"W-what was that?" This one question coursed through the minds of Colorful Wing Supercity's citizens.
Though Xinzi's underground project was meant to keep all energy fluctuations secret, the Yellow Spring Formation and other safeguards had not yet reached the point where they could fully conceal a breakthrough of this magnitude. Thus, while Colorful Wing Supercity didn't experience the usual seismic waves that should have followed such a breakthrough, the citizens still felt the infinitely profound and tyrannical energy fluctuations released by their leader.
From the White-Winged Demons to the Green-Hat Farmers, all glanced at their feet — wondering if a primordial envoy of destruction had not manifested underneath, waiting for them to lower their guard before leaping out of the ground and obliterating their city.
The Liberation Temple gals were no different, with Tusha having to tap into every bit of self-discipline that she'd cultivated in the Dream Mountain to restrain her curiosity.
She wouldn't have to restrain herself for long.
From the central plaza of Colorful Wing Supercity, right beside the theater complex, a column of golden, blue and white light shot towards the sky. Xinzi's herculean figure emerged from the column, and with a series of paced steps, he crossed the air to land on top of a distant hill.
Unlike the others, as the chief architect of the Yellow Spring Formation, Tusha knew about Xinzi's Underworld Project and the secret lair that he kept for himself. She didn't have access to it, but could guess that if Xinzi didn't allow anyone in, that secret lair was likely the host to a series of horrifying events — events that could potentially cause insurmountable ideological conflicts among the Liberation Temple's people.
For this reason, Tusha never asked Xinzi what went on inside his lair. And perhaps, despite her demoness status, she didn't dare to ask.
Instantaneously, from the youngest of White-Winged Demons to the strongest of the Liberation Temple gals, all cast their Spiritual Sense in direction of Xinzi. But as soon as they grazed his aura, they recoiled, not out of fear, but the inward belief that they didn't have the right to probe the entity now standing on that hill. As if by doing so, they'd be violating the natural order, risking unprecedented calamities.
'He has reached another lifeform tier.' Tusha and Zi Feng were the first to come to this conclusion. The others followed shortly, all convinced that from this moment on, Xinzi belonged to a different universe. The sensation was similar to the effects that deities that didn't or couldn't restrain their Divine Splendor had on mortals.
Cultivation improvements aside, by rising to the state of Ascendant, Xinzi was now only two steps away from Sainthood. Two immeasurable steps, but two steps all the same.
In the Hierarchy of Lifeforms, a Saint was the equivalent of a Sovereign God, and an Ascendant, the equal of a Great God. Though vulnerable to mortal attacks, the powers that they commanded enabled them to carry out miracles that'd leave even their divine counterparts baffled. They were the closest representants of the Holy Road that most would ever encounter, equipped with auras that plunged inept bystanders into spontaneous feelings of veneration and powerlessness.
Xinzi's Divine Power, Heavenly Dao, Reincarnation of Mahasura and Sinshifter evolution added to his lifeform tier, putting him far above the usual Ascendant — and causing mixed feelings in the hearts of the Liberation Temple's gals.
While all felt delighted by Xinzi's growth, some struggled to accept the immensity of the gap that now separated them. Struggled — no — refused to accept that, from this moment on, they would potentially be nothing more than supportive decorations.
They had to face the facts. If a single one of Xinzi's fingers carried more power than all their efforts combined, of what use were they really?
The likes of the Zhi-Zhu twins didn't mind. But in the case of tempers like Yan Le and Chun Xu, they felt their mouth sour at this seemingly inevitable future.
"Don't overthink it. By decree of Heaven's Will, I will eventually become invincible. But by then, beheading enemies left and right will hopefully not be one of our priorities. We still have a long way to go until that moment, so let's just enjoy the process. Who knows, the Four Realms of existence abound with opportunities. Just because I look out of reach now doesn't mean that it will always be the case. That...is probably what my rivals tell themselves. They are wrong, of course, but keeping that mentality doesn't hurt," Xinzi said in a calm and straightforward tone.
Though, as he spoke, his lips curled into an impish smirk.
"'By decree of Heaven's Will, I will eventually become invincible.' How bold. How audacious. Who said that Lianist monks were reputed for their humility? Xinzi, you have evolved into the antithesis of modesty, and you should be ashamed each time that you refer to yourself as 'My Humble Self.'"
"He doesn't know shame."
"True, very true." One after the other, Dong Ling and Chun Xu marveled at Xinzi's words, shocked that someone could utter such a boisterous statement with a straight face.
"Actually, I'm a very bashful man. Right now, my heart is a complete mess. So many beauties around me. I'm surrounded on all sides, cornered at a cliff by big breasts and booties, how can I survive this tribulation?" Xinzi clutched at his chest, sighing to no end.
Black lines formed on the Liberation Temple gals' foreheads, with some wondering if this breakthrough had not muddled Xinzi's head. Then they recalled that this was how he used to be, and in tandem, wondered when they'd stopped being used to his theatrics.
Some blamed it on the recent months of seclusion. Others probed deeper. But Zi Feng, who'd already seen through some of the changes that Xinzi had gone through, narrowed her eyes at him.
'Has master regained his emotions back?'
'Half, half. Some come and go. But I've gotten certain parts of my emotional spectrum back...permanently.' Anticipating Zi Feng's question, Xinzi answered through a mental message.
Wrath, Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Vanity, and Withdrawal, thanks to his six Demon Creeds, Xinzi had regained control of these six emotions and desires. But only time would tell what this combination would lead to.
Here, our recovering monk's smile vanished, and he stretched his hand out, conjuring a pile of silver stones that merged into a three-meters long coffin.
"What's this?" Dong Ling asked immediately.
"My grave. Maybe one day, you will need to bury me. So just in case, I'm preparing it in advance."
"What's wrong with you?!" In perfect sync, the harem girls barked at Xinzi. Even the Zhi-Zhu twins didn't hold their tongue, finding Xinzi's words distasteful and intolerable.
"Just in case. Just in case. And naturally, I give you permission to mourn me for an eternity as the loyal widows of Reverend Ecstasy. No need to thank me, my generosity knows no limit." If this was a joke, it wasn't funny — at least no Liberation Temple gal had a smile on her lips.
Minds went abuzz, silence settled in. Xinzi stretched his hands out, releasing waves of Holy Force that swept through Colorful Wing Supercity. Instantly, the eight million White-Winged Demons entered a trance, and in holy communion with Xinzi, relied on his Lianist accomplishments to get Enlightened.
"With that out of the way, I've had a dream. In that dream, the good people of the Eastern Continent cry out to me, begging me to become the savior that liberates them from war and starvation. As a man of culture and a devoted Lianist practitioner, I have no choice but to obey the will of the people, and set out...to liberate the Eastern Continent.
Come, Liberation Armies, our charitable blood storm starts...in the Nameless Sword Mountain," Xinzi said, and raised his eyes, spreading his Divine Sense towards the Nameless Sword Mountain.
