Before Qingheng Mountain was renamed Pure Yang Mountain, it was merely an Immortal Monarch's Dao Field.
When the Pure Yang Dao Ancestor established Pure Yang Mountain here, Qingheng Mountain ceased to be an ordinary Immortal Monarch-level Dao Field.
Afterward, Golden Immortals, Immortal Monarchs, and even Immortal Sovereigns who joined Pure Yang Mountain transformed this Immortal Mountain, making it even grander.
As Han Yi entered the territory of Pure Yang Mountain, a True Immortal from the mountain descended.
This True Immortal, carrying an Immortal Sword on his back and with a stern expression, intercepted Han Yi and asked, "Fellow Daoist, what urgent matter brings you here?"
Han Yi produced a pure golden invitation card and presented it, saying, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist. I have come to attend the Sword Debate Immortal Assembly, as invited."
The stern True Immortal was slightly startled by this. After accepting the invitation card, his expression instantly turned respectful.
"Please wait here, Fellow Daoist."
"The Sword Debate Immortal Assembly will be personally received by Martial Uncle Li."
The True Immortal's Immortal Sense stirred, and within three breaths, a Golden Immortal descended from the mountain using an Escape Technique, appearing before Han Yi.
This Golden Immortal, smiling and without even glancing at the invitation card, clasped hands toward Han Yi and said, "Ah, it's Fellow Daoist Han Yi of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court. Welcome, welcome."
"I am Li Shu of Pure Yang Mountain, and this is my Junior Brother Xu Zhen."
Li Shu, a Golden Immortal, turned to the stern-faced True Immortal and explained, "Junior Brother Xu Zhen has just emerged from seclusion and may not be aware that the gentleman before you is the top-ranked Profound Immortal on the Sui Zhu Immortal Court's Profound Immortal Ranking. Over a hundred years ago, as a Veteran Profound Immortal, he slew Daoist Han Yi, who was ranked second on the Eastern Emperor Profound Demon Rankings—Yuan Jingtian."
The stern-faced young True Immortal froze momentarily, his pupils constricting as he stared at Han Yi. He gasped sharply.
He had indeed just emerged from seclusion, having spent centuries in secluded cultivation, breaking through from Advanced True Immortal to Peak True Immortal.
When Han Yi presented his invitation card earlier, the young True Immortal had assumed Han Yi was concealing his true cultivation realm, believing him to be a peak Golden Immortal Realm Sword Immortal rather than the Peak Profound Immortal he sensed.
Li Shu turned to Han Yi. "Fellow Daoist Han, please follow me."
With that, he soared toward the mid-slope of the mountain.
Han Yi clasped hands in a respectful salute to Xu Zhen, then followed Li Shu, flying upward.
To Han Yi's senses, Li Shu, the middle-aged Golden Immortal leading the way, though not carrying a sword and not appearing to be a Sword Immortal at first glance, radiated an intensely dangerous aura.
He had experienced this same sensation only from Qin Yi before; even Golden Resonance Daoist had never given him this feeling.
In other words, Li Shu, the one guiding them, was likely a Limitless Golden Immortal—one who had already taken a half-step into the Immortal Monarch realm.
A shiver of apprehension ran through Han Yi, but he quickly composed himself.
This was a Dao Ancestor-level power, fundamentally equivalent to the Sui Zhu Immortal Court. Though its foundation was recent and its depth of resources far inferior to the Immortal Court, it undoubtedly housed formidable Immortals.
It was clear that Li Shu, chosen to receive guests, possessed undeniable strength.
Moments later, Li Shu led Han Yi to the mid-slope of the Back Mountain.
A plaza had been carved out on this mid-slope, though small, it was roughly the size of the entire Azure Shu Mountain.
This plaza would serve as the venue for the Sword Debate Immortal Assembly. Given that a Dao Ancestor would preside over the event, any sparring would be limited to demonstration, unlikely to escalate into life-or-death battles.
