The True Immortal imprisoned by Han Yi within his Divine Aperture World bore the Daoist title Fu Ling.
According to Fu Ling's Immortal Soul memories, over a century ago, five Immortals ambushed Han Yi outside the Azure Shu Mountain Range. Their leader was a Profound Immortal named Su Luan, while Gu Yun True Immortal guarded the Jade Lake sector.
Now, assuming Fu Ling's identity, Han Yi planned to infiltrate the Great Peaks Immortal Sect, which served as a host for the Profound Nuwa Immortal Sect. He had already formulated his strategy.
According to Fu Ling's memories, over a century ago, the Great Peaks Immortal Sect lacked any Golden Immortals but boasted seven Peak Profound Immortals. While Golden Immortals remained rare, the number of Profound Immortals had undoubtedly increased.
To ensure success, Han Yi would first thoroughly investigate the sect to confirm the absence of Golden Immortals. He would then assess whether his own strength was sufficient to destroy the sect.
If he discovered that a Golden Immortal had emerged within the sect in recent years, he would quietly withdraw and head to the Lingxiao Immortal Court. There, he would secretly inform the Peak Golden Immortal-grade Immortal Sects that had previously ambushed the Great Peaks Immortal Sect, manipulating them into doing his dirty work.
However, such a scenario involved too many uncontrollable variables. If possible, Han Yi still preferred to annihilate the hostile sect single-handedly.
The once-isolated Profound Nuwa Immortal Sect now faced the vast Jade Lake, its shimmering gateway suspended a hundred miles above the land. A radiant light flashed, instantly forming a portal over five meters tall and two meters wide.
Han Yi, transformed into the True Immortal Fuling, strode through.
In that instant, a colossal Immortal Sect loomed before him, its Immortal Qi swirling like mist, Spirit Beasts soaring and diving, and cultivators moving about in every direction. The faint aura of Immortals flickered intermittently.
The Profound Nuwa Immortal Sect.
No, more precisely, the Great Peaks Immortal Sect that had usurped its place.
Han Yi took a deep breath and headed straight for the sect's core. Moments later, he found himself in an Immortal Palace, face to face with the current Sect Leader of the Great Peaks Immortal Sect.
This was a Peak Profound Immortal, but he had not inherited the Great Wei Daoist Title; his Daoist Title was Li Yi.
According to sect tradition, the Sect Leader could only claim the Great Wei title when Great Wei could openly appear in the Immortal Realm, rather than continuing to exist by borrowing another sect's identity.
"Greetings, Sect Leader," Han Yi bowed before Li Yi Xuanxian in the Immortal Palace.
He fully activated his Shape Transformation Immortal Art, then overlaid his Immortal Soul with the aura of Immortal Soul Fuling from his Divine Aperture World, striving for seamless perfection.
His opponent was merely a Peak Profound Immortal, not a Golden Immortal. Han Yi was confident he could handle this.
As expected, Li Yi Xuanxian showed no suspicion. He glanced at Han Yi and asked in a deep voice, "You've been gone for many years. What have you uncovered?"
Han Yi replied, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, a century ago, Martial Aunt Su Luan traveled to Sui Gu Immortal City. Following her trail, she ventured to Sui Zhu Immortal Court, where she met her demise outside the Primal Art Dao Field."
"For years, I've been secretly investigating near the Primal Art Dao Field. Recently, I finally made a breakthrough."
"My investigation revealed that over a century ago, the Nine Peaks branch of Sui Gu Immortal City was destroyed. A sect called the Profound Pill Sect was involved. Martial Aunt Su Luan's death is linked to an immortal combat that occurred near the Primal Art Dao Field. The immortal responsible was likely the Supreme Elder of the Profound Pill Sect, who had recently relocated to the area."
"Very few people know about this incident. I stumbled upon these clues by chance and traced them back to their origins."
"The timeline aligns perfectly with Martial Aunt Su Luan's death."
"Furthermore, when the Profound Pill Sect established itself in the Primordial Arts Immortal Domain, they presented a Sect Establishment Token from the Primal Art Dao Field. This suggests the sect was founded by immortals affiliated with the Primal Art Dao Field."
"Given the Dao Field's involvement, I immediately terminated my investigation and returned to report."
