“Gu Poison? Master, you…” Gu An feigned fear as he asked.

Could Cheng Xuandan also be planning to act against him?

Without turning back, Cheng Xuandan pushed aside the branches blocking the path and bent down to walk through. As he moved forward, he spoke, “Meng Lang’s aptitude was only slightly better than yours, but not by much. Even with my medicinal support, it would have been difficult for him to reach Foundation Establishment. Medicine Valley only needs one heir, and his presence was a threat to you. You must have sensed his character flaws.”

Hearing this, Gu An fell silent.

Something about Cheng Xuandan’s words didn’t sit right. It almost sounded like he had killed Meng Lang for Gu An’s sake. But Gu An hadn’t wanted Meng Lang to die.

Though Meng Lang was a bit of a scoundrel, at his core, he wasn’t truly evil.

“Don’t overthink it. Though I cleared the path for you, he was eliminated mainly because his aptitude surpassed yours. I did it for the future Master of Medicine Valley,” Cheng Xuandan said casually.

Gu An couldn’t help but ask, “Shouldn’t the Master of Medicine Valley be chosen based on aptitude?”

“If someone with superior aptitude were chosen, how could they live out their life peacefully in Medicine Valley?”

“Is there something special about Medicine Valley?”

“Indeed there is. I am not just a disciple of Tai Xuan Sect but also a spy for Thousand Autumn Pavilion, a demonic sect. Its power is not as great as Tai Xuan Sect’s, so they’ve planted many spies like me within the sect.”

Damn! There really is a demonic spy!

Gu An was momentarily at a loss for words.

It was becoming clear that Cheng Xuandan truly had no intention of harming him. What was most troubling was that Cheng Xuandan seemed intent on passing the burden of being a spy onto him.

“Once I die, you can safely become the Valley Master. You won’t need to actively do anything. When the Thousand Autumn Pavilion needs you, they will send someone to find you. All you have to do is follow their orders. Of course, you can report this to Tai Xuan Sect, but you should weigh carefully whether Tai Xuan Sect would truly protect you. For a servant disciple like you, they’d rather kill you by mistake than let a traitor slip through their fingers.”

Cheng Xuandan’s tone carried a hint of satisfaction as he spoke, making Gu An want to hit him.

“Remember the code for Thousand Autumn Pavilion: ‘Thousand autumns of the vine, unwavering heart; all methods fade, roots never found.'”

“Do I have any other choice?”

“What do you think?”

Gu An fell into silence again.

“As insignificant spies, we are of little consequence to Thousand Autumn Pavilion. You might go your entire life without them ever contacting you,” Cheng Xuandan said with a self-deprecating chuckle.

After thinking it over, Gu An realized he really had no way to resist.

It was like a patch of mud stuck to his pants—whether he was truly a demonic spy or not, he was now marked as one.

“Master, if you’re a member of Thousand Autumn Pavilion and have stayed in Medicine Valley, there must be a reason. Why hide it?” Gu An asked seriously.

“You are sharp. Yes, you’re right. There’s a seventh-tier spiritual tree buried beneath Medicine Valley. Once we return, I will take you to see it.”

“S-seventh-tier?”

Gu An’s voice trembled as his eyes lit up with excitement.

…

Snowflakes danced lightly in the air as a towering city stood between mountain ridges. The city gates reached a height of ten zhang. Some entered the city on foot, others flew on swords, while a few even rode mounts.

Gu An walked along the mountain path, gazing at the outer city of Tai Xuan Sect with awe.

What a massive city!

“Tai Xuan Sect has eight outer cities. Deeper within are four inner cities, and at the core is the main sect city. Only the most talented and esteemed are permitted to set foot there. It is said that from above, Tai Xuan Sect looks like a magnificent compass, with every mountain possessing its own mystery.”

Cheng Xuandan explained as they walked. His tone was filled with nostalgia, his eyes brimming with regret.

Gu An couldn’t help but ask, “How big is Tai Xuan Sect exactly?”

After walking for half a month, they had still not reached their destination, indicating just how far Medicine Valley was from the city.

“Boundless. Even I don’t know the full extent,” Cheng Xuandan replied as they continued toward the outer city.

When Gu An had first entered Tai Xuan Sect, he hadn’t visited the outer city. A sect elder had met with Ji Xiaoyu in a mountain pavilion, and it was only because of her influence that Gu An was escorted to Cheng Xuandan’s Medicine Valley by a disciple.

This was his first time in the outer city.

The master and disciple duo arrived at the city gates, where Cheng Xuandan flashed his token. Gu An caught a glimpse of two characters engraved on it: Xuan Valley.

Once inside the city, a thunderous clamor filled the air, much to Gu An’s surprise.

The city gates are sealed with a barrier!

With his sharp hearing, Gu An hadn’t been able to hear any of the noise from outside.

“Top-grade medicinal herbs, limited to ten stalks today!”

“Relics from the cave of a Nascent Soul cultivator! Come have a look!”

“A pure-blooded Snow Mountain Spirit Fox! In five years, it will be able to speak!”

“Treasure hunting! Treasure hunting! Each item is ten low-grade spirit stones. What you find depends on your luck!”

“Maps to the cave of an ancient cultivator! Only those with strength should come and buy!”

The street vendors’ cries from both sides caught Gu An’s attention. The roads were wide, lined with shops in tall buildings, and no one was selling from ground stalls.

