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Phew!
Su Changkong leaped into the air, breaking free from the pull of gravity, and rushed into the clouds, quickly vanishing on the horizon.
Having achieved the status of Martial Saint, flying had become as natural to Su Changkong as an innate ability, allowing him to soar freely through the void!
Returning to the Spirit Taoist Sect, Su Changkong had plans in mind, "Now that I’ve entered the Saint realm, I should visit the Ancient Holy Country eventually but there’s no need to hurry. At least... I must first eliminate Qin Miesheng!"
Becoming a Martial Saint was not Su Changkong’s ultimate pursuit; he aimed to reach the pinnacle of Martial Arts and seek the realm of eternal life!
The resources of the nine human nations were limited, and the Ancient Holy Country was a vast land, larger than the other nine nations combined. It had existed since ancient times, occupying the most fertile lands of the continent. The Martial Saints of the nine human nations ultimately made their way to the Ancient Holy Country.
In visiting the Ancient Holy Country, Su Changkong sought to find traces of the Five Animal True Beast and elevate the Five Animal Frolics to the level of Divine Skills.
Entering the Saint realm was not the end but merely the beginning!
Of course, Su Changkong was not in a hurry; he still had room for improvement.
There was also Qin Miesheng, who was most likely a real demon monster and an enemy of Su Changkong. Not eliminating him would surely be a problem!
Qin Miesheng would not remain hidden forever; he was bound to take action. All Su Changkong had to do was wait.
"My Blade Nurturing Art has not yet reached the 11th level. Now that I have achieved Martial Saint status and cultivated the Mysterious Tortoise Golden Core, why not try using the power of the Golden Core to nurture the Blade Soul?"
Back at the Spirit Taoist Sect, Su Changkong focused on cultivating the Blade Nurturing Art.
Previously, Su Changkong had nourished the Blade Soul with Five Qi, and now, with the power of the Mysterious Tortoise Golden Core, which could reach the soul level, he could cultivate the Blade Nurturing Art and nurture the Blade Soul with the Golden Core’s energy.
"Buzzing!"
Indeed, as Su Changkong activated the Blade Nurturing Art and channeled the energy of the Golden Core, he enveloped the Blade Soul in a cycle.
Blade Nurturing Art (Level 10, Shock the world and horrify the public 11%), Blade Nurturing Art (Level 10, Shock the world and horrify the public 12%)...
Su Changkong’s Blade Nurturing Art was steadily progressing, and breaking through to the 11th level was just a matter of time.
This was the benefit of his breakthrough. Once one technique was mastered, all mysteries unfolded. With the Turtle Breath Technique advancing to the 12th level, Transcend the Saint level of Divine Skills, Su Changkong’s other martial studies were also encouraged.
In the midst of leisurely cultivation, beneath the calm surface, an undercurrent was stirring, and an incident that would shake the Flame Empire erupted without warning!
In Great Flame City, the capital of the Flame Empire, and at its center lay the Imperial City, heavily guarded and overseen by a Martial Saint from the Xia Yan family.
In the Demon Suppressing Department, Lord Duanmu Tao sat silently in meditation, surrounded by a tide of Blade Qi. He sat cross-legged, exuding an aura that seemed to transcend the saintly and connect with heaven and earth.
Inside Duanmu Tao’s heart, a Divine Seed glowed faintly.
A smile spread across Duanmu Tao’s face, tinged with a hint of melancholy, "Thanks to this ’Blade River Divine Seed,’ I have successfully entered the Saint realm, but I reckon this is my limit."
As the Lord of the Demon Suppressing Department serving the Yan Imperial Family, Duanmu Tao himself had considerable talent, or he would not have been appointed to the position.
A few years earlier, after grinding through the Ten Thousand Soul Warrior Tomb, Duanmu Tao had finally managed to cultivate his Blade Intent to the level of Blade Soul.
The Xia Yan family gave Duanmu Tao a choice and offered him a suitable Divine Seed!
The Xia Yan family was already quite powerful even before the existence of the Flame Empire, with almost every generation producing a Martial Saint. They had thus inherited several Divine Seeds.
To fully refine a Divine Seed and enter the Saint realm, reaching the Soul Realm was necessary.
Refining a Divine Seed to enter the Saint realm undoubtedly harmed one’s potential, making it difficult to reach higher realms thereafter.
