Magic Treasure: Seven Stars Kunwu Sword
This magic sword is 1.5 meters long, with a pale purple blade. On one side of the blade are inscribed two ancient characters, "Kunwu," while the other side features seven purple-filled grooves, each resembling a miniature purple star embedded within the blade. These ancient characters and starlike patterns are the origin of the sword's name.
One hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones lie within a transparent jade box. The stones are grayish-white, each marked with a faint purple spot about the size of a fingernail.
A Patrol Envoy is a position within the Ministry of Justice, one of the Six Ministries of the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom. Those appointed to this role are tasked with patrolling the kingdom's territories, eliminating demons, slaying fiends, apprehending criminals, and maintaining regional peace and security.
This position is divided into five ranks, from Fifth-Rank to First-Rank:
Fifth-Rank: Qi Refining Fourth-Rank: Foundation Establishment Third-Rank: Golden Core Second-Rank: Nascent Soul First-Rank: The Three Dukes of Great Qian
Naturally, Patrol Envoys receive generous stipends.
The standard annual stipend for a Fourth-Rank Patrol Envoy is one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, with the exact amount subject to annual approval by the Ministry of Justice before disbursement.
Based on the market price of magic artifacts, one thousand mid-grade spirit stones could purchase a low-tier top-grade magic artifact. This was equivalent to becoming a Four-Command Patrol Envoy, who could acquire such an artifact annually without lifting a finger.
This was an exceptionally generous compensation package.
Before Han Yi lay the Seven Stars Kunwu Sword, one hundred high-grade spirit stones, and a black iron token representing his status as a Four-Command Patrol Envoy.
The sight of these three items filled Han Yi with mixed emotions.
Was he overjoyed? Absolutely ecstatic.
Even Golden Core cultivators would be thrilled by such a bounty. After all, one hundred high-grade spirit stones could purchase a basic magic treasure. Combined with the Seven Stars Kunwu Sword—itself a magic treasure—it was as if he had two magic treasures before him.
Such temptation, under the right circumstances, might even drive Golden Core cultivators to personally seize it.
But Han Yi knew well that Immortal Opportunities never came without a hidden price.
His complex emotions, tinged with trepidation, stemmed from this very realization.
He had to accept these gifts; refusal was impossible. The Great Qian Emperor's rewards brook no disobedience.
Yet accepting such treasures felt like holding burning coals.
Fortunately, Han Yi had invoked the name of the Heaven's Will Sect, effectively enlisting this mysterious sect as his backing.
Even if complications arose later, the rewards would still have to pass through the Heaven's Will Sect before reaching Han Yi.
"It seems your performance in the Jade Pavilion Precious Jade Grotto-Heaven was highly regarded," Qin Wuxian remarked, his gaze fixed on Han Yi with keen interest, as if trying to discern something. Yet he refrained from pressing further; this was Han Yi's personal matter, and he wouldn't presume to intrude.
Sensing Han Yi's hesitation, Qin Wuxian smiled reassuringly. "Take them. Whether you want them or not, you have to accept these rewards."
"Besides, there's nothing inappropriate about them."
"Magic Treasures, Spirit Stones, and even the Patrol Envoy position are all commonplace gifts from the Great Qian Emperor. There's no cause for concern."
Han Yi raised an eyebrow. "Elder Qin, is the Patrol Envoy position also a common reward?"
Qin Wuxian nodded. "The Great Qian Immortal Kingdom isn't like ordinary mortal nations. Immortal Kingdoms and Sects are deeply intertwined. Celebrations like this have been frequent occurrences over the past millennia."
"At each event, the reigning Great Qian Emperor bestows some Immortal Opportunity upon the participating cultivators. Take, for example, your recent participation in the Jade Pavilion Precious Jade Grotto-Heaven and the Spirit Jade Gui from within its Cave Heaven."
