"Grand Cold Demon Sect? Immortal of Death? Where did this come from?"
Shen Zhen frowned, muttering with visible unease.
Gu An replied casually, "I'm not sure, but judging by their proclamation, they must be a major force from the seas. Just when things had settled down for a few decades, another big event is brewing."
Shen Zhen tried to comfort him. "There's no need to worry too much. The Deep Sea Rift is so far away from us. This world is full of capable people; good always triumphs over evil. We'll get through it somehow."
Gu An nodded but held an entirely different opinion in his heart.
The Grand Cold Demon Sect's background stretched to unfathomable heights.
As Bai Ziya had once explained, sects like the Grand Cold Demon Sect and other demon path sects with immense fortune often served as tools for the Sacred Court. There were always matters where the Sacred Court could not intervene directly.
The Sacred Court wasn't inherently malevolent, but its role in maintaining the balance of the world sometimes required sacrifices—wiping out regions or entire populations to achieve a greater stability.
If the Sacred Court had truly abandoned this area, what was the reason?
Surely it couldn't be because of the Supernatural Realm?
The Supernatural Realm wasn't directly related to them and could have been eliminated independently.
Gu An suspected there were deeper reasons he wasn't privy to yet.
Using his divine sense, Gu An observed the Immortal of Death. He was not the same Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal who had fought the three Spectral Wraith Kings earlier, but rather a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal. His arrival had interrupted the battle.
Gu An watched as the Immortal of Death placed a grand tower at the edge of the Deep Sea Rift. It grew taller and taller, piercing the clouds and standing at least 100,000 feet high—a truly awe-inspiring sight.
The Immortal of Death flew into the tower, while the three Spectral Wraith Kings retreated into the Deep Sea Rift. The Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal who had been fighting them entered the tower as well, clearly allied with the Immortal of Death.
Gu An decided to observe whether any other Unrestrained Primordial Immortals would intervene within the century.
Turning back to Shen Zhen, they resumed their conversation about worldly matters. As small cultivators in the grand world of cultivation, their discussions often carried tones of envy and awe.
Before long, Shen Zhen excused herself, and Gu An descended from the pavilion, intending to discuss the Grand Cold Demon Sect with the disciples and cultivators of the valley.
The Immortal of Death's proclamation had shaken the world, sparking discussions wherever people gathered.
When Gu An arrived at the Go area, he found Nine-Finger Divine Lord and Qie Wuxing deep in conversation with senior cultivators of the Tai Xuan Sect about the Grand Cold Demon Sect. A crowd of disciples surrounded them, listening intently with nervous expressions.
Even Shenxin Zi sat among the crowd, quietly listening despite rarely speaking.
Ever since Shenxin Zi had spoken with Qie Wuxing, there had been no conflicts between the two. They seemed to have reached some form of agreement. Gu An hadn't bothered to investigate, as he didn't believe either of them could stir up significant trouble.
"The Grand Cold Demon Sect was established a million years ago. The Immortal of Death is a figure of legend—who would have thought he was still alive? This is going to be a major problem," Nine-Finger Divine Lord remarked, deliberately avoiding any mention of the Sacred Court, a topic clearly too sensitive to discuss openly.
A million years!
The disciples were wide-eyed with shock, unable to fathom the enormity of such a timespan.
The younger disciples, however, were filled with hope. They had yet to fully resign themselves to their fates, believing the Third Medicine Valley was just the first step in their journey into the world of cultivation.
Stories of ordinary individuals achieving greatness through serendipitous fortune were abundant in the cultivation world.
Gu An listened intently, reacting with awe and disbelief like the other disciples, as though he were hearing a fascinating tale for the first time.
Meanwhile, in the Tai Xuan Sect's main city.
Within a grand residence, Lu Lingjun sat opposite Xi Ling Sacred Mother in her courtyard. The two were deep in conversation.
