The seven female cultivators hesitated, their gazes shifting between the composed Dou Yu and the silent Han Yi. For a moment, they couldn't discern the truth from the facade.
Dou Yu's self-assuredness, Han Yi's imposing aura, and the sword artifact slung across his back made it impossible for them to draw a quick conclusion.
Han Yi, who had been briefly disoriented, quickly regained his composure. With a single thought, he understood Dou Yu's scheme.
"Fellow Daoist Dou, return the Spirit Stones to these fellow Daoists."
"This Han does not accept followers."
Han Yi felt utterly exasperated. Dou Yu was damaging his reputation, and while he didn't care about his personal standing, he was representing the Profound Pill Sect and the Profound Immortal Pavilion on this trip. He couldn't afford to fail the missions entrusted to him by Qin Wuxian and Liu Ruyan.
This fool is courting death, Han Yi thought. Any other cultivator with a temper would have slain him with a single sword stroke.
Dou Yu's expression darkened. The Spirit Stones he had just obtained were slipping away. Impossible! He glared at Han Yi, about to protest, when their eyes met.
Instantly.
An icy dread, piercing to the bone, gripped his Divine Soul. In that Kshana, cold sweat poured down his face as if he had narrowly escaped the gates of hell.
A terrifying pressure, capable of shattering his very Divine Soul, erupted from Han Yi's eyes. This oppressive force targeted him alone, conjuring visions of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
"Here, here's the money! Wait, I'll return it."
Dou Yu dared not hesitate any longer, handing the Spirit Stones back to the seven female cultivators.
As they received their Spirit Stones, the women glanced at Han Yi. Suddenly, Dou Yu's earlier words seemed to ring true. The cultivator before them possessed an extraordinary aura, one that now aligned with the Han Yi who had defeated Ding Jiansheng of the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect with a single sword strike at Star River Plaza.
However, Han Yi had made it clear he didn't need followers. Even if they wanted to offer him their services, it was impossible. Glaring fiercely at Dou Yu, they reluctantly departed in disgruntled silence.
"Fellow Daoist Dou, come aboard the Immortal Boat with me."
A Divine Sense transmission pierced Dou Yu's mind just as he was preparing to slip away quietly. His feet froze, and he turned around, forcing a servile smile that looked more like a grimace.
Han Yi sat down without a word, and Dou Yu dared not attempt to escape again.
He now understood that this cultivator might indeed be ranked on the Qian Dragon List.
But why hadn't he seen him at Star River Plaza?
This could only mean one thing: the man had concealed his true aura and appearance. This, in turn, suggested someone might be hunting him, or that he was deliberately hiding from someone.
Could it be that his reckless speculation had accidentally hit the mark?
This cursed mouth of mine... surely I can't be that unlucky?
Dou Yu's greatest fear was that the man was truly Han Yi, the Ninth Dragon of Qian. If so, he had walked right into a trap.
To his relief, the Immortal Boat departed an hour later. The journey to An Ding Ward in the Eighth Heaven Immortal Court took ten days. Throughout the voyage, Han Yi remained silent, and Dou Yu dared not speak or even consider escaping, fearing for his life.
Upon disembarking, Han Yi left without so much as a glance at Dou Yu, completely putting Dou Yu's mind at ease.
Still, for added security, Dou Yu found an inn in An Ding Ward and hid there for three months before venturing out.
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
After leaving An Ding Ward, Han Yi soared into the sky. His appearance shifted once more as he summoned his Immortal Boat and departed.
The incident with Dou Yu was insignificant to him, merely a minor distraction.
When life was at stake, he was not a magnanimous man.
But this trivial matter hardly warranted his anger or murderous intent.
The rest of the journey passed without incident.
Two hours later, he finally returned to the Myriad Immortals Pavilion's headquarters in South Liang Ward, also located in the Eighth Heaven Immortal Court.
The moment he arrived, a Divine Sense Transmission reached him.
"Han Yi... cough... come to the fourth floor of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion." Qin Wuxian's voice sounded weary.
Han Yi's heart tightened. Having just survived an ambush by the Southern Dipper Divine Palace, Qin Wuxian's summons, delivered in a weary tone, filled him with unease.
Han Yi's Sword Flight carried him swiftly to the fourth floor of the Profound Immortal Pavilion.
