Inside the Soul-Suppressing Tower.
Immortal of Death opened his eyes, his brows furrowed deeply, an expression of confusion and suspicion filling his gaze.
"Why has his aura disappeared?"
He began performing deduction techniques, yet the thought that Bai Hong True Person might already be dead didn't cross his mind. After all, he was well aware of his disciple's strength. Within the same realm, Bai Hong True Person could suppress three powerful Spectral Wraith Kings single-handedly. Such a terrifying level of power meant that even if he encountered a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal, it wouldn't result in a death so silent and thorough.
However, no matter how he deduced, he couldn't locate Bai Hong True Person's presence.
What was worse, Bai Hong True Person's karmic traces were rapidly dissipating.
This indicated that Bai Hong True Person had likely perished, and not just physically—his soul had been obliterated, with the rules of the universe erasing all traces of his existence.
Immortal of Death's brows tightened further, his heart a mixture of shock and fury.
Could it be the work of a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal?
To erase someone so completely, it couldn't be the handiwork of a low-level Unrestrained Primordial Immortal!
His first suspicion fell upon the beings of the Sacred Court. How could such a powerful entity reside within this mortal realm?
To Immortal of Death's knowledge, the strongest beings in this region were no more than Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals. The sects here merely brushed the edge of powers capable of reaching beyond this world.
Even the enigmatic Supernatural Realm Lord had kept this area suppressed for countless years. How could a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal be hiding here?
Wait.
Suddenly, Immortal of Death recalled the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
His impression of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm wasn't deep, but he had some understanding of it. The Seven Stars Spirit Realm had always sought to curry favor with the Sacred King he served. Yet, the Sacred King had little regard for the realm. However, certain subordinates of the Sacred King had benefited from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm's offerings. To some extent, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm could be considered a part of his faction.
He remembered a certain Daoist mentioning how the Seven Stars Spirit Realm once sought aid, but the Daoist deemed the request unworthy of his effort. Instead, the realm was tasked with a mission—helping bring the Supernatural Realm Lord into existence. Shortly afterward, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm was dismantled, its remaining forces dismissed as a mere local power struggle.
Now that he thought about it, could this mortal realm be hiding something extraordinary?
Could it be related to that reincarnated existence they were searching for?
Immortal of Death's eyes flickered with interest. Instead of fear, a hint of excitement emerged.
Slaughtering the masses was never his true goal. Everything he did was meant to flush out the reincarnated existence. Now, signs were beginning to appear. How could he not be delighted?
Immediately, he retrieved an ancient bronze oil lamp and cast a spell over its wick.
It was time to summon the old fellows to join him.
The catastrophe brought on by Bai Hong True Person's actions spread across a staggering range. The continent housing the Tai Xuan Sect managed to escape unscathed, leading many sects to speculate that it was the work of Sword Master of Dao. As a result, his name once again swept through the continent like wildfire.
While the mainland rejoiced and marveled, the oceans were deathly silent. Countless islands and continents had been turned into seas of fire.
Bai Hong True Person's divine ability was far beyond what ordinary cultivation sects could withstand.
Even when sects managed to assemble defensive formations in time, they couldn't hold back the all-encompassing flames. This was one of the reasons Gu An had decided to step in.
This inferno left three-tenths of the realm's population dead—an astonishingly grim number.
Seven days after the calamity.
Gu An arrived alone at Xunxian Island. The atmosphere on the island was oppressive, and the number of cultivators moving about had drastically diminished. A tense air lingered over the streets.
Judging by the state of the city's structures, it appeared to have been spared from the direct impact of the heavenly fire. However, the surrounding seas were littered with dead fish and demon beasts, evidence that Xunxian Island had not entirely escaped the inferno's reach.
The divine ability of a Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal is enough to annihilate all beings!
Gu An summoned Hu Xiaojian, and the moment Hu Xiaojian saw him, he heaved a sigh of relief.
"Senior, you're finally here!" Hu Xiaojian's tone carried a trace of grievance. Seven days ago, he genuinely thought he would die on Xunxian Island. Although the calamity passed without incident, he had been living in constant fear since then, worried that another disaster might suddenly strike.
Gu An teased him, "So scared?"
Hu Xiaojian nodded fervently, saying, "How could I not be? Did you see that inferno? It was utterly terrifying, blocking out the sky and the sun. It's hard to imagine the level of cultivation of the person behind it."
He wanted to say that it might even surpass a Loose Immortal's power. After all, there were many Loose Immortals on Xunxian Island, and he had occasionally witnessed their duels, giving him a baseline for comparison.
However, recalling that Gu An himself was a Loose Immortal, he immediately swallowed those words.
"Don't worry. Since ancient times, evil has never prevailed over good. The one behind this will surely meet their retribution," Gu An reassured him.
In truth, Bai Hong True Person, the one responsible for the calamity, was already dead.
Gu An had delayed his visit to Xunxian Island precisely to guard against Immortal of Death launching a surprise attack on Tai Xuan Sect.
But Immortal of Death hadn't shown up. With his capabilities, Immortal of Death must already know of Bai Hong True Person's death. His current inaction suggested that he was planning something.
Gu An suspected that Immortal of Death was rallying reinforcements.
After all, the Grand Cold Demon Sect was a colossal force, its number of cultivators practically incalculable.
Gu An strolled around Xunxian Island with Hu Xiaojian to get a sense of the island's current state.
According to Hu Xiaojian, after this disaster, the island lord appeared to have decided to abandon Xunxian Island. The lord had already sent people to evacuate parts of his wealth and descendants, leaving the Sea Protectorate in a state of panic. Cultivators like Hu Xiaojian were at a loss about where to go.
Previously, Xunxian Island had been their home and their greatest backing. But now, the Sea Protectorate wouldn't take them along.
Hearing this, Gu An didn't comment. Instead, he asked Hu Xiaojian to take him to purchase medicinal herbs, a request that left Hu Xiaojian even more anxious.
He feared this might be Gu An's final visit to Xunxian Island.
Half an hour later.
The two arrived at Hu Xiaojian's courtyard. After Gu An sat down, Hu Xiaojian promptly poured him a drink.
Gu An didn't refuse, his relaxed demeanor putting Hu Xiaojian slightly at ease.
As the drink was poured, Gu An finally spoke. "Relax. I genuinely have an interest in Xunxian Island. I'll be sending a Wandering Immortal here soon to take over the island. By then, your standing in the Sea Protectorate will naturally rise. But you must put in the effort to cultivate diligently if you want to match your new status."
"A Wandering Immortal?"
Hu Xiaojian's entire body trembled. He asked cautiously, "Senior, who exactly are you?"
For Gu An, a mere Loose Immortal, to bring in a Wandering Immortal, it indicated that Gu An had a powerful backing.
To Hu Xiaojian, this was exciting news.
No matter how strong an individual was, they couldn't match the might of a powerful organization.
Gu An said, "Don't ask about my identity. Knowing too much won't do you any good. Even if we fail to fend off Immortal of Death, I'll take you with me. I have a place where you can live in peace. But before that, I want to take a gamble. What if some powerful cultivator from the sea emerges and slays Immortal of Death?"
Hu Xiaojian nodded quickly. Regardless of the outcome, his priority was to cling tightly to Gu An.
That said, deep down, he felt that Immortal of Death was unbeatable.
The inferno from before had left a deep psychological scar on him. Even now, the memory of it sent chills down his spine.
"Senior, what do you need me to do right now?" Hu Xiaojian asked respectfully.