If I become a saint, a celestial official will summon me to raise horses.

Chapter 232 The Cataclysmic Calamity is Coming

After Lu Baitian sat down, he began to ask Gu An what kind of conference would be more attractive.

Ye Lan, Zhen Qin, and Shen Zhen stood aside listening, also very curious about how Gu An was devising strategies for Lü Baitian.

Gu An pondered and said, "The Tai Xuan Sect has already held many conferences. Although the types are changing, most disciples do not feel a sense of participation. Moreover, other sects have begun to follow suit. No matter what type of conference we hold, it will be difficult to increase our influence."

Lü Baitian nodded; he was also troubled by this.

Other sects weren't stupid. Seeing that Tai Xuan Sect was profiting, they also started holding similar conferences. Especially with the Cang Tian Sect joining in, cultivators from all over the world flocked to them, causing Tai Xuan Sect's appeal to decline significantly.

To this day, the Cangtian Sect remains the number one sect in the cultivation world of three dynasties.

Shen Zhen also fell into thought.

Although the Great Yu Dynasty is gone, the Dao Tian Sect still exists, and it has now established a close relationship with the Tai Xuan Sect. The better the Tai Xuan Sect develops, the more beneficial it is to the Dao Tian Sect.

Gu An continued, "Actually, our Tai Xuan Sect has the greatest advantage. We have two Mahayana Realm cultivators and the mysterious Fu Dao Sword Venerable. In this respect, the Cang Tian Sect cannot compare. If you want to surpass the Cang Tian Sect, why not hold a Heavenly Ranking? There will be no age limit or cultivation level requirement. The winner will be determined by a battle. Only the top 100 will be selected. As long as we spread the word, all cultivators in the world will be shocked. Sects that dare not participate will only be ridiculed."

"If the Cangtian Sect doesn't dare to participate, they will definitely be considered weaker than our Taixuan Sect in the eyes of all cultivators. If they do participate, then we can have a normal competition to see if that Dao Lord can defeat Senior Xuan and Senior Qiao."

Upon hearing this, Lü Baitian's eyes lit up, but he still hesitated and asked, "In a battle between cultivators at the Mahayana realm, how do we stop them once they get really into a heated argument?"

Gu An thought for a moment and said, "How about holding it in the outer sect? We can use the Sword Master as a deterrent."

Lu Baitian frowned, somewhat hesitant.

In fact, the higher-ups of the Tai Xuan Sect were equally wary of the Sword Master Fu Dao. They did not know what the Sword Master Fu Dao was after, nor did they know his true origins.

They used to fantasize that the Sword Master Fudao was a hermit trained by the Taixuan Sect, hiding his cultivation level so that no one knew about him. But as immortals continued to enter their field of vision, they realized that the soil of the Taixuan Sect could not possibly nurture such an existence. The Sword Master Fudao was simply too strong, so strong that they had to face reality.

"If the sect leader is worried about displeasing the Sword Venerable, he can put a portion of the proceeds from the Heavenly Ranking Tournament into the Heaven-Mending Platform and offer it to the Sword Venerable as a token of sincerity," Gu An suggested.

Lu Baitian hesitated and asked, "Is this a good idea?"

Gu An continued, "You can go to the Heaven-Severing Axe and ask him. The Sword Master is an immortal, so he will surely hear you. As long as you explain the implications clearly, he should acquiesce."

"After the Heavenly Ranking is held, as long as the Tai Xuan Sect cultivators hold the position of number one in the world, other sects will not be able to hold the Heavenly Ranking Conference again, because only the number one sect in the world is qualified to hold it. If the Cangtian Sect does not get the number one position, its morale will also be affected."

"Just like the previous Golden Ranking Conference, the Heavenly Ranking should also be recorded. It would be best to give it to all cultivators in the world without charging spirit stones. First, spread the influence, and then collect spirit stones from the list of the second Heavenly Ranking Conference for profit."

Once the Tai Xuan Sect utters these words, the matter is considered settled.

