Seeing that the Sixth-Rank Immortal Formation he had personally established over the Azure Shu Mountain Range—the Great Sage Supreme Phoenix Myriad Transformations Immortal Formation—was still active, and that the Profound Pill Sect within, though tense, had yet to be touched by the Demon Race's advance, Han Yi finally felt at ease.
Instead of heading straight to the Azure Shu Mountain Range, he turned and used an Escape Technique to return to the Primal Art Dao Field.
Even using only the Mind Realm Immortal Technique, his speed approached that of a Golden Immortal, allowing him to reach the Primal Art Dao Field swiftly.
Half an hour later, at the Primal Art Dao Field, Han Yi learned what had transpired at the front lines over the past few days.
During his escape from the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon's pursuit, the Demon Race hadn't launched a full-scale invasion. Instead, as if by prior agreement with the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, they had halted their advance at the borders of the Primordial Arts and Heavenly Knowledge Immortal Domains, amassing troops and establishing defensive positions.
The same pattern held true along other Immortal Domain battlefronts.
This unusual behavior left the immortals of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court utterly perplexed and deeply suspicious.
In essence, the two great Immortal Court powers had entered a state of tense standoff.
Han Yi sensed that the situation was likely similar for the Luo Tian and Imperial Courts as well.
This meant that Donghuang's mobilization of troops, his direct confrontation with three Immortal Court-level powers, his initiation of Immortal Combat, and even the deployment of numerous mysterious and unfamiliar Demon Monarchs—all these actions weren't aimed at conquering specific Immortal Courts, but rather at seizing control of as many Immortal Domains as possible.
Within the Year Candle Immortal Domain alone, eight Immortal Domains had already fallen to the Demon Race.
The Sui Zhu Immortal Assembly had been caught completely off guard by the sudden appearance of numerous Demon Monarchs and was forced to retreat, intending to solidify their defenses before attempting to reclaim the lost territories.
However, the Demon Race's peculiar movements had now aroused suspicion among the Sui Zhu Immortals, making them hesitant to launch a hasty counterattack. As a result, the front lines between the two races had fallen into a stalemate.
Furthermore, reports from powerful, solitary Golden Immortals revealed that the Eastern Sovereign Demon Court had established massive Demon Formations within the captured Immortal Domains. These formations were subtly interconnected, their combined power terrifying.
Hearing this, Han Yi felt a vague suspicion stirring within him.
Considering the Demon Race's troop deployments and fortifications, it wasn't difficult to surmise that the Eastern Sovereign Demon Court's grand military campaign was primarily aimed at establishing these Demon Formations.
This hypothesis aligned with the collective suspicions of the Sui Zhu Immortal Assembly.
After gathering intelligence, Han Yi returned to the Primal Art Dao Field and met Golden Immortal Golden Cry once more.
As a Peak Golden Immortal ranked on the Golden Immortal Ranking, Golden Cry had not been dispatched to the front lines. Instead, he remained at the Primal Art Dao Field to oversee the overall situation.
Golden Resonance Daoist greeted Han Yi with a smile.
"Han Yi, your reputation precedes you now."
"Slaying Yuan Jingtian, the second-ranked Demon Immortal on the Profound Demon Ranking, proves you have the strength to contend for the top spot on the Profound Immortal Ranking."
"Not bad at all—truly impressive."
Han Yi had heard Golden Resonance Daoist's "Not bad" countless times. To him, it meant "excellent," a customary compliment.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Golden Resonance. I'm still far behind Senior Brother Wuxiang."
"My victory over Yuan Jingtian was also partly due to home-field advantage."
The "Wuxiang" Han Yi referred to was Murong Wuxiang, the top-ranked Profound Immortal on the Sui Zhu Immortal Court's Profound Immortal Ranking. He, too, was a legendary figure.
However, Murong Wuxiang was currently in seclusion within the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, focused on breaking through to the Golden Immortal Realm, and thus wasn't participating in the ongoing Two-Race Immortal War.
"Turning to the current situation, what are your thoughts on the front lines?" Golden Resonance Daoist asked.
Han Yi shook his head slightly. What opinions could he possibly offer? In terms of strategic perspective and personal strength, he was far below the level where his opinions mattered.