Han Yi deliberately kept his explanation concise, revealing only what was necessary. Every word he spoke was the truth, making it nearly impossible to detect any falsehoods, even with causal arts.
Li Yi Xuanxian's gaze flickered, as if illusions shimmered deep within his eyes. After a long moment, he spoke:
"To kill Su Luan and the other Junior Brothers without allowing them to escape or leave any trace, the perpetrator's cultivation must be at least that of a Veteran Profound Immortal, perhaps even a Peak Profound Immortal."
"If an Immortal from the Primal Art Dao Field was involved, that's entirely plausible."
"Given the Dao Field's involvement, and with Junior Brother Chiling on the verge of breaking through to the Golden Immortal Realm, we'll put this matter on hold for now."
"Once Senior Brother Chiling successfully ascends to the Golden Immortal Realm and summons more branch disciples, we'll have sufficient strength to reinvestigate."
Having spoken, Li Yi Xuanxian turned his gaze to Han Yi.
"Fu Ling, you handled this well."
"Withdraw and rest for now. We'll discuss everything further after Junior Brother Chiling's breakthrough."
Han Yi bowed respectfully and slowly retreated.
As he did so, a figure flashed through his mind—a memory retrieved from the Divine Aperture World, belonging to the true True Immortal Fuling.
"Chiling."
"The Great Peaks Immortal Sect's most gifted Profound Immortal Elder, rumored to have once escaped from the clutches of an enemy Golden Immortal, an unparalleled prodigy who has never tasted defeat in the Profound Immortal Realm—a true Heaven's Chosen."
After leaving the palace, Han Yi's thoughts raced, but he didn't act immediately. Instead, he headed toward a specific palace.
After Han Yi departed, Li Yi Xuanxian withdrew his gaze, sensing nothing amiss with Fu Ling. Though he mentally noted the Profound Pill Sect, he didn't attach much importance to it. As he had said, the most pressing matter was the imminent birth of the Great Peaks Immortal Sect's first Golden Immortal, emerging from the ashes of its fractured predecessor.
With a Golden Immortal, Great Wei would have a chance to rise again, a path to transcend its limitations and usher in a new era.
Meanwhile, Han Yi headed to a palace that served as the residence of Gu Xi, a Profound Immortal and the master of True Immortal Fuling.
In the original Great Peaks Immortal Sect, nine Supreme Immortal Peaks had stood tall, each upholding a distinct Golden Immortal Inheritance. Every Golden Immortal commanded numerous Profound Immortal disciples, who in turn taught countless True Immortals, creating a lineage of succession.
When the Peak Golden Immortal of the main peak failed his Tribulation Crossing, the eight other Golden Immortals serving as Dao Protectors fell victim to ambushes by rival Immortal Sects—some perished, others vanished.
Now, the surviving Profound Immortals had formed their own factions, and Fu Ling belonged to Gu Xi's lineage.
Han Yi entered Gu Xi Immortal Hall and confidently strode to its deepest chamber, where he found Daoist Gu Xi, a Veteran Profound Immortal.
Gu Xi raised an eyebrow slightly as he saw Han Yi, but his expression remained largely unchanged. Among his many True Immortal disciples, Fu Ling's mediocre talent had made him unremarkable, and the bond between them was far from profound.
He was about to speak when he noticed True Immortal Fuling entering the hall. A glint flashed in Fuling's eyes, and the proximity allowed him to sense a subtle distortion in space. It was precisely this closeness, however, that made him realize he had been transported to a dark, isolated realm.
This is bad.
He lunged to his feet, only to find himself bound by dozens of massive black chains. Then, a terrifying force, so overwhelming it made him tremble, instantly crushed down upon him.
This power was not singular. Beyond the aura of the Immortal Path, there was an even denser presence, small in quantity but of immeasurable quality.
In that split second, he abandoned any attempt to analyze the source of this strange aura. Instead, he unleashed a furious roar, channeling the Immortal Art known as Nine Purple Lihuo Immortal Wrath. Passed down by the Peak Golden Immortal of his lineage's main peak, this technique allowed him to detonate his Immortal Power in times of desperate peril, granting him power far beyond his current cultivation realm. The cost, however, was severe: his Immortal Power would steadily decline for a century.
