Once the space stabilized, Han Yi stepped out of the Transmission Formation. Within the Demon City, he located a True Immortal-level Demon Immortal and used the Soul Search Technique to extract his memories. He discovered that the city he was in was the Heavenly Dog Demon City.
This Demon City belonged to the Heavenly Dog Clan and was considered a mid-sized city, with a Heavenly Demon of the Heavenly Dog Clan stationed within.
By comparing the Demon Immortal's memories with his own knowledge, Han Yi confirmed that the first Immortal City he had entered, the Silver Serpent Immortal City, was a city of the Heavenly Serpent Demon Clan. The mountain range where the Black Realm Star Lord and the Great Sage Demonic Ape had set up their ambush, the Vast Savage Demon Vein, was also identified.
The Vast Savage Demon Vein was massive, ranking seventh in size within the territory of the Eastern Emperor Demon Clan.
Both the Heavenly Dog Demon City and the Silver Serpent Immortal City were located in the northwest region of the Eastern Sovereign Territory, only four Immortal Domains away from the Spirit Origin Immortal Domain, making a return relatively straightforward.
After gathering this information, Han Yi left the Heavenly Dog Demon City. Instead of heading directly towards the Spirit Origin Mountains, he retraced his steps southwestward, towards the Imperial Court Immortal Court.
If he were the Great Sage Demonic Ape or the Black Realm Star Lord, having discovered that Han Yi had teleported to Heavenly Dog Demon City and left, he would undoubtedly set up an elaborate trap along the route from Heavenly Dog Demon City to the Spirit Origin Immortal Domain, determined to intercept him.
Covering such vast territory, capturing Han Yi wouldn't be easy, but the probability and opportunity would still exist.
Since danger lurked, Han Yi chose to gamble, opting for a more cautious route that took him through the Imperial Court before returning to Age Candle.
Moreover,
the Immortal Cities within the Imperial Court Immortal Court had direct teleportation formations leading to Age Candle, making it safer than crossing multiple Eastern Emperor Demon Domains or relying on transmission formations within Donghuang's territory.
As expected,
flying southwest, crossing numerous demon territories and traversing massive immortal veins, Han Yi reached the Imperial Court Immortal Court's territory five days later without encountering any interference.
Gazing back at the towering Wild Fracture Mountains, Han Yi quietly sighed in relief.
He was now southwest of the Barren Fold Mountains, within the Imperial Court Immortal Court's territory. The Great Sage Demonic Ape and the Black Realm Star Lord had yet to appear, and it seemed unlikely they could catch up to him now.
Of course,
Until he fully returned to the Age Candle, Han Yi remained vigilant.
However.
After fleeing hundreds of miles further, he gradually slowed his pace.
It wasn't due to any personal issue, but rather because, thousands of miles away, a fierce battle was unfolding.
He had stumbled upon this clash by chance, not because someone was ambushing him.
Normally cautious, he would have avoided the trouble and kept his distance. But now, his senses detected several familiar auras among the combatants.
Han Yi slowed further. By this point, he no longer feared the Great Sage Demonic Ape or the Black Realm Star Lord.
He cautiously approached, his eyes glowing with golden light as his Golden Pupils of the Dao of Fate illuminated the scene. What he saw shocked him:
"Two Immortal Monarchs are besieging a Demon Monarch."
"Which Demon Monarch?"
"No, that's not a Demon Monarch, just a Heavenly Demon."
"This aura... it's so familiar."
Han Yi's heart trembled. Through his golden eyes, he witnessed a scene of encirclement: two Immortal Path Immortal Monarchs besieging a Heavenly Demon.
This scene bore a striking resemblance to the ambush he had faced days earlier, when the Great Sage Demonic Ape and the Black Realm Star Lord had surrounded him. The numbers and setting were similar.
Yet, Han Yiping had managed to escape that time by harnessing the power of the Void Extreme Ancient God and burning his Life Seed.
Now, however, a Heavenly Demon was locked in a fierce Immortal Combat with two Immortal Monarchs. The demon held its own against them, neither side gaining the upper hand as they exchanged blows.