"After the Celebration, spiritual objects such as Spirit Stones, Magic Artifacts, and Magic Treasures are bestowed upon select cultivators as rewards. In addition to these, the most common reward is the position of Patrol Envoy."
"Patrol Envoys are tasked with inspecting the vast territories, but they are not required to remain in any fixed location. In fact, it's perfectly acceptable for a cultivator to return to their sect and never truly perform any patrol duties."
"For instance, a Qi Refining cultivator from a Golden Core Sect was once appointed a Fifth-Rank Patrol Envoy. Seven hundred years later, upon reaching the True Monarch Stage, he presented his Patrol Token and exchanged it for a Second-Rank Patrol Envoy position. Despite never having performed any patrol duties, he continued to receive his full stipend for those seven centuries. Great Qian neither reprimanded nor punished him; on the contrary, they were exceedingly pleased."
"In essence, this system fosters goodwill between the Great Qian Emperor and the Heaven's Chosen from various sects across all cultivation realms."
"Rumor has it that after reaching the Transformation God Stage, these karmic bonds must be resolved."
"However, that's far beyond your current reach, so there's no need to worry about it."
"You can also think of it as an investment by Great Qian—an investment in all its factions, whether official, sect-affiliated, or cultivation family-based."
"This investment is a mere drop in the bucket for Great Qian. However, if even a single cultivator reaches the Transformation God Stage, the countless years of investment will instantly pay off."
"Do you understand now?"
Han Yi nodded, suddenly enlightened.
The Great Qian Immortal Kingdom's approach was akin to offering support to cultivators in their nascent stages. Whether they chose to perform patrol duties was irrelevant; what mattered was that Great Qian had offered aid and the cultivator had accepted, establishing a causal link between the two.
Below the Transformation God Stage, cultivators could simply sit back and receive stipends without any obligations. However, once they reached that realm, the principles of causality would come into play.
Of course, there was a hint of coercion in this arrangement.
But for Han Yi at that moment, it was undeniably appealing.
Since there were no glaring issues and the rewards he received from Great Qian were consistent with those given to others, he had nothing to worry about.
Han Yi stored the Magic Treasures, Spirit Stones, and Token in his Storage Pouch.
A thought suddenly struck him. Seven days ago, after emerging from the Jade Pavilion Precious Jade Grotto-Heaven, a cultivator from the Great Qian Immortal Ministry of Rites had greeted him with gentle warmth. It now seemed likely that his entire performance within the Cave Heaven had been observed by someone.
However, Han Yi felt no fear. He reasoned that anyone capable of observing his performance must be at least a Nascent Soul True Monarch-level cultivator, individuals of such esteemed status that they wouldn't stoop to scheming against him. As for the other Foundation Establishment cultivators within the Cave Heaven World, Han Yi held them in utter contempt.
After meticulously reviewing every detail of his journey through the Cave Heaven, analyzing each step for potential flaws, Han Yi found no irregularities and finally set his mind at ease.
"Rest for now," Qin Wuxian instructed. "We'll depart from the Immortal Capital tomorrow to return to the Sect."
The next day, the Profound Pill Sect began their journey home.
Han Yi couldn't shake a lingering unease, fearing Daoist Tianxin might ambush them along the way. Such a confrontation would be exceedingly troublesome.
However, more than half a month passed, during which they traversed numerous major prefectures in Qian Prefecture and entered Shu Prefecture, all without incident. Han Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
A little over a month later, the Immortal Boat finally reached its destination, landing atop Profound Pill Peak.
Stepping off the vessel and setting foot once more on the familiar ground of Profound Pill Peak, Han Yi found it difficult to calm his racing heart.
After a brief pause, the group dispersed. Qin Wuxian instructed Han Yi to find Yuan Shun himself and then departed. Han Yi thanked him and entered the Profound Pill Hall.
Today, Supreme Elder Si Hongxue presided over the hall. In the two and a half years since her injury, Si Hongxue had fully recovered—at least, outwardly, there was no sign of her past wounds.