The Profound Immortal Pavilion mirrored the Myriad Immortals Pavilion, drawing inspiration from the larger merchant guilds of the Great Qin Immortal Kingdom. However, only the first three floors were currently operational, catering to Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core cultivators respectively. The fourth floor remained reserved for private use.
When Han Yi saw Qin Wuxian, he almost didn't recognize him. Qin Wuxian's complexion was ghastly pale, his face deathly white, and his pupils a dull, lifeless gray.
Meeting Qin Wuxian's eerie gaze, Han Yi couldn't help but shudder, his own pupils contracting involuntarily.
"Uncle-Master Qin, what injuries have you sustained? How did this happen?"
Qin Wuxian waved dismissively, gesturing for Han Yi to sit.
"Cough... Don't worry, I'm not dying yet."
"Ran into an old enemy who ambushed me. Still kicking."
Qin Wuxian's grayish-white eyes were indeed unsettling, but Han Yi felt reassured by his words.
Ranked eighty-eighth on the True Person List, Qin Wuxian could only have been severely injured by a late-stage Golden Core cultivator—one undoubtedly ranked higher than him.
"Tell me about the Heavenly Secrets Grand Feast. How did it go?"
Qin Wuxian turned to Han Yi, who paused for a moment before recounting every detail of his recent mission, leaving nothing unsaid. His explanation lasted a full quarter of an hour.
"Excellent, excellent," Qin Wuxian said. "You've completed your mission and brought honor to the Profound Pill Sect. The Profound Immortal Pavilion's business should see a significant upturn."
"However, it's still not enough."
"Furthermore, regarding the Blood River True Person incident, since you encountered him, I'll fill you in on the full story. Given your current strength, you're now qualified to understand the truth."
"Fellow Daoist Jade Heart was right: Jiang Jiuge is Jiang Yichuan's son."
Qin Wuxian's tone turned grave.
"We only learned of this two years ago, and even then, it was through channels at the Grand Void Sect, not our own intelligence network."
"True Person Jade Heart was right: the Profound Pill Sect's foundation remains too weak."
"Over the past two years, Sect Leader Yuan has secretly left the sect multiple times, collaborating with us to lure Jiang Jiuge out, but without success."
"We never imagined Jiang Jiuge could be so patient."
"Part of the hidden crisis facing the Profound Pill Sect stems from Jiang Jiuge."
Han Yi raised an eyebrow. "Part of it?"
Qin Wuxian nodded, a flicker of emotion crossing his pale gray eyes.
"That's right. After all, Jiang Jiuge is just one man. Even with the backing of the Southern Dipper Divine Palace, he can't pose a real threat to the Profound Pill Sect unless he becomes a True Monarch."
"Beyond Jiang Jiuge, the more pressing danger comes from pressure exerted by other Nascent Soul Sects."
"The primary source of this pressure, of course, is the sects of Shu Prefecture."
Qin Wuxian paused, and Han Yi's mind raced.
The Shu Prefecture sects capable of influencing the Profound Pill Sect were likely limited to the Southern Dipper Divine Palace, the Ten Thousand Methods Sect, and Heaven's Will Sect.
Heaven's Will Sect could be ruled out. Qin Wuxian had already dismissed the Southern Dipper Divine Palace as lacking a real threat. The answer was becoming clear.
The Ten Thousand Methods Sect.
One of Shu Prefecture's three great Nascent Soul Sects.
Located in southeastern Shu Prefecture, the Ten Thousand Methods Sect controlled the region's most fertile and prosperous lands outside Shu Capital. Within its borders lay a Sixth-Tier Spirit Vein and two Fifth-Tier Spirit Veins. Like Heaven's Will Sect, the Ten Thousand Methods Sect boasted two True Monarchs.
The Heaven's Will Sect, however, was consumed by ideological disputes within the Immortal Path. True Monarch Heaven's Will and True Monarch Heavenly Heart, their philosophies irreconcilable, constantly undermined each other. With only around a hundred cultivators and a penchant for self-destructive behavior, they were widely disliked throughout the Great Qian Cultivation World.
The Ten Thousand Methods Sect stood in stark contrast.
