Pressed for time, Han Yi simply stored Li Changsheng and Dong Chang in his Immortal Spirit Realm.
He then combined the Mind Realm Immortal Technique with the Flame God's Myriad Realm Traverse to accelerate his flight.
The Mind Realm Immortal Technique was at the mid-stage of Second-Tier Immortal Arts, still far from reaching the Third-Tier.
The Flame God's Myriad Realm Traverse, the second transformation of the Ancient Flame Moon God's Nine Transformations, was a Peak Primordial Realm Divine Art. Its speed surpassed even the enhanced velocity of the Mind Realm Immortal Technique.
When combined, their speed barely reached the level of a Peak Profound Immortal.
Of course, against a true Peak Profound Immortal, his speed would still be his weakness.
In this dual activation, the Mind Realm Immortal Technique served a dual purpose: advancing his mastery of the art while maintaining a semi-cultivation state. The Flame God's Myriad Realm Traverse, on the other hand, was solely for acceleration.
According to his calculations, the journey from the Primordial Arts Immortal Domain to the Luo Tian Immortal Court's territory, specifically to the Heavenly March Immortal City guarded by the Big Dipper Immortal Palace, would require crossing thirteen Immortal Domains. At his current speed, he estimated the journey would take about seven days.
For a True Immortal, traversing this distance would take nearly three months. For a Demigod, it would require over a decade, and for a Transformation God cultivator, the journey would be several times longer, stretching into decades.
This was why Han Yi had previously surmised that Dong Chang hadn't arrived alone.
The primary reason for this delay was the ongoing paralysis of the Immortal Realm's Inter-Domain Transmission Formations, or, more accurately, their complete failure.
As Han Yi journeyed southward, he chose a route that cut directly through the Imperial Court Immortal Court before veering southwest. This minimized his chances of direct contact with the Blazing Flame Dao Court, preventing further delays.
Seven days later, he finally reached the outskirts of Heavenly March Immortal City.
With a gentle wave of his hand, he released Li Changsheng and Dong Chang.
During those seven days within Han Yi's Immortal Spirit Realm, his Immortal Soul had communicated with Li Changsheng, fostering a growing familiarity.
It was evident that Li Changsheng possessed a certain inner pride, yet his genuine reverence for Han Yi was undeniable. After all, even in the Immortal Realm—renowned for its abundance of Heavenly Prides of the Immortal Path—Han Yi had overwhelmed countless Immortals, earning widespread acclaim. His reputation preceded him, not only in the Chaotic Demon Zone but throughout the Immortal Realm.
As the saying goes, "There is always a higher heaven beyond this one, and a greater person beyond any you know." Li Changsheng understood this truth clearly.
However, Li Changsheng had his own path. Given time, reaching the Profound Immortal, Golden Immortal, or even realms beyond, was not an unattainable dream.
Outside Heavenly March Immortal City, Li Changsheng gazed at the Immortal City thirty miles away, its Immortal Formation now activated, and breathed a sigh of relief. He had completed his mission. Dong Chang, standing beside him, was even more excited.
"We made it just in time!"
"There's still time!"
"Let's go!"
Li Changsheng used his Immortal Power to propel Dong Chang forward, with Han Yi following close behind.
The Immortal Domain where Heavenly March Immortal City was located was called the Profound Heaven Immortal Domain. Situated west of the Luo Tian Immortal Court, it directly faced the Blazing Flame Dao Court. To its south lay the Azure Profound Immortal Domain.
This strategic location was crucial. As Han Yi had learned from Li Changsheng, the Luo Tian Immortal Court had deployed nearly all the combat forces from the Immortal Palaces under the Doumu Primordial Palace along this frontline.
Among these fortifications, Heavenly March Immortal City, though not of paramount importance (lacking Immortal Monarchs or Golden Immortals), served as a vital link in the defensive line. Constantly threatened by incursions from Profound Immortals performing the Path of Dao Sacrifice, the city's survival depended entirely on the tenacious resistance of Immortal cultivators from the Big Dipper Immortal Palace.
This precarious situation was precisely why Li Changsheng and Dong Chang had sought Han Yi's assistance.
