Chapter 234: My Disciple's Life and Death Can Only Be Decided by Me

Chapter 234 My Disciple's Life and Death Can Only Be Decided by Me

Rumble—

The continuous roar of thunder echoed across the sky, causing the surrounding ocean to surge. Fierce winds howled, as if heralding an impending storm.

Gu An stood with his back to Yang Zhi, his divine sense enveloping the vast sea for millions of miles, ready to guard against the approach of powerful cultivators.

As for the Heavenly Tribulation that Yang had triggered, Gu An wasn't particularly concerned. In the vast ocean, such tribulations were insignificant. After all, given Yang Zhi’s cultivation, what seemed terrifying was only relative to lower-realm cultivators.

Yang Zhi remained seated in midair, his eyes closed in deep meditation. His robes billowed violently as heaven and earth’s spiritual energy surged madly into his nose and mouth. At the same time, every pore in his body expelled scorching air currents, forming an aura of immense pressure around him.

His brows furrowed as he endured unbearable pain, focusing entirely on his inner transformation. He was completely unaware of what was happening around him—even oblivious to the fact that he was floating.

The thunderclaps roared like the wrathful cries of celestial deities, oppressively overwhelming.

The Blood Prison Great Saint lay on the ground, his heart now calm, filled only with anticipation.

He was eager to see—what kind of heaven-defying fate Yang Zhi would forge for himself.

Boom!

A sudden bolt of divine lightning struck Yang Zhi, instantly reducing his robes to ashes. His body turned blackened and charred, and as the lightning dissipated, fresh blood seeped from his skin, making for a horrific sight. Within just three breaths, he was drenched in blood, looking like a man carved from crimson.

Gu An turned to observe him, his expression remaining calm.

Blood Prison Great Saint was also unfazed. He could tell that Yang Zhi was not in mortal danger.

One after another, heavenly lightning bolts rained down!

Gu An quickly noticed something unusual—these tribulation bolts contained the essence of the Five Elements.

Could it be that Yang’s physique could directly absorb Five Elements Spiritual Energy?

No wonder such an overwhelming amount of energy was needed to break the shackles deep within his bones.

Too monstrous—so much so that even the Heavenly Dao sought to erase him?

Gu An’s expectations for Yang Zhi grew. What kind of transformation would he undergo?

Yang Zhi continued to endure the lightning’s wrath, his flesh torn apart and blood spraying in every direction. Yet his aura did not weaken. On the contrary—a stronger force was brewing within him.

After the time it takes for a single incense stick to burn, all of Yang Zhi’s hair had been incinerated. His skin was stripped away, and his exposed joints revealed glimpses of white bone.

The power of the tribulation intensified to an entirely new level, causing even Blood Prison Great Saint to grow anxious. Would Yang Zhi suddenly perish under the next bolt?

Just then—

Gu An sensed an approaching presence.

A Nirvana Stage cultivator, though not particularly strong.

As long as no Scattered Immortal or higher-level beings arrived, Gu An wouldn't need to intervene and forcibly take Yang away.

Before long, a figure flew into the island.

He passed through the mountain forests and swiftly landed by the lake. He didn't look at Gu An or Blood Prison Great Saint—his gaze was fixed on Yang Zhi, his expression filled with astonishment.

[Seeker of Immortality Daoist (Nirvana Stage, Ninth Layer: 20,489/25,000/300,000)]

Seeker of Immortality?

The name rang a bell.

Gu An suddenly recalled—Wu Xin had once mentioned that the monk who taught him the Dao Yan Technique called himself the Seeker of Immortality Daoist.

He never expected this person to actually be at the Nirvana Stage!

That meant—when Gu An was still weak, there were already Nirvana Grandmasters roaming the land.

Had he been reckless in seizing lifespans back then, even with rapid growth, he could have easily perished at the hands of such a cultivator.

He inwardly felt fortunate—thankfully, he had been discreet.

Despite his name, the Seeker of Immortality Daoist looked more like a monk—dressed in deep-yellow monk robes, draped in a kasaya, with a face that was youthful and strikingly handsome.

