Just then, Han Yi withdrew his gaze from the ascending Blacklight Sword and turned to the Lengli Cultivator meditating in the void. The cultivator's murderous intent was palpable, clearly intending to strike while Han Yi's most powerful magic artifact was separated from him.
Moreover, Han Yi didn't recognize him.
Since they were strangers and neither of the cultivator's magic artifacts bore the distinctive national fortune aura unique to Great Qian cultivators, Han Yi concluded that there was no reason to hesitate.
A glint flashed in Han Yi's eyes, and a ferocious grin spread across his face. To be honest, he had been suppressing his anger ever since leaving Profound Blood Peak. All he wanted was to cultivate in peace, but why did people keep forcing him to kill?
With a flick of his finger, the Black Light Broken Sword, which had been soaring upward, plunged straight down.
Simultaneously, he pressed his right hand into the void, summoning a shield of flames. Upon this fiery barrier, ethereal winds materialized, their fury amplified by the fire yet restrained by his mana, bound to the flames.
Fire birthed wind, wind fueled fire, and fire rekindled wind... The cycle continued, forming three concentric Windfire Shields that halted their expansion only when fully realized.
Wind Wall Technique. Fire Shield Technique.
Han Yi already had a preliminary idea for transforming these two spells into a single Windfire defensive technique. However, his attempts had failed, naturally because his understanding of the spells was still somewhat lacking.
Nevertheless, he wasn't far off.
He estimated that upon breaking through to the next level of Peak Perfection, he would be able to use these two spells as a foundation to create his own unique technique.
Although the fire and wind properties in his current Windfire Shield weren't fully integrated—merely forcibly combined—the resulting synergy was far greater than the sum of its parts.
The black-and-white short arrow pierced through the first layer of the Windfire Shield, then tore through the second. Finally, it plunged into the third layer, its shaft wedged between the second and third shields, unable to advance further.
"What?!"
The Lengli Cultivator in the Void abruptly stood up, his face contorted with shock and disbelief.
His Magic Artifact was a top-grade masterpiece, imbued with a "guaranteed hit" effect. Even if his target evaded, the artifact would relentlessly pursue until it struck.
As he rose in astonishment, he suddenly looked up.
The Five-Colored Fan, already pierced, had barely drifted overhead when the Blacklight struck it again, hurtling down with terrifying speed to within three meters of his head.
Fast.
Too fast.
He had initially believed his Heavenly Mechanism Arrow would strike its target. Once it did, he could activate the Secret Art within the arrow to curse his opponent to death.
But the opponent's seemingly casual Wind-Fire Spell had effortlessly intercepted the arrow.
This realization shook him to his core.
It meant the opponent's defenses had surpassed the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, reaching at least the level of a Mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Before he could fully process this, the Magic Artifact above him was pierced again. The Blacklight, moving with the speed of lightning, loomed before his eyes, its deadly glint uncomfortably close.
Faced with mortal peril, he crushed a Spirit Talisman in his hand, preparing to vanish from the spot in an instant.
However, a hundred meters away, Han Yi's eyes suddenly blazed with murderous intent. The killing aura erupting from him was a fusion of every cultivator he had slain, every demonic creature he had slaughtered, and every demon beast and demon cultivator he had annihilated along his journey.
The eruption was earth-shattering, a thunderous force soaring skyward.
His Divine Sense surged violently outward, his Sea of Consciousness Space quaked, and his Divine Soul opened its eyes, causing the Primordial Chaos Qi within to churn violently.
The Broken Sword, which had been closing in on the Lengli Cultivator from less than three meters away, suddenly vanished and reappeared beneath him in the blink of an eye, as if it had teleported.
The next instant, the Teleportation Talisman activated, and the Lengli Cultivator's body vanished from the spot.
A single drop of blood splattered into the void.
A hundred meters away, on the far side of the forest, a cultivator materialized in mid-air. A fatal wound pierced straight through him, from the crown of his head to his groin. Terror still lingered in his eyes, but the light of life had already faded.