For True Immortals, a distance of thirty miles was trivial.
They had only flown ten miles when Han Yi suddenly stopped, turning to his right. Hundreds of miles away, beyond the outskirts of the Immortal City, a deafening roar erupted into the sky. The massive shockwave shattered space at its epicenter, unleashing a torrent of destructive energy.
Dozens of figures surged toward Heavenly March Immortal City through the fractured void.
Even at this distance, Han Yi could clearly sense the bizarre aura emanating from them. Thirty percent resembled the Counter-Dao Aura, while the rest was entirely new.
"Sacrificial Daoists?" Han Yi had already deduced their identity and origins.
Li Changsheng's expression darkened. "Correct. They are Sacrificial Daoists."
"The Path of Dao Sacrifice... these Sacrificial Daoists employ bizarre methods. Though their Cultivation Realms may not be particularly high, the power they can unleash is not to be underestimated."
"Moreover, our Immortal Arts are weakened when facing Sacrificial Daoists."
"This is because Sacrificial Daoists possess an innate resistance to Dao Principles and Laws. The Dao Principles and Laws inherent in our Immortal Arts are diminished upon contact with them."
"This is one of the reasons why Sacrificial Daoists are so difficult to deal with."
Li Changsheng drew his Immortal Sword, transforming into a streak of Sword Light as he charged hundreds of miles toward the approaching threat.
Han Yi sensed the aura emanating from the Immortal Sword, and a flicker of surprise ran through him.
It was a damaged Fifth-Rank Immortal Artifact, yet in the hands of a Profound Immortal, it could unleash the power of a Fourth-Rank weapon.
More crucially, the sword's aura was almost identical to Li Changsheng's, as if Li Changsheng himself were the sword's spirit.
Such occurrences weren't uncommon, so Han Yi wasn't particularly astonished. Following Li Changsheng's trajectory, he glanced toward the sudden eruption of combat hundreds of miles away.
Then, withdrawing his gaze, he addressed Dong Chang, whose face was taut with worry: "Fellow Daoist Dong, the area outside the city is perilous. Allow me to lend you a hand and send you swiftly back to Immortal City."
"Afterward, I'll go assist the Immortal Friends of the Big Dipper Immortal Palace."
Before Dong Chang could respond, Han Yi enveloped him in a surge of Immortal Power and hurled him toward Immortal City. The Immortal Power was carefully controlled, cushioning his fall so that he would reach the city walls at the speed of a Peak Profound Immortal before dissipating, allowing him to land safely.
With that done, Han Yi strode toward the distant battlefield, millions of miles away.
By then, over thirty Immortals had joined the fray, with four Profound Immortals locked in the heart of the conflict.
Han Yi immediately recognized one of the figures: Fu Qiong, the Hall Master of the Big Dipper Immortal Palace.
He didn't recognize the other Profound Immortal fighting alongside Fu Qiong. According to Li Changsheng, the Big Dipper Immortal Palace didn't have a Profound Immortal of this caliber. Moreover, this man's aura was steady, lacking the weakness of someone who had recently ascended to the True Immortal realm. Han Yi concluded that he must be an outsider lending assistance.
Their opponents were none other than two Sacrificial Daoists.
If Han Yi hadn't known their true identities beforehand, and had never encountered mutated immortals like Sacrificial Daoists in the Immortal Realm, he would have simply classified them as Profound Immortals with peculiar methods, or perhaps even as Evil Immortals.
With each step, space seemed to ripple beneath his feet, breaking into disjointed nodes instead of a straight line. Each stride carried him across dozens of li, landing on a new node.
Within moments, he had already surpassed Li Changsheng, who was still wielding his Immortal Sword.
Then, Han Yi extended his right hand, pressed his index and middle fingers together, and slashed forward. The fragment of the Heavenly Demon Halberd at his waist sprang to life, tracing a silver arc through the air. The light was neither dazzling nor radiant; without close observation, it could easily be missed or dismissed as a negligible spark from the ongoing Immortal Combat.
Han Yi strolled forward at a leisurely pace, his expression serene. The scene before him held little to pique his interest.
