This time, Han Yi chose a direct approach. Abandoning his usual roundabout methods, he summoned his sword and flew straight to the location of the Profound Immortal Pavilion.
However, upon arriving, he discovered that the pavilion's signboard had been replaced by that of another merchant guild: the Starmoon Pavilion.
The Starmoon Pavilion was a branch of the Starmoon Sect, a major Nascent Soul sect from the Great Qian Dynasty.
Han Yi entered the Starmoon Pavilion, where the shopkeeper greeted him warmly. After browsing for a while, he picked up a magic artifact and said with dissatisfaction, "Shopkeeper, the price of this top-grade magic artifact seems a bit inflated. By the way, I remember visiting the Profound Immortal Pavilion here last year. They also had a similar-quality artifact."
"How could the Profound Immortal Pavilion go out of business in just over a year? I thought the Profound Pill Sect was a major Nascent Soul sect—they don't seem very capable."
The shopkeeper smiled. "Customer, you might not be aware, but the Profound Pill Sect has withdrawn their garrison from this area. My Starmoon Sect acquired the premises. We now have two strongholds in Jinyun Immortal City."
"Withdrawn? That's interesting. What was the reason for their departure? I'm genuinely curious." Han Yi feigned curiosity.
The shopkeeper shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure myself, but rumor has it that it's connected to the disappearances and madness that plagued the cultivators of the Profound Immortal Pavilion."
Han Yi nodded, reluctantly putting down the magic artifacts he found too expensive. In the end, he selected some Healing Spirit Talismans and Heavenly Net Pills, paid, and left the Starmoon Pavilion.
"They've withdrawn?"
"What exactly happened a year ago?"
Han Yi's expression was puzzled. Seeing that he couldn't get any answers, he gave up. For now, there was only one path forward.
Return to Qian Capital.
With that in mind, Han Yi mounted his sword and flew to the nearest Flying Immortal Pavilion to book passage on an Immortal Boat. The boat wouldn't depart for two days, so he rented a room at a nearby inn for the interim.
Two days later, the Immortal Boat set sail, heading straight for Qian Capital.
The journey was smooth, but the passenger boat's speed couldn't compare to the Earth Immortal-grade Immortal Boat Han Yi had borrowed from Liu Ruyan earlier. It took a full twenty days to reach Qian Capital.
After disembarking at the Flying Immortal Pavilion's stronghold in the Eighth Heaven Immortal Court, Han Yi immediately took flight on his sword toward South Liang Ward.
Arriving at the Profound Immortal Pavilion's stronghold, he ascended directly to the fourth floor. There, he found Liu Ruyan alone. Startled by his sudden appearance, she paused for a moment before her face lit up with joy.
"Junior Brother Han! You're back! You've finally returned!"
"Wait," Liu Ruyan said, her Divine Sense swiftly probing the garrison behind the Profound Immortal Pavilion. In less than three breaths, Qin Wuxian appeared on the fourth floor, a genuine smile lighting up his face as he saw Han Yi had returned safely.
"I knew you'd come back, Han Yi," Qin Wuxian said, relief washing over him.
"It's good you're back. It's good you're back."
Han Yi felt a warmth in his heart at Liu Ruyan and Qin Wuxian's concern. But the questions that had been weighing on his mind for nearly three weeks surged to the forefront. Meeting their gazes, he immediately asked, "Martial Uncle, Senior Sister, I returned to Jinyun Immortal City, but the Profound Immortal Pavilion there has been subleased. What happened?"
Qin Wuxian gently raised a hand. "Han Yi, don't rush. Tell us what happened to you first. Where have you been for the past year and a half? What have you experienced?"
Liu Ruyan turned to Han Yi, her eyes alight with curiosity.
After Han Yi's disappearance, she had inquired with the Sect every month about the integrity of his Soul Tablet. Each time, the answer was the same: it remained intact, proof that he was still alive.