"Could this be... a Celestial Ghost?"
The Heavenly Demon facing the two Immortal Monarchs was a true form of the demon race. Standing thirty meters tall, its face resembled a Malevolent Ghost, its body pitch-black. Eight arms, each wielding an Immortal Artifact, radiated power. Han Yi sensed that the artifact held by the uppermost arm was undoubtedly a Seventh-Rank Immortal Artifact, while the others were all peak Sixth-Tier artifacts.
Though Han Yi had never witnessed such a true form firsthand, the Profound Repository Palace's records clearly identified it as the Celestial Ghost True Body of the demon race.
The Celestial Ghost is a unique true form, blending characteristics of both the demon and ghost races. Naturally attuned to the Nether, these beings excel in dark Demon Arts.
The demon race itself has no distinct Celestial Ghost lineage; all Heavenly Ghost Demon Bodies are cultivated through arduous training. The cultivation process is exceptionally difficult, attainable only by the most exceptional Heaven's Chosen among the demon race.
When Han Yi confirmed that the demon true form before him was that of a Celestial Ghost, a name flashed through his mind:
"Eastern Emperor Buer!"
"It must be her."
Years ago, Han Yi had seen Eastern Emperor Buer once at the Pure Yang Mountain Sword Debate Immortal Assembly. As the most distinctive Heavenly Demon of the Eastern Sovereign Demon Court, his surname derived from the Monster Court's name, and his given name, "Buer," meaning "peerless," left a particularly deep impression.
Moreover, Eastern Emperor Buer possessed seven distinct personalities, each corresponding to a different demon true form. The Celestial Ghost true form before him was one he had witnessed erupting multiple times before.
In truth, among the Eastern Emperor Demon Clan, it was rare to find a Heavenly Demon who also possessed a Celestial Ghost true form. Eastern Emperor Buer was precisely the most likely candidate to possess such power.
Facing Eastern Emperor Buer were two Immortal Monarchs. Though Han Yi had never interacted with them, he had seen them a few times before the Great Luo Immortal Court split. One was Immortal Monarch Mountain Solitude, and the other was Immortal Monarch Jade Affinity.
At the outskirts of this Immortal Combat, nearly a thousand miles away, several dozen Golden Immortals were observing the battle.
His golden eyes swept across the scene, and Han Yi refocused his attention on the Immortal Combat itself.
Mountain Still Immortal Monarch's Immortal Arts were profoundly mystical. With a wave of his hand, mountains transformed into spirits, and rivers formed formations. Jade Fate Immortal Monarch, a female immortal, wielded a Seventh-Rank Immortal Artifact—a jade flute. As the flute soared through the air, Immortal Sound materialized, manifesting into streams of Immortal Arts that attacked the Heavenly Ghost Demon Body.
Facing the combined assault of two Immortal Monarchs, the Heavenly Ghost Demon Body countered with nine Immortal Artifacts, two of them Seventh-Rank. These artifacts formed a dark barrier that blocked seventy percent of the attacks. The remaining thirty percent were nullified by the Heavenly Ghost upon closing the distance.
The Immortal Monarchs unleashed relentless Immortal Arts, enveloping a thousand-mile radius and transforming it into a death zone. Yet the Heavenly Ghost roamed freely, unleashing surging darkness like a Divine-Demonic entity, completely unafraid of the Immortal Monarchs' attacks.
Without intervention, this Immortal Combat would likely drag on for an extended period before a victor emerged. However, Eastern Emperor Buer clearly had no intention of wasting time here.
With a terrifying roar, the Heavenly Ghost unleashed a towering pillar of dark light that pierced the mountainous blockade. Carrying her demon true form, it soared through the Immortal Sound barrage and vanished into the Barren Fold Mountains.
This time, Mountain Still Immortal Monarch and Jade Fate Immortal Monarch refrained from pursuit. Even if they chased, they couldn't kill the enemy. Moreover, pursuing into the Eastern Sovereign Territory could invite unforeseen complications, so they halted their pursuit.