"The Grand Cold Demon Sect is a force comparable to the Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect. In terms of foundation, they might even be stronger. If the Grand Cold Demon Sect is behind the events at the Deep Sea Rift, we're in serious trouble…" Xi Ling Sacred Mother sighed, speaking openly about the Sacred Court's role in the matter.
This was the first time Lu Lingjun had heard of the Sacred Court, and she was utterly shocked.
How vast was this world?
Xi Ling Sacred Mother shared Lu Lingjun's suspicion that the Sacred Court had abandoned this region. Otherwise, the Grand Cold Demon Sect wouldn't be acting with such brazen confidence, even giving a century-long ultimatum. It was a clear signal for major sects to evacuate quickly.
Lu Lingjun couldn't help but ask, "In a hundred years, only cultivation sects would be able to escape. Does this mean all the ordinary people left behind will really perish?"
Xi Ling Sacred Mother's voice grew somber. "The Grand Cold Demon Sect has slaughtered countless beings over the ages. The continents and seas affected by the Deep Sea Rift are but a small fragment of the greater world. To the Grand Cold Demon Sect, this is insignificant, and the Sacred Court won't intervene. The deaths of those in this region won't even cause a ripple in the larger scheme of things."
Lu Lingjun's brows furrowed deeply.
Xi Ling Sacred Mother continued, "I must return to inquire about the true reasons behind the Grand Cold Demon Sect's actions."
Lu Lingjun nodded, already contemplating the worst-case scenario.
As an ascendant, fleeing was no issue for her. But having spent so much time in the Tai Xuan Sect, she had formed many bonds. Her thoughts turned to how she might help those she cared about.
Xi Ling Sacred Mother sighed, lamenting the complexities of worldly affairs.
Initially, she had thought the chaos stemmed solely from the Supernatural Realm's emergence. Now, it seemed far more intricate. The Supernatural Realm's appearance was no coincidence—there had to be powerful forces at play behind the scenes.
The dark clouds loomed, and a fine drizzle fell over Xunxian Island.
In a small courtyard, Gu An, Yang Jian, and Hu Xiaojian sat together. Gu An was listening to Hu Xiaojian elaborate on the Grand Cold Demon Sect.
Three days had passed since the Immortal of Death's proclamation, and in this time, intelligence about the Grand Cold Demon Sect had spread across the seas. Various sects and factions openly shared their findings, and much of this information had reached Xunxian Island.
Yang Jian listened intently, his expression shifting constantly. The way Hu Xiaojian described the Grand Cold Demon Sect made it sound utterly terrifying, as though it were the world's foremost demon sect, with countless demon immortals in its ranks, an unstoppable force.
The true calamity had arrived.
For a long time, there was only the sound of rain.
Once Hu Xiaojian finished speaking and sipped his tea to moisten his throat, Gu An asked, "Have you discovered anything about the Samsara Dao Emperor?"
The Samsara Dao Emperor—Ji Xiaoya's past life—was someone Gu An had always kept in mind.
Hu Xiaojian shook his head. "I couldn't find anything. It's almost as if such a figure doesn't exist. However, since you mentioned them, they must be real. It's just that my reach is too limited. At least here on Xunxian Island, there's not a single clue."
Gu An wasn't angry and simply brushed the topic aside.
Setting down his teacup, Hu Xiaojian looked at Gu An with hesitation. After a moment, he stood up, moved to the side, and knelt, bowing his head repeatedly.
"What are you doing?" Gu An frowned.
Hu Xiaojian lifted his head, his face filled with desperation. "Senior, I beg you to take me away! The Grand Cold Demon Sect is too powerful, and the higher-ups of Xunxian Island are already preparing to flee. I'm just a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. Within the next hundred years, I have no hope of escaping the range of destruction the Grand Cold Demon Sect intends to cover. Even if I manage to escape, who knows if I'll survive in some other region? Senior, you're a Loose Immortal. You can come and go as you please—please take me with you! I'm willing to be your servant!"
Yang Jian, sitting to the side, felt a complex mix of emotions.
This was a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator!
