Chapter 258: True Blood of the Immortal King
Hearing his master's instructions, Yang Jian steadied his heart and carefully tuned his senses while keeping pace with the Blood Prison Saint's strides.
Li Lingtian followed from behind, his curiosity mounting. He frequently glanced back at the rolling thunderclouds in the sky but sensed nothing. This realization left him frustrated.
Could it be that even his perception couldn't compare to Yang Jian's?
The thunderclouds spread rapidly across the heavens. Before Gu An and the others reached Tianya Valley, the storm had already rolled overhead, threatening to unleash a torrential downpour.
Yang Jian looked up and turned to Gu An. "Master, I sense an aura of utter destruction, as though all living things might be annihilated."
Hearing this, Li Lingtian's expression twisted.
Was it really that exaggerated?
He began to feel that Gu An wasn't as simple as he seemed. There was an inscrutable depth to him. Could it be that Gu An was hiding even greater secrets?
Was this why his father and elder brother held Gu An in such high regard?
Li Lingtian mulled over this possibility, his thoughts swirling.
Gu An didn't elaborate further. Instead, he patted the Blood Prison Saint's bull-like back and said, "Let's see who gets to Tianya Valley first."
With those words, the Blood Prison Saint charged forward, its hooves kicking up gusts of wind as it galloped out of the forest, majestic and swift.
Yang Jian and Li Lingtian hurried to follow.
The mention of a race instantly invigorated Li Lingtian, only for him to quickly realize, to his dismay, that he was indeed the slowest!
Yang Jian's speed was expected, but that bull-headed creature? What was its origin, and why was it so fast?
Upon reaching Tianya Valley, Gu An dismounted from the Blood Prison Saint and led Yang Jian toward the cluster of pavilions.
Li Lingtian lingered behind, his gaze fixed on the Blood Prison Saint with a fiery intensity, his eyes nearly bloodshot.
The Blood Prison Saint raised its head and cast a disdainful glance at him, spitting out a single word that almost made him explode in rage.
"Useless!"
Li Lingtian stood frozen, fuming, his face turning red as he glared at the creature's retreating back. Words of rebuttal clogged his throat, unable to escape.
For the first time, he began to question his own worth.
Was he really useless?
Sure, he was stronger than most—better than the disciples of the Medicine Valley or even the imperial offspring in the palace. But when measured against the world, how large were those two places, really?
Gu An's words echoed in his mind: There are always greater people beyond, and higher heavens above.
The more Li Lingtian thought about it, the more dazed he became, rooted in self-doubt.
Gu An, however, had brought Yang Jian along at the request of Li Xuandao, who wanted to meet him.
Gu An wasn't worried about Li Xuandao scheming against him. After years of interaction, he trusted Li Xuandao's character. Besides, they were cut from the same cloth—men who believed that their strength was absolute.
Upon meeting Yang Jian, Li Xuandao was astounded, captivated by him almost immediately.
He bombarded Yang Jian with endless questions, showing an enthusiasm that, to Gu An, seemed even greater than what he had received in the past.
When Li Lingtian finally entered the courtyard and saw this scene, his mood soured further.
After over an hour of conversation, Li Xuandao decided to give Yang Jian a gift and asked him what he would like.
Yang Jian instinctively glanced at Gu An, a gesture that left Li Xuandao inwardly intrigued.
What kind of spell had Gu An cast on this boy?
Li Xuandao had always believed that Gu An had a powerful master behind him and that the person who had truly taught Yang Jian wasn't Gu An but someone working in the shadows.
He had considered the possibility that Gu An was hiding his strength, but his knowledge of Gu An's history—meeting Li Ya at the age of fifteen—ruled out any deception.
Aware of Li Xuandao's identity, Yang Jian respectfully replied, "I would like a weapon that suits me. Something heavy, but not too large."
Li Xuandao laughed, "Hoping to be a true Yang Jian, are you?"
Yang Jian showed a rare expression of embarrassment but nodded earnestly.
Li Xuandao readily agreed, promising to deliver a weapon within three years.
In the end, Li Xuandao didn't extend any invitations or try to recruit Yang Jian into his forces.
Gu An had suspected that Li Xuandao might try to persuade Yang Jian to join the military but found his concerns unwarranted.
As Gu An prepared to leave, Li Xuandao requested that Li Lingtian continue to follow him.
Gu An didn't object. The Third Medicine Valley had many mouths to feed; one more wouldn't make a difference. Besides, he doubted Li Xuandao expected him to provide much guidance for Li Lingtian anyway.
A formation of celestial cranes soared across the sky, their silhouettes outlined against the azure expanse. Ocean breezes swept into Xunxian Island.
Gu An strolled along the island's streets with Yang Jian by his side, Hu Xiaojian leading the way.
It was Yang Jian's first time visiting Xunxian Island. He looked around curiously, marveling at everything he saw.
He couldn't help but wonder how far this island was from Tai Xuan Sect.
At Gu An's instruction, Hu Xiaojian enthusiastically introduced Yang Jian to the island, leaving a positive impression on him.
The more Yang Jian learned about Xunxian Island, the more astonished he became.
Compared to Tai Xuan Sect, Xunxian Island seemed like a land of true immortals, with celestial beings passing through frequently.
Gu An smiled faintly as he listened to Hu Xiaojian enthusiastically introduce Xunxian Island while leading the way to purchase high-grade medicinal herb seeds.
Two hours later, Gu An brought Yang Jian and Hu Xiaojian to the residence of Tang Hai True Person.
Over the years, Hu Xiaojian had become one of Gu An's trusted subordinates. During Gu An's absences, Tang Hai True Person had shown considerable care for Hu Xiaojian, making him quite familiar with this residence.
