Gu Mingchao, with the demeanor of a Martial God, looked down upon the world.
However, in the eyes of the Great Sage, Gu Mingchao as a Martial God was nothing special. Instead, it was the Saint's transformation that was considered a great fortune.
What's so exciting about being a Martial God?
In the era of the Great Sage, while Martial Gods weren't as common as dogs, every household had a few. So, it wasn't a big deal.
Previously, the Blazing Sun Continent was depleted of spiritual energy due to the Battle of Exorcism. Now, with the revival of spiritual energy, the emergence of Martial Gods is inevitable.
Thus, in the Great Sage's view, the Sect Master's status as a Martial God was merely a matter of timing.
But transformation was entirely different.
Transformation involved countless Holy Souls using supreme power to reshape the Saint's body, bringing it to the pinnacle of perfection.
Not only was the body enhanced, but all of the Saint's abilities improved with the transformation. More terrifyingly, the Saint's transformed body was no longer constrained by any shackles.
Normally, before reaching the Seventh Grade, a cultivator with good talent wouldn't face such constraints. As long as their cultivation level was sufficient, they could naturally advance.But after the Seventh Grade, each level increase came with various challenges. If one couldn't break through these constraints, they couldn't advance even if their cultivation level was sufficient.
However, after transformation, these worries were gone.
In other words, from now on, as long as the Saint's cultivation level was sufficient, they could advance in grade. Isn't that terrifying?
Hearing the Great Sage's explanation of transformation, everyone around, including Gu Mingchao, was overjoyed.
Although Gu Mingchao achieved Martial God status today, he felt it was all thanks to Xinghe.
If not for Xinghe drawing out the Holy Soul, would the sects have received its inheritance?
So today, regardless of righteousness or evil, regardless of which sect, if you received the Holy Soul's inheritance, you must sincerely thank Xinghe.
Moreover, with the revival of spiritual energy, many who couldn't cultivate before could now embark on the path of cultivation.
Even those who couldn't break through their cultivation levels could now do so with the dense spiritual energy.
Even ordinary people could extend their lifespans with the richer spiritual energy.
So not only the sects, but all cultivators and even all people should thank Xinghe.
Originally, Gu Mingchao felt guilty that Xinghe gave him the chance to become a Martial God.
But after hearing the Great Sage's words, Gu Mingchao was completely relieved.
After all, Gu Mingchao knew that reaching this realm was his limit, and it was only because Xinghe gave him everything that he reached this height.
But Xinghe was different. With his transformation, this realm was the limit for Gu Mingchao, but not for Xinghe. Xinghe would surely reach even higher realms.
So after hearing the Great Sage's words, the people of the Grand Sky Sect looked at Xinghe with joy.
However, at this moment, Xinghe remained calm and indifferent...
Ma Liang, watching the calm Senior Brother Xinghe, was truly in awe.
Today, Senior Brother Xinghe single-handedly changed the fate of everyone, even giving up the Martial God status to the Sect Master. If it were me, Ma Liang, wouldn't I be strutting around with my tail in the air?
Wouldn't it be reasonable for everyone to bow to me, Ma Liang?
But look at my Senior Brother Xinghe, what does it mean to remain unperturbed by honor or disgrace? What does it mean to be calm and composed?
Despite his transformation and bright future, Senior Brother Xinghe showed no pride and maintained his calm demeanor.
That's Senior Brother Xinghe for you!
Chu Xinghe didn't know what it meant to be unperturbed by honor or disgrace, nor did he understand transformation. He just wanted to say, "What do you guys know?"
Transformation without shackles?
That's because you don't have the Compass of Misfortune... Do you know what that is?
From the moment I got the Compass of Misfortune, everything became a shackle...
Breaking through when my cultivation level is sufficient? My breakthrough method isn't the same as yours!
No matter how hard I cultivate, if the Compass of Misfortune doesn't meet the criteria for a breakthrough, how can I advance?
Before the Great Sage spoke, Chu Xinghe felt a bit better, but after hearing his words, Chu Xinghe was almost in tears.
Transformation might be powerful for others, but for Chu Xinghe, it was useless.
The only way for me to improve is to drain the sect. Without the sect's resources, I can forget about self-improvement in this lifetime.
But speaking of draining the sect, Chu Xinghe felt a bit better.
Just as Chu Xinghe was trying to cheer himself up, Cheng Xiaotian arrived with a group from Martial Emperor City.
Cheng Xiaotian felt complicated today.
His complexity stemmed from his ranking.
