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

Chapter 101: The Nightshade Wind, An Archrival

“You…”

Zong Ying’s eyes widened as he stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief. Despite using all his strength, he couldn’t break free from Gu An’s grip. It wasn’t just a matter of being restrained; his power couldn’t even manifest. Under normal circumstances, the eruption of his Integration Stage strength would have destroyed this Medicine Valley in an instant.

But now, his physical and spiritual energy were completely suppressed by an unimaginable force, rendering him utterly powerless. Never before had he felt so stifled. After all, he was an Integration Stage cultivator, free to roam the Nine Dynasties as he pleased!

Despair filled Zong Ying’s heart as he realized his ship might truly capsize today. But he didn’t want to die!

“Spare me, Senior!” Zong Ying pleaded through clenched teeth, discarding any pretense of dignity befitting his stage.

Gu An had already used his spiritual energy to isolate the surrounding space, ensuring their conversation couldn’t be heard by outsiders. He had a rough idea of Zong Ying’s identity, which was why he didn’t kill him outright. Instead, he asked, “Give me one reason not to kill you.”

By now, Zong Ying bore no hostility toward Gu An, likely having been scared out of his wits.

“I am called the Ghost Thief... I wasn’t stealing the Sevenfold Purity Tree for myself but for the sake of ordinary mortals… Senior, as a high-ranking cultivator of the Taixuan Sect, you must understand the disparity in resources within the cultivation world. The Taixuan Sect hoards too much, leaving spiritual energy in the secular world thin and the path of cultivation inaccessible to those without a prestigious background. If this continues, only aristocratic families will dominate the cultivation world…”

Zong Ying’s voice quickened, his eyes reddening as he spoke passionately.

Gu An felt a twinge of admiration for the convincing performance.

He actually agreed with the Ghost Thief’s ideals of aiding the common people—it was a noble sentiment. But stealing from him? That wasn’t going to fly.

“You already know my strength. I have no choice but to kill you to prevent word from getting out,” Gu An said flatly.

Zong Ying nearly fainted from terror. His mind raced, and suddenly, an idea struck him. “I know a certain curse technique! It would bind me to you completely—I wouldn’t be able to defy you. If I did, I would suffer misfortune and die!”

This is it! I’ll trick him!

Zong Ying’s terror began to fade, replaced by excitement.

Zong Ying has developed hostility toward you and harbors deep resentment. Do you wish to perform a lifespan investigation?

You’re planning to betray me even as I prepare to let you go? Interesting.

Gu An’s curiosity was piqued. “What curse technique?” he asked.

Zong Ying eagerly explained, “It’s called the Heaven’s Oath Curse. Both parties must form a ritual, after which I’ll swear my loyalty to you. That’s all it takes.”

“Fine. Follow me to a secluded spot where we can set it up,” Gu An said, dragging Zong Ying toward a distant teleportation array.

Though Zong Ying remained immobilized by Gu An’s spiritual suppression, his heart lightened. It seemed his ploy had worked.

As he was dragged along, Zong Ying’s thoughts churned. Who is this man? To suppress an Integration Stage cultivator like me so effortlessly—could he have reached the Profound Mind Stage? Or is he one of the retired Supreme Elders of the Taixuan Sect? The more he pondered, the more alarmed he grew. This must be reported to the sect.

The two of them teleported to Xuan Valley and exited its bounds. Along the way, a few disciples glanced at them curiously, but seeing their seemingly friendly conversation, they quickly looked away.

Once they had traveled dozens of miles from Xuan Valley, Gu An stopped in a secluded forest, ensuring they weren’t being followed.

Throughout, Zong Ying remained trapped in Gu An’s spiritual grip.

Forcing a fawning smile, Zong Ying asked, “Senior, shall we begin?”

Gu An nodded and smiled back.

The sight of Gu An’s smile sent shivers down Zong Ying’s spine, an instinctive sense of danger rising in him. Before he could react, a wave of immense spiritual consciousness crashed into his mind.

Soul Search!

In a dimly lit hall, Zong Ying knelt on one knee, his gaze fixed on a shadowy figure atop a flight of stairs. The figure was shrouded in black mist, its true form obscured.

“Your stealth techniques are unmatched. You will probe the Taixuan Sect’s strength,” the figure said in an icy, emotionless male voice.

Zong Ying hesitated. “Lü Baitian has reclaimed the position of Sect Master in the Taixuan Sect. His cultivation has reached the ninth level of the Integration Stage. Are we really going to confront him head-on?”

The shadowy figure replied, “This is the main branch’s order. We must annex the Taicang Empire before the impending Demonic Calamity. The empire’s coastal location is critical to our future plans.”

“The main branch’s order? Has the main branch finally decided to support us?” Zong Ying asked, elated.

“Yes. The failure two centuries ago left the main branch dissatisfied with us. Although we’ve infiltrated the Taicang Empire, compared to the other branches, we’ve brought disgrace to the Nightshade Sect. You will investigate the Taixuan Sect’s current strength. Once the main branch’s Profound Mind Stage grandmasters arrive, we will attack.”

Zong Ying was thrilled. This was his chance to earn merit.

The scene shattered, and Gu An’s spiritual consciousness delved deeper into Zong Ying’s memories.

It turned out Zong Ying wasn’t the Ghost Thief at all. He had merely used the Ghost Thief’s name to provoke the Taixuan Sect into revealing their hidden strength, allowing him to gather intelligence. By not acting under the Nightshade Sect’s name, he avoided alerting the enemy. And in the event of failure, he could still survive as the “Ghost Thief.”