Si Hongxue was the only female cultivator among the Supreme Elders of the Profound Pill Sect.
Appearing to be in her early thirties, she possessed a comely face framed by long, coiled hair. Her gentle demeanor betrayed no hint of the aloofness expected of a Supreme Elder.
Han Yi greeted her with a respectful bow, which she acknowledged with a nod. She then walked through the main hall and entered a side chamber to meet Yuan Shun.
"You've returned," Yuan Shun said, his voice tinged with emotion as he gazed at Han Yi. "Elder Qin has already informed me of your experiences, but I'd like to hear your account firsthand to ensure nothing has been overlooked."
Han Yi nodded. "Over a year ago, this disciple boarded an Immortal Boat to return from Profound Blood Peak. Senior Brother Li Wenbin was also on board..."
He proceeded to recount his adventures over the past year, a narrative that took the length of an incense stick to unfold.
He glossed over his battles with Lu Zhi and Yuan Changtian, explaining that he had deterred Lu Zhi with a Third-Tier Spirit Talisman before eliminating Yuan Changtian.
The focus of his account centered on True Monarch Heavenly Heart. Han Yi remained uneasy, sensing that Daoist Tianxin's true intentions remained unclear and that there might be hidden dangers beyond his comprehension.
Yuan Shun listened intently, his brow furrowed deeply as he struggled to process the information.
After a long silence, he shook his head and murmured, "The Heaven's Will Sect... Daoist Tianxin..."
"This man acts strangely," Yuan Shun said. "He sought you out, likely because of the Great Qian Emperor's birthday celebration, though his exact purpose remains unclear. Be cautious if you encounter him again."
"However, if he dares to approach you within the Profound Pill Sect, don't blame me for retaliating."
As Yuan Shun spoke, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"There's something else you should know. A year ago, remnants of the Blood God Sect resurfaced. On the Immortal Boat you were traveling on, five of the sect's eight Elders perished, and the Inner Sect Disciples suffered heavy casualties."
Han Yi's heart trembled, and a fierce light flickered in his eyes. "Were those Blood God Sect remnants eliminated?"
Yuan Shun's expression turned grave.
"I left the sect immediately after the Elders' Soul Tablets shattered, rushing to the scene. But by the time I reached the mountain forest, the battle was already over."
"Worse still, someone had disrupted the Heavenly Secrets. Even I couldn't divine the whereabouts of the Blood God Sect remnants."
"The one who disrupted the Heavenly Secrets possesses a cultivation realm superior to mine."
As Yuan Shun finished speaking, his expression became exceedingly solemn.
Han Yi stood motionless, his heart pounding. A cultivator stronger than Yuan Shun—that meant at least a mid-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch. Such figures were renowned throughout Shu Prefecture.
Han Yi naturally understood the implications.
"However, overt schemes require overt countermeasures, while covert plots demand covert responses. Snakes have their paths, and rats have theirs. Even if we can't find them, someone certainly can."
"I've already paid a substantial price to hire..." Yuan Shun trailed off, then continued, "Never mind. Just know that those targets are as good as dead."
Han Yi understood perfectly. Yuan Shun had likely hired assassins or rogue cultivators to handle the matter discreetly. They had accepted the payment and would ensure the task's completion. There was no need to worry.
With Yuan Shun's reassurance, Han Yi felt his worries dissipate.
"Finally, regarding the Great Qian Emperor's rewards, Elder Qin has likely already informed you. There's nothing suspicious about them. They simply demonstrate that your performance in the Cave Heaven World caught the Emperor's attention. He sees great potential in you."
"Perhaps in two years, your name might even appear on the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's Qian Dragon List."
"The Hidden Dragon List?" Han Yi asked, puzzled.
"Not Hidden Dragon, but Qian Dragon—the 'Qian' of Great Qian."
!
Yuan Shun's explanation clarified everything.
In Great Qian, there were three prominent rankings: the Qian Dragon List, the True Person List, and the True Monarch Ranking.
