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

Chapter 92: Spirit Tree Awakening, Realms Beyond Integration

In the mountain forest, Gu An was leading Yang Ni in planting seeds. While burying soil around the roots, he pointed to a medicinal plant nearby and said, “That’s the Singing Shame Grass. Its leaves tend to curl up, and when the wind passes through, it makes strange sounds like a song. When that happens, you need to help it spread its leaves, or it’ll hinder its growth…”

Squatting nearby, Yang Ni listened attentively, her eyes filled with curiosity.

When Li Ya left, Yang Ni had claimed she wanted to stay and tend to flowers and plants. Gu An had thought she was joking, but to his surprise, she was serious. She started actively participating in planting and often asked questions, showing a humble attitude.

After her shift in demeanor, Yang Ni began integrating into Xuan Valley, even socializing with other errand disciples.

Gu An decided to guide her with the hope of assimilating her fully into Xuan Valley, so he taught her earnestly.

“From now on, you’ll oversee this garden’s medicinal plants. Let’s see if you can protect this place, not just people,” Gu An said with a smile as he stood up.

Yang Ni didn’t refuse and instead showed an eager expression.

Leaving Yang Ni to observe the garden, Gu An returned to Xuan Valley. There, he saw Chu Jingfeng standing in front of a wooden fence, staring into space.

Chu Jingfeng had been like this for years. If Gu An assigned him a task, he would complete it. Otherwise, he would drift aimlessly, lost in thought.

Recalling their old friendship, Gu An decided to help him.

“Brother Chu, I just got my hands on a sword technique. Care to take a look?” Gu An patted Chu Jingfeng’s shoulder with a smile.

Chu Jingfeng nodded expressionlessly and followed Gu An into a secluded grove. Despite his shattered cultivation, Chu Jingfeng’s memories as a sword cultivator remained intact, so he thought he might be able to help.

Though usually silent, Chu Jingfeng was deeply grateful to Gu An. When he first arrived, his shame was overwhelming, but Gu An had treated him kindly and consistently over the years. This could not be fake. Chu Jingfeng couldn’t fathom why Gu An would see value in him and could only conclude that Gu An was genuinely good-hearted—after all, the disciples of Xuan Valley spoke highly of him.

Under Chu Jingfeng’s watchful gaze, Gu An clumsily demonstrated a set of basic sword moves from the Taicang Frightening God Sword. Though his execution was rough and awkward, Chu Jingfeng’s eyes lit up.

“Gu… Valley Master, what is this sword technique?” Chu Jingfeng asked, barely containing his excitement.

As a swordsman, encountering an advanced sword technique was an incomparable joy.

Gu An scratched his head. “I’m not entirely sure. When I visited the Heavenly Mending Platform, I met a senior who passed it on to me. He said mastering this technique would make me the Sword God of the mortal world.”

Chu Jingfeng hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Gu An smiled. “So? Interested? I can teach you, but on one condition: you need to return to the person you once were. I miss the spirited Chu Jingfeng of the past. Even without your cultivation, you can still practice the sword. Don’t the legends speak of someone who achieved enlightenment through swordsmanship alone, without ever cultivating spiritual energy? If they could do it, why can’t you?”

Hearing this, Chu Jingfeng’s expression changed, his inner conflict evident. After a long silence, he agreed.

He had never wanted to be defeated by despair but had struggled to find a reason to continue. Now, Gu An’s words resonated deeply. Losing cultivation shouldn’t mean giving up on the sword.

A swordsman’s path was to face challenges head-on.

Thus, Chu Jingfeng began training in the Taicang Frightening God Sword. His ability to memorize sword forms was astonishing, leaving Gu An thoroughly impressed. This newfound skill boosted Chu Jingfeng’s confidence even further.

Late at night, ten miles outside Xuan Valley, by the riverbank.

Gu An pushed aside some rubble, revealing a stone slab. Lifting it, he descended into a hidden passage, which automatically resealed itself with stones shifting back into place.

Following the underground tunnel, Gu An arrived at the Eight Views Celestial Realm.

A five-zhang-long black dragon emerged from the subterranean river, quickly flying to him.

As usual, Gu An retrieved a demonic goat’s corpse and placed it on the ground. The dragon, Hao Long, breathed intense flames, roasting the meat.

“In two or three years, I’ll let you out. How does that sound?” Gu An asked, stroking Hao Long’s head with a smile.

Gu An planned to release Hao Long into the Northern Sea Mountain Range during his next breakthrough, letting it thrive there.

Previously, he had hoped Hao Long could learn a transformation technique, but no such method was available. Instead, Gu An had taught it the Demonic Shadow Divine Art, but after years of practice, Hao Long still hadn’t mastered it.

Upon hearing that it could go outside, Hao Long immediately stopped roasting the goat and eagerly asked where.

Gu An briefly described the Northern Sea Mountain Range, making Hao Long even more excited. He reminded the dragon not to reveal the existence of the Eight Views Celestial Realm after leaving, and Hao Long promised to keep it a secret.

Even if exposed, Gu An wasn’t worried. By the time he returned from the mountain range, he would have surpassed the Integration Stage. Not even the Thousand Autumn Pavilion would dare touch his Spirit Tree.

Still, Gu An trusted Hao Long’s discretion.

“Make sure to train properly. Don’t get eaten by other monsters as soon as you’re out,” Gu An teased.

“Me? A dragon? Eaten by monsters?” Hao Long lifted its head proudly.

Gu An chuckled, patting its head before heading to the Seventh-Grade Spirit Tree. He cared deeply about this tree, observing it during every visit to ensure its well-being.

