Daoist Tianxin's laughter had barely faded when the cultivators from the Spirit Battle Sect turned to Han Yi, their gazes peculiar and unsettling. They looked at him as if he were already dead, yet feared he might suddenly spring up and try to blame them for his fate.
The expression on their faces defied description, and Han Yi's unease grew steadily.
The Spirit Battle Sect cultivators fell silent and, led by their Earth Spirit True Monarch, hurried away as if lingering would invite misfortune.
On their way to the Fourth Layer Immortal Court, Han Yi and Daoist Tianxin encountered several groups of cultivators. When Golden Core True Persons leading ordinary Golden Core Sects spotted Daoist Tianxin, they immediately turned tail and fled. Other Nascent Soul Sects exchanged a few terse words with him before parting with dismissive flicks of their sleeves, their interactions strained. When they encountered cultivators from the Three Great Sects, it was Daoist Tianxin's turn to avoid confrontation. He grabbed Han Yi and hurried away, fearing they would be cornered.
Despite their pace, it took them two full hours to reach the Fourth Layer Immortal Court. Upon entering Eternal Joy Garden, they followed the directions of the guard cultivators to the courtyard prepared for the Heaven's Will Sect. After closing the gate, Daoist Tianxin wiped away imaginary sweat, looking distinctly uncomfortable.
"True Monarch," Han Yi asked cautiously, "have you somehow managed to offend both the Holy Lands and all Three Great Sects?"
Daoist Tianxin raised an eyebrow. "Nonsense! How dare you say I've offended everyone? It's clearly their own ignorance of Heaven's Will and failure to heed the Heavenly Heart that leads to their foolish actions."
"This is a struggle for the Dao, where retreat is not permissible."
"Enough. Just remember to keep a low profile when you encounter the Holy Lands and Three Great Sects in the future."
Han Yi's heart skipped a beat.
His suspicions had been confirmed. This old codger had indeed managed to offend nearly every major power in the Great Qian Empire.
Han Yi now wondered how Daoist Tianxin had managed to survive this long without being ambushed and silenced in some dark corner.
Could it truly be Heaven's Will at work?
He shook his head vigorously. I must never believe in Heaven's Will, or I'll fall right into his trap.
Stick to my instincts: escape if I can, and lie low if I can't.
The Eternal Joy Garden comprised dozens of courtyards, but the Heaven's Will Sect had been allocated only one. Han Yi longed to explore the rest of the garden, hoping to stumble upon members of the Profound Pill Sect—that would be ideal. Even if that failed, it would provide an opportunity to slip away.
He suspected the Profound Pill Sect would send representatives to this grand event. After all, it was the Great Qian Emperor's two-thousandth birthday celebration, and every Golden Core sect within the Great Qian Realm was expected to attend and pay their respects.
However, the Profound Pill Sect had recently suffered a calamity, so Yuan Shun might not attend. Instead, another Supreme Elder might be sent, and if Han Yi encountered them, he could still receive protection. In that case, Daoist Tianxin wouldn't dare openly snatch him away.
Yet...
To Han Yi's astonishment, the moment they entered the courtyard, Daoist Tianxin produced a Formation Plate and deployed a Formation.
"This is a top-tier Fourth-Rank Formation, the Primordial Harmony Ruyi Formation. Your master acquired it from an Immortal Manor. It can withstand the full-force strike of a Peak Nascent Soul cultivator."
"Rest assured, with this Formation, unless a Divine Transformation Great Power intervenes, we, master and disciple, will be perfectly safe."
An invisible wave of energy emanated from the activated Formation Plate, spreading outward and halting precisely at the courtyard gate. The Formation was meticulously designed to encompass the entire area.
Han Yi remained silent but undeterred. He turned and entered a quiet Meditation Chamber.
Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it.
He sat cross-legged, drew upon the Spirit Qi within the chamber, and began cultivating.
The courtyard was located within the Fourth Layer Immortal Court. Judging by the density of Spirit Qi, it was roughly equivalent to a Fifth-Tier Spirit Vein—the upper limit of what a Golden Core cultivator could typically access. While barely sufficient for a True Monarch powerhouse like Daoist Tianxin, it was an ideal cultivation environment for Han Yi.