His corpse plummeted to the ground with a sickening thud, blood spreading across the earth. A hazy gray Divine Soul emerged from the body.
Initially disoriented, the Divine Soul glanced downward and recoiled in horror at the mangled remains of its former vessel. The shock caused its form to waver uncontrollably.
However, the Divine Soul soon turned toward Han Yi, who stood calmly at the edge of the forest. A savage fury twisted its features, and without wind to propel it, the Divine Soul surged across the hundred-meter distance in an instant, plunging into Han Yi's mind.
Han Yi's body froze.
In that brief pause, a blood-colored sword light streaked silently from his side, aimed directly for his vital points.
The Sword Light was soundless, yet undeniably deadly.
Several hundred meters away, Shen Yuan of the Grand Void Sect raised his shoulder slightly, then let it fall again, choosing not to intervene. A hint of regret flickered across his face.
Fu You of the Southern Dipper Divine Palace had made his move.
The timing of his blood-colored sword light was lethally precise. Even Shen Yuan might have struggled to intercept it, let alone intervene on behalf of a cultivator he had only met twice. Moreover, Han Yi's preemptive strike implicitly challenged the assembled crowd, forcing him to bear the full pressure and risk of his actions.
Cultivators were naturally proud, and those present—the Heaven's Chosen of the Great Qian Cultivation World—were doubly arrogant. Shen Yuan was no exception.
However, the next instant, his eyebrows arched in astonishment.
In his eyes, Han Yi, who should have been immersed in a Divine Soul Battle within his Sea of Consciousness, paused only briefly before reacting immediately. The pause was so fleeting—less than a single moment.
How could he react so quickly? Has he mastered a Divine Soul Secret Technique? Shen Yuan wondered, startled.
Just then, the blood-colored sword light swept past unimpeded, its afterimage slowly dissipating. A figure had already shifted forward three meters.
Han Yi turned sideways to face Fu You, his eyes radiating murderous intent. The Blacklight that had pierced the Lengli Cultivator shattered the space as it curved sharply back toward Fu You.
Boom!
Fueled by its descent, the Blacklight surged forward with explosive speed. Before the sonic boom could even register, it had already reached Fu You.
"What?!" Fu You exclaimed in shock.
Too fast!
Han Yi had recovered from the Divine Soul Battle far too quickly, and his speed was astonishing. He had dodged the Blood Sword, and now the Broken Sword, crackling with dark energy, hurtled toward Fu You like a bolt of black lightning.
The entire sequence unfolded in less than a heartbeat, faster than a finger snap.
It was as if Han Yi had anticipated Fu You's sword strike.
Fu You's mind reeled, but instead of fleeing, he formed a hand seal. A gray light emanated from the silver ring on his finger, enveloping his entire body.
Boom!
The black Sword Light slammed into the gray protective barrier. The force of the impact sent Fu You, protected by his activated defensive Magic Artifact, crashing through the mountain forest, vanishing without a trace, his fate unknown.
In retrospect:
From the moment Han Yi drew his sword, he instantly became the target of all eyes.
Then, the Lengli Cultivator unleashed his Five-Colored Fan, only for the Blacklight to pierce through it. The Heavenly Mechanism Arrow followed, failing to breach the Wind-Fire Dharma Shield. The Blacklight plunged downward, impaling the Lengli Cultivator.
Next came the Divine Soul Battle.
In an instant, Fu You launched his Blood Sword strike, only for Han Yi's counter-strike to send him flying, his life hanging in the balance.
This entire sequence of events transpired in less than two finger snaps.
Fast.
Too fast.
It was so fast that even the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators present were stunned, barely able to react.
Shock rippled through the crowd.
Even Pang Quan, the ninth-generation descendant of the Great Qian dynasty, wore a wary expression, his gaze fixed intently on Han Yi, his eyes burning with jealousy and resentment.
