Watching the ragged old man shout crazily about the calamity, the cultivators on the street began to whisper to each other, most dismissing it as nonsense. They were only curious where the old man came from, daring to act so recklessly in Tai Xuan Sect's territory.
Gu An, however, was skeptical.
The ocean will swallow everything?
He had heard similar legends before. Such stories were common in the oceans, and coupled with the inexplicable oceanic fissure that appeared in recent years, it was difficult not to take it seriously.
"I'm only 127 years old, why does so much misfortune keep happening?"
Gu An sighed to himself helplessly. The Demon Catastrophe before was not a calamity for mortals but merely a scheme among the cultivation powers—a common occurrence in this world.
If this Oceanic Catastrophe was not aimed specifically at him or the Three Dynasties, he would not dwell on it too much. But if it truly involved him, it would force him to consider whether the Heavenly Dao was targeting him.
Perhaps his method of growing stronger—skipping tribulations and advancing rapidly—made him an anomaly in the eyes of the Heavenly Dao?
Unable to locate the anomaly, the Heavenly Dao might simply initiate a worldwide cleansing.
Calamities were disastrous for living beings, but for the world itself, they were nothing more than a grand reset.
Gu An's thoughts drifted far. Before long, he saw the old man being seized by Law Enforcement Hall disciples. Even as he was dragged away, the man continued shouting:
"The ocean will swallow everything…"
Most people ignored the strange incident, brushing it off as lunacy. Compared to such ramblings, the Heavenly Ranking Tournament was far more exciting and relevant.
The title World's Number One stirred the hearts of countless cultivators.
Gu An wasn't too concerned. The old man didn't have extraordinary longevity or a hidden cultivation level—he was just at Foundation Establishment Realm.
Bringing Yang Jian to the Pill Hall, Gu An told him to observe carefully, listen well, and prepare to help with tasks in the future.
Yang Jian was both thrilled and anxious, afraid of making a mistake that would disappoint Gu An.
By evening, they returned to Medicine Valley.
As spring gave way to summer, Gu An stepped into his 128th year.
The Heavenly Ranking Tournament had already spread throughout the world, though the exact date was yet to be announced. Thanks to Tai Xuan Sect's efforts, 90% of the cultivators across the Three Dynasties had heard about the event.
Who would claim the title of World's Number One? It had become a topic of heated discussion among cultivators.
On this particular day, Gu An arrived at Xunxian Island. He had just set foot there when he overheard cultivators discussing the Ten Thousand-Year Great Ocean Tide.
According to legend, every ten thousand years, the ocean would surge, flooding entire continents. The waters would not recede for centuries. While not all tides were catastrophic, the most severe ones could drown the entire mortal realm—a disaster that occurred only once in a million years.
No one knew how long it had been since the last extinction-level tide. That uncertainty alone fueled widespread panic.
Many individuals claimed they had divine premonitions or visions of the calamity during their cultivation. Those with lower cultivation even suffered deviations or madness.
Some linked the prophecy to the oceanic fissure that appeared earlier, speculating that it was a precursor to the catastrophe.
When Gu An found Hu Xiaojian, the latter immediately brought up the rumors with a worried expression.
"The world really seems to be spiraling into chaos. First, the battle between the Seven Stars Spirit Realm and the Star Sea Sect, and now this talk of the extinction tide. It feels like we're living in the worst of times," Hu Xiaojian lamented.
Gu An reassured him, "Nothing is certain yet. Don't overthink it."
Though the rumors were everywhere, the sea level had shown no sign of rising—at least not near the Three Dynasties.
According to the legends, the calamity would be preceded by centuries of oceanic buildup. During this time, spiritual energy beneath the sea would erupt, enriching the world's spiritual essence and accelerating cultivation progress for all.
It was said to be Heaven's small mercy—allowing those strong enough to ascend beyond this realm before the catastrophe struck.