Han Yi withdrew his gaze from the Barren Fold Mountains. Just before Eastern Emperor Buer had escaped into the mountain range, he had cast a glance back. The deathly silence and darkness within that gaze had shaken Han Yi to his core.
This gaze was utterly different from the calm demeanor of the young woman he had encountered years ago on Pure Yang Mountain, who represented the Heavenly Fox True Body.
Though he had heard of Eastern Emperor Buer's multiple personalities and True Bodies, this was the first time Han Yi had witnessed his terrifying aspect.
He turned away.
Han Yi was preparing to leave when a voice called out to him.
"Sui Zhu Hanyi? Why have you come from Donghuang?"
The voice belonged to Jade Fate Immortal Monarch, one of the two Immortal Monarchs present. Her tone was icy and clearly tinged with emotion.
Han Yi raised an eyebrow. In the past, he would have responded respectfully and yielded appropriately, after all, she was an Immortal Monarch, while he was merely a Golden Immortal Realm cultivator.
But after narrowly escaping the ambush by these two Immortal Monarchs, his mental state had subtly shifted. While he still held them in high regard, fear was no longer a factor.
Jade Fate Immortal Monarch's icy tone stemmed from her frustration at being unable to subdue Eastern Emperor Buer, and she was now taking her anger out on him.
Han Yi had no intention of bearing this innocent calamity.
To avoid direct conflict, Han Yi clasped his hands and said, "Several days ago, I fell into a trap set by the Demon Race and was teleported to the Eastern Sovereign Territory. After escaping the ambush, I arrived here."
As soon as Han Yi finished speaking, Jade Fate Immortal Monarch's expression grew even colder. She snorted lightly and said, "A trap set by the Demon Race? I suspect you are a spy for the demons, here to assist that Heavenly Demon. Otherwise, if it truly was a trap, why would you have come through the Wild Fracture Mountains instead of heading straight for the Age Candle Immortal Court?"
Han Yi was slightly taken aback.
Jade Fate Immortal Monarch's anger was palpable, but her suspicions held a grain of truth.
Han Yi composed himself and continued explaining, "The ambush was set by the Great Sage of the Eastern Emperor Demonic Ape and a Black Realm Star Lord. The reason I didn't head straight for the Age Candle Immortal Court was primarily because I feared they might have set another ambush along the way. Changing my route and circling around the Imperial Court was the safer choice."
As Han Yi spoke, Jade Fate Immortal Monarch sneered.
Beside her, Mountain Still Immortal Monarch frowned, his expression darkening with displeasure.
Just moments ago, the two Immortal Monarchs had engaged in a fierce battle with a Heavenly Demon, resulting in a stalemate where neither gained a significant advantage. Now, Han Yi was claiming to have escaped from their very grasp.
Isn't this a blatant slap in the face?
The Heavenly Demon Buer, also known as the Eastern Emperor Buer, is the most extraordinary Heavenly Demon in the Great Luo Immortal Realm. His Heavenly Ghost Demon Body possesses such terrifying power, it's hardly surprising.
But Han Yi is merely a Golden Immortal. Though he ranks third on the Sui Zhu Golden Immortal Ranking, his strength still falls short of that of an Immortal Monarch by a single step—a step as vast as a heavenly chasm.
Moreover, the Great Sage Demonic Ape is a Peak Immortal Monarch and a Saint-Tier Great Sage of the Demon Race. Even they would struggle to escape if caught off guard. How could Han Yi possibly slip through their trap unscathed?
Furthermore, his aura, though slightly diminished, doesn't even indicate a proper injury.
Based on this information, Han Yi's claim of escaping from the joint pursuit of the Great Sage Demonic Ape and the Black Realm Star Lord is absolute nonsense.
And in this scene, this nonsense serves as a direct mockery of the two Immortal Monarchs.
Around them, the observing Golden Immortals quickly grasped this implication, drawing collective gasps.
"Has Han Yi gone mad?"
"How dare he insult Immortal Monarchs? Is he courting death?"
"Does he think reaching third place on the Golden Immortal Ranking grants him immunity? To treat Immortal Monarchs with such disdain—such reckless arrogance, born of ignorance."
"This should be entertaining."
