Chapter 439: Chapter 226: Expedition Ning Qi calmly received this courtesy. In today’s battle, he indeed played a crucial role. If it weren’t for him fighting three enemies alone and slaying all three of the Heaven-Slaying Martial Saints, the Martial Realm might have already met its end, with all the Martial Saints present dying. This kind of great favor is indeed a lifesaving grace. All the saints clearly understood this in their hearts, so they looked at Ning Qi with great gratitude. As for Taoist Longshan and others, their gazes at Ning Qi were full of pride, especially Taoist Longshan, who seemed to have momentarily returned to the sea of fire from over a decade ago. He couldn’t imagine how he deserved to take in such an extraordinary disciple. "Please rise, everyone," Ning Qi said calmly. He looked around at everyone. Compared to when we came, more than thirty people were missing, and they were all traitors. It’s somewhat unimaginable that thirty percent of the Martial Saints in the entire Martial Realm chose to side with the Mountain and Sea Realm, including three who stood at the peak of the Martial Realm in the Half-step Divine Power Realm. If it weren’t for Ning Qi’s sudden emergence, the fate of the Martial Realm would have been sealed. However, even so. The Martial Realm has suffered greatly. Many traitors were killed, causing severe losses in top-tier combat power. If it weren’t for the quick end of the battle and the rapid support from Gui Changqing and the Great Yan Martial Saint, while no ordinary Martial Saints fell, some were seriously injured, which would have made the losses even greater. At this moment. The saints gradually withdrew from the joy of victory, a look of confusion rising in their eyes. Almost half of the top combat power in the Martial Realm is gone, and the Mountain and Sea Realm had long started to lay out plans. It seems that their invasion will come soon, leaving the future destiny uncertain. The Great Yan Martial Saint also felt dejected. Sighs of lamentation arose one after another, full of worry. Especially the Ancient Saints, who felt extremely defeated, having plotted for tens of thousands of years and barely managed to survive into the present through various secret techniques, even to the extent of becoming unlike their former selves, only to end up like this. The will of the Martial Realm’s baptism today was only half completed, with only some Low Realm Martial Saints having broken through, while those in the Fourth and Fifth Realm Martial Saints had yet to break through. This was a heavy blow striking at everyone’s soul. But Ning Qi didn’t experience much emotional disturbance. He had long set his mind on this eventuality. Although the situation now is a little worse than previously imagined, it is still within his acceptable range. Originally, he did not place hope on others. Encountering the world’s consciousness prematurely is not entirely without benefit. At least, after accepting the world’s baptism, Ning Qi has completely perfected the Realm Lord Realm. In other words. He is now able to attempt to fuse with the world’s consciousness! Seeing everyone looking dejected. Ning Qi didn’t say much; he simply swung his sword, and strands of sword light flickered, shattering the Spirit Chains that originally bound the world’s consciousness. The next moment. The world’s consciousness shone brightly! It had been restrained all this time; even sensing the crisis, it had no way to break free. Now freed in one blow, it surged furiously. The Martial Saints’ attention was all drawn in, followed by some shock. They were previously participating in the world consciousness awakening together with the traitors for baptism, but just now the traitors suddenly restrained the world consciousness, intending to heavily damage or even destroy it. If now the world consciousness cannot distinguish between good and evil, acting purely on instinct and treating them as enemies, this would be adding insult to injury. Thinking of this, the Martial Saints grew even more fearful. The power of the world’s consciousness roared, and strands of domineering spiritual power shot towards the surroundings, in great rage. Fortunately, a Five-Colored Sword Qi slashed upwards, severing these strands across the void, guided by Ning Qi to form barriers with blood-colored thunder, separating everyone from the world consciousness. Seeing the indiscriminate attacks of the world consciousness, everyone wore bitter smiles. The Great Yan Martial Saint spoke with a heavy heart: "The world consciousness acts only on instinct, and it may not be able to distinguish good from evil for some time. In the short term, there’s no way to calm it; for now, we can only retreat temporarily. We’ll return when the world consciousness becomes more docile." All the saints slowly nodded, but they all knew it would become even more difficult afterward. The invasion of the Mountain and Sea Realm is imminent, and every minute and second is precious. Who knows when the world consciousness will completely calm down, and who knows if the world consciousness will continue to bestow blessings afterward — everything is unknown. The saints were filled with despondency. Subconsciously, they looked to Ning Qi. Ning Qi, now the strongest in the Martial Realm, naturally held the highest authority. Moreover, some observant people noticed that Ning Qi’s expression had barely changed throughout, even as the Great Yan Martial Saint’s confidence waned; he remained consistent. Gradually, many eyes fixed on Ning Qi. The Great Yan Martial Saint couldn’t help but ask: "Taoist Friend Tianjian, do you have any other solutions?" Ning Qi looked around and said calmly: "I have a method; we could give it a try." All the saints fell silent, their eyes gradually filled with hope. ... Mountain and Sea Realm. Sky high and ground far, vast and expansive, thus named for its melding of mountains and seas. Immortal mountains stretching endlessly, treasures of nature within, countless rare birds and exotic beasts. The spiritual sea, wide and broad, containing all things, the deep sea endless. Black Demon Mountain. Clouds of murderous aura, stretching to the sky, various portentous phenomena rising, deterring any approach. Within, powerful presences flickering faintly. This is the foundation of the Black Demon Sect. But at this moment. A roar of fury shot straight to the heavens, a massive black skull bellowing, spewing Black Flame, its might causing many disciples of the Black Demon Sect to tremble with fear. "Who has incited such wrath from the Black Flame True Monarch?" Many speculations surged in their minds, watching the enormous black skeleton roar, unrestrainedly emitting power, most disciples dared not breathe heavily, their eyes filled with longing.