"Exquisite, truly exquisite."
The voice dripped with delight.
Han Yi struggled to lift his head, startled by what he saw. His situation was dire—worse than ever before. He was so weakened that even a Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator could kill him, let alone a Foundation Establishment expert. His life was entirely out of his hands.
Looking up, he saw an elder meditating in the void, gazing down with keen interest. When the elder noticed Han Yi's gaze, a smile of pleasure lit his face.
The elder, seated cross-legged in the void, wore a flowing purple robe. He appeared to be around sixty years old, radiating an immortal-like demeanor, refined and otherworldly. His eyes were as deep and boundless as the starry sky. The aura surrounding him was unfathomable, perfectly balanced and seamless.
Summoning all his strength, Han Yi activated his Qi Observation Technique. A searing pain shot through his eyes, and his heart churned like a storm-tossed sea.
The aura emanating from this cultivator was identical to the one he had witnessed on Yuan Shun after his breakthrough—yet several times stronger.
This was a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
The moment Han Yi recognized the True Monarch's cultivation realm, his initial terror vanished, replaced by an unexpected calm.
If his opponent had been at the Foundation Establishment Stage, Han Yi would have been terrified. Whether they were from the Blood God Sect, another sect, a rogue cultivator, or even an official cultivator from Great Qian, any of them might have killed him to seize his treasures.
Even a Golden Core cultivator would have given him cause for concern. After all, Golden Core cultivators were not uncommon in Shu Prefecture, and even the destroyed Blood God Sect might still harbor one or two hidden masters.
But his opponent was neither at the Foundation Establishment nor the Golden Core Stage; he was a Nascent Soul True Monarch. Oddly, this made Han Yi less worried.
In Shu Prefecture, only a handful of sects possessed Nascent Soul True Monarchs. From the elder's words, Han Yi immediately recognized his origins.
Only one sect in Shu Prefecture habitually invoked "Heaven's Will" in conversation: the Heaven's Will Sect.
The face of Zhao Li, a cultivator he had met twice before, flashed through Han Yi's mind.
Once, in Daofu City, Han Yi had been invited by Luo Yunzhou to lend a hand, where he encountered Zhao Li, a Heaven's Will Sect cultivator. Later, after emerging from the mysterious land within the Luo Clan Spirit Field, they had crossed paths again.
Han Yi felt a deep aversion to the Heaven's Will Sect after his two encounters with Zhao Li. Their cryptic pronouncements and bizarre beliefs struck him as utterly unsound.
Cultivators strive against Heaven and against others. How can they blindly trust in Heaven's Will?
What if one day their strongest member goes mad, convinced that Heaven wills the sect's destruction? They could annihilate the entire sect! How tragically unfair that would be—the innocent swept away in a madman's delusion. It's safer to keep my distance.
Having ascertained the elder's cultivation realm, Han Yi exhaled in relief.
In an instant, his body deflated like a punctured balloon, collapsing limply to the ground.
Then, waves of excruciating pain surged through his physical body and divine soul.
Outwardly, Han Yi was a wretched sight: drenched in blood, his hands shattered, his divine soul fragmented to the point of near disintegration, his consciousness clouded, clinging only to the burning thought of refusing to lose consciousness.
"Remarkable strength," the elder muttered. "His combat prowess far surpasses his cultivation realm. He'll undoubtedly astonish everyone at the Celebration, leaving even the old fogeys gaping in disbelief."
"Heaven's Will... truly, Heaven's Will at work," the elder repeated, his gaze sending shivers down Han Yi's spine. But at that moment, Han Yi was nothing more than meat on a chopping block, utterly at the elder's mercy.
"This junior, Han Yi of the Profound Pill Sect, dares to ask if this senior has any commands?" Han Yi forced out, his voice hoarse with pain.
The moment the words left his lips, he startled himself. His voice sounded so raspy and unpleasant.
