Observing Yuan Hong's expectant expression, Han Yi felt a subtle shift within himself. He too had noticed something unusual about Yuan Hong.
This Immortal Puppet possessed an unprecedented degree of autonomy, unlike any other he had encountered. It had become virtually indistinguishable from a living being.
Recalling Yuan Shun's message in the Golden Butterfly, which described Yuan Hong as the most unique Immortal Puppet in the Kunlun Immortal Realm, with a mysterious origin, Han Yi's interest in him suddenly deepened.
Judging by the aura emanating from the Golden Butterfly, Yuan Shun had already ascended to the Golden Immortal realm. For someone like him to describe Yuan Hong's origins as "mysterious," the secret must involve Immortal Monarchs, Immortal Sovereigns, or even Dao Ancestors.
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Han Yi abruptly asked, "By the way, Sect Leader Yuan, has he already ascended to the Golden Immortal realm?"
He wanted to confirm this one last time.
Yuan Hong nodded in response. "That's correct. My master achieved Golden Immortal status ten years ago."
Hearing this, Lian Tingxi, who was standing nearby, beamed with delight and trembled with excitement.
"Old Sect Leader Yuan has become a Golden Immortal?"
"Does that mean our Profound Pill Sect is now a Golden Immortal-grade sect?"
"This... this is truly wonderful!"
His face flushed with emotion, and it took him three full breaths to regain his composure.
"However, this matter must remain confidential, known only to the three of us."
"We should only announce it publicly after Old Sect Leader Yuan returns, to avoid any unforeseen complications."
As expected of Lian Tingxi, Sect Leader of the Profound Pill Sect, he had considered the matter with meticulous care.
Yuan Hong naturally agreed to Lian Tingxi's instructions. He then turned to Han Yi and asked, "Returning to the previous matter, Senior Brother Han, if there's anything you wish to entrust to me, please be specific."
Han Yi pondered for a moment, glancing at Lian Tingxi, before slowly replying, "I was originally deliberating who would be best suited to oversee this project."
"But now that Junior Brother Yuan has arrived, he seems perfectly suited for the role."
"Our Sect already possesses the Battle Law Divine Mountain, within which numerous Cave Heavens have been carved out to provide training grounds for our cultivators."
"My next vision is to construct a special place to house the Immortal Realm's boundless secrets, ancient texts, cultivation techniques, immortal techniques, and rare treasures."
"This concept is inspired by the Profound Repository Palace of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court."
"The Sui Zhu Immortal Court's Profound Repository Palace is divided into ninety-nine layers. Only Immortals who have reached a certain cultivation realm can ascend to the corresponding layer and access the secrets reserved for their level."
"Take me, for example," Han Yi continued. "Due to special circumstances, I possess Golden Immortal Authorization, granting me access to the thirtieth through thirty-ninth layers."
"This, like the Battle Law Divine Mountain, is crucial for the long-term development of our Sect."
"To establish such a place, we need a guardian to protect it."
"Yuan Hong, I have chosen you to be that guardian."
Han Yi had already conceived this idea before Yuan Hong's arrival.
The Profound Pill Sect already possessed a Scripture Repository, but its function was limited to storing Cultivation Techniques. It hadn't been expanded to include secrets, rare treasures, ancient texts, and other valuable resources.
Lian Tingxi and Yuan Hong, who were standing nearby, were visibly startled by Han Yi's proposal.
Han Yi's vision laid the foundation for a ten-thousand-year Immortal Sect. In the future, it would undoubtedly become a core pillar of the Sect's Dao Field, just like the Battle Law Divine Mountain.
"Excellent! What a brilliant idea!" Lian Tingxi exclaimed, his face beaming with excitement. "Senior Brother Han's vision will surely elevate the Profound Pill Sect to new heights!"
Yuan Hong shared his enthusiasm. His eyes shone with radiant light, and the dense Dao resonance surrounding him made it clear that Han Yi's concept had sparked his profound interest.
Han Yi knew that as the guardian of this place, Yuan Hong's duties would extend beyond simply overseeing this vital location. He would also be responsible for collecting classic texts from across the land, which would greatly benefit his own cultivation.
"Guarding a pavilion..." Yuan Hong mused.
