Star River Plaza, before the Heavenly Secrets Stele.
Ding Jiansheng struck first.
His bronze ancient sword shot forth silently, piercing through space with incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, it had closed the distance to within ten meters of Han Yi.
Moreover, as the bronze sword flew, two additional sword artifacts materialized behind Ding Jiansheng, floating before him: one fiery red, the other snow-blue.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
The fiery red and snow-blue swords launched simultaneously, trailing closely behind the bronze sword with undiminished speed, all three blades converging on Han Yi.
This was the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect's signature technique: controlling multiple swords at once.
The Crimson Cloud Sword Art.
Within this inherited art of the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect, a Sword Cultivator could wield multiple sword artifacts, each operating at full power without interfering with the others.
For example, Ding Jiansheng, with his three swords attacking simultaneously, effectively wielded the striking power of three separate Sword Cultivators assaulting Han Yi at once.
Legend had it that the Sect Leader of the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect—a Great Nascent Soul cultivator who had inherited the title of True Monarch Crimson Cloud—could command tens of thousands of swords. In combat, his power rivaled that of ordinary Divine Transformation Dao Lords.
Back on the plaza...
The bronze sword artifact sliced through Han Yi's body, but Ding Jiansheng, standing dozens of meters away, showed no sign of satisfaction. His expression only grew more solemn.
Beneath the bronze blade, a lingering afterimage slowly dissipated.
The snow-blue and fiery-red longswords faltered for a moment. Then, entwining like two Flood Dragons churning through space, they surged toward the left side of the bronze sword's trajectory.
"No, something's wrong!" Ding Jiansheng's eyes snapped open. He had initially assumed Han Yi had moved to the left, but the subsequent swords had failed to strike any solid form, filling him with sudden unease.
In the next instant, his body froze completely, a flicker of horror surfacing in his eyes.
Whoosh.
A black longsword flashed past his side, barely half a meter away. Whether it was his imagination or not, the aura emanating from the blade carried a faint electric charge, causing a slight tingling sensation in his body.
The Thunder Swamp Sword.
The black blade completed its arc behind Ding Jiansheng, stopping less than ten meters away—closer than the other three swords—behind Han Yi. Then, it vanished instantly, absorbed into Han Yi's Storage Ring.
Behind Han Yi remained his dark azure longsword, the Green Ripple Sword.
Ding Jiansheng's frozen body slowly relaxed. His face retained its aloof dignity, but his eyes now held a hint of admiration as he gazed at Han Yi.
The strong always command respect, even from someone like him.
With a casual wave of his hand, the three longswords, each a hundred meters away, returned to their sheaths behind him in sequence: the bronze sword in the center, the snow-azure one on the left, and the fiery red one on the right.
He clasped his hands in a respectful bow. "Thank you for showing mercy, Fellow Daoist Han."
Then, he returned to his seat, as if even this brief exchange had been an extraordinary concession.
Han Yi nodded and turned his attention to the Heavenly Secrets Stele. A wisp of Spirit Light emerged from the stele, drifting slowly toward him. Han Yi reached out and grasped it.
It was a dagger.
The golden dagger gleamed with extravagant splendor. Two words were inscribed on its sheath: Demon-Slaying.
The Demon-Slaying Dagger.
The dagger was remarkably heavy, even heavier than the Seven Stars Kunwu Sword, making it the heaviest Magic Artifact Han Yi possessed.
As Han Yi's Divine Sense flooded into the dagger, his eyes widened involuntarily, and a surge of joy crossed his face.
A Magic Treasure.
This was indeed a Magic Treasure!
This journey had been worth it after all.
This was not the place to examine the Magic Treasure in detail. Han Yi stored it in his Storage Ring and bowed respectfully to the Heavenly Secrets Stele.
All Spirit Treasures possessed wisdom.
The Demon-Slaying Dagger was undoubtedly a gift from the Heavenly Secrets Stele itself, and Han Yi felt the bow was well-deserved.
After bowing, Han Yi returned to the Profound Pill Sect's seating area. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, and he looked behind the Southern Dipper Divine Palace's seats, where Fu You stood. A deep-seated killing intent flickered in Han Yi's eyes.