Yet for over a year, the Sect had dispatched Zhuge Wuyou and Huo Ming to search the areas around Jinyun Immortal City, even venturing deep into the Myriad Demon Mountain Range. Despite their efforts, they found no trace of Han Yi, a mystery that baffled everyone.
Han Yi paused, then began his tale.
"When I first arrived in Jinyun Immortal City, I assumed a false identity and went to the Myriad Immortals Pavilion..."
He recounted his experiences from entering Jinyun Immortal City to his return by Immortal Boat: posing as someone else, investigating hidden compartments, being poisoned with the Chaos Spirit Demon Poison, retaliating, pursuing his attackers, surviving an ambush by the Black God Tower and poisoning with the Black Hell Powder, escaping to the Myriad Demon Mountain Range, arriving at Great Qin Tianshan Immortal City, and finally returning by Immortal Boat. He described it all in simple terms.
Naturally, he omitted any mention of the black pearl within his Sea of Consciousness Space, merely stating that he had miraculously gained immunity to demonic poisons through sheer luck.
As for the Black Hell Powder, he explained truthfully that he had previously practiced Body Refinement techniques. Having exhausted his Spirit Talismans and Toxin Dissolving Pills, he had no choice but to rely on his physical cultivation as a last resort—treating it like a desperate gamble. To his surprise, the method proved unexpectedly effective, his progress astonishingly rapid. He eventually managed to compress the poison within his Spirit Sea, narrowly escaping with his life.
Though his narration was matter-of-fact, Liu Ruyan's expression shifted continuously as she listened. To her, Han Yi's harrowing night—enduring two assassination attempts, both involving poison—was utterly terrifying, a heart-pounding dance with death. She couldn't imagine how he had survived such close brushes with death. Had it been her, she believed she would never have stood a chance.
What heaven-defying strength and luck would it take to escape not one, but two assassination attempts? To not only survive the first but even turn the tables and kill his attackers, and then to flee over a dozen kilometers into the Myriad Demon Mountain Range, traversing its treacherous depths to reach Great Qin on the other side, only to circle back to his starting point?
Meanwhile, Qin Wuxian, a man of considerable cultivation and vast experience, couldn't hide his shock. His expression shifted repeatedly as Han Yi recounted his ordeal. Only after the story concluded did he let out a heavy sigh.
"The tribulations of the Immortal Path serve to temper one's Dao Heart and forge one's Dao Path. Truly, fortune and disaster are two sides of the same coin."
"To face death so many times, to endure such harrowing experiences... it's truly extraordinary."
Liu Ruyan was even more direct, her astonishment plain to see.
"Junior Brother Han, your strength is utterly astonishing! No wonder you ranked ninth among the Qian Dragons. To not only kill Que Chen of the Primal Beast Sect but also his contracted Demon Cultivator, the Golden Ni Beast—that's simply heaven-defying!"
"We had suspected you were responsible for Que Chen's death, but we lacked concrete evidence."
Han Yi's mind raced.
"Senior Sister Liu, how did you come to that conclusion? Has the Primal Beast Sect discovered the truth? And why did the Profound Immortal Pavilion withdraw from Jinyun Immortal City? Could it be related to my killing Que Chen? What exactly has been happening?"
Liu Ruyan glanced at Qin Wuxian, who nodded for her to proceed. She then recounted the events of the past year and a half to Han Yi.
As her story concluded, Han Yi's heart sank.
In the year and a half since Han Yi's escape, the Profound Pill Sect had experienced a series of significant events, some anticipated, others completely unforeseen.
A little over a year ago, when Han Yi was cornered and forced to flee Jinyun Immortal City, the Six Ministries of Great Qian launched a thorough investigation into the cultivators responsible for inciting the unrest. However, Han Yi had used a false name and disguised his appearance, making him impossible to trace.
