“This tree is extraordinary. It can enhance one’s comprehension. Why not establish a force here, make this place our headquarters, and recruit all the top monstrous geniuses from the continent that we can draw in? In time, it might grow into a powerful force fully capable of standing against the major powers.”
Lin Xiao said.
Hearing Lin Xiao’s proposal, the three of them were slightly stunned.
This point had truly not occurred to them.
By bringing in the continent’s most outstanding monstrous talents to cultivate here, in the not-too-distant future, some would surely become Martial Saints.
Once a Martial Saint emerged, the strength of this force would surge.
With prior top geniuses and this Enlightenment Tree, the speed of producing Martial Saints would far outpace the major powers.
In that case, not only could they fully contend with the major powers, but surpassing them in the future was even possible.
The reason the major powers currently forced them to flee was simply their deep foundations and vast numbers.
If their own number of Martial Saints became sufficient, even if most powers allied against them, there would be no need to fear.
Moreover, this force would only accept monstrous talents, so numbers would remain limited. It would avoid the many troublesome burdens that plagued the great clans and powers.
They would not need to expend excessive resources nurturing geniuses within the force.
What they did not know, however, was that Lin Xiao had another idea.
That was to directly refine human pills and cultivate geniuses with full effort.
If he could refine something heaven-defying like human pills, even those far from half-step Martial Saint could rapidly advance.
Once reaching half-step Martial Saint, breaking through to Martial Saint would depend entirely on the individual.
“It is a good idea, but right now the major powers are hunting us. Who would be willing to join such a force?
“And if we make this place headquarters, how can we protect it from attack?”
Qing Yan could not help asking.
This was unlike his Demon Frog clan, which at least had a miasma barrier. Anyone wanting to invade would have to think twice.
“The first problem is easy to solve.”
Lin Xiao said. “As long as we have enough strength to accomplish one major deed and spread our fame, geniuses will be willing to take the risk.”
That major deed was naturally attacking the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower.
If they could successfully shake and breach the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower and retreat unscathed, their prestige would truly shake the entire continent.
“As for the second problem, it is indeed tricky. Though this place is concealed, sooner or later it will be exposed. If we gather together and the enemy comes in small numbers, we can hold them off, but with a fixed location, they can mobilise experts at any time.”
Lin Xiao said.
“If only we could make use of those vines. Even a Martial Saint entering would perish.”
Huo Ruyan said, her gaze turning to the stone tablet. However, moving the tablet was not a good idea.
“Unless absolutely necessary, that stone tablet must not be touched.”
Lin Xiao shook his head, immediately rejecting Huo Ruyan’s suggestion.
He already loved taking risks, but this one was too great.
“Earlier when we entered, the vines were still suppressed, yet they could still produce tendrils to devour others’ cultivation. Those dead skeletons were probably not devoured recently. It should not be an ability gained only because the Child of the Forest blood was insufficient.”
Long Tutian remarked. “Now that the tablet has absorbed blood, it may also gain the ability to produce vines and devour cultivation again.”
At Long Tutian’s reminder, Huo Ruyan nodded in strong agreement. “If those vines are the tree roots of this stump, it means the roots extend thousands or tens of thousands of li. Even if the main body is suppressed, it might still control distant roots. Whether this is true, however, requires testing with someone.”
“If so, would everyone entering and leaving need Lin Xiao to escort them?”
Qing Yan asked.
Huo Ruyan smiled. “That is simple. Let Lin Xiao bleed a bit more. Give each person a small vial of his blood. Open the jade bottle, and the vines probably will not appear.”
“…” Lin Xiao.
If that were the case, with slightly more people, would he not be drained dry?
“As for protecting this place, we will know once we test it. For now, let us first establish a name so it can spread later.”
Lin Xiao smiled too. “This force will only accept monstrous talents, so let us call it the Monstrous Gate. The Monstrous Gate will be like an alliance. No matter whether one already belongs to a major power, anyone can join.”
“You three, who is willing to be sect master?”
Lin Xiao’s goal was simply to build a force, expand strength, and contend with the major powers.
It would also provide a foundation. In the future, they could find ways to protect it and avoid constantly fleeing and hiding in various places.
As for who became sect master, it did not matter.
On the contrary, Lin Xiao preferred someone else manage the force rather than himself.
By saying this, he naturally included all three.
Huo Ruyan would certainly agree. Long Tutian was his senior brother and would not refuse.
The issue was Qing Yan. Qing Yan had a clan and was not mortal enemies with the major powers. He was only an assistant and could withdraw at any time.
By putting it this way, Qing Yan would find it hard to refuse.
Long Tutian shook his head. “Joining is no problem, but I have no interest in being sect master.”
“I can join too, but human clans are too complicated. I could not manage a force.”
Qing Yan indeed agreed to join, then looked at Huo Ruyan. “When it comes to managing a force, no one is more capable than Miss Huo, surely?”
Yet Huo Ruyan shook her head. “The Monstrous Gate is unlike the Blood Sect. I can manage a sect, but the sect master must be Lin Xiao. His fame is the greatest. Only that name can attract the continent’s top monstrous talents.”
Qing Yan and Long Tutian both nodded. In truth, none of them cared about the position of sect master.
Their aim was simply to form a force and ally with one another.
Lin Xiao did not mind too much either. Hearing Huo Ruyan, he nodded. “Very well, let it be so.”
“By the way, next I need to refine two battle skeletons. While you cultivate, keep some distance from me.”
Lin Xiao added.
The three nodded and moved to the outermost edge of the enormous tree stump, leaving only Lin Xiao in the centre.
Lin Xiao first took out the corpse of the Tianji Holy Land grand elder, then brought out the skeleton palm. He infused faint spiritual force to activate its corrosive power, eroding all flesh from the body until only a clean skeleton remained.
This shocked Qing Yan and Long Tutian, especially Qing Yan. He was seeing this method for the first time. It was even more chilling than outright destruction.
As for Huo Ruyan, she had witnessed its power when first obtaining the skeleton palm, so she was not surprised.
Then Lin Xiao began activating the Indestructible Skeleton Technique to refine them.
This time, with his yuan force advanced by a layer, refining was somewhat easier than before. The power he could imprint would also be stronger.
On this stump, his comprehension increased, so the refining speed was much faster than his first time creating Martial Saint-level battle skeletons.
In just over a month, he successfully refined both battle skeletons.
Now Lin Xiao possessed three full Martial Saint-level battle skeletons. Together with himself, that made four Martial Saints.
One person alone equalled a major power.
With Long Tutian and the other two added, were it not for the major powers allying or the existence of ancient monsters in great forces, they could already flatten a major power.
