I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Qin Yuan got up and walked out of the courtyard.

"Senior Brother Zixiao? Is something the matter?"

Zixiao looked at him and smiled.

"I have long admired Junior Brother Qin's reputation and have come to pay him a visit today. I wonder if Junior Brother has the time to exchange sparring blows with me?"

Qin Yuan frowned slightly.

A friendly exchange?

He had never met this Zi Xiao before, and the other party's sudden challenge was clearly ill-intentioned.

"Senior Brother Zixiao, I'm busy with cultivation, I'm afraid I don't have time."

Zi Xiao's smile remained unchanged.

"What? Junior Brother Qin doesn't dare?"

He paused, then continued.

"That's true. Junior brother has only been here for a short time, and his cultivation is only at the seventh level of the Saint Realm. It's normal that he doesn't dare to fight against me, who is at the eighth level of the Saint Realm."

The eighth level of the saint.

Qin Yuan's eyes flickered slightly.

He had been in the grotto for a year and a half, but had never fought against any of his fellow disciples. This Zixiao had offered herself up, which was a good opportunity to test his current strength.

"Since Senior Brother Zixiao is so kind, then let's have a friendly spar."

A triumphant smile flashed in Zi Xiao's eyes.

"Alright! Let's go to the training ground then."

The Xuanhuang Cave Heaven Martial Arts Arena is located on the mountainside of the main peak. It covers an area of ​​tens of thousands of feet and is entirely made of some kind of holy-grade material. It is surrounded by defensive formations.

At this moment, the area around the training ground was already crowded with people.

Hearing that Zixiao was going to challenge Qin Yuan, all the guest elders and disciples of the entire cave heaven came.

"Senior Brother Zixiao is a Saint at the eighth level, one of the top three guest elders. That newcomer, Qin Yuan, is only a Saint at the seventh level. Isn't this bullying?"

"That's not how it works. Qin Yuan broke through four levels in a year and a half, so his strength might far exceed his current level."

"How far can you go? The difference between the seventh and eighth levels of Sainthood is not so easy to overcome."

Amidst the murmurs, the two were already standing in the center of the training ground.

Zi Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, looking confident of victory.

"Junior Brother Qin, I'll give you three moves. Within those three moves, I'll only defend and not attack."

Qin Yuan looked at him.

"No need."

Zi Xiao raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? So Junior Brother Qin means..."

Qin Yuan raised his hand and struck out with a palm!

The Great Chaos Handprint!

A gigantic hand, capable of blotting out the sky, materialized out of thin air. Chaotic energy swirled within its palm, and with a world-destroying force, it slammed down towards Zixiao!

Zi Xiao's expression changed drastically!

The power of this palm strike far exceeded his expectations!

He dared not be careless and went all out, meeting the attack with a palm strike!

"boom!"

The two palms met, and a violent energy surged forth!

Zi Xiao took three steps back!

Qin Yuan remained completely still!

The entire room fell silent!

A seventh-level Saint forced back an eighth-level Saint with a single palm strike?!

What kind of strength is this?!

Zi Xiao's face turned ashen.

He never expected that he would be forced back by a single palm strike from a seventh-level Saint!

"Alright! Alright! I underestimated you!"

He gritted his teeth and drew a purple spear.

The Purple Thunder Spear, a top-tier eighth-grade magic weapon.

With a thrust of the spear, the spear energy surged like a dragon, accompanied by a sky full of lightning!

Qin Yuan's expression remained unchanged.

He drew his Xingtian Sword and slashed down with it!

The creation of heaven and earth!

The sword energy clashed with the spear energy!

"boom!"

Zixiao took three steps back again!

Qin Yuan remained completely still!

Two moves, two forced retreats!

Zi Xiao was furious.

He held nothing back, unleashing his full power, each strike faster and heavier than the last!

Nine strikes of heavenly thunder!

Nine bolts of lightning struck Qin Yuan in succession!

Qin Yuan neither retreated nor yielded, and Xing Tian Sword met the attack head-on!

Create the world! Create the earth! Create the world!

Each sword strike is faster and heavier than the last!

Sword light and lightning intertwined, unleashing a deafening roar!

After ten moves, Zi Xiao's forehead was covered in sweat.

After thirty moves, his breathing began to become disordered.

After fifty moves—

Qin Yuan slashed away his Purple Thunder Spear with a single sword strike, the tip of the sword stopping an inch in front of his brow!

