novelraw Chapter 426: Above the Saint
Chapter 426: Above the Saint
Saint… Chen Qi’s expression moved slightly.
In that instant, countless memories and emotions surged.
For the vast majority, this was a rank that belonged only to ancient times, a level of legend.
After a long journey, within this tide, he was finally about to surpass the limits of ordinary Transcendents and reach this realm.
Saint-level powers link their bodies tightly with the rift, granting them spiritual energy far surpassing the legendary.
At this stage, they can unleash release techniques on a catastrophe scale, even twist rules and reshape terrain in an instant with a fifth-tier domain.
At the same time, if a Saint commands rift workshops, alchemy workshops, rune libraries, and other special structures, they can ascend even further.
If they master a domain and wield powerful rift weapons, they can even fight apostles of the Lantern Reaper, ultimately transcending mortal lifespan limits and touching the power of immortality!
"Huff…"
A flicker of excitement passed through Chen Qi’s eyes. He drew a long breath, thought for a moment, and asked:"When exactly?"
The Ice Witch looked toward the steel cruise ship before them, raised two fingers, and smiled:
"In one day. After one day, I will have everything prepared and you can ascend to Saint."
One day, so fast… Chen Qi was slightly shocked. This speed far exceeded his expectations.
He knew that even with ample resources and a top construction team from Steam Hand Workshop, building a rift workshop would normally take at least a week!
Moreover, neither he nor the Ice Witch were professional Hammer-affinity Transcendents.
In many cases, their construction of a workshop would still require Burry from the Ice Demon Pirates’ Steam Hand Workshop expertise.
A proud gleam crossed the Ice Witch’s eyes as she said arrogantly:
"I inherited the assets of the Thirteen Witches and am the strongest among them. Although I can’t construct a rift workshop in such a short time, with a fifth-tier profession card and a Magic-Banishing Crystal, I can temporarily restore an abandoned workshop of an ancient witch to its function."
Inheriting the Thirteen Witches’ legacy… Chen Qi immediately thought of a legendary figure from the Witch Sea, tawny-skinned, wielding a great hammer, fond of using a super-release on dragons—the Hammer Witch.
The Hammer Witch’s ruins were exactly an abandoned rift workshop.
The Ice Witch knew the ruins of all witches and could enter and exit at will.
Using the Magic-Banishing Crystal to revitalize a workshop would enable a rapid ascension.
As expected of Big White Hair! Chen Qi nodded, stretched his muscles, and indicated he would adjust his bodily condition as best he could.
Accepting the power of a fifth-tier profession card and binding oneself to the rift is an extremely terrifying matter.
If handled carelessly, even a fourth-tier legend could be crippled.
After handing over the Sea God, the Magic-Banishing Crystal, and other items to the Ice Witch, Chen Qi said:
"Big White Hair, constructing the rift workshop and the sanctuary will require a lot of people. Over the next two days, I plan to absorb the Sea God Pirates so they don’t fall into the Blackfin Crew’s hands."
He still needed to lead the captives to the Sea God Pirates’ main base, bringing all pirates and residents of their territories under their command.
The Ice Witch nodded, agreeing with Chen Qi’s plan.
Then she suddenly remembered something and shifted the topic:
"Qi, do you know the rank above Saint?"
The rank above Saint? Chen Qi stroked his chin.
He did not know much about the rank above Saint either.
However, they were all tightly linked to the rift.
If the fifth tier links one’s body with the rift, the sixth tier would turn the rift into a complete part of the body, making their normal bodily and spiritual strength resemble the creatures of legend. They could affect the surrounding environment and are often called angels in ancient texts.
Moreover, their profession tasks would undergo a mutation. They would no longer have small tasks to earn inspiration points;
instead, they would receive godlike tasks, fulfilling believers’ wishes and establishing rules.
Their ascension would also require considerable renown—imprinting their name onto an era or a domain.
But for most people, not to mention the precise ascension method, even obtaining a sixth-tier profession card is a mystery.
The Ice Witch sipped her tea, looked at Chen Qi, raised an eyebrow, and smiled:
"This tide surpasses all previous tides. At the end of this wave, a sixth-tier profession card will be born…"
Throughout history, many pursued the path of angels. The Sea God, for example, was a fanatic obsessed with such power.
The Ice Witch’s mind conjured images of countless lives in the long river of history.
In that river, even the once-proud Deep Sea Hunters ultimately reached only the rank of Saint.
However, perhaps Little Black Hair could surpass them and reach that level.
