Sha Chen quickly refined the four Swords of Immortality.
Meanwhile, having returned to Penglai Island, the Tongtian Hierarch also sensed he had lost his connection to the Sword of Immortality. He stretched out his hand and made some calculations, but he could not figure anything out. His eyes filled with shock and disbelief. "To think someone could sever my connection with the Sword of Immortality! Who on earth could have obtained it?"
The Tongtian Hierarch was certain the Sword of Immortality was no longer on Fenbao Cliff and must have been obtained by someone. However, he could not fathom that it would end up in Sha Chen's hands. The Tongtian Hierarch shook his head again. "The Sword of Immortality is already damaged. It would take a million years to restore it to its peak. Even if someone obtained it, it's nothing more than a broken sword. So be it. It just seems I am not fated to possess the Sword of Immortality."
With a sigh, he chose to concern himself with the matter no longer. In truth, the Sword of Immortality would require a million years to be nurtured and refined, a period the Tongtian Hierarch could not afford to wait; it was as good as him parting ways with the sword. Now that it had fallen into another's hands, it was no different from scrap metal to him, so he naturally did not care.
However, what the Tongtian Hierarch could never have anticipated was that the Sword of Immortality, upon falling into Sha Chen's hands, had been perfectly restored. The system had already repaired it. If he had known, he might not have been so willing to relinquish it to Sha Chen.
Another five years passed with Sha Chen in closed-door cultivation. During this time, all seven Spider Spirit sisters reached the Quasi-Saint Realm. The Three Holy Mother Yang Chan also achieved the Quasi-Saint Realm, while the Erlang God Yang Jian advanced even further within the high-rank Quasi-Saint level.
The Six-Eared Macaque's cultivation was similarly astonishing. Having refined the Dao Techniques bestowed upon him by the Tongtian Hierarch, he too had now reached the high-rank Quasi-Saint Realm. In actuality, he had already attained the high-rank Quasi-Saint Realm in his past life, but his powers were stripped by the Tongtian Hierarch, who then, with the help of Empress Nuwa, sealed him inside the Stone of Three Lives. Now, he was merely returning to the peak cultivation of his past life. However, in this life, he was evidently stronger than before. This was not only because he possessed the pillar that supported the heavens, but also because he had received all the Dao Techniques taught by Sha Chen and the Tongtian Hierarch. In terms of Taoist magical powers, he surpassed his former self. Furthermore, Sha Chen had taught him the Heavenly Splitting Palm and other formidable Divine Powers.
In his previous life, he had exhausted all his potential and talent to cultivate to this realm, and the Divine Powers he mastered then were not as potent as those in this life. If the Six-Eared Macaque of his past and present lives were to fight, the current Six-Eared Macaque would undoubtedly be stronger. Consequently, after familiarizing himself with the pillar that supported the heavens, the Six-Eared Macaque often sparred with Yang Jian. The two fought back and forth, thoroughly enjoying the thrill of combat. Because their strengths were similar, they pushed each other to improve.
As for Sha Chen's own strength, his cultivation had not grown much during these five years. However, his understanding of space had reached an incredibly profound and mysterious realm. Five years prior, he had achieved Complete Realization of Space. During these subsequent five years, he had devoted all his time to exploring the power of space and the Law of Force. While his command of spatial power had naturally advanced to a new level, he struggled to achieve a breakthrough in the Law of Force.
His cultivation and physical body were also unable to advance further. This was an inevitable situation, as his cultivation resources over the past five years had been limited; he had long since depleted his entire previous stockpile. This meant his cultivation during these five years was no different from that of others, proceeding without the benefit of additional resources. Consequently, the pace of his cultivation had slowed down immeasurably.
Nevertheless, Sha Chen's overall strength had still increased significantly. His Dao-heart had become more resilient, and his understanding of Dao Techniques had deepened. As for the power of space, it went without saying that he had reached the realm of Great Perfection and had ventured even further within it. Still, Sha Chen was somewhat dissatisfied with this.
However, these five years had not been without gain for Sha Chen. He had been constantly exploring ways for his physical body and cultivation to transcend their current realms. He believed there was not just the path of becoming a Saint. God Pangu was not a Saint, yet who would dare claim his power was inferior to that of a Saint? During these five years, Sha Chen's exploration of his physical body and cultivation had led to some insights, particularly a thorough understanding of his own physical form.
He had a very strong feeling that once he mastered the Law of Force to Great Perfection, he could definitely push his physical body to an even greater pinnacle. Furthermore, if he could integrate all the laws he grasped and bring them to Great Perfection, perhaps his physical body would reach a wondrous, unprecedented realm. It would certainly surpass his current Primeval Chaos Law Body and attain a physical state unmatched by any before or after him.
Regarding his cultivation, Sha Chen also felt his current inability to break through might be because his physical condition had not yet reached a state capable of accommodating the mana required for such an advancement. Perhaps once his physical body achieved a breakthrough and reached a higher realm, its condition would change, thereby causing a qualitative transformation in his cultivation as well. His current physical body was like a lake, and his cultivation was the water within it. The lake was full, its water having reached capacity. To hold more water, the lake itself would need to become an ocean. Once his physical body became an ocean, it could naturally hold more water. Then, his cultivation would rise with the tide, becoming endless and boundless.
This was a principle he had gradually come to understand over these five years: to continuously layer his cultivation to achieve a qualitative change. Of course, the prerequisite was that his physical body must become stronger, capable of containing enough mana. Otherwise, how could he even speak of a qualitative transformation in his cultivation? As for what realm lay beyond Quasi-Saint for one not under the Heavenly Dao, he did not know. It was something he needed to explore.
One day, Sha Chen awoke from his closed-door cultivation.
Yang Jian and the others immediately surrounded him, congratulating one another on their cultivation breakthroughs.
Sha Chen said, "Since your cultivation has already broken through, there's no longer any need to stay here. We lack sufficient cultivation resources to support your continued practice. You need to venture out and explore, continuously seize resources, and enhance your prowess through combat, growing stronger by fighting to sustain yourselves."
Everyone listened to his words and, deeply agreeing, nodded in assent.
The Three Holy Mother said, "Big Brother, when we venture out to gain experience, we will also bring back ample cultivation resources for you."
Sha Chen nodded in satisfaction. "That's very thoughtful of you. I do indeed need a vast amount of cultivation resources. However, with your current cultivation levels, it's not entirely safe out there. You must be cautious and careful; do not be reckless or negligent."
The Spider Spirits all laughed. "Big Brother, the weakest among us is now at the Quasi-Saint Realm, and the strongest have reached high-rank Quasi-Saint. Under all the heavens, what power would dare to provoke us rashly? It's safe to say that once we step outside, we can swagger about unhindered, with no one daring to cross us!"
Just then, a sudden change occurred between heaven and earth.
A voice from the Primordial Chaos descended from the sky, spreading throughout the entire cave residence and reaching everyone's ears, causing their expressions to change drastically.
"Throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, I alone am the Honored One! Today, I, the Tathagata, have achieved Sainthood! In the Daxiong Hall, I shall open the hall to preach the Dao! From the highest heavens to the deepest earth, I quietly await your arrival."
The Tathagata had become a Saint!
