Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses

Gu An pushed the door open and saw Shen Zhen sitting in his chair reading a book.

He noticed that Shen Zhen's cultivation level had improved significantly, so he threw a life span detection at her.

[Shen Zhen (Core Formation Realm, Ninth Layer): 130/760/2560]

Huh?

How did her maximum life span increase?

Gu An remembered her maximum life span was just over a thousand years, but now it had doubled.

Could she really gain enlightenment from the painting?

Gu An closed the door, then walked to the desk and asked, "Why are you here?"

Shen Zhen put down her book, smiled, and said, "What? I can't come? It looks like you're having such a good time with your Daoist friend that you don't want me to show up."

Gu An shot her a glance and said, "I don't have a Daoist friend."

"Isn't the Great Cultivator in your valley trying to take you as her Daoist friend? She's highly cultivated and extremely beautiful, no normal man could refuse her." Shen Zhen looked him up and down with a slightly teasing tone.

Gu An raised his eyebrow and said, "I'm not a normal man. If she wants to be my Daoist friend, she needs to become an immortal first."

Shen Zhen laughed, saying, "If she becomes an immortal, do you think she'll still look at you? By that time, would you even still be here? You can't spend your days fantasizing about an immortal descending to favor you, can you?"

Gu An sat down and laughed, "I'm a writer, like you. Writers love to fantasize, don't they?"

"Hmm, makes sense. I fantasize about Sword Venerable Fudao appearing before me and taking me as his Daoist friend," Shen Zhen nodded, then looked at Gu An to see his reaction.

Gu An seriously responded, "What if it happens? I think there's hope."

Shen Zhen pursed her lips before continuing, "Recently, I've gained many insights from a painting and captured the aura of a supreme treasure, so I'm planning to go treasure hunting. Will you join me?"

Treasure hunting?

Gu An quickly shook his head and said, "The world is in chaos now. Going out is like seeking death. I won't go!"

Shen Zhen furrowed her brows and said, "That painting came from the Imperial Palace of the Great Yu Dynasty, a gift from the former Emperor to my father. It is said to be over six thousand years old. I can sense that the treasure within it is extraordinary and not just one. Such an opportunity is seldom seen. I'm only sharing it with you."

Gu An replied, "Thanks for your kindness, Ms. Shen, but I'll pass. With my cultivation level, I'd only be a burden to you."

Shen Zhen's expression darkened. Just when Gu An thought she was about to get angry, her tone shifted, and she asked, "How is your relationship with Lu Lingjun? Do you think she is trustworthy?"

"You want to invite her for the treasure hunt?"

"Yes, I can sense that the place is beyond my ability to handle alone."

"She should be trustworthy, but I can't guarantee it completely. You should know, people's hearts are inscrutable."

"Can you introduce me to her? With you as the middleman, if she still intends to harm me, she wouldn't be able to face you afterward."

Seeing Shen Zhen smile, Gu An realized this was her true intention.

Gu An thought about it and agreed.

Later, he took Shen Zhen to find Lu Lingjun.

Lu Lingjun occasionally went out, but most of the time she stayed under the Mystic Pure Tree, seeking enlightenment.

After learning about Gu An and Shen Zhen's request, she was indifferent until Shen Zhen took out the painting, at which point she was moved.

Gu An sensed a hint of Mahayana Realm aura from the painting, indicating there truly was a supreme treasure at that place.

Soon, the two women set off.

Gu An rarely came to the Mystic Pure Tree and decided to lie against the trunk, closing his eyes for some rest.

He began recalling everything he had seen recently, the scenes of slaughter persistently replaying in his mind.

Until evening, Gu An left the Third Medicine Valley.

The moonlight was cool, and a ghostly wind blew through the mountains and forests.

Ji Xiaoyu sat meditating under the tree, resting with her eyes closed.

She heard footsteps nearby and couldn't help but open her eyes to see.

It was none other than Gu An, transformed into Sword Venerable Fudao!

Ji Xiaoyu stood up and greeted him with a raised hand, "Senior, I have obtained some information about the Seven Stars Spirit Realm."

"Go ahead," Gu An said coldly.

Ji Xiaoyu began to recount the information, and Gu An listened attentively.

She had learned that the Seven Stars Spirit Realm intended to seal off the seas around the continent and were establishing a dynasty in the northern part of the continent. That dynasty consisted solely of descendants of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm cultivators and had been around for four hundred years. Within the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, their claim was that the Holy Land must not interfere with the evolution of the continent, but they needed to leave human lineage behind, hence the establishment of a new human dynasty in the north.

This was how it had always been. The current lands of the three dynasties were also formed by descendants of Seven Stars Spirit Realm cultivators from long ago.

The Seven Stars Spirit Realm was divided into seven Grotto Heaven sects, the strongest being One Star Cave. The Ji Family could only interact with Seven Stars Cave. Ji Xiaoyu found out that the strongest cultivator was the Cave Master of Seven Stars Cave, said to be an immortal, and within the Seven Stars Cave, there were as many as twenty Mahayana Realm cultivators, and these were just the elders on the surface.

Gu An was also surprised by the strength of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.

The weakest Seven Stars Cave had twenty Mahayana Realm cultivators and one immortal; how terrifying must the whole Seven Stars Spirit Realm be?

"The reason I came to find you now is that I've noticed the Seven Stars Cave is wary of me. While I was cultivating, I could clearly sense a divine sense watching me, so I took the chance to escape. From now on, it will be hard for me to return," Ji Xiaoyu said, looking at Gu An.