Whether on the Two Realms Battlefield or within the Void Tower, Han Yi had encountered hundreds, even thousands, of Peak Profound Immortals, and slain more than a few himself.
The combat prowess of his opponents—Fu Qiong, the unfamiliar Profound Immortal, and the two Sacrificial Daoist Profound Immortals—was merely average for their rank. Han Yi's true concern lay in the possibility of a more formidable Peak Profound Immortal-class Sacrificial Daoist lurking in the shadows, or even a Golden Immortal-level Sacrificial Daoist.
Through years of cultivation, his Life Seed reserves had dwindled considerably. Though his Sword Control Immortal Art remained at Fourth-Rank, its progress had advanced to 65/100.
If he exerted his full strength, combining the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment, Sword Realm, Ancient Flame Moon God's Nine Transformations, and other techniques, Han Yi was confident that while he couldn't directly confront a Golden Immortal, he could certainly escape their clutches.
Of course, he was referring to ordinary Golden Immortals. Against seasoned or Peak Golden Immortals, his chances of survival would be slim. In such a dire situation, he would likely hurl the Great Abyss Divine Blade, forcing the weapon to unleash its full power and block the pursuing Golden Immortal.
But that had been a last resort, unnecessary in the current situation.
So...
At that moment, his thoughts were mostly focused on the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment, with only a small part still pondering how far he was from achieving Golden Immortal-level combat prowess.
A flash of silver light pierced through a True Immortal Sacrificial Daoist, its speed undiminished as it streaked onward. The Profound Immortal Sacrificial Daoist engaged in combat with Fu Qiong sensed something amiss and abruptly turned around.
But in that instant, the silver light was already pressing against his forehead.
As if time had slowed infinitely, one could see that the Profound Immortal Sacrificial Daoist's eyes held no fear of death, not even a hint of premonition. Only confusion and wariness at sensing danger and turning back.
!
Time resumed its normal flow. The silver light pressed into his forehead, inch by inch, piercing through the back of his skull. The terrifying power within the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment utterly annihilated everything within the Profound Immortal-class Sacrificial Daoist, including his Immortal Soul, corrupted by the Counter-Dao and the aura of the Path of Dao Sacrifice.
Bang!
Fu Qiong's sword flashed, reducing the defenseless Profound Immortal Sacrificial Daoist to ash.
His eyes flickered, his face lighting up with delight as he looked toward Han Yi's approaching figure.
"It's him."
"He's here."
"Incredible! The power of that Immortal Artifact is nearing Fifth-Rank."
"No wonder he topped the Sui Zhu Profound Immortal Ranking."
Fu Qiong was inwardly shaken. The fleeting silver light he had just witnessed, which he believed to be Han Yi's Immortal Artifact, had demonstrated terrifying combat prowess approaching the limits of a Peak Profound Immortal.
He glanced at another Profound Immortal-class Sacrificial Daoist, but before the man could react, the silver light abruptly reversed course. In the instant Fu Qiong's thought faded, even as he turned his head, the silver light had already obliterated the second Profound Immortal-class Sacrificial Daoist.
The Profound Immortal who had been battling the second Sacrificial Daoist paled in horror, freezing in place, afraid to move even slightly lest he be struck by the fearsome silver light.
An Immortal Artifact capable of instantly slaying a Profound Immortal-class Sacrificial Daoist... If that light struck me, my Dao would be extinguished.
Having annihilated the two Profound Immortal-class Sacrificial Daoists, the silver light surged forward with undiminished intensity. Moving at a speed no True Immortal-class Sacrificial Daoist could evade, it tore through their ranks, instantly skewering six True Immortal Sacrificial Daoists in a single, devastating streak.
Including the unfortunate True Immortal Sacrificial Daoist who had initially blocked Han Yi's path, in less than a single breath, Han Yi had utterly crushed his foes, annihilating two Profound Immortal-class Sacrificial Daoists and seven True Immortal Sacrificial Daoists with overwhelming force.
As Han Yi strode forward, the silver light flickered, then settled before him, fastening itself to his waist.
Though no footsteps echoed, each step Han Yi took seemed to resonate in the hearts of the assembled immortals, sending tremors of shock and awe through their ranks.