The end of the wave… curiosity flashed in Chen Qi’s eyes.
The Ice Witch picked up her cup and poured Chen Qi a cup of invigorating tea, grinning wickedly:
"Little Black Hair, a sixth-tier must stamp their name onto history. From now on, rampage through this sea and leave your mark!"
Chen Qi took the tea:
"As you wish, Big White Hair!"
With the clink of cups, Chen Qi and the Ice Witch exchanged a smile, drank the tea, and finalized everything.
...
One day later.
Rift Sea, the heartland of the Blood Blade Pirates, Blood Blade Island.
The whole ocean seemed gravely ill, flowing with black-and-red tides, surging into violent waves at intervals.
Everything looked like an omen that a world-ending calamity was about to arrive.
Unlike the ailing sea, the surface above roared with war drums!
Several Sea God warships flying the Sea God banner charged forward, intent on swallowing everything in sight—people and wealth alike!
Since the Rift Sea’s Great Sea Coffin rift collapsed, residents across the Rift Sea and Fog Sea had fled en masse.
This once-peaceful sea was no longer a place for ordinary people to survive.
It had long become a chaotic battlefield where ambitious forces fought over rift resources!
Only beast-like strongmen could survive here!
Even the once-prosperous Blackore City had become a place where pirates kept many slaves and manufactured forbidden weapons.
Under the Sea God’s promise of resurrection, the Sea God Pirates pillaged like starving lions these days.
They wanted to present the greatest salutes and offerings for the Sea God’s birth!
Everything was for the Sea God!
In these past days alone, they had seized ten islands, robbed two fleeing merchant ships, and captured nearly three thousand refugees.
These people would, as "repenters," serve the Sea God Pirates’ upper ranks for life!
Now their target was the Rift Sea’s third-largest pirate fleet—the Blood Blade Pirates, formed from navy remnants!
Over the months, the Blood Blade Pirates had been constantly pushed back, losing many warriors and territories.
Without Saint-level protection, the Blood Blade Pirates could not rampage like the Blackfin Crew or the Sea God Pirates.
By contrast, the Blackfin Crew and the Sea God Pirates—blessed by the Great Whale’s power and backed by the Black Blood Empire coalition—had become unstoppable monstrous forces.
"Let our banners be stained with the enemy’s blood!"
"Under moonlight, with their blood, we offer the Sea God our greatest gift!"
"Sea God protects us!!!"
The Sea God fleet bombarded the defenses of Blood Blade Island and surged forward while singing praise.
On the Sea God vanguard, atop a throne made of gold, gems, and dragonhide, a man sculpted like a statue spat a breath of blood mist.
Not long ago aboard this ship, an interesting incident had occurred.
The current leader of the Blood Blade Pirates, the Blood Lady, had boarded and personally led ten powerful third-tier assassin Transcendents in a surprise attack to repel the massive fleet!
The man looked at the exhausted, panting Blood Lady and laughed:
"Blood Lady, aren’t you arrogant? I am the new king of the Rift Sea, the chosen favored by the Sea God!"
This domineering, sculpted-faced man was currently the strongest in the Sea God Pirates!
He had captured twenty islands and defeated four fourth-tier Transcendents. Clad in a black robe, he had once used Shadow affinity to blacken a kilometer-wide sea and was called the Sea God’s Right Arm, the Black Sea King!
The Black Sea King twirled the dagger in his hand:
"Times have changed, Blood Lady. In every era, people are swept up by the tide. Those who ride the wrong wave will be devoured by the sea—like the remnants of the old navy, who will pay in blood today."
The Blood Lady gripped a dagger. Her cold, proud face was now intertwined with complex emotions.
The Sea God Pirates used Blackfin Crew blood from the God of the Edges. Under the God of the Edges, ordinary third-tier Transcendents could gain two to three times their strength.
Facing this black-blood power, the Blood Blade Pirates were powerless.
Powerless…
This sea had already become a battlefield for monstrous factions of nations—no small force like theirs could survive.
The Blood Lady’s legs trembled. In previous battles she had contracted a severe hematic degeneration.
Perhaps it was time for her, and for the Blood Blade, to be buried in the sea along with her husband.
"The Blood Lady is a beauty…" the Black Sea King licked his lips, restraining himself from saying more.
"Bring the Blood Lady to my chamber!"
"To your chamber…" senior officers behind the Black Sea King showed puzzlement.
