367: Disdain

With the birth of the Fifth Domain, discussions about the Fifth Domain immediately arose all over the Tianwu Continent.

The most talked about topic was the identity of the Fifth Domain's master.

"It is said that this person is incredibly mysterious. Although he is a Saint, no one knows his true identity. They only know that he comes from the Imperial Domain, but even the people of the Great Wu Dynasty do not know who he is."

"Not only that, I also heard that although this person is a Saint, he dares to openly challenge Demigods, showing no regard for them. And in the face of his disrespect, the three Demigods are helpless against him."

"Unimaginable... there is actually a Saint in the world who dares to treat Demigods like this. Those are Demigods!"

Many people were incredibly shocked by this.

After all, Demigods are the strongest existences on the Tianwu Continent today.

Ordinarily, Saints would not even dare to breathe heavily in front of Demigods. There had never been a Saint who dared to treat Demigods as equals, let alone with such arrogance, as if Demigods were beneath him.

This also made many people highly acknowledge Xiao Shi's identity as the Fourth Heavenly King.

Even if Xiao Shi's cultivation was not high enough,

his mastery of a domain and his attitude towards Demigods made many people feel that he could indeed be called the Fourth Heavenly King.

The most important thing was the attitude of the three Demigod Heavenly Kings.

If these three Demigod Heavenly Kings had any objections, they would surely take action, but the three Demigod Heavenly Kings did not take any action.

This led many people to believe that the three Demigod Heavenly Kings had tacitly approved Xiao Shi's identity.

As a result, Xiao Shi's title as the Fourth Heavenly King rapidly spread throughout the Tianwu Continent.

At the same time,

not only were the many Martial Artists in the Tianwu Continent discussing the Fifth Domain,

the various lords were also discussing the Fifth Domain at this time.

Compared to others,

these lords were more cautious and sensitive in their attitude towards the Fifth Domain.

Many lords were now conflicted.

They didn't know how to treat the Fifth Domain.

In terms of strength and cultivation, they and the master of this Fifth Domain were both Saints. If they were to treat this person with the same respect they showed the three Demigod Heavenly Kings, they would more or less feel uncomfortable and resistant.

However, if even the three Demigod Heavenly Kings acknowledged the other party as the Fourth Heavenly King of the Tianwu Continent, then no matter how unwilling they were, they would still have to treat him respectfully.

It was just that the three Demigod Heavenly Kings had not expressed their stance.

The Great Wu Dynasty also showed no movement.

This made these lords feel troubled.

However, just as they were feeling conflicted about this,

some Martial Demons in their territories directly chose to go to this newly born Fifth Domain at this time.

For these Martial Demons,

this newly born Fifth Domain itself held an indescribable attraction for them.

Because this Fifth Domain... offered them the opportunity to achieve the Saint Realm!!

One must know that

for the Martial Demons of the Tianwu Continent today to become Saints, they only had the option of joining the Three Great Domains or the Imperial Domain to have such an opportunity.

But whether they joined the Three Great Domains or the Imperial Domain, it would completely bind them to that faction.

If they joined the Three Great Domains, once the Great Wu Dynasty rose in the future and settled accounts with the Three Great Domains, they would inevitably be affected.

The same was true for joining the Imperial Domain.

Once the Great Wu Dynasty was destroyed, their fate would also be tragic.

Under the current volatile situation of the Tianwu Continent, these Martial Demons were unwilling to easily take sides.

Moreover, even if they joined the Three Great Domains and the Imperial Domain, they might not necessarily become Saints.

After all, the number of areas that could be refined in the Three Great Domains and the Imperial Domain was limited.

Even if they chose to join,

it might not be their turn.

Just like the current Imperial Domain.

Although there were still several areas in the Imperial Domain that could be refined, the distribution of these areas was decided by the Great Wu Crown Prince.

Furthermore, there were many Martial Demons in the Imperial Domain, and many people were vying for this opportunity, so even if they joined, it would not be their turn.

However, this newly born Fifth Domain was different.

Because this was a newly born Great Domain.

Whoever joined first,

would have priority in refining an area and achieving the Saint Realm.

Therefore, when these Martial Demons learned of the birth of the Fifth Domain, many immediately chose to rush there.

They all wanted to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Compared to the Martial Demons in these territories, the Martial Demons in the Three Great Domains and the Imperial Domain were somewhat distressed.

