https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-234-What-Realm-Exists-Beyond-Immortality-/12597133/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-236-Breakthrough-After-the-Festival/12599087/
Chapter 235: Only I Decide the Life and Death of My Disciple
Chapter 235: Only I Decide the Life and Death of My Disciple
Rumbling—
The sound of thunder continued to reverberate, causing the ocean around the island to stir as well. Violent winds howled, signaling the approach of a storm.
Gu An stood with his back to Yang Jian, his spiritual sense enveloping the area within a thousand miles, ever vigilant against the approach of a powerful cultivator.
He was not worried about the tribulation that Yang Jian had triggered, as such a tribulation was not a significant threat over the ocean. After all, Yang Jian's cultivation base was evident, and even though it was terrifying, it was only relative to cultivators of lower realms.
Yang Jian remained seated in mid-air with his eyes closed. His robe billowed wildly as the spiritual energy of the world surged into his mouth and nose. At the same time, his pores exuded scorching qi that swirled around him, giving off an oppressive aura.
His brows were furrowed tightly as he endured agony that was beyond the imagination of ordinary people. His mental focus was entirely on his internal state, oblivious to the events occurring in his surroundings, and he even didn't realize that he had taken to the skies.
The thunderous rumble resembled the roar of a heavenly deity, incredibly oppressive.
Xueyu Da Sheng lay on the ground, having adjusted his mindset. Now, he only felt anticipation.
He wanted to see what kind of heaven-defying fate Yang Jian would be able to achieve.
Boom! A sudden bolt of lightning struck Yang Jian, instantly turning his robe into flying ashes. His body turned charred black, and as the lightning faded, blood began to seep from his skin, a gruesome and terrifying sight. In less than three breaths, he had transformed into a man of blood.
Gu An turned to look at Yang Jian, his eyes remaining calm.
Xueyu Da Sheng also maintained his composure, as he could tell that Yang Jian was not yet in mortal danger.
One bolt of lightning after another continued to strike!
Gu An keenly sensed that these bolts of lightning contained the five elemental energies.
Could it be that Yang Jian's physique could directly absorb the five elemental energies?
No wonder such a massive amount of spiritual energy was required to break free from the constraints at the root of his bones.
Was he too much of a monster, and thus, heaven's will would not tolerate his existence?
Gu An's expectations of Yang Jian grew, and he wanted to see what kind of transformation Yang Jian would undergo.
Yang Jian continued to endure the strikes of the heavenly lightning, his flesh torn open, and blood splattering. However, his aura did not weaken because of this; instead, he was brewing an even more potent force.
After the time it takes to burn a joss stick, there was not a single strand of hair left on Yang Jian's body, nor was there any intact patch of skin. At the joints, the white bones could be vaguely seen.
The might of the heavenly lightning escalated to an entirely new height, causing even Xueyu Da Sheng to feel tense, fearing that Yang Jian would suddenly perish.
At this moment,
Gu An sensed an aura rapidly approaching.
This item belonged to a cultivator at the Nirvana Stage, but not a particularly strong one.
In a wandering immortal or loftier realm, so long as a figure of that stature had yet to emerge, Gu An would have no reason to compel Yang Jian to act against his will.
Not long after, a figure flew into the island. He glided over the mountains and forests and swiftly landed by the lakeside. Without looking at Gu An or Xueyu Da Sheng, he fixed his gaze on Yang Jian, his expression astonished.
[Xiun Xian Dao Ren (Seeking Immortal Daoist) (Nirvana Realm Layer Nine: 20,489/25,000/300,000)]
Xiun Xian Dao Ren?
Where had he heard that name before?
Gu An suddenly recalled that Wuxin had mentioned that the monk who taught him the Dao Yan Gong had called himself Xiun Xian Dao Ren.
He had not expected this person to be a Nirvana Realm existence!
In other words, when he was weak in the past, there had been a Nirvana Realm grand cultivator roaming the Three Kingdoms lands. If he had wantonly taken lifespans during that time, growing at a faster rate, he might have still died at the hands of this Nirvana Realm grand cultivator.
This realization made him secretly relieved that he had been low-key enough.
