Chapter Seventeen: Qin Tian Ascends to Sagehood

After claiming his reward, Qin Tian entered a profound and mystical realm, becoming deeply immersed within it.

He could feel a cataclysmic transformation unfolding inside his body.

At the same time, his mind was filled with newfound insights into the Sacred Realm.

He advanced his Freedom Cultivation Technique to the twelfth level.

He had also ascended to become a powerful figure within the Sacred Realm.

This achievement was not only thanks to the system but also a result of his five years of self-cultivation.

Otherwise, the value accumulated from daily sign-ins over five years wouldn’t have been enough to break through.

Moreover, the advancement of his Everlasting Undying Body was equally cause for celebration.

Even the first level of the Everlasting Undying Body could withstand attacks from top-tier Heavenly-grade weapons.

So at the second level, it should handle the assaults of lower-grade Emperor-tier weapons with ease.

This transformation lasted for three full hours.

Just as Qin Tian broke through to the Sacred Realm, an extraordinary phenomenon appeared in the void over Eastern Continent.

Golden rays of light pierced through the clouds.

Mo Wentian, who was cultivating nearby, suddenly rose in shock and exclaimed,

“The sacred light shines upon the world—someone has broken through to the Sacred Realm.”

He hoped that this breakthrough wasn’t from the Demon Sect or the Demon Tribe; otherwise, Eastern Continent would be in grave danger.

When Qin Tian regained consciousness, he found Bai Xiaoru and An Miaoling staring at him.

“Master seems to have grown stronger again,” An Miaoling muttered.

The little fox, Bai Xiaoru, nodded gloomily. Could it really take a hundred years to lift the contract?

“Isn’t getting stronger a good thing? I’ll follow your lead from now on,” Qin Tian replied.

He then prepared another meal.

Once the meal was ready, Bai Xiaoru transformed back into her human form to eat.

Qin Tian was once again stunned by her appearance, and An Miaoling was also captivated by Bai Xiaoru’s enchanting eyes.

Her alluring gaze was irresistible to both men and women.

However, when she noticed Qin Tian’s lecherous look, her expression grew somewhat awkward.

She realized she was actually feeling a bit jealous!

That a ruthless empress like herself could be jealous was almost unbelievable.

“You’re staring at me, so I’m going to change back,” Bai Xiaoru said shyly, unable to bear Qin Tian’s gaze.

Embarrassed, Qin Tian smiled awkwardly and withdrew his eyes, focusing instead on eating.

After the meal, Qin Tian returned to his room and took out the Life-and-Death Sword to examine it.

This was a supreme-grade sword.

When he had used the Ice Crystal Sword to slay the demon saint Mu Yihan’s possessed form, he vowed to acquire a fine weapon for himself.

After all, those beasts had tough, thick hides.

He first set up a formation to conceal the sword’s aura, then began the process of bonding with it.

Upon bonding, he discovered two realms within the sword: the Realm of Life and the Realm of Death.

The Realm of Life could save lives.

The Realm of Death could take lives.

These two realms also possessed a form of consciousness, though they were still in their infancy and somewhat confused.

Once their consciousness matured, the sword’s power would increase, meaning this sword was capable of growth.

...

In the depths of the Wildlands,

Qing Peng, White Tiger, and Monkey—three Demon Emperors—gathered in a secret valley.

The valley was concealed by layers of formations, which was why Qin Tian had failed to locate it before.

At this moment, the three Demon Emperors waited respectfully.

For the Golden Dragon Demon Saint was about to emerge from seclusion.

His true form was a golden dragon and he belonged to the Dragon Clan.

A mighty roar echoed through the valley, and a giant golden dragon soared into the sky.

It then began transforming into a human clad in dragon robes.

Upon seeing this, the three Demon Emperors knelt in obeisance.

“Hail the Golden Dragon Demon Saint!”

“Congratulations, Demon Saint, on your breakthrough.”

The Golden Dragon Demon Saint descended slowly and asked, “Why have you three come here instead of staying in your own domains?”

Upon hearing his question, the three Demon Emperors’ faces grew bitter.

They began to complain.

When they mentioned the ancient Ice Phoenix bloodline, the Golden Dragon Demon Saint’s eyes suddenly brightened.

He became visibly excited.