"Excellent! This is far more interesting than guarding the Mountain Gate or sweeping the Scripture Repository," Lian Tingxi exclaimed.
"So, what should we name this place?" Yuan Hong turned to Han Yi, followed by Lian Tingxi. In this Secret Realm, Han Yi held the highest cultivation and seniority, and it was his vision that had brought them here. Naturally, he should choose the name.
After a moment's contemplation, Han Yi said, "The Sui Zhu Immortal Court calls their repository the Profound Repository Palace. Our Sect is the Profound Pill Sect, and since Junior Brother Yuan Hong will be its guardian, let's name it the Profound Hong Pavilion."
"What do you think?"
Han Yi's choice of "Profound Hong Pavilion" was admittedly convenient.
Yuan Hong and Lian Tingxi heartily approved.
Thus, the name "Profound Hong Pavilion" was settled upon.
As for its location, they chose an Immortal Peak not far from Battle Law Divine Mountain, clearing a site to construct the pavilion.
The initial design for the Profound Hong Pavilion envisioned ninety-nine layers.
Afterward, the three continued discussing the construction details of the Profound Hong Pavilion for over an hour before Han Yi finally left alone. Lian Tingxi and Yuan Hong would oversee the remaining construction.
Upon returning to Battle Law Divine Mountain and stepping into his Cave Heaven, Han Yi suddenly paused, struck by a thought.
"A guardian?"
"That's right, even the Profound Hong Pavilion will need a guardian."
"Then the Profound Repository Palace must also have an Immortal guardian, though one has never appeared. To suppress both Golden Immortals and Immortal Monarchs, this guardian must possess immense power—at least the cultivation of an Immortal Sovereign."
"Strange. I've never heard of an Immortal Sovereign with the Daoist Title 'Profound Repository,' nor even an Immortal Monarch with such a title."
"Could the guardian of the Profound Repository Palace actually be a Dao Ancestor?"
Han Yi shook his head, suppressing this sudden notion. He then proceeded to the core of his Cave Heaven and began cultivating.
Yuan Hong's return brought news of the Qingping Sword Division and many updates on Yuan Shun. Though deeply worried about Yuan Shun, Han Yi couldn't abandon the Profound Pill Sect to venture into the Dark Realm.
The dangers of the Dark Realm defied even Heavenly Venerables. Even Dao Ancestors had fallen there; what chance would he stand?
Han Yi could only hope that Yuan Shun's extraordinary luck would lead him to obtain a Fragment of Reincarnation.
In just over a century since Yuan Shun's departure, he had already broken through from Peak True Immortal to Golden Immortal, surpassing even Han Yi's own rapid progress with his system panel. This unprecedented advancement was largely attributed to the Fragment of Reincarnation.
If Yuan Shun could acquire the fragment that had separated from the complete Fragment of Reincarnation within the Three Rivers Valley of the Dark Realm, his cultivation realm might instantly surge to Immortal Monarch, perhaps even Immortal Sovereign. There was even a faint possibility that he could become the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor himself.
Legend had it that during the early Eighth Epoch, two Immortal Sovereigns from the Great Luo Immortal Realm had perished: the Heavenly Demon Dao Ancestor and the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor.
From the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment in Han Yi's possession, he learned that the Chaotic Demon Zone was originally a fragment of the Heavenly Demon Halberd, the Heavenly Demon Dao Ancestor's Dao Artifact.
As for the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor, Han Yi had gained some understanding in the Profound Repository Palace. This Dao Ancestor was an Immortal who had obtained a Fragment of Reincarnation and used it to ascend to the Dao Ancestor realm.
The Great Luo Cataclysm that marked the beginning of the Eighth Epoch likely stemmed from that very Fragment of Reincarnation. In the end, the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor fell, and the fragment was stripped away and disappeared, its whereabouts unknown to this day.
This was the state of affairs Han Yi had witnessed within the Profound Repository Palace. Whether there were definitive answers at higher levels remained unknown to him.
The Reincarnation Dao Ancestor was not a singular entity. Any cultivator who obtained a fragment of the Primordial Reincarnation had the potential to ascend to the position of Dao Ancestor.
In other words, if Yuan Shun truly discovered a substantial fragment of Reincarnation in the Three Rivers Valley, he could eventually become a Dao Ancestor.
