If I become a saint, a celestial official will summon me to raise horses.

Chapter 62 Preparing for the Breakthrough, the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation

“What are you afraid of? There are many people in the world named Gu An, and you are not the only one. Unlike you, I can’t just make up characters at will. I need to approve of someone before I can write a story. In my eyes, you are the most suitable for the male protagonist. Based on what I know, your only flaw is your low cultivation level.”

Shen Zhen spoke earnestly, causing Gu An's face to twitch.

Is this a compliment?
Why does this sound like a personal attack?

If I were to reveal my cultivation level, even your father might not be able to compare!
Gu An continued to persuade her, but Shen Zhen stubbornly refused to change her name.

Finally, Shen Zhen offered to exchange a secret manual for his name, and he had no choice but to agree.

After Shen Zhen left, Gu An stayed in the attic, perusing the secret manual she had given him.

Mysterious Sound Technique!

This is a musical spell that can injure a person's internal organs and also confuse an enemy's senses; it is very comprehensive.

Gu An is currently lacking in this type of magic, so he can pursue further studies in the future.

After reading the Xuan Yin Jue once, he put it into his storage bag and then got up and left.

……

A month later, Gu An arrived at the outer city and went to the Pill Hall to submit this year's harvest.

Elder Zhu Qinglu received him and noticed that Zhu Qinglu looked tired and that there was a trace of demonic energy surging within him, just like Lu Jiujia.

"Elder Zhu, you don't look well. What's wrong?" Gu An asked.

He didn't know how the outer sect's demonic arts were cultivated, and some people had gone missing, but this time when he came to the outer sect city, he found that many disciples had a trace of hidden demonic energy in their bodies. These disciples were almost all disciples of various halls, not ordinary disciples.

Whether he was complicit or being framed, he couldn't tell, and Shen Zhen didn't say much more.

Zhu Qinglu laughed and said, "It's nothing from practicing your skills. Don't you own a medicine valley in the inner sect? You should move there quickly. Don't stay in the outer sect anymore. Demonic cultivators are rampant these days, and it's too dangerous outside."

Gu An tentatively asked, "Many people have told me that the outer sect is very dangerous right now. If it's so dangerous, why doesn't the higher-ups send more people to exterminate the demons?"

"Also, what area in the city is currently under construction? It's almost taken up a quarter of the city."

Upon arriving at the outer city, he saw many disciples paving stones in the center of the city. These stones were not ordinary stones; they all contained spiritual energy.

To him, it looked like a giant altar.

Zhu Qinglu said casually, "The higher-ups naturally have their own considerations, which we can't fathom. All we can do is try our best to protect ourselves. As for the things being built in the city, that's an array platform that will protect the outer sect in the future."

Judging from his appearance, Gu An felt that he was not a good person and probably knew the inside story and even benefited from it.

Gu An didn't press the matter further. After exchanging a few polite words, he left.

After leaving the medicine hall, Gu An stood on the street, looking at the array platform under construction in the distance.

Dark clouds filled the sky, making the once bustling and sunny outer city appear so gloomy, as if it were a land of demons.

Gu An stood there for a while, watching for a long time before turning around and leaving.

The autumn wind swept through the street, fluttering his clothes, and the Qinghong sword at his waist swayed slightly, its scabbard gleaming with a cold light.

After leaving the outer city, Gu An went to manage those cave dwellings.

When he arrived at Li Xuanyu's cave, he found her inside.

"From now on, you don't need to come anymore. I have to go to the inner sect. This is your reward." Li Xuanyu said, sitting at the table. With a wave of her right hand, spirit stones piled up on the table.

Gu An immediately bowed and then went to put the spirit stone into his storage bag.

He didn't say much, and turned to leave.

Li Xuanyu watched his retreating figure and suddenly asked, "I heard your legwork is really good?"

Gu An stopped and turned to look at her, saying, "Is what Senior Brother Li Ya said? My leg techniques are no match for his."

Some time ago, Li Ya stayed in Xuan Valley and saw Tang Yu practicing the Broken Wind Leg technique. He then learned about Gu An's feat of subduing Meng Lang with the Broken Wind Leg technique.

I didn't expect him to tell Li Xuanyu so quickly...

"Well, I was just asking casually."

Li Xuanyu said calmly, then paused and said, "I look forward to the day you enter the inner sect, then we can compete again."

Gu An was puzzled and said helplessly, "How can I compete with you, Senior Sister? I can't possibly catch up with you."

"Let's go back."

Li Xuanyu ignored his words and instead told him to leave.

Gu An had no choice but to leave.

After leaving her cave, Gu An did not feel too much psychological burden.

As long as he denies it, what can Li Xuanyu do to him?

……

Late at night, Gu An was walking through the mountains and forests. In the afternoon, he had already told Wu Xin that he had to go out for a while and would not be back until tomorrow.

The reason he mentioned it in advance was because he was preparing for a breakthrough.

Once he breaks through, the commotion will be huge. If his disciples look for him and find that he is not in the room, they will easily become suspicious.

Ever since he went to the outer city, Gu An has felt a strong sense of danger.

The fact that those in power were practicing demonic arts and that noble children were fleeing from the outer sect filled him with unease.

While a ninth-level Void Transcending Realm cultivator is powerful, the Tai Xuan Sect isn't without Void Transcending Realm cultivators as well. Therefore, after struggling for several days, Gu An decided to break through to the next major realm first. At worst, he could postpone unlocking the million-year lifespan function by a year!
This time, he took a long detour, traveling three hundred miles at night, and stopped in a dense mountain forest. The reason he stopped was because he sensed two Nascent Soul auras, one of which he had sensed before.

