Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Thousand-Year Life Span

As spring departed and autumn arrived, the Medicine Valley of the Supreme Sect saw a year slip away unnoticed amidst the turning seasons.

The door to a loft creaked open, and sixteen-year-old Gu An emerged alongside Meng Lang and Li Ya. After stepping outside, the three turned to bow respectfully toward the room before Meng Lang pulled the door shut behind them.

Releasing a collective sigh of relief, the trio began their descent down the stairs.

Once they reached their own courtyard, Meng Lang couldn't resist complaining, "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 simply shook his head in resignation and walked to a corner of the yard. He gripped a sword that had been thrust into the earth and started practicing his forms.

Despite his mediocre Spirit Root Qualification, his Imperial Family background provided him with a set of exquisite sword techniques, which he intended to use to carve out a reputation for himself.

Within the Taicang Dynasty, the Traditions of Immortal Cultivation were held in the highest regard. Every scholar and warrior of the court engaged in cultivation. Furthermore, the dynasty categorized its citizens into a strict hierarchy: slave, commoner, official, and immortal.

Even merchants were merely ranked among the commoners. True nobility was reserved solely for those who reached the immortal class. While ordinary officials governed towns and cities, the masters of commandery cities and state prefects were all of the immortal class. This was even truer for the imperial city of Changluo; one had to be of the immortal class just to set foot inside.

To preserve the purity of their bloodlines, many immortal-class families would exile relatives with poor Spirit Root Qualification, and the Imperial Family followed this same practice.

Even though he had been cast out, Li Ya's status as a member of the immortal class meant he was not someone Gu An could afford to offend.

This was because Gu An belonged to the slave class.

Throughout the year, Gu An had assisted Li Ya and Meng Lang by gathering medicinal herbs, particularly during the heat of summer or the early hours of dawn. His diligence had earned him a fair amount of goodwill from the two.

Gu An did not help with other chores like planting, watering, or fertilizing, and they were too embarrassed to ask him. Furthermore, Zhang Chunqiu frequently monitored the planting process from the loft above.

Gu An listened to Meng Lang’s incessant rambling while his eyes remained fixed on Li Ya’s swordsmanship.

Every man harbors the dream of being a swordsman.

Having lived and worked together day and night for a year, the three had developed a solid rapport. Li Ya didn't mind them watching his drills, as practicing in total secrecy was nearly impossible. Besides, the Li Family’s sword techniques required a specific Qi cultivation spell to be effective; merely mimicking the physical movements was useless.

After rambling for quite a while, Meng Lang finally slowed down. He slapped Gu An on the shoulder and grinned, "You rarely practice yourself, yet you're so captivated by sword techniques. Why is that?"

Gu An gave a casual shrug. "With my mediocre talent, I'm too lazy to train. Watching him is just a way to kill time. Don't you find life in Medicine Valley incredibly dull?"

"Yeah, it’s deathly boring. If you knew what my life was like at home, with four maids waiting on me, you’d understand..." Meng Lang sighed, and his stories began to flow once more.

Accustomed to his friend's boasting, Gu An didn't bother to burst his bubble.

It was dusk by the time Li Ya finished his training. He drove his sword back into the courtyard soil, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and announced, "I’m going for a stroll in the small woods."

Without waiting for a reply from Gu An or Meng Lang, he turned and walked out the gate.

Once he was gone, Meng Lang whispered, "What do you think that guy is always doing in those woods?"

Gu An shrugged. "How should I know? He’s an Imperial scion; it’s normal for him to have secrets. Who knows, maybe he’ll return to be a prince one day?"

"How is that possible? He was sent here to be a Servant Disciple."

"Think about it; the Supreme Sect isn't the only power in this world. Why would he choose to be a servant disciple here specifically?"

Meng Lang was left stunned by Gu An’s logic and simply shook his head.

Gu An then walked to the well, used a wooden ladle to scoop a refreshing drink of water, and finished it in one gulp. He set the ladle down and exited the courtyard.

Meng Lang didn't follow. Knowing Gu An’s routine, he muttered something to himself before returning to his room to cultivate.

Gu An made his way to a garden plot where Calming Grass, a second layer Spirit Grass, was grown.

This year, Gu An’s duties were restricted to harvesting first layer medicinal herbs. These Spirit Grasses were not typical flora; they required years to reach maturity, so he hadn't gathered many over the past twelve months.

Zhang Chunqiu had mentioned that the Calming Grass in this plot would be ready for harvest in a month. It would be their first time handling second layer herbs, and Gu An was eager.

To him, every blade of deep blue Calming Grass represented more than just medicine—it represented a numerical increase in his lifespan.

Suddenly.

Gu An spotted a Calming Grass plant trembling. Looking closer, his face paled, and he immediately leaped over the fence to investigate.

A palm-sized, white-haired mouse was digging at the soil beneath the Calming Grass, seemingly trying to pull the entire plant out by its roots.

Spooked by Gu An’s sudden arrival, the white mouse bolted like a flash of lightning, vanishing through a gap in the wooden fence at the edge of the garden.

Gu An considered giving chase, but seeing the damaged Calming Grass with its snapped stem, he knelt down and pulled a sheet of Spirit Protection Paper from his belt.

He quickly plucked the herb with his left hand while using his right to wrap the roots in the Spirit Protection Paper, ensuring the spiritual energy wouldn't leak away.

Once the task was finished, Gu An stood up.

[You have successfully seized a 4-year lifespan from Calming Grass (second layer)]

Before a smile could form on his face, another notification appeared:

[Your lifespan has surpassed one thousand years for the first time, activating the Life Span Detection function]

Life Span Detection?

Gu An felt a surge of curiosity. He focused on another Calming Grass plant and silently commanded the system to 'check lifespan.'