Near the damaged corner of the Ten Thousand Immortals Inn, investigators discovered the corpse of a Golden Core Demon Cultivator. The body was identified as the Golden Ni Beast, the contracted demon cultivator of Que Chen from the Primal Beast Sect. Although the Golden Ni Beast was dead, Que Chen himself had vanished.
The following day, the Primal Beast Sect announced that their Supreme Elder, Que Chen, had perished, his soul tablet at the sect having shattered.
As for the cause of Que Chen's death, the Primal Beast Sect claimed he had secretly pursued a rogue cultivator who had previously infiltrated their sect, tracking him to Jinyun Immortal City. There, the rogue cultivator had ambushed and killed him. They even posted a bounty for Han Yi, who was still in disguise.
From all appearances, Que Chen's death seemed unrelated to the turmoil at the Profound Immortal Pavilion. In truth, even the Primal Beast Sect itself remained unaware of the true circumstances surrounding their elder's demise.
Que Chen had originally come to Jinyun Immortal City to sabotage the Profound Immortal Pavilion. Now, with his death coinciding with the disappearance of the pavilion's shopkeeper and the madness gripping cultivators, the Primal Beast Sect had no choice but to concoct a cover story to conceal his demise and secretly dispatch other Golden Core cultivators to investigate.
In this scheme, the Primal Beast Sect suffered a silent loss, losing a Golden Core True Person without any public acknowledgment.
Meanwhile,
When Zhuge Wuyou arrived at the Profound Immortal Pavilion in Jinyun Immortal City ten days after Han Yi, he negotiated with the Six Ministries of Great Qian to lift the pavilion's lockdown. In a hidden compartment, he discovered Zhuo Qun's hastily scribbled notes: "Primal Beast, Que Chen."
Later, Zhuge Wuyou questioned Tian Chengxu, an Inner Sect disciple stationed at the pavilion, who revealed that Han Yi had appeared that night and asked him several questions.
Combining these facts—Han Yi's arrival and subsequent disappearance that night, the violent clashes in Jinyun Immortal City, the death of Que Chen's Contracted Demon Cultivator, and the Primal Beast Sect's announcement of Que Chen's death—the most plausible theory emerged:
That night, Han Yi had disguised himself, killed the Golden Ni Beast, pursued and killed Que Chen, and then, severely wounded, fled to an undisclosed location to recover.
This was the prevailing theory among Liu Ruyan and the other senior members of the Profound Pill Sect regarding the events of that night.
Little did they know, their speculation only covered the first half of Han Yi's ordeal. The second half was far more perilous, forcing him to flee for over a year in a truly harrowing experience.
Furthermore, after Zhuge Wuyou confirmed the Primal Beast Sect's likely involvement, he didn't immediately retaliate. Instead, he reported to the sect. Following deliberations among the Supreme Elders, they decided to close the Profound Immortal Pavilion branch in Jinyun Immortal City.
Moreover, all other outposts in Qian and Shu Prefectures were abandoned, leaving only the main branches in Qian Capital and Shu Capital.
"If the Garrison Elders have been recalled, what about the other Senior Brothers and Sisters?" Han Yi asked after understanding the situation.
This time, Qin Wuxian answered.
"The establishment of Garrison Elders was merely a temporary measure devised by a few of us to break the stalemate. After Zhuo Qun's disappearance, we realized that while spreading our forces across multiple locations could divert the enemy's attention and expand the sect's influence, it also made us more vulnerable to being picked off one by one."
"Every advantage comes with a cost, and in this case, the losses outweighed the gains."
"Therefore, after extensive discussions, we decided to recall the Garrison Elders. This decision has already been put to a vote in the Profound Pill Sect's Elder Council Hall and approved."
"In Qian Capital, Bai Wanqing and Fei Chao have stayed behind, while the other three elders have returned to the sect. Similarly, in Shu Capital, some have remained while others have returned."
Han Yi raised an eyebrow. "Elder Bai stayed too?"
