"Chaos Cataclysm: Cross the Grave to Seek Survival," Han Yi murmured.
The paper bore a single line of stark, hastily scrawled characters, devoid of extraneous details and seemingly lacking any inherent power.
With a gentle finger snap, he released a wisp of spiritual energy. The paper crumbled to ash.
"Chaos Cataclysm? Anything worthy of being called a 'Great Calamity' must be extraordinary. The Sacrificial Daoists built this Grave-Crossing Dao Vessel to weather such a cataclysm within the Chaos."
"Judging by the name, this cataclysm is related to 'Graves'."
"Just as I suspected."
Han Yi had long entertained this hypothesis, and the message from the mortal paper had now validated his theory.
Of course, mere conjecture was far from sufficient.
The establishment and eventual abandonment of the Blazing Flame Dao Court had undoubtedly been thoroughly studied by countless Immortals. Others likely possessed at least as much information as he did, and might even have reached the same conclusion.
However, Immortals from the Great Luo Immortal Realm could never venture into the Chaos to pursue the Grave-Crossing Dao Vessel or verify their hypotheses by tracking it. Such a feat was simply impractical.
Han Yi left the Immortal Tower and wandered through the Brilliant Flame Immortal City.
As time passed, the Immortal City saw a surge in population, with Immortals flocking to it and low-level cultivators arriving in droves. Demigods, Transformation God experts, Nascent Soul cultivators, Golden Core masters, and those below all appeared in considerable numbers.
However, the city's treasures had largely been plundered, and even the Dao Vein beneath it had been drained, leaving only scraps behind.
Han Yi had little interest in these remnants.
Fortunately, a small number of classic texts, Jade Slips, and miscellaneous records remained, which perfectly aligned with Han Yi's priorities. He began collecting them diligently.
Two weeks later, Han Yi encountered an unexpected acquaintance in the Immortal City: Qin Yi.
Qin Yi carried a Longsword, wore black robes, and possessed a dignified presence. His brow hinted at an ambition to swallow mountains and rivers, while his eyes reflected the grandeur of celestial cycles.
He burst from a palace, effortlessly blasting away five or six pursuing Immortals with a flick of his hand. With a flash of movement, he vanished from the spot.
Ten miles away, Qin Yi stopped, turning to face Han Yi, who had just emerged from a pavilion. His eyes lit up, and a rare smile softened his usually stern face.
"Han Yi."
"Long time no see."
Han Yi, emerging from the pavilion, smiled in return. "Emperor Monarch, it's been a while."
The cultivators of the Great Qin Immortal Kingdom in the Jade Balance Realm had long since joined the Big Dipper Immortal Palace. Even the remnants of the kingdom's territory in the Jade Balance Realm had been relocated to the Great Luo Immortal Realm by the Sacrificial Daoists, becoming part of the Immortal Realm's map.
Qin Yi's position as Emperor Monarch had ceased to exist centuries ago. Yet Han Yi still habitually addressed him by that title.
Come to think of it...
The last time Han Yi had seen Qin Yi was when he had accidentally returned to the Chaotic Demon Zone and encountered him in the Endless Void. Back then, Han Yi was merely at the Spirit Transformation Realm, not even a Demigod, while Qin Yi had already become an Immortal.
Nearly seven centuries had passed since then. Han Yi had advanced to the Peak Profound Immortal Realm, while Qin Yi...
Han Yi's gaze grew misty as he sensed an aura emanating from Qin Yi that felt similar to, yet... no, stronger than, the one he had felt from the Golden Resonance Daoist. His heart trembled.
For Qin Yi also carried a trace of the majesty of Immortal Monarch Yuanshu—a wisp of immortal monarch's authority that could only arise from the complete mastery of the fundamental laws of the Dao.
In other words, Qin Yi had already stepped halfway into the realm of the Grand Unity Immortal Monarch, poised to ascend at any moment. Unlike the Golden Resonance Daoist, who still struggled to glimpse the path to becoming an Immortal Monarch and remained in relentless pursuit, Qin Yi was on the verge of transcending.
How incredibly strong, Han Yi thought. He had believed his own progress was remarkably swift, yet Qin Yi's advancement far exceeded his expectations.
