Learning from their men that Ling Tian had already gone out to hunt cultivators—and had the strength to fight experts close to the Near-Saint level—Shi Lin, Po Tian, and the others were both shocked and bitterly disappointed. They knew they might never have another chance to surpass Ling Tian, even if they obtained Phoenix Soul Fruits and went on to cultivate the Nine Reversals Heavenly Technique.
It was only natural. Ling Tian's cultivation realm was still slightly behind Chi Xue and the others. He had only just broken through to Quasi-Saint Ninth Order High-grade, yet he could fight experts close to the Near-Saint level. Chi Xue and the others were nowhere near that strong.
Although they would have a chance to consume Phoenix Soul Fruits, be reborn through nirvana, and then cultivate the Nine Reversals Heavenly Technique, Ling Tian was more likely to obtain Phoenix Soul Fruits—and more likely to succeed in the rebirth, too. On top of that, he had already reversed his golden core nine times before his nirvana rebirth. Chi Xue and the others simply could not compare.
What was more, Ling Tian had yet to fuse with an Ancient Divine Beast. Although there was no sign that he was about to fuse with one, nobody could guarantee he never would. If he did, his strength would surge once more, leaving Chi Xue and the others even further behind.
There was another point: Chi Xue and the others had not fused with their Quasi-Saint Ninth Order Void Beasts for long. That meant they would soon face the problem of their cultivation realms stagnating once more, and they might not be able to resolve it for a long time. This was another way they fell short of Ling Tian. He was not facing any such stagnation—not for a