Moments later, Han Yi opened his eyes, a flicker of delight flashing across his face.
A Fifth-Tier Spirit Vein truly lived up to its reputation. This was Han Yi's first time cultivating within such a vein, and the results were comparable to his full-power cultivation using Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
Moreover, the Spirit Vein's nurturing energy was far gentler than that of Spirit Stones.
Such an opportunity was exceedingly rare for him, and he naturally wouldn't waste it.
What astonished Han Yi was that this cultivation session lasted a full year.
Initially, Han Yi would occasionally leave the Meditation Chamber to scout for escape opportunities. However, the Primordial Harmony Ruyi Formation, which blocked external attacks, also trapped him within.
As for Daoist Tianxin, he would sometimes be in the courtyard, sometimes absent without a trace.
Whenever Daoist Tianxin was away, Han Yi didn't attempt to tamper with the Formation. He knew his limits: this was a top-tier Fourth-Rank Formation, possibly even stronger than the Profound Pill Sect's Sect Protection Formation, the Celestial Cycle Profound Astral Formation.
A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator presuming to challenge a Fourth-Rank Formation would be rushing to their death. Han Yi wanted to escape, but not at the cost of his life.
By the fourth month, Han Yi simply stopped leaving the Meditation Chamber and entered full seclusion.
A free Fifth-Tier Spirit Vein was far too tempting to resist.
A year later...
Han Yi was roused from his deep meditative state within the Meditation Chamber by Daoist Tianxin.
"Time's up," the Daoist said. "The grand ceremony has already begun. Your turn is coming soon."
Han Yi's eyes lit up.
It was Han Yi's turn to enter the arena, signaling a chance to finally break free from this bizarre master-disciple relationship.
"Remember," Daoist Tianxin said, "you will be cast into a Cave Heaven called the Jade Pavilion Precious Jade Grotto-Heaven, the personal Cave Heaven World of Great Qian's Duke Who Stabilizes the Nation. This realm is renowned for its abundance of Spirit Jade Gui, a unique purple spiritual jade."
"Spirit Jade Gui exists nowhere else in the entire Cultivation World but in the Jade Pavilion Precious Jade Grotto-Heaven."
"While not as valuable as Top-Grade Spirit Stones, Spirit Jade Gui is more precious than High-Grade ones. Its greatest virtue lies in being directly consumable, making it a priceless treasure for Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators. It can help them advance through a minor cultivation realm in a short time, saving them decades of arduous cultivation."
"However, Spirit Jade Gui is only effective for Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, and its potency diminishes sharply after advancing one minor realm."
"In addition to direct consumption, Spirit Jade Gui can also be used in Pill Refinement and artifact forging."
"Of course, for you, using it to enhance your cultivation realm is the best course. Your current level is still too low."
"Han Yi, this time, you must exert all your efforts to seize Spirit Jade Gui."
"Afterward, a pleasant surprise awaits you."
Han Yi, walking behind Daoist Tianxin, paused briefly before continuing forward.
However, his confusion deepened.
Daoist Tianxin urged him to seize Spirit Jade Gui, yet imposed no conditions whatsoever.
Daoist Tianxin's generosity and selflessness made Han Yi uneasy.
"Don't overthink it," Daoist Tianxin said, turning to face him with a cryptic smile. "You'll understand in time."
Then, after dispelling the Primordial Harmony Ruyi Formation, he swept Han Yi through the air at low altitude, heading towards the First Layer Immortal Court.
This was the first time Daoist Tianxin had traveled at full speed. Enveloped by an overwhelming force, Han Yi felt the surroundings blur into streaks of incomprehensible motion. Though there was no wind buffeting him, the sheer velocity made his surroundings incomprehensible.
This is the true power of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, Han Yi thought, awestruck.
Throughout their journey, Daoist Tianxin thoroughly explained the situation in the Jade Pavilion Precious Jade Grotto-Heaven, preparing Han Yi for what awaited him.