Standing under the tree, Gu An looked up at its branches.

As he watched, his brow furrowed.

He noticed one branch tremble slightly, almost imperceptibly, but it had definitely moved.

Hao Long, still by the fire roasting meat, hadn’t caused this.

Could the tree be… awakening? Gu An wondered, growing more certain by the moment.

This was no ordinary tree; it was the Holy Tree of the Thousand Autumn Pavilion. It wouldn’t be surprising if it gained sentience.

He continued observing, but the tree remained still, as if nothing had happened. Using his spiritual sense to investigate, he found nothing unusual. Still, the act served as a warning to the tree not to act out.

After half an hour, Gu An left. Another task was added to his list—monitoring the tree for signs of sentience.

Oddly, he wasn’t worried. Instead, he was curious and even a little excited.

Two years passed.

Gu An’s lifespan reached 950,000 years, and he was confident of breaking the one-million-year mark before year’s end. This filled him with anticipation and boundless energy.

One day, Ye Lan visited Xuan Valley to see him.

Standing by the window of the pavilion, they chatted while watching the disciples busy below.

Ye Lan spoke of recent major events in the cultivation world, which Gu An listened to with great interest.

A new sect, the Nightshade Sect, had emerged. Its location remained a mystery, but its disciples frequently raided demonic sects, seizing techniques, spells, and treasures, plunging the demonic path into chaos. Meanwhile, righteous sects remained unaffected.

Some speculated that the Nightshade Sect was backed by the Taixuan Sect, as its leader bore a striking resemblance to the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path, famed for defeating enemies with a single leaf.

Hearing this, Gu An was annoyed. “Why does someone always have to borrow my fame?”

“You’ve told me about so many events, yet none of them target the Taixuan Sect. It seems we’ve established an unshakable reputation,” Gu An said with a laugh.

He was genuinely delighted—the more peaceful the Taixuan Sect, the better. After all, he could grow stronger just by cultivating plants and tending to flowers.

"Give me another fifty years, and no one in the Land of the Nine Dynasties will be able to surpass me, right?" Gu An mused aloud.

Ye Lan pondered for a moment before saying, "Actually, there might be someone. The cultivation world has seen the rise of a rogue cultivator who calls himself the Ghost Thief. He's somewhere between righteous and evil. He used to rob the rich to help the poor, but his reputation has grown immensely. Half a year ago, he declared that he would come to Taixuan Sect to steal the Sevenfold Purity Tree. He claimed that Taixuan Sect hoards 90% of the Taicang Empire’s resources, violating the Dao of Heaven. He plans to steal the tree and plant it on the edge of Tianze Lake."

Sevenfold Purity Tree?

Gu An’s brow immediately furrowed.

This was the Seventh-Grade Spirit Tree gifted to him by Taixuan Sect, and it had already grown well. How could he let someone steal it?

This Ghost Thief must be courting death!

Still, considering the thief’s chivalrous tendencies, Gu An decided not to kill him. But he definitely had to give him a scare to ensure he wouldn’t try anything like this again.

"Is the Ghost Thief powerful?" Gu An asked curiously.

"Obviously! How else could he offend so many people, steal so many treasures, and still be alive?" Ye Lan gave him a sideways glance.

Fair enough. Why even ask her? She didn’t know what lay beyond the Transformation Stage, let alone this thief’s strength.

Gu An chuckled and shifted the conversation, asking her how her cultivation had been going and whether she was putting in enough effort.

Though they would inevitably part ways someday, Gu An hoped that their separation—whether through life or death—could be delayed as long as possible.

His question earned him a scolding from Ye Lan, who, like him, wished for the other to cultivate diligently and extend their lifespan.

Their conversation soon turned into lighthearted bickering.

After a while, Ye Lan suddenly asked, "Senior Brother, do you know the current Emperor?"

Gu An raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask, Junior Sister?"

"Starting this year, the Emperor introduced Spring Festival celebrations, and now they’re observed across all the provinces. The rituals and customs are identical to the Spring Festival you’ve celebrated for years," Ye Lan replied gravely.

Gu An dismissed the concern. "I heard about it from an old man I once met. Besides, the Spring Festival has been around for so many years—it’s not surprising that someone picked up on it. Its message is good, after all."

Ye Lan conceded that this made sense but still offered a warning. "Recently, we received orders to gather more information about Emperor Li Xuandao. They’ve even assigned more disciples to missions in Cangzhou. It seems the higher-ups are interested in the throne."

"What are you saying? The sect wants to seize the throne?"

"Not exactly. The Crown Prince is a disciple of our sect, but he’s held that title for a hundred years. Naturally, the sect wants to give him a little push to ascend."

Gu An glanced toward the woods a hundred meters west. Yang Ni was watering the flowers, seemingly lost in her task—but who knew if she was eavesdropping?

After chatting a bit longer, Ye Lan shut the window, intending to discuss something else. She even grew physically playful, which prompted a stern rebuke from Gu An.

Blushing with a mix of shame and anger, Ye Lan shot him a glare before leaving.

Watching her retreating figure, Gu An’s thoughts wandered to the Northern Sea Mountain Range.

He needed to visit the Pavilion of Techniques to search for a map and begin preparations for his breakthrough.

What realm lay beyond Integration? He couldn’t wait to find out.

As Gu An descended the stairs and headed for the teleportation array, Yang Ni suddenly intercepted him.

Through sound transmission, she warned, “Be careful of the Crown Prince. If he learns about your connection with Li Ya, he will surely come for you and scheme against you.”