Han Yi moved swiftly, arriving at the Immortal Market Palace in less than fifteen minutes. He entered the Nine-Ring Pavilion and emerged less than twenty breaths later.
"The Lingxiao Immortal Court and the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect."
"What a coincidence," he thought.
Half a sexagenary cycle ago, Han Yi had nearly annihilated the Great Wei stronghold in the Jade Lake Immortal Domain. The memories of True Immortal Fuling and Profound Immortal Gu Xi contained information about this very sect.
Years ago, when the Great Peaks Immortal Sect's Peak Golden Immortal perished during his failed Immortal Monarch Tribulation, the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect was among those who seized the opportunity to attack the weakened Great Peaks Immortal Sect.
This sect, also a Peak Golden Immortal-grade power, was located in the southeast of the Lingxiao Immortal Court, relatively far from the Jade Lake Immortal Domain.
Twenty years prior, the Half-Immortal Shopkeeper of the Nine-Ring Pavilion had received news that Yang Jiuhuan had been captured by the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect. He sought out several immortal friends of Nine-Ring True Immortal, but most were away on the Great Expedition to the Wisdom Realm, and the remaining ones were largely absent from the Immortal Court. Only two agreed to investigate. One never returned, while the other, though he did, reported finding no trace of Yang Jiuhuan's whereabouts.
Moreover, the Half-Immortal Shopkeeper had been closely monitoring Pavilion Master Yang Jiuhuan's Immortal Name for years, and he confirmed that it remained intact, showing no signs of fragmentation.
The message Han Yi had received on his token had been sent by this very shopkeeper. Years ago, Han Yi had visited the Nine-Ring Pavilion and left his contact information. With no other recourse, the Half-Immortal Shopkeeper had broadcast the news to every True Immortal he knew who had any connection to Nine-Ring True Immortal.
Twenty years later, the shopkeeper never expected Han Yi to return inquiring about the matter. Furthermore, Han Yi's aura clearly surpassed that of a True Immortal. The Half-Immortal Shopkeeper felt a surge of excitement, believing that if a Profound Immortal were to intervene, the chances of rescuing the Pavilion Master would greatly improve. Thus, he revealed everything he knew.
After obtaining the information, Han Yi left the Nine-Ring Pavilion. Instead of heading directly to the Lingxiao Immortal Court, he first returned to the Profound Pill Sect at the Primal Art Dao Field.
Half a sexagenary cycle had passed, and the sect's development had progressed smoothly. To Han Yi's astonishment, Yuan Hong's aura had already reached the Profound Immortal Realm.
When Yuan Hong had returned from the Kunlun Immortal Realm with Yuan Shun's Jade Disc and the six Qingping Sword Divisions, he had merely been an Advanced True Immortal. Yet in less than a century, he had surpassed the Peak True Immortal stage and ascended directly to the Profound Immortal Realm.
Even more astonishing, Han Yi learned from Lian Tingxi that Yuan Hong's breakthrough to the Profound Immortal Realm had occurred without undergoing the Profound Immortal Tribulation. Instead, it had been a natural and effortless transition, like water flowing into its course.
The secrets surrounding this mysterious Immortal Puppet were far greater than Han Yi had imagined.
After recuperating in the sect for a few days and confirming that everything was running smoothly, Han Yi set aside his worries and left the Azure Shu Mountain Range, heading for the Primal Art Dao Field.
Upon arriving, he intended to pay his respects to Golden Resonance Daoist, but Dao Field personnel informed him that the Daoist was in deep seclusion and could not be disturbed. Reluctantly, Han Yi abandoned his plan and departed.
This time, he traveled southeastward, first passing through the territory of the Imperial Court Immortal Court, then entering the domain of the Lingxiao Immortal Court. Along the way, he skirted the borders of the Blazing Flame Dao Court.
He had considered venturing into the Blazing Flame Dao Court to observe the Grave-Crossing Dao Vessel, a massive ship that had been under construction for centuries. However, fearing an ambush by Sacrificial Daoists, he abandoned the idea.
Half a month later...