Behind the Southern Dipper Divine Palace's seating area, a ferocious sneer twisted Fu You's face, a fleeting expression that quickly vanished, replaced by his usual composure.
In front of Fu You stood an Elder, his back bearing a Crimson Longsword.
Just as Han Yi was about to withdraw his gaze, the Elder glanced at him. Instantly, Han Yi felt an overwhelming killing intent engulf him, as if he had been plunged into a churning Blood River teeming with demonic creatures that surged toward him.
Within his Divine Soul, the Soul Tower trembled. Han Yi's eyes cleared, cold sweat pouring down his back. He dared not meet the Elder's gaze again. After freezing momentarily, he hurried back to the Profound Pill Sect's seating area.
"True Person Ranking, Thirty-Second Place: Blood River True Person of the Southern Dipper Divine Palace."
"This man... he gives me the same feeling Mo Wen once did."
"He must be connected to the Blood God Sect."
Han Yi Xin's heart sank, his expression turning grave. Being targeted by a cultivator on the True Person Ranking was never a good sign. He needed to plan his escape carefully.
As Han Yi Xin walked off the stage, the Golden Core cultivator representing the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion—the organizers of this Heavenly Secrets Grand Assembly—watched him from their designated seats on Star River Plaza. His face betrayed a flicker of confusion.
"The Demon-Slaying Dagger actually chose this cultivator from the Profound Pill Sect?"
"The Demon-Slaying, Evil-Slaying, and Monster-Slaying daggers are said to be Patriarch Heavenly Secrets' own treasures. Why bring out the Demon-Slaying Dagger this time?"
"Could there be a deeper meaning to this?"
His gaze followed Han Yi Xin to his seat, observing the pressure Blood River True Person of the Southern Dipper Divine Palace was exerting on him, yet he made no move to intervene.
However, after withdrawing his gaze, his interest in Han Yi Xin deepened considerably.
Around Star River Plaza, the Cultivation Clans and Rogue Cultivators with lower Cultivation Realms were utterly bewildered.
To the onlookers, Ding Jiansheng of the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect had only managed to unleash three sword strikes. Han Yi, with a swift flicker of movement, evaded all three, closed the distance, and Ding Jiansheng promptly surrendered.
Only Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators could vaguely discern the fleeting sword artifact.
Too fast.
If I were to face him, defeat would be inevitable.
The numerous Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators in the surroundings mentally assessed their chances. Their faces grew grave as they concluded they stood no chance against him.
Only Peak Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators clearly saw the black longsword Han Yi had unleashed. It brushed past Ding Jiansheng, looped back, and was retrieved into Han Yi's Storage Ring.
Its speed rivaled that of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator. Moreover, Han Yi's movement technique far surpassed the capabilities of a typical Foundation Establishment cultivator.
A Half-Step Golden Core's combat prowess.
The Golden Core cultivators instantly reached this conclusion.
This isn't just the Qian Dragon List anymore. This isn't mere potential—this is genuine strength.
Han Yi of the Profound Pill Sect.
This name was immediately added to the watchlists of countless Peak Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators.
As for the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, though unable to grasp the deeper intricacies of the battle, they could clearly see Han Yi's effortless victory over the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect's disciple. His demonstrated strength and potential were undeniable.
In a corner of the plaza, Dou Yu's expression subtly shifted before a smile bloomed on his face.
"Look, everyone! Fellow Daoist Han defeated Ding Jiansheng in a single breath. With such strength, he's destined to surpass the Golden Core realm. Nascent Soul is within his grasp!"
"Fellow Daoists, for just one hundred Spirit Stones, you have the chance to become Han Yi's follower! Think long-term—this is the follower of a future True Monarch! Their status will far exceed that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators!"
The surrounding female cultivators cast eager glances, and even those who had previously hesitated began offering Spirit Stones, gambling on securing a coveted spot among Han Yi's followers.
After Han Yi stepped down from the arena, the Martial Display grew even more fervent. Cultivators from the Qian Dragon List eagerly took to the stage. Those with old grudges challenged their rivals, while others sought to make a name for themselves by challenging higher-ranked cultivators.
Nearly an hour passed before the Foundation Establishment cultivators' demonstrations concluded, giving way to the Golden Core cultivators' showcase.
This time, Han Yi focused with unwavering intensity.