This sect embraced a philosophy of Myriad Methods, welcoming all approaches. Its disciple count dwarfed that of the Profound Pill Sect, numbering ten times as many. Han Yi had reviewed their records: tens of thousands of Inner Sect disciples, hundreds of thousands of Outer Sect disciples, thirty Golden Core Elders, and a staggering three hundred Foundation Establishment Stewards.
It was undeniably the greatest sect in Shu Prefecture, second only to the Southern Dipper Divine Palace, one of the Three Great Sects of Great Qian.
"Ten Thousand Methods Sect," Han Yi stated, his tone firm, not questioning but certain.
Qin Wuxian nodded. "That's right."
"Cultivation resources are limited, like food on a plate. If your fist is bigger and your appetite stronger, you'll need more to eat. To get enough, you'll have to snatch food from others' plates."
"This is the 'struggle' for Immortal Opportunity. If you don't compete, you'll fall behind and be beaten."
"However, the Sect is undeniably in a passive position, constantly on the defensive," Qin Wuxian said. "This situation can't be reversed overnight. It will take decades, perhaps even centuries, to see any real improvement."
As Qin Wuxian finished speaking, a heavy sense of impending crisis settled in Han Yi Xin's heart.
But after a moment's reflection, he understood the Sect's policies.
With Yuan Shun's ascension to Nascent Soul, the annihilation of the Blood God Sect, and the forced dissolution of the Heavenly Soul Sect, whether one liked it or not, the Profound Pill Sect was now considered a Nascent Soul Sect in the eyes of the Great Qian cultivators.
Shu Prefecture, previously home to only two Nascent Soul Sects, now had a third. The redistribution of power and resources would inevitably lead to fierce competition.
This likely explained why the Garrison Elders were proactively expanding the Sect's territory.
At that moment, Han Yi gained a deeper understanding of the Sect's strategies over the past few years.
Every decision made by the Sect wasn't arbitrary but deeply meaningful, intricately linked to other policies and the challenges they faced. No action was taken in isolation.
Having grasped this, Han Yi looked up at Qin Wuxian. "Uncle-Master Qin, what should we do next?"
Qin Wuxian shook his head. "Slow and steady. As long as Sect Leader Yuan remains, our Profound Pill Sect will retain its status as a Nascent Soul Sect. The other Nascent Soul Sects will hesitate to provoke us openly, fearing the repercussions."
"This is our window of opportunity for growth."
He turned to Han Yi, well aware of the younger man's lack of interest and aptitude for sect management. A faint glimmer of hope flickered in his gray-white pupils as he smiled.
"Of course, you needn't concern yourself with any of this," Qin Wuxian said. "Your primary mission is cultivation—to grow stronger as quickly as possible."
Moments later, Han Yi left the Profound Immortal Pavilion and landed at the sect's garrison behind it. Gazing back at the towering pavilion, his heart remained uneasy.
Through Qin Wuxian's words, Han Yi had finally confirmed Zhuge Wuyou's earlier anxieties.
Strictly speaking, the Profound Pill Sect's outward splendor masked a precarious reality—a narrow path to survival with no room for retreat.
Yet, as Qin Wuxian had emphasized, his foremost priority now was cultivation.
Han Yi returned to the innermost cultivation chamber, which had been destroyed earlier but had been fully repaired over the past twenty-odd days.
Inside the chamber, he retrieved a dagger.
Gasp!
The Demon-Slaying Dagger.
During his recent expedition, he had slain two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Southern Dipper Divine Palace. However, the encounter had been too brief to claim their Storage Rings. His sole material reward was this dagger, a random prize dropped from the Heavenly Secrets Stele.
After some experimentation, Han Yi's eyes gleamed brighter with each passing moment.
Two words best described the dagger's properties: "sharpness" and "spirit-piercing." Its sharpness defied imagination, extending beyond physical cutting to the disruption of spirit energy—true "spirit-piercing."
It could breach Formation Arts, the protective barriers generated by Defensive Spirit Talismans, offensive elemental spells, and even low-grade Storage Pouches.
Holding the dagger, Han Yi recalled his mastery of blade combat before reaching the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement.
Yet as his strength grew and his enemies became more formidable, assassination had faded from his primary strategies.
However, possessing a Magic Treasure Grade dagger like the Demon-Slaying Dagger would still be incredibly effective.
"Once I advance to the Golden Core stage, I'll definitely find a way to acquire a set of Magic Treasure Grade daggers," Han Yi resolved, a new idea taking root in his mind.
