Becoming a Saint

"Cultivate. If you don't break through soon, I'll devour you and do it myself."

As usual, Zhang Huan sent a friendly greeting to the victims of his Demonic Art.

[With the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar in hand, you no longer fear instability. Aside from crossing tribulations, you openly sit cross-legged within the sect to cultivate.]

[You reverse-slaughter all beings, using the Demonic Art as a medium to plunder Provisions entirely.]

[Soon, your thoughts flow smoothly, you successfully sever the Dao, and your cultivation surges. In just twenty years, you smoothly step into the Saint realm.]

Though it was merely a single step up in realm, his life essence had sublimated to an entirely different level—a world apart from before.

Below the Saint domain, all beings are ants!

The moment a "Saint" character was touched, one entered the domain of laws, capable of annihilating an entire planet, with a single hair collapsing mountains. This was a true Great Divine Ability User.

With a flip of the hand, he could suppress a Holy Lord or a Great Power. A Saint domain barrier separated him from those beneath the Saint realm; even geniuses in the Divine Forbidden Zone found it nearly impossible to cross realms and attack. The pressure alone was unbearable even for a Great Accomplishment King.

Zhang Huan's body flowed with luster, every strand of hair crystalline. His bones had turned golden, brimming with Life Force.

After becoming a Half-Saint, he pushed through in one surge, breaking the barrier and finally stepping into a realm he had never even dreamed of in his past two lives!

He felt that many divine gates within his body's treasure trove had opened, filled with Saint Power.

Perhaps because his innate talent was not high to begin with, his Heavenly Tribulation consisted of only a few waves of ordinary lightning. Though somewhat strenuous, it posed no mortal danger, and he barely managed to cross it.

Various phenomena unfolded—the Great Dao Heavenly Sound chimed without end, as if celebrating the birth of a new Saint.

Golden light burst forth, dazzling like a Golden Crow. Golden Lotuses Springing from the Ground, flowers raining from the sky—endless order and laws manifested, weaving profound Daoist Dharma.

The Gate of Potential within the human body swung wide open. Henceforth, his golden body was immortal, granting him a lifespan of six thousand years!

Even an Ancient Great Emperor had only Ten Thousand Years of Lifespan. A Saint could already witness the vicissitudes of the world and behold half the glory of a Great Emperor's era!

Relying on this Saintly Dharma, he had stepped into the Saint realm in less than a hundred years. Now, with a Supreme Emperor Weapon protecting him, Zhang Huan was more confident than ever. The Saint realm was by no means his end in this life!

The suppression of the Emperor's Dao had only recently faded. Saints were rare in the Big Dipper, and the same held true for the Supreme Dao forces, let alone other planets.

If he continued developing into the starry cosmos, resources and Provisions would flow endlessly. By then, countless billions would be cultivating for him!

"Now that I am a Saint, I can traverse the void."

He looked up at the starry sky—starlight scattered its radiance, moonlight swayed.

Entering the Saint domain, every step forward required vast reserves of foundation.

But the forces in the Big Dipper were tangled and complex; it was not a good place to spread his teachings. The mortal population was limited, and after decades of development, it had lost much of its potential. It could no longer allow him to advance as swiftly as before.

If he wanted to go further, a journey to those life-bearing ancient stars was inevitable.

Each ancient star held countless billions of beings. Unlike the Big Dipper, they had no threat from Supreme Dao forces. Zhang Huan could come and go freely, with no fear of the Native Forces.

Cultivation knew no time. Spring passed, autumn came—another decade or more went by. Zhang Huan had fully consolidated his Saint cultivation and finally tasted the feeling of being stuck, unable to advance an inch.

He planned to stabilize his influence in the Big Dipper, negotiate with the various Holy Lands, draw boundaries, and agree to non-interference. Then he could prepare for his journey into the stars.

In the past, the Holy Lands had tacitly ceded a trivial patch of territory, allowing Zhang Huan to establish his sect and extend his reach across the Eastern Wasteland.

Zhang Huan knew this was only possible because of the Emperor Weapon in his hand. Once he left, he couldn't guarantee the same stability.

The Holy Religion was something he had built with great effort. It provided him with Provisions daily and offered up massive resources. Abandoning it was out of the question.

Now, it was better to be direct—negotiate with them and settle the matter. Otherwise, the moment he left, his home base might be taken.

At midnight, all was quiet. The Emperor Weapon of the Jade Pool Holy Land suddenly stirred, shaking the entire sacred ground. A Supreme Dao Aura spread, startling even the Old Monster sealed in Divine Source Liquid awake.

"May I ask which senior visits in the dead of night? Acting like this—do you intend to be an enemy of the Jade Pool?!"

The current Queen Mother of the West, holding the Immortal Tear Green Gold Pagoda and clad in a golden-threaded jade garment, drifted gracefully into the void.

