Sha Chen laughed and said, "In the cultivation realm, there are Saint Tiandaos, but we don't wish to be puppets of the Heavenly Dao. Since our strength has already reached this level, I prefer to call it the Saint Realm."
"She is now in the Middle-ranked Holy Realm, while I am in the High-ranked Holy Realm."
As expected, the expressions of Tathagata and the others changed instantly. Saint Zhunti's eyes, in particular, turned grim; he hadn't anticipated Siti's strength surpassing his own.
Sun Wukong, Red Boy, Jin Chanzi, and Nezha all rushed into the Slaying Immortals Formation, taking up key positions. Instantly, their strength merged, the formation becoming their collective body. The power of the Sword Array of Immortality was even greater than the one Tongtian Hierarch had hastily arranged in the past. This was because the Tongtian Hierarch of old could not gather so many Quasi-Saints, whereas Sha Chen had forty-nine. With so many Quasi-Saints, the power of the formation they laid was naturally boundless.
Tongtian Hierarch remarked, "This formation is at least ten times stronger than the one I arranged back then. If the three Saints step into it, I fear they may not emerge unscathed."
No sooner had he spoken than Sha Chen waved his hand, sweeping Nuwa, Saint Zhunti, and Saint Jieyin into the Slaying Immortals Formation. The three Saints were somewhat caught off guard. Within the formation, they finally sensed the taste of death. Sun Wukong and the others showed no mercy, launching a fierce assault. The three Saints, hard-pressed to fend off the attacks, were gradually overwhelmed.
"This is bad! The Slaying Immortals Formation also contains the Array of All Gods and Evil Spirits. No wonder it's so incredibly powerful!" Tathagata's expression changed drastically. "We can't allow them to be defeated one by one!"
Afterward, he forcefully intervened, and the Three Pure Ones ceased being mere onlookers, joining forces to take action. They had to break into the formation and shatter it before Nuwa and the other two Saints were defeated. Otherwise, they (Tathagata and the Three Pure Ones) would then become a group of four Saints. If Sun Wukong and his allies then trapped three of them with the formation, it was feared that the remaining one, in single combat, would be no match for Sha Chen.
Sha Chen laughed. "Do you really think I intend to defeat you one by one? Frankly, the strength of Nuwa, Saint Jieyin, and Saint Zhunti is too weak. I'm merely letting my followers get some practice. Once they defeat Saints, they will become unstoppable, their spirits will soar, and in the future, they too might step into the Saint Realm."
"And to deal with you, I alone am enough."
The people of the myriad worlds were utterly shocked and incredulous upon hearing these bold words, wondering just how confident Sha Chen must be to dare claim he could take on four Saints by himself. Among them, two were Superior Saints, and the other two were at the peak of the Middle-ranked Saint level. Even if a Daoist Master arrived, he would not dare to claim victory against such a lineup.
Tathagata unleashed his strongest Tathagata's Palm. This time, however, it contained the essence of the Heavenly Dao, and its power was limitless. It looked as though it could destroy heaven and earth, easily erasing a minor world.
The sage Laozi also showed no mercy. The resonance with the Heavenly Dao placed them in opposition to Sha Chen. They had to eradicate him, and this was not a matter of sentiment. Lord Yuan Shi and Sect Hierarch also attacked forcefully, each unleashing their signature techniques and most powerful Magical Tools.
But countless Magical Tools also flew out from Sha Chen: the Chaos Bell, Dragon God Sword, Mountain Splitting Axe, Plantain Fan, River Diagram and Luo Chart, and more. Although the Saints possessed many Magical Tools, their Innate Spirit Treasures were surprisingly fewer than Sha Chen's. Moreover, Sha Chen faced four opponents, his will exceptionally firm. He was able to simultaneously control numerous Magical Tools and engage the Saints without falling into a disadvantage.
From just this brief exchange, everyone could sense that Sha Chen's strength was indeed transcendent and saintly, enabling him to hold his own even when several Saints joined forces against him.
Tathagata said, "Sha Chen, if this is all the strength you possess, you are not our match. In a prolonged battle, you will surely be defeated."
Sha Chen smiled and responded, "I was merely engaging you with my Mana and cultivation, to gauge your strength."