One True Person wielded a silver ruler, measuring the Myriad Phenomena Stellar River Formation.
Another True Person shattered the heavens with a single sword strike, shaking the formation's foundations. Spirit Light flooded the sky as countless phenomena erupted.
A third True Person brandished a Half-Step Spirit Treasure, conjuring illusions so potent that Han Yi dared to observe only after transforming his Divine Soul into a protective pagoda.
Unlike the Foundation Establishment cultivators, every participant who stepped onto the arena was at the late-stage or even peak Golden Core realm. Han Yi watched with rapt attention, completely engrossed, imagining himself in their place and how he would respond.
Even after mastering several new skills and reaching the late-stage Foundation Establishment realm, he had no confidence he could withstand a single strike from these powerhouses. The gulf between them was as vast as that between heaven and earth.
The Heaven's Secret Dharma Display stretched from dawn till dusk before finally concluding. As the crowd dispersed, the newly updated Qian Dragon List and True Person List spread throughout Great Qian and even to neighboring states like Great Qin and Great Yong, where scholars eagerly studied them.
After all, historically, the strongest Nascent Soul True Monarchs in the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom had risen through the ranks of these very lists. True Monarchs represented the core military strength of major factions. Even in Immortal Kingdoms and Holy Lands, they held positions of absolute authority.
The next day, Han Yi didn't depart alone. Instead, he followed Zuo Lie and the other cultivators from the White Jade Tower as they left Star River Garden together.
The White Jade Tower owned its own fleet of licensed Immortal Boats, authorized to transport passengers between the Seventh and Fourth Layer Immortal Courts within Great Qian.
This time, Han Yi had deliberately chosen to board the Emerald Immortal Boat. "Fellow Daoist Han has excellent taste," Zuo Lie said with a smile, clearly proud as he watched Han Yi's covetous gaze fixed on the vessel beneath their feet. "The Emerald Immortal Boat is one of the White Jade Tower's core vessels, a Mid-Grade Magic Treasure that no cultivator below the Golden Core stage can breach."
"How much does it cost?" Han Yi asked, his envy palpable.
"The White Jade Tower prices it at eight thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones. What's with that expression? That's not expensive at all for a Mid-Grade Magic Treasure-grade Immortal Boat," Zuo Lie explained.
Just then, True Person Jade Heart appeared.
"Little Friend Han, if you were to become an Honorary Elder of the White Jade Tower, I could persuade the Tower Master to gift you one."
Han Yi chuckled. "Senior, you jest."
To offer an Immortal Boat worth eight thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones as a casual gift? Han Yi would never accept it. The heavier the gift, the more difficult the future obligations would be. He understood this principle clearly.
"Look! It's the Heavenly Mansion Immortal Boat of the Southern Dipper Divine Palace," Zuo Lie suddenly murmured. "Hmph! I still remember Fu You stealing my Grand Void Token back then. If I weren't outmatched, I'd grind that bastard's face into the dirt!"
Han Yi followed Zuo Lie's gaze. Another Immortal Boat, as massive as the Emerald Immortal Boat beneath them, streaked across the sky. As the two vessels closed to within three hundred meters, Han Yi spotted Fu You's eyes across the void—and noticed a flicker of alertness.
!
The primary reason Han Yi chose to board the White Jade Tower's Immortal Boat was to avoid the Southern Dipper Divine Palace.
His concern wasn't Fu You, of course, but Blood River True Person, the cultivator leading the Southern Dipper Divine Palace's delegation.
Earlier at Star River Plaza, Blood River True Person had glared at Han Yi with undisguised murderous intent, making Han Yi's decision to travel with the White Jade Tower all the more imperative.
This time, however, Han Yi didn't spot Blood River True Person himself, only Fu You on the opposing Immortal Boat.
The two colossal vessels—the Heavenly Mansion Immortal Boat and the Emerald Immortal Boat—passed each other closely. The Heavenly Mansion Immortal Boat accelerated rapidly, vanishing from sight within ten breaths. Han Yi watched it recede, finally exhaling in relief.
True Person Jade Heart, standing beside Han Yi and Zuo Lie, watched the Immortal Boat disappear. Her gaze then settled on Han Yi, a hint of solemnity in her eyes.