Left Sword!
Canghu Sword Maniac was comprehending swordsmanship near Xuan Valley when he was injured by Gu An, who was posing as the Flying Leaf Sword Immortal. After that, Gu An only saw him at the Ji family mansion.

Gu An had already suppressed his aura to the lowest level, so he wasn't afraid of being detected by the Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.

Several miles away, above the mountains and forests, Zuo Yijian, dressed in blue, stood in mid-air, surrounded by five swords, displaying the demeanor of a sword cultivator.

Confronting him was a man dressed in a wide black robe, with a burly build, holding a long staff, thick eyebrows, leopard eyes, and a square and dignified face. His black robe billowed violently, and his overwhelming domineering aura caused the trees below to tilt to the side.

"Zuo Yijian, why don't you stay in the inner sect and read your books instead of trying to stop me?" the black-robed man asked in a cold voice.

Zuo Yijian remained expressionless and said, "Chen Xuanjin, as the Grand Elder of the Outer Sect, you cultivate demonic arts and harm your fellow disciples. It's not that I'm stopping you, but that you have committed many unjust acts, and I have come on behalf of Heaven to punish you."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuanjin burst into laughter, a laugh tinged with contempt.

"Don't you know who I work for?" Chen Xuanjin sneered. He then slammed his long staff down, and circles of purple light burst forth from the bottom of the staff, condensing into purple runes and forming a complex and mysterious array with a diameter of over a hundred feet.

Just as the edge of the formation was about to touch Zuo Yijian, it was blocked by an invisible sword intent. From the sky, it looked as if a piece was missing from the edge of this purple light formation.

“Of course I know I can’t deal with him, but I can deal with you. If I kill you, even if the next Grand Elder of the Outer Sect continues to do evil, at least for the time being, I can protect the outer sect disciples.”

Zuo Yijian said expressionlessly, as all five swords around him were drawn simultaneously, their light illuminating the night sky.

"You want to kill me?"

Chen Xuanjin seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. His face turned ferocious, and his aura suddenly exploded. A strong wind suddenly rose, and the forest within a radius of ten miles shook violently.

Zuo Yijian's expression changed slightly, and his eyes narrowed involuntarily.

"You, a mere Nascent Soul Realm Level 1, think you can kill me, a Nascent Soul Realm Level 9? Zuo Yijian, do you think I wouldn't dare kill you just because you have your master as your backer?"

"Since you chose the path of power and refused to blend in with the world, you made a mistake. Compared to saving some mediocre outer disciples, which is more important, saving the entire Taicang Dynasty? If you don't understand this, then you've lived in vain!"

Chen Xuanjin stood proudly, his domineering aura pressing down on Zuo Yijian's sword shadow, causing all five of his precious swords to tremble.

"I'm giving you one last chance. You can still turn back now. Either go back and read your Investiture of the Gods, or die." The long staff in Chen Xuanjin's hand surged with surging demonic energy, which condensed into a huge black dragon that coiled around him.

Zuo Yijian took a deep breath and said, "Since you mentioned Investiture of the Gods, do you know about the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation?"

Killing Immortal Sword Formation!

Chen Xuanjin's expression changed drastically, and his eyes revealed astonishment.

Gu An, who was secretly watching from afar, was also surprised.

"The power of the Three Pure Ones is even more wondrous; the wondrous method within the pot permeates Mount Sumeru..."

As Zuo Yijian muttered to himself, the swords around him trembled violently, quickly dispersing and unleashing a fierce aura that soared into the sky.

Gu An, who was standing under the tree, was stunned.

Can you really glean Taoist principles from reading books?
Is he a genius?

Chen Xuanjin was also frightened and immediately launched an attack.

War is imminent!
The earth shook and the mountains and forests collapsed.

Gu An stood motionless under the tree, his eyes flashing with sword light as he stared intently at Zuo Yijian's figure.

After ten breaths.

The battle is over.

Gu An breathed a sigh of relief.

That scared the hell out of me!
Gu An really thought that Zuo Yijian had figured out the Zhuxian Sword Formation from the Investiture of the Gods.

If that's the case, wouldn't it prove that the Investiture of the Gods is real? That would be outrageous!

Zuo Yijian used his self-created sword technique, which was indeed powerful, able to contend with a great cultivator at the ninth level of the Nascent Soul Realm, but he did not last long.

The lingering clouds in the night sky dispersed, the mountains and forests turned into desolation, and dust rose into the air.

Chen Xuanjin hovered in the air, panting heavily, his face full of lingering fear, his gaze looking down at the billowing dust below.

He could sense that Zuo Yijian was not dead yet, and he frowned, looking very conflicted.

Although he really wanted to kill Zuo Yijian, reason told him that killing Zuo Yijian would probably bring trouble.

Although he was at the Nascent Soul stage, he was still just a pawn in the Tai Xuan Sect.

Just then, a whooshing sound came from the air, startling Chen Xuanjin, who glanced over and his pupils dilated suddenly.

A streak of cold light streaked across the sky, scattering dust and swirling up countless leaves along its path, like a cold sword cleaving through the years.

Lying in the ruins, Zuo Yijian sensed something and subconsciously opened his eyes. The dust above him was suddenly swept away, and the night sky was reflected in his pupils. In the darkness, there was a bright light that was so dazzling.

"It's him……"

Zuo Yijian stared wide-eyed as he witnessed the leaf, wreathed in sword energy, pierce Chen Xuanjin's chest, blood staining the night sky.

At this moment, Zuo Yijian finally understood.

The Flying Leaf Sword Immortal didn't mean to hurt him maliciously; he was guiding him. Otherwise, how could he have survived?
Now that the Flying Leaf Sword Immortal has come to his rescue, he is both surprised and ashamed.

Who exactly is this senior?

Thank you CH-ENg for the 100 Qidian coins!


(End of this chapter)