“Only an inexperienced idiot would attempt that… If you do not siphon the heavenly energy directly from the one ascending or be in extremely close proximity stealing the heavenly energy will invoke the wrath of the heavens, then not only will it cease granting heavenly energy but it'll also rain down a sea of lightning that can even turn weak saints into ash.” A saint dressed in red robes said to his disciple.
“Just sit still and enjoy the show, for now, only those lesser tier saints and full saints are fighting, none of the high saints will bother to act until at least the ascension has taken placed for an entire day and is about to finish.” The saint dressed entirely in red also said.
“Junior brother just sit tight, if your lucky master may grant you the heavenly energy and allow you to breakthrough and become a half saint. That way even if your ascension is interrupted midway you'll undoubtedly become a full saint.” A young man who appeared to be a saint but also appeared not to be one said with a smile.
Amongst the thousand or two people present there were actually a number of individuals who were like the young man who appeared to be a saint but was not.
Within the Azure Tower, the Dragon Heart Necklace had ceased absorbing heavenly energy for some time now however it was still levitating in the air and emitting a strange glow while Zhang was still engrossed in cultivating.
A steady amount of heavenly energy continued to flow into the room as Zhang continued to take in as much of it as he could. If other people were allowed in the room and began absorbing heavenly energy also then the amount Zhang could take in would be halved, meaning at best he would be able to become a lesser saint. But if there were two more people in the room then at best he could become a half saint. Thankfully when the Dragon Heart Necklace was absorbing the heavenly energy it had only taken a minuscule amount that wouldn’t have too much effect on Zhang overall.
So as the high saints and their disciples sat patiently and while the rest of the saints bickered with one another outside, the wheels of time continued to spin. Soon enough the first day of Zhang’s ascension ended and the second day began.
Like the previous day, the lesser saints and full saints continued to battle each other without showing any signs of fatigue. Although the lesser saints were lacking when compared to the full saints, many of them had banded together and engaged in two on one or three on one battles. It actually appeared as if some of these saints had arrived solely to kill their peers instead of to interfere with Zhang’s ascension believe it or not.
In the wake of their battle, mountains were cut to pieces, forests were burned to ash, clouds were dispersed and the terrain was changed. Luckily the Sky Fortress was hovering above an area within any inhabitants or else the countless lives would have been needlessly lost.
Once roughly half of the second day of Zhang’s ascension had gone by, a few of the high saints began to move.
“The ascension should be nearing completion, now is the best time to steal that new fellow’s heavenly energy.” A high saint with long flowing white hair and droopy eyebrows said as he waved his hand and a sword appeared in midair.
“When the ascension is nearing completion is when the most heavenly energy can be extracted from the new saint. Watch closely as these old foxed begin to use their techniques, maybe you’ll be able to learn a thing or two.” A beautiful woman who appeared to be in her twenties that was a full saint who had come solely to watch said to her disciple who was a level ten mage.
“Couldn’t they simply wait until the ascension is finished and then kill that newly ascended saint?” The disciple asked with a curious look on his face.
“If a saint is allowed to finish his or her ascension and give a few days to stabilize their heavenly energy, although you can kill them and attempt to plunder the heavenly energy the amount that can be extracted would only amount to a portion of what you can get while the ascension is taking place. This is because once it is stabilized the heavenly energy melds with the saint’s body allowing him or her to connect directly to the great flow of essence. Also once a saint’s heavenly energy is stabilized and a fight breaks out, there was a chance that new saint would escape. So these old foxes tend to disrupt the ascension before it completes.” The woman also explained to her disciple.
“Master if high saints always gather and either plunder the heavenly energy for themselves or help their disciples become half saints then how were you able to become a full saint?” The curious disciple asked.
“Simple, your master’s ascension took place during the time when the continent was being invaded by thousands of enemy saints seeking to expand the scope of their power. During such a time people were too busy fighting for their lives than trying to snatch power from a fledgling. Also, your master received a bit of help from a kind elderly man, who should be on his way right now.” The woman laughed.
While the female saint was talking to her disciple, the high saint with droopy eyebrows began to make his move to interrupt Zhang’s ascension.
“Where is the sacrifice?” The high saint asked one of his disciples who rather than replying tossed a middle-aged man who appeared to only be at the third level of cultivation toward his master.
“Ple-please spare me!” The middle-aged man who when compared to all of the saints present was no stronger than an ant plead. But his pleas fell on deaf ears as he was tossed through the sky and into the translucent ray of heavenly energy that was channeling toward Zhang.
In a flash before the man could even utter a single cry he was turned into ash and the flow of heavenly energy began to fluctuate. The black clouds in the air also began to unleash heaven’s wrath and rain down an abundance of lightning from above.
“NOT ON MY WATCH!” Yuying’s voice rang into everyone’s ear as her barrier disappeared and a blinding ray of light shot out from the main Azure Tower.
Much to everyone’s surprise, the moment the ray of light from the Azure Tower touched the receding ray of heavenly energy, it actually began to cease fluctuating and begin to channel toward Zhang once more.
“That barrier is down, move in!” A lesser saint cried as he ceased fighting his opponent and charged toward the Sky Fortress.
Soon enough hundreds of lesser saints, full saints, and some higher saints sped toward the Azure Tower where Zhang was finishing up his ascension.
“All forces attack!” Ling’s voice could be heard as hundreds of mithril tipped ballista bolts shot into the air. Although they were probably not enough to slay a saint, the mithril tips of the ballista bolts would definitely serve as hindrances as they pierced through the air.
Accompanying the ballista bolts were hundreds of spider webs being rapidly shot into the air by the horde of Wraith Spiders. Although it was comparable to using an egg to combat a charging chariot, Zhang’s soldiers and the Wraith Spiders were giving their all so their master could complete his ascension.
“Unless!” A saint roared as he sent an energy palm toward a group of Zhang’s soldiers who were busily reloading a ballista. Soon after a mixture of screams could be heard as Zhang’s men began to frantically attempt to avoid the incoming attack that would without a doubt take their lives.
Scurrying in all directions Zhang’s men were able to avoid sharing the same fate as the ballista that was left in pieces on the ground. But of course, Zhang’s men did not lose heart almost instantly sped toward another ballista and began to help reload it, while others began to draw their bows and fire arrows into the sky.
One by one the lesser saints, full saints and some high saints began to depart as their prey was no more.