Chapter 58: What Would You Do as Sect Master?

Chapter 58: What Would You Do as Sect Master?

A Seventh-Grade Spirit Tree!

Gu An’s heart surged with excitement. A treasure on par with the Cang Vine Tree? Could it be that the Cang Vine Tree in the Eight Views Celestial Realm wasn’t a true sacred tree, or had it not fully matured?

He couldn’t refuse such a gift.

Convincing the saintess to stay? How hard could it be?

If she liked books, he could write extra chapters of Romance of the Gods!

“When will the saintess arrive?” Gu An took a deep breath, masking his excitement with a look of concern.

Gu Zong smiled. “Within a year. No need to feel pressured.”

Gu Yu teased, “Don’t worry about her asking for your hand in marriage. The gap in cultivation alone makes that impossible. She’s just a fan of your books.”

Gu An nodded. There were countless fans of Romance of the Gods. He didn’t flatter himself.

Turning to Old Tian, Gu Zong asked, “How have you been here?”

Old Tian nodded, his expression calm. “It’s been good. The Valley Master treats me well.”

Gu An felt helpless. Was Gu Zong deliberately planting this “distant relative” to dispel his suspicions?

No, if he was going to play along, he’d play the part well.

Gu An looked at Gu Zong hesitantly, as though grappling with unspoken thoughts.

Noticing his hesitation, Gu Zong chuckled. “Old Tian already knows you’re Pan An. He’s a fan of Romance of the Gods, which is why I arranged for him to work here. Besides him, only the Elders Hall knows your identity. Rest assured, we’re more worried than you about your secret getting out.”

Gu An sighed in relief.

“By the way, about Zhou Tongyou,” Gu Yu interjected. “He’s not so bad after all. Let’s ease up on him.”

Gu An raised an eyebrow at the sudden shift.

Gu Zong laughed. “My image in your books is well-received. Everywhere I go, I hear people wondering when I’ll come back to settle scores for my son!”

Gu An coughed lightly. “Spoilers ruin the suspense.”

“Fair enough.”

Shifting the subject, Gu An asked about the Dao Heaven Sect Saintess, wanting to gather as much information as possible to prepare.

Gu Zong began his introduction.

“Shen Zhen, a three-root cultivator and the youngest daughter of the Dao Heaven Sect’s leader. While her innate talent isn’t extraordinary, her affinity for musical techniques is exceptional. She has a deep love for music, painting, and literature.” ȓ

The description left Gu An with a favorable impression.

If she loved the arts, she likely wasn’t a domineering person.

Late Night, Eight Views Celestial Realm.

Under the Cang Vine Tree, Gu An practiced the Wood Spirit Sword Technique—a technique given to him by Zuo Lin during their first encounter. Though not rare, it suited his current goals, and he preferred training it personally over using lifespan.

Time was a resource, just like lifespan.

With his Five Element Heavenly Spiritual Root and insights from the Taicang Spectral Sword Technique, Gu An found a sense of mastery.

Every martial art had levels of proficiency: Beginner, Familiar, Adept, Proficient, Mastery, Expert, Perfect, and Sublime.

This progression felt like leveling up in a game, making his practice enjoyable.

Around him, Gu An’s movements created afterimages, as though a dozen Gu Ans were training simultaneously. His Tianxiu Sword danced with a sharp, overwhelming energy, dispersing two feet beyond the blade but leaving the surrounding flora untouched.

An hour later, Gu An sheathed his sword.

Clang—

The blade's sound was like a dragon's hum, light yet resonant.

Stretching, he tossed the Tianxiu Sword into his storage pouch.

From above, Ao Long descended, its childlike voice full of admiration. “Master, you’re amazing! Can you teach me?”

Gu An looked at the dragonling and teased, “Can your claws hold a sword?”

“I can use my claws as a sword!” Ao Long blinked its large eyes.

Gu An paused, then chuckled. There’s some promise here.

He retrieved a hand-drawn manual for the Wood Spirit Sword Technique and handed it over. “Train yourself. If you have questions, ask when I return.”

