Song Shuhang, Su Clan's Sixteen, Shi, and Xiao Cai all withdrew from the formation's range.
Su Clan's Sixteen rose on her saber, taking Shi with her as she retreated. Song Shuhang brought Xiao Cai along on his own saber and hovered beside Sixteen.
After they withdrew, the formation's light grew even more dazzling. Even Song Shuhang and the others could no longer see through the blinding light to make out the changes within.
"I hope Fellow Daoist Melon-Eating succeeds," Song Shuhang said, offering his blessings.
Having just received tremendous benefits from the Melon-Eating Sage, they could hardly fail to wish him well. They all hoped he would complete the ritual smoothly and, ideally, glimpse the prospect of advancing to the ninth grade afterward.
"The ritual has gone very smoothly so far," Su Clan's Sixteen replied. "Before I withdrew, I checked Melon-Eating Senior's physical body. He had already successfully nurtured a merit physique inside himself. Now it should be time for his merit body to emerge from his old flesh."
Song Shuhang nodded.
Within the formation, the merit light grew increasingly dazzling, and the area enveloped by the formation expanded as well.
Song Shuhang and Su Clan's Sixteen could only retreat farther to avoid getting caught up in it.
Time flew by.
Over half an hour later, the ritual formation was still radiating intense light. It did not look as though it would finish anytime soon.
Song Shuhang brought out his Puppet Silver Dragon and let it float on the sea. Then he, Sixteen, Shi, and Xiao Cai sat on it to rest for a while.
Sixteen seemed exhausted. After sitting down on the Silver Dragon Puppet, she leaned against Song Shuhang's shoulder and soon fell asleep.
In fact... she had been mentally exhausted and somewhat weak since the