Still, he briefly shared his tentative conjectures, then added a thought that seemed to occur to him:
"This Two-Race Immortal War began after the Supreme Unity Dao Ancestor returned. It must have been his initiative—only a command from a Dao Ancestor could mobilize the entire Demon Race to simultaneously launch wars against three Immortal Courts."
"The Demon Race's current occupation of the Immortal Domains and establishment of Demon Formations... that must be the Dao Ancestor's directive as well."
"But what exactly does that Dao Ancestor intend to accomplish?"
Golden Resonance Daoist nodded slowly, sighing softly.
"The key lies with the Dao Ancestor... ultimately, it all depends on the Dao Ancestor."
"All the Dao Ancestors in the Immortal Realm have mysteriously vanished, and we can't contact any of them. Only the Supreme Unity Dao Ancestor has returned, and this undoubtedly conceals a Heaven-Shaking secret."
"The Demon Race has grown overwhelmingly powerful, and many unfamiliar Demon Monarchs have emerged. Rumors speak of an Immortal Sovereign's aura dominating the battlefield. That's why I, Age Candle, dare not act rashly and am maintaining the stalemate for now."
"We must now observe the Demon Race's true intentions and the Supreme Unity Dao Ancestor's objectives."
Golden Resonance Daoist finished speaking and turned to Han Yi, his gaze carrying an unfathomable meaning.
"For the time being, stay away from the front lines. The Great Sage Demonic Ape has reportedly placed a bounty on your head—a Sixth-Rank Immortal Artifact and the opportunity to be mentored by a Demon Monarch. Your capture is highly sought after."
"Currently, even the moderately strong Heavenly Demons on the front lines are hunting for you."
"The Immortal Monarch has returned and inquired about you, instructing that you not be sent back to the front lines upon your return."
"These are unprecedented times. While frontline experience might still be valuable, the chances of being crushed by Heavenly Demons or even Demon Monarchs have become far greater."
Golden Resonance Daoist spoke slowly, his words carefully chosen.
Hearing this, Han Yi's mind raced briefly before he breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed his assassination of Yuan Jingtian wasn't entirely disadvantageous. At least his newfound importance now deterred both the Dao Field and the Immortal Court from carelessly deploying him to the front lines.
Although Han Yi was nominally affiliated with the Demon Race, they held no real power over him. Nevertheless, he needed to guard against the demons infiltrating the Primordial Arts Immortal Domain to secretly seek revenge, and prevent them from targeting the Profound Pill Sect directly if they couldn't find him.
These were all matters that required careful preparation.
After bidding farewell to Golden Resonance Daoist, Han Yi didn't stay at the Primal Art Dao Field as promised. Instead, he immediately set off for the Azure Shu Mountain Range.
The Azure Shu Mountains weren't far from the Primal Art Dao Field. If Han Yi unleashed his full speed, comparable to that of a senior Golden Immortal, he could reach them in just twenty breaths, roughly a minute.
But there was no immediate urgency. He only activated the Mind Realm Immortal Technique, without layering it with the True Realm Eternal Divine Art.
Upon entering the Azure Shu Mountain Range and returning to the Profound Pill Sect, Han Yi immediately convened an Elder Council meeting, summoning all the sect's elders.
Most of these elders were at the Transformation God Stage, with a few senior members allowed to attend despite being at the Nascent Soul Stage. Among the Transformation God Stage elders, several new faces had emerged in recent years.
With Yuan Hong overseeing the sect, Han Yi had devoted less attention to sect affairs. As the sect's strength and resources grew, they naturally intensified their disciple cultivation efforts.
Some exceptionally talented disciples had quickly distinguished themselves, their cultivation realms advancing rapidly.
The Transformation God Realm is the cornerstone of any emerging Immortal Sect's future strength. Only with a growing number of Transformation God cultivators can the sect continuously produce Demigods, who will then become True Immortals and form the core power of the sect.
Looking at the nearly hundred Transformation God cultivators gathered in the Profound Pill Hall, Han Yi felt a surge of satisfaction. He couldn't help but think that if Sect Leader Yuan Shun were still alive, he would finally have something to show for his efforts.
Of course, this group of Transformation God cultivators didn't include the numerous Demigods Han Yi had captured from the Nine Majestic Immortal Sect years ago. Those Demigods had been stationed on Battle Law Divine Mountain to serve as guardians for cultivators undergoing trials, playing no direct role in the sect's development.
