Han Yi moved with lightning speed, vanishing before Sound Sage and Xuan Cheng could react. The Heavenly Demon likewise shifted its course, pursuing Han Yi.
Left behind, Sound Sage glanced at Xuan Cheng, who was itching to join the fray, and said sternly, "Fellow Daoist Profound Sincerity, don't act rashly. Fellow Daoist Han is exceptionally powerful; it's best for him to lure the Heavenly Demon away. Otherwise, we'll only hold him back."
Xuan Cheng lowered his gaze, offering no argument. He possessed trump cards like the Ancient Demon Secret Technique, but he acknowledged that engaging the Heavenly Demon directly would be foolhardy.
Seeing Xuan Cheng restrain himself, Sound Sage snapped, "Let's go!" The two transformed into streaks of lightning, swiftly distancing themselves from the Golden Immortal battlefield as they sped toward the Primordial Arts Immortal Domain.
Meanwhile, Han Yi's feet blazed with golden light. The True World Eternity Divine Art granted him speed comparable to an ordinary Golden Immortal. To his surprise, the Heavenly Demon pursuing him showed no sign of urgency.
Or rather, the Heavenly Demon was deliberately allowing Han Yi to distance himself from the Golden Immortal battlefield. A moment's thought revealed its motive: the Heavenly Demon likely feared that another Heavenly Demon might discover its prey, intervene, and snatch the Demon Monarch reward for themselves.
Within the Demon Race, True Immortal Realm Demon Immortals are simply called True Demons, Profound Immortal Realm Demon Immortals are known as Profound Demons, and Golden Immortal Realm Demon Immortals are also referred to as Heavenly Demons.
The three ranking lists within the Ten Thousand Demons Pagoda are the True Demon Ranking, the Profound Demon Ranking, and the Heavenly Demon Ranking.
The Heavenly Demon pursuing Han Yi was a member of the Lion-Elephant Clan.
In the Eastern Sovereign Demon Realm, the Lion-Elephant Demon Clan is a major power, far surpassing the Demonic Ape Clan in both territory and strength.
Territorially, the Lion-Elephant Clan controls an entire Demon Territory, while the Demonic Ape Clan only occupies a single Demon Territory.
In terms of strength, the Lion-Elephant Clan's supreme leader, the Great Venerable Lion-Elephant, is an Immortal Sovereign-level powerhouse. Although he ranks last among the six known Demon Venerables in the Eastern Sovereign Demon Realm, he is undoubtedly far stronger than the Great Sage Demonic Ape.
Han Yi glanced back at the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon steadily closing the distance behind him, his gaze reflecting the towering, pale golden form that loomed like a mountain.
Half an incense stick's time later, having traversed an immeasurable distance, Han Yi suddenly accelerated.
He layered the Mind Realm Immortal Technique atop True World Eternity. The golden light beneath his feet continued to blaze brightly, but his speed more than doubled in an instant.
This sudden surge in speed propelled him into the true realm of a senior Golden Immortal in terms of speed.
Behind him, the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon's mountainous demonic eyes widened instantly. He had never underestimated Han Yi, maintaining his Demon Body form instead of shrinking into a human cultivator's guise.
Though he had never fought Yuan Jingtian personally, he had heard tales of the ape demon's legendary exploits. Moreover, having once ranked on the Profound Demon Ranking himself during his Profound Demon Realm days, he was acutely aware of the terrifying power of its second-place holder.
A Profound Immortal capable of slaying Yuan Jingtian, the Profound Demon Ranking's second-ranked powerhouse, was no ordinary opponent.
In the Monster Court, low-ranking demons gained strength through bloodline evolution, a brutal process nearly synonymous with a constant struggle for survival. Thus, every powerful demon had been forged in the crucible of countless battles, becoming a natural-born warrior.
Han Yi's sudden burst of speed startled the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon, but his vast combat experience allowed him to react instantly. Demonic aura surged from his body, rapidly reaching its peak. He unleashed a deafening roar, his peak-state Demonic Power coalescing into an invisible, earth-shattering lion's roar that spread rapidly, hurtling across a hundred miles to strike Han Yi as he accelerated.
This was one of the Lion-Elephant Demon Clan's innate Demon Arts: the Lion-Taming Heavenly Roar.
A hundred li ahead of the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon, Han Yi accelerated, his gaze fixed on the pursuing Lion-Elephant Demon Clan.
He possessed a profound understanding of his own strength. Against ordinary Golden Immortals, he could easily overpower them. However, against seasoned veterans, the outcome depended on the circumstances. Against formidable demon clans like the Lion-Elephant Clan, blessed with numerous innate talents, his strength might not necessarily prevail.
Nevertheless, as he had assured the Sound Sage Profound Immortal, even if he couldn't defeat a senior Golden Immortal, he could easily escape, at most paying a minor price.
The moment the Lion-Taming Heavenly Roar manifested, Han Yi's eyes lit up. This was the first opportunity he had been waiting for.