Unlike ordinary pirates, the Sea God Pirates maintained doctrines set by an Archbishop and followed tenets of the Sea Goddess.
Unjustly abusing women was taboo.
At least publicly, the Sea God Pirates would not do such things—especially since she was the nominal leader of the Blood Blade Pirates!
In theory, all fourth-tier captives should be handed to the Great Sea God for disposition!
The Black Sea King laughed carelessly:
"This is an offering to the Sea God. After the Sea God awakens, she will need this person as a handmaiden! I must inspect her first."
"He likes her…" many senior members shook their heads.
But the Black Sea King was the Sea God’s right arm and the current supreme commander of the Sea God fleet!
Now the other leaders were awakening the Sea God and preparing a grand ritual to forge their myth.
Power is everything.
"He is right!"
"At once!"
Two burly men approached, roughly seizing the Blood Lady’s hands to take her to the Black Sea King’s quarters.
The Blood Lady is far more lovely than those homeless girls in Blackore City… the Black Sea King smirked inwardly.
At that moment, a messenger in charge of scouting urgent news shouted:
"Black King, there is a jet-black sea dragon ahead blocking our approach. Shall we halt?"
"Sea dragon? What are you afraid of? Who do you think I am? Bring the ship closer!"
The Black Sea King’s gaze remained fixed on the Blood Lady’s cold face.
This was the Sea God Pirates’ main fleet attacking the Blood Blade Pirates. A single sea dragon was nothing—a mere swing of his hammer would suffice!
However, the messenger’s voice grew more trembling.
What had been a fierce naval battle suddenly stilled.
"Sir, that sea dragon seems rather… large…"
"Hmm?"
The Black Sea King looked up.
Blood Blade Pirates hiding in the defenses and Sea God Pirates alike all looked up.
Through the thick mist, a giant silhouette broke the dyed sea and slowly surfaced, like a towering black column rising from the depths.
Just the portion above the water reached an astonishing seventy meters!
More terrifyingly, on the dragon’s head a human figure could be faintly seen, watching the Sea God vanguard intently.
"How bold of you to act so arrogantly before me!"
The Black Sea King was overjoyed. Apart from other men’s women, his greatest delight was life-or-death fights with powerful foes.
He stood, threw back his black cloak, hefted the forbidden weapon Black Shadow Great Hammer onto his shoulder, and roared:
"Rescue forces for the Blood Blade Pirates, state your name and origin! It’s been three days since I last slaughtered a fourth-tier!"
The Black Sea King’s spiritual field erupted.
A powerful spiritual force poured out, pressing down on everyone, suffocating them!
Yet the blurred figure on the dragon’s head ignored him and merely surveyed the surroundings.
Only the Blood Lady? Chen Qi secretly thought.
It had been a long time since he parted ways with the Blood Blade Pirates.
The Blood Blade Pirates’ Little Red Riding Hood should have been the Blade Witch. But because of him, Little Red Riding Hood did not fight alongside Fen to become the Blade Witch, instead becoming a regular fourth-tier Blade-affinity.
Back then the Blood Blade Pirates had helped him a lot.
Now, taking this chance to assimilate the Sea God Pirates would also repay the Blood Blade Pirates’ favor.
The messenger’s eyes widened in terror as he exclaimed:
"Sir, that person appears to be the Black Hunter…"
Black Hunter? The Black Sea King grew ecstatic.
The Sea God desired the Black Hunter as the most coveted offering.
He looked toward the distant islands.
There, White Pigeon Press reporters were recording the battle.
This was the Black Sea King’s moment to make his name known!
The Sea God Pirates cheered in excitement.
Even if the Black Hunter was powerful, could he alone cut through my commander’s hundred ships? Besides, I have the Sea God’s blessing! The Black Sea King raised his hand and roared:
"Black Hunter, remember my name— I am the Black Sea King, the chosen favored by the Sea God…"
Slash!
A scarlet blade ripped across.
Blood spattered onto the Blood Lady’s cold face.
Before the Black Sea King could finish, his body was slowly cleaved in two.
This newly risen monster, the Black Sea King, fell so simply!
The Sea God Pirates’ soldiers silently let down their weapons.
Chen Qi dropped the unconscious Archbishop from atop the dragon’s back onto a lower ship and shouted to the hundred ships and nearly five thousand Sea God Pirate soldiers:
"The Sea God is dead. From now on, you all belong to me."
"Black Hunter…"
The Blood Lady froze, eyes stained with blood and tears, her mouth instinctively opening.