Throughout history, various sects have not been unaware of this possibility, but rather, even if they had, they dared not act upon it. Gathering the world's top cultivators within their own sect to compete for supremacy could lead to annihilation if things were to spiral out of control.

The Tai Xuan Sect is different; it possesses the Sword Master Fu Dao, a being who breaks the balance!
Shen Zhen couldn't help but say, "This plan is really vicious. No sect in the world can refuse it. Even if they know they can't win the title of number one in the world, they still have to participate."

The more Lü Baitian thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. As long as the Tai Xuan Sect won the title of the number one sect in the world, the Tai Xuan Sect could recruit more great cultivators in the future!

"What if the Holy Land and overseas cultivators also participate?" Lu Baitian asked hesitantly.

Gu An laughed and said, "Doesn't that further prove the influence of the Tai Xuan Sect? Even cultivators from holy lands couldn't resist coming to participate. Anyway, as long as our people's rankings are the highest in the Three Dynasties' cultivation world, that's fine."

Lu Baitian thought it made sense, and then began to discuss the specific details with Gu An.

Simply shouting slogans is useless; we need to set up specific benefits to attract more cultivators to participate.

As Ye Lan watched Gu An and Lü Baitian discuss matters concerning the overall situation of the world, she sighed inwardly, thinking that her senior brother was indeed destined to be extraordinary.

Zhen Qin didn't think that much; she had already begun to fantasize about the Heavenly Ranking Conference.

Who wouldn't want to be the best in the world?
Although she wasn't qualified to compete, she still wanted to know who was the number one cultivator in the world.

An hour later, Lü Baitian left in a hurry, not even bothering to celebrate the Spring Festival.

Gu An led the three women downstairs to enjoy the Spring Festival atmosphere with the disciples. There were many disciples in the Medicine Valley, and a market had even been set up, making it very lively.

As evening approached, Lu Lingjun returned. The difference in cultivation level between her and Ye Lan and the other two women was so great that no conflict occurred. However, she was preoccupied and did not concern herself with the relationship between Ye Lan and Gu An.

Gu An first returned to Xuan Valley, where he drank with the disciples before returning to the Third Medicine Valley to continue the revelry.

The next morning, the guests left, the disciples continued their work, and Lu Lingjun also left Medicine Valley and flew to the sect's main city.

A few days later, one night, Gu An saw Lü Baitian lead dozens of elders to the front of the Heaven-Severing Axe. They set up an array to prevent other disciples and cultivators on the platform from hearing it.

After they finished explaining the Heavenly Ranking Tournament, the Heaven-Slaying Axe remained silent, so they assumed that the Sword Venerable Fudao had tacitly agreed.

Gu An was already looking forward to the benefits of the Heavenly Ranking Conference, which would allow him to buy a lot more high-level herbs.

Early the next morning, Gu Zong led a large group of cultivators to find Lu Lingjun. These cultivators were at least at the Void Transcending Realm, and there were over a hundred of them.

Lu Lingjun immediately led the group of disciples south, while Gu Zong exchanged pleasantries with Gu An for a while before leaving.

Gu An didn't ask Lu Lingjun what she was going to do, but he knew without guessing that it was for the ascended beings overseas.

A month later.

The Tai Xuan Sect announced the Heavenly Ranking Tournament, and notices about it were quickly posted throughout the cities of the cultivation world. Simultaneously, Lü Baitian sent invitations to various sects, acting first and reporting later. The world was shaken!

The higher-ups of various sects were furiously cursing the Tai Xuan Sect for its shamelessness, while the middle and lower-level cultivators were invigorated.

Many people are curious: setting aside the Sword Master Fudao, who is the number one swordsman in the world?

Because of his immense strength, the Sword Master Fudao was considered an outsider by the cultivators of the Three Dynasties, and the title of the strongest in the land remained undetermined.

When Gu An rode the Blood Prison Great Sage to the outer city, the disciples coming and going were all discussing the matter, and were very excited.