When Cheng Xiaotian received the Seven-Colored Glazed Body inheritance and stepped into the Half-Step Martial God realm, he thought he was no longer second in the world!
He would step on Gu Mingchao's shoulders to become the undisputed number one.
For a moment, Cheng Xiaotian was indeed number one, but the experience was short-lived... Before anyone could call him the number one, Gu Mingchao kicked him off the throne.
So Cheng Xiaotian wondered if he held the record for the shortest time as the world's number one.
Wouldn't you feel complicated too?
Despite his complex feelings, Cheng Xiaotian still led the Martial Emperor City group to Chu Xinghe.
The dignified second in the world, Cheng Xiaotian, cupped his fists in salute to Chu Xinghe, and behind him, everyone from Martial Emperor City followed suit.
Not just Martial Emperor City, but people from various sects also gathered, and anyone who received the Millennium Holy Soul inheritance bowed to Chu Xinghe.
Even Gu Mingchao, the number one Martial God, wasn't qualified for such treatment.
But today, Chu Xinghe was.
If not for Chu Xinghe, this would have been an ordinary Millennium Grand Festival. But Chu Xinghe held it in such an extraordinary way, even awakening the Millennium Holy Soul, benefiting everyone. So, this salute was well-deserved.
One by one, sect leaders and big shots saluted Chu Xinghe, even Wu Xingyun didn't miss out. Even though they were from the Demonic Sect, they received great benefits today, so Wu Xingyun was very grateful to Chu Xinghe.
Although Chu Xinghe was known as the Demonic Sect's nemesis, today he truly helped everyone.
And so, Chu Xinghe watched as everyone approached him like they were visiting a grave, silently saluting him. It felt... awkward for a living person.
This was supposed to be the Millennium Grand Festival. If you didn't know what happened, you'd think they were commemorating Chu Xinghe instead of ancient sages.
As the last group finished their salute, the Millennium Grand Festival was about to conclude.
Originally, there was supposed to be a grand banquet after the festival.
But before the banquet could begin, Cheng Xiaotian and the Martial Emperor City group came to bid farewell.
After all, they received great benefits this time, and Cheng Xiaotian's cultivation stepped into the Half-Step Martial God realm. With the revival of spiritual energy, Cheng Xiaotian had a new goal: to become a Martial God.
Gu Mingchao only reached the Martial God realm thanks to Xinghe, but Cheng Xiaotian wanted to be the first to achieve it through his own efforts.
So Cheng Xiaotian couldn't care less about the banquet and came to say goodbye, expressing his intention to return and cultivate in seclusion.
Not just Cheng Xiaotian, but many others wanted to return quickly to see if they could further advance their cultivation with the inheritance's momentum.
Faced with everyone's farewells, Gu Mingchao had no reason to keep them, so he personally escorted them to the Grand Sky Sect's gate.
But just as the Martial Emperor City group was about to activate the teleportation array, Chu Xinghe rushed over to stop them.
"City Lord Cheng, don't rush. You forgot something!"
Chu Xinghe hurriedly arrived with a group of Grand Sky Sect disciples, holding a Space Ring, and handed it to Cheng Xiaotian, saying it was the agreed appearance fee.
Not just Cheng Xiaotian, but Chu Xinghe also delivered appearance fees to all the big shots leaving the Grand Sky Sect.
But upon seeing the Space Ring, Cheng Xiaotian's face changed drastically.
"Xinghe... Are you insulting me, Cheng Xiaotian?"
"This time, with your help, Xinghe, I advanced to Half-Step Martial God, and many in Martial Emperor City also broke through. If I accept your spirit stones, wouldn't that make me, Cheng Xiaotian, a laughingstock?"
Not just Cheng Xiaotian, but all the big shots who had agreements with Chu Xinghe nodded, agreeing with Cheng Xiaotian. They admitted they underestimated Xinghe's grand plans.
If we had known, we wouldn't have asked for your spirit stones. We'd gladly give you ours.
And with Chu Xinghe's bewildered expression, the big shots left without looking back.
Chu Xinghe was left holding a bunch of Space Rings, feeling numb.
What happened to the promised appearance fee... Why doesn't anyone want it?
Have you considered my feelings, Chu Xinghe?
Is this how you thank me? You're rubbing salt in my wounds!
Not accepting the appearance fee isn't gratitude.
Accepting it would be true gratitude, don't you know?
If the righteous path doesn't accept it, fine. But Wu Xingyun, why are you refusing too?
How poor is your Demonic Sect? Don't you have any self-awareness?
Are you pretending with me...