Han Yi had always known Qin Yi possessed hidden secrets, just as he himself did. Every formidable Immortal harbored such depths. However, he never imagined Qin Yi's progress would be so rapid. By his calculations, Qin Yi had taken less than a thousand years—from the Transformation God Realm to the peak of the Golden Immortal Realm, with one foot already planted in the Immortal Monarch's domain.
No wonder he couldn't bear to remain in the Big Dipper Immortal Palace. The disparity between us is simply too vast, Han Yi mused.
Across from him, Qin Yi's deep, obsidian eyes fixed on Han Yi, radiating an enigmatic aura. He, too, was inwardly shaken.
Qin Yi owed his progress to a formidable inheritance: a thousand years to become an Immortal Monarch, ten thousand years to reach Dao Ancestor status, and, before the dawn of the current epoch, a return to the position of Heavenly Venerable.
Yet as far as he knew, Han Yi's origins were clear, devoid of any such legacy.
No.
Perhaps Han Yi, like Qin Yi himself, possessed a mysterious origin and was no ordinary cultivator.
Qin Yi had heard of Han Yi's victory over Yuan Jingtian, the Heaven's Chosen of the Eastern Emperor Heaven. Now, meeting him after over a century, he found Han Yi's strength far surpassed the rumors.
Even with his discerning gaze, Qin Yi couldn't fully comprehend Han Yi's true depth. The secrets Han Yi carried were far beyond his imagination.
Qin Yi withdrew his gaze, glanced at the immortals pursuing them, and his eyes darkened. With a swift backhand, he drew his sword, unleashed a few strikes, and sheathed it just as quickly. "Let's go," he said to Han Yi. "This place is too chaotic. We need a quiet place to talk."
Han Yi glanced at the Peak Golden Immortals chasing Qin Yi. As Qin Yi's sword flashed, the pursuers froze, their faces twisted with rage instead of fear.
A gust of wind swept through, and the five or six Peak Golden Immortals disintegrated into dust, leaving no trace behind.
Near where their immortal bodies had vanished, only faint strands of purplish-golden sword light lingered briefly before fading away.
Han Yi's gaze settled on the purplish-golden longsword sheathed on Qin Yi's back, his eyes narrowing.
The Human Sovereign Sword.
Moreover, its rank seemed even higher than his own Green Ripple Sword. He sensed from it an aura of primordial vastness, a Sword Dao ethos forged through relentless struggle—a path toward true immortality.
Seventh-Tier.
It was unmistakably the Human Sovereign Sword, now a Seventh-Tier Immortal Artifact.
Years ago, when the Ancient Shu Immortal City of the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom was transformed into a Demonic Domain and lifted into the sky, the Human Sovereign Sword had flown north in a single, majestic strike. It had severed the Demonic Immortal Path of Duke Pang Cheng, the Defender of the Nation, who had undergone a Demonic Transformation.
Han Yi had witnessed this awe-inspiring northern sword strike from outside the Ancient Shu Immortal City, an event that filled him with reverence.
Back then, the Human Sovereign Sword was at most a semi-immortal artifact, or perhaps a degraded First-Tier Immortal Artifact—certainly not the Seventh-Tier masterpiece it was now.
It seemed that not only had Qin Yi undergone a transformative change over the years, but the Human Sovereign Sword itself had experienced a remarkable metamorphosis.
Han Yi averted his gaze and quickly caught up, a sudden thought striking him.
The Human Sovereign Sword's evolution bore a striking resemblance to how his own Green Ripple Sword had merged and split, advancing into a higher-tier Immortal Sword.
Could the Human Sovereign Sword also possess a Sub-Sword?
The thought flickered through his mind before he suppressed it. His years of research had revealed no such possibility. It was likely that the Human Sovereign Sword's path to advancement differed from the Green Ripple Sword's.
Moments later, the two stood beside a serene palace atop a lofty immortal mountain, their robes billowing in the sea of clouds. Their faces radiated the joy of reuniting with an old friend.
Han Yi asked Qin Yi where he had been all these years, but Qin Yi brushed off the question with a brief, vague response: "I've traveled to three of the Nine Primordial Realms."