The Elder had already descended from mid-air and shook his head slightly. "The Profound Pill Sect? That newly established Nascent Soul Great Sect? Their Sect Leader is Yuan Shun, isn't he? Hmph, no matter. In Shu Prefecture, as long as it's not the Southern Dipper Divine Palace or Great Qian, it's fine. If Yuan Shun has any objections, this old Daoist will knock his teeth out."
"From today onward, you shall call me Master, not Senior."
"Come. Accompany your Master to the Great Qian Imperial Capital."
Han Yi's heart pounded at the Elder's words. He understood their implication perfectly: was this man planning to forcibly take him as his disciple?
What's wrong with this old man?
He had heard of people seizing opportunities and Spirit Veins by force, but never of someone forcibly claiming a Master. Moreover, this Elder was a Nascent Soul True Monarch. If he truly wished to accept a disciple, a single word would bring countless Foundation Establishment cultivators flocking to him, eager to be chosen.
Why me?
Before Han Yi could utter a word, the Elder summoned a dazzling, glass-like Immortal Boat, no more than ten feet long. In an instant, Han Yi found himself swept up and deposited onto its deck.
Simultaneously, the Green Ripple Sword soared from afar, streaking across the sky to settle into its sheath behind him.
Further away, Yuan Changtian's Golden Light Shuttle transformed into a golden beam and landed on the Immortal Boat as well.
The next moment, the glass-like Immortal Boat shot skyward, dissolving into a streak of light as it sped eastward, its velocity far surpassing that of an average Golden Core cultivator.
Back in the abandoned farmland below, only a pure white flame continued to burn relentlessly, contained and unspreading. Within its heart, Yuan Changtian's remains had been reduced to almost nothing.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, this flame would persist for forty-nine days after completely consuming every last trace of Yuan Changtian, reducing him to utter ash.
Ten meters ahead of the fire, a trail of blood-colored footprints stretched from the blaze to a small, shattered earthen mound.
The trail of blood-colored footprints stretched across the ravaged field, littered with countless fragments of magic artifacts: swords, blades, cauldrons, umbrellas, halberds—an endless variety.
The sheer brutality of the battle was evident in the shattered artifacts and blood-stained ground.
Fifteen minutes later, a cultivator appeared in the desolate field. Lu Zhi, stepping onto his Blood Sword, landed before the flickering embers of the dying flame, his expression shifting uncertainly between shadow and light.
"Yuan Changtian's aura vanishes here."
"The Profound Pill Sect cultivator's aura has also disappeared, but there's no corpse left behind."
"Even I tremble at the savagery of this fight."
Lu Zhi was naturally the one dispatched to investigate Yuan Changtian's prolonged absence by another Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. The day's ambush had achieved its purpose; it was time to withdraw. Lingering any longer risked Yuan Shun emerging from Profound Pill Peak, which would spell their doom.
As Lu Zhi surveyed the battlefield and sensed Yuan Changtian's aura fading into the flames, a sliver of relief surfaced amidst his silence.
He was grateful he hadn't pushed the Profound Pill Sect cultivator to his breaking point.
Otherwise, he himself might have been reduced to ashes beneath that eerie flame.
Lu Zhi turned and left without delay, eager to report the unexpected turn of events to the Blood God Sect. Yuan Changtian's sudden death had thrown their plans into disarray, necessitating immediate adjustments.
Meanwhile, after being pulled back onto the Immortal Boat, Han Yi dared to feel a sliver of hope. Judging by the situation, it seemed he might actually survive. He completely disregarded the Elder's offer to take him as a disciple. The Heaven's Will Sect is a bunch of fanatics, he thought. Unless I lose my mind, why would I ever join them? Once my injuries heal, I'll slip away and stay far away from those lunatics.
"Here, take this Wish-Fulfilling Pill," the Elder said, tossing a bottle of pills to Han Yi. Han Yi caught it and set it aside without swallowing any. Instead, he retrieved two other bottles from his Storage Pouch: a Soul Pill for healing his Divine Soul and a Heavenly Net Pill for mending his physical body.