Han Yi finally arrived at the Celebration Heaven Immortal Domain, part of the Lingxiao Immortal Court. Within this domain lay the Celebration Heaven Dao Arena, established by the Celebration Heaven Immortal Monarch—a senior Immortal Monarch of the Lingxiao Immortal Court, ranked in the middle tier.
Beyond the Celebration Heaven Dao Arena, the Celebration Heaven Immortal Domain also housed several Golden Immortal-level sects, among which the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect stood out as one of the most powerful.
Armed with nothing but a place name, finding Yang Jiuhuan wouldn't be easy. Han Yi resolved to proceed cautiously and methodically, taking his time.
After Yang Jiuhuan's disappearance, the shopkeeper of the Nine-Ring Pavilion had someone check his Immortal Name in the Myriad Immortals Hall. The name remained listed, confirming that Yang Jiuhuan was likely still alive.
Due to the mass Immortal Expedition to the Wisdom Realm, the Immortal Names in the Myriad Immortals Hall were divided into two categories: those who hadn't joined the expedition, whose names underwent regular status checks, and those who had, whose names were permanently retained.
Over the years, many Immortals within the Immortal Court had noticed this anomaly. However, without any contact with the cultivators who had joined the Wisdom Realm expedition, they were unable to uncover any concrete information.
Half a month later, Han Yi arrived at Profound Cauldron Immortal City.
Behind the Immortal City lay the vast Profound Cauldron Mountain Range, home to the main sect of the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect. Profound Cauldron Immortal City served as the sect's outer branch.
Han Yi didn't enter the city in his true Profound Immortal Realm state. Instead, using the Shape Transformation Immortal Art, he suppressed his aura to that of an ordinary True Immortal before entering.
Moreover, he disguised himself as Li Zhengyang.
If anyone were to inquire about Yang Jiuhuan's closest companion, the answer would undoubtedly be his junior brother, Li Zhengyang.
Anyone who had delved into Yang Jiuhuan's memories would certainly remember Li Zhengyang. Thus, if Li Zhengyang were to appear, it would inevitably draw attention.
Of course, this was merely a minor trick to bait potential pursuers, and Han Yi didn't expect it to be particularly effective.
Upon arriving at the Immortal City, he first rented an Immortal's Cave and settled in temporarily.
Then, he began focusing on breaking through an auxiliary Immortal Art:
Shape Transformation (Second-Tier Immortal Art 99/100)
Years ago, when he had forcefully advanced his Sword Control Immortal Art to the Fifth-Rank using his Life Seed, his Shape Transformation Immortal Art had already reached the peak of the Second-Tier. Now, it was on the verge of breaking through.
Han Yi needed to find someone within the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect, so he naturally decided to first advance his Shape Transformation Immortal Art to the Third-Tier.
Reaching the Third-Tier would undoubtedly bring significant changes to the art.
Inside his Immortal's Cave, Han Yi tirelessly cultivated the Shape Transformation Immortal Art, leveraging the Panel to push his progress forward bit by bit.
Three months later, after a period of blurred transitions, the Shape Transformation Immortal Art finally regained clarity. This time, the Panel displayed not just "Shape Transformation," but...
Fetal Transformation Disguise (Third-Tier Immortal Art 1/100)
Han Yi stared at the name, dumbfounded.
"A Heavenly Gang Immortal Art?"
Then, his face lit up with delight.
He had never expected to see this name on the Panel.
The Shape Transformation Immortal Art he had been cultivating was a precursor to the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Immortal Arts—specifically, the Fetal Transformation Disguise. According to the normal progression, this advanced technique wouldn't unlock until the Fifth-Rank.
This was because the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Immortal Arts were generally considered to be fully mastered only by Golden Immortals. For True Immortals and Profound Immortals, it was sufficient to choose and practice a single precursor art.
Han Yi had never imagined that this evolution would occur so early, at the Third-Tier.
"It's the Panel," Han Yi realized.
"From the moment I began cultivating, I've relied on the Panel to practice this Immortal Art. Though it's a foundational technique, it's unlike any other. The Second-Tier Shape Transformation Immortal Art can deceive even Profound Immortals, and now, at the Third-Tier, it's leaped directly into becoming a true Heavenly Gang Immortal Art."
