As spring left and autumn arrived, the Medicine Valley of the Supreme Sect had spent a year unnoticed with the changing of the seasons.
The door to a loft opened, and Gu An, who was sixteen years old, emerged with Meng Lang and Li Ya, stepping out of the room. They turned and paid their respects to the room, then Meng Lang closed the door behind them.
All three heaved a sigh of relief, and then made their way down the stairs.
Upon reaching their own courtyard, Meng Lang couldn’t help but grumble, “All that for a lecture that lasted an ancient hour – couldn’t he have just passed us the Hundred Herbs Collection and be done with it?”
Li Ya shook his head, resigned, and walked to the corner of the courtyard. He picked up a sword that was stuck in the ground and began practicing his swordsmanship.
Though his Spirit Root Qualification was mediocre, he was, after all, from the Imperial Family and had in his hands an exquisite set of sword techniques, which he planned to use to make a name for himself.
In the Taicang Dynasty, the Traditions of Immortal Cultivation were honored. All the scholars and warriors of the court practiced immortal cultivation. At the same time, the dynasty divided the people of the thirteen prefectures into classes, from low to high – slave, commoner, official, and immortal.
Merchants were also ranked among the commoners. Only those who attained the class of immortals were considered true nobles. Ordinary officials could only govern in towns and cities while the masters of commandery cities and prefects of states were all of the immortal class, not to mention the imperial city of Changluo; one must be of the immortal class to enter there.
Many immortal-class families would exile members with poor Spirit Root Qualification to ensure the excellence of their bloodline, and the Imperial Family was no exception.
Even though he had fallen from grace, Li Ya who was of the immortal class was not someone Gu An could afford to provoke.
Because he was of the slave class.
Over the year, Gu An had been specifically helping Li Ya and Meng Lang pick medicinal herbs, mostly during the summer days or early mornings, so his efforts had made him quite popular with the two.
For other tasks such as planting, watering and fertilizing, Gu An had not assisted them, and they felt embarrassed to ask. Moreover, when it came to planting, Zhang Chunqiu would watch from the loft above.
Gu An listened to Meng Lang’s endless chatter while watching Li Ya practice his swordsmanship.
Every man dreams of being a swordsman.
After living together for a year, sharing each other’s company day and night, the three had established a good relationship. Li Ya did not prevent them from watching him practice since it was not feasible to practice in secrecy. Furthermore, the Li Family’s sword techniques came with a unique Qi cultivation spell which was indispensable; just learning the sword movements was insufficient.
Meng Lang rambled on for a good while before finally winding down. He patted Gu An on the shoulder and chuckled, “You seldom practice yourself, yet you’re so interested in sword techniques. Why is that?”
Gu An replied casually, “With my mediocre talent, I’m too lazy to practice. Watching him is just a way to pass the time out of boredom. Don’t you think life in Medicine Valley is dreadfully dull?”
“Yeah, it is truly boring. If you knew what my life was like back home, with four maids to entertain me, you would know…” Meng Lang sighed and then his words poured out once more.
Gu An, used to his boastful nature, didn’t bother to puncture his bubble.
It wasn’t until dusk that Li Ya finished practicing. He stuck his sword back into the ground in the courtyard, wiping sweat from his brow, and said, “I’m going to take a walk in the little woods.”
No sooner had he spoken than he headed for the gate, not waiting for a response from Gu An or Meng Lang.
Once he had left the courtyard, Meng Lang murmured softly, “What do you think that guy is always doing in the little woods?”
Gu An shrugged and replied, “How would I know? He’s a scion of the Imperial Family, having some secrets is normal. What if one day he goes back to become a prince?”
“How could that be possible? He’s been sent out to be a Servant Disciple.”
“But think about it; it’s not just the Supreme Sect in this world. Why did he come here to be a servant disciple of all places?”
Meng Lang was stunned by Gu An’s words, shaking his head.
Then, Gu An walked to the well, scooped up a bucketful of water with a wooden ladle, and drank it all in one go before he set down the ladle and left the courtyard.