Gu An remained silent, but Blood Prison Great Saint was displeased.

“Hey, smelly monk! Who let you in here? And you didn’t even greet us?” he snapped.

Ever since deciding to become Gu An’s sole mount, his mindset had shifted completely.

This monk might not respect him—but he absolutely had to respect his master!

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist turned to glance at Blood Prison Great Saint, smiling faintly, before clasping his hands toward Gu An and greeting him.

“I am the Seeker of Immortality Daoist. May I ask for your esteemed name, fellow Daoist? And what is your relationship with this young man?”

Gu An replied calmly, “My name is Meng Lang. He is my disciple.”

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist observed Gu An’s aura, sensing only Core Formation Stage cultivation.

Impossible.

His curiosity deepened. If he couldn’t discern Gu An’s true cultivation, that meant this man’s level was likely higher than his own.

He smiled. “Meng Daoist, your disciple is extraordinary. His fate surpasses the limits of this world’s Heavenly Dao—he should have been buried and forgotten. But you have unearthed him, and now, the world will change because of him.”

Gu An asked, “Oh? Did I do something wrong?”

“Not at all. The affairs of the heavens are dictated by change—new replaces old, the cycle never stops. There is no right or wrong.” The Seeker of Immortality Daoist smiled and turned his gaze back to Yang Zhi, his eyes filled with intrigue.

Gu An then asked, “Daoist, do you know what physique he possesses?”

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist pondered for a moment before answering, “It is difficult to say. He has traces of the Ancient Five Elements Treasure Body, as well as the robust Primordial Tyrant Body…”

Five Elements Treasure Body?

Gu An had once possessed this physique himself—before evolving into the Innate Dao Body, and later transforming into his current Profound Saint Body.

Blood Prison Great Saint interrupted, “Are those physiques powerful?”

Gu An was very pleased with his mount’s keen observation.

If he had asked the question himself, it would have been beneath his status.

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist chuckled and replied, “Of course they are. In the ancient past, talent was not solely determined by spiritual roots or aptitude—physiques played a crucial role. Those with special physiques, regardless of their spiritual roots, would inevitably become legendary rulers of the Immortal Dao.”

He then began explaining the treasure bodies of ancient times.

Exquisite Treasure Body – A physique with supreme comprehension, immune to demonic corruption.

Fiery Sun Treasure Body – A body burning like the sun, capable of turning into a celestial blaze upon mastery.

Reverse Blood Treasure Body – When facing death, it triggers an explosive surge of power, sometimes permanently increasing strength.

And more!

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist described eight different treasure bodies, leaving both Gu An and Blood Prison Great Saint in awe.

From his words, it seemed that ancient cultivators were far stronger than those of today.

Various treasure bodies flourished, numerous clans ruled the world, and even reincarnation cycles were possible—allowing supreme cultivators to seek immortality through rebirth.

Gu An finally spoke, “Daoist, I hope you will keep today’s events a secret.”

Although the Seeker of Immortality Daoist wasn’t necessarily a good person, he had shared much valuable knowledge. At the very least, he didn’t seem hostile.

The monk nodded. “Rest assured. I, too, would hate to see such a promising seedling wither.”

Boom!

Suddenly, Yang Zhi erupted with a terrifying surge of energy, shaking the forest and sending ripples across the lake.

The thunderclouds above turned crimson.

A blazing red tribulation bolt crashed down on Yang, causing him to let out an agonizing scream.

“The Profound Nether Heavenly Tribulation…” the Seeker of Immortality Daoist muttered grimly.

"The Profound Nether Heavenly Tribulation…"

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist spoke each word carefully, his brows furrowing deeply.

Profound Nether Heavenly Tribulation?

Gu An recognized the name.

It was the same tribulation he had faced when breaking through to the Void Transformation Stage during his simulated cultivation evolution.

"Something's wrong with this tribulation! He shouldn't be facing this at his level—it's a death tribulation!" Blood Prison Great Saint exclaimed in horror.

