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

An Hao heard Lü Baitian’s declaration and instinctively reevaluated Gu An. In his eyes, Gu An appeared far too ordinary. Earlier, An Hao had stood in front of Gu An out of instinct, much like his own master had once protected him when he was weaker.

But this seemingly average man was being offered the position of Sect Master?

Faced with Lü Baitian’s piercing gaze, Gu An took a deep breath and replied, “It’s still a no, Sect Master. Considering our years together in the Medicine Valley, I ask that you spare me. I truly don’t want to invite trouble; I just want to live a peaceful life growing herbs.”

Lü Baitian frowned. He wasn’t used to being rejected—especially not repeatedly.

Gu An continued, “From what I’ve heard, you’re not one to manage sect affairs; you’re more focused on cultivation. If you’re looking for someone to handle the sect’s business, why not establish a council above the Elder Hall? Limit it to three members who handle all major sect affairs. They would be selected from the Elder Hall and answer only to the Sect Master. Furthermore, decree that future Sect Masters can only be chosen from these three. That way, the Elder Hall would have no reason to oppose you.”

Lü Baitian’s furrowed brow relaxed. He gave Gu An a long, thoughtful look but said nothing. Instead, his attention shifted to An Hao.

“What’s your name, and what is your relationship with Chu Tianqi?” Lü Baitian asked.

An Hao clasped his hands respectfully. “My name is An Hao. I am sixteen years old and have been a disciple of Taixuan Sect for a little over three years. Chu Tianqi is my master.”

An Hao’s response was deliberate. By stating his age and time in the sect, he highlighted both his talent and the fact that his relationship with Chu Tianqi wasn’t particularly deep.

Gu An felt a surge of pride. If Lü Baitian dares harm An Hao, I’ll make him pay.

To be honest, neither Lü Baitian nor Chu Tianqi seemed like suitable Sect Masters to Gu An. Lü Baitian’s methods were too extreme, while Chu Tianqi’s actions were even more reprehensible.

“An Hao, are you the Heavenly Spiritual Root prodigy? The one who was taken in by the Elder Hall as soon as you joined the outer sect?” Gu An exclaimed as though recalling something.

An Hao nodded calmly, his gaze steady as he met Lü Baitian’s eyes.

Lü Baitian examined him before saying, “If I were to take you as my disciple, would you agree?”

An Hao immediately replied, “Of course, but I cannot turn against my master. Although I’ve only met him a few times, he is still my master in name.”

Under the eaves, one must bow their head.

Deep down, An Hao was deeply wary of Lü Baitian. The techniques Lü Baitian had displayed earlier were so sinister they seemed no different from demonic arts.

Still, survival was paramount. What was Chu Tianqi to him anyway? An Hao had only ever acknowledged one true master.

Lü Baitian chuckled as he stepped down from the dais, approaching Gu An and An Hao.

“From this moment on, An Hao, you are this seat’s personal disciple. As for you, Gu An, since you refuse to become my disciple, I won’t force you. After this calamity is over, if you ever need anything, come to me. I will visit you often.” 𝐑

Lü Baitian’s tone was no longer domineering but warm, like that of a kind elder.

With a wave of his sleeve, he enveloped Gu An and An Hao in his spiritual energy.

When An Hao reopened his eyes, he found himself standing in the sky on a dark cloud. Lü Baitian stood ahead of him, while Gu An was at his side.

Lü Baitian unleashed a terrifying aura, shaking the thunderclouds above and drawing countless cultivators’ gazes from the city below.

With a flick of his finger, a streak of energy shot out, traversing dozens of miles to kill a Transformation Stage demonic cultivator. The demon’s Primordial Spirit disintegrated along with their body.

Spirit Gathering Divine Finger!

Though Lü Baitian’s use of the technique caused less of a spectacle than Gu An’s, its lethality was undeniable.

He rode the cloud into the city, flicking his fingers as he went. Each strike claimed the life of a demonic cultivator, his momentum unstoppable.

An Hao was stunned. What kind of technique is this?

Gu An, on the other hand, focused on sensing Lü Baitian’s aura. It was still growing stronger.

More and more people took notice of Lü Baitian’s rampage. The demonic cultivators were terrified, while Taixuan Sect’s forces were invigorated.

“Who is that? So powerful!”

“Wait… isn’t that the former Sect Master? How is this possible?”

“You mean Sect Master Lü? That’s him?”

“Unbelievable! That demon killed hundreds of Core Formation disciples, and Sect Master Lü took him out with a single strike. What cultivation is this?”

“This aura… heavens…”

The inner sect city erupted with astonished chatter as Gu An and An Hao stood silently behind Lü Baitian, witnessing his slaughter.

The news of Lü Baitian’s return spread like wildfire. Within a single incense stick’s time, all the Taixuan Sect’s battlefronts knew that Lü Baitian had returned and was mercilessly annihilating demonic forces.

In another inner sect city, a group of demonic cultivators was constructing an array platform amidst the ruins. A purple-robed woman at the forefront frowned as she turned to a disciple.

“Where is Demon Lord Xu Lian? Why hasn’t he arrived to take his place in the array?”

No one could answer her. The other disciples of the Tianjue Sect were equally anxious, sensing an overwhelming aura in the distance that filled them with dread.

Far away in Xuan Valley, Yang Ni and Li Ya stood atop a mountain, gazing at the horizon.

“What realm is this?” Li Ya asked with a furrowed brow.

Yang Ni didn’t answer; she didn’t know. All she could discern was that the aura was righteous and mighty, heralding Taixuan Sect’s victory.

She wasn’t surprised. Throughout history, Taixuan Sect had always turned peril into safety. No sect had stood as long as Taixuan Sect on this land.