She knew that the information she provided wasn't much, which could affect her cooperation with Sword Venerable Fudao.

Ever since she learned that Sword Venerable Fudao had killed the Demon Master with a single slash, she had faith in him.

If anyone in this world could challenge the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, it would only be Sword Venerable Fudao.

Gu An said, "If you can't go back, stay in the Supreme Sect. When the demon calamity is over, we need the combined strength of the three dynasties to fight against the Seven Stars Spirit Realm."

Ji Xiaoyu nodded, "I have been to the Minor Heaven and Earth of the Seven Stars Cave. They have nearly two million disciples, their cultivation levels generally higher than those in the Immortal Cultivation World. The Seven Stars Spirit Realm has become a world of its own, indeed needing the combined strength of the three dynasties."

"When you contact the Ji Family, try not to alert the enemy. The fight against the Seven Stars Spirit Realm cannot be rushed," Gu An reminded her.

Ji Xiaoyu nodded.

Then, Gu An disappeared into thin air.

Ji Xiaoyu turned and walked deeper into the forest.

...

Approaching the end of summer, urgent news from the Northern Territory arrived: the Immortal Cultivation World ultimately failed to resist the onslaught of the demon calamity. The Human Race Alliance was forced to retreat, and the Tianwei Dynasty was similarly affected. The human race had to resort to scattered warfare.

Though the Taicang Dynasty was not impacted by the surge of demons, there were more and more demons within the dynasty, seemingly endless.

The number of demons Gu An killed each month kept increasing, and his life span had already surpassed four million years.

Although it was still far from one hundred million years, Gu An was not fixated on the next life span ability. The threat from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm was too great; as soon as a Wandering Immortal appeared on the continent, he would break through immediately.

Even if his life span accumulated to over ninety million years, he would still break through.

Life spans are just numbers; surviving is the most important!

One day, Gu An returned to the Mystic Valley, changed into his usual robe, and walked downstairs.

He didn't head to the Third Medicine Valley; instead, he looked into the distance.

He sensed a demon energy approaching the Supreme Sect, about five thousand miles away in a forest, seemingly waiting for something. Tens of thousands of miles further, another stronger demon energy was approaching.

It seemed there would be some excitement tonight.

As dusk approached, Di Xie left the city and headed towards the demon energy.

An ancient hour later.

Under the cover of night.

Di Xie arrived in the forest and looked at the red-scaled little snake on the branch, frowning as he asked, "Why are you here? Where is the Black Crow Demon Envoy?"

The red-scaled little snake replied, "After he came to find you, he disappeared. He was likely killed by Sword Venerable Fudao."

Upon hearing this, Di Xie's expression changed slightly.

He finally understood why he was still alive—Sword Venerable Fudao must have heard what he said and thus spared him.

How terrifying was Sword Venerable Fudao?

They had concealed their demon energy and stayed outside the Supreme Sect, yet Sword Venerable Fudao still noticed?

"Since that's the case, why do you dare show up?" Di Xie sneered.

The red-scaled little snake said, "His Majesty sent me. He wants me to deliver a message to Sword Venerable Fudao about the demon calamity, but I don't know where Sword Venerable Fudao is."

"So you called me out? Don't tell me you think I've met Sword Venerable Fudao?" Di Xie scoffed.

The red-scaled little snake flicked its tongue and said, "Di Xie, there's no need to hold such animosity towards your father. Most of the time, he is helpless. Do you think it was your father's idea to resurrect the Demon Ancestor?"

"Wasn't it? Could the Demon Master have forced my father?"

"Exactly, he could!"

The red-scaled little snake's answer made Di Xie frown.

It continued, "The Demon Master's cultivation level is indeed lower than His Majesty's, but there are more powerful beings behind him that His Majesty does not dare provoke. Moreover, His Majesty has lost control over the demon calamity. If you leave the Supreme Sect and see for yourself, you will understand that the demons invading the human race have all turned into demons, with violent temperaments, including the Great Demon Kings."

Di Xie fell into silence.

The red-scaled little snake went on, "The Demon Master said that the Demon Ancestor is only a soul shell without self-awareness, but this is not true. His Majesty cannot control the Demon Ancestor, nor can he control the world's demons. His Majesty worries that the demon calamity targets not just the human race but also the demon clan."

Di Xie took a deep breath and asked, "So he wants to talk with Sword Venerable Fudao to deal with the demon calamity together?"

"Correct," the red-scaled little snake answered.

It was about to speak when it suddenly turned its head towards the depths of the forest on the western side, asking, "Who's there?"

Di Xie also turned to look, seeing a figure slowly walking out of the darkness.

When the two demons saw the true form of the newcomer, their faces changed drastically. The red-scaled little snake even trembled all over.

"Black Disgust Demon King… you…" the red-scaled little snake said tremulously, filled with fear.

Di Xie was equally tense.

A man in red emerged from the darkness, his hair disheveled and his feet bare. He looked like a human with no demon traits, except for his pale complexion and the sinister air between his brows.

The Black Disgust Demon King revealed a sinister smile and mockingly said, "The demon calamity has been ongoing for so long, and the Demon Emperor has yet to make a move. I was curious about the reason, so I followed you to the Supreme Sect. I didn't expect that His Majesty intends to yield to humans. I will not allow it; tonight, I…"

His words were abruptly cut off by a hand suddenly resting on his shoulder.