Chapter 262: It’s the Sword Master of the Dao!
By noon, Gu An arrived at Xuan Valley. It had been two days since the waves surged from the Great Rift of the Broken Sea. Today marked the third day.
Gu An was about to start harvesting herbs when he felt something unusual. He sighed softly but continued picking herbs as if nothing had happened.
He had already sensed a powerful force approaching from the distance.
Originally, Gu An hadn't planned to intervene in the fate of the distant continents. For the waves to reach his land, they would have to traverse two other continents—still a vast distance away.
However, the tide now carried a dangerous aura that left him no choice but to change his strategy.
He couldn't wait for the force behind this calamity to reach the mainland before acting. By then, the situation could spiral out of control.
The farther the calamity was from the Tai Xuan Sect, the more room he had to maneuver. Starting a battle on the mainland would force him to consider the countless lives at stake.
The development of this calamity had made it clear to the entire oceanic world that the vengeful ghosts within the waves weren't a natural disaster. Deep within the Great Rift of the Broken Sea lay an unknown power intent on overturning the human realm. Whether or not Gu An acted, this was a catastrophe the entire oceanic world would have to face together.
As he harvested herbs, Gu An calmly considered how to intervene.
Lu Jiujia, Xuan Valley's senior disciple, approached and asked in a soft voice, "Senior Brother, I've heard there's a calamity brewing over the ocean. It might affect our continent. Should Xuan Valley prepare for anything?"
His words reflected how much the Tai Xuan Sect had grown in recent years. The oceanic calamity had only been raging for three days, and yet news had already reached the sect. In the past, such information would never have spread so quickly—or at all, unless it directly reached their shores.
"Of course, just stick to your duties. Cultivate diligently and focus on growing the best herbs you can. That's the greatest responsibility we can fulfill," Gu An replied casually.
Lu Jiujia nodded, understanding the subtle reassurance in Gu An's response. As a senior disciple, he knew Gu An had connections within the inner sect and likely access to more accurate information. If even Gu An wasn't worried, there was no reason for him—or the other disciples—to panic. He could now return and calm any unease among the valley's members.
After Lu Jiujia left, Gu An resumed his work, harvesting herbs at a leisurely pace.
One incense stick's time later, Gu An made his way to the eastern cliffs of Xuan Valley. The Blood Prison Saint followed him closely.
"Master, what are we doing here?" the Blood Prison Saint asked curiously, watching Gu An play with a leaf in his hand.
Standing at the cliff's edge, Gu An gazed toward the horizon and said, "To stop the oceanic calamity."
Hearing this, the Blood Prison Saint's eyes widened. He stepped closer, his voice filled with confusion. "But Master, isn't the calamity far from here? Why intervene now?"
Gu An held the leaf in his left hand while his right hand rested on the Blood Prison Saint's massive head. In an instant, the Blood Prison Saint's expression transformed, his wide eyes reflecting the scene captured by Gu An's divine sense.
Before the massive waves, an enormous humanoid figure stood, over a thousand feet tall. Bare-chested and clad only in tattered pants, its dark body was covered in blood-red scars that seemed ready to split apart. Its wild, disheveled hair framed a face twisted with fury, its gaping mouth filled with sharp fangs. In its hand, it wielded a massive bone blade, exuding a terrifying aura of dominance.
Countless spells and divine abilities rained upon it, yet none could move it even an inch.
Its deafening roars drowned out the thunder overhead, turning the sea and sky into a hellish inferno.
The Blood Prison Saint trembled in fear at the sight of the colossal figure.
The sheer presence of the figure left him trembling.
The immense power displayed by the cultivators was like that of gods, reversing the tides and casting light brighter than the sun and moon. Yet, their efforts only emphasized the terrifying strength of the thousand-foot-tall monster.
When Gu An raised his right hand, the Blood Prison Saint's vision returned to normal. He instinctively looked at Gu An, wanting to see more, only to find Gu An raising his left hand. With a casual flick, the leaf in his hand shot forward, gleaming like a sword as it disappeared into the distant horizon.
Gu An turned to leave.
The Blood Prison Saint stared in disbelief before hurriedly following.
"Master, that's it? You're done?"
"What else?"
"All you did was throw a leaf?"
"Why make a fuss?"
"But… I mean, how… Master, what realm have you reached?" the Blood Prison Saint stammered, struggling to find the words.
He didn't doubt that Gu An's strike would work. He was simply shocked.
From such a great distance, using nothing but a single leaf, Gu An could eradicate a terrifying figure that countless cultivators had failed to defeat? What level of cultivation was needed to achieve such a feat?
Gu An offered no response, leaving the Blood Prison Saint to ponder the answer in stunned silence.
Far away, over the ocean, the skies were dark with storm clouds. Lightning flashed, and torrential rain poured as violent winds howled in all directions.
Chi Jiuxiao gripped his Dragon-Slaying Spear tightly, his body wreathed in flames that evaporated the raindrops before they could touch him. He stared at the terrifying figure in the distance, his eyes filled with a mix of struggle and determination.
"What is the origin of that creature?" Chi Jiuxiao thought to himself, equal parts shocked and furious.
The senior cultivators fighting ahead exuded an overwhelming aura far beyond his reach, and among them, twelve figures reminded him of the Sword Master of the Dao.
Yet, even with so many mighty cultivators gathered, they couldn't harm the thousand-foot figure in the slightest.
How could he not be terrified?