At Horizon Valley, Li Xuandao, Lü Xian, Yi Liuyun, and Luo Hun stood shoulder to shoulder atop a mountain, looking toward Taixuan Sect.

“The Reverse Fate Divine Art truly is incredible. It’s undoubtedly the most miraculous technique of our time,” Li Xuandao remarked.

Yi Liuyun scoffed. “Miraculous? More like demonic. The corruption in Taixuan Sect began with him.”

Lü Xian nodded. “That old man wasn’t always in seclusion. He just pretended not to know about many things. His fake death was probably a ploy to cleanse Taixuan Sect and strike at the demonic sects. It’s his style—arrogant enough to think he can handle anything with his cultivation.”

His tone was complicated as he spoke of Lü Baitian.

“If that person were still alive, Lü Baitian would suffer,” Yi Liuyun muttered.

Lü Xian responded, and the two began discussing Lü Baitian.

Li Xuandao, however, remained silent, gazing into the distance with a contemplative expression.

After a long time, Lü Xian noticed his silence and reassured him, “Your Majesty, don’t worry. That old man may be strong, but he’s not as talented as me. Given time, I’ll surpass him!”

Li Xuandao smiled faintly. “Then you’d better hurry. I can’t wait forever.”

“When I reach the Integration Stage, I’ll take his head and present it to Your Majesty!” Lü Xian declared confidently, earning a sidelong glance from Luo Hun.

The sun set on a day of chaos.

Gu An landed on the grassy field of the Third Medicine Valley and looked up. Lü Baitian and An Hao were nowhere to be seen.

After accompanying Lü Baitian on a rampage through the inner sect, the latter had told Gu An that since he refused the position of Sect Master, there were things he shouldn’t witness. Lü Baitian then dropped him off along the way.

Other than Lei Zhen, Lü Baitian hadn’t encountered any other Integration Stage cultivators, but the power he displayed left Gu An with a lingering sense of danger.

For now, our relationship is good. But what if we turn against each other someday?

Gu An could feel Lü Baitian’s murderous nature—something that hadn’t been apparent when he had disguised himself as Elder Tian. It was clear that Lü Baitian was skilled at suppressing his true nature, which made him all the more terrifying.

While mulling this over, Gu An began checking the nearby medicinal herbs.

Before long, a figure flew toward him and landed nearby—it was Shen Zhen.

“Was that man who brought you back Lü Baitian, the previous Sect Master of Taixuan Sect?” she asked curiously, her tone brimming with excitement.

Gu An nodded. “What, are you interested?”

“Of course! My father always considered him his lifelong rival. How did he come back to life? What did you see while you were with him?” Shen Zhen asked, pulling out a brush and paper as she spoke.

Gu An rolled his eyes. “Big sister, can’t you be a little more subtle when fishing for information? You might be bold, but I’m not. I don’t want to be branded a traitor.”

She can’t possibly be that naive or foolish. She has no reason to harm me either. So, what’s her game?

Ah… she must enjoy watching others squirm.

Seeing no end to her incessant questioning, Gu An finally snapped.

“Follow me one more step, and I’ll write an entry for Adventures of the Green Hero. You’ll be the first woman the protagonist encounters, and I’ll even include illustrations—more vivid than anything you can draw!”

Shen Zhen’s face turned crimson at his words. She glared at him, stomped her foot in frustration, and flew off.

Gu An froze for a moment.

Wait, why didn’t she insult me back? That didn’t look like anger…

Shaking his head with a chuckle, he resumed checking on the herb fields.

As the sun set and the moon rose, the night at Taixuan Sect remained far from peaceful.

When Gu An returned to Xuan Valley, he could sense powerful spiritual senses sweeping across the area intermittently. The presence of demonic and monstrous auras was waning, signaling that Taixuan Sect was nearing victory.

Under the moonlit sky, snowflakes began to fall gently.

Gu An and Li Ya sat on the threshold, conversing in low tones about the history of Taixuan Sect. Most of the time, Li Ya spoke while Gu An asked questions.

By dawn, Li Ya received an order via his inner sect disciple token to return to the city with all other inner sect disciples. Bidding Gu An farewell, he left.

After Li Ya’s departure, Gu An glanced at Yang Ni and sent her a voice transmission.

“The righteous-demonic war is almost over. Shouldn’t you be heading back as well?”

Yang Ni turned her gaze to him and replied in kind, “When did I ever say I’d only protect you until this war ended?”

“What do you mean?”

“From now on, I’ll stay by your side. That’s what Li Xuandao instructed.”

“Seriously?”

“You can ask him yourself if you don’t believe me.”

Gu An fell silent for a moment before transmitting another question. “Is His Majesty powerful?”

He was curious about how others viewed Li Xuandao. The man sought to be an eternal emperor yet was constrained by the cultivation sects. Among them, wasn’t Lü Baitian the strongest and most influential?

Yet Li Xuandao had managed to win over Lü Baitian’s son, Lü Xian. Gu An had a feeling these two would clash sooner or later.

With Li Xuandao’s potential, it wasn’t impossible for him to rise to greatness.

Outwardly, he appeared to have only Core Formation cultivation, likely as a precaution against Lü Baitian.

The eventual confrontation between them would be a collision of imperial ambition and immortal supremacy.

“His cultivation is average, but as an emperor, his methods are unmatched,” Yang Ni replied, her tone tinged with mockery, clearly harboring grievances against Li Xuandao.

Gu An was about to ask more when he suddenly sensed something.

“Help guard the Medicine Valley for half a day. I need to check the outer sect city,” he said.

A demonic cultivator who had slipped through the cracks was nearby!