Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Establishing the Sacred Land
Similar to Wu Tianyi just now, the moment Saintess Qing Ling was released, a certain confusion flashed in her eyes.
Upon seeing Ji Chen, her face showed panic and unease.
But soon, Saintess Qing Ling realized something was amiss.
She glanced around, understanding immediately what had happened, but instead of speaking, her body transformed into a graceful silhouette, flying back to where the people of Qing Ling Sacred Land were.
Compared to Wu Tianyi, she clearly seemed much better off, except for some disheveled hair, her clothes were relatively intact, and she didn’t look quite like a mess.
"Saintess, are you unwell?" the old woman inquired.
She gently shook her head, "I am fine, thank you, Supreme Elder, for coming to my rescue."
Having said that, she glanced again at Ji Chen, her eyes seemingly flashing with resentment, but she said nothing, ultimately leaving with the people of Qing Ling Sacred Land.
"Do you guys think that Qing Ling Sacred Land was really ’done’ by Ji Chen?"
Around the Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate, everyone exchanged glances, watching them depart.
"’Done’ what?"
Such talk reached Ji Chen’s ears, and he glanced over, "Please don’t speak recklessly; I am a family man, and if anyone spreads baseless rumors, beware I might smash your mouth."
Upon hearing these words, everyone wisely fell silent, not daring to speak further.
However, they still harbored some suspicions in their hearts.
Who is Saintess Qing Ling?
She is a peerless beauty with a reputation across Daoxuan, admired by countless people worldwide.
Such a beauty falling into Ji Chen’s hands, if one were to say nothing happened, it’s indeed hard to believe.
Very soon, Ji Chen also released other family disciples one after another, all of whom paid the ransom of five billion Spirit Stones.
These people, like the previous Wu Tianyi, were mostly tortured beyond recognition.
During their captivity, Ji Chen, besides using them to test medicines, occasionally used them as sparring partners.
To say ’sparring partner,’ in reality, they were not much different from sandbags.
Sealed within the Dharma Pearls, their cultivation was utterly unusable, facing Ji Chen’s beatings, they could only endure, unable to resist.
"I’ll kill you!"
The last one released by Ji Chen was the Hidden Dragon Saint Heir.
He appeared to be in the most wretched state.
His face was bruised, his hair was a tangled mess draping over his shoulders, his clothes were torn to shreds, with many scars across his body.
At the moment he was released, realizing what had happened, the Hidden Dragon Saint Heir’s face immediately showed rage, he charged at Ji Chen, unleashing an aura of utmost terror, reaching the Second Layer of the Void Realm!
Fortunately, the strongmen from Hidden Dragon Sacred Land reacted in time, quickly stopping him.
If allowed to strike, it’s uncertain who might suffer.
After all, Ji Chen nearly exhausted a Dao Body of a Saint; if the Hidden Dragon Saint Heir were to duel him, what fortune could he achieve?
"Body Sanctification?"
An elder from Hidden Dragon Sacred Land whispered something in his ear, startling the Hidden Dragon Saint Heir as he looked horrifyingly at Ji Chen.
He furrowed his brows, and after a long pause, said, "So what? You are ultimately just at the Celestial Essence Realm, Ji Chen. Once I recover, I will definitely challenge you to a deathmatch on Celestial Martial!"
Leaving such a statement, he finally left in anger, departing with the strongmen from Hidden Dragon Sacred Land.
And with their departure, this farce came to a definitive end.
The final outcome of this turmoil was certainly beyond everyone’s expectations.
Who could have imagined that the two major Sacred Lands and other Ancient Emperor families ultimately chose to pay the ransom?
This release gathering left Ji Chen richly rewarded, garnering nearly ten billion Spirit Stones.
Such a sum is undoubtedly extremely astonishing.
Even those ancient Sacred Lands and families from the Outer Realm couldn’t gather such a sum in a short period.
With these Spirit Stones now, the future cultivation expenses of Lingyun Sect disciples need not be of concern.
More importantly, after this event, the world knew that the Hongmeng Body had achieved Great Success, now reaching Body Sanctification, becoming one of the top forces in the world today.
This is an existence not to be overlooked, and Ji Chen is sure to hold a significant position in the future of the Daoxuan Star Realm.
"Do you intend to establish a Sacred Land?"
One day, in Drunken Ink Residence, Ji Chen called all the high-ranking officials of Lingyun Sect over and informed them of his current thoughts.
Upon hearing this, Lu Daoyi, Ji Xiaotian, and others couldn’t help but show their astonishment.
Ji Chen wants to establish Lingyun Sect as a Sacred Land, such an idea is undoubtedly insane.
One must know, today, the strongest forces are undoubtedly those ancient Sacred Lands and Di Races.
If Lingyun Sect also becomes a Sacred Land, it means it will transform into one of the world’s top forces.
And as it grows and expands, the future Lingyun Sect may become an overlord-level existence throughout the annals of history, recorded and celebrated for centuries.
"Given Lingyun Sect’s current overall strength, it indeed fits to become a Sacred Land," Nangong Ao remarked.
Now, Lingyun Sect has Ji Chen, an existence comparable to Saints, beneath whom Nangong Ao, Ji Xiaotian, Ye Jinglan, and Lu Daoyi are all powerful figures at the Void Realm level.
The top-tier force is not much inferior to those Sacred Lands, while there may be some gap in the middle and lower levels, perhaps within a decade, it could catch up.
"The question now is, who should assume the role of Saint Master?" Ji Chen spoke, his gaze sweeping over Nangong Ao and the others.
These Void Realm experts are now Supreme Elders of Lingyun Sect, but once Lingyun Sect becomes a Sacred Land, a Saint Master must be chosen.
And those eligible and qualified to assume the role of Saint Master can only be these Void Realm figures.
"I have stepped down for many years now, and I no longer have the mind to wield power," Ji Xiaotian spoke, he was once the Sect Leader of Lingyun Sect, and this Sect is akin to a Dynastic hereditary system, making him a suitable candidate to assume the role of Saint Master.
"In terms of strength, those truly comparable to a Saint Master-level individual can only be Elder Ao and the Young Master, the position of Saint Master can only be yours," Lu Daoyi spoke.
"I don’t have the time to manage the Sect affairs, how about Elder Ao?" Ji Chen immediately refused, wanting to be a hands-off manager, and as he spoke, he looked at Nangong Ao to seek his opinion.
Nangong Ao only pondered for a moment, "It’s not that this old man is unwilling, but I’ve always been a solitary person, although holding the position of Supreme Elder for years, I have never involved myself in the management of Sect affairs, I’m entirely clueless about these matters. If there’s truly no other solution, then perhaps appoint an ’Acting Saint Master’ first; Qingyao has been Sect Leader for several years, she should be suitable."