Shen Yuan, who carried a massive black blade, sighed inwardly. The gap between them was too vast, so immense that he had lost all desire to fight.
In mid-air, the Blacklight returned, settling before Han Yi, who now soared aloft on the Green Ripple Sword. Han Yi's expression remained calm as he surveyed the surrounding cultivators.
Above, Xie Jingshan gripped his Battle Banner tightly, a mysterious aura swirling around it. His grip tightened, his face growing increasingly grave as Han Yi's gaze swept over him.
Some cultivators shifted slightly away, subtly increasing the distance, while others clutched their Magic Artifacts, their power concealed but ready. Yet none dared to move, their eyes filled with wariness as Han Yi's gaze passed over them.
At the edge of the forest, Pang Quan scowled, Shen Yuan sighed in resignation, and Ding Jiansheng's battle intent surged.
The female cultivator who had just emerged from the woods, witnessing Han Yi's single-sword kill and the halberd-wielder's injury, trembled violently. She leveled her halberd horizontally, her stance fiercely alert.
Han Yi withdrew his gaze. Then, the Blacklight surged skyward once more.
This time, no one dared to intervene.
The Blacklight soared skyward, reaching the mountain's peak in an instant.
Boom.
The towering Spirit Jade Gui, as tall as a man, shattered instantly, its fragments scattering in all directions.
At its core, a massive piece of Spirit Jade Gui, roughly the size of two human heads, was seized by Han Yi and stored in his Storage Pouch. This fragment constituted approximately one-fifth of the entire Spirit Jade Gui's original volume.
Turning to glance at the assembled Foundation Establishment cultivators, Han Yi vanished back into the mountain forest in a blur.
Only after he had retreated into the woods did the stunned cultivators regain their senses. Without a moment's hesitation, they surged forward, scrambling wildly for the scattered fragments—the remaining four-fifths of the Spirit Jade Gui.
Han Yi's retreat into the forest didn't mean he didn't desire to claim the entire massive Spirit Jade Gui. However, such overwhelming greed, even after his display of sword might, would have ignited the collective fury of the cultivators. It would no longer be a matter of facing one or two opponents; a united assault would have left even him with no path but death, perhaps escaping only by sheer luck.
By taking only one-fifth, he secured what his demonstrated strength warranted. In fact, this share could even be considered modest.
The rules of the Cultivation World were simple: might makes right. Among the cultivators surrounding the Spirit Jade Gui, his fist was undeniably the largest, and therefore, the rules were his to dictate.
After re-entering the mountain forest, Han Yi continued his search for Spirit Jade Gui.
However, this time he found no large pieces, only two fragments the size of his fingertips.
Suddenly, he felt a heavy weight pressing down on him, immobilizing his body. The light and shadows around him swirled, and he found himself transported to an entirely different realm.
A thick, oppressive aura descended upon him, sending a chill through his heart and instantly revealing his location:
The Great Qian Immortal Palace.
He was back.
Han Yi's heart tightened. Here, he was once again at the bottom of the hierarchy, unable to roam freely as he had in the Jade Pavilion Precious Jade Grotto-Heaven.
Gathering his wits and calming his mind, Han Yi sheathed his sword artifact in his Storage Pouch and stood quietly to the side.
Around him, other cultivators kept their distance.
A gentle voice echoed from the front—the same Great Qian official cultivator who had announced the start of the Seventh Celebration earlier.
"Alright, the Seventh Celebration has concluded. You may all return."
The Great Qian official waved dismissively, signaling the crowd to disperse.
Before Han Yi could leave, the official turned to him and asked warmly, "What is your name? Which sect do you belong to?"
Han Yi froze mid-step, and all eyes turned to him.
Han Yi answered without hesitation, his voice clear and steady, "Reporting to the esteemed elder, this disciple is Han Yi, from the Heaven's Will Sect."