"Now it seems that relying solely on Mana and cultivation, I indeed can't defeat you. Let's see how you fare against my physical body."
Tathagata sneered, "We have long known of the strength of your physical body, but how mighty can it be? Dare you contend with us?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Sha Chen, with his bare hands, shattered the Tathagata's Palm and then caught the Qingping Sword thrust at him by Tongtian Hierarch. With a kick, he shattered Lord Yuan Shi's Hongnong Ding. His casual demeanor immediately caused the Saints to retreat in shock.
The entire world was stunned!
Tathagata and the others could feel the strength and terror of Sha Chen's physical body, and they were profoundly shaken.
"How could your physical body be so strong? I'm afraid even the ancient Pangu could not match this."
Pangu! Had Sha Chen reached the realm of Pangu? Everyone was immensely shocked.
Tongtian Hierarch was not alarmed but delighted, and he laughed, "Congratulations! You have stepped into a realm that no one in the past has ever reached."
Although he still had to be Sha Chen's enemy, it was a situation beyond his control; his thoughts, however, were still his own.
Sha Chen said, "Thank you, Senior. From your perspective, with my physical body, Mana cultivation, and the various laws I command, would I be able to defeat you all?"
Tongtian Hierarch replied, "For the next 300 years, we would be evenly matched. After 500 years, we would be at a disadvantage. After 1,000 years, our defeat would be certain."
Tathagata roared, "Why boost the morale of others and demolish your own prestige? Within a year, we must capture him, otherwise we cannot justify ourselves to the Heavenly Dao."
Sha Chen laughed heartily, already understanding the situation clearly.
No one knew how long this battle lasted, for it was a battle among Saints. Many years passed from its inception to its conclusion. The battle raged on further and further at the edge of the universe, and even the powerful beings from the Three Realms and Six Paths could not sense its presence. But everyone knew that this battle had lasted a very long time.
「A thousand years later.」
「At Buddhism's Lingjiu Mountain.」
Medicine Buddha, acting as the interim Buddha, announced his abdication in favor of a more capable individual. Then, led by Guanyin Bodhisattva, Jin Chanzi was collectively elected as the new Buddha of Buddhism. Sun Wukong became the Fighting Buddha, the second-in-command of Buddhism. Through this achievement, Sun Wukong attained perfect merit and virtue, becoming a Sub-Sage. Jin Chanzi, in turn, advanced to become a Peak Quasi-Saint.
Of the more than thirty True Dragon Quasi-Saints from the Dragon Clan who had ventured forth, only half returned. This outcome nevertheless caused countless people to tremble, keenly aware of the Dragon Clan's might. Some proposed to exterminate the Dragon Clan, as it was too powerful and defied the norm. However, the one who raised the issue disappeared from the world the next day, and from then on, no one dared to mention the destruction of the Dragon Clan again.
Red Boy, Nezha, the Black Bear Spirit, and others all thrived in the Demon World, ensuring their followers did not enter the human realm to wreak havoc among mortals.
The Heavenly Emperor Jade Emperor personally conferred the title of Heavenly Court War God upon Yang Jian, Erlang God, and adopted him as his foster son, bestowing upon him the title of Crown Prince.
These developments seemed to make everyone realize the outcome of that battle between Saints. And from that time onwards, they never saw a Saint again. It was as if this truly marked an era when Saints no longer concerned themselves with the mundane world, having vanished from mortal affairs. From that moment on, the name 'Sha Chen' became taboo across the Three Realms and Six Paths.
「In the mortal world.」
A thousand years had passed. The emperors and Kings of the human realm were long gone, replaced by aircraft, artillery, and towering skyscrapers.
In a certain estate, a family lived a contented life, served by servants who only knew that each member of the family was extraordinary indeed. The men were handsome and distinguished; the women were unparalleled in beauty and grace. They lived their lives undisturbed here, and anyone who left this estate could make a significant impact on the world.
All the Kings and rulers around the world knew that while they were sovereigns of their own nations, controlling the lives and deaths of their citizens, there was one family that existed above them all. This family held the power over *their* lives and deaths.
People called this estate Flowing Sand River, and its master, Sha Chen!
