Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
“Rise!”
With a wave of his hand, the Infernal Blacksaber fell into Zhang Xuan’s hand. He immediately felt the destructive energy harnessed within it.
Before, he would need to resort to all kinds of means in order to defeat a Sempiternal realm consummation expert. However, with the Infernal Blacksaber in his grasp, he would be able to easily slay dozens of Sempiternal realm consummation experts with just a simple slash.
Even though there was only a realm of difference between Ancient Sage and Sempiternal realm, the gap between the two realms was as great as the distance between the heavens and the earth. This difference was not something that could be breached with just quantity.
“I’ll finally be able to protect myself from other Ancient Sages now…” Zhang Xuan’s eyes lit up in agitation.
Even though the golden page did grant him the ability to kill other Ancient Sages, it had its limitations too. For example, if Old Geezer Yu had continued hiding quietly, he would have been unable to do anything about the other party even if he had the golden page in mind. However, the situation was completely different now that the Infernal Blacksaber had reached Ancient Sage!
If Old Geezer Yu made a move on him again, the Infernal Blacksaber would surely be able to trace the origin of his aura and injure him!
That was also how the old ancestor of the Zhang Clan managed to drive Old Geezer Yu away.
This was another invaluable trump card in his possession. If he used it together with the Otherworldly Demon Ancient Sage corpse, he would be able to kill other Ancient Sages in a surprise assault!
He was no longer as reliant on the golden page as he was before.
“Alright, you should reinforce your cultivation!” Zhang Xuan instructed.
The Infernal Blacksaber nodded, and it began flitting into the distance to find a quiet spot to cultivate. However, before it could get far, it ran into the Dragonbone Divine Spear, which was making its way over. It hurriedly bowed respectfully to the latter before going on its way.
It was only after reaching Ancient Sage that the Infernal Blacksaber realized just how powerful the seal placed on the Dragonbone Divine Spear was. Once its seal was released, there was no doubt that it would not stand a chance at all against the Dragonbone Divine Spear.
“Xuan-er, your spear…”
Upon seeing this sight, Sword Saint Xing widened his eyes in astonishment.
The hierarchy among artifacts was extremely straightforward; they would only bow to artifacts stronger to them. If the Infernal Blacksaber had paid its respects to the Dragonbone Divine Spear, did it not mean that the latter was even stronger than an Ancient Sage artifact?
He knew that the Dragonbone Divine Spear was no ordinary power, but he was not too sure just how powerful it was.
“It’s nothing much. It’s just another minor fortuitous encounter,” Zhang Xuan explained with a smile.
“It’s just another small fortuitous encounter?” Sword Saint Xing staggered on the spot and nearly broke down.
Do you have some kind of misunderstanding as to what ‘minor fortuitous encounter’ means?
If your Dragonbone Divine Spear, Infernal Blacksaber, and all those Great Sage artifacts you have are only minor fortuitous encounters, what in the world could be called a major fortuitous encounter?
“Wait here for a moment. I’ll go tame this painting…” Without explaining himself, Zhang Xuan quickly made his way toward a certain direction.
Not too long later, he arrived before a cave. With a simple grasp, a scroll appeared in his hand.
It was the original painting of the Canvas of Four Seasons. He had found the painting while threading his soul energy together to extend it as far as he could.
With a few taps, the painting swiftly acknowledged him as its master, and he stowed it into his storage ring.
Hu la!
With a jolt, the Xingmeng Sword Saints suddenly found themselves returning to the hall. They instinctively turned their sights toward where the painting had been placed previously, only to find that it had completely disappeared from sight.
A short moment later, Zhang Xuan also left the painting and materialized on the spot. “Do you want to cultivate here or follow me?”
The greatest treasure in the Hall of Great Accomplishment was the Canvas of Four Seasons. However, the sculptures of the seventy-two Sages, the rich spiritual energy, and the inscriptions on the walls were all invaluable resources for cultivation as well.
They would be able to advance their cultivation tenfold faster in the hall than anywhere else.
The Xingmeng Sword Saints glanced at one another before shaking their heads in unison. “We won’t be following you anymore. It’s peaceful here, and it’s a good opportunity for us to cultivate our souls and state of mind, as well as to assimilate the Ancient Sage blood. We’ll try to achieve a breakthrough here!”
They had realized that they would only be a burden to their son if they followed him with their current strength. Since that was the case, it would be better for them to remain in the Hall of Great Accomplishment and cultivate. If they could achieve a breakthrough to Ancient Sage, they might still be able to continue supporting their son in his endeavors.