Han Yi then informed him about the Jade Balance Realm's integration into the Immortal Realm within the Chaotic Demon Zone, asking about his plans: whether he intended to return to the Big Dipper Immortal Palace or rebuild the Immortal Kingdom in the Jade Balance Realm.
Qin Yi shook his head. "First, I'll find a secluded place to undergo the Great Unity Tribulation. After that, I'll traverse all Nine Realms."
Turning to face Han Yi, he remarked, "Fellow Daoist Han, you truly live up to your reputation as Heaven's Chosen. Your progress has been astonishing. You've already reached the peak of the Profound Immortal Realm, and your combat prowess has surpassed that of a senior Golden Immortal, earning you fame throughout the Great Luo."
"Congratulations," Han Yi said with a dismissive wave, feeling utterly outmatched in Qin Yi's presence.
While Han Yi was merely at the peak of the Profound Immortal Realm, Qin Yi was a Limitless Golden Immortal, with one foot already planted in the Grand Unity Immortal Monarch Realm—an insurmountable difference.
Suddenly remembering something, Han Yi recited the eight characters he had found on that mundane piece of paper: "Chaos Cataclysm: Cross the Grave to Seek Survival."
Qin Yi's expression darkened, his gaze unfathomable, concealing layers of emotion.
Han Yi's eyes suddenly lit up, but Qin Yi's expression remained somber, revealing that he understood the weight of the words.
Han Yi gazed at Qin Yi, his eyes shining with anticipation.
Qin Yi paused before explaining, "This refers to the Tribulation of the Dao Tomb, a great calamity that will engulf the entire Chaos. Even the Primordial Great World, the Source Wisdom Great World, and the entire Vast Heng Dao Domain will seem insignificant before this catastrophe."
!
"I don't know when this calamity will erupt," Qin Yi continued. "But given the Sacrificial Daoists' urgency, it must be imminent."
Qin Yi sighed softly, as if speaking to both Han Yi and himself, "Time... is running out."
Suddenly, he raised his head, and an overwhelming aura surged skyward. The Human Sovereign Sword slung across his back vibrated, emitting streams of purplish-gold Sword Intent.
"It's here," Qin Yi announced.
"Hmph, utterly stubborn," he muttered without turning around.
"Fellow Daoist Han, your progress is swift, but it's still not enough—far from enough," Qin Yi said, leaving those words hanging in the air. "When we meet again, I hope you'll have even greater surprises for me."
With that, Qin Yi soared into the sky. Around the tranquil Immortal Mountain Palace, three vast waves of demonic aura suddenly erupted, converging upon him.
As Qin Yi ascended, he drew his sword in a single, decisive strike.
This sword strike was no casual slash like the one that had just slain several Peak Golden Immortals. It was a full-powered strike from the Seventh-Rank Human Sovereign Sword.
The Sword Intent tore through space, piercing the Yin-Yang, and crashed into a vast surge of demonic aura.
A mournful cry suddenly erupted as a colossal Seven-Tailed Demon Fox plummeted from the sky like a kite with its string severed.
Qin Yi, having unleashed the strike, had already vanished into the distance.
The masters of the other two even more terrifying demonic auras roared in fury and gave chase.
Only after they had left did a terrifying Spirit Energy Storm sweep across the Immortal Mountain. Sword Intent and demonic aura swirled together in chaotic disorder.
Amid this chaotic maelstrom, Han Yi, cloaked in a dark gray radiance, swiftly descended. He retrieved the Fox Demon's bisected corpse into his Divine Aperture World.
Transforming into a golden streak of light, he darted toward the outskirts of Brilliant Flame Immortal City.
The Fox Demon slain by Qin Yi's sword and now stored in Han Yi's Divine Aperture World was no ordinary Demon Immortal. It was the Crimson Fox Demon Monarch, who had made a fleeting appearance when Han Yi first entered Brilliant Flame Immortal City.
Though ranked low among Donghuang's Demon Monarchs, a Demon Monarch was still a Demon Monarch, far beyond the reach of even Peak Golden Immortals.
Golden Immortals could only establish Immortal Sects, while Demon Monarchs could create Dao Fields.
In the hierarchy of the various Immortal Court factions, only Immortals at the Grand Unity Immortal Monarch level or higher were considered high-ranking officials.