If he could absorb the ancient Ice Phoenix bloodline, he might break through to the Dao Emperor realm.

Then he could return to the Dragon Clan in Central Continent.

“Tell me quickly, where is she?”

“She is at the Kunlun Sword Sect!” Qing Peng replied.

“Again, it’s those three sects. It’s time to settle old scores.”

The origins of this matter traced back to the human-demon war three hundred years ago.

Back then,

led by the Golden Dragon Demon Saint, the demons ravaged the Eastern Continent, bringing suffering to all cultivators.

In the end, the grandmasters of the three sects, who had secluded themselves for thousands of years, emerged to face the Golden Dragon Demon Saint in a legendary battle.

Ordinarily, the Dragon Clan was far superior to humans.

Thus, even the three sect elders were severely wounded, and only after a costly resurgence were they able to suppress the Golden Dragon Demon Saint.

Afterward, they vanished from the world.

Three hundred years later, the Golden Dragon Demon Saint broke free from his seal.

Not only had his injuries healed, but he had also advanced to the second level of the Sacred Realm.

What pleased him most was the news of the ancient Ice Phoenix bloodline immediately after his emergence.

“Send word to them—tell them I will personally go to the Kunlun Sword Sect in three days.”

“Make sure they obediently surrender the ancient Ice Phoenix bloodline to me.”

“Also, keep a close watch. Don’t let them transfer the person elsewhere.”

After finishing his orders, Qing Peng questioned, “Demon Saint, why inform them? Why not just go directly?”

“Do you understand anything?” The Golden Dragon Demon Saint replied coldly.

“The notification is to instill fear, to make them suffer in advance.”

“To simply annihilate them wouldn’t ease the burning rage in my heart.”

“Wise, Demon Saint,” Monkey Emperor praised.

“Besides terrifying them, your strategy will force the three sects to unite. Then we can wipe them out in one fell swoop, saving trouble.”

“Indeed, Monkey has a sharp mind.”

“These next two days, I need to further strengthen my weapon. You three prepare by assembling your forces.”

“Yes, we will handle it immediately.”

After leaving the valley, the three Demon Emperors began gathering their troops and sent word to the Kunlun Sword Sect.

In the main hall, Mo Wentian’s brows furrowed deeply, forming a symbol of worry.

After pondering for a moment, he wrote two letters and entrusted them to two disciples, ordering them to deliver the messages to Penglai and Taibai Sects.

At times like this, the three sects stood or fell together; unity was their only option.

After sending the letters, Mo Wentian went alone to a cave deep in the back mountain behind the main hall.

“Thirty-sixth generation sect leader, Mo Wentian, requests the elder ancestor to emerge,” he called thrice.

At last, a hoarse voice came from within.

“Is the sect facing an insurmountable crisis?”

“Yes, Elder Ancestor.”

“News from the demon tribe: the Golden Dragon Demon Saint will arrive at Kunlun Sword Sect in three days to seize the ancient Ice Phoenix bloodline.”

Whoosh!

An elderly man with white hair suddenly appeared before Mo Wentian; he was Xu Ming, the Kunlun Elder Ancestor.

“Is this true? Our sect has someone with the ancient Ice Phoenix bloodline?” Xu Ming’s face lit up with excitement.

As a Sacred Realm master who had lived for nearly five thousand years, he knew far more.

The ancient Ice Phoenix bloodline carried a high probability of reaching the Emperor realm, not just the Sacred Realm, as Mo Wentian and others believed.

“It’s true, Elder Ancestor. I have already sent word to Penglai and Taibai Sects.”

“They should come to support us, though I’m uncertain about their elders’ conditions…”

Mo Wentian glanced at Xu Ming as he spoke.

Xu Ming’s expression grew solemn.

“Rest assured, they are still alive.”

“However, all three of us were severely injured back then, so our strength isn’t what it once was.”

“Still, even if we old bones perish, we won’t let the Golden Dragon succeed.”

“Otherwise, Eastern Continent will be completely lost.”

Hearing that the three elder ancestors were alive, Mo Wentian finally felt some relief.

Three against one, their chances of victory remained good.

After their discussion, Mo Wentian took Xu Ming to Sword Concealment Peak to see An Miaoling.

At that moment, An Miaoling was practicing in the courtyard.