Chapter 260: Towering Ocean Waves, A Terrifying Physique

Seeing Lu Lingjun waving at him, Gu An had no choice but to approach. As he drew near, he cupped his hands and offered a polite bow toward the Xi Ling Sacred Mother. Although she was a Loose Immortal, proper decorum had to be observed.

The Xi Ling Sacred Mother gave a faint nod, remaining silent.

Lu Lingjun, however, took Gu An's hand and walked with him down from the Heaven Mending Platform. Once they were clear of the crowd, she retrieved a storage pouch from her belt and handed it to him.

"I won't be returning to the Third Medicine Valley. This is something I brought for you from overseas," Lu Lingjun said softly.

Gu An nodded, not asking about her plans. Instead, he assured her, "If you ever need my help, just come to the Third Medicine Valley."

Lu Lingjun smiled warmly before departing with the Xi Ling Sacred Mother.

Watching her retreating figure, Gu An couldn't help but think that Lu Lingjun was gradually distancing herself from the Third Medicine Valley. It made sense—she was now the leader of her own sect. It wasn't feasible for her to remain in the valley, nor was it appropriate for her Loose Immortal master to dwell alongside disciples.

The Blood Prison Saint approached, his thoughts swirling with curiosity.

His master claimed to be a Loose Immortal, yet even other Loose Immortals couldn't lift the Heaven-Sundering Axe.

He didn't voice his doubts, knowing that the stronger Gu An became, the better it was for him. After all, it meant his current situation was more fortune than misfortune.

Gu An turned and strolled through the outer sect city, idly exploring. He could tell that the Xi Ling Sacred Mother's visit was centered on the Sword Master of Dao, her earlier attempt with the Heaven-Sundering Axe likely an effort to connect with the Sword Master.

Still, he had no intention of meeting the Xi Ling Sacred Mother directly.

There was no need to guess—it likely had to do with the Great Rift of the Broken Sea.

Ten years had passed, and the chaos emanating from the Great Rift of the Broken Sea had only grown. Beyond the enigmatic fierce demons, a new threat had emerged: the Spectral Wraiths.

Spectral Wraiths were immortal and could only be sealed. Entire sects had been massacred by them.

Most terrifying of all was a Grand Immortal from the Star Sea Sect who, after delving into the Great Rift of the Broken Sea, became a Spectral Wraith. Returning to the seas, he slaughtered indiscriminately, forcing the Star Sea Sect to deploy their most sacred treasures to suppress him.

Rumors about the Great Rift of the Broken Sea spread far and wide. Even Li Ya, the holder of the Mysterious Divine City, found himself under immense pressure as countless factions sought to wrest control of his city. Fortunately, the Star Sea Sect was powerful enough to protect him, but this came at a cost—Li Ya lost his freedom, confined to the sect indefinitely.

While the seas were rife with turmoil, the mainland remained tranquil. At least in Tai Xuan Sect, harmony reigned supreme.

Gu An spent the afternoon drinking with friends in the outer sect city. Their conversations revolved around the latest gossip—amusing anecdotes, upcoming events, or tales of intrigue involving the sect's elites.

The current Tai Xuan Sect was far more relaxed than in the past. Disciples discussing the affairs of powerful figures no longer faced the threat of retaliation.

The noble families were particularly careful to protect their reputations, wary of any blemish that might lead to expulsion from the sect.

With the Sword Master of Dao present, Tai Xuan Sect upheld the principles of the righteous path.

Of course, this applied only within the sect. Offending a member of a noble family still came with risks outside its bounds.

By nightfall, Gu An mounted the Blood Prison Saint to return to the valley. With a wine gourd in hand, he recited poetry aloud, earning the enthusiastic praise of the Blood Prison Saint.

Gu An couldn't help but chuckle at his mount's uncritical enthusiasm. "He praises even the worst verses—now that's a realm of its own!"

The arrival of the Xi Ling Sacred Mother did not cause a stir within Tai Xuan Sect. The sect's foundation had grown significantly. Unless she intended to join the sect, there was no need for a grand reception.

Another summer arrived.

Gu An reclined beneath a Xuanqing tree, examining his attribute panel.

His lifespan had reached 25 million years. Though still far from his goal of 100 million, this figure provided him with a sense of security.

Nearby, the White Spirit Mouse and the Blood Prison Saint were playfully sparring. Although the White Spirit Mouse had yet to gain the ability to speak, its maximum lifespan continued to increase, and its reflexes had grown so sharp that even the Blood Prison Saint—a Foundation Establishment-level mount—struggled to keep up.

Boom!

A deafening sound reverberated from the distance, startling everyone in the valley.

The Blood Prison Saint and the White Spirit Mouse froze, their gazes snapping toward the horizon, their expressions tense.

The Nine-Finger Divine Lord, who had been engrossed in a game of Go, furrowed his brow and extended his divine sense. His face darkened almost immediately.

Gu An, on the other hand, remained calm. He had been examining his attribute panel precisely because he sensed something significant was about to unfold.