Unable to leave their respective factions, even if they wanted to go to the Fifth Domain, they could only watch helplessly due to their inability to detach from their own forces.

This was also the biggest difference between the Martial Demons in the Three Great Domains and the Imperial Domain, and the Martial Demons in the various territories.

The Martial Demons within each territory were relatively free and could leave their respective territories at any time.

However, the Martial Demons in the Three Great Domains and the Imperial Domain were firmly bound to their own factions and could not leave.

Thus,

when one Martial Demon arrived here a step ahead of the others,

he was immediately filled with excitement and quickly approached, wanting to be the first Martial Demon to join the Fifth Domain.

He mused that as the first to arrive,

as long as he could gain the approval of this Fourth Heavenly King and join here,

then he would have a great chance to become a Saint by utilizing this Great Domain.

However, he had just approached this Fifth Domain,

before he even had a chance to speak,

his expression suddenly changed drastically.

He instantly looked down.

He saw that the part of his body below his waist had silently turned into dust.

He hadn't even reacted yet,

and half of his body was simply gone.

This made the Martial Demon's eyes widen instantly.

He didn't even know what power caused this; there was no prior warning, nor did he perceive any danger, yet half of his body was erased out of thin air.

Not only that,

after his lower body was erased,

his upper body also turned into dust in less than a second.

It was also erased.

In less than a second,

this Martial Demon was completely reduced to dust, body and soul annihilated.

This terrifying scene

was immediately witnessed by several Martial Demons who were rushing towards the area from a distance.

From their perspective, they only saw that as this Martial Demon approached the Fifth Domain, he was instantly erased in less than a second by a mysterious, powerful, and invisible force.

Not even a speck of dust remained!

Their rushing bodies immediately paused.

Their faces were filled with terror, their hearts trembled, and their breathing became rapid!

They dared not approach the Fifth Domain any further.

Many even hurriedly retreated, fearing that being too close would cause them to be affected.

They all knew very well.

This kind of annihilation... was not done by the Saint who controlled this Fifth Domain.

This kind of power was not something a Saint could possess!

This was something only a Demigod could do!!

"Outside the Fifth Domain, there is a barrier set up by a Demigod. Those who approach will be directly annihilated by the power of the barrier!!"

These Martial Demons all gasped.

They then realized... that the three Demigod Heavenly Kings did not allow anyone to join the Fifth Domain!

With everyone currently focused on the situation of the Fifth Domain, this matter quickly spread throughout the entire Tianwu Continent and became known to all.

Many people were shocked by this.

They had originally thought that the three Demigod Heavenly Kings not expressing their stance meant they tacitly approved Xiao Shi's identity as the Fourth Heavenly King.

Only at this moment did they realize... the reason these three Demigod Heavenly Kings didn't express their stance was not because of tacit approval, but because of... disdain!

In their eyes, Xiao Shi was merely an insignificant Saint.

He was not even worth their acknowledgment.

What was their status?

How could they acknowledge an ant?

Perhaps in the eyes of most Martial Artists, a Saint was already a great figure in the Tianwu Continent.

But in the eyes of a Demigod,

there wasn't much difference between a Saint and those other Martial Demons or Martial Souls.

They were all ants that could be easily crushed with a flick of a finger.

For Demigods,

anyone below the Upper Three Realms of Martial Dao was an ant and could be ignored.

And their disregard made everyone who was paying attention clearly feel the difference in hierarchy that existed between Demigods and Saints.

Especially for those lower and middle-level Martial Artists,

whether it was a Saint or a Demigod, they were all great figures in their eyes.

Before this,

they didn't have much understanding of the gap between these two types of great figures.

Only at this moment did they realize that in front of a Demigod, a Saint was nothing... At the same time, as people went to the Fifth Domain and saw the nine golden giant dragons surrounding the Fifth Domain, they also understood why these three Demigod Heavenly Kings could tolerate this Saint mastering the Fifth Domain.

This was not because this Saint had any powerful or special qualities.

Rather, the Fifth Domain was enveloped by a powerful formation, preventing the three Demigod Heavenly Kings from forcibly occupying it.

"I knew it, how could a mere Saint be worthy of being called the Fourth Heavenly King?"