After stowing away the Demon-Slaying Dagger, he summoned his Proficiency Panel. His gaze settled on three skills:
- Spirit Void Finger (Peak Perfection 78/100)
- Ninefold Soul Tower (Peak Perfection 96/100)
- Li Fire Sword Manual (Peak Perfection 69/100)
These were the three skills he planned to focus on improving next.
Previously, he had already pushed his Sword Control Technique, Light Body Technique, Wind Wall Technique, and Fire Shield Technique to Return to Simplicity. Moreover, the Fire Shield Technique and Wind Wall Technique had begun to merge into the Windfire Shield, whose defensive capabilities far surpassed the sum of their individual strengths—a synergy where one plus one far exceeded two.
He now possessed mastery over primary combat spells, movement techniques, and defensive spells.
Next, he needed to advance the Ninefold Soul Tower. This inheritance had already manifested two Heavens, bringing it close to Return to Simplicity. As for the Li Fire Sword Manual and Spirit Void Finger, they served as complements to his Sword Control Technique, with the Li Fire Sword Manual holding a particularly central role in his core strategy.
Thus, Han Yi's cultivation priority became: Ninefold Soul Tower, Li Fire Sword Manual, followed by Spirit Void Finger.
In the meditation chamber, Han Yi's consciousness sank into the Sea of Consciousness Space. As always, his Divine Soul first checked the black pearl at the top of the Sea of Consciousness. Finding no abnormalities and powerless to affect it, he shifted his focus inward to his Divine Soul.
The Divine Soul, transformed from the Soul Tower into Han Yi's likeness, was in its normal state. Above it floated an illusory, foot-tall Soul Tower, its bottom two tiers already solidified.
The two Soul Techniques Han Yi had obtained upon solidifying these tiers surfaced in his mind:
First Heaven: Soul Technique - Divine Soul Five Decays Second Heaven: Soul Technique - Soul Plunder
Han Yi had repeatedly used the first technique on the battlefield, but he had never employed the second. Soul Plunder was a Body Seizure technique, and he would only resort to it as a last resort.
Han Yi sat cross-legged and began drawing in the grayish-white qi from the edges of the Sea of Consciousness Space. Like divine enlightenment, the qi gradually descended from above and flowed into his Divine Soul.
As Han Yi channeled the qi, the black pearl at the top of the Sea of Consciousness Space trembled slightly, as if stirred by some movement, but no other abnormalities were observed.
This faint vibration occurred every time Han Yi cultivated the Ninefold Soul Tower. Initially, Han Yi would halt his cultivation to investigate cautiously, but after repeated occurrences, he had grown accustomed to it.
While Han Yi secluded himself in the Profound Immortal Pavilion's South Liang Ward outpost for over half a month, far to the southwest of Qian Capital in Shu Prefecture, a vast complex of palaces sprawled across the Southern Dipper Mountain Range.
This mountain range was named after the Southern Dipper Constellation, and the sect nestled within was one of the Three Great Sects of Great Qian: the Southern Dipper Divine Palace.
The Three Great Sects earned their title not merely from their status as ordinary Nascent Soul sects, but from their historical legacy of Divine Transformation Great Powers. Their accumulated foundation far surpassed that of typical Nascent Soul sects, even allowing them to mobilize their ancestral resources to contend with ordinary Divine Transformation Great Powers.
A Heavenly Mansion Immortal Boat entered the sect from beyond the mountains and landed within a palace courtyard. Jiang Jiuge, his face grim and resolute, stowed the Immortal Boat, settled the other cultivators, and strode into the palace.
"Disciple Blood River pays homage to Master," Jiang Jiuge said, kowtowing respectfully. At the highest point of the grand hall, a Daoist sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his form wreathed in ethereal Immortal Qi.
The Daoist opened his eyes, his gaze piercing Blood River. A hint of perplexity flickered in his unfathomable depths.
"You're injured."
"No Golden Core cultivator from the Profound Pill Sect could have harmed you. If Yuan Shun had intervened, you wouldn't have even had a chance to escape."
"Speak. What happened?"
Jiang Jiuge raised his head and recounted the events that had transpired in the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom.
"True Person Jade Heart of White Jade Tower is no weakling. Judging by this battle, her strength is on par with yours."