She appeared to be around twenty years old, with purple hair gently flowing, seductive eyes like water, as beautiful as a celestial maiden from the Nine Heavens—noble beyond words. A touch of red at her brow added to her charm.

"I am the Holy Religion Leader. I came to the Big Dipper from another clan to train. I may need to leave for some time soon. If I have offended, I hope you will forgive me."

A voice echoed from the void, accompanied by a wisp of Emperor might that clashed with the Western Emperor Pagoda, stirring up countless ripples.

Though his Emperor Weapon was only half, using it as if it were whole made little difference in practice.

As long as he could prove he had an Emperor Weapon protecting him, along with his fabricated identity, the other party would surely see reason.

After communicating, the Queen Mother of the West quickly grasped the situation and reached an agreement with Zhang Huan.

Once she understood his intentions, she patted her chest and said with a somewhat reproachful look.

"Couldn't you have been friendlier? Sneaking in with an Emperor Weapon in the dead of night—you nearly scared my poor little heart right out of my chest."

"..."

After half a beat of silence with no reply, confirming that Zhang Huan had vanished without a trace, the Queen Mother of the West flicked her sleeve and snorted coldly. Frowning, she turned around.

"Investigate every trace of the Demonic Sect's development over the years. Thoroughly probe this person's background—don't let a single Clue slip by!"

Near the immortal pool, the Queen Mother of the West's eyes were bone-chillingly cold, as if they could freeze the Nine Netherworld. The elders awaiting her orders dared not even breathe loudly.

Next, Zhang Huan visited the Ji Family, the Jiang Family, and other Supreme Dao forces one by one. Before dawn, he had covered all the Great Powers of the Eastern Wasteland.

"Having strength really makes a difference. Even asking for directions gets you countless people eager to help."

Zhang Huan felt an indescribable satisfaction. Truly, this was a cultivation world where the strong reigned supreme. Recalling how those forces that had bullied Ye Fan in later times now groveled before him, he suddenly felt his thoughts flow smoothly.

After that, Zhang Huan often sat in an ancient pavilion, a place close to the Jade Pool Holy Land—mere thousands of li away, a journey that took but an instant.

He was waiting for someone: the sole Innate Dao Embryo of this life, the young girl he had once saved at Black Wind Stockade.

Last night at Jade Pool, he had spotted her, and Zhang Huan used a small trick to get in touch.

The sun climbed past the third pole. A young girl in a white dress arrived as promised, standing outside the steps, unmoving for a long time.

Raising an eyebrow, he saw her realm was only Half-Saint. Decades had passed; with her talent, she shouldn't have cultivated so slowly.

Lotus buds were yet to bloom, and fish frolicked in the pond, occasionally leaping above the surface, dazzling in the sunlight.

"How are you still lower in realm than me?"

Zhang Huan asked casually.

Hearing this, the young girl's face clouded over, and she couldn't help clenching her fists.

"It's... it's nothing. Just a Heart Demon taking root, slowing my progress a little. Once I break through it, my cultivation will surge back and break several realms at once."

She was still guarded around others, but the man before her had not only saved her life but also helped the villagers—a good person.

Back then, when he had turned bandit, there must have been some unspeakable reason.

"After we parted, I never thought you'd join Jade Pool and become a Saintess Candidate. Your reputation is thunderous—I feel like I see you every day."

"I never imagined either, that the Bandit Lord who saved us back then would become a Sage, bearing an ancient imperial weapon."

The young girl fidgeted, recalling the words she had spoken to him at the village entrance, her face flushing a tender pink, breathtaking.

"Heh. Don't take it to heart."

Zhang Huan pulled out a Brocade Pouch and tossed it over.

"You rose from humble beginnings—it couldn't have been easy. Think of this as an investment in you. I hope you'll soon be confirmed as Jade Pool's true Saintess."

Within it were resources, gathered from the sect over decades, all taken by Zhang Huan. The portion he gave now was still considerable for a Half-Saint.

Truth be told, even Zhang Huan's own faction had no small wealth. Compared to the old Great Powers of Big Dipper, they were all dripping with fat.

Sooner or later, he'd have to skim some off!

"These resources should be enough to push you to Sage. The fight for the Saintess seat will be no easy road—don't disappoint me."

Her slender figure trembled slightly, and a trace of genuine emotion surfaced on her stunning face.

"I will never fail your expectations, Senior. One day, I will repay this kindness."

The young girl's beautiful eyes were firm as she spoke solemnly.

Zhang Huan first headed to Qi Shi Mansion.

This Qi Shi Mansion was the First Academy of Central State, its background quite mysterious, possibly tied to the outer realms.

Within it lay a teleportation array leading to the Starry Sky Ancient Road. Zhang Huan first asked for coordinates to some Life Planets, then informed them he would soon set out for the ancient road.

The attending Great Power dared not refuse. Facing a True Saint, what grounds did they have to say no?

And so, in his final days on Big Dipper, Zhang Huan did his best to bolster his combat strength, seeking out a few secret arts. After practicing them, they were barely better than nothing.

