Chi Xue and the others also realized what it would mean if Ling Tian and the cultivators around him broke through to Quasi-Saint Ninth Order. This was where they were at a disadvantage: Chi Xue and his people had fused with powerful Ancient Divine Beasts, causing their cultivation realms to stagnate. Even after all this time, there was still no sign of a breakthrough. In their hearts, they knew that even tens of thousands—or a hundred thousand—years might pass before they could solve the problem.
Even if they managed to overcome their stagnant cultivation, so what? They would still have to raise their cultivation realms further, perhaps even advance by a minor level, and that would be difficult for them too. It would take a considerable amount of time.
After raising their cultivation realms, they would also need to fuse with even more powerful Ancient Divine Beasts to break through to Quasi-Saint Ninth Order. Then they would need time to familiarize themselves with their new realms. All told, it would take a very long time. Unless something unexpected happened, they would reach Ninth Order much later than Ling Tian and his people.
If Ling Tian and his people broke through to Ninth Order—and there were quite a few of them—they would have little trouble facing Chi Xue and the others, who had yet to break through. That would remain true even if the Outer Realm Demon Race cultivators were still hunting them down, especially if Ling Tian and his people entered Chi Xue's territory. Unless something unexpected happened, after breaking through to Quasi-Saint Ninth Order, Ling Tian and his people would be able to move freely through Chi Xue's territory. The Outer Realm Demon Race cultivators, meanwhile, would have too many scruples to bring their full strength to bear. Under