Furthermore, by collecting all the Fragments of Reincarnation from across the Nine Realms, one could ascend to the position of Reincarnation Heavenly Sovereign.
Of course, a million years had passed without anyone achieving this feat, making such ambitions wildly unrealistic for Yuan Shun. Han Yi reined in his thoughts and resumed his cultivation.
However, in his third year of seclusion, he was interrupted once more.
This time, it was again Lian Tingxi's divine sense that broke his concentration.
Upon examining the message, Han Yi immediately ended his seclusion, transforming into a streak of light that landed atop Combat Peak. There, he recognized a familiar face.
"Long time no see, Fellow Daoist Dong," Han Yi greeted.
Standing before him was none other than Dong Chang, the former steward of the Big Dipper Immortal Palace and Bai Yuyai's close friend. Han Yi and Dong Chang had interacted frequently and were well acquainted.
Lian Tingxi, who was standing beside Dong Chang, cupped his fists in a respectful bow toward Han Yi before retreating into the pavilion.
Dong Chang straightened his expression, adopting a respectful demeanor as he bowed deeply to Han Yi.
"Immortal Envoy Han, now that you've achieved Immortal Ascension, it's no longer appropriate to address you as Fellow Daoist. Please, just call me Dong Chang."
Han Yi chuckled, radiating none of the solemn dignity one might expect from an immortal. "Fellow Daoist Dong, are you worried I've changed?"
"Rest assured," Han Yi continued, "these titles are mere formalities to me. There's no need to be concerned about them."
Dong Chang breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, nearly three centuries had passed since their last meeting. Back then, Han Yi was still at the Transformation God stage, their cultivation realms not so different.
But in the intervening years, though Dong Chang had narrowly survived countless life-and-death trials to reach the Transformation God stage—and had even become an Advanced Spirit Transformation expert—Han Yi had leaped across several major cultivation realms to become a Profound Immortal.
Moreover, the Immortal Palace had learned that Han Yi held a surprisingly high rank on the Profound Immortal Ranking of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court. Dong Chang fully understood the weight carried by the three ranking lists of the Void Tower within the Sui Zhu Immortal Court. To even make it onto the Profound Immortal Ranking meant one possessed combat prowess rivaling that of a Peak Profound Immortal.
In other words, Han Yi could no longer be treated as an ordinary Profound Immortal but as a Peak Profound Immortal.
This realization left Dong Chang utterly astounded.
In terms of cultivation realm, Dong Chang was hardly qualified to be here. He hadn't even reached the Demigod stage, a vast disparity compared to Han Yi's Profound Immortal Realm.
However, after internal discussions, the Big Dipper Immortal Palace decided to send him anyway, considering Han Yi's past personality. The primary reason, of course, was their close relationship.
If Bai Yuyai hadn't gone missing beyond the domain, he would have been the ideal choice. But with Bai Yuyai's disappearance, Dong Chang became the best candidate to seek Han Yi's help.
Hearing Han Yi's words, Dong Chang's anxiety instantly eased. Throwing caution to the wind, he declared, "Then I'll boldly address you as Fellow Daoist."
Han Yi waved his hand dismissively. "Enough with the formalities."
"I bet you're here on a mission. Tell me what you need help with. I'll gladly assist without hesitation."
Han Yi's sincerity warmed Dong Chang's heart.
The Big Dipper Immortal Palace had sent him precisely because of their personal connection. Even Fu Qiong and Pang Wan, though powerful, were only nodding acquaintances with Han Yi, not truly familiar. Moreover, with the palace facing its current crisis, neither of them could spare the time.
Since the incident in the Imperial Cliff Heaven Realm many years ago, contact between the Big Dipper Immortal Palace, Han Yi, and the Profound Pill Sect had been almost completely severed. From that point onward, it could be said that neither party owed the other anything.
Now that the Big Dipper Immortal Palace was in trouble and seeking assistance, it would be perfectly understandable if Han Yi refused. If he agreed, however, the palace would owe him a considerable debt of gratitude.
Dong Chang took a deep breath and said, "Fellow Daoist Han, you truly understand the situation."
"I have indeed come to request a favor."
After a brief pause to carefully organize his thoughts, he continued:
"During the Great Luo Cataclysm, the Dao Ancestor fell, and the Immortal Court fractured."
