I Grind to Martial Saint

the Orange Cat proposed.

”Sure, go ahead and give it a shot.”

Han Yuan nodded.

’That’s certainly one way to do it.’

Just as the Orange Cat was about to transform...

RUMBLE!!!

An earth-shattering explosion roared from nearby.

It was accompanied by an immense and turbulent surge of power.

”Looks like that won’t be necessary,”

Han Yuan said with a grin.

He knew Tong Fengyang must have found their true target and was now locked in a fierce battle.

With a flicker, he shot off toward the source of the violent fluctuations.

Soon, the gray fog grew thicker.

Through the haze, he could vaguely make out a massive, twisted figure appearing and disappearing within the fog.

Bursts of azure light erupted one after another.

By the time Han Yuan arrived,

he froze for a moment.

He saw a gray-white tree, standing over ten meters tall.

A strange, cold, and massive human face was embedded in the trunk of the gray-white tree.

Countless bare branches extended from it, each one dangling a rotting, twisted corpse.

From where he stood, Han Yuan couldn’t even begin to count how many corpses hung from the gray-white tree.

Meanwhile, Tong Fengyang was locked in a fierce battle with the strange, gray-white tree, a long spear in his hands.

Han Yuan didn’t rush to intervene, choosing instead to observe from the shadows.

The monstrous gray-white tree’s attacks were clumsy. It simply swung its branches, continuously swatting at Tong Fengyang.

Other than that, root-like tendrils spread continuously across the ground, trying to ensnare him.

The corpses hanging from the branches also kept falling, transforming into ferocious Evil Spirits and pouncing on Tong Fengyang.

’Something feels off,’

Han Yuan thought, the more he watched, the more certain he became.

He recalled his time at the Great Vajra Temple, where he had witnessed the Source Evil Seed, the Faceless Monk, battle Abbot Xu Hai.

That scene had been like a clash of Divine Demons.

But this monstrous gray-white tree, though terrifying and possessing an immense aura, seemed incapable of fully unleashing its power.

It was like a child swinging a massive saber.

This was the only reason Tong Fengyang was able to hold his ground against it.

After all, Tong Fengyang’s strength was only at the Half-step Divine Sea Realm; he hadn’t truly broken through.

But since the gray-white tree couldn’t fully unleash its strength, the two appeared to be evenly matched.

’This monstrous gray-white tree... it seems it doesn’t know how to use its own power...’

’Why would that be...?’

Han Yuan’s expression was puzzled.

He had never encountered a situation like this before.

But regardless, this was definitely a good thing.

With a flash, Han Yuan shot directly toward the gray-white monster.

”Director Tong, fear not! I’m here to help!”

Han Yuan leaped onto the eaves of a roof, then pushed off again with the tips of his toes.

BOOM!!!

The entire building collapsed.

Han Yuan, now a streak of black light, shot toward the monstrous gray-white tree.

A heaven-shaking blast of Evil Qi erupted from him!

Han Yuan drew his Heaven-Defying Saber and slashed straight at the strange human face on the monstrous gray-white tree.

Understanding Han Yuan’s intent, Tong Fengyang let out a great shout. His spear shot out in a rapid thrust, blocking all the monstrous tree’s branches.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!~~~

The series of impacts left Tong Fengyang’s arms tingling and numb.

But he had achieved his goal.

”Azure Heaven—Withered.”

Han Yuan let out a low roar as he violently poured his Five Emperors Great Demon True Qi into the Heaven-Defying Saber. The blade unleashed a horrifying aura of decay, as if all of existence would perish beneath this strike.

The strange face embedded in the monstrous gray-white tree tried to open its mouth, but its movements were far too slow as it watched the Heaven-Defying Saber descend.

WHOOSH!

A figure suddenly appeared in front of the grotesque face and presented a Dharma Artifact.

It was a round, gray wooden shield formed from countless intertwined, twisted tendrils.

The moment the Heaven-Defying Saber struck the strange wooden shield,

BOOM!!!

a violent shockwave erupted!

’This is...’

Han Yuan felt the power of his Heaven-Defying Saber being completely absorbed by that gray wooden shield.

He flipped in mid-air and landed on the eaves of a house.

”Who are you?!”

Han Yuan looked up at the figure who had suddenly appeared, his gaze chilling.

The man wore an ancient robe of a very strange style and a mask painted with a gray, monstrous snake. He held a gray Wooden Staff and hovered in the air.

