Chapter 174: A Once-in-Ten-Millennia Catastrophe

Chapter 174: A Once-in-Ten-Millennia Catastrophe

Ever since the Sevenfold Purity Tree had taken root, the White Spirit Mouse had become incredibly lazy, spending most of its time dozing beneath it. It rarely ventured out, but when it did, it would disappear for days at a time. Xiao Chuan often worried about it.

Following An Xin’s lead, Xiao Chuan hurried to the tree, only to find the White Spirit Mouse sprawled on its back, belly exposed to the sky.

Xiao Chuan knelt down and gently rubbed its stomach. The mouse responded with a blissful expression.

An Xin, standing behind him, couldn’t help but complain, “Uncle Xiao Chuan, you spoil it too much! It’s been gone for so long, and you’re not even going to scold it?”

She had never liked the mouse’s lazy and carefree nature. If it weren’t for the fact that it belonged to Gu An, she would have disciplined it herself.

“Don’t underestimate it,” Xiao Chuan chuckled. “It has another name—Treasure-Seeking Mouse. If it actually went out, it might have brought something valuable back.”

An Xin’s curiosity was piqued. She crouched down and examined the mouse more closely.

At that moment, the White Spirit Mouse cracked open an eye, spotted her, and—without warning—spat out a pearl.

The pearl shot toward An Xin before she could react, striking her face and instantly dissolving into liquid that seeped into her skin.

Everything happened too fast.

An Xin shrieked and leaped to her feet, frantically touching her face, panic written all over her.

Xiao Chuan was equally startled, unsure of what to do.

Meanwhile, the White Spirit Mouse grinned smugly before scurrying behind the tree.

Hearing An Xin’s scream, Gu An and several disciples rushed over.

“Hold still. Let me see.”

Gu An’s voice had a calming effect, and An Xin immediately stopped struggling, lowering her hands.

The crowd stared at her face—aside from a slight flush from panic, there was no visible change.

After a quick inspection, Gu An instructed Xiao Chuan to summon Lu Lingjun.

An Xin was unharmed. In fact, she had just obtained a great opportunity.

However, Gu An kept this to himself. It was better to let Lu Lingjun be the one to explain it.

Moments later, Lu Lingjun arrived. After studying An Xin for a moment, she broke into a smile.

“You should be thanking that fat mouse.”

An Xin froze. The onlookers were equally confused.

The White Spirit Mouse peeked out from behind the tree, baring its teeth at Lu Lingjun in an attempt to look fierce. Unfortunately, its plump body ruined any sense of intimidation. ȐÀＮо₿Ëȿ

“Senior, do you recognize the pearl it spat out?” An Xin asked anxiously.

Lu Lingjun was about to respond when a powerful figure descended from the sky. She turned toward the newcomer instead.

The man was a formidable cultivator. He landed behind the crowd, his expression dark as he scanned the group.

“Who owns that White Spirit Mouse?”

An Xin instinctively clutched the hem of her robe.

Gu An stepped forward calmly. “It’s mine. Apologies, Daoist friend, but my disciple has already absorbed the pearl. I’m willing to compensate you with medicinal herbs.”

An Xin looked at Gu An, deeply moved. Lu Lingjun, on the other hand, seemed amused, watching the scene unfold like a spectator.

The man was a Nascent Soul cultivator, and his cave residence wasn’t far from the Third Medicine Valley. He had only joined Taixuan Sect two years ago and was unaware of the valley’s significance. Seeing Gu An’s low cultivation, he frowned and said, “Compensate me with herbs? You’re just a temporary Valley Master. How many herbs could you possibly offer?

“That Water Spirit Pearl was an unparalleled treasure! Your White Spirit Mouse sneaked into my cave while I was away and stole it. This is outrageous!”

Lu Lingjun added, “Water Spirit Pearls are indeed rare—they enhance one’s affinity for water spiritual energy.”

The Nascent Soul cultivator’s anger flared as he glared at An Xin, making her even more nervous.