Moreover, with the Dao Ancestor's power, he could instantly erect a semi-open Boundary Heaven at the plaza's center. Any serious sword practice could then take place within this realm.
The Sword Debate Plaza, halfway up Pure Yang Mountain, was remarkably flat, likely shaved smooth by a single stroke of a Sword Immortal's blade.
When Han Yi arrived, dozens of figures already occupied the plaza. They were scattered across the space: some sitting cross-legged in meditation, eyes closed; others cultivating within palaces they had conjured; some using Immortal Techniques to weave dream realms, creating a hazy mist that obscured their forms; and a few sipping wine from flasks, their eyes half-lidded.
These beings existed at various cultivation realms. In Han Yi's perception, there were some as powerful as Immortal Monarch Yuanshu, and others like Golden Resonance Daoist, who were Golden Immortals.
What caught Han Yi's attention most was a young girl dressed in white robes.
She sat alone on the ground, lost in thought.
When she saw Han Yi appear, her eyebrows arched slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
But the moment their gazes met, Han Yi felt a sudden tremor run through him.
He recognized her—or rather, he had seen her face in numerous images.
Donghuang Buer, ranked first on the Profound Demon Ranking of the Eastern Sovereign Demon Court.
"Donghuang" was her surname, and "Buer" her given name.
This name was peculiar. Both "Donghuang" and "Buer" were unusual.
Within the Eastern Sovereign Demon Court, the Heavenly Venerable Eastern Emperor Taiyi, who had already achieved the status of Heavenly Venerable, wasn't actually surnamed "Donghuang." As an Ancient Demon, he was born of the cosmos itself.
"Great One" was his given name, while "Donghuang" derived from the fact that he attained enlightenment east of the Great Luo, hence the title "Eastern Emperor."
His elder brother, Emperor Jun, earned the title of "Demon Emperor" because he was the first Demon Clan Dao Ancestor to proclaim himself Emperor within the Demon Race.
Logically, both "Eastern Emperor" and "Demon Emperor" should be unique titles.
Yet within the Eastern Sovereign Demon Court, there was one exception: this very girl before him, Donghuang Buer.
The "Donghuang" in Donghuang Buer didn't carry the same meaning as in the title of Eastern Emperor Taiyi. Here, "Donghuang" referred to her affiliation with the Eastern Sovereign Demon Court.
In reality, the relationship between Eastern Emperor Buer and Eastern Emperor Taiyi was even more peculiar. Buer had been brought back to the Monster Court by Taiyi from the outside world.
Rumors in the Immortal Realm even claimed that Buer was the daughter of the Great One.
What was most strange, however, was that after placing Buer in the Monster Court, Taiyi completely ignored him, never inquiring about his well-being or whereabouts.
This was the unique aspect of Eastern Emperor Buer's identity and name.
Beyond his mysterious background and name, Eastern Emperor Buer possessed another terrifying trait: multiple personalities.
Buer had suffered from multiple personalities since childhood.
Moreover, each distinct personality corresponded to a different True Body of the Demon Race.
This meant that, even after all these years, not even the Monster Court knew Buer's true form.
To date, records have documented seven distinct personalities.
One of these, likely the one before him now—a serene and peaceful demon girl—possessed the True Body of the Celestial Fox.
In addition to the Celestial Fox form, Buer had also manifested the Chilong True Body, the Nether Tiger True Body, the Celestial Ghost True Body, and the Calamity Phoenix True Body.
Each True Body embodied a different personality: some pure and innocent, others violent and ruthless, some gloomy and withdrawn, others lazy and indolent, and still others bloodthirsty and ferocious.
Judging by his current appearance, he was likely in the form of the peaceful Celestial Fox True Body.
With this thought, Han Yi averted his gaze, avoiding eye contact with her.
After all, he had killed Yuan Jingtian, the second-ranked Profound Demon on the Profound Demon Ranking. He couldn't be sure when Eastern Emperor Buer might switch personalities, adopting a more violent one and targeting him.
