Chapter 226: The Ocean’s Unforeseen Change, An Exotic Fragrance

Tianqing and Tianbai's transformation process wasn't something Gu An supervised personally. With Tian Yao'er overseeing, Gu An trusted that the two feline demons wouldn't encounter any issues. Tian Yao'er's cultivation had already reached the ninth level of the Core Formation Realm, making her more than capable of managing such matters.

Gu An returned to Xuan Valley first, leisurely circling the area before heading to the Third Medicine Valley.

The number of servant disciples in the Third Medicine Valley had increased to 800. As soon as he stepped out of the teleportation platform, the sound of activity filled his ears.

Looking around, Gu An saw disciples sweeping the ground, patrolling the gardens, and practicing techniques. Others, under a large tree, were engrossed in games of chess and Go.

Gu An's management style was quite lenient. As long as the disciples completed their daily tasks, they were free to manage their own time. However, not all disciples in the Third Medicine Valley treated it as a retirement haven. Most of them were ambitious, hoping to eventually become outer sect disciples. To earn Gu An's favor—and the rewards of his alchemical pills—they worked diligently.

Gu An strolled toward his pavilion.

The Blood Prison Saint was sprawled out on the grass beneath the pavilion, lazily basking in the flow of spiritual energy as it entered his body.

Nearby, the pavilion door suddenly swung open, and You Yingying waved at Gu An. Seeing this, Gu An sighed helplessly and walked over.

The pavilion belonged to Lu Lingjun, who had returned after The Mysterious Divine City was claimed by Li Ya. She had initially resumed her secluded cultivation, but her focus shifted after You Yingying entered the valley.

The two had somehow struck up an unlikely friendship.

Upon learning that Lu Lingjun was a cultivator at the Profound Heart Realm, You Yingying took an interest in her. Using her Star Sea Sect connections, You Yingying managed to form a close bond with her.

Gu An didn't need to step inside to know what they were discussing.

It was, without a doubt, about establishing the Ascension Sect.

Gu An had been dragged into their plans against his will. His role was simply to provide medicinal herbs in exchange for a guaranteed position in the sect's upper echelon.

Once inside, You Yingying closed the door behind him.

Walking into the main hall, Gu An saw Lu Lingjun seated at the table, which was covered in papers. A small white snake lay coiled atop them, lazily basking in the ambient light.

Gu An sat down without a word and began teasing the White Spirit Demon Emperor. He enjoyed stroking the snake's head, relishing its irritated but subdued response.

The White Spirit Demon Emperor, its cultivation restrained, remained docile. Lu Lingjun had privately warned it to tolerate Gu An's antics, leaving it no choice but to endure.

You Yingying quickly seated herself beside Gu An, her excitement palpable. "My people recently found traces of ascenders! And not just one—there's a whole group!"

Gu An raised an eyebrow and replied flatly, "You pulled me into this just for that? I have no intention of leaving the Tai Xuan Sect."

He still couldn't fathom why Lu Lingjun had managed to convince You Yingying, a native cultivator, to become so obsessed with establishing the Ascension Sect.

What surprised Gu An even more was You Yingying's vast network of spies scattered across the seas. Her connections were astonishing, especially for someone at the Foundation Establishment Realm. He had overheard during one of their discussions that You Yingying's grandfather was one of the Star Sea Sect's sea lords—a figure of at least the Wandering Immortal Realm.

This revelation made Gu An feel unfairly sidelined. Despite knowing You Yingying first, she had never shared this information with him. Instead, she had opened up to Lu Lingjun.

If they're so close, why don't they just set off into the horizon together?

You Yingying grinned. "Of course, I'm not asking you to invite them. With your cultivation level, meeting them would be impossible. I'm just letting you know the Ascension Sect's foundation is almost in place!"

Lu Lingjun nodded in agreement. "I plan to establish the Ascension Sect in the Southern Sea, beyond the influence of the Three Dynasties. The Tai Xuan Sect will support us."

