The Little Fatty Becomes a Saint

Upon hearing this, a resolute glint flashed through Yuan Tiangang’s eyes, and he spoke without the slightest hesitation.

“Reward is absolutely not a problem! So long as you are willing to take action, each of you may choose any two treasures from our clan’s treasury before the battle begins.

“Besides that, my clan has another generous reward prepared. I guarantee you will not be disappointed!”

Xiao Ruobai regarded him calmly and did not immediately respond to the conditions put forward by the Demon Emperor.

After pondering for a moment, he slowly said, “Treasures are certainly necessary. But apart from that, I also want one complete Saint-grade spirit vein.”

“A Saint-grade spirit vein?!”

Yuan Tiangang’s pupils contracted, and a look of heartache instantly flashed across his face.

A Saint-grade spirit vein was the foundation of a clan. It contained endless spiritual energy and the workings of creation, making it practically priceless. Even to the Ancient Demon Court, it was a strategic-level resource.

He had not expected Xiao Ruobai’s insight to be so sharp. The moment he opened his mouth, he had demanded something that touched the very core of his clan’s reserves.

However, with the current situation hanging by a thread and the fate of the clan resting on this battle, he could no longer afford to hesitate.

Yuan Tiangang paused for only an instant before gritting his teeth and answering decisively, “Fine! We’ll do as you say! One Saint-grade spirit vein, plus your choice of any two treasures from the treasury!”

The Demon Emperor had agreed far too readily. This time, it was Xiao Ruobai’s turn to be stunned.

He blinked.

I was just testing the waters. You’re really giving it to me?

In truth, even if the Demon Emperor had offered no reward, Xiao Ruobai and the others would still have taken action.

After all, the Southern Region was Lao Huang and Mo Yu’s homeland. They could not simply stand by and watch it fall into the hands of the Ancient Demon Court.

“Very well.” Xiao Ruobai quickly returned to his usual composure, finalizing the deal.

Upon hearing this, the Demon Emperor felt as though a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart. He did not dare delay and immediately produced an ancient token engraved with an image of myriad demons paying homage. He respectfully presented it to Xiao Ruobai.

“This is a token of trust. With it, you may enter the treasury without hindrance. The Saint-grade spirit vein will also be prepared immediately!”

Xiao Ruobai took the token, feeling a warm and ancient demonic aura against his fingertips.

Yet he did not even look at it before casually tucking it into his sleeve.

“The deal is done.” Xiao Ruobai calmly turned his gaze toward Yuan Tiangang. “Now we can discuss the real matter. How much do you know about the ten prodigies the Ancient Demon Court may send to face us in seven days?”

Seeing how straightforward Xiao Ruobai was, Yuan Tiangang’s spirits lifted, and he immediately replied, “To be honest, my knowledge is limited. On the surface, the Ancient Imperial Prince is their leader.

“His subordinates Ling Yue and Azure Flood Dragon are both top-tier prodigies with formidable combat strength. You have already seen them in action.

“Besides them, there should be several other ancient prodigies who awakened alongside the Bronze Ancient City. Their auras are all extraordinary, but I’m afraid I cannot investigate their true origins.”

His tone grew heavy, and a look of shame appeared on his face.

“Most concerning of all is that, given the Ancient Demon Court’s foundation, those few are certainly not the only ones they have. There may be even more ancient, peerless monsters—perhaps some who were sealed away through secret arts and have remained dormant until now—who have yet to reveal themselves. I fear our side is at a disadvantage in this battle.”

Fang Hanyu’s voice rang out, a look of understanding flashing across his eyes.

“No wonder they dared to set up this challenge. If they truly have such figures, they would be nearly invincible among their generation.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Xiao Ruobai’s tone remained indifferent.

“It’s within our expectations. Without people like that, they would never dare wager their territory and make such a reckless gamble.

“What I’m afraid of is that they have some other objective.”

He looked at Yuan Tiangang. “When can we collect the treasures?”

“Tomorrow!” Yuan Tiangang answered immediately.

“I’ll make the arrangements at once. Please wait a moment. With the token, you’ll be able to pass through without obstruction!”

Knowing that they needed time to digest the information and make preparations, he tactfully cupped his fists.

“Fellow Daoists, please rest for now. I’ll go arrange the relevant matters.”

With that, Yuan Tiangang cupped his fists once more, turned, and left the courtyard, leaving the space to Xiao Ruobai and the others.

The courtyard fell silent for a time. Only the crackling of the bonfire could be heard.

Xiao Ruobai turned his gaze toward Fatty Wang and suddenly asked, “Xiao Pang, what is your current cultivation level? When will you be able to break through to the Saint realm?”

Fatty Wang had been lowering his head, pondering what useful materials might be found in the demon clan’s treasury. At the question, he jolted and raised his head.

“I reached the peak of the King realm long ago. I’m just tempering my foundation now and have been suppressing my cultivation instead of breaking through.”

He patted his belly, his relaxed tone brimming with confidence.

