Like Ling Tian, once Chi Xue and the others learned that cultivators could only be certain of breaking through to the Saint level after reaching the Thirty-sixth Heaven, they, too, felt anxious and worried. They knew that at their current rate of cultivation, they had almost no chance of reaching that level in the time remaining. They were especially aware that their cultivation would slow even further as their realms rose. By the time the Lord of the Universe's million-year deadline arrived, they would be doing well just to reach the Thirty-second Heaven of Near-Saint—and that was still a long way from the Thirty-sixth Heaven.
Chi Xue and the others then began discussing with Ling Tian how to solve the problem, but Ling Tian had no good solution either. At that point, someone suggested whether they might be able to delay their return a little.
"Exactly. We should be able to put off going back for a while. After all, the million-year deadline the Demon God gave us only binds us; it doesn't bind Fellow Daoist Ling Tian, Fellow Daoist Chi Xue, or Fellow Daoist Po Tian." Shi Meng spoke gravely, looking toward Ling Tian as she continued. "So we can delay a little. It doesn't need to be very long—one or two hundred thousand years should be enough. By then, Fellow Daoist Ling Tian should at least have reached the Thirty-fourth Heaven of Near-Saint. Even if he hasn't reached the Saint level, he should be infinitely close. With his many advantages, especially having opened up one hundred and eight Small Worlds, he might well be able to contend with the Demon God."
"Exactly." Shi Ying picked up the thread, her voice tinged with excitement as she thought of something. "The million-year limit the Lord of the Universe gave us