Meng Lang didn’t follow Gu An; he knew what Gu An was up to and after mumbling to himself for a moment, he returned to his room to practice.
Gu An arrived at a garden area where second layer Spirit Grass, Calming Grass, was cultivated.
This year, Gu An only had the task of picking first layer medicinal herbs. Moreover, these Spirit Grasses were not ordinary plants. They required longer periods to mature and could take years to be harvest-ready, so he hadn’t collected much over the year.
Zhang Chunqiu said that in another month, they would be able to pick the Calming Grass from this garden, which would be their first time harvesting second layer medicinal herbs. Gu An was looking forward to it.
In his eyes, each stalk of the deep blue Calming Grass was not merely an herb but a numerical value of lifespan.
Suddenly.
Gu An noticed a Calming Grass plant shaking. Upon closer inspection, his expression dramatically changed, and he immediately vaulted over the fence, rushing towards it.
He saw a white-haired mouse, the size of a palm, fiddling with the soil under the Calming Grass, seemingly trying to uproot it along with the roots.
Startled by Gu An’s approach, the white-haired mouse darted away with the speed of lightning, vanishing beneath the wooden fence at the edge of the area, disappearing without a trace.
Gu An wanted to chase after the creature but upon seeing the bitten Calming Grass with a broken stem, he quickly squatted down and took out a piece of Spirit Protection Paper from his waist.
With his left hand, he swiftly picked the Calming Grass and with his right hand, he wrapped the roots with the Spirit Protection Paper to prevent the escape of spiritual energy.
After finishing the wrapping, Gu An stood up.
[You have successfully seized a 4-year lifespan from Calming Grass (second layer)]
Before Gu An could smile, another line of text appeared before his eyes:
[Your lifespan has surpassed one thousand years for the first time, activating the Life Span Detection function]
Life Span Detection?
Gu An was inwardly curious. He looked towards another Calming Grass on the ground and thought ‘check lifespan’ in his mind.
[Calming Grass (second layer): 4/25/102 years (Age/Lifespan/Lifespan Limit)]
The lifespan limit of this Calming Grass could reach one hundred and two years?
The lifespan taken was different from its inherent lifespan. It seemed impossible to take all of a target’s lifespan; most of its life dissipated upon the target’s death.
Gu An wasn’t clear on the difference between lifespan and lifespan limit, though it might have something to do with cultivation.
He picked up the wrapped Calming Grass and rose to his feet, heading towards Zhang Chunqiu’s loft.
All the medicinal herbs in Medicine Valley had to be handed over to Zhang Chunqiu for safekeeping, and every half a year, Gu An and the other Servant Disciples would receive their stipend from the Supreme Sect, which consisted of Spirit Stones and Spirit Pills used for cultivation. Depending on their performance, Zhang Chunqiu would also grant them seeds of medicinal herbs.
Gu An’s room contained three Calming Grass plants, one more than Meng Lang and Li Ya had, but Meng Lang and the other person did not feel envious.
As soon as Gu An stepped out of the courtyard, he saw a person climbing the stairs to the loft where Zhang Chunqiu resided. It was a black-clad elder with a bookcase on his back and a black cloth hat on his head, appearing very mysterious.
From a distance, observing the black-clad elder, Gu An’s mind stirred as he checked the man’s lifespan, and then two lines of hints popped up in front of him:
[Cheng Xuandan (Energy Cultivation Realm Eight Layer): 104/120/180]
Cheng Xuandan!
Master of Medicine Valley and nominally Gu An’s mentor, he had only heard Zhang Chunqiu mention him. He had been traveling outside these years and had not met him until today.
Cheng Xuandan, aged one hundred and four, would live up to one hundred and twenty years, with an extreme limit of one hundred and eighty years. That meant, barring accidents, he could only live for sixteen more years.
Gu An found Life Span Detection interesting as it could help him identify others’ cultivation levels and qualifications.
He speculated that extreme lifespan might indicate the height of one’s innate talent, but this guess had to be confirmed through repeated use.