Given his extraordinary background, power, and modus operandi, Han Yi, though not afraid of such an existence, preferred not to provoke him. He casually settled himself cross-legged in a secluded spot, placing the Green Ripple Sword across his knees. Closing his eyes, he began to regulate his breathing.
Half a year passed swiftly.
During this time, the plaza, vast enough to rival the Azure Shu Mountain Range, gathered an increasing number of immortals. Representatives from major Immortal Courts, Dao Courts, and rogue cultivators arrived, along with Demon Immortals from the Eastern Sovereign Demon Court.
However, even these defiant Demon Immortals, notorious for their arrogance outside, subdued their audacious auras upon entering Pure Yang Mountain, out of reverence for the Great Luo Immortal Realm's supreme authority.
The majority were Golden Immortals and Immortal Monarchs, with five or six Immortal Sovereigns among them. Han Yi even noticed Immortal Venerable Daoling from the Sui Zhu Immortal Court had arrived.
Profound Immortals, however, were rare. Even counting every last one, their number didn't exceed twenty.
These Profound Immortals had received invitations precisely because their innate talent or combat prowess had earned them recognition from Pure Yang Mountain. In fact, these dozen or so Profound Immortals represented the pinnacle of the Profound Immortal Realm's power within the Great Luo Immortal Realm.
Due to the presence of numerous Immortal Monarchs and Immortal Sovereigns in the square, Han Yi refrained from casually dispersing his Immortal Sense. However, with his keen eyesight, he quickly surveyed the crowd and obtained an accurate count.
There were only 3,786 immortals present, including 27 Immortal Monarchs and Immortal Sovereigns, 18 Profound Immortals, and the remainder being Golden Immortals.
Indeed, describing this number as "only" was apt. After all, the Immortal Realm was vast. A single court like the Sui Zhu Immortal Court alone housed tens of thousands of Golden Immortals, and the total number across the entire Immortal Realm likely exceeded two to three hundred thousand.
Given such numbers, Pure Yang Mountain's invitation to just over 3,700 Golden Immortals indicated exceptionally stringent selection criteria.
What surprised Han Yi was that among these Golden Immortals, those from the Eastern Sovereign Demon Court—known as Heavenly Demons—formed the largest contingent, comprising fully one-third of the attendees.
Most of the Eastern Emperor Heavenly Demons near Han Yi displayed keen interest, and some openly revealed predatory intent in their eyes.
They might strike as soon as they left Pure Yang Mountain, aiming to slay him.
After all, the bounty on the Great Sage Demonic Ape remained active. While the Sixth-Rank Immortal Artifact was one incentive, the guidance promised by an Immortal Monarch could accelerate their cultivation, potentially even allowing them to pierce the veil to the Demon Monarch realm and ascend to that position.
Surrounded by Heavenly Demons, Han Yi showed no fear. His calm gaze suggested he was unfazed by their presence.
Having dared to come, he had his own trump cards and plans. He no longer feared any Heavenly Demon; as long as the Demon Monarch didn't personally intervene, even if he couldn't defeat them, he could always escape.
Moreover, he had a realization: this Sword Debate Immortal Assembly was one of the tribulations he would face before breaking through to the Golden Immortal realm. He chose to take the initiative and no longer remain passive.
The surrounding Heavenly Demons noticed Han Yi's composed demeanor. Some, their ferocity flickering, dismissed him as unremarkable. Others, however, looked thoughtful, their regard for him growing.
Yet none dared to attack him directly on this expansive plaza halfway up Pure Yang Mountain.
Suddenly, Han Yi, who had been resting with his eyes closed, snapped them open.
At the same moment, all sound in the plaza vanished. Every Immortal present looked up towards the sky.
At the summit of Pure Yang Mountain, tens of thousands of feet above, a figure began descending.
With each step, golden sword light erupted beneath his feet, coalescing into lotus blossoms. These sword lotuses, named Ruyi, adorned his path as he descended.
The Immortals in the plaza rose spontaneously, bowing in unison. "Greetings, Pure Yang Dao Ancestor!"