Liu Ruyan nodded. "That's right. Bai Wanqing and Fei Chao happened to have urgent sect matters to attend to today, so they were sent to handle them. They should return in about three days."
Han Yi nodded. He had a good relationship with Bai Wanqing. After Zhuo Qun's misfortune in Jinyun Immortal City, and with similar threats looming over other garrison elders, he didn't want to hear that Bai Wanqing had disappeared as well. Gathering in Qian Capital at least allowed them to stick together for relative safety.
"By the way, what about the Primal Beast Sect incident?" Han Yi turned to Qin Wuxian, then hesitated before adding, "The Ten Thousand Methods Sect is undoubtedly involved."
Earlier, while recounting his experiences, Han Yi had described how he pursued Que Chen, who fled to a Ten Thousand Methods Sect outpost before being killed at the last moment. Han Yi refused to believe that Que Chen's escape to their territory was a mere coincidence.
Qin Wuxian's expression turned grave.
"You're right. The Ten Thousand Methods Sect is definitely behind this. The Primal Beast Sect is merely their blade."
"However, the Profound Pill Sect is currently weak. Confronting the Ten Thousand Methods Sect would be sheer recklessness, like throwing an egg against a stone. Though our anger burns, we're powerless to act."
"Moreover, we lack any evidence linking them to this. While it's true that in the cultivator world, might makes right, we're both evidence-poor and far weaker than our opponent."
"Therefore, the Sect must endure this humiliation for now."
"As for the Primal Beast Sect... they've practically signed their own death warrant."
Qin Wuxian spoke with helplessness in his voice for the first few sentences, but his tone turned venomous by the last.
Han Yi remained silent, having already anticipated this grim outcome.
"By the way, Uncle-Master Qin," Han Yi asked, "I haven't fully recovered from the Black Hell Powder. Do you know how to detoxify it?"
Obtaining an antidote would be ideal.
Qin Wuxian pondered briefly before shaking his head uncertainly. "Black Hell Powder is a signature poison of the Black God Tower. Legend has it that there's no fixed antidote. Only Golden Core cultivators, through the influence of their Golden Cores, can expel the residual toxins."
"For Foundation Establishment cultivators, contracting this poison is essentially a death sentence. The toxins are incredibly stubborn; without purging them completely, one can never condense a Golden Core. And without a Golden Core, there's no way to eliminate the toxins—it's a vicious cycle."
"Still, I'll ask the Sect Leader later to see if there's another way," Qin Wuxian said. "He used to have business dealings with the Black God Tower and likely knows more about them."
This time, not only Han Yi but even Liu Ruyan looked surprised. Noticing their astonishment, Qin Wuxian continued his explanation.
"There's no harm in telling you," he said. "Feng Wusheng, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Soul Sect who led the initial siege on the Profound Pill Sect, escaped from the Sect Leader's grasp and vanished without a trace. Although our Sect Leader has advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, even he isn't omnipotent. Unable to locate Feng Wusheng himself, he hired the Black God Tower at great expense to eliminate him."
"However, I haven't heard of any results yet."
Han Yi suddenly understood. So the Sect Leader still had channels to contact the Black God Tower.
"Then I beg you, Uncle-Master Qin, to inquire with the Sect Leader on my behalf," Han Yi said, clasping his hands in a respectful bow.
Qin Wuxian waved his hand dismissively, his tone grave and almost like a solemn promise. "It's only right. But Han Yi, you needn't worry too much. If there's a way, even if it costs the Sect dearly, we will spare no expense to purge the residual toxins from your Spirit Sea, giving you hope of condensing a Golden Core."
Han Yi thanked him, a warmth spreading through his heart.
Though he had faced numerous dangers within the Profound Pill Sect, these were due to the harsh realities of the cultivation world, not deliberate malice from the sect's leadership. Whether it was being relentlessly pursued by Yuan Changtian, his three daring escapes from Shu Capital, or his two close calls in Jinyun Immortal City, none of these incidents had been orchestrated by the Sect.
