327: Ascend to Saint

"East Island was instantly refined, and West Island was also ninety percent refined, with only the last ten percent of the earth veins remaining!"

Xiang Zizhen took a deep breath.

His expression was terrified.

Although he had already known that the Hand of Refinement possessed an extremely overbearing and unsolvable refining ability, capable of forcibly refining a portion of a region, ever since he received the Hand of Refinement from Xiao Shi.

But he never expected the entire refining speed to be so terrifying!

And the refining range so extensive!

This completely exceeded his knowledge and imagination!

His heart was filled with intense excitement and ecstasy.

This way.

Even Rong Sufei, who had been enfeoffed by the Great Wu Seal, could not compare to him!

Next, as long as he refined the last ten percent of the earth veins remaining in the Nan Dou Region, he would be able to completely control the Nan Dou Region and ascend to the Saint Realm!

Thinking of this.

Xiang Zizhen did not hesitate.

He quickly began to refine the last ten percent of the earth veins remaining in West Island.

This last ten percent of the earth veins had to be refined by him personally.

At the same time, he also knew that.

Rong Sufei would undoubtedly report this matter to the Pavilion Master of Martial Pavilion, Cheng Riyou.

To avoid any further complications.

Xiang Zizhen needed to complete the refining of this last ten percent of the earth veins as quickly as possible... At this moment, Cheng Riyou, who had returned to the Martial Emperor Imperial City, frowned deeply.

Even with his knowledge and experience.

He had never seen such a refining method!

He hadn't even heard of it.

"...It seems Xiang Zizhen gained a lot in the Demigod Land where the eye of imperial judgment was sealed."

He felt that Xiang Zizhen's ability to display such a peculiar method.

Must have been due to a special fortuitous encounter in the Demigod Land previously.

However, what truly surprised him was not the method of refining earth veins that Xiang Zizhen displayed this time.

But that the other party dared to refine the Nan Dou Region, even knowing the Great Wu Crown Prince's attitude!

Since the Martial Emperor's demise and the Great Wu Crown Prince's ascension to power, no one in the entire Imperial Domain had ever dared to defy the Great Wu Crown Prince.

Cheng Riyou never expected this Xiang Zizhen... to be so audacious.

"...Master, what should we do now?"

Rong Sufei's spiritual message was filled with intense anxiety.

"As things stand, there's no need to continue competing with him."

Cheng Riyou replied via spiritual message.

The meaning was clear.

He was telling Rong Sufei to give up.

Rong Sufei was stunned.

He froze like a statue.

He never expected his Master to tell him to give up.

In his opinion, they had the Great Wu Crown Prince backing them.

It was impossible to lose!

There was no reason to lose!

Yet now his Master was telling him to give up?

Cheng Riyou, however, was very clear.

Although the Great Wu Crown Prince's stance had always been with them, the Great Wu Crown Prince could only provide covert support.

He could not openly endorse them.

Now that even the Great Wu Seal couldn't compare to Xiang Zizhen's refining method, there was naturally no need to continue competing with him.

They were bound to lose.

Although it was regrettable that they couldn't secure the Nan Dou Region.

Cheng Riyou was well aware that.

In this competition with the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, their Martial Pavilion was not considered to have lost.

Even if the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect would gain another Saint from this.

But it was a Saint who dared to defy the Great Wu Crown Prince!

Based on Cheng Riyou's understanding of the Great Wu Crown Prince.

He knew that Xiang Zizhen's actions had deeply offended the Great Wu Crown Prince's sensibilities!

Comparatively speaking.

The struggle for the Nan Dou Region was no longer a major issue.

Openly defying the Great Wu Crown Prince was the real major issue!

...As the refining of West Island continued.

Xiang Zizhen's aura and presence gradually began to transform.

Bursts of powerful aura fluctuations.

Continuously emanated from him.

Causing the surrounding void where he was located to also ripple with vibrations, presenting swirling distortions like vortices.

Xiang Zizhen could clearly feel that.

He was currently just a step away from breaking through to the Saint Realm.

This filled his heart with immense excitement and anticipation.

However, what surprised him somewhat was... Rong Sufei's side actually did not compete with him for this last ten percent of the earth veins.

He had originally thought that Rong Sufei, upon realizing the situation, would, along with the Martial Pavilion behind him, make an issue of this last ten percent of the earth veins.

As long as they strenuously competed with him for this last ten percent of the earth veins, preventing him from refining it.

Then Xiang Zizhen would not be able to completely refine the Nan Dou Region and ascend to the Saint Realm for a while.

But he never expected Rong Sufei to make no moves at all.

It seemed he had already given up.

This was somewhat unexpected for Xiang Zizhen.

Regarding this.

Xiang Zizhen didn't think much of it.

