Saint Who Lay Low

Boom—

Thunder roared incessantly as the sea surrounding the island began to surge, and fierce winds swept across the area, heralding the arrival of a great storm.

Gu An stood with his back to Yang Jian, his divine sense stretching across millions of miles of the sea, alert to the presence of any powerful cultivators nearby.

As for the tribulation that Yang Jian had drawn, Gu An wasn't concerned. For such a tribulation, it wasn't particularly significant in the vast ocean. After all, while the spectacle was terrifying, it was only relative to those of lower cultivation levels.

Yang Jian remained suspended in mid-air, his eyes closed in meditation. His robe flapped wildly in the wind as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged violently into his body through his nose and mouth. At the same time, his skin released fiery energy from his pores, encircling him in a domineering aura.

He furrowed his brows in pain, his mind completely absorbed in enduring the agony of his transformation. He had no awareness of what was happening around him or even that he was floating mid-air.

The sound of thunder rumbled like the wrathful roar of the heavens, oppressive to the extreme.

The Blood Prison Saint lay flat on the ground, his mood now calm and expectant. He wanted to see just what kind of extraordinary destiny this brat could forge for himself.

Boom!

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shot down from the heavens, striking Yang Jian squarely. His robes turned to ashes in an instant, and his body was charred black. Blood seeped from his scorched skin, covering him in a horrifying layer of red. Within three breaths, his figure resembled a bloodied corpse.

Gu An turned to look at Yang Jian, his expression calm as ever.

The Blood Prison Saint remained unshaken. He could see that Yang Jian wasn't in any immediate danger.

Bolt after bolt of heavenly lightning followed!

Gu An quickly noticed that the lightning contained Five Elemental Spiritual Energy.

"Could it be that his physique can directly absorb Five Elemental Spiritual Energy?"

No wonder it required such an immense amount of spiritual energy to unlock the deep-rooted restrictions in his bones.

Too extraordinary, and thus rejected by the heavens?

Gu An's eyes reflected a flicker of anticipation. He wanted to see just how far Yang Jian could transform.

Yang Jian continued to endure the relentless strikes of heavenly lightning. His body was ripped apart, blood spraying into the air. Yet his aura didn't weaken—instead, it began to brew an even stronger force.

After an incense stick's worth of time, Yang Jian's figure was hairless, and not a single patch of skin remained intact. At his joints, faint glimpses of white bone could be seen.

The heavenly lightning surged to a new, terrifying level. Even the Blood Prison Saint tensed up, worried that Yang Jian might suddenly perish.

At that moment—

Gu An sensed a powerful presence rapidly approaching.

It was a Nirvana Realm cultivator, not strong enough to pose a threat.

As long as no Loose Immortal or higher showed up, Gu An had no need to forcibly remove Yang Jian from the scene.

Before long, a figure shot into the island, flying swiftly over the forest before landing by the lake. The figure's gaze fixed immediately on Yang Jian, shock evident in his expression.

[Xunxian Daoist (Nirvana Realm, Ninth Layer: 20489/25000/300000)]

Xunxian Daoist?

The name sounded familiar.

Suddenly, Gu An remembered. Wuxin had once told him about a mysterious monk who had imparted the Dao Yan Technique to him, calling himself Xunxian Daoist.

Gu An hadn't expected this person to be at the Nirvana Realm!

That meant that even during his weaker days, a Nirvana-level cultivator had roamed the Three Dynasties' Domain. If he had acted recklessly back then, draining lifespans without restraint, he could have easily been killed.

The realization brought a sense of relief. Thankfully, he had been cautious and kept a low profile.

The Xunxian Daoist, despite the title "Daoist," appeared much like a monk. He wore a deep yellow monk's robe and a draped cassock, his appearance youthful and handsome.

Gu An said nothing, but the Blood Prison Saint was clearly annoyed. The bull bellowed, "Hey, smelly monk! Who gave you permission to come here? At least announce yourself before barging in!"

Since deciding to be Gu An's only mount, the Blood Prison Saint's mindset had shifted completely.

The monk could disrespect him—but not his master!