Although Xiun Xian Dao Ren had the word "Daoist" in his name, his appearance resembled that of a monk. He wore a deep yellow monk's robe and was draped in a kasaya, his countenance ageless and instead, youthful and handsome.
Gu An remained silent, but Xueyu Da Sheng was displeased. He shouted, "Hey, stinky monk, who allowed you to come in? And you didn't even greet us after entering?"
Ever since he had decided to become Gu An's only mount, his mindset had shifted.
This monk could disrespect him, but he must respect his master!
Xiun Xian Dao Ren looked at Xueyu Da Sheng, smiled, and then turned to Gu An. He clasped his fists and bowed, saying, "I am Xiun Xian Dao Ren. May I ask for your name, friend, and what your relationship is with this young man?"
Gu An replied calmly, "My name is Meng Lang, and he is my disciple."
Xiun Xian Dao Ren sensed that Gu An's cultivation base was only at the Golden Core Realm, and he did not believe it. Instead, he grew even more curious.
He could not see through the other party's actual cultivation base, which suggested that the other party's cultivation was likely higher than his.
He smiled and said, "Friend Meng, your disciple is extraordinary. His fate surpasses the restrictions of the current world, and he was meant to be buried and forgotten. Yet, you managed to uncover his potential, and because of him, the world will undergo changes."
Gu An asked, "Oh? Did I do something wrong?"
"Not at all," Xiun Xian Dao Ren laughed. "The affairs of the world revolve around the word 'change.' With the new replacing the old and constant innovation, there is no distinction between right and wrong." His gaze then shifted to Yang Jian, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Gu An asked, "Do you know what kind of physique he has?"
Xiun Xian Dao Ren pondered for a moment before replying, "I cannot make a judgment either. He possesses the wonders of the ancient five elemental treasure bodies and also the vigorous blood of the ancient Hegemon bodies..."
Five elemental treasure bodies?
Gu An himself had been a five elemental treasure body in the past, but he had since evolved from that into a Primordial Dao body and eventually transformed into the enigmatic Sacred body that he possessed now.
"Are the five elemental treasure bodies and the ancient Hegemon bodies very powerful?" Xueyu Da Sheng asked, earning Gu An's satisfaction.
Good, he had an eye for talent!
If Gu An had been the one to ask these questions, it would have diminished his status somewhat.
Xun Xian Dao Ren turned to the Blood Prison Great Sage and said with a smile, "Of course, in ancient times, one's innate talent was not determined solely by spiritual roots or natural endowment. One's physical constitution played a significant role as well. Those who possessed a precious body would inevitably become unparalleled sovereigns of the immortal path, regardless of their spiritual roots or natural endowment."
He then proceeded to share his knowledge about the eight types of precious bodies from ancient times.
The first was the Ling Long Treasure Body, a constitution with extremely high comprehension abilities, impervious to evil invasions.
The second was the Lie Yuan Treasure Body, where the physical body resembled the scorching sun, and upon reaching perfection, one could transform their body into a brilliant sun.
The third was the Ni Xue Treasure Body, which, when in a state of near death, would unleash hidden potential and even lead to permanent increases in strength.
And so on!
Xun Xian Dao Ren's descriptions of the eight treasure bodies left Gu An and the Blood Prison Great Sage amazed and enlightened.
From his explanations, it seemed that the immortal path in ancient times was even more formidable than it was in the present. Various treasure bodies flourished, countless races stood tall, and there were even manifestations of reincarnation, allowing powerful beings to enter the cycle of rebirth in search of immortal fate.
"Fellow Daoist, I hope you will keep what happened today to yourself," Gu An said.
Xun Xian Dao Ren had not shown any hostility towards him and had even shared so many ancient secrets with them. He might not be an absolutely good person, but at least, for now, he didn't seem malicious.
Xun Xian Dao Ren nodded and said, "Rest assured, I also do not wish to see such a promising talent perish."
Boom!
Suddenly, a terrifying aura burst forth from Yang Jian in the sky, shaking the trees and causing ripples in the nearby lake.
A red light appeared in the thunderclouds, and a fearsome red heavenly tribulation lightning struck Yang Jian, causing him to let out a piercing scream.
"The Xuan You Heavenly Tribulation..." Xun Xian Dao Ren frowned, emphasizing each word.
The Xuan You Heavenly Tribulation?
