Chapter 1003: The Seven Saints Emerge

Everything dissipated into thin air, and several dark shadows vanished into the void.

The Seven Saints, having witnessed the entire event, were left in shock, their hearts racing.

Gazing in the direction where the Gu family's sacred ground had disappeared, Su Jie tightly gripped her holy sword and looked at the others.

"The mighty Gu family was wiped out in an instant. That skeleton's power is truly terrifying. Do any of you elders know its origins?"

Saints are also ranked.

From the first to the ninth tier, and then to perfection.

The level of a saint depends on their level of enlightenment. The higher the level of enlightenment, the higher their rank.

For example, Su Jie and the deceased Gu Qingcheng were both second-tier saints.

Gu Taiyuan and the other saints present were third-tier saints.

However, it could take thousands or even tens of thousands of years for these individuals to advance even a single tier.

As for Bai Piaopiao, who had just become a saint, she was only a first-tier saint. But as an innate saint, she would never face bottlenecks in her enlightenment. As long as she didn't meet an untimely demise, she was destined to reach perfection in the future.

This was the greatest difference between innate and acquired saints.

Hearing this, the saints exchanged glances, all of them equally bewildered.

An old man holding a horsetail whisk looked grave.

"I have never seen such methods before, nor have I encountered this person. His cultivation must be at least at the fifth-tier saint level."

"Fifth-tier saint?"

Su Jie couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

A fifth-tier saint was someone who had comprehended innate divine abilities.

Any saint who reached this stage would, based on their enlightenment, comprehend innate divine abilities.

"Indeed, to annihilate the Gu family so effortlessly, he must be at least a fifth-tier saint. For such a powerful figure to appear suddenly is quite strange..."

The other saints nodded in agreement.

"That skeleton was truly formidable. Fortunately, it wasn't a demon, or we would be in grave danger."

"Recently, many reclusive powerhouses have emerged, and many previously unheard-of beings have appeared, all with incredibly strong cultivation. It seems a chaotic era is approaching..."

"It's a pity the Gu family was wiped out. Our human race has lost some strength. Even though the Gu family had a bad reputation, they could have been useful in fighting against the demons."

"That's not necessarily true. Gu Taiyuan was treacherous and ruthless, willing to sacrifice everything for small gains but cowardly in the face of great challenges. Such a person could not be trusted with important tasks. In the future, he might even stab us in the back and side with the demons. We must never ally with such a person to fight demons."

"Brother Xu speaks wisely. I wholeheartedly agree."

...

The saints continued to whisper, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Bai Piaopiao and Su Jie exchanged somber glances. Having heard many secrets about the Gu family, they lamented the family's despicable ways. As the saying goes, "If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked." It was no empty phrase.

Although they had witnessed the destruction of a human sacred ground, they felt little regret. Instead, they breathed a sigh of relief.

It turned out that all the saints had reservations about the Gu family, which was why they hadn't been chosen for the demon-slaying mission.

In that case, the destruction of the Gu family was actually a good thing.

At least it eliminated a potential future threat, preventing the scandal of a saint betraying the human race. It also resolved the disaster for Yi Feng, killing two birds with one stone.

Regardless of the skeleton's origins, it had inadvertently done a good deed.

Bai Piaopiao was completely at ease, her expression once again resolute.

"Elders, since this matter is settled, we should head to the demon realm to investigate. This is a crucial matter, and we cannot linger here."

The leader, Daoist Qingfeng, nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, Emperor Bai is right."

As he spoke, the immortal-like old man lightly waved his horsetail whisk, causing ripples in the void. A faint light gathered in his sleeve, condensing into a radiant ancient short sword that exuded a majestic aura.

The short sword floated in mid-air, seemingly ordinary but inscribed with countless golden characters. The power of the Dao continuously gathered and then erupted in waves of might, startling the saints!

"Brother Qingyun, you even brought the Mortal Sword, the treasure of Qingyun Temple?!"

"Gasp... Is this the legendary Mortal Sword? It's said that this sword was forged from the holy sword of the Daoist ancestor Laozi, consuming countless sacred black gold. With a single strike, it once illuminated nine realms, forcing even saints to retreat!"

"Brother Qingyun, your selflessness for the greater good is truly admirable. Please accept our bow!"

The saints were about to bow in reverence, their eyes filled with respect for the old Daoist.

Qingyunzi lightly waved his whisk, lifting the saints.

"Fellow Daoists, for the survival of the human race, this is our duty. There's no need for such praise. Please, do not hold back. This journey requires utmost caution. We must not be overconfident!"

The terrifying Dao power shocked the saints, and his solemn words made them even more serious.

The saints nodded in unison, their expressions growing more stern.

"Elder Qingyun is right. We bear the responsibility of the human race and must not be careless!"

"Indeed. Even as saints, venturing into the demon realm is a life-and-death gamble. A true man stands between heaven and earth, willing to sacrifice for the greater good."

"Well said! To save all living beings, we must not shirk our duty!"

In an instant, the saints' treasures were all revealed!

A enlightened monk clasped his hands together, and a black prayer bead emitted streams of light, with Dao charm flowing within. Behind him, the shadow of a Buddha appeared, golden light covering the sky, solemn and majestic. Under the echoing Buddhist chants, all things became peaceful!

