Chapter 233: What Lies Beyond the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm

Gu An could see through the thoughts swirling in Yang Jian's heart, but he didn't explain. Instead, he waited for Yang Jian to make his own choice.

With Yang Jian's special physique, he required an enormous amount of spiritual energy to temper his body. This process would undoubtedly be excruciating, which was why Gu An gave him the chance to decide for himself.

No matter how strong someone's potential, a firm will was essential for walking the cultivation path.

The Blood Prison Saint smirked, clearly entertained as he waited to see what this young man would choose.

Yang Jian gritted his teeth and said resolutely, "In Investiture of the Gods, Yang Jian split a mountain to save his mother and fought against the heavens. Since I've taken his name, I can't shame it. Even if I truly shatter my body and bones, I'll have no regrets. Master, please help me defy the heavens and change my fate!"

With that, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed deeply.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Gu An's lips. Just as Yang Jian felt an overwhelming force envelop him, his body stiffened in fear.

Before he could comprehend what was happening, his vision blurred, and his internal organs trembled violently as if the very heavens and earth had shifted.

The next instant, everything seemed to return to normal, but his feet landed abruptly on solid ground. The intense sense of weightlessness left him dizzy and nauseous.

Yang Jian propped himself up with both hands, gasping. He instinctively looked up to see Gu An still seated atop the Blood Prison Saint's back, unperturbed. Relieved, he managed to ask, "Master, what just…"

Before he could finish his sentence, a strong sea breeze swept past him, clearing his mind.

Yang Jian stood up and turned around, only to freeze in disbelief.

"What… the… sea…?"

Yang Jian stared blankly at the vast and boundless ocean before him.

Though he had never seen the ocean before, he had heard stories from old folks about waters that stretched beyond the horizon, far larger than any lake. This was an entirely different world.

The Blood Prison Saint remained silent, though his heart raced with awe. This wasn't the first time he had experienced Infinite Free Step, but every time, it left him stunned.

The divine ability was truly incomprehensible.

There was no sign, no forewarning—Gu An could shift them across such vast distances with ease, faster than the Blood Prison Saint himself could react despite his Mahayana Realm cultivation.

Gu An dismounted the Blood Prison Saint's back and strode toward the heart of the island. "Follow me," he said.

Yang Jian snapped out of his shock and quickly followed behind, his mind filled with equal parts excitement and dread.

The Blood Prison Saint trailed along, his curiosity piqued. He wanted to see exactly how Gu An intended to transform such a talentless boy into a heavenly genius.

Yang Jian's emotions swirled with complexity. Just that one move proved to him beyond doubt that his master was far beyond what he appeared to be.

Everything Gu An had said earlier must be true.

He could change his fate, but it would come at a price—a pain so great that it could shatter his body and bones. The very thought made his legs weak.

Gu An noticed Yang Jian's state but said nothing. Sooner or later, Yang Jian would have to face it.

As they walked deeper into the forest, Yang Jian's attention was drawn to the surroundings. The spiritual energy here was shockingly dense, and the creatures inhabiting the island were equally extraordinary.

He saw a green-furred rabbit dart past with the speed of lightning.

There were tiny white snakes gleaming like jade, spiders that shimmered like jewels, and even serpent-like creatures gliding through the air above the treetops, their forms resembling young dragons.

Each of these sights amazed him and momentarily distracted him from his fear.

After half an hour, they reached a lakeside deep within the forest. Gu An stopped walking and stood by the water, taking out a large cauldron.

Yang Jian watched in awe as Gu An pointed his finger. A streak of azure flame shot forth, igniting a fire beneath the cauldron.

The sight only deepened his reverence.

"Master… what exactly is your cultivation realm?" Yang Jian couldn't help but ask, summoning the courage to speak.

Gu An replied casually, "Loose Immortal Realm."

"Loose Immortal? What does that mean?"

Gu An explained, "The nine mortal realms are Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation, Void Crossing, Body Fusion, Profound Heart, and Mahayana. These make up the mortal path. Beyond that is the Immortal Dao, where Nirvana is the first step, and Loose Immortal is the second."