"The Big Dipper Immortal Palace followed Immortal Monarch Doumu and joined the Luo Tian Immortal Court, relocating southward."
"Since then, our territory has directly bordered the Blazing Flame Dao Court, facing immense pressure from the Sacrificial Daoists."
"Over a decade ago, Immortal Sovereign Boundary Lotus ventured south into the Azure Profound Immortal Domain, causing great alarm within the Immortal Court."
"Those concerns have now materialized."
"Sacrificial Daoists have been appearing with increasing frequency near our Immortal City, many of them at the Profound Immortal-Class."
"Although our Hall Master has advanced to the Profound Immortal Realm, he is the only one in our palace at that level. We are beginning to feel overwhelmed and urgently need reinforcements."
"We originally requested assistance from the Immortal Court, but they are stretched thin across multiple fronts, and every Immortal Palace is under tremendous strain. They cannot spare any personnel."
"In recent years, three Immortal Palaces have fallen to the Sacrificial Daoists. Fellow Daoist Han, you're likely familiar with one of them—the Gouchen Immortal Palace, which split off from the Big Dipper Immortal Palace and once invited you to join their war effort."
"We only sent me here as a last resort, to request your assistance."
Anxious to dispel any misunderstanding, Dong Chang hastily added, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Han, this assignment won't last long."
"The sect's two Vice Sect Leaders have already reached the peak of the True Immortal realm. We estimate they'll break through to the Profound Immortal realm within half a sexagenary cycle. Once we have three Profound Immortals stationed at the front lines, the pressure will ease, and you can return."
Han Yi suddenly thought of a question. "From the Luo Tian Immortal Court to the Primordial Arts Immortal Domain spans nearly half the Immortal Realm. Fellow Daoist Dong, you didn't travel here alone, did you?"
Dong Chang was merely an Advanced Spirit Transformation cultivator. Crossing such a vast distance at that level would take decades. With the Big Dipper Immortal Palace's urgent situation, they couldn't possibly afford such delays.
Dong Chang chuckled wryly. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you."
"The Azure Robe Hall Master accompanied me on this journey. He's waiting outside the Azure Shu Mountain Range."
Han Yi frowned. "The Azure Robe Hall Master?"
After Dong Chang explained, Han Yi understood. The Azure Robe Hall Master referred to Li Changsheng of Jade Capital Mountain, who had also become a True Immortal and reached the Advanced True Immortal stage.
As for his Longevity Daoist Title, Li Changsheng had changed it to "Azure Robe" because the Immortal Court already had an Immortal Monarch of Longevity.
Han Yi recalled their time in the True Dawn Grand Void Cave Heaven, where Li Changsheng, clad in azure robes, radiated boundless immortal grace. Back then, Han Yi had deeply envied him.
But time flowed like the stars in the sky. Over five centuries had passed, and without realizing it, Han Yi's cultivation realm had surpassed Li Changsheng's, carrying him far beyond.
"So, it's the Dao Lord of Eternal Life from back then," Han Yi murmured with a touch of sentimentality. In the Jade Balance Realm, due to the Chaotic Demon Zone's blockade, even a Transformation God cultivator could be addressed as Dao Lord. Looking back now, that title seemed rather inappropriate.
After a moment's contemplation, Han Yi decided to lend his aid. His connection to the Northern Dipper Realm was too strong to ignore.
"There's no time to lose. Wait for me here."
Han Yi activated his escape technique and returned to Battle Law Divine Mountain. After a quick preparation, he visited the newly established Profound Hong Pavilion, founded just three years prior, and instructed Yuan Hong on several matters. Finally, he returned to Profound Pill Peak, summoned Lian Tingxi, and issued further orders.
With Dong Chang in tow, Han Yi flew beyond the Azure Shu Mountain Range.
Dong Chang's face beamed with gratitude. This mission held immense significance; without Han Yi's help, the Big Dipper Immortal Palace would be on the brink of collapse. Securing Han Yi's assistance would allow the palace to endure until its two Vice Palace Masters achieved the Profound Immortal Realm, ushering in a far brighter future.
Moments later, they rendezvoused with Li Changsheng outside the Azure Shu Mountain Range, where he had been waiting. The three of them then journeyed southward.