Yuan Shun, Zhuge Wuyou, and Qin Wuxian had all taken exceptional care of Han Yi.
As for the dangers, the cultivation world itself was fraught with peril. Even Qin Wuxian, as powerful as he was, had been severely injured years ago, his pupils turning ashen gray. How much more vulnerable was Han Yi?
Moments later, Han Yi left the Profound Immortal Pavilion and landed in the courtyard of his former residence at the garrison. He immediately began his seclusion.
While Han Yi hoped for an antidote to the Black Hell Powder, he wasn't solely reliant on it. Even without one, he had a method: by further advancing the Ancient God Contemplation Technique, he was confident he could purge the remaining toxins.
If that failed, he would simply continue breaking through. He believed that by pushing the path of Body Refinement to its limits, he could definitely eliminate the toxins—it was merely a matter of time, and he was willing to wait.
Meanwhile, after Han Yi's departure, Qin Wuxian sighed deeply.
"For a Late Foundation Establishment cultivator to kill both the Golden Ni Beast and Que Chen—even if he caught them off guard with a sudden ambush—proves that Han Yi's strength has truly reached the Half-Step Golden Core realm. If he breaks through to Golden Core, he will undoubtedly become a great asset to the Sect."
"Prepare to activate the Transmission Formation and report this situation to the Sect Leader. I'll petition him to find an antidote for the Black Hell Powder. Regardless of the cost, we must ensure Han Yi attains Golden Core."
Liu Ruyan nodded solemnly and began activating the Second-Tier Teleportation Array on the fourth floor.
Qin Wuxian had concealed a crucial piece of information: the Sect had already begun plotting the annihilation of the Primal Beast Sect. How could they allow an enemy to slumber peacefully so close to their own bedchamber?
If the Primal Beast Sect hadn't targeted the Profound Pill Sect first, the Profound Pill Sect might have held back. But history in the Great Qian Cultivation World showed that the rise of a Nascent Soul Sect inevitably led to an invisible drain on resources from surrounding Golden Core Sects, leaving them with only three fates: absorption, annihilation, or forced withdrawal.
Sensing this impending crisis, the Primal Beast Sect had partnered with the Ten Thousand Methods Sect to hinder the Profound Pill Sect's ascent, buying time for their own growth. If a Nascent Soul True Monarch emerged during this window, they could challenge the Profound Pill Sect for dominance over northern Shu Prefecture.
Half an hour later, Liu Ruyan transmitted news of Han Yi's return and his ordeal to the Sect. Within another quarter of an hour, she received a reply: Han Yi needn't worry unduly; the Sect Leader would find an antidote to the Black Hell Powder.
The message also contained intelligence about the Primal Beast Sect. Qin Wuxian read it, a cold glint flickering in his eyes.
"Hmph, it's finally beginning."
"This plan may be simple, but it's highly effective. Once we eliminate the Sect Leader of the Primal Beast Sect, the sect will descend into chaos. We can then take our time to dismantle it. With a little patience, the Primal Beast Sect is doomed."
"After crushing the Primal Beast Sect, let's see if the neighboring sects still dare to wield the Ten Thousand Methods Sect's blade."
Meanwhile, back in his meditation chamber at the garrison, Han Yi resumed his secluded cultivation. This time, he continued practicing the Ancient God Contemplation Technique. The lingering poison still unsettled him, making it difficult to find peace.
As he visualized the Ancient God, he absorbed spirit stones, channeling their energy into his physical body to strengthen it. Immersed in the technique, his body devoured the spirit qi with insatiable hunger, consuming fully half of the available energy. The remaining half flowed into his mana, nourishing his Spirit Sea, with only a small fraction dissipating.
Three days later, Bai Wanqing and another Foundation Establishment Elder named Fei Chao returned. Han Yi emerged briefly to greet them. Upon exiting, he noticed Qin Wuxian's departure. Liu Ruyan simply explained that Qin Wuxian had left on urgent business, and Han Yi didn't give it much thought.