Cheng Xuandan entered Zhang Chunqiu’s room and closed the door behind him.
Gu An went into Zhang Chunqiu’s courtyard, placed the bundled Calming Grass on a long table, and then turned away to leave.
He returned to his own courtyard and first paid a visit to Meng Lang, who was cultivating in his room.
[Meng Lang (Energy Cultivation Realm Second Layer): 17/90/190]
Hmm, indeed a good-for-nothing.
After learning about Meng Lang’s lifespan, Gu An didn’t linger to chat and quickly went back to his own room.
Only when night had fallen and he heard Li Ya’s footsteps, did he rise and step out of his room.
Just as Li Ya was about to head to his own house, seeing him open his door, he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s going on?”
While checking his lifespan, Gu An replied, “Master has returned. How about we visit together tomorrow?”
[Li Ya (Energy Cultivation Realm Six Layer): 18/210/1550]
Hiss—
An extreme lifespan of one thousand and five hundred and fifty years!
Is this the talent of Imperial Family descendants?
Isn’t Li Ya also of Mixed Spirit Root?
Gu An’s gaze towards Li Ya suddenly changed, perhaps Li Ya was an undiscovered genius who would shine brilliantly eventually.
And this guy’s cultivation level had actually reached the Sixth Layer of Energy Cultivation Realm!
What does that mean?
Playing the fool to catch the wise?
The realms of cultivation that Gu An had come into contact with, from low to high, were sequentially divided into Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, each major realm further subdivided into Nine Layers.
Li Ya, reaching the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation at eighteen years old, probably wouldn’t need many years to achieve Foundation Establishment, rising to become an Official Disciple of the Supreme Sect.
Such a genius fellow disciple must be befriended!
Hearing this, Li Ya raised his eyebrows slightly and nodded, “Sure. You’ve thought it through well. Wake me up after you rise tomorrow.”
With that, he turned and walked towards his room.
Gu An watched him close the door, filled with myriad emotions.
Indeed, hierarchy exists in every world, and the difference in status destined that it would be difficult for him and Li Ya to become true friends.
Gu An was not angry, having been treated with disdain and neglect as a house servant from a young age; he did not resent Li Ya, who seemed so unremarkable after all.
It didn’t matter. Possessing the Golden Finger to seize lifespan, Gu An felt he would eventually become immortal. Before that, he aimed to keep a low profile and safely get through the phase of accruing lifespan.
To ensure safety, one should avoid conflicts, stay out of trouble, and the more low-key, the better!
A smile showed on Gu An’s face as he then turned and closed his room door.
The moon was very full tonight, and its light scattered across the stone steps of the courtyard like water.
…
In the early morning, inside the main hall.
Gu An, Meng Lang, and Li Ya stood side by side. In front of them, Cheng Xuandan sat in a chair with a cup of hot tea in his hand; next to him stood Zhang Chunqiu, looking very respectful.
[Zhang Chunqiu (Energy Cultivation Realm Fifth Layer): 54/110/175]
Gu An thought the eldest disciple’s talent was low, but then he thought, naturally, as there was more than one Medicine Valley in the Supreme Sect. To have someone like Li Ya emerge was already quite extraordinary.
Moreover, compared to these individuals, the initial Gu An was indeed the most worthless.
Cheng Xuandan lifted his turbid eyes to scrutinize Gu An and the others, and then spoke, “I have learned about your performances from your eldest disciple. Meeting for the first time, as your mentor, I must present you with a welcome gift.”
“You may choose from the Hundred Herbs Collection, Energy Nurturing Skill, and the spell Poison Wood Vine, but you can only choose one and must not teach it to each other. If I discover that, I will punish you severely.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Lang was the first to speak up, “Master, I want the Poison Wood Vine!”
Gu An thought to himself that no one would probably want the Hundred Herbs Collection, so he might as well let Li Ya choose first and do him a favor.
Following this, Li Ya said, “Disciple would like the Hundred Herbs Collection.”
Gu An looked at him in surprise.
Brother, not playing by the rules?