He swallowed three Heavenly Net Pills in one go. The pale golden pills dissolved into three cooling streams of energy that coursed through his meridians, bones, and flesh. Moments later, excruciating pain erupted in Han Yi's hands, spreading from his fingertips to his elbows and then to his shoulders, searing deep into his bones. Despite the agony, he remained silent, gritting his teeth and enduring the torment.
The Elder nodded in approval. "Not bad. Your tenacious spirit is another admirable quality."
"Old Daoist—no, Master—I'm finding you more and more pleasing to the eye."
The Elder chuckled heartily, settled into a cross-legged position directly opposite Han Yi, and fixed him with a piercing gaze.
Han Yi's expression remained unchanged as he swallowed the Soul Pill. As it dissolved in his abdomen, its essence flowed into his Sea of Consciousness, merging with his Divine Soul and causing his slightly dissipated spiritual energy to reconsolidate.
In less than fifteen minutes, a thick cocoon of blood had enveloped Han Yi's arms. The excruciating pain of his shattered bones reassembling had transformed into a numbing tingle. He peeled off the cocoon, revealing his arms fully restored.
Simultaneously, his fractured ribs and displaced internal organs rapidly healed.
Such was the miraculous effect of the Heavenly Net Pill—a veritable elixir of life and death in the mortal realm, capable of resurrecting the dying and restoring flesh to bone, truly worthy of being called a divine pill.
Han Yi stowed the broken sword beside him into his Storage Pouch, but ignored the Golden Light Shuttle, a Magic Treasure Grade artifact.
"Thank you for saving my life, True Monarch," Han Yi said, struggling to his feet and cupping his hands in a respectful salute. "How may this junior repay your kindness?"
The Elder waved dismissively, gesturing first to the spot where Han Yi had been sitting, then to the Golden Light Shuttle beside him.
"Sit down and we'll talk," the Elder said. "This Golden Light Shuttle, though only a Low-Grade Magic Treasure, is still a valuable trump card for you. It's your hard-earned prize, so put it away for now."
Han Yi didn't hesitate. There was no point in feigning reluctance before a Nascent Soul True Monarch; it was wiser to act naturally. As he sat, he immediately stowed the Golden Light Shuttle in his Storage Pouch.
Looking back, the two battles he'd fought today had resulted in his greatest losses to date.
Against Lu Zhi, he'd detonated both the Clear Spring Sword and the Golden Light Shuttle.
Against Yuan Changtian, he'd exhausted nearly all his weapons, including the Heavenly Capital Daggers, Coiled Dragon Sword, Demon-Slaying Sword, Blood Sword, and various other Magic Artifacts. Only the Green Ripple Sword and the Black Light Broken Sword remained.
If not for the Green Ripple Sword's unexpected surge of power at the end, he would have been forced to sacrifice even that Top-Grade Magic Artifact by detonating it.
Yet compared to the Magic Treasure-grade Golden Light Shuttle he now possessed, all those other losses paled in significance.
Acquiring this Magic Treasure was a tremendous windfall.
However, today's battle had also brought him closer to death than ever before. He had never been so battered, so heavily wounded, or so thoroughly humiliated.
If he had a choice, Han Yi would gladly abandon the Magic Treasure to ensure his safe arrival at the Profound Pill Mountain Range.
Moreover, he couldn't shake the uncertainty about the true intentions of the Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Heaven's Will Sect before him. This was what truly troubled Han Yi.
He certainly didn't naively assume that the True Monarch, impressed by his combat prowess, intended to recruit him as a disciple, induct him into the Heaven's Will Sect, and shower him with Magic Treasures, Spirit Stones, and various Immortal Opportunities.
Don't let your imagination run wild.
Be wary of others, but never harbor malicious intent.
Han Yi had always kept this principle firmly in mind, never daring to forget it.