His voice carried clearly, reaching the ears of the cultivators who were preparing to disperse.
"Han Yi... not a bad name."
"Good, Heaven's Will Sect... Heaven's Will... hmm?"
The gentle voice faltered noticeably, as if momentarily choked, before managing to squeeze out another word:
"Not bad. Go."
Han Yi bowed deeply, offered a formal salute, and turned to leave.
The other cultivators emerging from the Cave Heaven committed the name to memory: "Han Yi of the Heaven's Will Sect."
Only Shen Yuan of the Grand Void Sect, along with Jiang Bo and Cui Xingchen of the Profound Pill Sect, wore puzzled expressions.
Han Yi quietly retreated, but a gaze brimming with resentment halted him in his tracks. Turning, he met Fu You's bloodshot eyes, seething with murderous intent.
Han Yi averted his gaze.
Fu You's hostility toward him was undeniable, and Han Yi understood its root. In the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven, they had clashed over the Jade Capital Grand Void Token, with Han Yi ultimately securing victory by a narrow margin. Fu You's grudge had naturally festered.
This time, Han Yi had severely injured him again, deepening that resentment.
Yet Han Yi felt no fear. Next time they met, he would simply finish Fu You off.
And then...
Han Yi turned his attention away from Fu You and walked back toward the rear of the hall. He noticed that Daoist Tianxin, who had been seated at the last reserved banquet table, had vanished without a trace.
A thought flashed through Han Yi's mind, and his feet instinctively changed direction. He quickly caught up with Jiang Bo and Cui Xingchen, rejoining the cultivators from the Profound Pill Sect.
"Junior Brother Han, weren't you at Profound Blood Peak? How did you end up here, and why are you claiming to be a cultivator from the Heaven's Will Sect?" Cui Xingchen whispered in confusion, but Han Yi silenced him with a meaningful look. Understanding, Cui Xingchen nodded and dropped the subject.
Han Yi worried that even the slightest whisper could be overheard in the Great Qian Immortal Palace. The Transformation God Stage Great Powers and Nascent Soul True Monarchs present could easily intercept not only hushed conversations but even Divine Sense transmissions.
Cui Xingchen changed the subject. "By the way, Junior Brother Han, how much Spirit Jade Gui did you obtain? Elder Qin said that a fist-sized piece is worth one Foundation Establishment Pill. I almost got one, but someone snatched it away. Those hateful cultivators from the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect are infuriating!"
Jiang Bo, his face beaming, chimed in: "Junior Brother Cui, Elder Qin didn't expect us to obtain Spirit Jade Gui when we entered the Jade Pavilion Precious Jade Grotto-Heaven. He prioritized our survival above all else."
"The accumulated resources of those Holy Lands, the Three Great Sects, and the established Nascent Soul Sects far surpass anything the Profound Pill Sect can match."
"Well, Senior Brother, I was lucky enough to get one, and no one's snatched it away yet."
Han Yi remained silent.
In his Storage Pouch, he possessed nearly sixty scattered pieces of Spirit Jade Gui, not to mention a massive chunk the size of two human heads. This enormous piece could rightfully be considered a rare treasure.
Naturally, he had no intention of revealing it. He resolved to immediately enter secluded cultivation upon returning to the Profound Pill Sect, focusing on refining the Spirit Jade Gui to advance his cultivation realm.
Next, the eighth celebration commenced, this time featuring cultivators from the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.
The banquet stretched for seven days and seven nights. Thanks to the Heavenly Crafting creations of the Ministry of Heavenly Works—one of the Six Ministries of Great Qian, responsible for engineering—the Immortal Court remained as brightly lit as day throughout the nights.
Over a dozen grand celebrations followed, culminating in a discourse on the Dao between Great Qian's Duke Who Stabilizes the Nation and a Dao Lord from Jade Capital Mountain within the Immortal Palace. Heavenly flowers cascaded down, and spirit energy cleansed the soul.