At the front of the hall, the assembled Transformation God cultivators sat upright and proper, facing the sect's top leadership, including Lian Tingxi and He Fengdi, the Sect Leader and Vice Sect Leader.
What slightly surprised Han Yi was that He Fengdi's strength had already surpassed Lian Tingxi's. He had become the most advanced Elder in the sect, having reached the Transformation God Realm over a decade prior.
While He Fengdi's rate of advancement paled in comparison to Han Yi's own, it was still considered above average even by the standards of the Immortal Court.
All the cultivators in the hall now looked at Han Yi with reverence. After his decisive victory over Yuan Jingtian, his reputation had soared. He had become an absolute legend among Profound Immortals and Golden Immortals, and even most Immortal Monarchs had heard of him, making him a figure of considerable renown.
Han Yi's reputation spread not only throughout the Sui Zhu Immortal Court but across the entire Immortal Realm.
Donghuang's declaration of war was being closely monitored even in regions not yet directly involved in the conflict, such as the Lingxiao Immortal Court and the major Immortal Domains of the Southern Immortal Realm. Han Yi's slaying of Yuan Jingtian emerged as the most unexpected news from this vast Immortal Combat.
Fueled further by the bounty offered by the Great Sage Demonic Ape, it had become a sensational event that could not be ignored.
When the cultivators of the Profound Pill Sect heard the news from the frontline reports, Yuan Hong swiftly took command, personally overseeing the activated Sixth-Rank Immortal Formation to ensure the sect's security.
The subsequent stalemate at the front lines and the Demon Race's inactivity did not lull Yuan Hong into complacency. On the contrary, such circumstances only heightened the risk of Demon Race incursions into the Primordial Arts Immortal Domain, tempted by the allure of Sixth-Rank Immortal Artifacts—something even Peak Heavenly Demons would covet.
But now, their worries were over. Han Yi had returned.
Han Yi swept his gaze across the assembled cultivators, who all bowed their heads in awe. Only then did he slowly begin to unveil his plan: to establish a branch sect. This was the purpose for which he had summoned the Elders.
The proposed location for this branch sect was west of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, bordering the Lingxiao Immortal Court, in the Jade Lake Immortal Domain—the former territory of the Profound Nuwa Immortal Sect.
Han Yi had annihilated the Great Peaks Immortal Sect, which had seized the Profound Nuwa Immortal Sect, even slaying its Golden Immortal. Later, a Profound Immortal-class sect occupied the land, but Han Yi was confident he could reclaim it.
Moreover, within the vast Jade Lake lay the Divine Power World, teeming with countless Divine Power Crystals—resources vital for Han Yi's cultivation of the Ancient God path.
Establishing a branch sect along the shores of Jade Lake would provide the Profound Pill Sect with a fallback option, preventing them from being trapped should anything happen at the Primal Art Dao Field.
Inside the hall, none of the elders objected. Their deep understanding of the Profound Pill Sect's history revealed that relocating or establishing branch sects had always been a strategy to mitigate the risk of the sect's destruction.
The cultivators then began discussing the specific details of establishing the branch sect.
After a long while, the gathering dispersed, leaving only Han Yi, Yuan Hong, Lian Tingxi, and He Fengdi in the hall. The four reviewed important sect matters, mainly with Lian Tingxi and He Fengdi reporting while Han Yi made the final decisions.
Moments later...
Returning to Battle Law Divine Mountain, Han Yi inspected the core of the Sixth-Rank Immortal Formation. Finding no issues, he began his cultivation.
Although Golden Resonance Daoist had urged him to cultivate at the Primal Art Dao Field, Han Yi chose to remain at the Profound Pill Sect. This was his sect, and should any Demon Immortals attack, his strength, combined with the Sixth-Rank Immortal Formation, would allow him to hold them off long enough for reinforcements from the nearby Primal Art Dao Field to arrive.
If all else failed, Han Yi resolved to draw upon his full divine power and activate the Yueguang Ancient Divine Artifact. Even the Demonic Ape himself would struggle to breach its defenses, buying Han Yi precious time.
This was Han Yi's decision.