This didn't surprise Gu An.

The Tai Cang Dynasty's location on the southernmost part of the mainland was too disadvantageous. The spiritual mines the Tai Xuan Sect discovered in the demonic lands had been repeatedly seized by other factions, preventing the sect from expanding northward.

If the Ascension Sect could be established in the Southern Sea, it might circumvent such opposition. Working together, the two sects could counter the suppression of other factions.

Gu An had no intention of meddling in the sectarian disputes of the Three Dynasties. Similarly, the Tai Xuan Sect had stopped gathering disciples to appeal to Fu Dao Sword Sovereign for intervention. The sect's higher-ups were determined to develop the Tai Xuan Sect into the leading force among the Three Dynasties, without relying on external help.

Lu Lingjun addressed Gu An directly. "I plan to head south myself. I'm letting you know so you won't wonder where I've gone."

Gu An replied casually, "You don't need to report your whereabouts to me."

"Hmm?"

Lu Lingjun's gaze turned icy, making Gu An shrug and remain silent.

You Yingying enthusiastically shared information about the ascenders she had tracked down. There were five in total—three men and two women—living on a secluded island under the Star Sea Sect's jurisdiction. Their weakest member was at the Body Fusion Realm, while two had reached the Profound Heart Realm.

In truth, there were many ascenders scattered across the overseas territories. Once they adapted to the rules of survival in this world, they no longer hid their origins. After all, cultivators of this realm had no means to travel to lower realms, nor did they harbor much interest in them.

Gu An listened attentively, imagining the potential impact the Ascension Sect could have on the mainland's cultivation world if it truly came to fruition.

While ascenders might not have the highest cultivation levels, their survival instincts and temperaments made them formidable.

Whether Lu Lingjun could subdue these ascenders remained an open question.

Half an hour later, Lu Lingjun left with the White Spirit Demon Emperor.

Gu An and You Yingying saw them off. As Lu Lingjun's figure vanished into the horizon, You Yingying patted Gu An's shoulder with a mischievous grin. "Once the Ascension Sect is established, you'll be an elder. Your fate is about to change, so don't forget to thank me!"

Gu An turned to her, intrigued. "You're not an ascender yourself, so why are you so invested in this?"

Once the Ascension Sect is established, those without the experience of ascending from a lower realm will inevitably be marginalized or looked down upon. After all, the sect's foundation would be built on the presence of ascenders.

"How interesting. Life is short; to accomplish something grand, to leave a mark on the world—what could be better?" You Yingying said with a sense of justification.

Gu An raised an eyebrow, surprised. "With your influential background, why does it sound like..."

He trailed off, noticing a peculiar power of karmic restraint within You Yingying's aura. This force, lingering deep in her being, was hindering her spiritual progress.

No matter how long her natural lifespan of 5,000 years might extend, the constraints of this karmic influence would claim her life by the age of 400.

You Yingying met his gaze and snorted, "That's right. I've already accepted my fate. In this lifetime, the Dao of immortality is beyond my reach."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away, unwilling to continue the conversation.

Gu An didn't press further.

He only asked because the topic came up. He had no intention of meddling in You Yingying's fate. After all, he couldn't even guarantee immortality for his junior sister. How could he possibly intervene in someone else's life?

Turning back, Gu An retreated to his quarters and immersed himself in alchemy. In a few days, he planned to take some freshly prepared pills to the outer sect city.

By late summer, Gu An was back in the Third Medicine Valley, intently studying the Ziwei Formation Manual.

Suddenly, his attention was drawn elsewhere. His gaze shifted to the window, and his brows furrowed.

"What's he up to this time?" Gu An mused.

For the past month, Li Ya had been actively wielding the power of The Mysterious Divine City. Today, yet again, its unique fluctuations rippled through the air.

Though Li Ya was far away, Gu An could still sense these disturbances through his connection with the Mysterious Divine Spirit. However, the restrictive barriers of the Star Sea Sect blocked his divine sense from reaching Li Ya directly. Not wanting to risk alerting the powerful cultivators of the sect, he refrained from probing too deeply.