Gu An sighed. “How about twenty Sixth-Grade medicinal herbs?”

The man hesitated, clearly shaken by the offer. He hadn’t expected Gu An to be so generous.

The surrounding disciples were equally stunned. Sixth-Grade herbs were unimaginably valuable. They handled them with extreme caution when planting, and just one seed was worth more than their lives.

Seeing the man waver, Gu An pressed on.

“My disciple here is An Wu’s younger sister. Her aptitude is ordinary, so she’s only staying here temporarily. If you can let this go, An Hao will also remember this favor.”

“An Hao? Which An Hao?” The cultivator frowned.

Gu An smiled. “The Golden Ranking Champion, of course.”

None of the disciples were surprised—this was common knowledge. An Xin, however, opened her mouth slightly, unsure of what to say.

The man’s expression shifted repeatedly before he let out a cough. “Since that’s the case… I’ll accept the herbs as compensation. But keep that mouse in check from now on.”

“Thank you for your generosity. I’ll take you to retrieve the herbs.”

Gu An led the cultivator away while the remaining disciples began discussing what had just transpired.

Xiao Chuan reassured An Xin, who, despite feeling guilty, wasn’t upset.

After all, she had gained a rare opportunity, but at the cost of troubling both Gu An and An Hao.

Lu Lingjun huffed. “That brat didn’t even let me help.”

As a member of the Elder Hall, she could have dismissed the matter with a single word.

This only made her view Gu An in a new light.

Despite his connections—his sworn brotherhood with Xuantian Yi, his close ties with the Sect Master—he never abused his status. Instead, he chose to resolve conflicts with sincerity.

That kind of character was rare.

An incense stick’s time later, the Nascent Soul cultivator departed.

Gu An watched him go, lost in thought.

Was this fate at work?

If Xiao Chuan hadn’t been so kind to the White Spirit Mouse, would the pearl have been spat at him instead?

The Dao Lecture hosted by Xuantian Yi proceeded as scheduled. Gu An brought An Xin and Xiao Chuan to listen.

He didn’t gain much insight from it, but An Xin and Xiao Chuan, along with many inner sect disciples, greatly benefited.

By the end of the lecture, Xuantian Yi’s prestige had soared, surpassing even the Sect Master’s, making him the most revered figure in the sect.

In early summer, Xuantian Yi ventured to the border, slaying a Grand Demon King at the Grand Ascension Stage and three Demon Kings at the Profound Mind Stage. His name shook the Five Dynasties.

With this feat, he was hailed as the strongest in the world.

Of course, some still believed that the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path was superior.

As for the Dao Lord of Cang Heaven Sect, he had remained silent since his return.

Xuantian Yi’s actions greatly unsettled the Demonic Domain and reignited hope across the land.

Thus, two years passed.

Gu An’s lifespan had now reached over 2.5 million years.

During this time, he occasionally descended the mountain. When he learned that the common folk had begun calling him the “Green Hero,” he was completely dumbfounded.

What kind of nonsense was this?

That night.

Jiang Qiong left. She was heading somewhere to reclaim something important.

Gu An couldn’t persuade her otherwise and could only wish her safety.

Beyond the thousand-mile boundary of Taixuan Sect, Jiang Qiong moved through the forest, her black robes making her look like a ghostly figure.

Suddenly, she stopped, her brows furrowing.

A shadowy figure loomed ahead.

Jiang Qiong’s heart tightened.

Demonic Shadow Divine Art!

Has a hidden expert from Thousand Autumn Pavilion appeared?

Wait!

Near Taixuan Sect, a powerful cultivator who wielded the Demonic Shadow Divine Art...

Jiang Qiong immediately took out her magical weapon, ready for battle.

"If I wanted to kill you, do you think you could resist?"

A cold, hoarse voice echoed from the darkness—the voice of the mysterious figure.

Jiang Qiong took a deep breath and asked, “Dare I ask... are you the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path?”