The Xunxian Daoist glanced at the Blood Prison Saint, smiling faintly before turning to Gu An. He cupped his hands in greeting and said, "This humble Daoist is Xunxian. May I know the name of this Daoist friend and the relationship between you and this young man?"

Gu An replied calmly, "I go by Meng Lang. He is my disciple."

The Xunxian Daoist's gaze lingered on Gu An, assessing his cultivation level. Sensing only a Core Formation Realm aura, he clearly didn't believe it. If he couldn't see through this man's true cultivation, then the odds were high that Gu An's realm far exceeded his own.

With a faint smile, the monk said, "Meng Daoist, your disciple is truly remarkable. His destiny exceeds the limits of the current world. He was meant to be buried and forgotten, yet you discovered him. Because of this, the heavens will change for his sake."

Gu An raised an eyebrow and asked indifferently, "Oh? Did I do something wrong?"

The monk shook his head with a gentle smile. "Not at all. The affairs of heaven and earth hinge on change. The new replaces the old, a constant cycle. There is no right or wrong in this matter."

He then turned his gaze back to Yang Jian, a look of curiosity and awe flickering in his eyes.

Gu An asked, "Daoist friend, do you know what physique he possesses?"

The Xunxian Daoist fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. "It's difficult to say. He bears traces of the Ancient Five Elements Treasure Body, yet there is also a ferocious blood essence akin to the Primordial Tyrant Body…"

The Ancient Five Elements Treasure Body?

Gu An had once possessed the Five Elemental Treasure Body, but it had already evolved into the Innate Dao Body, and later, into his current Mysterious Sacred Body.

"Are the Five Elemental Treasure Body and Primordial Tyrant Body really that incredible?" the Blood Prison Saint asked, his curiosity palpable.

Gu An's expression remained calm, but inwardly, he was satisfied.

Good. The bull had developed some discernment. If he had asked that question himself, it would have seemed beneath him.

The Xunxian Daoist turned his gaze to the Blood Prison Saint, his face beaming with an amiable smile. "Naturally, they are extraordinary. In ancient times, talent wasn't solely determined by spiritual roots or aptitude. A person's physique could play a decisive role. Those who possessed treasure bodies could ascend to become unmatched masters of the Immortal Dao, regardless of their spiritual root quality."

He then began explaining what he knew about ancient treasure bodies.

The Exquisite Treasure Body—a physique with supreme comprehension, untouched by demonic corruption.

The Fiery Sun Treasure Body—a body blazing like the sun. When cultivated to its peak, one could merge with the sun itself.

The Reverse Blood Treasure Body—a terrifying physique that would trigger immense potential whenever pushed to the brink of death, permanently increasing one's strength.

And so on.

The Xunxian Daoist described a total of eight treasure bodies, leaving both Gu An and the Blood Prison Saint in awe.

From his words, it seemed that the Immortal Dao of ancient times had been far stronger than the present, with countless treasure bodies flourishing and numerous clans coexisting. There were even rumors of reincarnation, where powerful beings entered the cycle of rebirth in search of their Immortal Fate.

Gu An broke the silence. "Daoist friend, I ask that you keep today's events to yourself."

The Xunxian Daoist had shown no hostility, and even shared so many ancient secrets. While this didn't make him an absolute ally, it at least proved that—for now—he bore no malice.

The monk nodded in agreement. "Worry not. This poor Daoist would not wish to see such a promising talent perish prematurely."

Boom!

Suddenly, a terrifying surge of energy erupted from Yang Jian, shaking the surrounding forest. Even the tranquil surface of the nearby lake began to ripple violently.

Above him, the thunderclouds flashed red, and a monstrous bolt of crimson lightning tore through the heavens, striking Yang Jian squarely. A heart-wrenching scream burst from his lips.

"Profound Nether Heavenly Tribulation…" the Xunxian Daoist murmured, his brows furrowing deeply as he uttered each word.

Profound Nether Heavenly Tribulation?

Gu An recognized the name instantly. This was the tribulation he had encountered during his simulated cultivation when breaking through to the Void Crossing Realm.