"It's Han Yi."
"Han Yi of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court."
"An immortal who ascended the Profound Immortal Ranking of the Void Tower... he's truly this formidable."
"His reputation precedes him."
Among the immortals, Fu Qiong, accompanied by another Profound Immortal and followed by dozens of True Immortals, advanced to greet Han Yi.
Just then, Li Changsheng arrived, sword in hand, and positioned himself behind Han Yi. His expression mirrored the collective astonishment.
The recent Immortal Combat, which had dragged on until Han Yi's intervention, had ended in the blink of an eye—smoothly, without a single hitch, as if meticulously choreographed beforehand. It was so seamless, so unlike a typical immortal battle, that it felt almost unreal, leaving Li Changsheng questioning its reality.
Though he had known Han Yi was strong, this level of overwhelming power was beyond absurd.
Fu Qiong and Li Changsheng exchanged a glance, each confirming what they needed to see in the other's eyes. Reassured, Fu Qiong turned to Han Yi and boomed:
"Han Yi, you've finally arrived!"
"The Big Dipper Immortal Palace, including myself, Fu Qiong, owes you a debt of gratitude."
Han Yi nodded and cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Fu Qiong, the Profound Immortal. "Hall Master, you flatter me. I am, always have been, and always will be a member of the Big Dipper Immortal Palace. Talk of debts of gratitude is unnecessary."
Han Yi was a man of gratitude and deep loyalty, a trait he had displayed in the Jade Balance Realm and continued to uphold in the Sui Zhu Immortal Court. He never let his increasing strength make him look down on those he had known before, even if their cultivation realms were lower than his. Such arrogance was foreign to him.
Fu Qiong's face lit up at Han Yi's words. This declaration assured him that Han Yi would help the Big Dipper Immortal Palace weather their current crisis, exactly what he had hoped for.
"Excellent! Absolutely wonderful!"
"Let's return to the Immortal City first and discuss this further."
Han Yi nodded, his gaze sweeping over the immortals behind Fu Qiong. A sudden realization struck him: he recognized most of them from his first escape from the Chaotic Demon Zone in the Fragmented Immortal Realm. Among them were the Sword Master of Sword Cliff from the Jade Balance Realm and Daoist Tianwu of the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect.
Though Han Yi knew of these figures, his cultivation realm had been far too low at the time. He had only witnessed their awe-inspiring power from the fringes of the Two Realms Battlefield, and they would not recognize him now.
Without hesitation, Han Yi took the lead, activating his Escape Technique to vanish toward Heavenly March Immortal City, with Fu Qiong and the other Profound Immortal flanking him. As they journeyed, Fu Qiong introduced Han Yi to the Profound Immortal beside him.
As Han Yi had suspected, the Profound Immortal was not affiliated with the Big Dipper Immortal Palace. Instead, he hailed from the Heavenly Purity Sect, an ancient and venerable Immortal Sect. This Profound Immortal, whose Daoist Title was Ming Su, had once been rescued from a Robber Immortal by Fu Qiong during the latter's travels through the Immortal Realm.
Now, with the Big Dipper Immortal Palace facing imminent danger, Fu Qiong had dispatched messengers to request Ming Su's assistance.
After Han Yi greeted him, Ming Su learned of Han Yi's identity and origins. He was visibly astonished. Though both were ordinary Profound Immortals, a subtle hint of respect crept into Ming Su's expression.
This respect stemmed not merely from Han Yi's origins in the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, nor his ascension to the prestigious Profound Immortal Ranking—a feat reserved for the most powerful Profound Immortals in that ancient court. It was primarily due to Han Yi's earlier effortless slaughter of another Sacrificial Daoist Profound Immortal, an opponent of equal strength, whom he had dispatched as casually as chopping wood or slicing melons.
This terrifying, overwhelming combat prowess, which sent shivers down Ming Su's spine, was the direct cause of his awe.
Moments later, the immortals returned to Heavenly March Immortal City. In the city's core, Fu Qiong retained only Han Yi, briefing him on the dire situation facing the Immortal City.
As Han Yi listened, his expression grew increasingly grave. The reality was far grimmer than Li Changsheng had realized.