Chapter 1757: Zhao Yalian Transmutes the Ancient Saint's Blood

“Rise!”

Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and the Profound Sword flew into his palm. He immediately felt its world-destroying power. Previously, to defeat a Great Perfection Immortal-realm expert, he needed to employ all his techniques. Now, with a single, gentle swing of the sword, he could effortlessly slay dozens! Although there was only one level separating the Ancient Sage and Immortal realms, the difference was like heaven and earth; no amount of numbers could bridge that gap.

“Finally, I have the ability to protect myself…” Zhang Xuan exhaled, his eyes gleaming. He had been suppressed by the Ancient Sage from the Spirit Tribe. If that Ancient Sage had remained hidden, never appearing, then even with the Heaven’s Path Divination, he wouldn't have been able to harm them in the slightest. But now, with the Profound Sword’s advancement, everything was different. As a fellow Ancient Sage, as long as he dared to act, he could trace the source of their aura and injure them! This was precisely how the Old Ancestor of the Zhang Clan had repelled them. One could say that with the Profound Sword’s advancement, his life-saving abilities had increased significantly. Coupled with the previous Ancient Sage’s corpse, he could easily kill an Ancient Sage of the same level if they were caught off guard! It was no longer a one-time use like the Heaven’s Path Divination.

“First, I should consolidate my cultivation!” After sensing its power, Zhang Xuan said no more. He instructed the otherworldly Profound Sword to go aside and consolidate its cultivation, familiarizing itself with its new power.

The Profound Sword nodded in acknowledgment and gently swayed, flying off into the distance. Before it had gone far, it encountered the Dragonbone Divine Spear flying towards it and respectfully prostrated itself once more. Only after breaking through to the Ancient Sage realm did it realize just how powerful the sealed energy within the Dragonbone Divine Spear truly was. Once unsealed, even with its breakthrough, it would be no match.

“Xuan’er, this spear of yours…” Seeing this, Sword Saint Xing’s eyes widened. Weapons only submit to the strong, so didn't this mean the spear was even more powerful? He knew it was a weapon left by an Ancient Sage, no longer possessing its former glory, but he wasn’t clear on exactly how formidable it was.

“It’s nothing, just a small stroke of luck…” Zhang Xuan smiled.

“This is a ‘small’ stroke of luck?” Sword Saint Xing swayed, almost collapsing. “Do you have some misunderstanding about what a ‘small’ stroke of luck is? Such a powerful spear, a Profound Sword that has broken through to Ancient Sage, and numerous Great Sage treasures… If these are ‘small’ strokes of luck, then what do you call ‘big’ ones?”

“You all wait here. I’ll be back after refining this painting…” Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan flew straight in one direction.

It wasn't long before he arrived at a spot. With a gentle grab, a scroll appeared before him. It was the true form of the painting. He had discovered it earlier when his divine sense condensed into threads and spread out. He quickly began refining it.

*Whoosh!* The entire painting scroll was absorbed. Sword Saint Xing and the others swayed, reappearing in the main hall. The wall before them was now smooth and pristine, without a single trace of the painting.

“Will you cultivate here, or will you leave with me?” After dealing with these matters, Zhang Xuan looked at his parents. The most important treasure in this Hall of Great Accomplishment was this painting. However, the seventy-two Sage statues, the rich spiritual energy, and the characters and runes carved on the walls were also extremely useful for cultivators. Cultivating here would be at least ten times faster than outside.

“We won’t go with you. It’s quiet here, perfect for cultivating our souls and minds, and refining the Ancient Sage’s blood to strive for an early breakthrough!” The two Sword Saints exchanged glances and shook their heads simultaneously. Their current strength, if they followed their son, would only hold him back. Rather than that, they preferred to cultivate diligently here and strive for an early breakthrough.

“I’ll stay here too!” Hu Yaoyao also nodded. She had just broken through to the Undying Manifestation realm; going out would certainly be an even greater burden.

“Teacher, I’ll go with you. I know where they took Wei Ruyan, and I can lead you there!” Zhao Ya stepped forward.

“Okay!” Zhang Xuan nodded, hesitated for a moment, then flicked his finger, and the previous Ancient Sage’s blood flew over. “Absorb this drop of blood first!” There would be considerable danger outside. Although this drop of blood was precious, it was not as important as his student’s life.

“Yes!” Zhao Ya sat down cross-legged and absorbed the blood into her body. Her entire body’s energy surged. In less than ten minutes, she stood up, her eyes gleaming brightly, illuminating all directions.

“You… refined it?” Zhang Xuan was stunned. It was easy for him to refine it because the ancestor’s blood came from his own body, of the same origin. How could Zhao Ya have done it so quickly?

“I did!” Zhao Ya nodded. “After Teacher altered my meridians, my energy conversion speed is incredibly fast. Although this drop of blood is powerful, it didn’t take much time!”

“Meridians?” Zhang Xuan pointed a finger, and a stream of true qi flowed into her body. Indeed, he found that after her meridians were altered, Zhao Ya’s energy circulation was immeasurably faster than that of ordinary people. Even he couldn't match it. No wonder she could refine the Ancient Sage’s blood so quickly; her meridian map was probably even more rational than an Ancient Sage’s!

“Let’s go!” Since she had refined the blood, indicating she now possessed the ability to protect herself, Zhang Xuan said no more and flew straight out of the hall.

Watching the two leave, Sword Saint Xing smiled wryly and couldn’t help but sigh, “This master and disciple are both freaks…” They would need to place a drop of blood in their dantian and temper it day and night with true qi, but for these two, absorption meant immediate refinement… truly freakish.

“We must also speed up, otherwise, if we’re truly surpassed by our son and grand-disciple, where will our dignity be?” Dream Sword Saint said.

“Indeed!” Nodding, the two said no more and sat on the ground, beginning to cultivate.

“Old Ancestor, you must uphold justice for us!” Outside the Hall of Great Accomplishment, numerous young people wept bitterly. They had prepared for so long and invested countless efforts just to enter this Hall of Great Accomplishment, only to be brutally beaten and thrown out without gaining anything. They had never dreamed of such an outcome.

“If your skills are inferior, you can only blame yourselves, not others!” The Ancient Sage, hidden to one side, remained silent for a moment before a faint voice resounded.

“It’s not that our skills are inferior; it’s because that guy tamed so many Saint Beasts and refined so many powerful weapons. If he didn’t use those things, relying solely on his strength, he definitely wouldn’t be our match!” The youth with the shoe-print on his face gritted his teeth. What was so great about that guy? He just relied on his beast pets and weapons. Without those two, they didn’t believe he could match their strength!

“Yes, please, Old Ancestor, uphold justice for us and let us have a fair duel with him!” “If he can win without relying on those devious tricks, we will be convinced!” The other youths also gritted their teeth.

“This…” The Old Ancestor fell silent. After a moment, his voice sounded, “Brother Hongtian, these juniors of mine wish to have a fair competition with your junior. Would you grant us this small favor?”

“You need to discuss with my junior; I will not make decisions for him. Rest assured, as long as you do not act against morality, I will not interfere!” The Old Ancestor of the Zhang Clan’s voice rang out. Zhang Xuan and the others had entered the Hall of Great Accomplishment, but he had not left and had remained hidden in the vicinity.

“Since Brother Hongtian will not interfere, I am relieved…” The Old Ancestor of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers responded.