A warm, resonant voice echoed. "Please, everyone, be seated."
The figure descending the steps quickly reached the center of the square.
Han Yi frowned as he observed the Pure Yang Dao Ancestor, a middle-aged Sword Immortal Dao Ancestor with a gentle and dignified countenance.
Behind the Pure Yang Dao Ancestor hung two longswords: one golden, the other yellow.
When Han Yi glanced at the golden sword, he felt nothing unusual.
However, when his gaze fell upon the yellow sword, he sensed an intensely sharp Sword Intent surging through the air toward him.
He immediately averted his gaze, and the invisible Sword Intent vanished.
What a ferocious sword! Even looking at it briefly is unbearable.
Han Yi turned his attention to the middle-aged Dao Ancestor, feeling no further discomfort.
Though he had seen portraits of numerous Dao Ancestors in the Profound Repository Palace, this was his first time witnessing one in person.
The Dao Ancestor wore a deep blue Daoist robe, his features gentle yet solemn, with chiseled features that seemed carved by a sword. His coiled hair and long, slender eyebrows added to his dignified appearance.
At first glance, his eyes appeared ordinary. But upon closer inspection, they revealed a profound depth like abyssal pools, capable of immobilizing an Immortal Soul. In a fleeting moment, Han Yi seemed to glimpse the Tongtian Immortal Sword, standing between heaven and earth.
Suddenly, Han Yi's Immortal Soul trembled and was expelled from the Immortal Sword's illusion. Upon closer inspection, he found only boundless depth, devoid of any divine mysteries.
This was a phenomenon Han Yi had never encountered before.
He took a deep breath, a faint excitement stirring within him.
This was a Dao Ancestor, a being standing at the pinnacle of all Immortals, a true Great Power.
"The purpose of this Sword Debate Immortal Assembly is solely to explore the Sword Dao."
"The path of the Sword Dao is infinite."
"I have a sword to share with you all. Please, appraise it!"
As Pure Yang Dao Ancestor's voice faded, the golden longsword behind him trembled lightly before leaping into the air.
One sword appears, yet ten thousand swords are born.
In Han Yi's vision, the entire world dissolved into this single golden longsword. The Sword Intent emanating from it was unending, boundless, supreme and yang.
Within this ocean of Sword Intent, countless laws and Dao principles were densely interwoven. With each glance, Han Yi's heart erupted with profound insights.
On his Proficiency Panel, the progress bar for the Fifth-Rank Sword Control Immortal Art began to rise visibly.
Meanwhile, the Green Ripple Sword resting above his knees emitted continuous low hums and faint tremors, as if eager to engage in battle.
However, the Green Ripple Sword was firmly suppressed by Han Yi. Given its current power, the gap between it and this Dao Ancestor's sword was too vast; if it truly engaged, it would undoubtedly be struck down in a single blow.
If the Green Ripple Sword were at its peak, it wouldn't have struggled against this Dao Sword. After all, it was the personal sword of the Tongtian Sword Sovereign. But times had changed; it had only recently gathered a few dozen Sub-Swords, reaching only the Sixth-Tier, far from its peak state.
As the Sword Intent before them gradually coalesced and transformed back into a golden longsword, falling behind the Pure Yang Dao Ancestor, Han Yi felt a lingering dissatisfaction.
The assembled immortals were still immersed in the Dao Ancestor's sword display, including even the Immortal Sovereigns.
After sheathing his sword, the Pure Yang Dao Ancestor ascended, hovering high in the air.
The Sword Debate Immortal Assembly was structured in three stages. The Dao Ancestor's sword display marked the first stage, which was the most eagerly anticipated by the assembled immortals, as witnessing the Dao Ancestor's sword was a rare privilege.
The second stage was titled "Each Expresses Their Sword."
After the Dao Ancestor ascended, an Immortal Sovereign bearing a sword slowly stepped forward. Though Han Yi had never met this particular Immortal Sovereign before, he recognized him as being from the Lingxiao Immortal Court, his Daoist Title being "Polar Star."