After a full hour of travel, Daoist Tianxin's voice turned somber, as if afraid of being overheard. "We've arrived."
In that instant, the pressure on Han Yi's body vanished. The world's relentless rush came to a halt, and he looked around, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
They stood before the massive gates of a colossal palace. A grand plaque above the entrance proclaimed "Great Qian Immortal Court" in imposing characters.
The moment Han Yi glanced at the plaque, a searing pain ripped through his eyes. Not just his eyes—his very soul within his Sea of Consciousness exploded, only to reform moments later, trembling uncontrollably.
"I forgot to warn you," Daoist Tianxin said, "that inscription was written by the Great Qian Emperor himself. Even Golden Core cultivators can't gaze directly upon it, let alone you."
Han Yi felt a gentle warmth wash over his eyes, seeping into his Sea of Consciousness Space and merging with his Divine Soul. Instantly, the injuries he had sustained earlier vanished without a trace.
"This investment was too steep," Daoist Tianxin muttered, "and I even wasted a Soul Cleansing Talisman."
Han Yi opened his eyes. Everything appeared normal, but he dared not look up again.
Terrifying... This was the power of a Divine Transformation Great Power.
"Let's go," Daoist Tianxin said.
True Person Tianxin led Han Yi into the Great Qian Hall, settling them at the far end in the most inconspicuous corner.
Only after sitting down did Han Yi cautiously raise his head. When he finally took in their surroundings, his pupils constricted sharply.
An Immortal Banquet was in full swing within the Great Qian Hall.
Tens of thousands of guests were seated in the vast hall, their goblets clinking in a scene of orderly elegance rather than chaos.
Nine jade pillars, each towering over a hundred zhang tall, supported the magnificent Immortal Palace. Carved dragons and phoenixes adorned these sky-piercing jade columns, exuding majestic splendor.
At the far end of the hall, atop a towering dais, sat the supreme Emperor Monarch on his dragon throne. Remembering his earlier ordeal, Han Yi dared not meet the sovereign's gaze directly. He merely glimpsed the edge of the Emperor's purple-gold imperial robes before quickly looking away, focusing instead on the other attendees of the Immortal Banquet.
Suddenly, Han Yi spotted a familiar face and his expression lit up with delight.
It was Qin Wuxian. For some reason, Qin Wuxian was seated closer to the front, not among the Golden Core cultivators, but alongside the True Monarchs. After a moment of surprise, Han Yi concluded that Qin Wuxian must be representing the Profound Pill Sect, which had recently ascended to the rank of Nascent Soul Sect and was therefore entitled to a seat in the Nascent Soul section.
The distance was too great, and the Emperor Monarch's imposing presence permeated the Great Qian Immortal Court, suppressing Divine Sense and forcing reliance on sight. Han Yi could only catch a glimpse of Qin Wuxian's profile, and Qin Wuxian remained unaware of Han Yi's presence.
An hour passed.
Daoist Tianxin, who had been unusually silent and striving to minimize his presence ever since they had met, suddenly leaned toward Han Yi, his voice low and urgent. "It's almost time."
"Remember, hold nothing back."
"This is your Immortal Opportunity."
"Crush anyone who dares to stand in your way."
Just as Daoist Tianxin finished speaking, a gentle voice echoed through the grand hall.
"Next is the seventh celebration of this grand assembly. Participation is limited to cultivators in the Early Foundation Establishment Stage. Each Holy Land and Nascent Soul Sect of Great Qian may send two representatives into the Cave Heaven, while each Golden Core Sect may send one."
"Three breaths."
The moment the words were spoken, cultivators leaped to their feet, their movements like lightning as they flashed to the center of the grand hall.
Han Yi rose as well, realizing there was no need for timidity now that he had come this far. Among Early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, he feared no one—not even those from the Holy Lands or the Three Great Sects.
As Han Yi stood, Qin Wuxian, observing from the ranks of Nascent Soul cultivators, suddenly noticed him. His eyes flickered with surprise. "Han Yi? What's he doing here in the Great Qian Immortal Capital?"