The Qian Dragon List ranked the top one hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators in Great Qian, not by their current strength, but by their potential. A cultivator on the list might only be in the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, but possess immense promise, making them a formidable force within that stage.
In contrast, the True Person List and True Monarch Ranking focused solely on demonstrated power. Those who appeared on these lists were typically Late or Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The Qian Dragon List was updated every ten years, the True Person List every century, and the True Monarch Ranking every millennium.
Statistics showed that fifty percent of those on the Qian Dragon List successfully advanced to the Golden Core Stage. While fifty percent might not sound impressive, the normal success rate for Foundation Establishment cultivators advancing to Golden Core was less than ten percent.
Excluding those who died prematurely due to accidents or violence, securing a spot on the Qian Dragon List essentially guaranteed a place in the Golden Core Stage. This underscored the list's immense value.
Moments later, Han Yi emerged from the Profound Pill Hall, mounted his sword, and pierced through the unchanging mist that had shrouded the hall for sixty years. He soared back to Azure Dragon Peak.
Upon returning, he settled into his Elder's Quiet Chamber within Azure Dragon Palace.
These chambers offered far greater defensive capabilities than the courtyards he had occupied as an Inner Sect Disciple. Moreover, Azure Dragon Palace was built at the core node of a Fourth-Tier Spirit Vein, making the entire peak a place of profound cultivation.
The spirit qi supply in an Elder's Quiet Chamber was dozens of times greater than that in an Inner Sect Disciple's courtyard.
Although called a "chamber," each meditation chamber came with a small courtyard behind it, roughly the same size as those of the Inner Sect Disciples.
After closing the chamber and activating its Formation Arts with his divine sense, Han Yi breathed another sigh of relief.
He pondered for a moment, then decided not to immediately begin cultivating. Instead, he emptied his storage pouch and took stock of his possessions. A delighted expression spread across his face as he calculated his gains.
No matter how perilous and arduous the journey had been, the rewards were unprecedentedly vast.
Magic Treasures: Two—the Seven Stars Kunwu Sword and the Golden Light Shuttle.
Top-Grade Magic Artifacts: Two—the Black Light Broken Sword and the Green Ripple Sword.
Other Magic Treasures: None.
High-Grade Spirit Stones: 103.
Mid-Grade Spirit Stones: Over 11,000.
Low-Grade Spirit Stones: Approximately 100,000.
Of these, 100 High-Grade Spirit Stones were a gift from the Great Qian Emperor Monarch. During his journey to the Great Qian Immortal Capital and his stay at the Great Qian Fourth Immortal Court, Han Yi had cultivated for over a year, consuming several hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Otherwise, his Mid-Grade Spirit Stone count would have exceeded 12,000.
In addition to the above, Han Yi possessed:
A black iron token representing his status as a Four-Command Patrol Envoy. The token bore his sect's name, but instead of the Profound Pill Sect, it was the Heaven's Will Sect. A standard-quality Foundation Establishment Pill, along with various alchemy materials, spirit charcoal, spirit sand, Qi Sustaining Pills, and other resources.
"My offensive magic artifacts are sufficient, but my defenses are lacking. I need to acquire one or two defensive magic artifacts."
"Furthermore, I must master a causal art. Every time I kill someone, they can easily track me down using the Soul-Chasing Technique—it's far too dangerous. My foundation in techniques is still too thin, and time is short."
"Finally, there's my cultivation realm and skills."
"My Early Foundation Establishment Stage is still too weak. That near-death experience on my last outing was a harsh reminder."
"As for skills, the Sword Control Technique offers the greatest boost to combat power, while the Light Body Technique maximizes agility and speed. These two must be prioritized for advancement. Beyond that, I need to improve the Wind Wall Technique and Fire Shield Technique. Only by merging them can I create a personalized Wind-Fire Defensive Art."
"Meanwhile, further advancement in my Alchemy Technique will have to be postponed for now."