A scholar gently grasped a jade brush, and the power of literary Dao surged several times, as if infused by heaven and earth. His aura skyrocketed, rivaling the monk's Buddhist chants!

Su Jie tightly gripped her holy sword, and sword energy filled the heavens and earth. The long-silent hum of the sword rang out once more. Despite being from the younger generation, her sword Dao was nearing perfection, as if she had another epiphany.

This phenomenon drew the attention of the saints, their confidence greatly boosted!

Bai Piaopiao, being a new saint, had yet to wield a top-tier saint artifact, which didn't surprise the others. However, sensing the profound and pure Dao power emanating from her, the saints nodded in admiration.

"The Sword Saint and Emperor Bai possess extraordinary talent. Their future achievements will be limitless!"

"No wonder the two of them can accompany us. To have such comprehension at such a young age is truly remarkable."

"This journey to the demon realm is extremely perilous. For the two of you to take such risks pains my heart. If anything were to happen, it would be a great loss for the human race. You must think carefully..."

"Elder Qingyun speaks wisely. We urge the two of you to reconsider. Your future potential is boundless, and this journey is too dangerous."

The saints sincerely advised, their words filled with righteousness.

Faced with the elders' goodwill, Su Jie and Bai Piaopiao were deeply moved. These saints, at such a critical moment, held nothing back and even prioritized the greater good, taking on the danger themselves for the future of the human race.

This was the inheritance of righteousness and hope, the backbone of the human race's enduring glory.

The human race's physique is weak, far inferior to the demons' physical bodies, and lacks terrifying innate talents. Most humans are born without cultivation, relying on countless predecessors to pave the way before they could embark on the path of immortality. From the weakest existence, they gradually rose, awakening divine bodies and establishing various systems of the Dao, finally able to stand against other races and carve out a place in the world!

The hardships and struggles involved are unimaginable.

Su Jie was well aware of the dangers of this journey, but as a saint of the sword Dao, she had only the spirit to move forward, never retreat.

"Elders, there's no need to say more."

Her decisive words left no room for doubt.

The saints were momentarily stunned, then increasingly impressed. Looking at the young woman holding the holy sword, they saw a peerless divine sword.

Their gazes shifted.

Including Su Jie, the six saints all looked at Bai Piaopiao.

Just as they were about to advise her.

Bai Piaopiao, usually reserved and gentle, now wore an expression of unwavering determination.

"Elders, you uphold great righteousness. As a new saint, I too have a duty. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. Though my cultivation is shallow, I cannot let the entire human race fall into peril. I cannot bear to see those I cherish in danger..."

Memories of the past few days surfaced in her mind, the laughter and joy still echoing in her ears. Yi Feng's poems were unforgettable, representing everything Bai Piaopiao cherished and was willing to protect at all costs.

Bai Piaopiao's clear eyes softened with affection, and in that moment, she made up her mind.

Her expression grew even more resolute!

"This journey to the demon realm is inevitable!"

Her firm words resonated, and the saints looked at her with admiration.

At that moment.

Suddenly, countless strands of Dao power gathered, swirling around Bai Piaopiao. Her terrifying aura surged several times, and in an instant, it surpassed what would have taken a thousand years of cultivation!

Su Jie's eyes widened in surprise!

The saints were equally stunned, and exclamations of shock followed!

"An epiphany of the Dao?!"

"Emperor Bai's talent is truly fearsome. With a single sentence, she has comprehended the essence of many Daos!!!"

"Excellent! With Emperor Bai's talent and courage, how can we men hesitate? Let us go to the demon realm together and return to feast!"

"Well said! If I do not enter hell, who will? Benefactor Bai is blessed with great fortune. This monk will protect her with all my might!"

"Saints, charge into the demon realm!!"

With Qingyunzi pointing forward, stroking his beard, the seven saints, their eyes filled with determination, stepped into the boundless dark ripples before them. Despite knowing the immense danger, they did not hesitate for a moment!

The sky's might faded, returning to calm and sunny weather.

The terrifying aura of the saints vanished in an instant, leaving no trace. Ordinary people could not perceive it, and life went on as usual. It was hard to imagine the immense sacrifices behind this fleeting peace.

Even with the seven saints venturing forth, their safe return was far from guaranteed.

...

Heaven and Earth Island.

A monk suddenly looked up, as if sensing something.

He stared at the sky for a long time, his expression growing more solemn. What seemed like a clear, sunny day to others appeared to him as a sky filled with dark clouds.

Slowly closing the book in his hands, Chen Kunpeng sighed.

Even though the book contained many novel and "ingenious techniques," it no longer held his interest. Instead, he felt an indescribable sense of reflection, as if he had entered a state of sage-like contemplation.

Carefully storing the book in his wide sleeve, Chen Kunpeng clasped his hands together, resembling a venerable monk.

"Amitabha..."

"It's been a long time since I last traveled. Unknowingly, dark clouds are gathering, and my devotion to Buddhism has waned. This is truly a sin. With the storm approaching, it's time to spread the teachings of Buddhism."

With this reflection, the great monk stood up and took a step.

With that step.

His figure vanished.

When he landed again, he was a thousand miles away, the island nowhere in sight, surrounded only by mountains.

Another step.

Ripples spread through the void, and endless black mist filled the surroundings!