With a thought, divine power surged forth, enveloping him in a resplendent golden cloak of divine energy—the Supreme Ancient Immortal Divine Body. Simultaneously, beneath this golden radiance and beyond his Immortal Robe, a thick layer of dark gray aura erupted—the advanced Black Tortoise version of the Four Origins Dao Technique.
With the dark gray inner layer and the golden outer layer, Han Yi's resolve solidified. He then lightly waved his hand. The Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment, which had remained hidden during his battle with Yuan Jingtian, leaped through space, curving around the Lion-Taming Heavenly Roar to streak toward the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon.
At the same moment...
Han Yi retrieved the Green Ripple Sword and unleashed another Sword Flight attack. This time, the blade didn't fly straight but followed a parabolic arc, soaring upward before plummeting downward.
For a Golden Immortal, a hundred li was but a fleeting moment.
Before the Lion-Taming Heavenly Roar, space appeared undisturbed. Yet the instant Han Yi launched the Green Ripple Sword and the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment, a terrifying pressure surged from behind, so intense it made his heart pound.
He whirled around and threw a punch, activating the Divine Fate Art: Divine Wrath.
The punch carried the fury of an ancient god, shattering space as it collided with the invisible demonic energy of the Lion-Taming Heavenly Roar.
Though powerful, the punch failed to fully block the Heavenly Roar.
Divine power exploded in a cataclysmic burst as the Heavenly Roar struck Han Yi directly. Golden light flickered wildly countless times in less than a hundredth of a kshana, finally shattering the protective golden aura surrounding him.
A hundred li away, the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon's mountain-sized eyes suddenly widened, then narrowed in surprise.
Beneath the shattered golden light, a layer of dark gray radiance remained around Han Yi. Though trembling slightly, this radiance proved remarkably resilient. Even as the Heavenly Roar continued, the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon knew without a doubt that Han Yi had weathered the attack.
Boom!
A hundred miles away, Han Yi didn't directly face the devastating impact of the Heavenly Roar, but its earth-shattering power still reached him indirectly. His body transformed into a streak of light, hurtling across hundreds of miles before crashing violently into a towering mountain range.
The land shook violently, and the mountains trembled.
The moment the Heavenly Roar struck him, the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment and the Green Ripple Sword, which he had unleashed simultaneously, surged toward the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon.
In this battle, Han Yi could no longer hold back. These two attacks were launched with his full might. His Fifth-Rank Sword Control Technique, the Sixth-Tier Green Ripple Sword, and the Dao Artifact fragment of the Heavenly Demon Halberd forced even the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon to take him seriously.
After his secret art, the Heavenly Roar, slammed into Han Yi, the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon swiftly shifted his gaze to the two streaks of light hurtling toward him.
A Heavenly Demon's senses were razor-sharp. Even though the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment was more concealed, he detected it the instant it was unleashed.
Having launched these two attacks, Han Yi never expected to deceive a Heavenly Demon.
The Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon abruptly swept out a massive claw, its surface glowing with a purple light. The source of this light was a gauntlet—his Sixth-Rank Immortal Artifact, the Boundary-Breaking Gauntlets. Having heard how Han Yi had slain Yuan Jingtian with a single sword strike, the Heavenly Demon dared not rely on his Demon Body for defense.
The purple light from the Boundary-Breaking Gauntlets seemed to tear through the fabric of space as it slammed into the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment and the Green Ripple Sword.
Two crisp clangs rang out simultaneously as the Immortal Artifacts, their radiance flickering, were blasted away in the direction Han Yi had been flung.
The Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon, who had knocked them back, retracted his claw and glanced down. He saw two fresh scratches on his Boundary-Breaking Gauntlets, with blood seeping from beneath them. The strike had clearly wounded him.
A flicker of shock flashed in his demonic eyes.
"Sixth-Tier? Two Sixth-Tier Immortal Artifacts?"
"No wonder he beheaded Yuan Jingtian with a single strike. So he wielded a Sixth-Rank Immortal Artifact."
"This old one has risked life and limb, warring for three millennia and accumulating countless merits, yet I was only bestowed a single Sixth-Rank Immortal Artifact. How does Han Yi possess two? One is an Immortal Sword, and the other shines with chaotic silver light, its true nature obscured. But there's no doubt it's also at least Sixth-Rank—otherwise, it couldn't have breached my Boundary-Breaking Gauntlets."
"Excellent. Truly excellent."
"Killing you and claiming these two Sixth-Rank Immortal Artifacts will make this journey more than worthwhile."
The Boundary-Breaking Gauntlets on the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon's hands were slowly regenerating, a unique ability of this Immortal Artifact. Only a Seventh-Tier or higher Immortal Artifact could truly destroy it; given enough time, the gauntlets could automatically repair themselves.
!
The Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon followed the traces of Han Yi's escape, using his Escape Technique. Despite the earth-shattering changes in the terrain, he found no further sign of the man. It was as if his earlier Heavenly Roar had shattered Han Yi into nothingness, reducing him to the void.