"And he's mixed up with that old thief Tianxin!"
"Something's not right." Qin Wuxian's brow furrowed, his gaze growing suspicious. "What exactly is Tianxin planning? That old fox has managed to thrive for so many years. He's not to be underestimated."
"I'll have to investigate thoroughly afterward."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, Han Yi activated the Light Body Technique. He carefully controlled his speed to avoid drawing attention and quietly blended into the crowd in the center.
His gaze flickered slightly when he spotted two familiar faces.
One was Fu You, the cold and formidable young man in a profound robe, with whom Han Yi had clashed several times in the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven.
Ten years prior, during the competition for the Jade Capital Grand Void Token, Fu You attempted to seize it by force, but Han Yi stopped him by detonating his Wind Demon Dagger. The two engaged in a long-range battle of methods, with Han Yi narrowly prevailing and securing the token.
The other contender was Xie Jingshan of the Spirit Battle Sect.
Fu You hailed from the Southern Dipper Divine Palace, one of the Three Great Sects, while Xie Jingshan was a cultivator from the Spirit Battle Sect, a Nascent Soul Sect.
A full decade had passed since that fateful day.
Ten years earlier, the Profound Pill Sect initiated its second Cave Heaven Trial. Yuan Shun granted Han Yi an entry slot, allowing him to travel there, seize the Jade Capital Grand Void Token, and exchange it for a Stone Insect to enhance his Root Bone aptitude.
Now, a decade later, Han Yi had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage. After two years of cultivation, he had become a formidable presence within this realm.
These ten years had transformed him. From demon-slaying in the Myriad Stars Sea to fighting for survival in Red Phoenix City and narrowly escaping death outside White Crane City, he was no longer the same youth he had been a decade ago.
With a calm expression, Han Yi surveyed the other cultivators and spotted two familiar faces: his senior brothers from the Profound Pill Sect, Jiang Bo and Cui Xingchen.
Jiang Bo hailed from Vermilion Bird Peak, while Cui Xingchen served as an elder of Pill Sword Peak.
Jiang Bo's cultivation had reached the peak of the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, poised to advance to the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage with a single step. Although Cui Xingchen's cultivation was slightly behind, his overall cultivation realm still surpassed Han Yi's.
Speaking of which, sixteen years ago in Heavenfall City, Han Yi and Cui Xingchen had once joined forces against a common enemy. Han Yi had been deeply impressed by Cui Xingchen's Pill Sword Technique.
Upon seeing Han Yi, Jiang Bo and Cui Xingchen both showed surprise, which quickly turned into delight. They didn't know how Han Yi had secured a spot, but with three representatives from the Profound Pill Sect participating, they were certain to reap greater rewards.
The Great Qian Emperor's two-thousandth birthday celebration was an unprecedented immortal opportunity for ordinary Golden Core Sects, and even Nascent Soul Sects.
Compared to Jiang Bo, Cui Xingchen, who had been closely following Han Yi's progress, was visibly more excited. This junior brother's combat prowess far surpassed his cultivation realm. With his participation, they were bound to seize a substantial share of the spoils and secure more Spirit Jade Gui.
A moment later, everyone had arrived. Han Yi was surprised by the unexpectedly large number of attendees, which far exceeded his expectations.
There were a full one hundred and twenty people present.
Based on the earlier announcement, there were two representatives from Nascent Soul Sects or higher. Across the entire Great Qian Kingdom, there were only thirteen such sects in total: two Holy Lands, the Three Great Sects, and eight major Nascent Soul Sects.
Han Yi estimated that there were roughly fifty major forces in the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom, including Golden Core Sects and Golden Core Families. Even at full capacity, these forces couldn't account for more than eighty cultivators. Where did the other forty come from?
Wait, the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom itself undoubtedly had its own quota. For example, the Three Great Dukes—the Duke Protector of the Kingdom, the Duke of Anguo, and Duke Dingguo—would certainly receive a significant number of slots. Then there were the numerous Marquises, such as the Marquis of the Northern Garrison, who governed the western and northern regions of Shu Prefecture. As a Nascent Soul True Monarch himself, he would also have a quota.