He knew that even if Rong Sufei competed with him for this last ten percent of the earth veins, it would at most only delay the process.

With him now controlling over ninety percent of the Nan Dou Region's earth veins.

Even if Rong Sufei refined them simultaneously with him, he couldn't be faster than him.

Presumably, Rong Sufei also knew this.

Therefore, he made no superfluous moves.

And simply gave up.

It could be said that once Xiang Zizhen completed the refining of most of the Nan Dou Region's earth veins with the Hand of Refinement, the outcome was already determined.

"Next is the final step."

Xiang Zizhen took a deep breath.

Calming the excitement in his heart.

The Saint Realm, as the pinnacle of the middle three realms of martial arts, was, for the vast majority of martial artists, essentially the end of their martial path.

It was the ultimate they pursued throughout their lives.

After all, the upper three realms of martial arts belonged only to legends... Especially in the current Tianwu Continent.

Beings above the Saint Realm were even rarer, extremely scarce.

Ordinary martial artists simply could not reach the upper three realms.

The Saint Realm was the realm that most martial artists could see and had hope of reaching.

Xiang Zizhen was no exception.

Although his talent was good, and he was personally taught by a powerful expert like Chen Yuan.

But Xiang Zizhen knew that.

The Saint Realm was already the limit he could reach.

All along, Xiang Zizhen had set the Saint Realm as his goal and dream.

Now, with his dream just one step away, Xiang Zizhen's heart was naturally extremely excited.

However, just as he was about to proceed with the final refinement.

The communication device on his body suddenly vibrated.

This communication device was primarily for communication between Xiang Zizhen and his Master, Chen Yuan.

From the vibration frequency of the communication device.

Xiang Zizhen could feel his Master Chen Yuan's anxiety.

But he knew without thinking that his Master had probably learned of his situation and now wanted to stop him from refining the Nan Dou Region.

"...Sorry, Master, I'm taking the Nan Dou Region!"

Xiang Zizhen chose not to answer the communication device.

He placed it aside.

His gaze was firm.

He immediately began the final refinement... Chen Yuan held the communication device, his brows deeply furrowed.

He never expected this disciple, who had always been obedient to him, to still make such a reckless move after his explicit and implicit warnings.

"It seems Sect Master Chen's disciple is a bit disobedient. But then again, he has rendered great service to the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect and the Great Wu Dynasty, so he has the capital to be willful."

Cheng Riyou, sitting beside him, said with a fake smile.

Hinting that Xiang Zizhen was now arrogant.

Chen Yuan ignored Cheng Riyou's sarcastic remarks.

Instead, he turned his gaze to the Great Wu Crown Prince above.

At this moment, the Great Wu Crown Prince held an ancient book in his hand, reading it intently, as if he hadn't heard the conversation between the two.

However, Chen Yuan clearly perceived that.

The Great Wu Crown Prince's face no longer held its usual gentle smile.

Based on his understanding of the Great Wu Crown Prince.

He knew that the Great Wu Crown Prince, though outwardly calm, must be seething with rage internally!

After all, since the Great Wu Crown Prince took power.

No one in the Imperial Domain had ever dared to defy him.

Those familiar with this Great Wu Crown Prince knew that.

His temperament was domineering.

He would absolutely not tolerate his authority being challenged.

Xiang Zizhen's actions now had deeply offended the Great Wu Crown Prince's authority.

Especially after the Great Wu Crown Prince had issued a warning with the Great Wu Seal, Xiang Zizhen still insisted on refining the Nan Dou Region. This was openly slapping the Great Wu Crown Prince in the face.

Chen Yuan's brows were deeply furrowed.

Although he knew the Great Wu Crown Prince would not openly make trouble.

But covert retaliation would certainly not be lacking.

Moreover, having offended the Great Wu Crown Prince, Xiang Zizhen could forget about having a better future in the Great Wu Dynasty.

In Chen Yuan's opinion, it was unwise for Xiang Zizhen to offend the Great Wu Crown Prince for the sake of this Nan Dou Region.

He could only now desperately think of ways to remedy the situation, to make up for the mistake his disciple had made... Boom!

Above the entire Nan Dou Region, streaks of scorching white lightning tore through the sky, emitting dull explosions.

Xiao Shi looked up at the sky above.

He could clearly see that.

At this moment, the clouds above the Nan Dou Region were churning, and lightning was intertwined.

These clouds were continuously gathering.

Gradually coalescing into a gigantic face.

This was a colossal face that covered the entire sky above the Nan Dou Region.

As it continuously condensed.

Xiao Shi recognized it at a glance.

The face appearing above the Nan Dou Region was... Xiang Zizhen's face.

"Finally succeeded!"

