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

Adm Note: This is a test AI MTL from DeepSeek R1-0528 + glossary compiled by Gemini 2.5 Pro.

If you want to continue, go to the MTL section: /mtl-reader/1206720/index/

***

Noon.

Endless Horizon Valley.

Gu An rode Blood Prison Great Saint towards the valley entrance, An Xin following closely beside him.

This wasn't the first time Gu An had brought An Xin to Endless Horizon Valley, but each visit filled her with joy, mostly because of her strong bond with the three monkey demons there. She had even specially brought along many pastries.

Sighting Gu An from afar, Luo Hun’s face broke into a smile. He approached Gu An.

"Gu An, His Majesty brought someone back – someone seeking you specifically. Care to guess who it is?" Luo Hun asked with a chuckle, stopping beside Blood Prison Great Saint.

A mysterious smile played on Luo Hun's lips. "Since you can't guess, just come and see for yourself."

Gu An nodded.

Led by Luo Hun, they proceeded towards a courtyard.

The sound of Li Xuandao’s laughter reached Gu An even before he entered the courtyard.

As Blood Prison Great Saint stepped into the courtyard, Gu An’s gaze fell on the man beside Li Xuandao.

[Wu Xin (Void Transcendence realm, 3rd layer): 469/1800/4200]

After years apart, Wu Xin had reached the Void Transcendence realm. Such progress at his age was astonishingly swift.

The current Wu Xin still resembled a monk, but he wasn’t clad in robes, instead wearing a fitted brocade garment. His movements carried the bearing of nobility, completely unlike the little monk of years past.

Seeing Gu An, Wu Xin’s expression lit up with excitement. He stood up, suddenly awkward and unsure of himself.

Gu An dismounted, approached the table, and bowed respectfully to Li Xuandao. An Xin followed suit, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Senior Brother, I…" Wu Xin stared at Gu An, words failing him for a moment.

Gu An looked him up and down, his eyes widening in feigned astonishment. "Wu Xin? Is that really you?"

Wu Xin nodded hastily, about to speak, but Li Xuandao chuckled and intervened, "Sit down and talk."

He gestured towards An Xin, inviting her to sit as well.

Luo Hun didn’t linger in the courtyard. Taking Blood Prison Great Saint’s reins, he led the mount away, leaving the four of them in peace.

"I truly didn’t recognize you just now. You’ve changed so much. How have you been all these years? I’d already heard you were serving the Emperor with distinction, achieving great merits…" Gu An asked warmly, dispelling Wu Xin's awkwardness. The two senior and junior brothers began reminiscing.

Wu Xin had once been an infiltrator sent into the Tai Xuan Sect by the Qianqiu Pavilion; the precursor to the Innate Reincarnation Art, the Dao Essence Art, was what he had imparted to Gu An.

Centuries had passed. Thanks to the profound nature of the Dao Essence Art, Wu Xin’s potential lifespan had reached an astounding four thousand two hundred years. It appeared his innate aptitude wasn’t poor at all; it simply hadn’t been evident due to practicing the Dao Essence Art.

How backward the Tai Cang Continent had been in the past, where even reaching the Profound Heart realm was rarely witnessed. The fact that Wu Xin encountered the Nirvana-realm cultivator Xunxian Daoist in his youth attested to his own extraordinary luck.

An Xin sat obediently to one side, listening intently to her master and his junior brother reminisce, her curiosity about Wu Xin evident.

Li Xuandao made no effort to interrupt, listening to their conversation with a smile.

Gu An marveled inwardly at Li Xuandao’s talent.

Li Xuandao had now reached Profound Heart realm, fifth layer – surpassing even Lü Baitian. Yet, his surface cultivation, like Gu An’s own disguise, remained at Nascent Soul realm.

After a good while, Wu Xin glanced at Li Xuandao. The emperor spoke with a laugh, "I intend to send him to cultivate in an immortal sanctuary, Gu An. Do you wish to go too?"

Gu An shook his head. "I will not go, but I thank you for the kind offer, Uncle."

That so-called sanctuary was likely just another sect akin to the Star Sea Alliance, unworthy of his attention.

Li Xuandao showed no surprise. Over the years, he had offered Gu An many opportunities, all declined. He had long understood; this young man lacked the burning desire for the immortal path.

"Senior Brother, come with us. This is a rare chance! I’m now a Void Transcendence realm cultivator; I can surely protect you," Wu Xin urged.

An Xin nearly laughed aloud. Void Transcendence realm, was it so powerful? She kept her expression neutral, however; Gu An had admonished her many times about controlling her face.

Gu An smiled. "I truly have no wish to go. My life now is perfectly comfortable. Entering an immortal sanctuary would surely bring pressure, and it might not even guarantee a transformation. You go. Wait until your return, tell me all about your experiences within the sanctuary."

Wu Xin persisted in pleading, but no matter how he appealed, Gu An held firm.

"Forget it, if he won't go, then he won't. It’s fine. Staying within the Tai Xuan Sect offers many opportunities too," Li Xuandao declared, finally silencing Wu Xin.

Li Xuandao then turned his gaze towards Gu An and posed a question: "Gu An, how do you think the Tai Cang Dynasty should develop moving forward?"

Gu An looked surprised. "Isn’t it quite well off now? Why do you ask?"

Li Xuandao shook his head. "Only superficially. The social classes within the court are hardening. Life may be better than before, but the common people’s opportunities to seek the immortal path haven’t increased."

Gu An fell silent.

Every year the number of cultivators grew, yet the vast majority hailed from established families. The sons of peasants would, in all likelihood, remain peasants.

Wu Xin also sank into thought. Serving Li Xuandao, he had witnessed more of the problems.