[Calming Grass (second layer): 4/25/102 years (Age/Lifespan/Lifespan Limit)]

The maximum lifespan of this Calming Grass could reach one hundred and two years?

The lifespan he harvested was different from the plant's inherent life. It appeared impossible to drain a target's entire lifespan, as most of it vanished upon death.

Gu An wasn't entirely sure what the difference between lifespan and lifespan limit was, though he suspected it might be related to cultivation potential.

Clutching the wrapped Calming Grass, he stood up and walked toward Zhang Chunqiu’s loft.

All herbs gathered in Medicine Valley had to be turned over to Zhang Chunqiu. Every six months, the Servant Disciples received a stipend from the Supreme Sect consisting of Spirit Stones and Spirit Pills for cultivation. Depending on their work, Zhang Chunqiu would also reward them with herb seeds.

Gu An had three Calming Grass plants in his care—one more than Meng Lang or Li Ya—but the others didn't seem to mind.

As Gu An left the courtyard, he spotted someone ascending the stairs to Zhang Chunqiu’s residence. It was an elder dressed in black, carrying a bookcase on his back and wearing a black cloth hat. He radiated an air of mystery.

Watching the elder from afar, Gu An’s curiosity piqued. He checked the man's lifespan, and two lines of text appeared:

[Cheng Xuandan (Energy Cultivation Realm Eight Layer): 104/120/180]

Cheng Xuandan!

The Master of Medicine Valley and Gu An’s titular mentor. He had only heard Zhang Chunqiu speak of him before. The man had been traveling for years and had only just returned.

At one hundred and four years old, Cheng Xuandan would naturally live to one hundred and twenty, with an absolute limit of one hundred and eighty. This meant that, barring any accidents, he only had sixteen years of life remaining.

Gu An found Life Span Detection fascinating, as it allowed him to gauge the cultivation levels and hidden potential of others.

He hypothesized that the 'lifespan limit' might reflect the peak of one's innate talent, but he needed to test this theory further.

Cheng Xuandan entered the room and shut the door.

Gu An entered the outer courtyard, placed his herb bundle on a long table, and then walked away.

Upon returning to his own quarters, he first checked on Meng Lang, who was busy cultivating.

[Meng Lang (Energy Cultivation Realm Second Layer): 17/90/190]

Hmm, he really is a bit of a slacker.

Having confirmed Meng Lang’s stats, Gu An didn't stop to talk and headed straight to his own room.

It wasn't until nightfall, when he heard Li Ya’s approaching footsteps, that he stood up and opened his door.

Li Ya was about to enter his own house when he saw Gu An. "Is something the matter?" he asked.

While scanning the other man's lifespan, Gu An answered, "The Master has returned. Why don't we go pay our respects together tomorrow?"

[Li Ya (Energy Cultivation Realm Six Layer): 18/210/1550]

Hiss—

A maximum lifespan of one thousand five hundred and fifty years!

Is this the true potential of the Imperial bloodline?

Isn't Li Ya supposed to have a Mixed Spirit Root?

Gu An’s perception of Li Ya shifted instantly. Perhaps Li Ya was a hidden genius who would eventually stun the world.

Furthermore, this man had already reached the Sixth Layer of the Energy Cultivation Realm!

What did this imply?

Was he playing the pig to eat the tiger?

The cultivation stages Gu An knew were divided into Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and Divinity Transformation, with each major realm split into nine layers.

For Li Ya to reach the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation at eighteen meant he would likely achieve Foundation Establishment in a few years, becoming an Official Disciple of the Supreme Sect.

A genius like this was definitely someone worth befriending!

Li Ya raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Fine. That’s a good idea. Wake me up when you get up tomorrow."

With that, he turned and went into his room.

Gu An watched the door close, his mind racing with complex thoughts.

Hierarchy was present in every world, and their difference in status meant it would be difficult for him and Li Ya to ever be true equals.

However, Gu An wasn't bitter. Having been treated as a lowly servant since childhood, he didn't resent Li Ya for his aloofness.

It didn't matter. With his Golden Finger to harvest lifespan, Gu An believed he would eventually achieve immortality. Until then, his goal was to stay under the radar and quietly accumulate as much life as possible.

To stay safe, he needed to avoid conflict and keep a low profile. The less attention he drew, the better!

A faint smile touched Gu An’s lips as he retreated into his room and closed the door.

The moon was full that night, casting a silvery glow over the courtyard steps like a pool of water.

...

The following morning, inside the main hall.

Gu An, Meng Lang, and Li Ya stood in a row. Before them sat Cheng Xuandan, sipping hot tea. Zhang Chunqiu stood beside him, looking immensely respectful.

[Zhang Chunqiu (Energy Cultivation Realm Fifth Layer): 54/110/175]

Gu An originally thought the senior disciple’s talent was lacking, but then realized that the Supreme Sect had many Medicine Valleys. Finding someone like Li Ya here was the real anomaly.

Besides, compared to any of them, the original Gu An was undoubtedly the least talented.

Cheng Xuandan raised his weary eyes to inspect the three disciples. "I have heard of your progress from your senior brother. Since this is our first meeting, as your mentor, I shall provide you with a welcoming gift."

"You may each pick one of the following: the Hundred Herbs Collection, the Energy Nurturing Skill, or the spell Poison Wood Vine. You are forbidden from teaching your choice to the others. If I catch you doing so, the punishment will be severe."

Hearing this, Meng Lang was the first to jump in. "Master, I choose the Poison Wood Vine!"

Gu An figured that none of them would want the Hundred Herbs Collection, so he decided to let Li Ya pick first as a gesture of goodwill.

To his surprise, Li Ya spoke up next. "This disciple would like the Hundred Herbs Collection."

Gu An stared at him in shock.

Brother, you’re not following the script!