Today, many immortals and cultivators were gathered in Tang Hai True Person's mansion. Among them were over ten Loose Immortals and more than forty Nirvana Realm cultivators.
These cultivators were Tang Hai True Person's acquaintances, and most had met Gu An before. Gu An was not just a Loose Immortal but was also renowned for his immense wealth. On Xunxian Island, any mention of medicinal herb transactions inevitably brought up the name Meng Lang. Many speculated that a major force supported him, given the staggering quantities of herbs he regularly acquired.
The assembled cultivators warmly greeted Gu An's disciples, presenting generous gifts.
Gu An instructed Yang Jian to accept each gift graciously. After all, whenever these cultivators brought their disciples along, Gu An reciprocated with equal generosity. This was simply an exchange of courtesy.
Soon, Gu An, Yang Jian, and Hu Xiaojian settled at their own table.
Leaning closer, Hu Xiaojian spoke in a low voice, "The Great Rift of the Broken Sea has become a source of calamity. It's said a peerless fiend resides within, and countless cultivators have perished in the depths. To this day, no one knows the fiend's true identity."
Gu An asked, "Haven't the major sects taken any action?"
He was well aware of the situation in the Great Rift of the Broken Sea, where both cultivators and monsters frequently ventured.
The rift, an ominous harbinger of the World-Ending Ocean Tide, was believed to conceal treasures. After all, the world had been submerged under the oceans countless times, each inundation burying an era's cultivation civilization beneath the waves.
"Yes, of course," Hu Xiaojian continued. "Not just the Star Sea Sect, but several other major sects have made attempts. Unfortunately, their efforts have yielded nothing but increasing casualties…"
Yang Jian listened intently from the side.
As the conversation continued, Hu Xiaojian shifted to tales of maritime events, mentioning a name that caught Yang Jian's attention—An Hao.
The fame of An Hao, who had mastered the Fiery Sun Treasure Body, was soaring. Everyone marveled at his unparalleled talent.
Yang Jian recalled hearing about An Hao during his time at Tai Xuan Sect, learning that he had gone to the Star Sea Sect to cultivate. He hadn't imagined that An Hao's reputation would grow so immensely in the maritime world.
To Yang Jian, An Hao had always been a figure of legend, Tai Xuan Sect's most prodigious talent in history and the personal disciple of its sect master.
An Hao's brilliance sparked Yang Jian's curiosity. Could his master, Gu An, possibly know An Hao?
An Hao's extraordinary aptitude didn't seem like something Tai Xuan Sect alone could nurture.
Reflecting on Tai Xuan Sect's history, Yang Jian noted that before the rise of the Sword Master of Dao, not even a single cultivator of the Profound Heart Realm could be found there.
Rumors abounded that An Hao might be a disciple of the Sword Master of Dao. Such speculations were rampant, with countless supposed Sword Master disciples scattered across the three dynasties' cultivation worlds.
If An Hao truly were a senior brother he had never met, Yang Jian would accept it wholeheartedly. After all, An Hao was undoubtedly the most dazzling talent he had ever heard of.
"Master must hold Senior Brother An Hao in high regard," Yang Jian silently mused, casting a glance at Gu An.
Though Yang Jian had undergone a complete transformation, he still harbored a sense of inferiority. He hadn't been born a genius; his talent was the result of Gu An defying the heavens to reshape his destiny. This made him constantly fear losing everything he now possessed.
In this way, his mindset mirrored that of Tian Yao'er.
Gu An noticed Yang Jian's gaze but chose to ignore it.
A moment later, Tang Hai True Person appeared, greeting everyone with a smile before addressing the purpose of their gathering.
"It concerns the Great Rift of the Broken Sea!"
The mention of these five words stirred a wave of discussion among the cultivators.
Tang Hai True Person swept his gaze across the room and spoke in a low voice, "I've received word that at the bottom of the Great Rift lies an entirely separate world. Though perilous, it is said to contain an ancient Immortal King's residence. Someone from the Deep Sea Spirit Palace obtained the Immortal King's True Blood there, transforming their physical body and gaining profound divine abilities. They managed to escape that realm, relying on those very abilities."
The crowd was visibly moved.
The realm of an Immortal King remained shrouded in mystery, but throughout history, Immortal Kings had been considered the pinnacle of the immortal path. Only the most extraordinary figures of each era could aspire to such heights.
How could they not be tempted by such an opportunity?
The higher one's cultivation, the greater the need for such chances. For the Loose Immortals present, breaking through to even a small sub-realm often required not only luck but also rare opportunities.
"I plan to venture into this realm. Anyone willing to join may register. I'll share all gathered intelligence upon departure. That said, the dangers involved are extreme, and I can't guarantee safety. Consider your decision carefully; there's no obligation due to personal ties," Tang Hai True Person said earnestly.
Over the years, in addition to hosting auctions, Tang Hai True Person often organized expeditions like this. While not every attempt had been a resounding success, no ill rumors about him had ever spread, a testament to his integrity.
The cultivators began discussing the matter among themselves.
Tang Hai True Person didn't extend a special invitation to Gu An. After all, everyone present had been personally invited. Once inside, all were treated equally.
Ultimately, Gu An chose not to register. A third of the cultivators present did, but many declined, valuing their long lifespans over the risks.
After the gathering ended, Gu An brought Yang Jian back to the Third Medicine Valley.
The journey had left Yang Jian in a dreamlike state.
This trip had been surreal, broadening his horizons. He now understood how vast the world truly was, with Tai Xuan Sect being but a drop in the ocean.
Gu An, meanwhile, resumed tending to the valley, harvesting the matured medicinal herbs.
As he worked, he wondered if he could accumulate a billion years of lifespan before the coming calamity.
For now, it seemed that the Great Rift of the Broken Sea posed no immediate threat to the Grand Heavenly Spirit World, a realm teeming with formidable powers.