Taking all these factors into account, along with a few participants from outside Great Qian—from Great Qin, Great Yong, or other Holy Land forces allied with the Great Qian Emperor—the numbers should roughly align.
"Your Majesty, all participants have arrived," a cultivator standing at the center of the Great Qian Immortal Court's Treasure Hall declared, turning to kneel and shout.
"Begin," a majestic voice echoed from the heavens, compelling Han Yi to prostrate himself in reverence.
But just as that impulse arose, a beam of light surged toward him.
In an instant, the urge vanished without a trace. Before his eyes, light and shadow shifted, faintly reminiscent of his entry into the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven on Jade Capital Mountain.
However...
Whoosh!
The sound of waves crashing against the shore reached his ears. Han Yi staggered slightly, instantly conjuring three layers of Wind Wall Technique and three layers of Fire Shield Technique, layered one upon the other, wind and fire intertwined to form a cohesive barrier.
Behind him, the Green Ripple Sword had already risen into the air, hovering horizontally before him.
He breathed a sigh of relief. The scene before him was undeniably a vast, turbulent ocean. He stood atop a jagged rock formation at the shore, with no immediate signs of ambush in his surroundings.
Having learned from experience, he knew better than to let his guard down. In the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven, his sudden arrival had left him vulnerable to a surprise attack that nearly cost him dearly.
Moreover, this time his true body had been drawn into a Cave Heaven, without the same immortality safeguards as before. Everyone here had only one life—death meant irreversible demise.
Lessons learned, precautions taken.
Han Yi dispersed his Windfire Shield and sheathed the Green Ripple Sword. From his Storage Pouch, he retrieved the Broken Sword Blacklight and the Golden Light Shuttle—a Magic Treasure he had obtained from Yuan Changtian.
During his year of cultivation at the Eternal Joy Garden, Han Yi had attempted to refine the Golden Light Shuttle. However, with his current Mana and Divine Soul, he could only achieve the most basic level of refinement, allowing for a single strike at fifty percent of its full power.
Even this limited capability filled Han Yi with elation. He estimated that the Golden Light Shuttle at half its power could easily overwhelm cultivators in the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, and stood a high chance of defeating those in the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage.
However...
After unleashing this single strike, Han Yi's Mana would be completely depleted, leaving him with less than ten percent of his original strength. He resolved to use this trump card only as a last resort.
Especially in this fiercely competitive environment, using it would be suicidal. Even if he managed to kill one opponent, he would become easy prey for the others.
He didn't have a second Profound Capital Yang Fire Talisman.
Just as Han Yi was stowing the Golden Light Shuttle, a purple light streaked across the sky like a shooting star, vanishing in an instant.
"Spirit Jade Gui!" Han Yi's heart raced.
According to Daoist Tianxin, this Spirit Jade Gui could be swallowed whole to directly enhance one's Cultivation Realm.
This was Han Yi's plan all along. His combat prowess far surpassed his cultivation realm, making his cultivation level his only real weakness. Skill-based combat, however, was his forte.
With a flicker of thought, he accelerated to his maximum speed. His Peak Perfection Light Body Technique, fueled by the vast Mana within his Spirit Sea—now eighty-eight times its original size—propelled him with near-instantaneous velocity, rivaling even that of a Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator as he darted away.
In less than ten breaths, he had plunged deep into the coastal forest, pried the Spirit Jade Gui from the massive tree where it was embedded, and secured it in his hand.
"Put down the Spirit Jade Gui, and I'll spare your life."
A chilling voice echoed through the forest as a female cultivator in purple robes strode forward. Each step seemed perfectly synchronized with the rhythm of the forest's breath. When her words began, she was four hundred meters away; by the time they ended, she had closed the distance to thirty meters.
Han Yi glanced up to meet the gaze of the icy-faced female cultivator.
What surprised him most was that her Magic Artifact wasn't a sword or knife, but a gilded halberd.
The aura emanating from the halberd felt strangely familiar to him.