"This tribulation isn't right! It's not something someone at his cultivation level can withstand—this is a certain death!" The Blood Prison Saint's voice trembled with disbelief.

The lightning's intensity far surpassed what he had faced during his own breakthrough to the Body Fusion Realm. Even now, the terrifying might of the Profound Nether Heavenly Tribulation continued to build, its true horror yet to unfold.

The Xunxian Daoist inhaled sharply. "Indeed, this is a certain death tribulation. It seems the heavens do not tolerate him."

Gu An's thoughts turned to An Hao. Like Yang Jian, An Hao's lifespan had been capped at nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years. Yet, the tribulation An Hao faced was nowhere near this level.

"Could it be that even among those with such extreme lifespans, there are differences in talent?"

After all, that number only represented the limit of mortals. However, talent itself had no ceiling.

The Xunxian Daoist turned to Gu An. "The Profound Nether Heavenly Tribulation is a tribulation of karmic consequence. It cannot be forcibly dispelled. To intervene is to stain oneself with its karma. In the future, when breaking through, one would face the same tribulation—or worse."

His voice carried a tone of deep regret.

"What a pity," he sighed, looking at Yang Jian.

Gu An, however, simply gazed at Yang Jian in silence.

Stained with heavenly tribulation karma?

Sorry, but Gu An didn't undergo tribulations. He had already overcome the Profound Nether Heavenly Tribulation during his simulated cultivation—on his own, without anyone's help.

Another thunderous bolt descended, even more ferocious than before.

Gu An's eyes narrowed, and with a sudden sweep of his sleeve—

Whoosh!

A powerful gust of wind burst forth, dispersing the thunderclouds in an instant. Sunlight broke through the sky, shining brightly upon Yang Jian's bloodied figure.

The tribulation vanished entirely!

The Xunxian Daoist's eyes widened in shock, his face filled with disbelief. He turned to stare at Gu An, only to find his expression completely calm—unmoved, as though nothing had happened.

The Blood Prison Saint also turned his head, hesitant to speak, his mouth hanging slightly open.

The Xunxian Daoist slowly exhaled, his emotions complex. "Daoist friend… what was the point of that…"

Gu An looked at Yang Jian, who was covered in blood, and said calmly, "Cultivators must endure tribulations. If the heavens refuse to let him pass, then I'll replace it with another tribulation. My disciple's fate can only be decided by me."

What arrogance!

The Blood Prison Saint felt his blood boil, his heart pounding with excitement. Following a master like this was undoubtedly the greatest blessing of his life.

The Xunxian Daoist stared at Gu An for a long moment. His lips parted as though he wanted to say something, but ultimately, he held his tongue. Instead, he raised his hands in salute, showing his deep respect.

Afterward, the two of them silently waited for Yang Jian to awaken.

Even now, they could feel the tremendous changes taking place in Yang Jian's body. With the tribulation dissipated, vast amounts of spiritual energy surged into him, nourishing his muscles, bones, and meridians. His very being was undergoing a profound transformation.

Time passed slowly.

The Xunxian Daoist turned to Gu An and asked, "Might I inquire, Daoist friend, where you hail from?"

Gu An glanced at him and replied indifferently, "From the west."

"The west?"

The monk hesitated, then said, "Has Daoist friend ever heard of Xunxian Island?"

Gu An raised a brow, curious. "Xunxian Island? Are you related to it?"

The Xunxian Daoist smiled. "Indeed. I once founded Xunxian Island and later passed it on to my disciple. Whatever reputation the island enjoys today is thanks to him, not me."

Xunxian Island's master was said to have reached the Wandering Immortal Realm. Yet this monk was only at the Nirvana Realm.

Clearly, cultivation wasn't everything. Connections and legacy were also forms of power.

Gu An reflected on this thought, continuing to chat with the monk casually.

It wasn't until dawn that Yang Jian's transformation finally concluded.

With a splash, he jumped into the lake to wash off the blood and grime from his body.

When he emerged onto the shore, the sunlight revealed his new form. He had grown a few inches taller, his skin pale and flawless, his muscles finely chiseled. Even just standing there, the sheer strength contained within his frame was palpable.