Some cultivators had already fled in fear, and Chi Jiuxiao hesitated—should he also retreat?
If the senior cultivators ahead decided to retreat, they would undoubtedly be faster than him. In that case, whoever ran slower would surely die.
But what if they chose to fight to the death? If Chi Jiuxiao fled now, how could he ever hold his head high in the cultivation world again?
At that moment, Chi Jiuxiao faintly heard a sound slicing through the air. Before he could react, his vision was filled with dazzling brightness, and his pupils instinctively darted around.
Time seemed to freeze. The world stood still. The cultivators casting spells became motionless, their techniques suspended mid-air. The thousand-foot figure froze in place, its terrifying, snarling posture unchanged.
The torrential rain hung in the air, every droplet reflecting the gleam of a sword.
The roaring waves of the ocean appeared like blooming white flowers, tragically beautiful in their stillness.
A streak of sword light tore through this nearly frozen world, racing past cultivators, weaving between Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals, and rushing directly toward the monstrous figure.
The sword light reflected in the crimson eyes of the thousand-foot figure.
Boom!
The figure's head exploded in an instant, and the towering wave behind it was blown apart, creating a massive gap that stunned every cultivator present.
Sunlight poured through the sky, for even the thunderclouds above had been torn apart!
Upon closer inspection, the sea of storm clouds ahead had been split in two, extending all the way to the horizon where the ocean met the sky. The end of the chasm couldn't even be seen.
It all happened too fast. Not only was Chi Jiuxiao unable to react, but even the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals remained frozen, still holding their casting postures.
As they watched, the headless thousand-foot figure turned to ashes and scattered in the wind.
One by one, the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals turned to face the direction from which the sword light had come, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. Yet, none of them panicked.
Given the speed of the sword light, if its wielder had wanted to kill them, no amount of preparation or defense could have saved them.
"Who made that move?"
"What incredible speed and overwhelming sword intent!"
"Could it be a ninth-stage Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal?"
"Even at the ninth stage, it's hard to imagine such dominance."
"Which great power's territory lies in that direction?"
The Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals exchanged thoughts through their divine senses, while the rest of the cultivators erupted in thunderous cheers after a brief silence.
Chi Jiuxiao watched the once-unstoppable wave, now a broken bridge collapsing at both ends, his expression full of complicated emotions.
It was the Sword Master of the Dao!
There was no doubt in his mind.
He had felt the sword intent on the Heaven Mending Platform before and had been saved by the Sword Master himself. Moreover, the direction from which the sword light had come aligned perfectly with the Tai Xuan Sect.
But how could the Sword Master of the Dao reach this place from the Tai Xuan Sect? Could he have already arrived nearby?
For reasons unknown, Chi Jiuxiao suddenly entertained a wild thought.
Perhaps the Sword Master of the Dao had never left the Tai Xuan Sect. Otherwise, why would he employ such a long-distance attack?
At that moment, someone shouted, "It's the Sword Master of the Dao! That direction leads to the Tai Xuan Sect. I visited the sect years ago and felt his sword intent myself!"
The name "Sword Master of the Dao" caused every cultivator to tremble.
After the disbanding of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, the Sword Master of the Dao had become a legendary figure across the oceans. Though not everyone knew his name, the high-level cultivators who had come to assist here were well aware of the truth behind the Seven Stars Realm's collapse.
If it truly was the Sword Master of the Dao, everything made sense.
Their understanding quickly turned into awe and exhilaration.
How could the Sword Master of the Dao be so powerful?
One of the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals raised a hand, and a single leaf landed in his palm. His expression turned complicated as he studied it.
The other Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals turned their attention to the leaf, sensing the residual sword intent emanating from it.
Before anyone could speak, the leaf disintegrated into ash and disappeared as if it had never existed.
Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley with the Blood Prison Saint following closely behind. As Gu An wandered about, the Blood Prison Saint trailed him with a gaze full of complex emotions, struggling to calm the storm raging in his heart.
As Gu An walked, his thoughts lingered in puzzlement.
Why hadn't his lifespan increased?
Could it be that killing vengeful ghosts didn't yield lifespan?
Was the so-called immortality of these entities tied to their lack of lifespan altogether?
Though Gu An felt a hint of regret, he took solace in having averted a calamity.
Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. More disasters would surely emerge from the Great Rift of the Broken Sea. What kind of foe would appear next?
At that moment, You Yingying approached him and said, "Gu An, I've decided to return to the Star Sea Sect."
"Why?" Gu An asked.
"With a calamity looming, it's obviously safer at the Star Sea Sect. I like you, so I'm inviting you to come with me. But no one else can join us," You Yingying said, her eyes wide with earnestness.
Gu An shook his head. "I won't go. My cultivation is too low to survive in the Star Sea Sect. If the Tai Xuan Sect falls tomorrow, I'd rather perish with it."
The Blood Prison Saint, watching from a distance, couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Master was at it again, fooling the naïve!
You Yingying opened her mouth to respond but ultimately said nothing. She patted Gu An on the shoulder before turning away to pack her things.
Gu An made no effort to stop her. It was better for You Yingying to return to the Star Sea Sect sooner rather than later. At least she wouldn't cause him any more trouble.
You Yingying carried a peculiar karmic entanglement that suppressed her potential and lifespan. Unable to discern its nature, Gu An had no intention of becoming further involved.
Developing a deeper relationship would only create an emotional burden. If that day ever came, he would be compelled to help her—and that would be far too troublesome!