Faced with imminent death, he unhesitatingly activated this Immortal Art with its devastating side effects.
But the moment he opened his mouth, a silver beam pierced through his forehead. His Immortal Body froze, then shattered into fragments. Dozens of massive black chains erupted from the void, binding the Immortal Soul beneath the crumbling remains. A flicker of struggle appeared in the Immortal Soul's eyes, but it quickly subsided into a blank stupor.
Immediately, a series of vivid images flooded the Immortal Soul, revealing every memory from the Profound Immortal's past nine thousand years.
Meanwhile, within the Immortal Palace...
Han Yi's thought stirred, and a Phantom Shadow emerged from behind him. It strode forward, settled onto a meditation cushion, and gradually solidified. Its features rapidly coalesced, not into Han Yi's own, but those of the Ancient Past Profound Immortal.
This wasn't a complex Clone Immortal Art, merely a simple application of Immortal Power. However, because Han Yi had imprisoned the Ancient Past Profound Immortal within his Divine Aperture World, he could extract fragments of the Immortal Soul's aura. Thus, this Immortal Power Clone wasn't entirely fabricated; it blended the original owner's aura with the Shape Transformation Immortal Art to create a perfect replica.
The Clone advanced, seated itself cross-legged on the cushion, and closed its eyes.
Below, Han Yi digested Daoist Gu Xi's memories, a sense of relief washing over him.
"Fortunately, in the century since the Great Peaks Immortal Sect was founded, no Golden Immortal aura has emerged. Coupled with Great Wei Sect Leader Li Yi Xuanxian's eagerness for a Golden Immortal to arise within the sect, it's safe to conclude that no such being is hidden within these walls."
"With that settled, there's no need to tread so cautiously."
Han Yi's covert infiltration of the Great Peaks Immortal Sect—first meeting Li Yi Xuanxian, then Daoist Gu Xi—stemmed primarily from his need to swiftly investigate whether a Golden Immortal had secretly returned to the sect.
After thoroughly scrutinizing the memories of True Immortal Fuling and Profound Immortal Gu Xi, and finding no trace of such an occurrence, Han Yi finally exhaled in relief.
The Immortal Power clone, which had been maintaining a vigilant watch against any potential Immortal Sense probes from within the Great Peaks Immortal Sect, stepped down from the meditation cushion and merged back into Han Yi's body. In an instant, Han Yi's appearance and aura transformed into those of Daoist Gu Xi.
He departed the palace, heading straight for the Immortal Palace at the heart of the Immortal Sect's core.
Li Yi Xuanxian, who had just seen Han Yi off, watched Daoist Gu Xi approach. His thoughts shifted from Chiling's impending Golden Immortal Tribulation to focus on his junior brother.
Earlier, after Fu Ling's departure, Li Yi had observed his trajectory towards Junior Brother Gu Xi's Immortal Hall. Now that Gu Xi himself had come calling, it must be related to Fu Ling.
Before an incense stick could burn halfway, his visitor arrived. It was likely related to Fu Ling.
With this thought in mind, Li Yi Xuanxian asked, "Junior Brother Gu Xi, does your visit concern Fu Ling?"
Han Yi, disguised as Daoist Gu Xi, approached and suddenly erupted into action. A fragment of the Heavenly Demon Halberd shot forth, unleashing the terrifying power of a Fifth-Rank Sword Control Immortal Art—the first time such a potent force had been demonstrated, capable of making even a Profound Immortal tremble.
Through Gu Xi's body, Han Yi had already infiltrated the palace at the heart of the sect's core lands, placing himself just a few dozen meters from Li Yi Xuanxian.
Li Yi Xuanxian remained completely unguarded.
Had Fu Ling returned from outside, Li Yi might have harbored some suspicion and instinctively remained vigilant. But Ancient Past Profound Immortal Gu Xi had been a fixture within the sect for decades, with frequent meetings to discuss the sect's reconstruction. Li Yi had long since cast aside any suspicion of him.
Thus, Han Yi's sudden assault caught Li Yi Xuanxian completely off guard.
A flicker of danger sparked in his mind, but before he could react, a silver light flashed across his eyes.