Ao Long grabbed the manual with its claws, chirping, “Don’t forget the roast chicken!”

Smiling, Gu An nodded before leaving.

Ao Long settled on the ground, flipping through the manual with its claws.

Leaving the Eight Views Celestial Realm, Gu An traversed snow-laden forests without leaving a trace.

The next morning, he had just finished leading his disciples in practice when Ye Lan arrived.

As always, Gu An made time for her.

They sat in his study, catching up. Her annual visits to him always warmed his heart.

“Disciples have been vanishing from the outer sect since last year,” Ye Lan confided. “We in the Law Enforcement Hall haven’t been able to find the culprit, but the Demon Removal Hall always manages to extract confessions from supposed spies.”

Since the change in sect leadership, Ye Lan had severed ties with Lu Jiu Jia. The two halls were now bitterly opposed.

Gu An laughed. “Let them handle it. You can focus on cultivation.”

“It’s not that simple,” Ye Lan sighed. “The Demon Removal Hall’s leader aims to absorb us. Even the Outer Sect Grand Elder seems supportive. If we don’t act, the Law Enforcement Hall will be disbanded.”

Gu An reassured her, “If that happens, come back. I can provide pills far better than the hall’s stipend.”

“That’s not an option. If I take your resources, how will you manage?” Ye Lan refused firmly, her tone resolute.

Recognizing her determination, Gu An shifted the conversation to lighter topics.

After the New Year, the snow fully melted. Gu An tended to his valleys, reaping thousands of years of lifespan from Tianya Valley before moving on to the Third Medicine Valley.

Here, the stillness was almost eerie. Ye Yan and Old Tian preferred the solitude, coexisting without disturbing each other.

While harvesting herbs, Old Tian approached. “Why do you always handle the picking yourself?”

“Doing the work myself makes me feel like I’m contributing to the sect,” Gu An replied with a chuckle.

Old Tian nodded. “You are contributing—not just indulging in self-satisfaction.”

“I hope the sect leaders see it that way too.”

Old Tian’s tone turned serious. “If you were sect master, what would you do?”

The question made Gu An’s heart skip a beat, but he didn’t falter in his movements. “What nonsense are you talking about? You’re not sect master. How would you pass it to me? Besides, I can barely manage a valley, let alone millions of disciples.”

“With my cultivation, no one would take me seriously as sect master.”

He laughed off the idea. I have no interest in ruling.

Old Tian smiled faintly and let the matter drop.

As Gu An finished his harvest, a disturbance in the skies drew his attention.

Gu Zong was descending on his golden disc, accompanied by a veiled woman in black robes. Her striking eyes hinted at her beauty beneath the veil.

The Dao Heaven Sect Saintess.

“Take the herbs inside,” Gu An instructed Old Tian before stepping forward to greet them.

He activated his lifespan probe.

[Shen Zhen (Foundation Establishment Stage 2): 78/660/1050]

The golden disc touched down. Gu Zong dismounted with a grin. “Gu An, this is Shen Zhen, the Saintess of the Dao Heaven Sect. Treat her well.”

Shen Zhen bowed lightly to Gu Zong, who nodded before swiftly flying off.

Shen Zhen turned her gaze to Gu An, studying him intently.

Raising a hand in greeting, Gu An said, “I am Gu An. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Shen.”

Shen Zhen’s eyes brightened with curiosity. “Between Romance of the Gods and Tai Xuan Immortal Lord, which do you prefer?”

A test right away?

Gu An remained calm. “Both. A person’s mood determines the book they want to read, doesn’t it?”

Her eyes lit up with approval.

“Actually, I’ve written something too. Would you like to read it?” Shen Zhen asked, blinking expectantly.

Gu An nodded. “Shall we discuss it upstairs?”

She followed him to the second floor. Gu An intended to leave the door open to avoid awkwardness, but Shen Zhen closed it behind her.

Seated at the table, she hesitated briefly before pulling a book from her storage pouch. Handing it over, she watched Gu An closely.

He glanced at the title.

“The Adventures of the Black Hero”?

What on earth is this?!

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