Yang Jian gasped audibly, stunned by the revelation.

The Blood Prison Saint also listened carefully. This was the first time he had learned about the realms beyond Mahayana.

"Master…" Yang Jian hesitated, then blurted out the question gnawing at him. "What comes after Loose Immortal?"

Gu An smiled faintly. "That's something for you to discover yourself in the future."

His answer was deliberately vague. While he was willing to reveal a bit of his knowledge, it was never wise to show all his cards.

Lately, he had been contemplating breaking into a higher realm. If the Extinction Ocean Tide really did arrive, even the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm might not be enough to survive it.

That said, Gu An wasn't overly worried. If the human world was truly submerged, he could always escape to the heavens beyond or carve out his own pocket dimension at the ocean floor, bringing his companions with him to create their own little world.

Yang Jian continued to bombard Gu An with questions about the various cultivation realms. Gu An answered patiently, and Yang Jian's nervousness gradually faded.

He realized his master wasn't as fearsome as he had imagined. In fact, Gu An was surprisingly approachable and kind.

In truth, Gu An was warm and gentle with all his disciples. It was Yang Jian's own ambition to gain Gu An's favor that made him overly anxious.

Once Gu An finished preparing the medicinal herbs, he instructed Yang Jian to climb into the cauldron.

"Master… do I need to take my clothes off?" Yang Jian asked hesitantly.

Gu An shook his head. "There's no need. Ordinary robes can't block the spiritual energy anyway."

Yang Jian swallowed hard and stepped forward, his heart pounding as he prepared to face the unknown.

Yang Jian sat nervously inside the large cauldron, his hands tightly clutching the edges of his robe, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

The Blood Prison Saint stood on the rim of the cauldron with his hooves firmly planted. He looked at Yang Jian with a smirk and said, "Kid, the path of cultivation is filled with hardship. Most of the time, you just need to hold on for a little longer. Keep telling yourself: just a bit more, and the pain will pass."

Yang Jian took a deep breath and looked up at the Blood Prison Saint. He asked, "Senior Bull, may I ask what your cultivation realm is?"

If his master was already a Loose Immortal, then this bull who served as his master's mount must surely be powerful. Otherwise, why would Gu An only bring this bull along?

The Blood Prison Saint turned to glance at Gu An. After receiving a slight nod of approval, he puffed up his chest and grinned proudly. "Listen carefully, brat! I am at the Mahayana Realm, Eighth Layer. And let me tell you, I'm no mere bull demon—I am the Blood Prison Saint, a being who ascended from the mortal world to the heavens!"

As he spoke, the Blood Prison Saint launched into a long-winded speech about his glorious history, his battles, and his conquests, leaving Yang Jian utterly stunned.

Mahayana Realm, Eighth Layer!

Yang Jian's mind buzzed with excitement. He knew that in the Tai Xuan Sect, there were only two Mahayana Realm experts known to the public. Yet his master's mount had reached such a terrifying level of power!

Yang Jian's world spun as the revelation hit him like a hammer. It felt as though he were dreaming.

Gu An stepped forward and gestured for the Blood Prison Saint to move aside. The bull reluctantly quieted and moved to the side, suddenly losing all the grandeur of a mighty Mahayana expert.

Gu An then produced a pill and handed it to Yang Jian. "Take this. Follow the breathing technique I teach you. I will guide your cultivation. No matter how much it hurts, you must follow my instructions to draw in the spiritual energy. If you resist or falter, you'll meet your end, and even a Supreme Immortal won't be able to save you."

Yang Jian opened his mouth to ask what a Supreme Immortal was, but seeing Gu An turn away, he could only swallow the pill without further hesitation.

The moment the pill touched his tongue, it dissolved instantly. A wave of scalding heat spread through his throat and surged through his body.

Before panic could set in, Gu An's voice echoed in his ears through a Transmitted Sound Technique. At the same time, an overwhelming force poured into Yang Jian's body, guiding the surge of spiritual energy.

What Gu An was teaching him was the Universal Shape and Form Technique.

This technique was a foundational body-tempering method that had evolved from Gu An's earlier Breathing Techniques. While Gu An rarely engaged in close combat, his physical body was immensely powerful thanks to this method.