Even though he didn't fully understand the profound exchange, Han Yi felt as if his entire being had undergone a special purification.
Seven days later, after the celebration concluded, Han Yi returned with the others to the Profound Pill Sect's courtyard, only to realize that it bordered the Heaven's Will Sect's courtyard. Had it not been for Daoist Tianxin's Primordial Harmony Ruyi Formation, he would have joined the Profound Pill Sect disciples much sooner.
Qin Wuxian reappeared, dismissed the crowd, and kept Han Yi behind to hear his account of recent events.
Han Yi glossed over his two fierce battles against Lu Zhi and Yuan Changtian, merely mentioning that he had been pursued before fortuitously encountering True Person Tianxin, who rescued him and brought him to the Immortal Capital aboard an Immortal Boat.
When Qin Wuxian learned of the Blood God Sect's ambush on the Profound Pill Sect's Immortal Boat, a flash of murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
It turned out that Qin Wuxian had led the Profound Pill Sect away from the Mountain Gate towards the Great Qian Immortal Capital even before Han Yi was attacked. He was still unaware of the Blood God Sect's ambush that had claimed the lives of eight Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators and over sixty Inner Sect disciples.
"Hmph, the remnants of the Blood God Sect are hiding deep indeed."
"A year and a half ago, Sect Leader Yuan did venture out to hunt down the remnants of the Blood God Sect and Feng Wusheng of the Heavenly Soul Sect. He scoured Shu Prefecture, but only managed to eliminate a few Foundation Establishment cultivators who had revealed their positions."
"I never imagined there were still over a dozen Foundation Establishment Stage Blood God Sect remnants lurking in Nanyang County."
"No, that's not necessarily the case. The Blood God Sect remnants who ambushed you may have fled Great Qian only to return later. That's the only explanation that makes sense."
"It seems I'll have to personally take action upon our return to the sect and eradicate every last trace of these two sects."
Qin Wuxian finished speaking, suppressing his killing intent. He turned to Han Yi, his brow furrowed slightly.
"Daoist Tianxin has taken an interest in you. There must be a reason for this, Han Yi. You must remain cautious and vigilant."
"True Monarch cultivators are not to be trifled with. They are far more cunning and complex than they appear on the surface."
"Enough. Stick with us for now. Once we return to the sect, not even a Nascent Soul True Monarch would dare storm the Profound Pill Sect to forcibly take you as their disciple."
Han Yi nodded frantically, relief flooding him. Elder Qin had voiced his deepest fears.
"Rest now. With me here, not even True Person Tianxin himself could snatch you from my grasp."
"According to the schedule, the imperial rewards for the birthday celebration will be distributed in three days. However, these honors are typically reserved for descendants of the Great Qian Emperor, disciples of the Three Great Dukes, the Two Holy Lands, and the Three Great Sects. They have little relevance to us."
"In three days, we'll depart for our sect. Even a True Monarch would find it impossible to intercept us with certainty," Qin Wuxian added.
Han Yi nodded again, a relieved expression spreading across his face. Throughout this ordeal, he had been genuinely terrified, especially after hearing about the "glorious deeds" of Daoist Tianxin's two disciples. He had deduced that Daoist Tianxin had antagonized all three Great Dukes of Great Qian, making countless enemies, and he desperately wanted to escape the old Daoist's clutches. Returning to the proper path of cultivation with the Profound Pill Sect was naturally his most fervent hope.
Three days later, the official list of Great Qian's imperial rewards, distributed by the Ministry of Rites—one of the Six Ministries of Great Qian—reached the cultivators from various sects who had attended the birthday celebration.
Among them, one cultivator drew particular attention due to his sect affiliation.
The Great Qian Emperor bestowed upon Han Yi of the Heaven's Will Sect a Magic Treasure: the Seven Stars Kunwu Sword; one hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones; and the position of Fourth-Rank Patrol Envoy of the Ministry of Justice.