"That must be it," he concluded.
His heart surged with excitement. The Panel's capabilities were truly heaven-defying, capable of downgrading a Heavenly Gang Immortal Art to a mere Third-Tier technique. He needed to investigate the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect, and in a critical moment, he might need to use the Shape Transformation Immortal Art to impersonate someone. Now that he possessed a genuine Heavenly Gang Immortal Art, even veteran Golden Immortals might struggle to discern his true identity, as long as he avoided the sect's five Peak Golden Immortals.
If those five Peak Golden Immortals were to target him, Han Yi knew he would have no choice but to flee immediately, reporting the situation to the Immortal Court and returning only when he had sufficient strength.
Apart from those five Peak Golden Immortals, Han Yi was confident that even if outmatched, he could still escape.
By now, Han Yi had reached the Fifth-Tier in Sword Control, the Third-Tier in Fetal Transformation Disguise, the Third-Tier in Sword Manual, the Third-Tier in Sword Domain, and the peak of the Second-Tier in Mind Realm Immortal Technique. Several other Immortal Arts had also advanced to the Second-Tier.
Combined with his recent ascension to the Supreme Truth Realm as an Ancient God, Han Yi's overall strength now allowed him to overwhelmingly suppress ordinary Golden Immortals in most situations. Even against seasoned Golden Immortals, while he might not be able to defeat them, he could at least ensure his survival.
After breaking through his Shape Transformation Immortal Art to Fetal Transformation Disguise, Han Yi emerged from seclusion. Retaining Li Zhengyang's appearance, he adopted a cautious approach: staking out near the City Lord's Mansion. When a True Immortal emerged, Han Yi discreetly followed the target, easily captured them, implanted a Soul Seal, and converted them into his Soul Slave.
Although the Ninefold Soul Tower had reached its limit at the True Immortal stage, Han Yi's Immortal Soul had grown so powerful that it rivaled those of Peak Profound Immortals. Subjugating an ordinary True Immortal was child's play.
During this Soul Seal implantation process, Han Yi integrated core principles he had gleaned from observing the Lord of North Mang Mountain's Martial Display in the Void. Drawing upon the Ninefold Soul Tower and other Soul Techniques as a foundation, he integrated numerous Daoist principles to forge a new Soul Technique.
He named it the Mang Soul Seal.
With his current cultivation level and vast experience with immortal techniques, creating an immortal technique to control immortal souls was not a difficult feat for Han Yi. The Mang Soul Seal was one such attempt.
After achieving Immortal Ascension, Han Yi increasingly felt the need to master more immortal arts beyond those focused solely on combat. The Chaotic Star Immortal Art and the Primordial Cosmos Immortal Art were his initial experiments in this pursuit.
In the Penglai Void, after receiving the Lord of North Mang Mountain's telepathic teachings and comprehending the essence of the North Mang Immortal Scripture, Han Yi had gained significant insight into creating immortal techniques. Given time, he was confident he could effortlessly devise numerous immortal arts perfectly tailored to his needs.
To Han Yi's great fortune, the True Immortal he had implanted with the Mang Soul Seal, whose Daoist Title was Jingchuan, turned out to be an Inner Sect Disciple of the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect.
Because the Mang Soul Seal was derived from the Ninefold Soul Tower, True Immortals imprinted with it instinctively obeyed Han Yi from the depths of their subconscious, without the slightest resistance.
True Immortal Jingchuan's immortal soul memories contained no information about Yang Jiuhuan. Undeterred, Han Yi released Jingchuan after imprinting him with the Mang Soul Seal and infiltrated the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect to search for clues about Yang Jiuhuan.
This time, Han Yi didn't hide within True Immortal Jingchuan as he had before.
Instead, he moved to another location and, over the next ten days, quietly and secretly captured two more True Immortals using the same method, planting two more Mang Soul Seals in succession.
This meant that, with the help of the Mang Soul Seals, he now had three Soul Slaves within Profound Cauldron Immortal City.
Why settle for one when three can be so much more useful?
This number was just right—too many would arouse suspicion, while too few would be inefficient.