Three meters away, the elder observed Han Yi's composure—his lack of hesitation as he stowed away the Golden Light Shuttle. A glint flashed in the elder's eyes, and he nodded inwardly.
Most Foundation Establishment cultivators would have shown fear and anxiety when confronted by a Nascent Soul True Monarch, but this cultivator from the Profound Pill Sect displayed none of those emotions.
This wasn't feigned. A Nascent Soul True Monarch's perception could capture even the slightest shifts in a person's physical body and Divine Soul. Anyone pretending to be calm would surely betray themselves under such scrutiny.
This remarkable composure alone earned the elder's admiration.
In truth, calling Han Yi composed wasn't an exaggeration. He had realized that before a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he was utterly transparent and vulnerable. Why not simply be direct?
Seeing Han Yi stow away his Magic Treasure and settle into a meditative posture, the elder's expression turned solemn, causing Han Yi to mirror his grave demeanor.
"I am Daoist Tianxin of the Heaven's Will Sect."
"From this day forward, you shall no longer address me as True Monarch. You must call me Master."
Han Yi's heart skipped a beat at the first sentence. He recognized the title "True Monarch."
The Heaven's Will Sect held a unique position in Shu Prefecture. It was undeniably powerful, boasting two Nascent Soul True Monarchs—one more than the Ten Thousand Methods Sect, another major Nascent Soul Sect.
Yet, it also had reasons to be considered weak.
First, the sect's two True Monarchs, True Monarch Heaven's Will and True Monarch Heavenly Heart, held irreconcilable ideological differences.
The title "True Monarch Heaven's Will" was reserved for each successive Sect Leader, representing the sect's orthodox lineage. "True Monarch Heavenly Heart," on the other hand, had forged his own path and self-proclaimed his title.
Instead of uniting against external threats, the two often clashed internally.
Second, the Heaven's Will Sect's membership was shockingly small, barely exceeding a hundred cultivators.
Golden Core Sects like the Profound Pill Sect boasted tens of thousands of disciples, while Nascent Soul Sects like the Ten Thousand Methods Sect had even more. Yet the Heaven's Will Sect, a Nascent Soul Sect with two True Monarchs, could only muster around a hundred disciples—an almost unbelievable paradox.
Third, the cultivators of the Heaven's Will Sect revered and obeyed Heaven's Will, often acting in ways that the Cultivation World found bizarre and incomprehensible.
In the Cultivation World, strength reigned supreme. Acting recklessly inevitably drew hatred, leading to death, and even Heaven's Will couldn't save you then. This was precisely why their sect remained so small.
This sect, formerly known as the Destiny Sect, truly defied convention.
Only someone who had hit their head against a wall would choose to join it. Even the opportunity to apprentice under a True Monarch and instantly gain a powerful backer couldn't sway Han Yi.
Caution was his nature. There was no such thing as a free lunch in the mortal realm, and in the Cultivation World, unearned Immortal Opportunities were even rarer. If he couldn't understand the underlying reasons, he would simply refuse.
"True Monarch Heavenly Heart, please do not command this junior. This foolish one could never hope to catch your esteemed eye."
True Monarch Heavenly Heart offered no explanation, instead revealing a mysterious smile. That fleeting smile sent a shiver of unease through Han Yi.
"Han Yi, this is Heaven's Will."
"Heaven's Will is profound and elusive, yet it can be perceived through unwavering sincerity."
"Therefore, I am closer to Heaven's Will and understand it better than my Senior Brother."
"Rest assured, my disciple," True Monarch Heavenly Heart said, stroking his white beard. "Our journey to the Great Qian Imperial Capital is not dangerous; in fact, it presents you with a rare opportunity."
"The Great Qian Emperor is celebrating his two-thousandth birthday with a grand imperial ceremony in the capital. This auspicious event will offer numerous Immortal Opportunities to junior cultivators, and I believe your strength surpasses all your peers."
"Naturally, your success would bring glory to the Heaven's Will Sect."