Zi Xiao stood frozen in place, her face deathly pale.

He lost.

We lost completely.

The eighth-level Saint lost to the seventh-level Saint.

And it only took less than fifty moves.

The audience was silent.

A deafening scream erupted immediately!

"Qin Yuan won?! A seventh-level Saint defeated an eighth-level Saint?!"

"Fifty moves! Only fifty moves!"

"What kind of combat power is this?! A seventh-level Saint can crush an eighth-level Saint, if he reaches the ninth level, wouldn't he be able to fight a Saint King?!"

"A monster! He's a monster!"

Qin Yuan sheathed his sword, not even glancing at Zi Xiao, and turned to leave the stage.

Behind him, Zi Xiao stood still, her face a mixture of pale and ashen.

He knew that from this day forward, his reputation in Xuanhuang Cave Heaven was completely ruined.

Qin Yuan's reputation will soar to new heights.

After the battle with Zixiao, Qin Yuan's position in Xuanhuang Cave Heaven was completely secured.

No one dared to look down on him, the "newcomer," anymore.

Those who were initially indifferent to him began to actively seek him out.

Qin Yuan accepted all comers, but did not cultivate deep friendships with them.

He has his own path to follow and doesn't need many interpersonal relationships.

In the third year, his cultivation speed increased even more.

After reaching the seventh level of sainthood, his understanding of the "Nine Forms of the God of War" deepened, and he perfected the first eight forms.

The eighth move, "Piercing the Void," is a sword strike that can pierce through the void and banish the enemy to another dimension.

He still kept the ninth move, "World Destruction," as his last trump card.

Three months later, he reached the peak of the seventh level of Sainthood.

Six months later, the saint reached the eighth level.

Nine months later, he reached the peak of the eighth level of the Saint realm.

A full year has passed, and the sage has ascended to the ninth heaven.

On the day of the breakthrough, nine golden pillars of light appeared in the sky above Donglai Peak, soaring into the heavens and illuminating the entire Xuanhuang Cave Heaven.

All thirty-six sacred peaks were enveloped in golden light.

Everyone came out of their residences and looked up at the nine pillars of light.

"Nine golden rays... Is this the phenomenon of a Saint at the ninth level?!"

"Three levels in one year! He went from the seventh to the ninth level of Sainthood in just one year!"

"From the third level of Sainthood to the ninth level in just three years! What kind of speed is that?!"

"A once-in-a-millennium event! Absolutely a once-in-a-millennium event!"

At the summit of the main peak, the Xuanhuang Holy Emperor stood before the Xuanhuang Hall, gazing at the nine pillars of light with eyes full of admiration.

"Good lad, you certainly haven't disappointed me."

He turned to his disciple and said.

"Go and invite Minister Qin. Tell him that I have something to discuss with him."

A moment later, Qin Yuan arrived at the Xuanhuang Hall.

Over the course of three years, his demeanor became more composed, and his aura more unfathomable.

The peak of the ninth level of sainthood.

He is only one step away from becoming a Holy King.

"Greetings, Cave Master."

The Holy Emperor Xuanhuang looked at him and smiled.

"Three years, and he has reached the ninth level of sainthood. I was right about him back then."

Qin Yuandao.

"Thank you for providing the cultivation environment, Cave Master."

Emperor Xuanhuang waved his hand.

"That's the result of your own hard work. I merely provided you with a platform."

He paused.

"The Grand Competition for Guest Retainers will begin in three days. With your current strength, first place is no problem. But I summoned you here not for that."

Qin Yuan looked at him.

"Please speak, Cave Master."

The Way of the Mysterious Yellow Holy Emperor.

"The Heavenly Sacred Domain, one of the Nine Sacred Domains, will be holding the 'Sacred Son Selection Competition' in three months. There are only ten spots available in the entire Central Continent."

Qin Yuan's eyes flickered slightly.

Selection of the Holy Son.

Heavenly Sacred Domain.

That is one of the nine sacred domains, a being that surpasses the thirty-six grotto-heavens.

"Each grotto-heaven can recommend one person to participate in the selection. I intend to recommend you."

Qin Yuandao.

"Thank you, Cave Master."

The Xuanhuang Holy Emperor nodded.

"Don't thank me yet. The selection of the Holy Son of the Heavenly Sacred Domain is not easy. Only ten people will be selected from the entire Central Continent, three thousand states, and thirty-six grotto-heavens. The competition is fiercer than you can imagine."

He looked at Qin Yuan.