Its main body had to experience the saber-nurturing technique at least a hundred times before it reached a semi-evolved state.

Meanwhile, Shadow Sanctum evolved after merely ten rounds of the saber-nurturing technique…

Could it be that I’m worse than a bracelet?

The black Scarlet Heaven Sword thought to itself.

No, that isn’t right. It must be because I’m so much better than the bracelet that it was so hard for me to evolve. This bracelet is far inferior to me in terms of aptitude, which is why it evolved so easily. Yeah, that must be what’s going on! Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword comforted itself.

As an inner demon, experiencing jealousy was in its nature, but finding reasons to comfort itself was not much in line with the thinking of an inner demon.

Anyway, Shadow Sanctum had evolved.

The daoist patterns on the bracelet spread out, extending from the bracelet to Song Shuhang’s wrist.

Through the patterns, Song Shuhang and Shadow Sanctum became linked.

Shuahng’s right eye lit up. Through his right eye, he saw raging flames that filled every inch of the scholarly faction.

Song Shuhang mused, “Are these flames of obsession?”

He did not need anyone to answer the question as he already knew what was going on.

He was pretty sure that the flames that covered the entire scholarly faction were flames of obsession.

In addition, his burning hot left eye told him that this was the Scholarly Sage’s obsession.

The body parts of Fairy Skylark and the fat ball’s clone were linked to two key figures in the Scholarly Sage’s life.

One was the person he loved the most, while the other was the ball he hated the most.

It was pretty normal that the Sage’s obsession was stirred.

Then, should I take this opportunity to transform the Scholarly Sage’s obsession into a shadow, attach it to myself, and fight the fat ball?

No, no, I can’t do that.

The strong desire to survive made Song Shuhang suppress this impetuous thought.

The obsession of the Indestructible Lord had only covered a single rift valley, and it had almost caused him to explode. In the end, it was because Senior White gave him the Indestructible Lord’s purified demonic will that he was able to survive.

If the Sage’s obsession—which covered the entire scholarly faction—were to possess him, this day next year would be his death anniversary!

Song Shuhang said softly, “I can’t do it. I definitely can’t do it.”

While he said that…

His right hand did not show him any mercy and poured spiritual energy into Shadow Sanctum. Although he was thinking one thing, his body was very honest and did the complete opposite.

The truth was that he had no choice.

The fat ball had come to fight him, and there was a possibility that Senior White Two had been tricked as there was still no news from him.

Senior Ruler of Shadows was in bystander mode, and as long as the fat ball’s attacks did not affect him, he would not intervene.

Daddy Turtle was an ally, but he could not stop the fat ball alone.

If he wanted to save himself, Shuhang could only activate the Sage’s obsession and borrow the Scholarly Sage’s power.

Also, he could not bear to stand by and watch as the fat ball razed the entire scholarly faction to the ground.

With all that said, Shadow Sanctum was activated.

The flames of obsession that burned every inch of the scholarly faction turned into a torrent that gathered around Song Shuhang.

Even Sixteen and the others who could not see the flames of obsession felt the temperature around Song Shuhang rise sharply.

Inside the Inner Demon Cave, the Ruler of Shadows conjured a hand and a chin. He used his hand to rub his chin before ultimately sighing, “My poor Shadow Sanctum.”

It was done for.

He had estimated before that if the Sage’s obsession were transformed by Shadow Sanctum… the bracelet would be toast regardless of how much power it could bring out.

Moreover, Shadow Sanctum had just activated the Indestructible Lord’s obsession not too long ago, and it was put to use again before it could get some rest.

His heart ached as Shadow Sanctum was among his favorite treasures.

I wonder if Profound Sage Tyrannical Song can afford to pay for it. As the first Sage in a thousand years, he should have some savings, right?

❄️❄️❄️

“Hot, hot, hot!” The temperature that Song Shuhang was being subjected to was one that could even make him feel pain. It was surprisingly able to get past his extremely high pain tolerance.

The fat ball, who had been sent flying, saw the scene and stretched out its hands before swinging them. As it did that, a pitch-black sword made of evil energy shot toward Song Shuhang.

Sister White Dragon rose up. She moved about her small claws, activating nearly a hundred kinds of defenses that went to block the evil sword.

Below, Daddy Turtle’s eyes lit up. Although he did not know what Tyrannical Song was doing, he would definitely help him by holding back the guy who had dared to seriously injure his daughter.

And so, Daddy Turtle bravely stepped forward and confronted the fat ball’s clone, helping Sister White Dragon to buy time for Song Shuhang.

❄️❄️❄️

Song Shuhang had already activated his three body-tempering techniques.

The Holy Apes held their Scholarly Scriptures and chanted majestically.

The virtuous lamia wrapped around his body and nourished it with the light of virtue.

Fairy Creation appeared and stretched out her hand, placing it on Song Shuhang’s left eye socket. The light of a healing technique shone from her hand, lowering the temperature of the Sage’s eye in Song Shuhang’s left eye socket.

Fairy Creation said, “Song~ Thank you.”

She bit her finger and put it above Song Shuhang’s lips, until a drop of blood rolled off of her fingertips and into his mouth.

She was supposed to be a body of energy similar to the virtuous lamia, so she should not have had anything like blood. However, there was a drop of blood that had appeared on the tip of her bitten finger.

This drop of blood was not hers… but rather the Scholarly Sage’s.

The drop of blood entered Song Shuhang’s mouth. It tasted sweet, and it did not have a metallic taste or smell like normal blood did.

Other than that, it did not give him any special feeling.

It did not fill him with energy or strengthen his body, nor did it suddenly improve his mental energy or transform him into a peerless powerhouse.

“Turn on your smoke mode.” At this moment, Song Shuhang heard Senior White’s clone speak to him.

Senior White’s clone was reminding him to switch to his pseudo-eternal state.

Song Shuhang glanced at Senior White’s clone, and his heart calmed down.

Senior White, the biggest mascot of the Nine Provinces Number One Group, was still around, which meant that the situation could be salvaged!

Song Shuhang did not hesitate to activate his smoke mode, turning into a human-shaped cloud of black smoke.

In the black smoke, a group of colorful rays of light could vaguely be seen, which was Song Shuhang’s precious waist.

There was also a shining pupil, which was the eye of the Sage.

In addition, there was the light of virtue, the light effects from the enhancements of the three body-tempering techniques, and… a drop of blood.

As expected of the blood of the Sage, it was not something that could easily be digested.

If I’m unable to digest the Sage’s blood, can it still be pulled out?

When Song Shuhang’s body turned into a cloud of smoke, the flames of obsession that covered the entire sky poured into him.

Shadow Sanctum’s ability activated, and the vast sea of flames was transformed into a shadow that attached itself to Song Shuhang’s body.

Song Shuhang’s body began to rebuild itself, with the Sage’s blood as the core and the Scholarly Sage’s eye as the head.

After several breaths of time, the body of smoke shook and became solid.

A man wearing scholarly clothing appeared in the air.

He just stood there, with the aura and bearing of a grandmaster.

When people saw him, for some reason, they felt that he was very cool.