"Given her position on the True Person List, she likely has a thirty percent chance of advancing to Nascent Soul."
"Since we can't kill her, there's no need to pursue the matter. The Tower Master of White Jade Tower is not someone to trifle with. Eliminating Jade Heart would only invite trouble. This outcome suits us perfectly."
"As for that cultivator from the Profound Pill Sect..."
"To survive Yu Hao's onslaught with only a Foundation Establishment cultivation level, and even manage to kill two others..."
"Though Yu Hao only recently attained Golden Core and has exhausted his potential, his combat prowess remains formidable."
"Han Yi?"
"I've heard that name more than once."
"More than once?" Blood River True Person was astonished.
The man before him was True Monarch Willow Constellation, one of the Nine Great True Monarchs of the Southern Dipper Divine Palace. For a name to reach the ears of a True Monarch, it must belong to someone extraordinary. Yet Han Yi had captured True Monarch Willow Constellation's attention repeatedly.
"The most recent instance was naturally at the Emperor Monarch's birthday celebration. His Majesty's reward proves his exceptional potential."
"Before that, it was at the Mountain and Sea Immortal Gathering. That young lad, a mere Qi Refining cultivator, slew a Demon Cultivator and ranked fourth in the Qi Refining Tier of the Demon Slaying Rankings. The rank itself isn't particularly high, but for a cultivator from a minor sect to make the list at all is quite remarkable."
"However, now that you mention it, this little one is more than just another Qian Dragon."
"Shu Prefecture doesn't need a second Ten Thousand Methods Sect."
"If we can't handle Yuan Shun, dealing with this little brat shouldn't be difficult."
"As long as the price is right, the Black God Tower dares to assassinate even Divine Transformation Dao Lords. A mere Late Foundation Establishment cultivator poses no threat—why waste our own efforts?"
True Monarch Willow Constellation's words jolted Jiang Jiuge awake.
"That's right. The Black God Tower is the Jade Balance Realm's largest organization of Robber Cultivators, functioning as both assassins and killers. They'll take any job for the right price. If we pay enough, Han Yi's fate is sealed, no matter where he hides."
"This disciple will handle it immediately."
True Monarch Willow Constellation raised a hand, signaling him to wait. "Not so fast. This is a trivial matter."
"Blood River, I've warned you before: until you break through to Nascent Soul, you must not reveal yourself to the Profound Pill Sect, nor interfere in any of their affairs. It could be a trap laid specifically for you."
"Only after you advance to Nascent Soul and become a Supreme Elder of the Southern Dipper Divine Palace will the Sect officially act on your behalf. After we annihilate the Profound Pill Sect, we'll rebuild the Blood God Sect, with you as its Sect Leader."
"This decision has already been collectively approved by the Supreme Elders."
"Therefore, remember: recklessness will not be tolerated."
"Yuan Shun harbors a profound secret, and Profound Pill Peak conceals an even greater one. Do not act rashly or attempt to investigate on your own."
Jiang Jiuge frowned slightly, cautiously asking, "Master, what exactly is the secret of Profound Pill Peak?"
"If the Sect truly desired, it could dispatch three True Monarchs to descend upon the Profound Pill Sect. Do you truly believe that mist would remain unscathed?"
A flicker of fear flashed through True Monarch Willow Constellation's eyes, so well-concealed that Blood River True Person didn't notice it.
"Unscathed?"
"Then you'd be mistaken."
"Enough. These matters are beyond your current understanding. Be dismissed."
True Monarch Willow Constellation waved his hand dismissively. Sensing his Master's troubled demeanor and reluctance to continue the conversation, Jiang Jiuge dared not press further and retreated respectfully.
After Jiang Jiuge's departure, True Monarch Willow Constellation turned his gaze northward, as if spanning countless miles to reach Profound Pill Peak. He murmured to himself, his voice heavy with dread, as he tried to pierce the mist that had shrouded the peak for eighty years.
"Eighty years... that scene still haunts me."
"Otherwise, why would we need the Blood God Sect? Why would we need the Heavenly Soul Sect? Why would we require such intricate probing?"
A particular memory surfaced in True Monarch Willow Constellation's mind. A look of horror flickered briefly in his eyes before he ruthlessly suppressed the thought, refusing to let it fester into demonic obsession.