Saint Who Lay Low

All the cultivators in the small world turned their gazes toward the black rift suspended on the horizon. A tense atmosphere hung over them as if an imminent catastrophe loomed.

This secluded realm, hidden deep within the Star Sea Sect, was a sanctuary for its inhabitants. The fact that Tian Wuchang had managed to force his way in demonstrated that many Star Sea Sect cultivators had already fallen at his hands.

From the black rift, a figure emerged—none other than Tian Wuchang.

Tian Wuchang strode forward, his upper body bare, hair disheveled. A massive serpent coiled around his waist, its body covered in black scales. The snake's head looped over his back, its tongue flicking out as it peered alongside him.

Dark, intricate patterns marked Tian Wuchang's chest and shoulders, forming strange symbols that heightened his menacing aura.

His gaze locked onto An Hao, a predatory grin spreading across his face.

An Hao frowned deeply, sensing the focused hostility.

Tian Wuchang's lips curled upward as he let out a disdainful chuckle. "Go ahead, form your array. Let me see if today's Star Sea Primordial Flag is as impressive as it was in the past."

His voice boomed through the air, and with a wave of his hand, a terrifying gust of wind surged forward, ravaging the area for tens of thousands of miles.

The floating islands scattered throughout the sky activated their protective formations, glowing barriers enveloping them one by one. Despite this, the islands trembled under the wind's ferocity.

Standing at the edge of the cliff, Da Mingtian, the Sect Master of the Star Sea Sect, gripped the Star Sea Primordial Flag tightly. His imposing figure stood firm against the storm.

With a snort, Da Mingtian raised the black Flag in his hand. The Flag shot into the sky, growing rapidly until it towered at ten thousand feet. Its immense shadow darkened the floating islands below.

Not stopping there, the miniature flags on Da Mingtian's headpiece flew upward one after another. Each expanded and aligned beside the towering Star Sea Primordial Flag.

Twelve Flags illuminated the sky.

"Twelve Flags? Not bad, but still far from enough."

Tian Wuchang sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. He waved his hand again, and this time, a blood-red wind burst forth from the black rift behind him. The torrent of bloodied wind surged forward like a flood, its momentum unstoppable.

In an instant, the blood-red storm collided with the twelve Flags.

The twelve towering Flags trembled under the impact. Stars painted across their surfaces erupted with blinding light, and from the ocean below, a colossal hand formed of surging waves reached out to grab Tian Wuchang.

Taking a step forward, Tian Wuchang stomped down, shattering the massive water hand with brute force.

Da Mingtian's brows furrowed as unease flickered in his eyes.

"You're at the eighth level of the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm. Impressive cultivation. But it seems you've spent too much time chasing after breakthroughs. Your spiritual energy is weak," Tian Wuchang taunted, his voice echoing through the sky and causing the faces of every Star Sea Sect disciple to pale.

Could this Spectral Wraith King be stronger than their Sect Master?

"Hmph! Defeat me first, then you can boast!"

Da Mingtian's stern voice reverberated as he leapt into the air. Arms outstretched, he unleashed his spiritual energy, commanding the twelve Flags. Gales erupted as the Flags whipped in the wind, releasing countless meteors from their glowing surfaces. Each meteor radiated immense energy as they rained down toward Tian Wuchang.

The sky darkened as the countless meteors eclipsed the sun. Some hurtled directly toward Tian Wuchang, while others orbited around him, forming a formation.

Undeterred, Tian Wuchang stepped forward. The meteors disintegrated upon contact with the aura radiating from his body.

With each step, his momentum intensified. A visible force field of energy swirled around him, his figure resembling an unstoppable force of nature.

Once again, his gaze locked onto An Hao. This time, his voice resounded directly into An Hao's mind:

"Fiery Sun Treasure Body, are you ready to be consumed by me? Fight back. The stronger you resist, the more satisfaction I'll get. If you please me, I might even let you suffer less."

Hearing those words, An Hao clenched his fists tightly.

Though unafraid of Tian Wuchang, An Hao understood he was no match for him. What worried him more was the potential devastation this battle could bring upon the Star Sea Sect.

Ever since stepping onto the path of cultivation, An Hao had been lauded for his exceptional talent. Yet, he constantly found himself relying on others. It had been that way in the Tai Xuan Sect, and now it was the same in the Star Sea Sect.

A deep bitterness welled up within him.

Why wouldn't the heavens grant him more time?

If he were given just a thousand years—no, even five hundred—he could ascend to immortality. Then, he wouldn't need anyone's protection.

To possess such unparalleled talent yet still rely on others' aid—what an unbearable irony.

A deafening explosion echoed as a shockwave surged toward An Hao. His eyes reflected the blinding flashes of light as the battle between Da Mingtian and Tian Wuchang raged on, their spells and divine techniques tearing through the floating island.

Tian Wuchang fought without the aid of treasures, relying solely on his physical strength to confront the magical and divine abilities wielded by Da Mingtian's Star Sea Primordial Flag.

Turning to An Hao, Chi Jiuxiao barked, "Get back inside! Don't come out!"

An Hao gritted his teeth, unwilling to retreat.

Chi Bei interjected, "The enemy has already breached this far. Hiding in the hall won't change anything. Let him watch the battle."

Casting a sidelong glance at An Hao, Chi Bei added, "Watch carefully, An Hao. Witness the might of ancient physiques. Today, while many disciples have perished because of you, we harbor no regrets. We await the day you rise to power. With your peerless talent, our Star Sea Sect will stand as your foundation."

Hearing these words, An Hao felt a pang of guilt.

He vowed to repay the Star Sea Sect, but in his heart, he feared he might not get the chance.