Moreover, the Universal Shape and Form Technique allowed its practitioner to conceal their cultivation aura—perfect for Yang Jian, ensuring that he could hide his strength in the future.

Gu An wasn't worried about Yang Jian revealing this technique to others. After all, it was bound to evolve again as Gu An himself progressed further on the cultivation path.

Yang Jian began following the force within his body to draw in the surrounding spiritual energy, carefully adhering to the breathing technique his master had imparted.

The cauldron's concoction began to bubble and boil, and Yang Jian's skin quickly turned a bright red. The surface pain of his scorched skin paled in comparison to the sharp, tearing agony that seemed to rend his muscles and bones apart.

Pain.

A pain far beyond what he had imagined.

It felt like thousands of insects gnawing at his bones while his muscles were violently torn apart. Words couldn't describe the intensity of it.

But Gu An's voice continued to echo in his ears, steady and calming. Somehow, it gave him the strength to hold on.

"Just endure it a little longer," Yang Jian told himself, clenching his teeth.

His hair fluttered wildly as his body trembled uncontrollably. The veins on his face bulged, his clothes soaked through, though it was impossible to tell whether it was sweat or the concoction seeping into his body.

Suddenly, there was a sharp crack—the sound of his bones shifting under immense pressure.

The Blood Prison Saint flinched, his bull-like body shuddering as he muttered, "Can this really change his fate?"

The bull's eyes flickered with astonishment. In his mind, Gu An was an all-powerful immortal. And judging by his calm demeanor, reversing fate seemed like no difficult task for him.

The Blood Prison Saint turned to glance at Gu An, who stood calmly by the lakeshore with his back to the cauldron, as though none of this concerned him.

But in truth, Gu An wasn't just guiding Yang Jian—his divine sense had extended across the ocean, scanning for a suitable location for his next breakthrough.

"I wonder… what lies beyond the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm?" Gu An mused inwardly. With a lifespan of over sixteen million years, he knew he had ample time to advance further.

However, he hesitated. His current techniques and divine abilities were already at an extraordinarily high level. Advancing them further would require a significant investment—potentially hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of years of his lifespan.

He couldn't risk running out of time before achieving his breakthrough.

"AHHHH!"

Yang Jian's anguished scream suddenly cut through the silence, jolting the Blood Prison Saint from his thoughts.

The bull's heart clenched at the sound. The boy's pain seemed even worse than when the Blood Prison Saint himself had absorbed Divine Beast Blood to transform his own body.

But Gu An still didn't turn around. His composure remained unshaken.

The pill he had given Yang Jian was no ordinary medicine—it was worth one hundred supreme-grade spirit stones, equivalent to ten thousand high-grade spirit stones or one hundred million low-grade ones.

To put it in perspective, outer sect servants typically received only one low-grade spirit stone as monthly pay. Even disciples of the Xuan Valley and the Third Medicine Valley enjoyed far higher treatment, but their allowances still paled in comparison.

If Yang Jian's body could fully absorb the pill's power, he might even break through immediately. That, however, depended on how much of the pill's energy his physique could handle.

Time passed slowly.

After a while, Yang Jian's screams faded into silence.

The Blood Prison Saint's eyes widened in shock.

Yang Jian slowly rose from within the cauldron, his body still in a meditative posture. His black hair danced wildly around him, his flushed skin glowing faintly. To the Blood Prison Saint's astonishment, Yang Jian radiated a terrifying presence that sent chills down his spine.

It felt like encountering a natural predator—a primal and instinctive fear.

Above them, dark thunderclouds began to gather, lightning flickering ominously. A terrifying heavenly might began brewing in the skies.

"What kind of fate did he just alter? This is absurd…"

The Blood Prison Saint's mind reeled as he stared at Yang Jian. Though his own physique had transformed with the blood of a Divine Beast, he still felt an instinctive fear toward Yang Jian's current state.

He turned to look at Gu An once more, but Gu An remained unmoved, his back still to the scene, as though even the impending Heavenly Tribulation meant nothing to him.