"In my opinion, this Saint is not even as good as the various lords. At least the various lords still have room to improve their strength and expand their influence, while this Saint occupying the Fifth Domain is destined to be nothing more than a lone commander."

Some people who had previously been jealous of Xiao Shi now began to gloat.

The various lords also felt a sense of balance in their hearts.

If this Saint had truly become the Fourth Heavenly King, possessing a status comparable to the three Demigod Heavenly Kings, it would have more or less made them feel unbalanced.

However, for many Martial Demons, this made them somewhat distressed.

If there were no restrictions from the three Demigod Heavenly Kings,

they all would have had the opportunity to advance to the Saint Realm through this Fifth Domain.

But now, in front of the barrier set up by the Demigod Heavenly Kings, no one could approach, let alone enter the Fifth Domain.

Although they were unwilling,

they were also helpless.

After all, this was a barrier set up by a Demigod. Except for a Demigod, no one could forcefully break through this barrier and enter the Fifth Domain... Xiao Shi personally witnessed the Martial Demon who was directly erased by the barrier after approaching his domain.

This made him clearly realize that

these three Demigod Heavenly Kings not only wanted to prevent him from stepping out of his domain, but they also would not allow anyone to enter his domain, giving him no room for development.

They clearly intended to cripple him directly in this way.

After all, for a Saint,

the development of one's own domain was also a crucial part.

If he was trapped within his own domain and unable to leave, there would be no possibility of any improvement or development.

"I have to find a way to bypass the barrier outside and bring some people in first..."

Xiao Shi felt that he could stay inside for now.

But he needed to get some people into his domain first.

According to his original plan,

he first needed to bring over the people from the Red Tiger Sect.

After all, he had already left the Great Wu Dynasty.

Naturally, it was impossible to keep the Red Tiger Sect in the Great Wu Dynasty.

If Xiang Zizhen's domain wasn't in the Imperial Domain, Xiao Shi would have wanted to bring Xiang Zizhen into his own domain to develop as well.

Of course, he could also have Xiang Zizhen abandon his domain.

This way, even if Xiang Zizhen lost his domain and fell from the Saint Realm, he could still re-ascend to the Saint Realm through his own domain.

Anyway, his domain could give birth to Saints.

However, the biggest problem currently

was primarily the barrier set up by the Demigods outside.

This barrier, in addition to possessing powerful annihilating force, also isolated teleportation and other functions.

Even if Xiao Shi established a teleportation formation within his domain, he would be unable to teleport.

However, Xiao Shi was not anxious about this.

He already had an idea in mind.

Whoosh!

With a flick of his hand,

the black Heavenly Secret Mask appeared in his hand. The moment he put on the Heavenly Secret Mask,

he directly entered the Tianji Hall, appearing within the dark, vast hall.

And the first thing he did upon entering the Tianji Hall,

Xiao Shi's gaze focused on the three fragments of the celestial compass suspended above the throne in the great hall.

He clearly saw that

these three fragments of the celestial compass were continuously converging and combining.

The power of the Tianji Hall permeated between the three fragments, causing them to continuously merge and consolidate.

Under normal circumstances,

even if an ordinary person obtained three fragments of the celestial compass, it would be difficult to combine them into a complete tianji plate.

To complete the reassembly, the power of the Tianji Hall was necessary.

Of course, if it were an existence like the Martial Emperor, even without the power of the Tianji Hall, he would be able to reassemble it.

"Soon..."

Xiao Shi gazed at the three fragments of the celestial compass.

Their reassembly was already more than halfway complete. He believed it wouldn't be long before these three fragments of the celestial compass would be fully reassembled.

At that time, he would possess the tianji plate, a powerful supreme treasure.

Xiao Shi was very much looking forward to this most powerful treasure of the Tianji Hall.

Soon,

Xiao Shi withdrew his gaze.

His purpose in coming to the Tianji Hall this time was not for the tianji plate, but to open up a new area of the Tianji Hall!

Currently, he had successfully opened two of the four important areas of the Tianji Hall.

Only the area that could give birth to the heavenly secret box and another unknown area remained.

Before entering the Martial Emperor's treasure vault,

Xiao Shi did not know the function of this unknown area of the Tianji Hall.

But among the many books in the Martial Emperor's treasure vault, he saw some introductions about the Tianji Hall, from which he deduced the specific function of this unknown area!

Now, he intended to activate this area!