The Holy Son of Sha Jiu simply fled, seemingly unconcerned that the Saint Path would be taken.
Ling Fan’s Yuan Dan avatar, after a thorough inspection deep within the Nine Cang Holy Cave, let out a cold laugh.
He seemed to have already figured out most of this scheme.
This Saint Forging Assembly was a complete and utter conspiracy.
With this crucial information, Ling Fan was not in a hurry to claim the Saint Path, as it would not be something he could absorb and refine in a short time.
It was already late at night when Ling Fan’s Yuan Dan avatar returned to his body at the riverside inn.
The demon horse and the toad had already returned.
The demon horse seemed to be injured, with one leg suspended in the air, unable to touch the ground. Many of its scales were dull and lusterless, and some areas were severely wounded.
“How did you get so badly hurt?”
Ling Fan asked.
The demon horse nonchalantly replied, “Minor injuries, I’ll be fine by morning!”
The toad chimed in, “Those guys went too far, especially the major powers of the Nine Cang Domain. They acted in unison, ganging up on Old Ma to avenge the Heaven Mending Sect. Old Ma already fought valiantly, defeating several quasi-saints, even taking down a powerful quasi-saint at fifty percent Dao integration. But in the end, he was suppressed by a top quasi-saint from the Heaven Mending Sect at over seventy percent Dao integration. And he was heavily injured. That guy’s attack was too vicious, aiming directly for Old Ma’s life. Fortunately, Old Ma’s hide is thick, and he managed to endure it!”
Ling Fan sneered after hearing this, “Well said, Heaven Mending Sect, well said, Nine Cang Domain. Sheng Long, rest well, and take this pill.”
Ling Fan produced a pill. It was refined by his Yuan Dan avatar earlier in the Nine Cang Holy Cave using the concentrated Saint Path power. The myriad Dao fragments contained within not only helped the demon horse recover from its injuries but also aided it in breaking through to a higher realm.
The demon horse sniffed and immediately showed a look of shock. It felt embarrassed to accept such a precious item, saying, “Boss, this pill is incredibly valuable. I haven’t achieved anything since following you, how can I accept such a reward from you!”
The toad’s eyes were practically watering with greed, “Old Ma, why are you being polite with the Boss? If you don’t want it, I’ll take it!”
Ling Fan chuckled good-naturedly.
The demon horse kicked away the drooling toad, opened its mouth, and inhaled the pill, then went off to recuperate.
The toad swallowed its saliva, looking enviously at Ling Fan.
“Boss, where did you get this pill? You didn’t go to that Hundred Saints Banquet tonight, did you? You went to get this pill! Take me with you! I have a premonition that if I eat just one such pill, I have a ninety percent chance of breaking through to the Quasi-Demon Saint realm. Really, I’m not lying. If you don’t believe me, give me one to prove it.”
“Get lost, do you think this pill is like cabbage?”
Ling Fan kicked it away.
The toad was very disappointed and sighed.
If it had known, it would have sparred with the quasi-saint powerhouses from the Ten Domains at the Hundred Saints Banquet tonight. It didn’t need to fight too strong quasi-saints, just those who had recently advanced. That way, if it got injured, it could get such a great pill from the Boss, wouldn’t that be wonderful?
A few days passed in the blink of an eye.
Perhaps due to Ling Fan’s intervention, there was no further activity in the Nine Cang Holy Cave after that night. The Holy Son of Sha Jiu also vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated from the face of the earth.
However, this calm was clearly not permanent; it was merely the brief tranquility before the storm.
Instead, the storm that followed would be even more violent.
Several days later.
The Saint Forging Assembly officially began!
All the quasi-saint powerhouses from the Ten Domains arrived outside the Nine Cang Holy Cave.
Looking out, powerful figures stepped into the void, standing tall like mountains, exuding unfathomable auras.
The楼主 of Shenji Tower, the Sect Master of the Heaven Mending Sect, the Palace Master of the Demon Cloud Hall, and several other top quasi-saints with over ninety percent Dao integration stepped forward.
“Everyone, the three great Holy Domains of Wu Prefecture, under the command of the three great Holy Lands of Zhan Mo, Fei Xing, and Shen Feng, have seen their martial arts flourish. Yet, we in the Ten Domains are called a barbaric land by them. We have long suffered from the lack of a Holy Land. Though we have many quasi-saints, none have yet achieved complete Saint Path and taken that crucial step. Now, by the grace of heaven, an unclaimed Saint Path has appeared within the Nine Cang Holy Cave. This is a heavenly bestowed opportunity, meant to allow one of us from the Ten Domains to become a Saint!”
“However, though this opportunity is great, there is only one. It is destined that only one person can obtain this Saint Path. To prevent this Saint Path from causing bloodshed and conflict among the various factions, we have collectively devised this method: holding today’s Saint Forging Assembly, the purpose of which is to select a supreme powerhouse whose strength is unparalleled and who is universally admired.”
“The rules of the Saint Forging Assembly are simple. Anyone who has designs on this Saint Path can enter the Nine Cang Holy Cave and spar in turns. The victor continues, the loser is eliminated, until the strongest person is determined. He will then merge with the unclaimed complete Saint Path within the Nine Cang Holy Cave.”
“If anyone dares to violate the rules, and still harbors ill intentions after being eliminated, they will face the wrath of all others, incurring the indignation of gods and men, and will be attacked by all!”
After announcing the rules, the楼主 of Shenji Tower, the Sect Master of the Heaven Mending Sect, and others did not waste time and were the first to step into the Nine Cang Holy Cave.
The quasi-saint powerhouses from the other Ten Domains exchanged glances. Many had ambition flashing in their eyes and were eager to participate, following suit into the cave.
With a complete, unclaimed Saint Path before them, no quasi-saint could resist such temptation.
Soon, quasi-saint powerhouses entered one after another.
Before leaving, the Sect Master of the Heaven Mending Sect specifically glanced at Ling Fan and the demon horse with a meaningful look.
Clearly, he intended to settle the score with Ling Fan and the others after the Saint Forging Assembly.
Or, if Ling Fan dared to participate in the Saint Forging Assembly, and the two met, a fierce battle would be inevitable.
The demon horse and the toad looked at Ling Fan.
“Boss, are we going in?”
The demon horse asked.
After several days of recuperation, the demon horse’s injuries had not only fully recovered but it was also stronger than before. A terrifying flame burned in its demonic eyes, its fighting spirit surged, and an incredibly grand, vast, and powerful demonic aura emanated from its body.
Ling Fan shook his head.
“Boss, aren’t you going? That’s a Saint Path! A complete one! Merging with it means becoming a Saint and an ancestor. You definitely wouldn’t let such a good thing be taken by others, would you? How can you just watch them take it!”
The toad was anxious, anxious for Ling Fan.
Ling Fan’s gaze was unfathomable, and it was unclear what he was thinking. He said, “No rush, let’s see what comes out of this Saint Forging Assembly.”
The toad scratched its ears and cheeks in anxiety.
It desperately wished for Ling Fan to go and snatch the Saint Path right away, but seeing Ling Fan’s calm demeanor made it extremely anxious.
“Old Ma, let’s go in and see the situation first. If it really doesn’t work out, you’ll have to help the Boss win this Saint Path!”
The toad said.
The demon horse nodded heavily.
Ling Fan treated it very well, and it wished to repay Ling Fan’s kindness.
“Let’s go!”
The horse and the toad transformed into two streaks of rainbow light and instantly disappeared into the Nine Cang Holy Cave.