Nowadays, noble families could forge connections overseas – through marriages, sworn brotherhoods, exchanges of interests, and various other means. They grew powerful rapidly, their foundations deep and impossible to gauge, making it difficult for Li Xuandao to suppress them. Who knew what formidable powers those families could pull in from behind the scenes?

"I myself long for an Immortal Court," Li Xuandao said cheerfully. "If every subject of the Tai Cang Dynasty could achieve immortality, how magnificent would that be? Yet, I doubt I'll live to see that day."

He was merely guarding against future possibilities; his imperial authority remained solid for now.

Gu An responded, "Should that day ever come, it surely wouldn't be anytime soon."

His tone was full of contemplation.

He began to envision the future with Li Xuandao. Wu Xin chimed in occasionally, while An Xin listened the whole time.

Eventually, the conversation turned to Li Ya. After speaking about him for a while, Li Xuandao asked, "And Yang Jian? Haven’t seen him in an age. Lingtian mentions him to me often."

"I’ve no idea where he’s gone either. But with his talent, he’s unlikely to encounter true trouble," Gu An answered with a shake of his head.

Wu Xin asked curiously, "Senior Brother, the Emperor said Yang Jian possesses talent not inferior to An Hao?"

Gu An chuckled. "Then I wouldn't know. Both are certainly stronger than me. You could ask An Xin; she grew up alongside An Hao."

As he spoke, he gestured towards An Xin beside him. This instantly elevated her in Wu Xin’s eyes – could this girl truly have such connections?

An Xin quickly added, "I can't really judge either. But my senior brother [An Hao] has said he anticipates a duel with Yang Jian."

Wu Xin sighed. "My cultivation speed is nothing slow, yet measured against true prodigies, it falls short by far. I wonder what realm those two must be at now."

Li Xuandao looked at An Xin, then at Gu An, a thoughtful expression deepening on his face.

The four conversed for an hour before Gu An stood and led An Xin away to tend the fields. Once their task was complete, they took their leave.

Wu Xin watched Gu An’s departing figure, his eyes clouded with wistfulness.

"What is it? Feel that the bond has grown distant?" Li Xuandao asked with a smile.

"A little," Wu Xin admitted. "But it's more regret. With Senior Brother’s disposition, he likely won’t achieve immortality or attain the Dao. Alas."

Thinking back, Gu An had seemed so formidable in his eyes. Now he was Void Transcendence realm, while Gu An had only reached Nascent Soul. It left a sour taste in his mouth. He wished his senior brother’s cultivation had always surpassed his own, so they could walk the immortal path together.

How many years could a Nascent Soul realm cultivator truly live?

"Don’t underestimate him. There might be depths concealed within," Li Xuandao said meaningfully.

Wu Xin looked puzzled. "Concealed? What do you mean?"

Li Xuandao mused slowly, "The last time I saw An Xin was twenty years ago. Two decades have passed, and on the surface her cultivation advances slowly. Yet, my intuition tells me her progress is immense. Perhaps they, too, cultivate the Dao Essence Art."

"But the Dao Essence Art only allows removal of its restriction once in a lifetime. For Senior Brother to reach Nascent Soul realm proves he already unlocked it before," Wu Xin frowned.

Li Xuandao did not pursue the point. He was recalling the golden Dao rune on Gu An’s forehead.

He had seen someone before with a similar mark upon their brow – a figure with unfathomable Dao attainments.

Elsewhere...

Gu An overheard the conversation between Li Xuandao and Wu Xin. He paid it no mind; his surface cultivation was firmly projected as Nascent Soul. Let others speculate all they liked.

……

Time flowed swiftly.

Twenty years passed in the blink of an eye.

The Chuan family was observing mourning rites. Gu An stood upon the roof eaves, invisible to all below.

He watched as Xiao Chuan’s soul drifted upwards from the mourning hall, ascending skyward. Today marked exactly the seventh day since Xiao Chuan’s passing.

Xiao Chuan rose higher and higher, gazing down at the people within the Chuan estate. His face held no sorrow, only a contented smile.

"Is this the feeling of reincarnation?"

Xiao Chuan mused silently. Throughout these seven days, his soul had been unable to venture far from his corpse, confined to wandering the Chuan estate.

Now, he felt control over his ethereal form slipping away, replaced by an irresistible pull from an unseen force.

He wasn't afraid. He anticipated the life to come.

He scanned the surroundings but saw no sign of Gu An. A flicker of regret crossed his eyes.

Gradually, the ground receded. When he could finally see the entire Tai Cang continent, he beheld countless souls ascending into the heavens just like him. The sight was staggering, broadening his horizons immeasurably.

"So this is how small the Grand Heaven Continent truly is," Xiao Chuan murmured to himself. From his current vantage, the Grand Heaven Continent was nothing but a tiny speck against the boundless ocean. Insignificant.

"What, did you want to stop by the Tai Xuan Sect one last time?" A voice spoke beside Xiao Chuan’s ear.

Xiao Chuan’s eyes shot wide open. He instinctively turned his head, his expression instantly frozen in shock.

Gu An had appeared beside him, rising with him into the void.

"Senior Brother... you..." Xiao Chuan stammered, utterly unable to form a coherent sentence.

Gu An looked at him. "Now, do you regret not cultivating harder in the past?"

Hearing this, Xiao Chuan's tumultuous emotions calmed. He smiled. "Regret? I’d rather see this sight sooner, so I could truly grasp just how insignificant I was."

He looked at Gu An, hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Senior Brother, what… what is your connection to Fu Dao Sword Sovereign? Are you... are you Fu Dao Sword Sovereign?"

To Xiao Chuan, Gu An looked profoundly divine at this moment. The golden Dao rune upon his forehead shimmered like flickering flame, and the Celestial Immortal Crown gleamed with an unearthly luster, rendering Gu An the very image of an Immortal Monarch descended.