Had it not been for Gu An’s lifespan investigation ability, he might have been deceived.

Half an hour later, in the forest, Zong Ying collapsed before Gu An, his eyes rolled back and body rigid. His soul had been obliterated by Gu An’s spiritual energy, leaving his body lifeless.

Without a word, Gu An took Zong Ying’s storage pouch and incinerated his body with Spiritual Fire.

The execution yielded 240 years of lifespan, but it did little to lift Gu An’s mood. The memories he had extracted revealed Zong Ying’s true nature: a scoundrel guilty of murder, robbery, soul-forging, and countless atrocities.

This deepened Gu An’s distaste for the Nightshade Sect. Initially, he had thought the conflict between the Taixuan Sect and the Nightshade Sect was merely a clash of sects. Now, he realized that if the Nightshade Sect unified the Taicang Empire, life would only grow harsher for everyone.

“Profound Mind Stage…” Gu An murmured before turning and leaving.

Autumn winds swept through the forest, scattering Zong Ying’s ashes until they vanished completely.

Gu An headed to the Eight Views Celestial Realm, examining Zong Ying’s storage pouch. Any suspicious items were destroyed to avoid exposing the realm’s location, leaving only cultivation resources behind.

An Integration Stage grandmaster’s storage pouch was indeed extraordinary, brimming with countless magical artifacts and pills—though many were of dubious nature.

After an hour of busyness, Gu An finally left the Eight Views Celestial Realm. Returning to Xuan Valley, he went to find Yang Ni to check on the progress of cultivating the nightshade plants.

He saw Yang Ni meditating in the nightshade garden, clearly immersed in her cultivation. Previously, preoccupied with her training, she hadn’t been drawn in by the commotion caused by Gu An and Zong Ying. Over time, she had grown accustomed to visitors from the Alchemy Hall, Law Enforcement Hall, and the Ji Family seeking Gu An.

Of course, the primary reason was Zong Ying’s exceptional ability to conceal his presence.

“Why are you cultivating here?” Gu An asked, noting that Yang Ni was absorbing the spiritual energy of the nightshade plants. This was detrimental to their growth.

Yang Ni opened her eyes and replied, “Cultivating in the valley helps me avoid exposing my true cultivation level.”

Without further ado, Gu An grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up, heading toward his loft. “Go cultivate in my quarters. I recently set up a restriction there—none of the disciples can spy on what’s happening inside.”

Yang Ni frowned but couldn’t bring herself to refuse Gu An outright, so she followed him back to the valley.

Winter descended, blanketing the Third Medicine Valley in thick white snow.

Gu An was inside, reading a book, when Ji Xuanyu suddenly came to visit. Hastily, he put away the Secrets of Taixuan and rose to greet her.

Ji Xuanyu closed the door behind her and activated a restriction before asking, “The Shenzhou Sutra—did you comprehend it in a dream?”

Having studied the Shenzhou Sutra for six months, she had gained numerous insights.

Gu An replied seriously, “It’s not a cultivation method, but a collection of life lessons. It’s meant to stabilize your state of mind. A calm heart is key to cultivating effectively.”

“Not from a dream?”

“Of course not. I received it from a senior I met in the Outer Sect. He gave me the Shenzhou Sutra and rambled about how ‘the great Dao is simple,’ among other things. Over the years, I’ve studied it often. While my cultivation hasn’t improved, my mindset has become more tranquil and open. Nothing worries me anymore, nor do I obsess over anything.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Gu An shook his head as he spoke. Ji Xuanyu listened closely, then gave him a long, thoughtful look.

“This book is indeed valuable. My mental state has noticeably improved. I no longer dwell on things I can’t achieve for now,” Ji Xuanyu admitted.

“I’d like to take this book back to the Ji Family. Do you agree? If you do, I’ll try to secure a Seventh-Grade Spirit Tree for you. The Ji Family’s resources are on par with the Taixuan Sect’s.”

“Of course, if you disagree, I won’t force you and will ensure the Shenzhou Sutra remains confidential.”

A Seventh-Grade Spirit Tree?

The Ji Family was that powerful?

Suppressing his excitement, Gu An replied calmly, “Naturally, I’m willing. The Shenzhou Sutra contains the ideals of sages like Confucius, who aspired to share their philosophies with the world. How could I keep it to myself?”

The Shenzhou Sutra was essentially a compilation of sayings from ancient Chinese sages like Laozi, Confucius, and Zhuangzi. Gu An had carefully noted their names in the book, creating an image of extraordinary individuals.

Ji Xuanyu’s face lit up with a smile as she began discussing the sutra with Gu An. They talked for a long time before she finally took her leave.

Just as she reached the door, Ji Xuanyu suddenly turned back and looked at Gu An. “You now preside over the vast Third Medicine Valley, with a status and position unlike before. You’ve likely heard of the Nightshade Sect. If they attempt to recruit you, don’t agree.”

“Why not?”

“The Nightshade Sect’s methods are sinister and unorthodox. Collaborating with them seldom ends well. Besides, the Ji Family and the Nightshade Sect are mortal enemies.”

That last reason was probably the most important, wasn’t it? Gu An mused inwardly.

At the same time, he felt the weight of the Nightshade Sect’s encroachment on the Taixuan Sect. Ji Xuanyu’s warning clearly stemmed from knowledge of many who had been swayed by the sect.