“I’ll remain here, too!” Hu Yaoyao said.
She had only recently achieved a breakthrough to the Introspective Convalescence realm, and she would be even more of a burden if she insisted on following Zhang Xuan around.
Zhao Ya stepped forward and said, “Teacher, I’ll follow you. I know where they took Wei Ruyan and Yuan Tao!”
“Un!” Zhang Xuan nodded. He pondered for a moment before flicking his finger, sending a droplet of Ancient Sage blood toward Zhao Ya. “Absorb this droplet of blood first!”
Many dangers lay ahead of them. Even though every droplet of Ancient Sage blood was an invaluable treasure, there was nothing more important to him than his student’s safety.
“Yes!”
Zhao Ya quickly sat down and absorbed the droplet of blood into her body. Power flurried through her body, but in less than ten minutes, she stood up once more with brilliant light shining from her eyes.
“Have you… managed to assimilate the Ancient Sage blood?” Zhang Xuan asked in astonishment.
The reason for him being able to assimilate the blood swiftly was because the blood from the old ancestor had originated from him. However, why was Zhao Ya able to do it so quickly as well?
“Yes, Teacher!” Zhao Ya nodded. “After you reconstructed my meridians, I realized that I am able to convert any energy into my zhenqi swiftly. Even though the droplet of blood harnesses a lot of energy, it still doesn’t pose too much of a problem for me to assimilate it!”
“Meridians?” Zhang Xuan frowned.
He tapped his finger and sent a surge of zhenqi into Zhao Ya’s body to check on her condition. It seemed like after the alteration in Zhao Ya’s meridians, her ability to assimilate energy into her body had become far stronger than other cultivators.
In that respect, even Zhang Xuan would pale in comparison to her.
Then again, considering how her meridian network was even more rational than that of an Ancient Sage, it was no wonder that she had been able to assimilate Ancient Sage blood so swiftly!
“Let’s go!”
The fact that Zhao Ya had assimilated the Ancient Sage blood meant that she, at the very least, had a life preservation method if anything bad happened. Bidding farewell to his parents, Zhang Xuan began making his way out of the Hall of Great Accomplishment together with Zhao Ya.
Looking at the departing duo, a bitter smile crept onto Sword Saint Xing’s face as he remarked, “He might be my son, but I have to say that he and his students are really overpowered…”
Just to assimilate a droplet of Ancient Sage blood, they had to store it in their dantian and absorb it bit by bit over a month or so. On the other hand, those two were actually able to assimilate it into their bodies within moments. This was truly an inconceivable feat.
“We need to work much harder as well. Otherwise, if our son and his students surpass us, we won’t be able to maintain our dignity as elders before them!” Sword Saint Meng said.
“Indeed, indeed!” Sword Saint Xing nodded.
The two of them sat down on the floor and began cultivating.
…
“Old ancestor, you have to redress our grievances!”
Outside the Hall of Great Accomplishment, the eight youths who had been driven out were crying with snot and tears dripping down their faces.
They had dedicated much time and effort to preparing for the expedition before they were finally able to get into the Hall of Great Accomplishment. They had never expected that they would be viciously pummeled before being thrown out of the Subordinate Hall before they could acquire anything at all.
“You can only blame yourselves for your lack of strength!” the hidden Ancient Sage remarked with a hint of resignation in his tone.
“It’s not that we are weak, but that fellow has tamed so many beasts and powerful artifacts! If not for those, there’s no way that he would have been a match for us!” One of the youths gritted his teeth hatefully.
What was great about that fellow?
All he had were his tamed beasts and artifacts. Without those two, there was no way that he would have stood a chance against them!
“That’s right! Old ancestor, we beseech you to create a chance for us to have a fair duel with him!”
“If he’s able to defeat us without those external aids, we’ll willingly admit our defeat!”
The other youths quickly nodded in agreement.
“This…” The old ancestor for silent for a moment before speaking up once more. “Brother Hongtian, my descendants would like to have a fair duel with your descendant. Will you grant me this favor?”
“Feel free to discuss any arrangements with my descendant. Rest assured, as long as you don’t resort to anything unprincipled, I don’t intend to intervene in his matters!” the old ancestor of the Zhang Clan said.
While Zhang Xuan and the others had entered the Hall of Great Accomplishment, he had remained hidden in the vicinity.
“That’s a relief…” the old ancestor of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers replied.