”I am Wooden Snake,”

the figure said with a smile, slowly landing on a house not far from Han Yuan.

”Wooden Snake...”

”What is your connection to this Source Evil Seed?”

Han Yuan asked coolly.

”There’s no need for you to know... unless you join us,”

Wooden Snake said.

”Join you? What organization are you?”

Han Yuan asked instinctively.

”The Immortal Sect.”

”We are an organization that exists for the purpose of reopening the Immortal Sect.”

Wooden Snake made no attempt to hide it, speaking frankly.

”The Immortal Sect... I never thought anyone would still be pursuing that.”

Han Yuan said with a scoff.

”Of course... And it’s not just me.”

”The Immortal Sect will open again. Only by following us can you achieve Ascension to Immortality.”

Wooden Snake spread his arms wide, his voice filled with fanaticism.

”During the Chaotic Ancient Era, after the Immortal Sect opened, did anyone ever become an immortal?”

Han Yuan said with a scoff.

”That’s because their methods were wrong.”

”Join us, and I will teach you the true method of attaining immortality.”

Wooden Snake said, his voice dripping with temptation.

”No, thanks. I can become an immortal on my own.”

In Han Yuan’s eyes, this Wooden Snake was an out-and-out madman.

”You people... so hopelessly stubborn.”

Wooden Snake shook his head and waved the Wooden Staff in his hand.

Han Yuan saw his opponent’s movement and was about to act, but a numbing sensation suddenly spread through his entire body.

At that moment, his flesh, bones, and organs seemed to be undergoing a bizarre transformation.

His skin, in particular.

Han Yuan watched as his skin rapidly wrinkled, becoming as rough and coarse as tree bark.

Meanwhile, Wooden Snake stood nearby, perfectly still.

’Am I turning into a tree?’

The strange thought popped into Han Yuan’s head.

He could feel a bizarre, corrupting power seeping into his body, causing his flesh to steadily turn to wood.

He immediately activated his Five Emperors Great Demon Divine Skill.

As the legacy Cultivation Technique of the Great Demon Palace, the Five Emperors Great Demon Divine Skill was exceptionally profound, capable of freely converting between the Five Elements Evil Qi.

This time, Han Yuan focused all his power on channeling the Fire Evil!

VMMMM!!!

The Five Emperors Great Demon True Qi in his body abruptly transformed into scorching, violent Fire Evil Qi.

Countless black flames erupted from his body, instantly incinerating the corrupting power that had seeped inside him.

”How interesting,”

Wooden Snake chuckled, then flashed in front of Han Yuan and swung his Wooden Staff down.

Han Yuan barely had time to react. He gripped his Heaven-Defying Saber with both hands and unleashed an explosive slash!

CLANG!

The instant the Wooden Staff and the Heaven-Defying Saber collided,

Han Yuan felt an irresistible force slam into him, and he was sent plummeting like a meteor.

BOOM!!

The entire ground shook violently.

The building he crashed into instantly collapsed, kicking up a massive cloud of dust!

”Damn it!”

Han Yuan roared with savage fury.

The next moment,

his berserk figure shot out from the dust cloud, having already activated the Second Stage of his Demon Whale Transformation.

He realized that Wooden Snake was undoubtedly an expert on par with the Divine Sea Realm. Without activating his Demon Whale Transformation, he stood no chance of fighting back.

This was the first time Han Yuan had activated his Demon Whale Transformation since succeeding in his Cultivation of the Five Emperors Great Demon Divine Skill.

The pitch-black Demonic Qi that wreathed his body transformed into a gray torrent, surging with the power of the Five Elements Evil Qi.

His physical form became even larger and more terrifying, exuding an overwhelming pressure.

”Destruction of the Azure Heaven!”

Han Yuan charged at Wooden Snake and slashed down with his saber!

As he unleashed the strike, the surface of the Heaven-Defying Saber took on a dark, gray luster, filled with an indescribable aura of death.

This was the Gloom Death Light!

It was a Divine Power that only manifested upon reaching the Perfection realm with the Azure Heaven Annihilation Saber Technique, and it was capable of annihilating anything!

Facing this strike, Wooden Snake calmly thrust his Wooden Staff forward.

The Heaven-Defying Saber descended at that exact moment!

BOOM!!!

It was like a meteor striking the earth!

The ground around the two of them exploded, collapsing violently inward!!!