"Little Friend Han, you likely don't know the true identity of Blood River True Person, do you?"
Han Yi raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "This junior only knows that Blood River True Person is a Golden Core cultivator from the Southern Dipper Divine Palace. I'm unaware of anything else. Please enlighten me, Senior."
True Person Jade Heart fell into contemplation.
"The Profound Pill Sect's foundations remain insufficient."
"Very well, I shall tell you the truth."
"Blood River True Person's original name was Jiang Jiuge. His father was Jiang Yichuan."
Han Yi froze momentarily. He recognized the name Jiang Jiuge; it had been listed as Blood River True Person's original name on the previous True Person List.
However, what startled him was another name: Jiang Yichuan. He felt like he had heard it somewhere before, and his expression suddenly changed dramatically.
"Jiang Yichuan, the Sect Leader of the Blood God Sect?"
True Person Jade Heart nodded. "That's right. Jiang Jiuge's father was Jiang Yichuan, who perished at the hands of your sect leader, Yuan Shun."
"Jiang Jiuge left the Blood God Sect during his Qi Refining stage to join the Southern Dipper Divine Palace. As a result, most Golden Core sects are unaware of this history."
"However, the White Jade Tower has its own intelligence network. After the Blood God Sect's annihilation, we compiled numerous records, including details about Jiang Jiuge's background."
"Now you understand why Jiang Jiuge's killing intent toward you at Star River Plaza was so unwavering."
True Person Jade Heart finished speaking.
Han Yi took a deep breath, his heart heavy with the weight of this revelation. His thoughts raced.
"Trouble. Jiang Jiuge... and the Southern Dipper Divine Palace..."
"If the Southern Dipper Divine Palace were to attack the Profound Pill Sect, we would stand little chance."
Sensing Han Yi's concerns, True Person Jade Heart added, "However, Little Friend Han, you needn't worry about the Southern Dipper Divine Palace. They would only intervene if Jiang Jiuge breaks through to become a Nascent Soul True Monarch. Only then could he persuade them to destroy the Profound Pill Sect."
"Jiang Jiuge alone poses no threat to the Profound Pill Sect."
Hearing this, Han Yi Xin felt a slight sense of relief. That makes sense, he thought. If the Southern Dipper Divine Palace truly intended to target the Profound Pill Sect, they would have struck long ago. Why wait four years?
"However, Fellow Daoist Han," True Person Jade Heart said suddenly, her expression turning grave, "even if you don't become an Honorary Elder of the White Jade Tower, you will still owe them a significant debt of gratitude."
Before Han Yi Xin could react, a flash of Spirit Light pierced the air. The Emerald Immortal Boat, which had been flying at full speed, suddenly slowed as if mired in quicksand, its momentum abruptly halted.
"Damn it! It's a Third-Tier Spirit-Trapping Talisman specifically designed to immobilize Immortal Boats!"
"Look ahead—that's the Heavenly Mansion Immortal Boat!"
"Cursed! It's the Southern Dipper Divine Palace!" Zuo Lie's face paled dramatically.
Han Yi Xin turned to look, his expression shifting rapidly through a series of emotions. He faced True Person Jade Heart, who stood at the front of the boat, and said solemnly, "This junior owes you, My Lord, and the White Jade Tower a tremendous debt of gratitude."
True Person Jade Heart's face bloomed into a radiant smile. The smile seemed to illuminate the entire world with its brilliance, momentarily stunning Han Yi Xin even in this critical moment.
In the next instant, True Person Jade Heart soared into the air with a light chuckle. "Today, let me experience Blood River True Person's renowned skills firsthand," she announced. "Let's see if there's any real difference between my thirty-sixth position on the True Person List and your thirty-second."
A bone-chilling voice, seemingly echoing from the depths of the Nine Nether Abyss, resounded from the Heavenly Mansion Immortal Boat a thousand meters away. "If you seek death, I shall grant it to you."
A vast pillar of bloodlight erupted from the Immortal Boat, stretching skyward as if connecting heaven and earth. Upon closer inspection, it became clear this wasn't merely a pillar of bloodlight. It was a materialized Crimson Longsword, its radiant blade dominating the world. The crimson pillar was simply the manifestation of the sword's formidable body.