Yet the Heavenly Demon knew Han Yi wasn't dead. Even if injured, it would be no more than superficial wounds.
Arriving beneath the shattered Azure Shu Mountain Range, the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon's expression finally changed.
"Hmm?"
"He's gone. His aura has vanished completely?"
"What kind of trick is this?"
Perplexed, the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon activated his Demon Pupil. Golden light permeated every inch of space within a hundred-mile radius, yet he found nothing.
His expression darkened further.
"Impossible."
"A mere Profound Immortal escaping right under my nose? This is absolutely impossible."
The demonic aura around him surged anew, climbing to its peak. He unleashed another furious roar, this time directed in all directions—downward into the earth, upward into the heavens, and across the horizon.
A devastating storm erupted, centered on the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon, radiating outward in concentric ripples through space, determined to flush out the hidden Han Yi.
But after a long while, the storm subsided, leaving a thousand-mile radius devoid of any trace of life. Even the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon had failed to force Han Yi out of hiding.
He tried other methods, but all proved fruitless. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he reluctantly abandoned the area.
With the two races locked in intense battle, his unauthorized absence would soon require an explanation to the Monster Court. Despite his burning resentment, he had no choice but to retreat temporarily. He vowed that when he next encountered Han Yi, he would unleash even more brutal measures, ensuring his prey had no chance of escape.
Three days after the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon's departure, a low-ranking azure Demon Bird flew into the ravaged land. It stalled three hundred miles from the epicenter of destruction, unable to advance further. The lingering, terrifying aura of a high-ranking Demon Race entity instinctively triggered fear in the bird, paralyzing it.
It circled the area for a long time, searching in vain. The landscape was utterly barren, devoid of life. Even the shattered branches of ancient trees radiated only deathly stillness, utterly lifeless.
Defeated, the Demon Bird turned and fled.
Unbeknownst to the Demon Bird, a tiny clod of earth had clung to its foot when it landed in the Immortal Battlefield. The amount was so insignificant that the bird didn't even notice.
As it flew out of the Immortal Battlefield and returned to the mountain where it cultivated, the clod of earth dislodged in the wind. Carried by the breeze, it drifted until it fell into a small stream, mingling with the water and flowing downstream.
The stream merged into a larger river, which in turn flowed into a great river, finally surging southward as the Great Ancient Barbarian River.
This mighty river originated in the Heavenly Knowledge Immortal Domain, coursed through several other Immortal Domains, including the Spirit Origin Immortal Domain, before ultimately emptying into the Imperial Court Immortal Domain in the southwest.
Seven days later, midway along the Great Ancient Barbarian River, the clod of earth that had dissolved into the water underwent a transformation, becoming a young man clad in a profound robe.
The youth was none other than Han Yi.
He had managed to evade the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon thanks to his Third-Tier Fetal Transformation Immortal Art.
This Heavenly Gang Immortal Art had finally proven its worth, playing a crucial role in his escape.
After finding a secluded spot to climb ashore, Han Yi retrieved the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment. The silver shard now had an even wider crack, nearly split in two.
Han Yi felt a pang of regret.
He knew the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment was merely a shard of a Dao Artifact shattered over a hundred thousand years ago. Its continued usability was solely due to its exceptional material and terrifying resilience.
As Han Yi's cultivation realm advanced and his enemies grew more formidable, the fragment was gradually failing to keep pace with his progress.
He carefully stored it away.
Next, he retrieved the Green Ripple Sword. To his relief, the sword showed no signs of damage. Instead, it radiated a faint aura of displeasure, directed at Han Yi's earlier retreat. In the sword's view, Han Yi's strength was more than sufficient to confront the Demon Immortal head-on; there was no need to evade or flee.
After soothing the sword's ruffled spirit, Han Yi sheathed it.
He was well aware that if he unleashed his full power, he could indeed contend with the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon. However, without resorting to the Yueguang Ancient Divine Artifact, killing the demon would be exceedingly difficult. Moreover, regardless of whether he used the ancient artifact or not, encountering another Heavenly Demon afterward would make escape nearly impossible.
Given these circumstances, conserving his strength through strategic withdrawal seemed the wisest course.
As for the Demon Bird, Han Yi had deliberately manipulated its fate using the Chaotic Star Immortal Art, guiding it to the battlefield to serve as a precaution against the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon's possible ambush.
Apart from the Demon Bird that had carried him away, Han Yi had also subtly influenced all lower-level demons within a five-hundred-kilometer radius, confusing their perceptions to obscure his departure.
Such meticulous planning underscored his cautious nature.
Now, having left the Great Ancient Barbarian River behind, he oriented himself northward.
His plan was to detour through other Immortal Domains, circling back into the Primordial Arts Immortal Domain.
Two days later,
Han Yi approached the Primal Art Dao Field. Within his perception range lay two more places of great concern: the Azure Shu Mountain Range and the Profound Pill Immortal Sect.