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

Chapter 148: A Sudden Surge in Lifespan

Chapter 148: A Sudden Surge in Lifespan

Within the past month, thanks to the Nightshade, Gu An had harvested a total of 1.07 million years of lifespan—most of it obtained during the first half of the month. As time passed, however, it became increasingly difficult to extract lifespan. More and more Nightshade flowers withered the moment he picked them, which he found rather peculiar.

It felt as if some mysterious force was prematurely draining the vitality from these flowers.

Although he didn’t know the reason behind it, Gu An was quite satisfied.

Thanks to the Nightshade Sect, he had saved himself twenty years of effort, bringing his lifespan to a staggering 4.39 million years.

With the fall of the Nightshade Sect, the Nine Dynasties erupted in celebration. Numerous stories about the sect spread among the people, painting it as the most terrifying cult in existence. Meanwhile, the Mountain God became a revered figure of popular belief.

On this day.

In a dense forest within the Northern Sea mountain range, Xuanmiao Zhenren knelt on the ground, his expression devout.

Suddenly, he heard a voice, his face lighting up with joy. Without hesitation, he turned and walked in the indicated direction.

Two hours later, he stopped atop a hillside, gazing into the distance where the Northern Sea shimmered under the sunlight.

"This will be the site of my Dao Temple. Clear a field nearby for an herb garden and cultivate medicinal plants for me," Gu An's voice echoed in Xuanmiao Zhenren’s ears.

Without hesitation, Xuanmiao Zhenren agreed. He was filled with anticipation for the days ahead, eager to serve.

A day and a night passed.

At dawn, Gu An, in the form of a White-Clad Little Figure, appeared on Xuanmiao Zhenren’s shoulder.

Xuanmiao Zhenren was seated on the temple’s front steps, meditating.

Gu An surveyed the newly constructed Dao Temple. It wasn’t particularly grand, but it wasn’t shabby either.

The courtyard walls were made of stone, the temple itself built from the same material. The beams and columns were crafted from redwood, while the roof was tiled with red bricks. Nestled in the mid-mountain forest, it blended into the surroundings, its presence subtle yet distinguished. Incense burned in a grand cauldron at the center of the courtyard, sending wisps of smoke curling into the air, creating an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere.

Clearly, Xuanmiao Zhenren had put a great deal of thought into it—he had done well in pleasing Gu An.

Gu An commented, "The inscription on this plaque is no good. 'Mountain God Temple' is too generic. There are likely other Mountain Gods in this world besides me."

Xuanmiao Zhenren’s eyes snapped open, and he instinctively turned his head, only to see the Mountain God perched on his shoulder. His body went rigid, not daring to move.

Carefully, he asked, "May I ask… what is your divine name?"

"Haven’t thought of one yet."

Gu An hopped down from his shoulder and strolled into the courtyard.

Xuanmiao Zhenren quickly followed, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean, you haven’t thought of one? Don't you belong to a pantheon of divine beings, like the Heavenly Court in Romance of the Gods?" ??NÓ?ÈS?

"Romance of the Gods? What’s that?"

Xuanmiao Zhenren briefly explained the story, his tone filled with reverence.

After listening, Gu An scoffed. "Mere mortals daring to speculate about deities? I don’t know if a Heavenly Court exists, but I was born without ever seeing another divine being."

"Then how do you—"

"You want to ask why I dare call myself the Mountain God?"

"N-No, I didn’t mean that…"

"Being a deity is not just about status—it is also a state of being. Train diligently, and perhaps one day, you may reach it too."

Xuanmiao Zhenren’s heart ignited with passion at these words.

He, too, wanted to be as powerful as the Mountain God!

Seeing Gu An in a good mood, he took the opportunity to ask about herbs.

"Plant whatever you like," Gu An replied nonchalantly. "When the time comes, I’ll harvest them and send them on their way to the afterlife."

Xuanmiao Zhenren was taken aback, then filled with deep respect. He had never heard of plants needing passage to the afterlife before.

Indeed, the Mountain God's wisdom was beyond his comprehension.

After giving Xuanmiao Zhenren a few instructions, Gu An vanished into thin air, saying he was going underground to sleep.

Underground… to sleep?

Xuanmiao Zhenren found himself gaining yet another new understanding.

Two months had passed since the destruction of the Nightshade Sect.

The grandmasters of Taixuan Sect had begun returning with their disciples, bringing back numerous insider stories that rekindled the legend of the Mountain God within the sect.

Lu Lingjun had also returned.

Lü Baitian had promoted her to the Elder Hall, significantly elevating her status. However, when he tried to transfer her out of the Third Medicine Valley, she unexpectedly refused.

"From now on, I’ll be cultivating in the Third Medicine Valley, continuing to protect you. But don’t think you can order me around. If you give me some good herbs every now and then, I might consider helping you with something," she said casually.

Sitting across from Gu An in a pavilion, Lu Lingjun's demeanor was… quite the act.

Gu An chuckled. "I don’t mind giving you herbs. Actually, you could just buy seeds, and I’ll grow them for you. You’ll get the entire harvest—it’s no trouble for me. With you stationed in the Third Medicine Valley, I can rest easy."

Lu Lingjun found this quite reasonable. "True. I’ll head to the Sect’s Main City in a couple of days—there, the seed quality is higher."

She then began recounting the fierce battle in Silent Desolation Forest, narrating it through her firsthand experience. It had been even more brutal than the rumors suggested.

As a cultivator who had ascended, the idea of deities and immortals carried great significance for her, and she held deep reverence for the Mountain God.

Listening to her admiration filled Gu An with secret delight.

Naturally, he didn’t expose himself. Instead, he interjected with astonished exclamations at the right moments.