Simultaneously, True Person Jade Heart, already airborne, tossed a pristine white handkerchief forward. The fabric unfurled dramatically in the wind, revealing vivid portraits of myriad alluring female cultivators. They were depicted with breathtaking realism, some coyly covering their mouths, others lightly fanning themselves with elegant smiles, or plucking at zithers with graceful fingers, each pose exuding a captivating sensuality.
Han Yi, who happened to glance upward at that moment, froze. An illusion abruptly blossomed within his Sea of Consciousness.
Han Yi felt as if he were immersed in a warm, fragrant hot spring, the air thick with gentle steam. Within and around the pool, over a dozen female cultivators displayed their exquisite beauty and graceful figures, their bare bodies shimmering tantalizingly in the hazy light, offering tantalizing glimpses of spring's promise.
Immediately sensing something amiss, Han Yi's Divine Soul jolted awake, instantly transforming into a tower.
At that very moment, a voice boomed in his ear: "Don't look! It's Aunt-Master Yuxin's Bewitching Demon Diagram!"
It was Zuo Lie's warning.
Han Yi took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his qi. He dared not lift his gaze again; the earlier sight had been truly unsettling.
"Aunt-Master Yuxin is a cultivator who indulges in desire. The 'Yu' in her name means 'desire.' In truth, her Daoist Title should be True Person Yuxin," Zuo Lie transmitted via Divine Sense.
However, Han Yi had no time to dwell on this.
In the brief moment he had been affected, True Person Jade Heart's Magic Treasure and the crimson pillar of light above the Immortal Boat had ascended higher, locked in combat.
Seven cultivators had already taken flight from the Southern Dipper Divine Palace's Heavenly Mansion Immortal Boat, hurtling toward them with murderous intent.
One of them possessed an aura far surpassing that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, nearly on par with True Person Lu Jie, who had once hunted Han Yi relentlessly.
On the Emerald Immortal Boat of the White Jade Tower, only four cultivators remained, including Han Yi. Aside from Han Yi and Zuo Lie, who was at the early Foundation Establishment stage, there was a female cultivator at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage named Qiao Yuxi, and a male cultivator at the late-Foundation Establishment stage named Zhu Changxia.
As the cultivators from the Southern Dipper Divine Palace approached, Zhu Changxia had already taken control of the Emerald Immortal Boat, enveloping it in a protective layer of Spirit Light.
"Don't worry," he reassured them. "As long as we have enough Spirit Stones, their sole early-stage Golden Core cultivator won't be able to breach the defenses of our Mid-Grade Magic Treasure."
"If we just hold our ground, we can wait for Aunt-Master Yuxin to return," Qiao Yuxi added.
Before the words had fully left their lips, a thunderbolt erupted from the hand of the lone early-stage Golden Core cultivator among the approaching Southern Dipper Divine Palace forces.
BOOM!
The thunderbolt struck the Emerald Immortal Boat with a deafening crash. The vessel shuddered violently as the protective Spirit Light flickered madly before abruptly extinguishing.
Inside the boat's control center, eighty-one High-Grade Spirit Stones cracked and shattered in rapid succession. However, thanks to the Spirit-Trapping Formation, the Immortal Boat managed to remain afloat.
"Damn it, it's the Six Spirits Fallen Immortal Mansion!" Zhu Changxia exclaimed.
Zhu Changxia's face twisted in horror, his eyes bloodshot. But years of brutal combat had honed his instincts. In an instant, a miniature pagoda materialized in his hand, vibrating faintly as a beam of Spirit Light surged upward, colliding with the swarm of Southern Dipper Divine Palace cultivators descending like a storm of arrows.
Having unleashed his counterattack, Zhu Changxia whirled around and leaped from the Immortal Boat, fleeing into the wilderness below.
"Escape!" he shouted.
Behind him, Qiao Yuxi followed closely, diving down in pursuit.
Against a Golden Core cultivator, they stood no chance.
Simultaneously, on the other side of the Immortal Boat, Han Yi's gaze locked onto the Golden Core cultivator who had hurled the Six Spirits Immortal-Slaying Talisman. Murderous intent simmered in his eyes, but he restrained himself.
In the next moment, he grasped Zuo Lie beside him and gently pulled him downward, dragging him into the dense forest below.