Truly valuable things weren't so easy to find; they all awaited the "fated" one.

In his Second Life, he had also learned some Source Art, though incomplete. Still, by disguising himself and trying Stone Gambling, he could win one in ten bets.

But he never recouped his stake—the more he gambled, the more he lost, with only occasional gains.

Zhang Huan figured his foundation in Source Art was a bit weak, so he studied it diligently.

After setting a few idle moves on Big Dipper, Zhang Huan had no more regrets. The next day, he arrived at Qi Shi Mansion and demanded entry into the starry skies.

He had no intention of going to the Starry Sky Ancient Road; he planned to visit some Life Planets first.

Standing on the Five-Colored Altar, he stepped onto the ancient path leading beyond the realm. A Star Gate appeared, swallowing his figure.

Chasing the Five-Colored Altar from one Desolate Ancient Star to another, Zhang Huan saw not a single living being.

In the vast starry sky, darkness and cold silence were the eternal norm for most regions.

Fortunately, Zhang Huan had some coordinates—extracted by coercion and bribery at Qi Shi Mansion—to guide his way as he traveled along an ancient path.

Crossing the starry sky was too vast. Though a Sage could draw energy from the endless void, it wasn't a long-term solution.

It was best to keep crossing via teleportation arrays, saving time and effort while reducing many risks.

Before long, he arrived at a new planet. What met Zhang Huan's eyes was utter devastation—the land scarred and pitted, as if ravaged by years of war.

Three black dots on the horizon rushed toward him, shattering mountains and splitting the earth as they passed, waves of Sage might shaking the air.

Zhang Huan's heart jolted. Spreading his Spiritual Sense, he saw it was a chase: one ahead, two behind.

The man in front was badly wounded and would likely be caught soon.

The two behind were dead set on killing him, unleashing powerful secret arts in tandem at intervals. The ripples made even Zhang Huan, on the other side of the sky, feel alarmed.

"They should also be at the Sage realm, but much stronger than me—at least Mid-Grade."

Assessing the strength of the two pursuers, Zhang Huan immediately flew at full speed to the side and rear, unwilling to be dragged in.

But the two had already locked onto him with their Spiritual Sense. After killing their quarry, they flew toward Zhang Huan, with no intention of letting him go.

"Why are you so eager to die? Anyone watching would think I'm afraid of you two."

Zhang Huan sneered inwardly at these two actively seeking death.

"Oh, you know what's good for you. Saves us the trouble."

Seeing Zhang Huan stop and wait on his own, the pursuing man and woman exchanged mocking glances.

"Hand over the Saint Artifact resources on you, and I'll spare your life. Don't try to resist—new Sages like you are ants in my eyes. I've killed no less than a thousand, if not eight hundred."

The burly man wiped the Saint Blood still on his body after catching up, licked it off without a care, and pointed his Bone Blade at Zhang Huan.

"Fine. You two do the same, then scram immediately. I might just turn a blind eye and let you off."

Zhang Huan clasped his hands behind his back, speaking as if it were nothing.

"Heh, kid, you're asking for it."

While they were still talking, Zhang Huan immediately raised the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar.

Imperial Aura surged, and a terrifying pressure bore down, instantly scaring the pair out of their wits. They cut off mid-sentence and fell to their knees begging for mercy.

"Ah! Sage, spare us! We lowlifes failed to recognize your greatness!"

But Zhang Huan gave them no chance. He directly unleashed the Supreme Dao Light Wave, and wherever it passed, the land was left barren, blasting the upper halves of the two into smithereens.

Their divine souls didn't even have time to cry out in shock before they became dust. Zhang Huan stepped forward to inspect their Wheel Seas, scooping up all the spoils.

"Kill and plunder, and the belt grows heavy. These two have no less than a dozen Saint Artifacts. Who knows how many Sages they've robbed? Quite the fortune."

Zhang Huan clicked his tongue in amazement. He'd hit the jackpot—clearly, the fastest and simplest way to get rich was to become a Tribulation Cultivator.

"Still, among Sages, I must be the type who can't hold his own in a fight."

Zhang Huan knew his own strength well. In this life, ever since he became the Bandit Lord, he'd never been through a life-or-death battle—he'd always bullied the weak.

What he knew, other Sages knew too. And he had no real luck with opportunities—he'd never encountered the Nine Secrets or any Imperial Methods.

"Since that's the case, I'll go the opposite way and focus solely on the Overcoming Inferior Method."

Up to now, Zhang Huan barely had a few secret techniques worth showing off.

Still, there was no need to waste effort competing with those genius seeds. Let them have their Eight Restrictions and Divine Forbidden Zone—I'll just one-shot them with an Imperial Artifact!

Cultivation, cultivation—resources, partners, techniques, territory. Whoever has the stronger cheat wins. The only difference is whether your cheat is strong or weak.