The 45th bolt of heavenly lightning shattered all the spiritual power and demonic energy within his body.
After enduring the 46th bolt of heavenly lightning, his body underwent a tremendous transformation, frantically absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy and demonic energy like a vortex.
The spiritual energy near Xianlong Peak was completely absorbed.
Meanwhile, an even greater thunderbolt was brewing overhead.
At midday, thick clouds blocked the sunlight. Electricity flickered through the clouds. Suddenly, the dim earth was brightened, and the lines of lightning, like giant tree trunks, connected the sky and the earth.
Rumble—!
The lightning struck down with a force capable of destroying the heavens and the earth, causing the entire Xianlong Peak to tremble.
Such immense power was enough to make anyone tense, and they were sweating for Yan Qing. They wondered if he, already severely injured in the demonic cultivation realm, could withstand it. Of course, some were also hoping something bad would happen to him.
Regardless of their thoughts at this moment, these people can only watch from afar.
Suddenly, a dragon's roar echoed from Xianlong Peak.
The dragon's roar resounded for miles.
A massive black dragon soared into the sky, heading straight to meet the heavenly lightning.
Above the heavens, thunder seemed to be annihilating this species that should not exist. The lightning seemed to tear the entire space apart, with purple lightning constantly converging on the black dragon, and the residual force exploding and falling to the ground, creating deep craters.
"dragon!"
"A giant dragon!"
The people below were so shocked they were almost speechless.
Everyone knows that dragons have long since disappeared from the world, yet today, their head of the academy has transformed into a dragon before everyone's very eyes!
He himself seemed to form a vortex, and the demonic energy and spiritual power were absorbed in an instant, accumulating and settling within his body.
Breakthroughs, and continuous breakthroughs.
His original size suddenly increased several times, and the dragon horns on his head grew from a simple shape to have complex patterns.
Mid-stage Martial Emperor, Mid-stage Martial Emperor, Peak Martial Emperor!
Shang Yanting's cultivation level rose rapidly, like riding a roller coaster, and finally broke through to the Martial Saint realm!
Not only that.
The demonic energy within him surged wildly.
All of Wan Zhi's cultivation over the years was poured into his body. Shang Yanting's demonic power, which he had not cultivated for many years, rose even faster. From the Demon Sect to the Demon King realm, then to the Demon Emperor, and finally to the Demon Saint realm, he broke through the threshold of the Demon Saint realm and burst out with even more astonishing energy.
"He...he's fallen to demonic possession?!"
The overwhelming demonic energy could even engulf the entire martial arts cultivation realm.
All the martial arts practitioners looked at the overwhelming demonic energy in shock. Many thought that the demonic cultivators had made a comeback and were preparing to attack the martial arts practitioners, which made people feel uneasy.
On the other side
Shang Yanting sensed that he had reached a critical point in his understanding of demonic cultivation.
Inside the treasure vault of Xianlong Peak, a jade lotus seedpod, entirely green in color, slowly rose, shimmering with azure light. It absorbed all the remaining lightning into its body and then, with a whoosh, drilled into his brow.
A flood of things that were outside his knowledge came rushing in.
"Saint" is not the pinnacle of a cultivator; "Venerable" is the highest realm a cultivator can attain.
Above the Martial Saint is the Martial Venerable, and above the Demon Saint is the Demon Venerable. This is the highest realm of cultivators, only half a step away from "God". The power of the All-Knowing Peak has already reached the highest level; even severely injured, eliminating two Martial Saints is merely a matter of a snap of the fingers.
Only the Venerable One can truly activate the lotus seedpod.
The distance between the Venerable One and the God is no longer cultivation level, but faith.
"All things worship you as a god, and you are a god."
An ancient voice rang in Shang Yanting's ears, and the blue lotus seedpod had completely entered his brow, leaving a mysterious mark.
Incarnation, becoming an adult!
Shang Yanting opened his eyes; the demonic energy and spiritual energy within his body were now completely balanced.
With a wave of his hand, the dragon scales transformed into a black robe, and he stood quietly between heaven and earth.
"He, he..."
The people below were so shocked they didn't know what to say.
Is Yan Qing human or dragon? Is he a martial arts cultivator or a demonic cultivator?
People looked at each other in bewilderment.
Let alone ordinary martial arts practitioners, even Karl and the two deans who rushed over had no idea what Yan Qing's current situation was. It wasn't until he slowly descended, heading towards the group of cultivators below.
The young man wore a dark robe with dark scales that floated as he walked.
His appearance remained unchanged, but the feeling he gave off had changed drastically, becoming more unfathomable.
The most advanced level of cultivation is returning to simplicity and authenticity.
Even if Yan Qing stood right in front of them, they couldn't sense his current cultivation level. How much favor from heaven had a young cultivator received to achieve such a level of cultivation at such a young age?
Qu Haifeng watched as this young cultivator, who had once been subservient to him, then became his equal, and now even surpassed him, felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. He couldn't help but wonder what he had actually accomplished through all those years of diligent cultivation.
Their Daoist beliefs were thus affected.
"Senior Karl, Fellow Daoist Qu, Fellow Daoist Gongyang."
Shang Yanting slowly walked towards them, and the cultivators on both sides quickly made way for him.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Yan, on your great success in cultivation."
Gongyangsun bowed to Shang Yanting.
They couldn't discern Shang Yanting's cultivation level now, but it was certain that it surpassed theirs, Qu Haifeng's, and Helian Xiong's. "Congratulations to Dingtian Academy for gaining another Martial Saint!"
A martial saint?!
Upon hearing Gongyangsun's words, Shang Yanting's lips curled slightly, and he accepted his blessing as a matter of course.
Upon seeing this, Qu Haifeng followed Gongyangsun and said, "Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Yan on your great achievement in cultivation! Congratulations to Dingtian Academy for adding another Martial Saint!"
Once the two deans spoke, how could the rest of the people not know what was going on?
Martial Saint!
He is one of only three Martial Saints on the Aotian Continent, and also the youngest!
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Yan, on your great achievement in cultivation! We are pleased to welcome another Martial Saint to Dingtian Academy!"
The sound echoed throughout the mountains and fields.
Thousands of cultivators, in an effort to demonstrate their shrewdness, even knelt on the ground and repeatedly recited these two sentences.
Qu Haifeng and Gongyangsun exchanged a glance, knowing that the era of a four-way power struggle was over.
In the continent of Aotian, strength is everything.
Only when their strength is roughly equal can they check and balance each other, and Yan Qing has now reached another level. The four deans are about to become mere figureheads.
Now, the only person who isn't afraid of him is probably Karl.
He looked Shang Yanting up and down, his brows furrowed ever since Shang Yanting survived the Heavenly Tribulation. "Yan Qing, has your demonic energy dissipated?"
"Reporting to Senior, the problem has been largely resolved."
In reality, he was more adept at controlling both magic and martial arts.
"However, there are still some residual demonic energy that have not been cleared. I will need to go into seclusion to cultivate in the coming days. I will also need the other three deans to take good care of the affairs of Dingtian Academy."
Yan Qing looked at Qu Haifeng and Gongyangsun, casually indicating that he was relinquishing his power.
---Aside---
There's one more chapter, it's a bit late, you can read it in the morning.
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