Before the thunderous noise, a powerful force had erupted from the depths of the Great Rift of the Broken Sea. Waves surged along the rift's edges, creating towering tsunamis. On the side closest to the mainland, the waves had already reached a height of 300 zhang and were growing stronger by the moment.

Countless cultivators were rushing to the scene, hoping to avert disaster.

Gu An sensed a surge of eerie auras rising from the rift's depths. They were undoubtedly the Spectral Wraiths.

Unlike the spectral ghosts found in Mysterious Divine City, Spectral Wraiths retained their intelligence and memories from life. However, their personalities had undergone a drastic shift. They now harbored an insatiable hatred for the living, killing any they encountered.

The true terror of the Spectral Wraiths wasn't their power—it was their intelligence and memories, combined with their newfound hostility toward the living. This gave them the potential to establish order and even overthrow humanity.

Gu An rose to his feet. He couldn't afford to appear indifferent; everyone in the valley was in shock, and he had to play along.

The question lingered in his mind: Would slaying a Spectral Wraith yield lifespan?

If it did, intervening early might not be a bad idea.

Yang Jian hurriedly ran over, standing by Gu An's side, speaking in a low voice, "Master, I just had a strange vision. I saw countless demons and ghosts rushing at me."

Fear flickered in his eyes. It wasn't just an illusion—it felt so real that for a moment, he truly thought he had experienced death.

In that brief moment, it felt as though some terrifying entity was pressing in on him, inch by inch.

Gu An turned to look at Yang Jian and suddenly noticed that the threads of karma surrounding him had become blurred. He could no longer trace Yang Jian's past through them.

"Don't worry. Stay close to me—what could possibly happen? Focus on your cultivation," Gu An said, his tone calm, attempting to reassure him.

In truth, Gu An wasn't sure what was happening either.

Although he had reached the realm of Unrestrained Primordial Immortal, he was only 166 years old. His understanding of the world's mysteries remained incomplete.

While he could perceive the laws of heaven and earth, he had yet to reach the level of omniscience.

He guessed that Yang Jian's visions were likely tied to his unique physique. After all, the Xunxian Daoist had mentioned before that Yang Jian possessed a certain ancient treasured physique.

Hearing Gu An's reassurance, Yang Jian felt a wave of relief wash over him.

Yes, as long as Master was here, nothing could happen to him.

Gu An then began heading toward the area where the disciples had gathered, intending to join them in discussing the recent phenomena. He still needed to maintain the appearance of being a simple Core Formation cultivator.

At noon, on Xunxian Island.

In a secluded courtyard, Xunxian Daoist looked at Gu An with a peculiar expression. Pouring him a cup of wine, he asked, "Meng Daoyou, how did you know I was here?"

Although Xunxian Daoist had been back on the island for years, he had remained in his residence, avoiding public appearances.

Gu An replied casually, "I knew as soon as you returned. Many were aware of your arrival back then. I came to see you today because my disciple encountered some trouble."

Hearing that it concerned Yang Jian, Xunxian Daoist didn't bother pursuing the matter of how Gu An knew about his presence. Instead, he leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "What sort of trouble?"

Gu An didn't hide anything, explaining the details.

Xunxian Daoist's expression grew increasingly complex as he listened. After a moment of silence, he said, "An ancient treasured physique like his possesses an instinct for self-preservation. His physique must have sensed danger—likely tied to the Great Rift of the Broken Sea. There's a chance another ancient treasured physique lies within."

He paused, his tone heavy. "I've heard that ancient treasured physiques have a connection to each other—both a sense of mutual awareness and an innate drive to compete. Especially those that are innate—they're drawn to devour one another."

"If that treasured physique does originate from the Great Rift of the Broken Sea, it's likely the remnant of a deceased ancient powerhouse, now transformed into a Spectral Wraith. If that's the case, it's a significant problem."

The reason Xunxian Daoist had retreated to Xunxian Island was precisely to avoid such calamities.

At this moment, he even considered fleeing the island again, especially if Gu An decided to bring Yang Jian along.

While he admired Yang Jian's potential, Xunxian Daoist had no intention of risking his life for him.

He looked at Gu An, hesitating to speak. He wanted to suggest abandoning Yang Jian but ultimately held back. He knew Gu An would weigh the pros and cons, and saying it out loud would only sour their relationship.

Gu An appeared lost in thought.

The massive waves caused by yesterday's eruption at the Great Rift of the Broken Sea continued to grow. Cultivators were rushing to stop them, but the force within the waves nullified all spiritual power and magical barriers they encountered.

After a day, the waves had grown to over a thousand zhang tall.

Waves of such magnitude were utterly catastrophic, engulfing countless islands in their path.

Even the Star Sea Sect's wandering immortals attempting to halt the waves found themselves powerless.

Seeing Gu An deep in thought, Xunxian Daoist refrained from interrupting, instead sipping his wine leisurely.

After a while, Gu An thanked him and stood to leave.

Xunxian Daoist didn't try to stop him. Gu An's visit had provided him with new insights.

The thought of a fully realized ancient treasured physique emerging filled him with dread.

No, he had to flee!