Instead, Gu An mentally contacted the Mysterious Divine Spirit, seeking an explanation.

It didn't take long for the Mysterious Divine Spirit to respond.

Li Ya was currently challenging one of the Star Sea Sect's legacy secret realms. This particular realm, an ancient inheritance site, promised profound knowledge and power to those who succeeded in its trials. Armed with The Mysterious Divine City, Li Ya had reached the final stage of the challenge. His opponent? The remnant soul of a powerful predecessor, along with an army of spectral ghosts. However, the Mysterious Divine Spirit informed Gu An that Li Ya was struggling to overcome them in a timely manner.

Satisfied with the explanation, Gu An stopped worrying.

Li Ya had been part of the Star Sea Sect for over five years. If the sect had any intention of harming him, they would have acted long ago. It was clear they genuinely sought to cultivate his potential.

Gu An returned his focus to the Ziwei Formation Manual, diving deep into its intricate details.

Half an hour passed.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion echoed from the distant horizon, disrupting Gu An's concentration once more.

"What's happening today? Why all the commotion?" Gu An muttered, his curiosity piqued. He extended his divine sense in the direction of the sound.

Moments later, his expression darkened.

Reflected in his pupils was a vast ocean. A massive fissure had appeared, tearing through the sea. The crack stretched far into the distance, its edges unseen. Seawater surged into the chasm, forming colossal waterfalls as it poured into the depths. The fissure was several miles wide and impossibly deep.

Gu An wasn't the only one who noticed. The mysterious phenomenon had drawn the divine senses of countless cultivators, all converging toward the anomaly. Moreover, numerous auras from nearby regions were rapidly approaching the fissure.

Located in the western sea, far from the mainland, the fissure seemed to divide the ocean itself. Gu An followed its path with his divine sense, realizing it extended tens of thousands of miles—and it was still growing. It was as if the ocean was being cleaved in two.

What made it even more bizarre was that despite the water endlessly pouring into the chasm, the sea's surface level remained unchanged. The fissure was a surreal yet mesmerizing spectacle.

Fortunately, the fissure was located far from the mainland, with another continent lying between it and Gu An's location.

Retracting his divine sense, Gu An decided to leave the matter for now. He planned to visit Xunxian Island later to gather intelligence. The island was always abuzz with news of the sea's events.

By late evening, Gu An arrived at the Nian Chu Cave Residence. As he approached a stone table, the faint sound of footsteps echoed behind him. Before he could turn, two fragrant breezes wafted toward him. Moments later, soft arms wrapped around his own, pulling him into a warm embrace.

"Master!"

"Master, it's good to see you!"

Two enchanting voices chimed in unison. Turning his head, Gu An saw two graceful figures clinging to him. One wore a light green dress, the other a pure white gown. Their lithe figures and delicate features were striking, their eyes shimmering with a soft, watery charm.

It was none other than Tianqing and Tianbai, now fully transformed into human form.

Still wearing his mask, Gu An tilted his head slightly and asked, "What's that smell on you?"

Tianqing tilted her head thoughtfully before answering, "It's a fragrance Miss Yao'er made. She said it would mask our demonic scent, so you wouldn't dislike us."

Gu An remained silent but nodded approvingly.

Before their transformation, Tianqing and Tianbai had an unpleasant demonic odor that made close contact uncomfortable. This fragrant concoction was a welcome change.

Letting them cling to his arms, Gu An led them toward the small building nearby.

As they walked, the two cat demons chattered incessantly, their lively energy reminding Gu An of Tian Yao'er's talkative nature.

Before long, Tian Yao'er emerged from the building, her face beaming with pride as she approached Gu An. She seemed to expect praise for the preparations she had made for Tianqing and Tianbai's transformation. However, Gu An bypassed her expectations entirely, instead asking about her cultivation progress.