Yang Jian, who was standing next to the Blood Prison Great Sage, was also thrilled by what he heard.

It is unknown whether he will ever have the chance to be listed on the Heavenly Ranking in this lifetime.

Along the way, Yang Jian noticed that Gu An greeted people from time to time, and knew a great many people, including some cultivators with their subordinates. This made Yang Jian admire Gu An even more.

Early this morning, Gu An asked Xiao Chuan to pass on a message to Yang Jian, saying that he would take him to the outer city. Yang Jian was immediately very excited.

This means that Gu An has begun to truly accept him!

He wasn't the only one who thought this way; the other servant disciples thought the same. As a result, many people began to follow his example, and dozens of people gathered around the White Spirit Rat, leaving An Xin feeling helpless.

"Yang Jian, are you truly willing to become my disciple?"

Gu An's sudden question startled Yang Jian, who was lost in thought, and he instinctively asked, "What?"

Gu An glanced at him, which startled him so much that he broke out in a cold sweat.

"Fool, your master is asking if you are truly willing to become his disciple!" the Blood Prison Great Sage said, his tone mocking, though he was actually concerned about Yang Jian.

Yang Jian had served him for five years, so he naturally had a good impression of him and wanted to help him out.

Others may not know Gu An's true cultivation level, but the Blood Prison Great Sage knows it very well.

The strongest person in this Tai Xuan Sect is Gu An, and he even suspects that the mysterious Fu Dao Sword Master is Gu An.

"Ah? I'm willing! I'm willing! Master, please accept my bow!"

Overjoyed, Yang Jian knelt down in the street.

The disciples passing by all looked at him with strange expressions.

Gu An didn't feel ashamed and accepted his apprenticeship ceremony. Only after he kowtowed three times did he let him get up.

The Great Sage of Blood Prison continued forward, and Yang Jian followed closely behind, trembling with excitement.

Having been a member of the Third Medicine Valley for five years, Gu An held an incredibly high position in his mind. Despite seemingly only having the cultivation level of Core Formation, the valley actually harbored a powerful cultivator at the Profound Heart Realm, which fueled his imagination.

Blood Prison Great Sage glanced at Yang Jian, who was trembling all over, and suddenly felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

Why?

This kid doesn't seem special at all; he's utterly mediocre!
Such a person can become Gu An's disciple, while he, the invincible ascendant who roams the world, can only serve as a mount.

The Great Sage of Blood Prison felt a mix of emotions.

If he hadn't been so arrogant when he first ascended to immortality, and hadn't chased after Li Ya and Zhang Bukui, he wouldn't have ended up like this.

However, upon further reflection, he realized that even if he cultivated for another thousand years, he might not be able to come into contact with a great cultivator like Gu An. Even if he did, he would probably be crushed to death.

He turned misfortune into blessing.

"He can have many disciples, but if he only has me as his mount, then the meaning is different." The Blood Prison Great Sage became excited again when he thought of this.

As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner...

Pooh!
An apprentice will eventually graduate, but a mount is a lifelong relationship!
Even a thousand years later, when Gu An sets him free, he still wants to show his loyalty, saying that he will always be Gu An's mount.

He wanted Gu An to be his support in the Tianling Great World.

The more the Great Sage of Blood Prison thought about it, the more excited he became, and his bull body began to tremble.

Gu An looked down at him, then at Yang Jian beside him. He suddenly felt a little worried. Had Yang Jian been corrupted by the Blood Prison Great Sage? He seemed a little mentally unstable.

Just then, a ragged old man stopped the Blood Prison Great Sage. He looked at Gu An, his eyes wide, and muttered incoherently, "A calamity is coming to the human world. The ocean will swallow everything. The cataclysm of destruction is coming..."

The Great Sage of Blood Prison stopped and looked at him suspiciously.

Yang Jian was also drawn to him.

After the old man finished speaking, he turned and left, then stopped other cultivators passing by and said the same thing.

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(End of this chapter)