But for most cultivators, escaping in time was a distant dream. To reach Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm in a matter of centuries would require a foundation of at least Void Crossing Realm.
Strolling through the streets with Hu Xiaojian, Gu An listened to the chatter of passing cultivators while enjoying the scenery.
Suddenly, a figure appeared before them—a young woman dressed in yellow robes. She had an elegant posture, an extraordinary temperament, and a beautiful face. Her cultivation had reached the Profound Heart Realm.
"May I ask if you are Senior Meng Lang? My lord wishes to invite you for a visit. My lord is none other than Tang Hai True Person," the woman said respectfully.
Using a Profound Heart Realm female cultivator as a maid?
What a grand display of authority!
As Gu An pondered, Hu Xiaojian quietly explained, "Tang Hai True Person is an honorary elder of the Sea Protectorate on Xunxian Island. He is widely respected for his upright conduct and integrity."
In other words, he could be trusted.
Gu An glanced at Hu Xiaojian, then turned to the woman and said, "Lead the way."
With a sweep of his divine sense, he examined her lifespan—just over two thousand years. On the mainland, she would be hailed as a supreme genius. On Xunxian Island, however, she was merely a servant.
The woman bowed gracefully, then turned to lead them.
Half an incense stick later, they arrived at a sprawling estate. Hu Xiaojian chose to wait at the entrance while Gu An entered.
The Tao Hai Manor was grand, filled with numerous servants, none of whom had a cultivation lower than Nascent Soul Realm.
Guided into a courtyard, Gu An spotted a man in blue robes seated at a table, calmly sipping tea. His demeanor was refined and scholarly, akin to a cultured gentleman.
The yellow-robed woman halted, respectfully bowed to Tang Hai True Person, and silently departed.
Tang Hai True Person looked at Gu An, stood up, cupped his fists, and said with a gentle smile, "Daoist friend, I may have disturbed you by inviting you here today, but I hope you won't take offense."
Gu An walked to the table, casually returned the greeting, and replied, "No problem. I have time to spare."
The two of them sat down and exchanged pleasantries for a while before Tang Hai True Person finally brought up his purpose.
"Over the years, your purchases of natural treasures have been staggering, to the point where many people are curious about you. But don't worry—no one would dare cause trouble on Xunxian Island, and I've also blocked some of the prying eyes for you," Tang Hai True Person said, stroking his beard with a smile.
Gu An was unsure of his intent but nodded and offered his thanks out of courtesy.
The strongest cultivators on Xunxian Island were merely at the Wandering Immortal Realm, so Gu An didn't see anyone here as a threat.
Tang Hai True Person continued, "The recent rumors about the Extinction Ocean Tide are spreading like wildfire. Regardless of their truth, the world is unsettled. If we cultivators can stick together during such times, it will be for the best. I am planning to host a private auction here in ten years, and there will even be Immortal Dao Spirit Trees up for bidding. If you're interested, I hope you can join. As a token of goodwill, I'll let you purchase anything at seventy percent of the closing price."
His tone was warm and his demeanor serene, like a spring breeze.
Hearing this, Gu An's expression softened, and he smiled. "I thank you, Tang Hai True Person."
An Immortal Dao Spirit Tree?
This truly piqued his interest. The highest-grade spiritual tree he currently possessed was only of the ninth rank. He could only imagine what kind of wonders an Immortal Dao Spirit Tree would hold.
Seeing Gu An's acceptance, Tang Hai True Person grew even more enthusiastic.
The two conversed for a long while. Tang Hai True Person revealed his intention to form a small sect of Loose Immortals, planning to explore ancient Immortal Dao secret realms together.
After an entire hour, Gu An finally left Tao Hai Manor.
Hu Xiaojian followed behind without asking any questions—he was perceptive enough not to pry.
As autumn's first breeze swept through the Third Medicine Valley, Yang Jian stood by the wooden railing, silently staring at the pavilion where Gu An resided, lost in thought.