Xiao Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

Realizing that Xiang Zizhen had now completed the refining of all the earth veins in the Nan Dou Region.

And was beginning to ascend to the Saint Realm.

Henceforth, this Nan Dou Region would be Xiang Zizhen's Saint Realm domain!

Every Saint, within their own domain, would possess incredibly powerful combat strength.

And with Xiang Zizhen's Saint Realm domain, Xiao Shi could use this place as an important stronghold for himself within the Great Wu Dynasty.

Furthermore, given the importance of a Saint.

No matter how much the Great Wu Crown Prince disliked Xiang Zizhen, he would not take any drastic actions.

After all, Saints were rare throughout the entire Tianwu Continent.

Especially for the Great Wu Dynasty.

Every Saint was incredibly important to them, not only related to the Great Wu Dynasty's destiny but also determining the Great Wu Dynasty's status and strength on the Tianwu Continent.

This was also one of the reasons Xiang Zizhen dared to defy the Great Wu Crown Prince.

As long as he became a Saint... his identity and status would be vastly different, like a regional lord.

Even in the Imperial Domain, Saints were not the strongest.

But they were powerful existences that could not be ignored!

No matter how domineering the Great Wu Crown Prince was, he wouldn't do something idiotic like killing a Saint on his own side.

At the same time.

Not only Xiao Shi saw Xiang Zizhen's face appearing in the sky.

All the martial artists in the entire Nan Dou Region saw this face at this moment.

For most of these martial artists, it was a joyous occasion.

They were happy to see Xiang Zizhen become the Saint of the Nan Dou Region.

The only ones who felt uncomfortable.

Were Rong Sufei and his subordinates.

Rong Sufei looked at the giant face in the sky, his expression dejected, his face filled with deep unwillingness, his fists clenched.

After several twists and turns.

He had ultimately lost!

He knew that once the Nan Dou Region became Xiang Zizhen's Saint Realm domain, the other party would certainly not welcome him staying there.

Rather than being kicked out by Xiang Zizhen, it would be more dignified to leave on his own initiative.

Immediately.

Rong Sufei took his subordinates and left the Nan Dou Region dejectedly.

Although Xiang Zizhen had now completed the refining of the entire Nan Dou Region, ascending to the Saint Realm still required a certain amount of time and process.

Next, he would enter seclusion and fully focus on breaking through to the Saint Realm.

And Xiao Shi, after successfully assisting Xiang Zizhen in completing the refining of the Nan Dou Region's earth veins.

Also began to consider his own improvement.

Currently, for Xiao Shi, his main body had successfully constructed the Martial Demon Realm system. If he wanted to break through next, his Demonic Body Clone would also need to successfully construct the Martial Demon Realm system.

One of the special features of the Martial Demon Realm.

Was that the Demonic Body Clone and the main body could cultivate two different systems separately.

When both constructed different systems, they would be able to enter the second stage of the Martial Demon Realm, Fusion or Severance of Demons.

For Xiao Shi.

With full control over his Demonic Body Clone now, he would naturally choose to integrate the Demonic Body Clone into himself.

However, this required the Demonic Body Clone to first construct the Martial Demon Realm system.

Since Xiao Shi and the Demonic Body Clone could not achieve perfect telepathy, he could not directly guide the Demonic Body Clone's system construction.

He could only assist from the sidelines.

However, the Demonic Body Clone's aptitude and talent were the same as Xiao Shi's.

Coupled with the treasures Xiao Shi had previously given to the Demonic Body Clone, he believed it would not be difficult for the Demonic Body Clone to construct the Martial Demon Realm system.

"It won't be difficult for me to reach the second stage of the Martial Demon Realm, but to break through to the Saint Realm... that might be a bit tricky."

Xiao Shi knew that.

The key to ascending to the Saint Realm primarily lay in refining a region.

Regardless of whether they had offended the Great Wu Crown Prince this time, he could not refine a region within the Imperial Domain.

On the one hand, Xiao Shi himself hid behind the scenes.

Even Xiang Zizhen didn't know his true depth. If he were to refine a region in the Great Wu Dynasty, his own situation would inevitably have to be revealed.

At the very least, it would let everyone in the Great Wu Dynasty know that the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect had gained a peak Martial Demon Realm expert.

This would undoubtedly attract a lot of attention.

Which went against Xiao Shi's way of doing things.

On the other hand, there was a rule for regions within the Imperial Domain, which was that at any given time, only one region could be refined at most, and once a region was refined, one had to wait at least ten years before refining another region.

If Xiao Shi wanted to refine a region in the Imperial Domain, he would have to wait at least ten years.

And the next Saint quota might not necessarily be given to him.

Especially now that he had offended the Great Wu Crown Prince, it was even more out of the question.