After the brief meeting, Han Yi returned to his secluded cultivation. With two additional Foundation Establishment cultivators now stationed at the Profound Immortal Pavilion, Liu Ruyan would no longer trouble him with minor matters, even in Qin Wuxian's absence.
Han Yi could now fully concentrate on his cultivation undisturbed.
In the blink of an eye, a year had passed.
Behind the Profound Immortal Pavilion, in the deepest cultivation chamber of the garrison, dozens of Spirit Stones within the Spirit Gathering Formation crackled loudly. The Spirit Qi within the formation had solidified into a tangible substance, surging violently into Han Yi's meditating body.
Han Yi's eyes snapped open, a flash of Spirit Light passing through his pupils.
"Not enough. Still not enough."
With a casual wave of his hand, over a hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones embedded themselves into the Spirit Gathering Formation. Instantly, they transformed into Spirit Qi so dense it almost materialized into a mist. This vaporous Spirit Qi relentlessly poured into Han Yi's body, as if his body were a bottomless vacuum, greedily devouring the energy.
In just three breaths, ninety percent of the Spirit Qi within the formation had been completely devoured, bringing the terrifyingly frenzied absorption to a halt.
Han Yi's body began to glow. Every microscopic particle composing his being emitted light outward. Had anyone witnessed this, they would have been utterly awestruck. At that moment, Han Yi resembled a deity, radiating an aura of profound reverence.
However...
The radiance flickered only nine times before gradually fading, eventually vanishing completely, and Han Yi returned to normal.
On his familiar Proficiency Panel, a line of text had updated:
Ancient God Contemplation Technique (Perfected Purity 1/100)
Han Yi opened his eyes, a flicker of excitement dancing in them as he gazed at the Ancient God Contemplation Technique, now at the Perfected Purity stage.
Yet, amidst his elation, his understanding of this body cultivation technique deepened.
"Even reaching Perfected Purity required such a staggering amount of Spirit Qi. This Ancient God Contemplation Technique is truly extraordinary."
"Moreover..."
Han Yi closed his eyes, focusing on Ancient God Contemplation. Since the breakthrough, he sensed—perhaps it was merely his imagination—that the distant, colossal Phantom Shadow of the Ancient God seemed to have drawn slightly closer to him during his visualization.
This illusion was spatial in nature.
Reopening his eyes, Han Yi dismissed the question of perception. Regardless of whether it was real or not, the technique's consumption of Spirit Stones and its transformative effects on his physical body were utterly absurd.
He extended his hand and lightly clenched his fist, immediately feeling significant resistance.
Boom.
In the next instant, the air compressed violently, escaping with such speed that the resulting sonic boom shattered the air, startling Han Yi.
"So potent," he murmured.
He halted his experiment, knowing the next step was far more crucial.
Closing his eyes, he focused his mental energy on the irregular black mass at the heart of his Spirit Sea—the lingering toxins of the Black Hell Powder.
In the next instant, Mana surged through his body, churning his Spirit Sea. Every particle of his physical form seemed to awaken with power as this force enveloped the most stubborn pocket of toxins within his Spirit Sea and violently dragged it outward.
Pfft!
Han Yi flicked his wrist, expelling a stream of pitch-black venom from his arm. Upon striking the ground, the venom instantly corroded a pit two meters deep. The surrounding soil hissed and sizzled as it burned, releasing plumes of dark, potent fumes.
With a gentle downward press of his hand, he suppressed the toxic cloud, forcing it back into the pit. Then, a sweep of his Divine Sense unearthed nearby bricks to fill the crater.
After thoroughly inspecting his Spirit Sea once more and confirming the complete elimination of all toxins, his body finally relaxed.
With this, the residual toxins of the Black Hell Powder had been completely eradicated.