On the array platform, Lin Xiao stood in a simple black robe, his aura sharp as an unsheathed sword, exuding a breathtaking intensity.
“This is what Martial Venerable feels like?”
Sensing the boundless power within, Lin Xiao’s face lit up with joy. At Martial Venerable, his dantian had transformed into chaos, a thin primal layer forming around it, pulsing with endless power.
This was the First Realm Martial Venerable stage.
“My physical strength shouldn’t be weak either, right?”
Clenching his fist, the air around it seemed to explode. His physical power was immense, its limits unknown even to himself.
“This Martial Emperor blood is extraordinary. It not only boosted my physical body and forged a supreme foundation for Martial Venerable but also upgraded my dantian phenomenon.”
Lin Xiao was ecstatic. His dantian phenomenon could evolve, but only with treasures sharing dragon-like attributes.
Previously, the Hu Serpent Blood Void Pill had raised it one level. Now, the Martial Emperor blood had done so again.
Perhaps the blood carried dragon-related properties—maybe the Martial Emperor who refined it had a dragon phenomenon, divine dragon body, or dragon bloodline.
But that wasn’t his concern.
“How’s it feel, kid?” Baili He asked, smiling at Lin Xiao’s delight.
Snapping back, Lin Xiao looked at the four, grinning sheepishly before expressing heartfelt gratitude. “Thank you, Vice Dean and Elders. I’ve successfully refined the Martial Emperor blood and broken through to Martial Venerable!”
The blood was a priceless treasure, a great favor from the elders, who’d also guarded him these months, preventing catastrophic interruptions.
They’d also masked his phenomenon, shielding him from potential trouble.
Their high expectations and kindness were a profound debt.
The Vice Dean smiled warmly. “It’s mostly your own effort. Without enduring that pain, you wouldn’t have achieved this.”
“Exactly. Long Tutian only managed sixty percent. You refined the entire drop,” the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion Master chuckled.
“Only sixty percent?” Lin Xiao blinked, unaware until now that full refinement was rare.
The group was speechless.
“You… this kid. Martial Emperor blood isn’t easy to refine. Even Martial Venerables struggle to fully process it, let alone a Martial King,” the Vice Dean teased, chuckling.
“By the way, what’s with your dantian phenomenon? It was earth-grade low-tier before, but now it’s mid-tier. Can phenomena upgrade?” Baili He asked, voicing their shared curiosity.
“Honestly, I’m not sure…” Lin Xiao scratched his head. He knew his phenomenon could evolve but didn’t fully grasp why it was so unique.
“You’re full of secrets!” Baili He muttered, letting it go.
“By the way, with your current strength, handling Xiahou Li should be fine, right?” Baili He asked, recalling the challenge.
“Should be,” Lin Xiao nodded, a spark of anticipation in his eyes.
“Then prepare well. Let’s see how strong you’ve become,” Baili He said, equally expectant.
Lin Xiao nodded, then turned to the Vice Dean. “How long did the refinement take? Has Hu Yue emerged from seclusion?”
The Vice Dean shook his head. “Not yet, but likely soon. You took two months.”
“Two months?” Lin Xiao sighed inwardly. Immersed in enduring the pain, he’d lost track of time.
Hu Yue still in seclusion was expected; the Taixu Soul-Returning Pill’s effects were gradual, not immediate.
He’d need to wait longer for her.
After chatting, Lin Xiao left the cultivation zone.
—
The Holy City buzzed with the phenomenon, but Baili He spread word that a Martial Monarch elder’s breakthrough caused it, quelling speculation.
People were pleased, as a Martial Monarch’s advancement bolstered Shengyuan Academy’s core strength, a boon for the city.
Lin Xiao merely smiled, knowing it was his doing, not some elder’s.
On his way back to Tianmen, beyond the phenomenon, he heard other news.
In the two months of his seclusion, the conflict between the Holy City Alliance and Youtian Demon Palace had escalated.
Six weeks ago, Gu Shiyou emerged from seclusion, reaching Third Realm Martial Venerable. He swept through low-tier Martial Venerables on the battlefield, defeating even Yuwen Hao (third-ranked) and Mu Yuanhua (fourth-ranked) together.
Gu Shiyou, a rising prodigy of Youtian Demon Palace, vowed to crush all Holy City youths.
The news stirred Wu Tian, who headed to the battlefield.
Instead of Gu Shiyou, he met Cang Shang, who, recovered from Yinwind Ridge, had broken through to Fourth Realm Martial Venerable. Cang Shang crushed Wu Tian, dominating the battlefield.
The Holy City was forced to deploy Fourth and Fifth Realm Martial Venerable elders.
This escalated the conflict, with Youtian Demon Palace sending their own mid-tier Martial Venerable elders.
The war shifted towards older generations, as, aside from Cang Shang, no youths reached mid-tier Martial Venerable.
During this time, Youtian Demon Palace learned Lin Xiao was alive, yet their leadership remained silent—an anomaly to Lin Xiao.
Given their domineering nature, they should’ve reacted strongly, at least issuing statements.
Their silence was unnerving.
However, Youtian Demon Palace’s lower-tier Martial Venerables targeted Tianmen relentlessly, hunting their disciples, causing heavy losses.
Anger flared in Lin Xiao at this news.
Returning to Tianmen, he found Gu Xuanyuan, Shura Butcher, Ma Bi, Niu Bi, Wang Long, and others gathered in the hall, their faces etched with fury.