Gu An flicked his wrist, tossing a command token toward her.

She didn’t catch it. Instead, she took a cautious step back, lowering her gaze to the object on the ground.

The characters Nightshade Sect were engraved on it.

Jiang Qiong’s expression changed drastically.

"You’re... from the Nightshade Sect? Impossible!"

She looked at Gu An in disbelief.

The very same Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path who had opposed the Nightshade Sect… was actually its leader?

Gu An spoke calmly, "This is the Nightshade Sect Leader’s Token. From now on, you will be my envoy and oversee the sect in my stead.

"You may do as you please, but do not allow the Nightshade Sect to commit further atrocities."

At his words, realization dawned on Jiang Qiong.

So the Sword Sovereign had only assumed leadership of the Nightshade Sect after its downfall. He sought to reform it.

She felt a wave of relief.

As long as the Sword Sovereign was truly a good person, there was no need for her to be afraid.

“Why choose me?” she asked.

Gu An replied nonchalantly, "You’ve been in Taixuan Sect for over a hundred years, coming and going freely. I even saw you at the Nine Nether Path before.

"Yet you returned to Taixuan Sect without harming its disciples.

"That suggests your nature isn’t inherently evil.

"It seems like you’re stuck in the mud, either because someone important to you is in Taixuan Sect or because you’re avoiding an enemy."

Jiang Qiong’s expression darkened, her eyes turning ice-cold.

She thought Gu An was using Gu An to threaten her.

"But that doesn’t matter," Gu An continued. "What matters is whether you are willing to take charge of the Nightshade Sect.

"The Nightshade Ghost Mother and the Thirteen Fiends of Nine Nether will treat this token as my direct command. With it, you have the authority to act as you see fit."

His tone was indifferent, as if he didn’t care about her decision.

Jiang Qiong took a deep breath.

"I won’t lie—I’ve made enemies of the Seven Star Spirit Realm..."

"That’s one of the reasons I chose you."

Jiang Qiong’s eyes widened. "What?"

She stared at Gu An in shock.

Moonlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating her, while Gu An remained shrouded in darkness.

Three months later.

Autumn had arrived, and the night carried a chill.

Jiang Qiong returned.

In the Eight Views Celestial Realm, she stood beside Gu An, gazing up at the towering Spirit Tree.

“Disciple’s grandson, I came back to say goodbye,” she said softly.

Gu An feigned confusion. “Where are you going?”

Jiang Qiong smiled. “I’ve thought a lot during my time away. Hiding forever isn’t a solution—worse, it could even drag you down with me.

“The Seven Star Spirit Realm may be powerful, but they’re not the rulers of the world.

“I’m going to build my own power and climb as high as I can.”

Gu An hesitated, emotions flickering across his face.

Jiang Qiong caught his reaction from the corner of her eye and felt even more pleased.

She grinned. “The Demonic Cataclysm is about to erupt. The greater the chaos, the greater the opportunities.

“Perhaps in a hundred years, I will be able to return to Taixuan Sect openly.

“When that day comes, I’ll make sure you’re the one to receive me. How about it?”

Gu An finally spoke. “Do you have to fight for it?”

"In the cultivation world, if you don't fight, you'll eventually be trampled underfoot,” Jiang Qiong replied.

"Even if you stay safe in Taixuan Sect, what then?

"If someone wants to take your Medicine Valley from you, if someone wants to replace you, what will you do?"

Gu An fell silent.

She worried he might one day become hesitant and afraid, so she chuckled and added, "If you won’t fight, then I will.

"Don’t worry.

"As long as I’m alive, you will always have a place in this world.

"Unless I die."

Gu An’s heart trembled.

He looked at her, deeply moved.

Satisfied with his reaction, Jiang Qiong turned back to the Spirit Tree and murmured,

"According to my sources, the Demonic Cataclysm is about to erupt in full force.

"Prepare yourself.

"This will be a catastrophe unseen in ten thousand years."