This tribulation was even more terrifying than the one he had endured when ascending to the Integration Stage.

He could sense that the Profound Nether Heavenly Tribulation was still brewing, its full might yet to descend.

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist took a deep breath and spoke solemnly, “Indeed, this is a tribulation that ensures death. The Heavenly Dao refuses to accept his existence.”

Gu An thought of An Hao—another being with a lifespan limit of 9,999 years—yet when An Hao underwent tribulation, he hadn't faced such a catastrophic ordeal.

Could it be that, even among those at the extreme lifespan limit, there were differences in talent?

That number—9,999 years—was merely a threshold for mortals. But true talent had no limits.

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist turned to Gu An and warned, “The Profound Nether Heavenly Tribulation is a tribulation of karma. It cannot be forcibly dispersed. If you interfere, you will be entangled in its karma. When you attempt your next breakthrough, you too will face the same tribulation—or one even stronger.”

His voice carried a hint of regret.

What a pity.

This young man—a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy—was doomed to perish.

Gu An remained silent, gazing at Yang Zhi.

Entangling himself in a heavenly tribulation's karma?

Sorry, but he didn’t need to endure tribulations at all.

Besides—he had already endured this exact tribulation once before and survived.

He had done so without anyone’s help, without external treasures—solely by his own strength.

Boom!

Another heavenly lightning bolt crashed down, even more terrifying than before.

Gu An's eyes sharpened.

Suddenly—he raised his sleeve and waved it.

A fierce gust of wind surged forth, instantly dispersing the tribulation clouds in the sky.

The dark clouds vanished.

Sunlight spilled down onto the island.

The tribulation was completely erased.

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist’s eyes widened in shock. His expression froze as he turned to stare at Gu An.

Even Blood Prison Great Saint stiffened, his mouth opening slightly, at a loss for words.

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist felt the lingering traces of heavenly might dissipate.

His expression became incredibly complex.

After a long moment, he sighed and muttered, "Daoist… why go to such lengths?"

Gu An looked at Yang Zhi, whose body was drenched in blood, and said indifferently, "Cultivators must face tribulations to ascend. If the heavens refuse to let him through… then let him face another tribulation instead. My disciple’s fate is mine to decide."

What domineering words!

Blood Prison Great Saint felt his blood boil with excitement.

Following this man—was a blessing of fortune.

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist studied Gu An, as if seeing him in a new light. He hesitated for a moment, then finally lowered his head and gave a respectful salute.

Gu An accepted it with indifference.

Then, they both silently waited for Yang Zhi to awaken.

They could feel his vital essence rapidly strengthening.

With the tribulation gone, surging spiritual energy flooded toward him, nourishing his bones, meridians, and muscles, inducing an indescribable transformation.

Time passed.

Eventually, the Seeker of Immortality Daoist turned to Gu An and asked, “Daoist, where do you hail from?”

"From the west."

“The west?”

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist pondered for a moment before asking, “Have you ever heard of Seeker’s Island?”

Gu An's gaze sharpened slightly.

Seeker’s Island.

Seeker of Immortality Daoist.

Could there be a connection?

The Seeker of Immortality Daoist smiled. “Ah, so you’ve been to Seeker’s Island before. To be honest, I was the one who founded the island. Later, I passed it on to my disciple. The island’s current fame is entirely due to him—I had no part in it.”

Seeker’s Island’s master was known to be at the Roving Immortal Stage.

Yet this Seeker of Immortality Daoist was only at the Nirvana Stage.

Indeed—one should never judge a person by their cultivation alone.

Background, influence, and connections were also a form of strength.

Gu An mused over this thought and then engaged in polite conversation with the Seeker of Immortality Daoist.

They chatted until the early hours of dawn.

Finally—

Yang Zhi’s transformation was complete.

He leapt into the lake, cleansing the blood and charred remnants from his body.

When he emerged onto the shore, he had changed.

Bathed in morning sunlight—he stood taller, his skin had become smooth and radiant, and his muscles now carried defined, powerful contours.

Just looking at his physique, one could sense the overwhelming power he now possessed.