The light vanished, but the terrifying Immortal Power clinging to it simultaneously annihilated Li Yi Xuanxian's Immortal Body and Immortal Soul. His protective Immortal Artifacts didn't even have time to activate, and with his forehead pierced, the disintegration of his Immortal Soul far outpaced the destructive force of the Immortal Power.
Li Yi Xuanxian was merely a Peak Profound Immortal, his cultivation realm having reached its limit with no possibility of further advancement. Even among Peak Profound Immortals, he was far from reaching his full potential. Within the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, he would struggle to even crack the top hundred on the Void Mirror's Profound Immortal Ranking.
In an instant, without warning, Li Yi Xuanxian fell dead on the spot, his immortal life extinguished.
As he perished, a beam of light erupted from a modest palace near the core of the Great Peaks Immortal Sect, shooting skyward.
All the immortals of the sect took flight, their expressions turning grave as they recognized the light.
"The Great Wei Immortal Hall! Has an Immortal Name shattered?"
"No! It's the Sect Leader's Immortal Name!"
"An immortal invasion! Is it the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect? Or the Ancient Barbarian Immortal Sect?"
"Damn it! We'll fight them to the death!"
Countless cultivators, True Immortals, and even Profound Immortals were instantly alerted. Some trembled in fear, others seethed with rage, and still others were paralyzed by terror.
At the heart of the Great Peaks Immortal Sect, Han Yi, having slain Li Yi Xuanxian with a single sword strike, lightly waved his hand. Thirteen Immortal Swords materialized and scattered in all directions. Where they flew, sword light erupted from the void, radiating a chilling killing intent as it lunged at the approaching cultivators and immortals.
In an instant, murderous intent surged, saturating every inch of the mountain range. Cultivators fell, and Immortals bled.
The Sword Realm had already reached the Third-Tier. Armed with three Fourth-Tier Immortal Swords and ten Third-Tier Immortal Swords, it was virtually unstoppable against those below the Profound Immortal Realm, slaughtering them with ease. Even Profound Immortals could only withstand a few strikes.
This Sword Realm, a formidable weapon within the Void Tower, could even shake Peak Profound Immortals.
At its peak, the Great Peaks Immortal Sect was merely a Golden Immortal-level sect, without even a proper Dao Field. It paled in comparison to the Immortal Court.
The veteran and Peak Profound Immortals present, formidable in their own right, proved difficult to kill quickly due to the dispersed power of the Sword Realm. Han Yi resolved to target them individually using fragments of the Heavenly Demon Halberd.
From Daoist Gu Xi's memories, Han Yi knew that the Great Peaks Immortal Sect had over fifty Profound Immortals. Among them, only four were Peak Profound Immortals, including Li Yi Xuanxian. The rest were away on missions.
Now, just after Han Yi used a Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment to slay the second Peak Profound Immortal besides Li Yi Xuanxian, the remaining two Peak Profound Immortals and thirteen veteran Profound Immortals within the Immortal Sect lost all will to fight. They frantically assaulted the Sword Realm, desperate to tear open a gap and flee.
Han Yi, operating the Sword Realm at full power, felt the pressure, but he was far from his limit.
The Sword Realm Immortal Art, transformed and upgraded by the Panel, was now vastly different from the version he had originally obtained at the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect.
The "Realm" within the Sword Realm had truly taken on the nascent form of a world. To break through its World Barrier, one needed the strength to shake all thirteen Immortal Swords. Given the current power of Han Yi's Sword Realm, tearing through the barrier now required the combat prowess of a Golden Immortal.
However...
After Han Yi slew his second Profound Immortal, his expression suddenly hardened. He swiftly recalled his thirteen Immortal Swords, positioning them in a hundred-meter radius around him, ignoring the frantically fleeing Great Wei Immortals and lower-tier cultivators.
Turning toward Jade Lake, his Silverfire Dual Pupils reflected an Immortal figure rapidly approaching.
"A weakened Golden Immortal aura."
"Could it be someone undergoing Tribulation Crossing outside? The legendary Crimson Bell Profound Immortal, rumored to possess half-step Golden Immortal combat strength?"
"No, something's wrong. This weakness isn't from post-Tribulation Crossing exhaustion. It's the frailty of someone severely wounded and nearing the end of their life."