When I Achieved Sainthood, the Immortal Official Actually Called Me to Raise Horses!-Chapter 268: The Tribulation of the Xinghai Sect

"You can pass it on to others if you like, but whether they can master it is another matter. This technique requires a vast amount of medicinal herbs for body tempering. I’m only giving it to you because you happen to own Medicine Valley."

Ji Xuanyu spoke calmly. After finishing, she stood up and turned to leave.

"Leaving just like that?" Gu An couldn’t help but ask.

"I need to cultivate."

Ji Xuanyu replied without looking back. This time, after stepping out, she didn’t bother closing the door.

Gu An chuckled to himself and muttered, "She really still has a girl’s mindset."

He didn’t dwell on it and simply stored away the technique Ji Xuanyu had written down.

In truth, he already possessed similar techniques. He had only asked out of curiosity.

Cultivation methods that altered one's physique often required an abundance of natural treasures—having the method alone was not enough.

Gu An began scanning the entire world with his divine sense, searching for a suitable place to break through.

He couldn’t predict how much commotion his next breakthrough would cause, so he wanted to pick a location far from any living beings.

Judging by the disturbance caused by his last breakthrough, Gu An found himself in a dilemma.

It seemed that no matter where he chose, he would inevitably alert nearby forces and affect countless creatures.

His gaze suddenly fell upon the Severed Sea Rift. He could sense the vast and dense spiritual energy hidden within its depths.

Maybe… he should break through inside the Severed Sea Rift?

The more he thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed.

Once his lifespan reached thirty million years, he would attempt the breakthrough!

Inside a grand hall, An Hao sat cross-legged in a spiritual pool, his brows tightly furrowed, unable to calm his mind.

Suddenly, he snapped open his eyes, his gaze bloodshot. His entire vision swayed violently, making him feel dizzy and disoriented.

Through the haze, he vaguely saw a mass of black energy surge into the hall, rapidly approaching him.

The black mist landed at the edge of the pool and condensed into a human figure.

An Hao tried to stand, but his body refused to move.

"The Fiery Sun Treasure Body… Though forged through cultivation, it surpasses innate physiques. Remarkable."

A voice echoed through the hall.

If Gu An or Yang Jian were here, they would immediately recognize it as Tian Wuchang’s voice.

An Hao locked eyes with Tian Wuchang. Though unable to move, there wasn’t a trace of fear in him.

The black mist roiled as Tian Wuchang revealed a striking yet eerie face. He looked down at An Hao with a greedy smile.

"The Supreme Treasure Body… You cultivated it as well." An Hao’s tone was calm as he spoke.

Tian Wuchang’s pupils shrank sharply, his gaze turning profound. Then, he sneered. "It seems you’re not ordinary. Perfect. After I devour you, I’ll go find the Xuan Gang Tyrant Body next."

An Hao remained seated in the pool, staring at him in silence.

"Tell the Starsea Sect Alliance to prepare. I want to see if the current Starsea Sect still possesses its former glory."

Tian Wuchang’s voice lingered in the air before his figure dissipated into smoke.

An Hao gasped for breath as his body regained sensation.

Bracing himself against the pool’s edge, his face was drenched in cold sweat. But his eyes burned with a feral intensity.

"The Supreme Treasure Body… why…"

He muttered to himself, his voice resembling the low growl of a beast.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

After harvesting a batch of medicinal herbs, Gu An returned to his study and checked his status panel.

Seeing that he was only a hundred thousand years away from reaching thirty million years of lifespan, a smile spread across his face.

Once he reached thirty million years, he would break through!

Seated at his desk, Gu An began speculating about the realm beyond the Free Soaring Immortal Stage.

What kind of power would that be?

Before long, a swift figure stepped into the room, accompanied by a fragrant breeze that pulled Gu An’s consciousness back.

Shen Zhen walked up to his desk, pulled out a book, and placed it in front of him with a smug smile. "Take a look!"

Gu An picked up the book and flipped through it.

As he read, his brows furrowed slightly.

Seeing this, Shen Zhen grew nervous. "Is it really bad?"

The book was a novel—clearly inspired by Journey to the West.

The protagonist was also a demon, though instead of retrieving scriptures, he embarked on an adventure to seek an immortal treasure that could fulfill his wish.

Objectively speaking, it was well-written.

But Gu An felt… regretful.

Shen Zhen had actually gone straight?

Strangely, he suddenly felt a bit pathetic.

When she used to write, he found it annoying. Now that she had stopped, he felt disappointed.

"It’s pretty good. Keep it up." Gu An closed the book and handed it back to her, speaking offhandedly.

Shen Zhen clenched the book in her hands, her grip tightening at his perfunctory tone.

Just then, footsteps approached.

A young woman in white ascended the stairs. At eighteen, Ji Xuanyu’s presence had become even more striking—her features fully matured, her brows captivating, and a faint red mark on her forehead adding to her allure.

Shen Zhen turned to look and was momentarily stunned by Ji Xuanyu’s beauty.

Despite having been in the Third Medicine Valley for years, the two had never met.

Shen Zhen hadn’t visited during the Spring Festival for a long time.

Ji Xuanyu’s gaze fell on Shen Zhen, carefully scrutinizing her.

Shen Zhen suddenly chuckled, then turned to Gu An. "Gu An, do you just not like this kind of book? Do you only read The Secrets of Taixuan?"