It had been some time since he formally became Gu An's disciple. Yet, his life hadn't changed much. Gu An hadn't passed on any techniques or spells to him, leaving Yang Jian feeling both anxious and impatient.
He was already twenty-one years old, yet his cultivation remained stuck at the third layer of Qi Refining Realm. He couldn't help but compare himself to others.
He had heard that An Hao, the number one genius of Tai Xuan Sect, had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm at his age.
Time passed as Yang Jian daydreamed.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Yang Jian washed a batch of fruit, arranged them on a large wooden tray, and delivered them to the Blood Prison Saint.
Just as he was about to leave, a voice echoed from the pavilion upstairs.
"Yang Jian, wait for me downstairs after dark."
Hearing this, Yang Jian trembled with excitement. He quickly bowed toward the pavilion but kept quiet, afraid of attracting attention from others.
An hour later, Yang Jian stood at the base of the stairs, now wearing a clean set of robes. His eyes constantly darted to the window upstairs, eagerly awaiting his master.
The Blood Prison Saint, watching him, couldn't help but chuckle and tease him occasionally. Yang Jian's face flushed red as he fumbled to defend himself, though his words came out incoherent.
The room's door suddenly opened, and Yang Jian stood straight as a rod.
Gu An descended the stairs and headed straight for the Transmission Array Platform. Yang Jian hurried to follow, with the Blood Prison Saint trailing behind them.
The three passed through the transmission array and arrived at Xuan Valley. From there, they continued toward a secluded forested area.
Yang Jian, walking behind Gu An, felt a nervous weight on his chest. He wanted to ask when Gu An would teach him a cultivation technique but feared he might overstep.
The journey stretched on through the night. By the time dawn broke, Yang Jian was exhausted and dazed.
Gu An signaled for the Blood Prison Saint to stop by a large river. The clear waters reflected the sunlight, and small fish and crabs could be seen swimming below the surface.
As the sun rose, Gu An turned to Yang Jian and asked, "Yang Jian, do you desire a superior cultivation technique?"
Yang Jian scratched his head awkwardly and replied, "If there is one, of course, I'd want it…"
Gu An didn't mind his honesty. He looked at Yang Jian and asked in a calm voice, "What are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of cultivation?"
He intended to train Yang Jian rigorously, keeping him close for cultivation—something even An Hao hadn't received.
Yang Jian was stunned for a moment, then said earnestly, "I have nothing to offer, but this life of mine is dedicated to the Dao of cultivation. I will persevere until death."
Gu An's expression remained calm. "Your physique is unique. You struggle to absorb Qi, and you've surely noticed this yourself."
Yang Jian's face fell instantly.
He had known for a long time that his talent was not just mediocre—it was downright poor. In the Third Medicine Valley, he was at the bottom tier. Despite being here for years, he had barely progressed a single minor realm. This was precisely why he longed for higher-level techniques.
"I can turn you into a genius," Gu An said slowly, his voice steady, "but you will endure pain beyond what any ordinary person can bear—pain that can only be described as shattering your body and bones. Do you dare face it?"
Gu An's gaze bore into Yang Jian, and his tone grew indifferent.
Yang Jian felt his heart tighten. "Master… You're not trying to scare me, are you?" he asked cautiously.
The phrase shattering bones and body sounded terrifying.
Gu An replied calmly, "Defying the heavens to change fate is never easy. If you're afraid, I won't force you. I'll still pass on the necessary techniques and spells to you, but your cultivation path will be slow and arduous."
Yang Jian hesitated, then asked, "Master, has anyone else succeeded before me?"
Gu An shook his head. "You are only my second true disciple. The others were merely given pills to aid their progress. Your senior brother, however, is already a renowned genius of the world."
Renowned genius?
Yang Jian's jaw dropped. Doubt filled his mind.
Isn't Master only at the Core Formation Realm?
How could he have such a powerful disciple?
A genius renowned throughout the world?
Could they really compare to An Hao, Tai Xuan Sect's number one genius?