Besides, why waste time searching himself when he could use that time for cultivation?
Moreover, True Immortals imprinted with the Mang Soul Seal were difficult to detect unless they were Peak Golden Immortals. This meant that only a handful of Immortals within the entire Xuan Ding Immortal Sect could uncover his scheme, ensuring unparalleled security.
After deploying his three Soul Slaves, Han Yi returned to his rented Cave Heaven.
A month later, the first True Immortal Soul Slave—True Immortal Jingchuan—made his first discovery. Soon after, news trickled in continuously from the other Soul Slaves as well.
Three months later, inside his Immortal's Cave, Han Yi set down several Jade Discs, his face etched with contemplation. The Immortal Lamp shone as brightly as daylight, illuminating his thoughtful expression.
Based on the information he had gathered, Han Yi had pieced together the truth behind Yang Jiuhuan's disappearance.
Over twenty years ago, Yang Jiuhuan had indeed arrived at Profound Cauldron Immortal City and clashed with a Profound Immortal Elder from the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect. Although the Elder had easily captured Yang Jiuhuan that day, he was murdered shortly after.
The killer was another Profound Immortal—one the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect couldn't afford to offend. Upon learning of the incident, more than a dozen of the sect's Elders joined forces to suppress the news, preventing ordinary True Immortals from learning the truth.
However, numerous True Immortals and Demigods had witnessed the battle firsthand. Anyone who took the trouble to investigate the events of that time could still reconstruct what happened from the lingering traces.
Thus, the identity of the mysterious Profound Immortal who had intervened wasn't difficult to uncover.
"Ye Wuxian!"
Han Yi murmured softly to himself.
Yes, after many years, he was hearing that name again.
Come to think of it, he had crossed paths with Ye Wuxian three times before. The first time was at the Longevity Immortal Assembly hosted by the Great Luo Immortal Court. Although Ye Wuxian was only at the Nascent Soul stage at the time, his cultivation had already reached the Half-Step Transformation God realm, making him incredibly formidable. His extraordinary background further drew the attention of many.
The second encounter occurred when Han Yi, having become a True Immortal, found himself trapped in the Primordial Dao Great World. While traveling through the Eternal Life Immortal Realm on his way back to Great Luo, he met Ye Wuxian at the edge of the Lingxiao Immortal Court's Void. There, Ye Wuxian slaughtered several Evil Immortals from Evil Mountain, displaying a power that even made Han Yi take notice.
Though they hadn't met face-to-face this third time, the news confirmed that Ye Wuxian had ascended to the Profound Immortal Realm and possessed considerable strength.
Snapping out of his reverie about his past encounters with Ye Wuxian, Han Yi turned his attention to Yang Jiuhuan's situation, his expression shifting to puzzlement.
"No one has seen Yang Jiuhuan since then. Coupled with the fact that his Immortal Name remains intact, it's highly likely that Ye Wuxian rescued him after the Immortal Combat."
"Ye Wuxian's intervention likely had nothing to do with Yang Jiuhuan initially. However, the fact that no news of Yang Jiuhuan has reached the Immortal Court since his rescue, and that all traces of him have vanished, suggests Ye Wuxian's involvement."
"There must be something hidden from outsiders here."
"In other words, to find Yang Jiuhuan, we need to locate Ye Wuxian first."
Han Yi shook his head slightly.
Ye Wuxian was a descendant of Heavenly Venerable Ye, and the Lingxiao Dao Ancestor would undoubtedly watch over him closely. After the Xuan Ding Immortal Sect's Inner Sect Elder was killed, the sect didn't dare pursue retribution; instead, they prayed that Ye Wuxian wouldn't seek revenge and implicate them.
With Han Yi's current cultivation, investigating the Lingxiao Immortal Court wouldn't be overly dangerous, but it was no longer necessary.
Since Yang Jiuhuan hadn't perished in Profound Cauldron Immortal City but had been rescued by Ye Wuxian, this might prove to be a blessing in disguise. It's even possible that Ye Wuxian's influence could help him advance further and attain the Profound Immortal Realm.
Though Han Yi couldn't be certain, he estimated this outcome was highly probable.