Gu An’s expression changed drastically. He immediately retorted, "How could that be? I love books like this! The Secrets of Taixuan? Never heard of it!"

He shot her a pleading glance.

Shen Zhen smirked and placed the book back on the desk. "Then you’d better read it properly. I’ll test you next time I visit."

"Of course! I love it. I’ll have it memorized backwards and forwards by then." Gu An said solemnly.

Shen Zhen threw him a smart choice look before leaving.

As she passed Ji Xuanyu, she nodded with a playful smile, making Ji Xuanyu frown slightly.

Ji Xuanyu approached the desk and asked softly, "Was she threatening you? Tell me, and I’ll settle the score for you."

At eighteen, she had already reached the eighth level of the Foundation Establishment Stage and had full confidence in her strength.

Gu An laughed. "Not at all. We’ve known each other for over a hundred years. She just likes to argue with me. Enough about her—why are you here?"

Ji Xuanyu looked at him and said, "I’m leaving for a while. I need to return to the Ji Family."

"Then go. Do you need me to take you to see the Vice Sect Master?"

"Mm."

Ji Xuanyu nodded, and Gu An stood up immediately.

He had been to the Sect’s main city before and knew where Ji Hantian resided.

These days, he had free access to anywhere in Taixuan Sect, but he preferred wandering around the outer sect cities.

The disciples there were easier to interact with. Inner sect disciples always maintained a certain distance, while those in the main city carried an air of arrogance.

As a Core Formation Stage cultivator, he often received strange looks when entering the main city.

On their way, Gu An and Ji Xuanyu exchanged light conversation. Their words weren’t many, but neither felt uncomfortable with the silence.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the gates of the Ji Residence.

"Go on." Gu An stopped and gestured.

Ji Xuanyu nodded and walked toward the entrance.

She suddenly halted, turning back to watch him leave. A slight frown formed on her forehead, as if lost in thought.

Gu An could feel her gaze but dared not look back—afraid she’d ask about The Secrets of Taixuan.

This life’s Ji Xuanyu was far more inquisitive than in his past. Once she got curious, she would find out the answer.

Using the teleportation platform from the Sect’s main city, Gu An arrived at the Inner Sect City. Suddenly, he sensed an intense battle aura from the south.

One of the auras had already surpassed most Celestial Ascension-level cultivators—almost reaching Free Soaring Immortal, but just a step short!

His divine sense extended in that direction, and his expression turned strange.

It’s him?

A realization struck Gu An, and his face shifted to one of understanding. Without stopping, he continued moving forward.

Walking along the bustling streets, he observed the passing disciples.

Years had gone by, and many Inner Sect disciples were now demons, marking the beginning of true integration between humans and demons.

As he strolled, Gu An casually activated his Lifespan Perception, occasionally examining the karma of disciples along the way.

This was his habit—and also his entertainment.

Boom!

A deafening explosion echoed outside the great hall where An Hao sat meditating. His brows knitted tightly.

Inside the hall, over ten grandmasters—both male and female—stood in dignified silence. Among them were Chi Bei and Chi Jiuxiao, who had once led An Hao to the Starsea Sect Alliance.

"How is he this powerful? Could he really break into our Starsea Sect?"

"He is the Ghost King of Divine Anomalies. If he didn’t have real power, he would’ve been eliminated long ago."

"This is outrageous! How dare he storm into our sect just to take someone?!"

"Hmph. Fortunately, the Sect Master is here. We have nothing to fear."

"That may be true, but his aura is overwhelmingly oppressive…"

The murmurs of the elders filled the hall, but An Hao’s face remained dark.

He never expected Tian Wuchang to be this bold—to actually storm into the Starsea Sect!

An Hao could feel Tian Wuchang’s oppressive presence growing stronger, a clear indication that he was drawing closer… and that he had locked onto him.

Outside the Palace—

The azure sky churned with violent winds, stirring the clouds into a massive vortex above.

Below, floating islands that once stood proud now seemed as insignificant as specks of dust.

Cultivators from all corners of the Starsea Sect flew out one after another, brandishing their magical artifacts, preparing for battle.

The palace doors swung open. An Hao and the other grandmasters stepped outside.

"The Sect Master is here!" a female cultivator exclaimed excitedly.

The other elders breathed a collective sigh of relief.

From within the swirling clouds, a shadowy figure descended like a meteor, landing before the palace, right at the edge of the cliff.

As the glow faded, a man dressed in flowing white robes came into view. His long scarf drifted around him like mist, and his jade-adorned belt jingled softly in the wind.

His back was broad and straight, exuding an unshakable presence.

Even though he stood with his back to An Hao and the others, his aura alone made their hearts tremble.

Great Nether Heaven, Sect Master of the Starsea Sect, Celestial Ascension Realm!

His expression was stern, his long beard fluttering, and his sharp eyes radiated an intense authority.

His long hair was tied in a high crown, adorned with multiple small banners swaying in the wind.

Raising his right hand, one of the banners detached, expanded rapidly, and landed in his palm.

This was none other than the Starsea Primordial Flag—an Immortal Dao Supreme Treasure!

The banner shimmered with countless stars, its immense power shaking the heavens and the earth.

"Starsea Primordial Flag… it’s been a long time."

A cold chuckle echoed through the skies.

As the words fell, the distant firmament suddenly split open.

A massive black rift, stretching hundreds of miles, tore across the heavens, as if the sky itself had been cleaved by a single sword strike.

The sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.