why was she here?

Gu An spotted Lu Lingjun among them, her apparent cultivation at the Eighth Level of the Qi Refining Stage—a clever disguise.

Who would guess that this errand disciple was, in reality, a Ninth-Level Integration Stage master, comparable to Lü Baitian?

In truth, Gu An doubted Lü Baitian could beat Lu Lingjun in a fight. Lü Baitian had lived barely 700 years, whereas Lu Lingjun was an old monster nearing 2,000.

Landing gracefully, Lü Songhan clasped his fists and smiled. "Brother Gu, I’ve selected these 200 errand disciples for your use, with approval from above."

The decision to select errand disciples stemmed from the fact that they would have a hard time stealing herbs from the Third Medicine Valley. After all, it was located in the Inner Sect territory, with an entire Outer Sect city serving as a buffer zone. Security wasn’t a concern—what mattered was manpower.

Gu An stepped forward to exchange pleasantries with Lü Songhan.

Meanwhile, Lu Lingjun stood among the crowd, observing Gu An. She was secretly puzzled—how could someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage call a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator "brother"? What was his background?

The other errand disciples, on the other hand, were ecstatic. To them, being in the Inner Sect’s Medicine Valley was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

After Lü Songhan left, Gu An summoned Xiao Chuan and instructed him to arrange accommodations for the errand disciples. Gu An intentionally avoided looking at Lu Lingjun—he wanted to steer clear of forming karmic ties with an ascender.

That day, the new errand disciples busied themselves constructing pavilions and exploring the Third Medicine Valley. When Lu Lingjun discovered that the valley contained two Seventh-Grade Spirit Trees, she was utterly shocked.

Before her ascension, she had only ever seen one Seventh-Grade Spirit Tree, which was over 20,000 years old and as massive as a mountain. Taixuan Sect’s foundation was terrifyingly deep—she had to find a way to establish herself here!

Thus, in the days that followed, Lu Lingjun worked tirelessly, so much so that even Gu An couldn’t ignore her entirely.

After the Spring Festival, Gu An instructed Xiao Chuan to select ten disciples as Medicine Valley stewards, responsible for managing the others. Among the ten chosen by Xiao Chuan was Lu Lingjun.

Lu Lingjun’s fiery gaze landed on Gu An, making him uncomfortable. She was strikingly beautiful, surpassing any other female disciple in the valley. Combined with her diligence, ignoring her would only arouse suspicion.

Addressing the ten stewards, Gu An offered a few words of encouragement before dismissing them.

But Lu Lingjun stepped forward, speaking softly, "Valley Master, I have something to discuss. May we speak in private?"

After a brief hesitation, Gu An nodded and led her to the pavilion.

The other stewards who hadn’t gone far cast envious glances her way.

Being good-looking really was an asset.

Once inside, Lu Lingjun closed the door behind her. Gu An walked to the desk, casually flipping over the Adventures of the Green Hero lying on its surface before sitting down.

Lu Lingjun approached the desk, retrieved a manual from her robes, and handed it to him.

Gu An glanced at it: Nine Cycles Golden Body Technique.

The name was certainly flashy!

Lu Lingjun whispered, "This is a family heirloom technique. I hope the Valley Master will not disdain it."

Gu An frowned. "What are you doing? Take it back! If someone sees this, what will they think of you?"

Understanding his intent, Lu Lingjun tucked the manual away and produced a magical artifact from her storage bag instead.

"I told you—stop this nonsense!" Gu An scolded.

Next, she offered him a bottle of pills, claiming they could enhance vitality and strengthen the meridians.

"You’re testing me? Are you questioning my loyalty to Taixuan Sect?" Gu An stood abruptly, lowering his voice to avoid being overheard by disciples outside, but his anger was palpable.

Lu Lingjun cursed him internally as greedy.

Then, as if a thought struck her, she retrieved a white jade bottle from her storage bag. "This is Heavenly Spirit Water. Don’t underestimate this single bottle—pouring it on the ground can gather spiritual energy to form a lake. The lake water improves the surrounding soil, accelerating the growth of natural treasures. Moreover, it produces spiritual pearls yearly, which can be consumed or used in alchemy."

Hearing this, Gu An accepted the bottle with a stern expression. "This is the last time. Now, tell me what you want—but it must not threaten Taixuan Sect’s interests."

Lu Lingjun smiled and said, "Valley Master, could you allow me to cultivate under the Sevenfold Purity Tree?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

She had previously stopped by the tree and noticed a plump White Spirit Mouse seemingly sleeping beneath it. But with her keen perception, she recognized that the mouse was in a profound state of enlightenment.