HPDBC Chapter 102: Defying Fate, The Spirit Tree's Fear
Chapter 102: Defying Fate, The Spirit Tree's Fear
Chapter 102: Defying Fate, The Spirit Tree's Fear
Gu An waited for over half a year, passing his 60th birthday, but the Ji Family’s promised Seventh-Grade Spirit Tree had yet to arrive. He didn’t believe Ji Xuanyu would deceive him; the delay was likely due to the Ji Family’s complicated procedures. Still, it was nothing compared to the Taixuan Sect, which had promptly delivered the Sevenfold Purity Tree as promised.
Under the scorching summer sun, Gu An was sowing seeds in the Third Medicine Valley. Beside him, Gu Yu was chattering away about the latest developments in Taixuan Immortal Venerable. This year, the story had reached its peak, with the protagonist, Gu Yu, teaming up with the second lead, Zhou Tongyou, to battle a demonic villain threatening the world. The cliffhanger had left readers on edge.
Gu An was in good spirits, having spent 100,000 years of his lifespan the night before to upgrade the Grand Yin-Yang Transformation into the Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body. This upgrade retained its previous abilities, such as shielding him from detection and causal deduction, while adding the ability to create nine avatars. These avatars could act independently, either in battle or in other tasks.
Returning from his experiment, Gu An had tried using an avatar to harvest medicinal herbs. Unfortunately, the outcome remained the same—it did not yield additional lifespan. He had no choice but to rely on diligent effort.
As Gu An planted seeds, he contemplated which combat techniques to enhance next. Although he had initially planned to strengthen himself monthly, the frequent battles between Integration Stage grandmasters in the Northern Sea Mountain Range this year had made him reconsider, delaying his plans.
“Hey, are you even listening?” Gu Yu couldn’t help but ask.
Without looking up, Gu An casually replied, “I’m not going to write the story the way you think. Just wait and see.”
“How much longer are you going to write Taixuan Immortal Venerable?” Gu Yu asked in a low voice. With no one within ten miles, there was no fear of being overheard.
“Not much longer—just a few more years.”
“What’s next?”
“We’ll see. Maybe nothing.”
“Don’t do that! If you stop writing, it’ll be a huge loss for the cultivation world.”
“If I stop writing, it’ll be a good thing. Cultivators can focus on their practice instead of sneaking off to read books all day.”
“Nonsense. Who reads every day? You only write a few words a year. We only read during our breaks from cultivation.”
Their banter continued until Gu Yu pulled out the latest volume of the Secrets of Taixuan, proving he hadn’t been slacking off.
Satisfied, Gu An tucked the book into his storage pouch and asked, “Any major news in the cultivation world lately?”
Gu Yu rolled his eyes at Gu An’s obliviousness before answering, “There is, actually. The demonic factions and the Nightshade Sect have been battling in the Northern Sea Mountain Range for over half a year. The Thousand Autumn Pavilion and the Wan Yin Sect have been nearly wiped out by the Nightshade Sect. At this rate, they’ll unify the demonic factions in two or three years.”
His tone grew excited as he mentioned the Nightshade Sect.
“The Nightshade Sect and the Taixuan Sect are bound to clash eventually. That battle will decide who controls the cultivation world of the Taicang Empire. The sect seems unperturbed, as if victory is assured.”
Hearing this, Gu An thought of Lü Baitian’s lifespan limit and doubted whether Lü Baitian could successfully break through.
Lifespan limits were frustrating for Gu An. After all, he couldn’t exactly go around announcing the existence of such limits. They were like an inevitable fate—something all cultivators struggled against. Yet who would willingly resign themselves to fate?
Gu An firmly believed there must be a way to defy fate. It was just exceedingly difficult to find.
The two chatted for another half-hour before Gu Yu left, mentioning that the Gu Sect was preparing for a confrontation with the Nightshade Sect. He too needed to focus on his cultivation to contribute to the Taixuan Sect.
A week after Gu Yu’s departure, the Alchemy Hall issued an order to harvest medicinal herbs earlier than usual. Even the Third Medicine Valley saw cultivators from the Lü and Ji families coming to collect large quantities of herbs. These signs suggested something significant was about to happen.
Gu An’s thoughts didn’t immediately turn to a Nightshade Sect attack. Instead, he suspected Lü Baitian was preparing to challenge his destiny and attempt a breakthrough to the Profound Mind Stage.
Suddenly, a notification appeared before Gu An:
[Zhong Liang harbors hostility and murderous intent toward you. Would you like to perform a lifespan investigation?]
Zhong Liang? Who’s that? Gu An was taken aback. He rarely made enemies, as he always treated others amicably.
The name alone sounded ominous. Gu An silently chose yes.
[Consuming 100 years of lifespan is required. Proceed?]
That’s steep! Gu An couldn’t help but ask aloud, “Uncle, have you ever heard of Zhong Liang?”
Li Xuandao’s brow furrowed. “Has the Nightshade Sect reached out to you already?”
“This person is from the Nightshade Sect?” Gu An grew tense and immediately chose yes in his mind.
[Zhong Liang (Integration Stage, Third Level): 1462/2900/3000]
Integration Stage, Third Level! Gu An’s frown deepened as he pondered how Zhong Liang had come to know of him. Could it be because of Zong Ying?
No, that didn’t make sense. Gu An had meticulously checked and confirmed that Zong Ying didn’t carry any communication artifacts linked to other grandmasters. Besides, Zong Ying had been dead for over six months.
Who could it be?
Realizing that he was now on the Nightshade Sect’s radar, Gu An felt an overwhelming urge to storm their headquarters and eliminate any loose ends. Unfortunately, the Nightshade Sect had no known headquarters; even Zong Ying’s memories showed that his meetings with the mysterious shadow were held in ever-changing locations.
“Two hundred years ago, Zhong Liang was the leader of the Nightshade Sect,” Li Xuandao said gravely. “He was severely injured by Lü Baitian and fled. Have you had any encounters with him?”
Gu An shook his head. “I met him once outside the Taixuan Sect’s Outer Sect. He invited me to seek some kind of opportunity with him, but I refused. Talking to you today just reminded me of him. I didn’t expect he’d turn out to be a Nightshade Sect demon.”
Li Xuandao didn’t doubt Gu An’s words but instead contemplated several possibilities. Could Zhong Liang have targeted Li Ya? Or is it me?
Li Xuandao’s face darkened further.
The name Zhong Liang sapped the interest from their conversation. After inspecting Horizon Valley one last time, Gu An quickly departed.
Returning to Xuan Valley, Gu An entered the cave within the Eight Views Celestial Realm. He intended to re-examine Zong Ying’s storage pouch, just in case.
Upon arrival, his spiritual sense caught a peculiar sight: a vine from the Spirit Tree was fiddling with Zong Ying’s storage pouch. Keeping his presence concealed, Gu An approached silently, his steps making no sound.
As he exited the cave passage, the Spirit Tree froze in apparent shock. Its vine recoiled instantly.
Gu An walked right up to the tree and said coldly, “You’ve developed sentience. So why are you skulking around? Are you afraid of me? Careful, or I’ll burn you to ashes!”
As he spoke, spiritual fire ignited in his right hand.
His frustration with Zhong Liang’s enmity had already put him in a foul mood.
The Spirit Tree trembled violently, its leaves falling in a flurry. A soft, timid female voice emerged: “I... I’m not afraid of you. I’m afraid of that tree...”