True Monarch Heavenly Heart continued stroking his beard, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he envisioned Han Yi securing an Immortal Opportunity for the sect and topping the leaderboard.
Across from him, Han Yi's expression froze.
He had no desire to court trouble. The Great Qian Imperial Capital was an Immortal Kingdom rivaling the Two Great Holy Lands. If the Great Qian Emperor's two-thousandth birthday celebration was truly taking place, it would undoubtedly draw representatives from the Two Great Holy Lands, the Three Great Sects, the seven Nascent Soul Sects, and countless Golden Core Sects.
Standing out at such a grand gathering would only draw unwanted attention—the very last thing Han Yi wanted. This completely contradicted his personality and was not the path he wished to pursue.
"True Monarch, forgive my humble abilities. I fear I am utterly incapable of fulfilling such a weighty task," Han Yi said hastily.
This was an absolute non-starter. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
"True Monarch, do you have other disciples? Given the Heaven's Will Sect's strength, your other disciples must surely be more capable than I am. Sending them instead would guarantee resounding success!"
Han Yi initiated the conversation with this remark, anticipating that True Monarch Heavenly Heart would deny it and insist Han Yi was the strongest—the typical response to flattery.
But Han Yi had a follow-up planned.
Regardless, Han Yi intended to argue the point. If he could corner the True Monarch, who believed so strongly in Heaven's Will, he might suddenly realize there were other paths forward, rendering this inexplicable apprentice unnecessary.
To Han Yi's surprise, True Monarch Heavenly Heart actually nodded.
"You're not wrong," the True Monarch said. "This old Daoist had two disciples before you—your Senior Brothers."
"Alas, a century ago, when I took your eldest Senior Brother to Sword Cliff for Old Man Sword's Heaven's Gate Ceremony, he fell in love with the Holy Maiden of Sword Cliff. He even claimed that Heaven's Will cherished love and that romantic devotion was supreme—utter nonsense!"
"Before I could react, the Holy Maiden had already slain your Senior Brother. I was powerless to intervene; she was stronger than me and nearly killed me as well. It took all my effort to escape with my life."
"Since then, Sword Cliff has banned the Heaven's Will Sect. Utterly absurd! Disciple, when you attain Dao Lord status, cleave Sword Cliff in two with a single strike to avenge your Senior Brother."
Han Yi's expression subtly shifted. Without moving his seated body, he imperceptibly scooted back a few inches. His tone was strained as he asked, "What about the second Senior Brother?"
True Monarch Heavenly Heart tilted his head slightly, as if lost in contemplation. After a moment, he spoke.
"Your second senior brother was a cultivation prodigy, the most remarkable cultivator I've ever encountered."
"He ascended from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the perfected Golden Core Stage in just twenty-four years."
"Just when everyone believed he was destined to become the Heaven's Will Sect's third Nascent Soul cultivator..."
"During his Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation, he suddenly roared maniacally, declaring this world to be an illusion. He even shouted, 'Daoist Lord, I've awakened! I've awakened!' in a frenzied state."
"Alas..." True Monarch Heavenly Heart sighed softly.
"And then?" Han Yi swallowed hard, forcing the question out.
"And then?"
"Beneath the Heavenly Tribulation, your second senior brother laughed himself to ashes. What 'and then' could there be?"
True Monarch Heavenly Heart shed his expression of regret and turned to Han Yi, his face serious.
"Both your first and second senior brothers misunderstood Heaven's Will, leading to their deaths and the dissipation of their cultivation."
"But you are different. As this old Daoist's third disciple, you will undoubtedly inherit my mantle, comprehend the Heavenly Heart, and ascend to True Monarch status. Then, we, two True Monarchs—master and disciple—will kick that old codger out of the Heaven's Will Sect Leader position and take turns occupying the throne! Hahaha!"
More than three meters away, Han Yi surreptitiously shuffled backward again, his face a mask of indescribable bewilderment.
A single thought consumed his mind:
"It's over."