In the Tai Xuan Sect, such a person would be revered by outer disciples and treated with great respect. Yet here, they had no confidence in their survival.
Gu An pondered for a moment before responding, "Don't be so hasty. Stay here on Xunxian Island for now. If the forces on the seas truly can't stop the Grand Cold Demon Sect, I'll take you with me. Until then, help me keep an eye on the Sea Protectorate. If they truly plan to abandon Xunxian Island, I might step in to take control."
Hu Xiaojian froze. He hadn't expected Gu An to still be thinking about Xunxian Island at such a critical moment.
Yang Jian glanced at his master.
Why didn't his master seem afraid of the Grand Cold Demon Sect?
Was it possible that being a Loose Immortal wasn't a cultivation realm but merely an identity?
Hu Xiaojian wanted to dissuade Gu An but was too afraid of offending him. Reluctantly, he agreed.
Gu An noticed his hesitation and reassured him, "Don't underestimate the strength of this world. If the Spectral Wraith Kings from the Deep Sea Rift could have overrun the seas, they would have done so long ago, don't you think?"
Hu Xiaojian nodded thoughtfully. That made sense, and he immediately bowed to Gu An in gratitude.
Gu An waved his hand, helping him up. "No need for formalities. Sit and speak."
Hu Xiaojian continued discussing the Grand Cold Demon Sect, sharing many details he had gathered. However, he had no concrete information about the Immortal of Death.
Gu An, meanwhile, began contemplating how to seize control of Xunxian Island.
First and foremost, he would need a puppet to serve as a figurehead while he operated from behind the scenes.
Through the various channels Xunxian Island provided, he could collect even more medicinal herbs. Besides, the prospect of running such an operation seemed fun.
It felt like preparing to play a strategic management game, which Gu An found oddly exciting.
To control Xunxian Island, he would need at least a Wandering Immortal.
He needed to carefully consider who to choose for this role.
Time passed quickly as the rain grew heavier.
Two hours later, Gu An and Yang Jian left the island, returning to the forests near the Tai Xuan Sect.
Yang Jian, though already familiar with the wonders of the Infinite Free Step, found himself increasingly awed by its mysteries as his cultivation advanced. His respect for his master's abilities deepened.
"Master, do you think anyone can stand against the Grand Cold Demon Sect?" Yang Jian asked cautiously, his words hiding a deeper curiosity.
He didn't dare directly question his master's strength, so he approached the subject indirectly.
Gu An walked ahead, replying casually, "Who knows? Your master, at least, has no certainty of success."
Only "no certainty"?
Yang Jian was secretly shocked. What kind of background did his master have?
Gu An, oblivious to Yang Jian's thoughts, had deliberately underplayed his strength, not realizing it only made Yang Jian more in awe of him.
After hearing Hu Xiaojian's accounts, the Grand Cold Demon Sect had taken on an almost mythical level of terror in Yang Jian's mind—a force so powerful and malevolent it seemed like the ultimate antagonist of any story. To think that his master might stand a chance against them was utterly astounding.
"Jian'er, focus on your cultivation. Even if we survive this ordeal, more challenges will follow. Throughout history, every great cultivator has endured countless trials and tribulations. The more perilous the times, the harder you must train," Gu An said earnestly.
Yang Jian nodded solemnly. "Master, I'll remember your words. I'll work as hard as you did to reach this level."
How many years had it taken his master to reach such heights?
Yang Jian speculated silently. Perhaps it had taken tens of thousands of years—no, maybe his master had been cultivating even longer than the Grand Cold Demon Sect had existed. Perhaps he was merely disguising himself to experience the mortal world.
He believed his master wouldn't deceive him. His master must have endured countless hardships and trained tirelessly to reach his current level.
Gu An continued to impart advice, finding satisfaction in teaching his disciple.
For Gu An, taking on a disciple wasn't just about training—it was also about finding joy in the process.
Yang Jian didn't understand his master's inner thoughts but could feel the sincerity behind his words.