Three years later, a Peak Heavenly Demon infiltrated the Primordial Arts Immortal Domain and appeared in the Azure Shu Mountain Range. Han Yi deployed the Great Sage Supreme Phoenix Myriad Transformations Immortal Formation to repel it, holding for nine breaths before the formation began to crumble. Just as the formation teetered on the brink of collapse, Golden Resonance Daoist intervened, his Heaven-Shaking Sword Technique slicing the Peak Heavenly Demon into oblivion.
Seven years later, three Peak Heavenly Demons infiltrated the Primordial Arts Immortal Domain. Before they could reach the Azure Shu Mountain Range, Golden Resonance Daoist ambushed them. Facing all three simultaneously, he annihilated them with a mere finger snap.
Sixteen years later, the Great Sage Demonic Ape forcibly breached the Primordial Arts Immortal Domain, but Immortal Monarch Yuanshu personally intervened, driving him back.
After this, though occasional Heavenly Demons still attempted to infiltrate the Azure Shu Mountain Range to assassinate Han Yi, none ever returned. Gradually, the Eastern Emperor Heavenly Demons realized that Han Yi had become bait—a trap set by Yuan Shu to lure them to their deaths. The Great Sage Demonic Ape's bounty might be tempting, but it wasn't worth sacrificing their lives to claim it.
Time flowed like water. A century had passed since the cataclysmic Great Expedition, and nearly ninety years since Donghuang's rebellion began.
On this day...
Han Yi emerged from his secluded cultivation in high spirits. The past century of dedicated practice had yielded comprehensive advancements in all his skills and a significant breakthrough in his cultivation realm.
Name: Han Yi
Lifespan: 826/129,600
Immortal Technique: Great Unrestrained Cosmic Light Profound Scripture (Profound Immortal Chapter 92/100)
Life Seed Units: 1,389
Cultivation Realm: Profound Immortal
Skills:
- Sword Flight (Fifth-Rank Immortal Art 63/100)
- Thought Realm (Fourth-Tier Immortal Art 24/100)
- Fetal Transformation Disguise (Fourth-Tier Immortal Art 36/100)
- Four Origins Dao Technique (Black Tortoise)
- Ten Thousand Realms Fate Unification Divine Canon (Supreme Truth Realm 57/100)
- Great Unrestrained Cosmic Light Sword Canon (Overturning Sea, Dawn-Breaking, Heavenburning, Twilight, Eternal Night, Light-Slaying, Thunder Sword Realm)
- Sword Realm (Fourth-Tier Immortal Art 37/100)
After a century of cultivation, Han Yi finally reached the Peak Profound Immortal Realm, his Ancient God System advancing to the Advanced Supreme True Realm.
His skills also saw breakthroughs. Thought Realm and Fetal Transformation Disguise both advanced to Fourth-Tier Immortal Arts, while the others made progress but remained at their current tiers.
Overall, his skills were now well-matched to his Peak Profound Immortal Realm cultivation.
To date, only the Fifth-Rank Sword Control Immortal Art had surpassed his cultivation level, reaching the Golden Immortal tier.
However, considering his comprehensive strength, Han Yi was confident that if he faced the Lion-Taming Heavenly Demon again, he would no longer need to flee and would likely emerge victorious. Whether he could slay the demon would depend on its hidden trump cards.
"It's a pity the Thought Realm Immortal Technique didn't undergo a fundamental transformation upon reaching the Fourth-Tier, unlike the Shape Transformation Immortal Art, which directly evolved into the Heavenly Gang Immortal Art, Fetal Transformation Disguise, upon reaching the Third-Tier."
"Perhaps a Fifth-Rank Immortal Art is required for such a change."
Han Yi's only regret was the Mind Realm Immortal Technique, but he remained undeterred. With the aid of the Proficiency Panel, he was confident his skills would inevitably grow stronger.
Even with Fetal Transformation Disguise, Han Yi didn't believe its current form was the end. He eagerly anticipated what new heights this Immortal Art would reach after breaking through to the Heavenly Gang tier.
He continued his cultivation. A month later, he suddenly snapped his eyes open, teleported out of the Cave Heaven within the Battle Law Divine Mountain, and gazed southeast.
That direction pointed toward the former site of the Eastern Sovereign Demon Court.
From that direction, a mysterious and immense wave of energy emanated.
The sheer magnitude of this wave made Han Yi feel insignificantly small, as if adrift on a lone leaf boat upon an endless ocean. The sensation was so overwhelming that he even doubted the reality of his perception.