"Time... there's never enough time."
Han Yi took a deep breath, mentally reviewing his plans. Even if he had three heads and six arms, he felt he would still be pressed for time.
"No need to rush. I've come this far already. The Immortal Path is long, and there's no need to hurry."
Han Yi quelled the impatience stirring within him and stowed away his various magic artifacts and treasures.
With a thought, the familiar pale red panel materialized before him:
Name: Han Yi
Lifespan: 52/248
Cultivation Realm: Early Foundation Establishment Stage (72/100)
Cultivation Technique: Great Sun Divine Gang (Proficient 38/100)
Skills:
- Ninefold Soul Tower (Peak Perfection 49/100)
- Spirit Void Finger (Peak Perfection 68/100)
- Sword Control Technique (Peak Perfection 92/100)
- Light Body Technique (Peak Perfection 85/100)
- Fire Shield Technique (Peak Perfection 83/100)
- Wind Wall Technique (Peak Perfection 9/100)
- Li Fire Sword Manual (Peak Perfection 29/100)
- Alchemy Technique (Perfected Purity 49/100)
- Turtle Breath Technique (Perfected Purity 82/100)
- Spirit Flame Art (Perfected Purity 36/100)
Aura Concealment Technique (Masterful 43/100)
Qi Observation Technique (Masterful 38/100)
Talisman Crafting Art (Initial Glimpse of the Dao 29/100)
Han Yi sighed inwardly.
Without realizing it, over thirty years had passed since his transmigration. Life was a long journey, and only by enduring could one truly tread the Immortal Path.
When caution was necessary, he must remain vigilant.
Yet, blind caution alone was unwise.
When decisive action was needed to seize Immortal Opportunities, he must strike decisively, without hesitation.
For instance, in the Jade Pavilion Precious Jade Grotto-Heaven, where all the cultivators were in the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, Han Yi's strength far surpassed theirs. To remain cautious there would be truly foolish.
By the seventh month of his Blood Sea Garrison, his cultivation progress had reached 21/100 in the Foundation Establishment Stage. After another three months in the Blood Sea, over a month spent traveling to the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom, a year of secluded cultivation in Eternal Joy Garden, and another month for the return journey, his progress had barely reached 72/100.
It had been truly arduous.
Though his cultivation realm barely kept pace with the Heaven's Chosen of Great Qian's official institutions, the Holy Lands, the Three Great Sects, and other Nascent Soul and Golden Core sects, his combat prowess remained exceptional due to his overwhelming skill mastery over peers of the same cultivation level.
After carefully assessing his current situation, Han Yi meticulously reviewed his experiences over the past two years, from beginning to end: guarding Blood Sea Town, the Profound Blood Branch Sect, the Blood God's assassination attempt, Han Xuxiao, Lu Zhi, Yuan Changtian, the Heaven's Will Sect, True Monarch Heavenly Heart, the Jade Pavilion Precious Jade Grotto-Heaven, Spirit Jade Gui, killing, intimidation, treasure acquisition, and finally, his return.
With his mind completely cleared, Han Yi drew upon the Spirit Qi from the Spirit Vein within his Meditation Chamber to nourish himself. For other Elders, this concentration of Spirit Qi would have been sufficient; Spirit Stones would merely be a superfluous addition.
However, Han Yi was far from lacking resources. With a flick of his wrist, a dozen Mid-Grade Spirit Stones materialized around him. He casually waved his sleeve, shattering the stones and releasing a surge of Spirit Qi that further amplified the chamber's spiritual density.
Such extravagant indulgence was simply his prerogative as someone with boundless resources.
The next day, Han Yi sought out Shen Ping, the Chief Elder of Azure Dragon Palace, to present his request.
Two years apart, Shen Ping's aura had grown significantly stronger, now standing just a step away from the Peak Foundation Establishment Stage.
"A technique to disrupt Heavenly Secrets and invert causality?" Shen Ping murmured, his gaze piercing.