“I feel like I can finish tempering it in the next few days. As long as I want to, I can break through at any time!”

There was no surprise on Xiao Ruobai’s face. He nodded.

“Don’t rush it. After we collect the treasures from the demon clan’s treasury tomorrow, find a suitable place and then undergo your tribulation.”

Fatty Wang’s eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands excitedly.

“Got it! Hehe!”

Just as Xiao Ruobai and the others were discussing their plans, powerful auras descended one after another through the night sky around the camp, streaking across the heavens like meteors.

The young prodigies from every corner of the Profound Yellow World, stirred into action by the news, finally converged from all directions. Carrying ambitions of making a name for themselves or aspirations of proving their own Great Dao, they set foot upon this land where a storm was about to arise.

The seven-day countdown officially began at this very moment!

Across the entire Southern Region, the atmosphere suddenly became incomparably tense, heated, and turbulent beneath the surface, as the dead silence of the ruins intertwined with the restless stirrings of new life.

The following day, the demon clan’s treasury.

Led by an elder of the demon clan who had reached the Great Saint realm, Xiao Ruobai and the others entered an ancient secret realm located deep within the mountains.

Inside the treasury, wondrous radiance surged into the sky. The fragrance of medicines and the aura of ancient weapons filled the air.

The foundation of the demon clans in the Southern Region was indeed astonishingly rich.

High-grade materials were piled up like mountains. Spiritual herbs and precious medicines glowed with rosy light, while countless magical artifacts and talismans floated through the air.

Each of them had their own opportunity. Their eyes were sharp, and their targets were clear.

Xiao Ruobai’s gaze swept across the countless rare treasures before finally coming to rest on a dust-covered chaos-colored stone talisman. The patterns upon it seemed to contain the secrets of the birth of heaven and earth.

For his second item, he took a seemingly withered branch that nevertheless contained a trace of undying vitality.

Mo Yu’s bloodline stirred. From a fragment of qilin bone, he found a drop of sealed ancient qilin blood, and he also took a piece of sacred jade capable of nurturing one’s bloodline and guarding the light of the soul.

Fang Hanyu took the core stele from an ancient sword mound. Three thousand fundamental sword marks were carved into its surface.

Each mark contained the true essence of the sword’s origin. They appeared simple, yet encompassed all things. His second choice was a piece of Void Swordstone capable of tempering sword intent.

Ling Xi took a pitch-black gourd that seemed capable of devouring all light, as well as a Ghost Soul Flower that had grown in a place of extreme yin.

Fatty Wang’s eyes shone as he lunged toward the mountain of talisman-making materials. After carefully selecting his treasures, he chose a chunk of Chaos Thunderstrike Wood heart bearing natural thunder patterns.

His second choice was a large bottle of Void Beast blood that radiated spatial fluctuations. Both were supreme treasures for crafting top-tier talismans.

Three days later, at the Southern Region’s frontier, an ancient battlefield that had been cleared out.

Fatty Wang sat cross-legged at the center, his expression unusually solemn. Xiao Ruobai and the others stood guard in the distance.

“Senior Brother, I’m beginning!” Fatty Wang took a deep breath and stopped suppressing his cultivation.

“Rumble!”

The heavens and earth instantly changed color. A sea of lightning stretching ten thousand zhang surged into existence from thin air.

This was no ordinary tribulation. Within that sea of lightning, countless ancient thunder talismans and formation diagrams condensed into being. It even evolved into thunder dragons and the phantoms of a Thunder Emperor!

A Saint-realm heavenly tribulation varied from person to person. Fatty Wang’s foundation was astonishingly solid, and the tribulation he had drawn down was actually the ancient and rarely seen Myriad-Talisman Lightning Tribulation!

“My goodness, are you seriously going this far?”

Though startled, Fatty Wang remained calm. With a wave of his chubby hands, hundreds upon thousands of defensive talismans shot into the sky, transforming into layers of radiant shields. At the same time, offensive talismans streaked forth of their own accord, blasting into the sea of lightning.

The lightning exploded into fragments, and talismans scattered through the air.

Though the lightning left Fatty Wang’s skin torn and his entire body charred black, his aura never weakened. Instead, he continuously tempered himself within the lightning tribulation, and his understanding of the Talisman Dao rose at a staggering pace.

The lightning tribulation lasted an entire day and night before finally subsiding.

When the final bolt of lightning dissipated, a vast and majestic sage-like might swept out from Fatty Wang’s body!

He had successfully overcome the tribulation and stepped into the Saint Realm!

Although he looked battered and disheveled, his eyes shone with dazzling light. The saintly power surrounding him was rich and perfectly integrated, carrying with it an abstruse charm of the Talisman Dao.

“Heh heh, the feeling of being a Saint is pretty great!”

Fatty Wang flashed a broad grin, his confidence soaring.

With this, the strength of Xiao Ruobai’s team rose another level. The seven-day pact was now just around the corner!