At that moment, An Hao thought of his master.

Tian Wuchang had managed to storm through the Star Sea Sect, unrivaled and unstoppable. In An Hao's mind, the only one who could possibly match him was his master.

His master, a figure who had once swept through the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, might not be able to kill Tian Wuchang outright, but could undoubtedly withstand his assault. Yet, An Hao couldn't summon him—he couldn't bring himself to ask.

His master despised trouble above all, and An Hao had already troubled him numerous times in the past.

An Hao's gaze remained locked on Tian Wuchang. Flames began to ignite around his body, his hair transforming into fire, as if he were a manifestation of the Solar Star Lord. A divine radiance emanated from him.

Meanwhile, in another secluded dimension within the Star Sea Sect.

Li Ya, dressed in black, stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing into the distance. The sky shimmered with radiant light, constantly shifting and transforming.

He frowned and muttered, "An Hao."

The news of Tian Wuchang's plan to seize the Fiery Sun Treasure Body had already spread. Li Ya had heard the rumors and immediately guessed that today's commotion was directed at An Hao.

Though he had always lost to An Hao, Li Ya didn't want to see him die.

A genius like An Hao, if unable to reach his potential, would be a tragedy. At least, that's how Li Ya felt.

He could lose, but he couldn't live without a rival to pursue.

A figure appeared beside Li Ya—it was Xuan Tianyi.

Seeing Li Ya still present, Xuan Tianyi breathed a sigh of relief and said sternly, "Don't even think about helping An Hao. While your Mysterious Divine City is powerful, you can't yet wield its full potential. The Spectral Wraith Kings aren't just after An Hao—they're after you, too."

Li Ya continued staring into the distance and asked, "Senior, how do you think this disaster brought by the Spectral Wraiths can be resolved? It's far worse than the calamity of demons we faced back on the continent. A single Spectral Wraith King can break into our Star Sea Sect…"

Xuan Tianyi remained silent for a moment before replying, "Powerful beings will intervene. This isn't something you or I should concern ourselves with."

"Spectral Wraiths… Mysterious Divine City…"

Li Ya's eyes glimmered with uncertainty, his thoughts unreadable.

Suddenly, he asked, "Senior Xuan, is there still no news of Zhang Buku?"

Xuan Tianyi shook his head, then looked back toward the horizon. Worry clouded his heart.

But what good was worrying?

This wasn't the continent anymore. As a cultivator in the Mahayana Realm, he was powerless here.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ocean erupted into waves towering tens of thousands of feet high. Floating islands shattered amidst a sky filled with lightning and fire. Black holes continuously tore open the heavens, allowing more and more high-ranking cultivators from the Star Sea Sect to arrive and support Da Mingtian.

Da Mingtian stood in the fray, holding the Star Sea Primordial Flag in both hands. His body was bloodied, yet he continued to battle Tian Wuchang relentlessly.

Tian Wuchang threw a punch, and though Da Mingtian crossed his Flags to block it, the force still sent him flying hundreds of miles backward. His hands trembled as blood seeped from his palms.

The ten Flags in the sky erupted with countless bolts of lightning, each strike weaving together to enshroud Tian Wuchang.

"Hahahaha! Wonderful! Wonderful!"

Tian Wuchang laughed maniacally. The more pain his body endured, the more frenzied he became. His aura surged with each passing moment, his eyes radiating a terrifyingly solidified killing intent.

His gaze locked onto An Hao once more. With a mocking tone, he jeered, "Go ahead, be angry. Despair all you want. But all you can do is watch as I tear them apart!"

His laughter reverberated across the heavens, drowning out all other sounds.

An Hao, seething with fury, prepared to charge forward, but the surrounding cultivators stopped him.

"If you go out there, you'll only make things worse for the Sect Master!" Chi Jiuxiao growled, planting the Dragon-Slaying Spear in front of An Hao's chest.

Even Chi Jiuxiao couldn't help but marvel at the searing heat emanating from An Hao's life flame.

An Hao gripped the spear tightly, his fiery gaze fixed on Tian Wuchang. "But—"

"No buts! If anyone dies, it'll be us first!" an elderly cultivator interjected with a deep growl.

The surrounding high-ranking cultivators echoed the sentiment, their resolve unshaken. None blamed An Hao, which only made his heart ache more.

"Are we really just waiting to die…" An Hao muttered bitterly, his flames blazing even hotter in his growing rage.

"Wait to die? Who said that?"

A calm voice suddenly rang in An Hao's ears, instantly dispelling his fury.

Before he could respond, the surrounding cultivators turned their heads in unison, their faces filled with shock.

Chi Jiuxiao, too, looked past An Hao and exclaimed in delight, "Sword Master… Senior! You've come?"

An Hao froze, his fiery aura extinguishing in an instant.

He stiffened and turned slowly. As he did, a familiar figure walked past him, stepping boldly into view.

It was Gu An, cloaked in the shadow of his Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body.

The dark, ethereal figure stunned the surrounding cultivators, apart from Chi Jiuxiao and Chi Bei. The others felt an instinctive fear.

Where had this figure come from?

And how had they failed to notice his arrival?

Regaining his composure, An Hao stammered, "Master, he… he's Tian Wuchang, one of the Nine Great Spectral Wraith Kings. He possesses the Supreme Treasure Physique—"

"Enough. Just a mere ant. Why bother introducing him?" Gu An interrupted, his tone nonchalant, shocking everyone present.

An Hao blinked, then smiled wryly, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"An ant? What arrogance! And who might you be?" Tian Wuchang's cold voice echoed across the battlefield, laced with murderous intent.

It was clear—Gu An's dismissive words had enraged him.