But Duanmu Tao’s own limitations were already at this point, and without refining a Divine Seed, even with his own cultivation, he would likely never reach the Saint realm in his lifetime.
Ultimately, after fruitless attempts at cultivation for a period, Duanmu Tao made his choice. He refined the Divine Seed given to him by the Xia Yan family and successfully entered the Saint realm!
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The Xia Yan family’s action was, too, in an effort to strengthen the Great Flame Empire’s power, as the current chaos increased, each additional Martial Saint added extra strength!
"Hmm? A demon monster’s aura?"
Suddenly, Duanmu Tao looked up with a look of astonishment and gravity on his face. Without any hesitation, he fiercely grabbed the Demon-Slicing Divine Weapon Purple Soul beside him, soared into the sky, and headed towards the heavens.
It was nighttime, with the full moon high in the sky. However, the sky was covered with thick dark clouds that obscured the moonlight, casting darkness below.
"What’s happening? Why has the sky turned dark?"
On the streets, there were still pedestrians walking, but as they noticed the sky dimming, they were all filled with astonishment.
In the sky, Duanmu Tao, who had already entered the Saint realm, felt a chill rising in his heart.
Within those dark clouds, nine figures stood silently, their eyes flickering with a greenish glow. They stood in the void, surrounded by thick monster clouds, completely obscuring the moon.
"Ka ka ka!"
The Demon-Slicing Divine Weapon Purple Soul in Duanmu Tao’s hand was trembling, but it wasn’t the excited trembling it usually had when sensing monster qi. This time, it was trembling in fear, all because of the nine figures in front of him, who were seemingly demon monsters, that were powerful enough to instill fear even in Purple Soul!
"Monster warriors... nine monster warriors? Nine Entering Saint monster warriors?"
Duanmu Tao found it unbelievable, his scalp tingling!
The nine figures before him were emitting deep monster qi. Without any techniques, they naturally stood in the void, a sign of the power of those who had entered the Saint realm!
Nine Entering Saint monster warriors appearing all at once? Duanmu Tao couldn’t comprehend this!
"A Martial Saint? Somewhat weak!"
As Duanmu Tao was sizing up these nine figures suspected to be Entering Saint monster warriors, the nine beings were also observing Duanmu Tao. A hint of alien color flashed in their eyes. In particular, a burly and tall man with a back nearly two meters long, carrying a massive broadsword like a door panel, even had a tone of disdain in his voice.
They saw that Duanmu Tao had reached Martial Saint, but he had only just entered the realm, and was far from strong!
"Gentlemen..." Despite everything, Duanmu Tao was no ordinary person. Even faced with such a situation, he still steadied his mind, ready to speak and figure out what was happening and the purpose of these nine people, when a thunderous shout interrupted his inquiry.
"Die!"
The towering man didn’t give Duanmu Tao a chance to question. With a sky-shaking roar, he advanced through the air, emerging from the monster cloud and closing in on Duanmu Tao. Grasping the hilt of the massive broadsword, he swung it like a giant door panel, bringing it down on Duanmu Tao’s head in a Splitting Cut.
"Damn it!"
Duanmu Tao cursed under his breath, but all he could do was hold onto the Demon-Slicing Divine Weapon Purple Soul in his hand and use it to block.
"Clang!"
The clash of the swords emitted a deafening hum, exploding like thunderbolts in the sky, clearly heard throughout most of Great Flame City. Those who were already asleep were startled awake, confused and uneasy, not understanding where the thunder on a clear night had come from.
"Such incredible strength!"
A shock ran through Duanmu Tao’s heart. The burly man’s cut seemed ordinary, but the strength reached an exaggerated level, forcefully knocking Duanmu Tao backwards, making his arms numb.
The burly man’s eyes shimmered with a greenish glow as he continuously pressed the attack. The massive broadsword in his hands was wielded with extreme agility, spinning like a windmill!
"Clang clang clang clang!"
Duanmu Tao swung his sword to defend repeatedly, but was clearly on the defensive, overpowered in both strength and speed by the towering man.
"Truly an Entering Saint monster warrior?" n𝚘vp𝚞𝚋.com
A chill settled in Duanmu Tao’s heart. Judging by the strength displayed by the other party, there was no doubt it was of the Entering Saint level, but how could so many appear all at once?
