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

Chapter 115: The Cataclysm of the Nine Dynasties, Harvesting Lifespan

Half a month had passed since Golden Spirit Lord's assault.

Since that day, the Taixuan Sect had remained in a state of war readiness, recalling many disciples. Every day, numerous disciples could be seen flying over Xuan Valley and the Third Medicine Valley.

Inside a pavilion in Xuan Valley, Gu An was listening to Ye Lan talk about the cultivation world. She mentioned the Nine Nether Path.

"Legend has it that there is a road that leads straight to the underworld's Nine Nether. This path is called the Nine Nether Path. The Nightshade Sect has opened its entrance, located in the Dustless Wasteland of the Great Zhao Dynasty. Right now, Nightshade Sect cultivators are all rushing toward the Dustless Wasteland. It’s unclear whether they are retreating or plotting something else. The Taixuan Sect has already dispatched disciples to investigate."

As Ye Lan spoke of the Nine Nether Path, a glimmer of longing flashed in her eyes.

Gu An couldn't help but ask, "You seem quite interested in the Nine Nether Path?"

Ye Lan replied, "It's said that the Nine Nether Path allows one to cross vast seas and reach another immense land, where immortal opportunities are hidden. To say I have no desire for it would be a lie. Nightshade Sect has used the path to recruit many cultivators. But with my talent, I feel like stepping onto that path would bring more disaster than fortune."

Then, shifting the conversation, she started talking about the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path.

As she spoke, she observed Gu An’s expression closely.

Gu An listened with great interest, as if the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path had nothing to do with him.

Half an hour later, Ye Lan stood up to leave—she had to return to the Law Enforcement Hall for her assigned duties.

After seeing her off, Gu An entered the forest and arrived at Yang Ni's garden.

Yang Ni had gone to the Outer Sect again, still investigating the Sword Sovereign's identity. Gu An didn’t have the heart to tell her that Su Shan was dead, so he let her be.

A year from now, when Su Shan never came to find her, she would realize she had been freed.

Gu An looked at the Nightshade flowers growing in the garden, observing them carefully.

He could sense that the Nightshade Flowers were generating a unique type of spiritual energy, though he couldn’t yet tell whether it was beneficial or harmful.

Every cultivator recruited into the Nightshade Sect was given a batch of Nightshade seeds. Cultivating these flowers was a way to earn merit.

Even the Nightshade Sect Master, Zhong Liang, didn’t fully understand their purpose.

The Nightshade Sect faction in the Nine Dynasties was merely a puppet of the main branch. They knew little but still placed their hopes on something beyond their grasp.

Gu An plucked a Nightshade flower and entered the Eight Views Celestial Realm, heading toward the Spirit Tree.

Placing the flower at the base of the tree, he waited for a reaction.

"Take it away... take it away..."

A soft yet anxious female voice rang out from the Spirit Tree.

Gu An was surprised. "You're a seventh-grade spirit tree. Why would you fear a sixth-grade flower?"

"Its aura... is unpleasant... I don't like it..." The Spirit Tree's voice was fragmented and weak.

Hearing this, Gu An immediately put the Nightshade flower back into his storage pouch.

He then sat down, pulled over a storage bracelet, and began inspecting the remains of Golden Spirit Lord’s belongings.

The Eight Views Celestial Realm contained many storage pouches and rings—spoils from enemies Gu An had slain. This was his personal domain, the perfect place to keep things best left unseen.

However, after searching through everything, he found no useful information about the Nightshade flowers and had to give up.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

But then, something caught his attention—a pill manual.

Flipping through it, he suddenly stopped.

"Nightshade Demon Pill?"

Winter had arrived. Snowflakes drifted down, gradually wiping away the world’s colors.

Horizon Valley.

Gu An had just finished harvesting a batch of spiritual herbs, gaining nearly ten thousand years of lifespan, putting him in a great mood.

Horizon Valley had a special formation that prevented snow from accumulating, saving him a lot of hassle.

After having the herbs stored in the warehouse, Gu An walked toward the courtyard where Luo Hun and Yi Liuyun were drinking and discussing the Nine Nether Path.

"The Nine Nether Path has drawn the attention of cultivators from all Nine Dynasties," Luo Hun said with a frown. "Every major dynasty and sect has sent people to investigate. But the entrance is heavily guarded by Nightshade Sect cultivators—everyone who tries to get through is forced to retreat."

Yi Liuyun glanced at Gu An as he approached, then said to Luo Hun, "That’s actually good news. At least the Taicang Empire isn’t facing the Nightshade Sect alone."

Luo Hun nodded. "The forces behind Nightshade Sect will definitely cross the Nine Nether Path sooner or later. This is a calamity for all Nine Dynasties. My informants report that Nightshade flowers are appearing all over the continent. Once they mature, they attract demons, ghosts, and evil creatures. No one knows the sect’s true goal."

Gu An sat beside them, listening.

Curious, he asked, "Are there any dark legends about the Nightshade flowers?"

Until now, he had assumed the Nightshade Sect was merely vying for power with the Taixuan Sect. But now, he realized their ambitions were far greater.

Without knowing the main branch’s true strength, Gu An dared not step into the Nine Nether Path recklessly.

Yi Liuyun furrowed his brows. "I've heard a legend... The Nightshade flower is a flower of the underworld, symbolizing death and reincarnation. Whenever Nightshade flowers appear in the mortal world, it signals an impending catastrophe—countless lives will perish."

Luo Hun added, "The Nine Dynasties have already issued a decree to eradicate the Nightshade flowers. Regardless of Nightshade Sect's intentions, their flowers appearing en masse is a crisis that must be stopped."

Hearing this, Gu An felt relieved.

A calamity of this scale should be dealt with by the entire world, not just him.

If everyone was eradicating Nightshade flowers, then he might as well join in—harvesting lifespan while saving lives. A win-win situation.

As Luo Hun and Yi Liuyun continued their discussion, Gu An absorbed their knowledge, learning many names and events.

The re-emergence of the Nine Nether Path had thrown the cultivation world into turmoil. Many reclusive grandmasters were leaving seclusion.

Nightshade Sect had become the sworn enemy of the Nine Dynasties.

Some ancient cultivators—who had lived for thousands of years—had even declared their intent to annihilate the sect.

This was actually good news. If Nightshade Sect became universally hated, those they had recruited might start defecting.

By evening, Gu An returned to Xuan Valley.

Sweeping the area with his divine sense, he was surprised—Yang Ni had burned all her Nightshade flowers. Only ashes remained in her garden.

Had she come to her senses?

Gu An didn’t ask her about it and simply returned to his residence.

Late at night.

Gu An scanned the entire Taicang Empire with his divine sense, searching for Nightshade flowers.

What he found startled even himself.

Why were there suddenly so many Nightshade flowers?!

Last month, there weren’t nearly this many!

Without hesitation, Gu An vanished from his room, teleporting to purge them.

He arrived in a distant mountain forest near a village, where most Nightshade flowers seemed to grow close to settlements.

Picking one, he only gained one year of lifespan.

These flowers grew unnaturally fast, likely due to some external force accelerating their development—at the cost of reducing their lifespan.

One year at a time? Fine. It adds up.

Gu An began his Nightshade flower extermination spree.