Therefore, the corpse of a Demon Monarch was worth the risk for Han Yi.
His impulsive decision to snatch the Fox Demon's corpse had been a lightning-fast thought, one so overwhelming that it momentarily overshadowed the shock Qin Yi had just delivered.
After fleeing thousands of miles from the Immortal Monarch battlefield, his composure returned. Only then did his heart begin to pound wildly, his face flushed crimson with adrenaline and disbelief.
Shocking? Absolutely. Qin Yi, a Golden Immortal wielding a Seventh-Rank Human Sovereign Sword, had slain an Eastern Emperor Demon Lord with a single strike. Any Immortal witnessing such a feat would be stunned.
Thrilling? Utterly thrilling. A Demon Monarch's corpse had landed right before him. Snatching it and running—how could he not be exhilarated?
He deactivated True World Eternity and switched to the Fourth-Rank Mind Realm Immortal Technique. Escaping Brilliant Flame Immortal City, he returned to Profound Spirit Immortal City and teleported back to Age Candle.
Only after reaching Age Candle and confirming that he wouldn't be pursued by any Demon Monarch-level entities of the Demon Race did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
At last, he allowed himself to fully process the events that had transpired earlier in the Immortal Mountain Palace.
In a fleeting glance, Han Yi recognized the three colossal demonic auras. Besides the Crimson Fox Demon Monarch, the other two were the Heavenly Tiger Demon Lord and the Fire Lion Demon Lord.
While these two Demon Monarchs were ordinary among their kind, they were undeniably stronger than the Crimson Fox Demon Monarch. Notably, the Fire Lion Demon Lord was a descendant of the Great Venerable Lion-Elephant.
These three Demon Monarchs had originally intended to ambush Qin Yi, but he discovered them first. Reacting swiftly, Qin Yi drew his sword and, with a single all-out strike, slew one of them before making his escape.
It was clear that Qin Yi had a history of animosity with these three Eastern Emperor Demon Lords, likely stemming from a recent conflict in Brilliant Flame Immortal City, such as a dispute over a coveted treasure. Moreover, judging by the Demon Monarchs' behavior, they had previously suffered setbacks and humiliations at Qin Yi's hands.
All of this, of course, stemmed from Qin Yi's extraordinary strength.
A Limitless Golden Immortal wielding a Seventh-Rank Human Sovereign Sword, capable of slaying an Eastern Emperor Demon Lord.
Power beyond comprehension.
Han Yi shuddered as he recalled that scene, still haunted by the lingering shock. In terms of raw power, he was utterly outmatched by Qin Yi.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Han Yi then remembered the words Qin Yi had spoken just before his explosive attack:
"The Tribulation of the Dao Tomb... is it sweeping through all of Chaos?"
"Indeed, the Grave-Crossing Dao Vessel is for crossing the 'Grave,' and Qin Yi's words imply that this 'Grave' refers to the Dao Grave."
"The Vast Heng Dao Domain?"
"That should encompass a vast region including the Primordial Great World and the Source Wisdom Great World, with Chaos as its dimensional framework."
"Then, besides the Vast Heng Dao Domain, other Dao Domains must exist as well."
"The Great Calamity is approaching, and time is running out?"
"This..."
A sudden sense of crisis and urgency welled up within Han Yi.
Even the formidable Qin Yi had said time was running short, indicating that the impending danger was closer than he thought.
"Time is running out, time is running out."
"According to the Great Abyss Divine Blade, Sacrificial Daoists typically avoid confronting Inverters of the Dao. Yet the Sacrificial Daoist who established the Blazing Flame Dao Court somehow seized the Inverter's gains."
"This suggests that Sacrificial Daoist was desperate."
"Moreover, the Supreme Unity Dao Ancestor, upon attaining Venerable status, didn't occupy more Immortal Domains than necessary. This limited expansion also hints at a sense of urgency."
"Going further back, the Dao Ancestor's disappearance, his Great Expedition to the Wisdom Realm, and the cataclysmic events there—could they all be connected to this Chaos Cataclysm?"
The more Han Yi pondered, the more convinced he became.
So much had transpired in the Great Luo Immortal Realm over the past millennium.
Looking back now, all the major events seemed rushed and somehow... off.