Gu An recalled that name. It was the celestial tribulation he had experienced when he advanced to the Du Xu Realm during his evolutionary cultivation.
"There's something wrong with this tribulation. It's not something that someone of his cultivation level can overcome. It's a deadly tribulation!" The Blood Prison Great Sage exclaimed in fear.
How could this tribulation be even more intense than the one he faced when he reached the Fusion Realm?
He could sense that the Xuan You Heavenly Tribulation was still brewing its might, and the true terror had yet to arrive.
Xun Xian Dao Ren took a deep breath and said, "Indeed, it is a deadly tribulation. It seems that the heavens do not tolerate his existence."
Gu An, meanwhile, thought of An Hao, who also had a lifespan limit of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years. However, during his tribulation, he had never encountered heavenly lightning of such intensity.
Could it be that even among those with the same lifespan limit, there were differences in innate talent?
This number was merely the limit for mortals, but innate talent had no boundaries.
Xun Xian Dao Ren looked at Gu An and said, "The Xuan You Heavenly Tribulation is a tribulation of cause and effect. It cannot be forcibly dispersed. Once you intervene and become entangled in the cause and effect, you will also face the Xuan You Heavenly Tribulation, or even a stronger one, when you break through in the future..."
His face was filled with regret.
What a waste of such promising talent.
Gu An turned to look at Yang Jian but remained silent.
Entangled in the cause and effect of the heavenly tribulation?
Sorry, but he didn't undergo any tribulation at all, and he had already overcome this type of tribulation through his evolution cultivation. Without any external help, he endured it!
Another bolt of heavenly lightning struck, and this time, its might was even more terrifying!
Gu An's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly waved his sleeve.
The long sleeve created a whirlwind that dispersed the thunderclouds in the sky, allowing sunlight to shine down on Yang Jian.
The heavenly tribulation dissipated instantly!
Xun Xian Dao Ren's eyes widened, and he looked at Gu An in astonishment. Gu An, however, maintained a calm and indifferent expression, as if what he had just done was a trivial matter.
The Blood Prison Great Sage turned to look at Gu An, wanting to say something but stopping short.
Xun Xian Dao Ren sensed the dissipation of the heavenly might, and his expression became complex. He sighed and said, "Fellow Daoist, why go to such lengths..."
Gu An looked at the bloodied Yang Jian and said, "It is the fate of cultivators to undergo tribulations. What does it matter if it's a different kind of tribulation? Only I decide the life and death of my disciple."
How domineering!
The Blood Prison Great Sage's blood boiled with excitement. Following such a person was truly a blessing.
Xun Xian Dao Ren looked at Gu An, opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent. Instead, he raised his hand in a respectful gesture towards Gu An, expressing his admiration.
After that, the two of them waited for Yang Jian to regain consciousness.
They could sense Yang Jian's qi and blood rapidly strengthening. After the tribulation dissipated, surging spiritual energy was flowing into Yang Jian, and his bones and body were undergoing a mysterious transformation.
Time passed.
Xun Xian Dao Ren looked at Gu An and asked, "May I ask where you are from, fellow Daoist?"
"From the West."
"The West?"
"Have you heard of Xun Xian Island?"
Gu An glanced at Xun Xian Dao Ren, his eyes filled with curiosity.
Xun Xian Island... Xun Xian Dao Ren... Could there be a connection?
A smile appeared on Xun Xian Dao Ren's face as he said, "So, fellow Daoist has been to Xun Xian Island. To be honest, Xun Xian Island was once an island I founded, but I later handed it over to my disciple. Its current fame has nothing to do with me."
The master of Xun Xian Island was a Yu Xian existence, while Xun Xian Dao Ren was only in the Nie Pan Realm.
Indeed, one's realm was not the sole measure of their strength. Background and connections were also a part of one's power.
Gu An marveled at this, and then politely engaged in small talk with Xun Xian Dao Ren.
It wasn't until the early morning of the next day that Yang Jian's transformation finally ended. He jumped into the lake to clean himself and then emerged from the water.
In the sunlight, he appeared to have grown a few centimeters taller. His skin was fair, his muscles well-defined, and just by looking at his upper body, one could sense the immense power contained within.
(End of Chapter)
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