Gu An even spotted a brothel.

Impressive! No wonder this is a prestigious sect!

Cheng Xuandan gave Gu An a running commentary as they passed, opening his eyes to a whole new world.

No wonder so many people would do anything to get into Tai Xuan Sect—the resources for cultivation here were indeed abundant.

As Gu An listened, he also secretly activated his ability to check lifespans.

In just a two-mile stretch of street, he had already encountered five cultivators with lifespans exceeding five hundred years.

The outer sect was truly a hidden dragon’s lair!

After half an hour, Cheng Xuandan led Gu An to a massive estate. Three large characters adorned the plaque above the entrance:

Pill Hall.

The Pill Hall was bustling with activity. Some hurried in and out, others appeared worried, while some laughed with joy.

Gu An followed Cheng Xuandan into a courtyard, where they paid respects to one of the Pill Hall elders.

Zhu Qinglu, a ninth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator, was one of the elders overseeing fifty-one medicine valleys, making him Cheng Xuandan’s superior.

He was rotund, dressed in a loose green robe, and wore a kindly smile, giving off a harmless appearance.

In the main hall, Zhu Qinglu met with Cheng Xuandan and had a disciple serve them tea.

“Xuandan, why do you look so unwell?” Zhu Qinglu asked with concern.

Gu An seized the moment to check his lifespan.

【Zhu Qinglu (Foundation Establishment Realm, Ninth Layer): 211/267/510】

He’s lived for 211 years!

Gu An stood quietly beside Cheng Xuandan, not daring to show any disrespect.

Cheng Xuandan chuckled, “To be honest, my time is almost up. I’ve come today not only to hand in the medicine herbs but also to arrange for my disciple here. I plan to pass the title of Xuan Valley Master to him.”

Zhu Qinglu glanced at Gu An, smiling as he remarked, “Qi Refining Realm, Third Layer—this child must have some hidden potential.”

Tch! What an insult!

Cheng Xuandan laughed, “This child is pure-hearted and unites the disciples. Moreover, he is content to remain in Medicine Valley for the rest of his life. He is the ideal candidate.”

Zhu Qinglu made no further comments and simply gestured to a disciple outside.

After a stick of incense’s time had passed, Cheng Xuandan and Gu An left the Pill Hall, with Gu An now holding a bronze token engraved with the words Xuan Valley. He could sense a faint restrictive spell within the token.

From now on, his official status in Tai Xuan Sect’s Pill Hall was the Master of Xuan Valley.

“The Valley Master’s storage pouch is still with me. I’ll pass it on to you soon,” Cheng Xuandan’s voice broke Gu An’s train of thought.

Gu An quickly asked, “Master, where are we going next?”

He was eager to return to Medicine Valley; a batch of medicinal herbs was ready for harvesting, and he didn’t want his junior brothers and sister to pick them.

“Before we head back, I’ll take you to the Servant Hall. You’ll be able to recruit a new servant disciple today. It’ll also give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the process,” Cheng Xuandan replied, without turning around.

Watching his master’s back, Gu An’s emotions stirred.

Everyone has many sides, and Cheng Xuandan embodied this perfectly.

In the past, Cheng Xuandan had been cold toward his disciples, and now he had even turned one into a Gu Poison. He was also a demonic spy—by all appearances, a villain.

But his kindness toward Gu An was real.

The Servant Hall wasn’t far from the Pill Hall, just a few streets over. This estate was even larger, and as they entered the gates, Gu An saw a vast square filled with people.

Seeing those waiting to be chosen as servant disciples, Gu An realized just how lucky he had been.

Without the Ji family’s backing, even with his spirit root, he would have been standing here, waiting to be selected.

“Take your time and choose. I won’t interfere. Once you’ve picked, I’ll take you to register them,” Cheng Xuandan said softly, rubbing his chest as if he were in pain.

Gu An nodded and began walking.

Do I even need to think about this?

Time to use my ability!

Gu An started scanning the lifespans of everyone around him.

Most had very short lifespans, with some even having only a year left to live, yet they still held hope of being chosen.

Before long, Gu An found a candidate with an extreme lifespan of over five hundred years.

He didn’t make his decision immediately, preferring to review all the options first.

Medicine Valley didn’t need geniuses; what he was looking for was someone with a long current lifespan.

Extreme lifespan indicated the upper limit of one’s potential. Reaching that limit required incredible opportunities and luck.

That’s why there were so many hidden talents—spirit roots alone didn’t determine a person’s ultimate achievements.

But current lifespan was different. Barring any severe injuries, someone would live as long as their current lifespan suggested.

Soon, Gu An’s gaze settled on a young monk. The boy had an ordinary appearance, wore tattered robes, and sat cross-legged in a corner of the square.

【Wu Xin (Qi Refining Realm, Second Layer): 15/330/380】

A lifespan of 330 years in the Qi Refining Realm? Fascinating!

Perhaps this boy had a unique constitution or cultivated some special technique.

Gu An walked over to Wu Xin, who sensed his approach and opened his eyes to see Gu An smiling at him.

“Young monk, would you like to join my Medicine Valley? You won’t be too busy and will have plenty of time to cultivate,” Gu An said warmly.

Seeing Gu An’s smile, Wu Xin instinctively nodded.

Nearby, Cheng Xuandan glanced at Wu Xin, as if he had noticed something. Then, he turned to Gu An, his expression growing somewhat strange.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep