Next, legendary Qi Refining cultivators from various factions took to the stage one after another.
Su Wanqing participated in the third match, losing to a stern young man from Jade Capital Mountain. This young man was then defeated by the current Sword Son of the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect, a cultivator who had mastered the Sword Guiding Technique. However, Jade Capital Mountain's second Senior Brother in Qi Refining ultimately triumphed over the Sword Son. Finally, a legendary cultivator from Myriad Stars Sea engaged him in nine exchanges, the match ending in a draw.
The surrounding discussions buzzed as Han Yi silently assessed his own prospects against these opponents. If I were to face them, who would prevail?
After a moment, Han Yi shook his head. The sparring matches were merely superficial clashes, lacking the intensity of life-or-death combat, making it impossible to accurately gauge true strength. He dismissed the thought.
With the Legendary Dharma Demonstration concluded, the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators began their performances. Only those at the peak of this realm were invited to participate, their spells more refined and substantial, devoid of any ostentatious flair.
Next came the Golden Core Stage, followed by the Nascent Soul Stage, and even the Transformation God Stage.
However, by the time the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators appeared, most exchanges were limited to three moves, with no clear victor emerging. Instead, the clashes focused solely on the collision of their Dao Techniques.
The two Transformation God Stage Great Powers who appeared on the stage were none other than the Seven Kill Dao Lord and the Pure Void Dao Lord, who had arrived at the Myriad Stars Sea on the same day as Han Yi and his group. Their Martial Display was even more perplexing: a sky filled with violet light and a crimson sea of blood materialized, briefly touching before dissipating in the blink of an eye.
The Martial Display was brief, and Han Yi and his companions, with their low cultivation realms, gained little insight from it. However, the five Foundation Establishment Stage Elders and Zhuge Wuyou, watching from the sidelines, beamed with joy, having gleaned considerable enlightenment.
Next, the Nascent Soul True Monarch who supported the Demon Slaying Assembly in the Myriad Stars Sea reappeared in the void at the center of the island.
"The Martial Display concludes. Now, assist us in Demon-Slaying!"
As he uttered the words "Demon-Slaying," a phantom great river suddenly materialized above the True Monarch's head. The river surged with such force that each drop of water seemed to weigh ten thousand pounds. A mere glance at it caused Han Yi and the others to feel their bodies grow heavy, forcing them to avert their eyes.
Moments later, a massive Immortal Boat materialized in mid-air.
"It's the Kunpeng Immortal Boat of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion—a Supreme-Grade Magic Treasure!"
"I will send the five of you aboard the Immortal Boat shortly. Once there, follow your assigned tasks. After completing your Demon-Slaying missions in your designated zones, await the Kunpeng Immortal Boat for retrieval."
"Based on past experience, this mission will take at least two years, and possibly three. Do not grow impatient," Zhuge Wuyou warned before their departure, his gaze sweeping across the five disciples. When it settled on Han Yi, he paused, said nothing, then moved on.
With a grand wave of his hand, Zhuge Wuyou soared into the sky, sending Han Yi and the others aboard the Kunpeng Immortal Boat.
On the Immortal Boat, cultivators from the Myriad Stars Sea distributed jade rings to each disciple. Through their explanations, Han Yi learned more details about the mission.
The Myriad Stars Sea bordered the East Sea, tasked with demon-slaying duties. The East Sea was divided into three regions: the coastal zone, the deep sea, and the intermediate zone.
The coastal zone typically served as a training ground for Myriad Stars Sea disciples. Any remaining demon beasts or cultivators there had long since been eradicated.
The deep sea, however, was the domain of powerful demon cultivators. This vast expanse dwarfed even the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom in size. Each Demon Slaying Assembly could only sweep through a fraction of it.
Between the coastal and deep sea regions lay an archipelago of scattered islands, teeming with demon beasts—many of them rare variants born with innate divine abilities.
The primary mission for Qi Refining Stage Disciples was to patrol the coastal and deep-sea regions.
Moments later, the Immortal Boat set sail, its speed far surpassing that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators. After a full day's journey, it gradually came to a halt.
Below lay a vast sea island. Calling it merely an "island" felt inadequate—its sheer size stretched beyond the horizon, resembling a miniature continent. Yet compared to the boundless East Sea, it was indeed just an ordinary island.
Once the Immortal Boat stopped, a Qi Refining cultivator was called by name. A Golden Core cultivator escorted them down to the island before returning to the vessel. The boat then resumed its journey, repeating this process of stopping, disembarking cultivators, and continuing.
Each cultivator's designated patrol area was different, and the assignments appeared entirely random.
After the Demon-Slaying operation concluded, the Jade Ring issued to each cultivator would activate its positioning function, guiding the Immortal Boat back to them. The rings also recorded video evidence of the slain Demon Beasts, serving as proof of their kills.
Naturally, the Myriad Stars Sea valued the privacy of its cultivators. The Jade Ring's recording function could be toggled on or off at will.
On the nineteenth massive island, it was Han Yi's turn. A Golden Core cultivator escorted him down to the sandy beach at the island's edge, then returned to the Immortal Boat, which transformed into a streak of light and vanished in an instant.
"This island is designated as Island Nineteen."
"Two to three years is quite a long time."
"The Demon Slaying Assembly doesn't specify how many Demon Beasts we need to kill. Besides, without Demon Cores, these creatures are of little value to me."
"Moreover, with so many Legendary Cultivators participating this time, even if I gave it my all, I might not even secure a top spot. And even if I had a chance, I'm not sure I'd want it."
"Even the Martial Displays have become a stage for the One Nation, Two Sages, and Three Great Sects. If a cultivator from an ordinary Golden Core Sect were to rise to prominence, who knows whether it would be a blessing or a curse?"
"You Wu's death is still fresh in my mind."
"Instead of Demon-Slaying, I'd rather cultivate."
Indeed, this had been Han Yi's plan from the start. He could cultivate anywhere, and he had no intention of attracting unnecessary attention. If he could lay low, he would.
Too many powerful factions were participating in this Demon Slaying Assembly, including cultivators from the rival Blood God Sect. This wasn't the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven; if Han Yi truly distinguished himself here, he would become a target for hidden schemes.
Having reaffirmed his plan, Han Yi ventured into the island's interior.
The unnamed island was vast and imposing. Han Yi intended to find a suitable cave for shelter, symbolically hunt a few Ninth-Tier Demon Beasts, and then focus on cultivation to advance his progress.
Based on his calculations, his improved aptitude and the perfected state of his Fire Astral Profound Art meant he was already over 50% of the way to breaking through to the Advanced Ninth Layer, equivalent to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement. He estimated this breakthrough would take just over a year.
Reaching the Peak Qi Refining Stage, surpassing 90% progress, would likely require around four years.
Given the island's immense size, finding a secure refuge shouldn't be difficult.
Han Yi quietly entered the dense forest. Towering trees blotted out the sun, shrouding the sky and casting the forest floor into perpetual twilight. The air hummed with the sparse chirping of insects, while roars from powerful beasts occasionally reverberated from the depths, their potent aura causing ordinary wildlife to cower in terror.
Wielding the Green Ripple Sword, Han Yi's figure flickered through the undergrowth. Suddenly, a three-meter-long snake demon, as thick as a man's arm, lunged from the shadows, only to meet the silent sweep of the Green Ripple Sword. The blade split the creature from head to tail, spilling its rancid, dark-red blood across the forest floor.
"That must have been a Third-Tier Demon Beast," Han Yi mused.
"The Demon Beasts on the periphery are too weak. I should venture deeper."
"After clearing this area a bit, I'll find a cave to cultivate in."
The flesh of a Third-Tier Demon Beast wasn't particularly valuable, so Han Yi only collected the snake's gallbladder and three molted scales, leaving the rest behind.
An incense stick's time later, Han Yi encountered his first Seventh-Tier Demon Beast. He dispatched it easily and continued his advance.
Eighth-Tier, Ninth-Tier...
After slaying three Ninth-Tier Demon Beasts, Han Yi halted his progress and began to retreat.
By his estimation, he hadn't yet reached the heart of the island. The central area would likely house the most formidable Ninth-Tier Demon Beasts, perhaps even Variant Demon Beasts born with Innate Divine Abilities, and Half-Step Demon Cultivators on the verge of transformation, their Demon Cores still unformed.
But this point was far enough.
Han Yi prepared to turn back, but his steps faltered. A fiery red Strange Beast had materialized twenty meters ahead, its presence unnoticed until now.
The Strange Beast was about the size of the Giant Tigers Han Yi had seen in the Myriad Demon Mountain Range, but its fur was far thicker and blazed with a fiery brilliance. Its appearance defied easy categorization—part tiger, part leopard, part lion, yet not quite any of them. If Han Yi had to describe it, it most closely resembled a domestic cat from his past life.
Demon Beasts existed in countless varieties, and without reproductive barriers between species, they continued to evolve into new types over time. Han Yi couldn't identify the exact breed of this Giant Cat Aberrant Beast before him.
But now that they had encountered each other, retreat was impossible. Even if Han Yi wanted to leave, the creature wouldn't let him go unchallenged.
Han Yi flicked his fingers, and the Green Ripple Sword shot forth silently, faster than light itself, almost invisible to the naked eye.
Whoosh!
The sword sliced through the space where the Giant Cat had been, but there was nothing there to obstruct its path.
"What?"
Han Yi's expression shifted slightly. The afterimage of the beast slowly dissipated in the air.
It's faster... faster than my own Sword Control Technique.
As Han Yi's mind raced, his combat instincts had already taken over. He instantly layered a Wind Wall Technique and a Fire Shield Technique, the fire borrowing the wind's momentum to erupt into a towering, impenetrable barrier of swirling flames and gales.
Boom!
A razor-sharp claw slammed into Han Yi's defensive barrier, tearing through the Wind Wall but being stopped by the Fire Wall. A massive, fire-red Giant Cat Aberrant Beast materialized, its gaping maw revealing fearsome fangs. Han Yi had no doubt that a single bite would sever his head clean off.
In the instant the Giant Cat's attack faltered, Han Yi swept his hand, launching three golden daggers in a flurry.
These Heavenly Capital Daggers, a top-tier High-Grade Magic Artifact gifted by Fu Canghai, were slightly smaller than the Wind Demon Daggers Han Yi had previously used, but they radiated an even more intense killing intent.
While Han Yi could fully control all six Heavenly Capital Daggers, doing so was taxing. Through experimentation, he had discovered that wielding three at once unleashed their greatest power.
Whoosh!
Golden light flashed as the Giant Cat dodged two daggers. The third, however, grazed its flank, drawing a spray of blood.
The Giant Cat roared in pain, its eyes burning with renewed demonic fury.
But...
!
Having seized the initiative, Han Yi had no intention of letting the Giant Cat retaliate.
The dagger the Giant Cat had dodged abruptly reversed course, spinning back towards the creature at top speed in the opposite direction. The third dagger, having already left a gash on the Giant Cat's flank, followed suit, circling around it as well.
From a distance, the three daggers resembled golden coils suspended in the air, descending to encircle the Giant Cat.
Sensing imminent danger, the Giant Cat let out a savage roar, its voice devoid of any domestic feline warmth, instead radiating primal ferocity.
Instinctively avoiding the golden coils, the Giant Cat leaped upward, determined to break free from the encircling daggers and tear its loathsome prey to shreds.
But as it sprang, a cyan-black sword light sliced through the air just above the golden coils.
Or rather, the sword light had already been unleashed before the Giant Cat even leaped. The creature's speed, however, was so great—even surpassing that of the blade—that it seemed to deliberately thrust itself into the path of the sword light.
Thwack.
The cyan-black sword light flashed past. The Strange Beast, which had already begun to fade into an afterimage, suddenly materialized, a clean, bloodless hole piercing its skull. Yet the Green Ripple Sword, in piercing through, had already shattered everything within the creature's head into dust.
The Giant Cat Aberrant Beast crashed heavily to the ground.
Han Yi retrieved the three Heavenly Capital Daggers, which had gradually slowed their spinning, and sheathed the Green Ripple Sword behind him. He turned to examine the Giant Cat Aberrant Beast lying dead ahead.
Activating his Jade Ring, he recorded a brief clip of the beast's demise before deactivating it.
Han Yi studied the creature intently, sensing something unusual about it. After a moment's thought, he decided to store the entire beast in his Storage Pouch. The enormous creature filled an entire pouch, but fortunately, Han Yi had plenty to spare.
"This beast is likely the strongest on this island," he mused. "After all, Heterospecies with innate Divine Abilities are exceedingly rare. Even among the East Sea Monster Clan's vast numbers, you wouldn't find such concentrations of Heterospecies."
Indeed, the beast's speed had momentarily stunned Han Yi. He suspected it possessed an innate Divine Ability specializing in velocity.
Fortunately, his versatile skills had allowed him to briefly hinder the beast's advance, swiftly ensnare it with the Heavenly Capital Daggers, and then create a single, calculated opening—a fatal trap deliberately designed for the beast's destruction.
This allowed him to kill it in one decisive strike.
Had any other Peak Qi Refining cultivator faced this creature, they would have been torn to shreds upon first contact.
After securing the Strange Beast's corpse, Han Yi meticulously surveyed his surroundings. Finding no further threats, he cautiously retreated ten li (approximately 5 kilometers) to the island's perimeter, just a kilometer from his initial landing point. There, he discovered a massive, hidden tree hollow, camouflaged it, and deployed a Spirit Concealing Formation that perfectly enveloped the space. He then settled into a meditative posture to cultivate.
Three days later, a thunderous roar jolted Han Yi from his cultivation.
Outside the hollow, the sounds of wind and rain mingled, barely audible beneath the thunder.
The tree hollow was perpetually dim, blurring the line between day and night. A sudden wave of loneliness washed over Han Yi, but he swiftly suppressed it.
Rising, he inspected the Spirit Concealing Formation, confirmed its integrity, and resumed his meditative position at the center of the hollow.
The Spirit Stone in his hand dissolved into nourishing Spirit Qi, permeating his body.
As constant drips can pierce stone, so can diligent efforts build great towers.
Seven days later.
An earth-shattering beastly roar shook the tree hollow violently, causing its wooden walls to tremble and leaves to rustle. Han Yi sprang to his feet, a flicker of dread passing through him.
"This roar far surpasses that of a Demon Beast," he realized. "It must be a Demon Cultivator."
"There's a Demon Cultivator on this island? Thank goodness I didn't venture too far inland."
During his time on the Immortal Boat, the cultivators from the Myriad Stars Sea had explained that while Demon Beasts were exceedingly rare in the transitional zone between the coastal and deep-sea regions, they weren't entirely absent. A reckless Demon Cultivator might be hiding on some remote island, knowing that while they could kill a few Qi Refining cultivators if discovered, their own demise was inevitable.
If encountered, there was no need for hesitation—flight was the only option.
"But this beast's roar... it sounds familiar, almost identical to the Giant Cat Aberrant Beast I killed earlier."
"Could it be that after I killed its cub, the parent has come seeking revenge?"
Han Yi's heart trembled with unease.
Another half-day passed before the giant beast's roar finally faded away. Only then did Han Yi's anxiety gradually dissipate, allowing him to resume his cultivation.
A year and a half later...
Han Yi opened his eyes in the tree hollow, a sharp glint flashing in his gaze. Around his meditating form lay a pile of shattered Spirit Stones.
In the past year and a half, his skills remained unchanged, but his cultivation realm had made significant progress.
Lifespan: 45/149
Cultivation Realm: Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement (55/100)
Han Yi had calculated that reaching 50% progress in the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement meant entering the realm of the Advanced Ninth Layer. Progress beyond 90% signified Peak Qi Refining.
In other words, Han Yi's cultivation had now reached the Advanced Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.
He slowly rose, his aura as steady as a mountain. A confident smile flickered across his face. If not for his surroundings, he might have burst into laughter, finally releasing the emotions he had suppressed for so long.
At the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, he could slay Eighth Layer cultivators wielding the Golden Light Shuttle.
At the Seventh Layer, he had slain an Advanced Ninth Layer Spirit-Body Dual Cultivator wielding a halberd in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain.
At the Eighth Layer, within the Chaozhen Grotto-Heaven, he had twice slain Peak Qi Refining cultivators and snatched Grand Void Token Fragments from Legendary Cultivators.
Upon first reaching the Ninth Layer, he had annihilated three Peak Qi Refining cultivators from the Gu Clan in an instant, and even dared to confront a Foundation Establishment Stage Elder without fear.
Now, as an Advanced Ninth Layer cultivator, Han Yi felt confident that if Gu Zhijing dared to face him again, he could cut him down with a single sword strike.
As for other Legendary Qi Refining cultivators, even those ranked among the top of the Two Sages and Three Grotto-Heavens of his nation, Han Yi believed he could at least hold his ground against them.
Han Yi was certain that as long as his opponent was not above the mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, he had achieved near invulnerability. Even if defeated, he could retreat with ease.
After twenty-four years of silent growth since his transmigration, Han Yi's strength had finally reached a new level.
And strength, after all, was the ultimate foundation of confidence.