When she finally finished, Gu An sighed, "The realm of the Mountain God is truly beyond imagination. I wonder if a mortal, even after a lifetime of effort, could ever reach such heights."

Lu Lingjun replied solemnly, "It may be near impossible, but once we set foot on the path of immortality, we must pursue it to the end—no regrets, even in death."

Gu An noted that her lifespan had reached its maximum—3,700 years. She still had around 1,700 years left. He wondered whether she could defy fate and reach the Nirvana Stage before her time ran out.

For now, he had no intention of teaching her the Innate Reincarnation Technique—their relationship hadn’t reached that level yet.

He would wait and see how she performed.

If she pleased him, he might lend a hand.

If she displeased him, she could forget about it.

Half an hour later, Lu Lingjun stood to leave. Before departing, she teased, "Stop reading those worthless books. If you have time, write a sequel to Romance of the Gods. I’d love to see what happens after they all become deities."

Worthless books?

You don’t understand anything!

Gu An shot a glare at her departing back. Only after she had closed the door did he pull out The Secrets of Taixuan.

This was the final volume. Once he finished it, he planned to burn it.

As he flipped to the first page, his eyes widened in surprise.

Shen Zhen’s writing style had changed! This last volume carried a melancholic tone, far from his usual bold and extravagant style.

Not bad—I like it.

As a naturally melancholic person, Gu An decided not to burn The Secrets of Taixuan after all.

Aside from tending to the medicinal herbs, Tian Yao’er spent the rest of her time cultivating. Her days were monotonous, so every time Gu An visited, he would bring her all sorts of delicacies.

This was Tian Yao’er’s first time drinking alcohol.

She held the jar in her hands and, with her first sip, immediately choked.

This was Spirit Wine—even a Core Formation Stage cultivator would get drunk if they drank too much.

Though intoxicating, this wine was also an excellent elixir for cultivation, capable of enhancing one's strength.

Tian Yao’er’s delicate face flushed red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Seeing this, Gu An reminded her, "If you can’t handle it, don’t rush. Keep it for later and drink it slowly. The more you drink, the more you’ll get used to it."

A demon turning red from drinking?

This was beyond Gu An’s expectations.

Tian Yao’er shook her head stubbornly. "I can drink. Why wouldn’t I be able to drink?"

Seeing Gu An down a whole bowl of Spirit Wine in one go, she naturally refused to back down.

Besides, despite the burning sensation spreading through her body, she found the warmth rather comfortable. The more she drank, the more she wanted.

Gu An was about to say something when he suddenly sensed something unusual.

He stood up. "Eat some meat first—I have to step out for a bit."

With that, he vanished into thin air.

Tian Yao’er picked up the jar again, licked her lips, and took another sip. This time, she forced herself to endure the sharp sting in her throat, determined to drink more.

Under the dark night sky, amidst the vast mountain range, a long ridge seemed to be shifting, rising and falling like waves.

Upon closer inspection, it was actually a giant serpent with two legs and a human face.

It was Chen Snake, who had previously appeared in Silent Desolation Forest.

His massive body was drenched in blood, his aura weak. His heavy breathing rumbled like muffled thunder. Dark demonic mist churned around him, and eerie shadows flickered in the haze, drawing closer.

Chen Snake’s once-bright eyes were now filled with exhaustion, on the verge of closing at any moment.

"Such powerful vitality… A primordial remnant."

A chilling voice rang out, jolting Chen Snake awake.

He looked up and saw a shadowy figure hovering above the demonic mist—a black-robed old woman.

She had two sharp horns on her head, a pair of feathered wings on her back, and fine black hair sprouting from her face, making her look even more sinister.

It was Heavenly Phoenix Demon Mother.

She gazed at Chen Snake hungrily, her eyes brimming with greed.

Chen Snake struggled slightly but had no strength left to rise.

Heavenly Phoenix Demon Mother stepped closer, releasing thick, rolling demonic energy, which coiled around Chen Snake like two black dragons, tightening their hold on him.

"If you don’t want to die, turn around and leave."

A voice rang out from Chen Snake’s direction.

Heavenly Phoenix Demon Mother halted, narrowing her eyes.

Perched on Chen Snake’s forehead was a white-clad little figure wearing a mask.

She sneered, "Who do you think you are? Do you even know who I am?"

Gu An was about to reply but found it too troublesome.

Instead, he simply waved his sleeve.

A terrifying surge of divine power swept toward Heavenly Phoenix Demon Mother like a storm.

She disintegrated into dust on the spot.

?You have successfully taken 203 years of lifespan from Heavenly Phoenix Demon Mother (Ninth Level of the Integration Stage).?

The feared Demon King, whom even great demons dreaded, had perished in an instant—completely powerless before Gu An.

Chen Snake struggled to keep his eyes open, speaking in a faint, indistinct voice:

"You… Are you the Mountain God…?"

His voice was neither male nor female, weak and fading.

During the battle against the Nightshade Sect, he had been gravely wounded. As he lay on the battlefield, he had caught a glimpse of the Wooden Effigy.

The Wooden Effigy’s appearance was eerily similar to the current Gu An.

Gu An spoke, "For your efforts in saving the innocent, I will grant you life."

He took out a few bottles of alchemy-refined pills and poured them into Chen Snake’s mouth.

Chen Snake had not only sustained heavy injuries but had also been poisoned by the Nightshade Mother Tree’s venom. The only cure was a pill made from the Nightshade itself—Nightshade Pill.

As the medicine took effect, Chen Snake struggled to speak.

"Mountain God… Someone… has inherited the power of the Nightshade Sect…"

His serpentine body flickered with a strange light, revealing a shadowy figure.

Gu An narrowed his eyes behind the mask.

Him?