"The outcome is inevitable. Han Yi will inevitably suffer some hardship, but as a rising star of the Age Candle, the two Immortal Monarchs likely won't truly unleash lethal force."
"That remains to be seen."
The thoughts of over a dozen Golden Immortals collided, sending ripples through the void.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Han Yi frowned, inwardly sighing.
It seemed he wouldn't be able to pass through here without revealing some of his true strength.
With this thought, he glanced at his Proficiency Panel. The Life Seeds, which had once numbered over ninety thousand, now stood at just over thirty thousand.
The recent use of the Seventh-Rank Immortal Cudgel to blast away the Great Sage Demonic Ape, and the subsequent spear thrust that pierced the Black Realm Star Lord's Great Black Heaven Secret Profound Demonic Scripture, had cost Han Yi over sixty thousand Life Seeds. The heartache nearly suffocated him.
With only thirty thousand Life Seeds remaining, he was reluctant to waste them unless absolutely necessary.
It seemed he had no choice but to test his own strength first.
Indeed.
As Han Yi pondered this, Jade Fate Immortal Monarch, thousands of miles away, smirked coldly and made her move.
Instead of blowing into her Seventh-Tier Jade Flute, she lightly snapped her fingers against the instrument. The Jade Flute vibrated, unleashing a tangible sound wave that surged through the sky, hurtling directly toward Han Yi.
Though this was merely a casual strike from the Immortal Monarch, even a Peak Golden Immortal would struggle to withstand it.
Jade Fate Immortal Monarch anticipated this attack would severely injure Han Yi.
Like the other Golden Immortals, she refrained from using a lethal technique. After all, Han Yi's status was far from ordinary. Killing him could provoke Immortal Monarch Yuanshu, leading to significant trouble for her—perhaps forcing her to remain confined within the Immortal Court indefinitely.
It was worth remembering that when the Black Realm had previously attacked Han Yi, Immortal Monarch Yuanshu had intervened. After millennia, he had directly slain four Black Realm Star Lords and clashed with a five-star Star Lord, rumored to be an Immortal Sovereign. Even that formidable five-star Star Lord had been unable to overcome Yuanshu, a testament to his terrifying power.
Jade Fate's strike was merely punishment for Han Yi's disrespect towards an Immortal Monarch.
Since ancient times, it has been understood that the dignity of an Immortal Monarch must not be lightly insulted. Even if Yuanshu learned of this, he would not act.
Beside Jade Fate Immortal Monarch, Mountain Still Immortal Monarch's displeased gaze flashed with killing intent.
The Imperial Court Immortal Court had faced difficult times in recent years. Since the Great Luo Division, they had endured the Dao Sacrifice Blaze, the Eastern Emperor's Domain Occupation, and the Descent of the Evil Gods. Many rising stars of the Immortal Court had perished in these conflicts.
Han Yi was a rising star of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court. Eliminating him now would be like preemptively removing a future rival, which would be a tremendous advantage for the Imperial Court.
Though his killing intent ran deep, he knew he couldn't possibly murder Han Yi under the watchful eyes of so many witnesses. Instead, he could inflict hidden injuries or plant subtle Immortal Arts that would erupt after Han Yi left this place. Then, he could follow closely behind to erase all traces of evidence.
Though the plan had its flaws, without concrete proof, even the aggressive Immortal Monarch Yuanshu couldn't keep him under constant scrutiny indefinitely. Given millennia, this incident would inevitably fade into obscurity.
As these thoughts flickered through his mind, Mountain Still Immortal Monarch subtly stirred the spirit of the mountain within the Immortal Vein Spirit Land below, preparing to launch a covert ambush.
But in the next instant, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Before him, Han Yi countered Jade Fate Immortal Monarch's casual attack with a single sword strike. The azure-black sword qi seemed to cleave the very fabric of heaven and earth. The sound waves from the Jade Flute detonated at the fissure, scattering in all directions.
Yet Han Yi stood firm, his sword held aloft, his Profound Robe billowing around him, without retreating a single step.
"This..."
Mountain Still Immortal Monarch was shaken to the core, his concealed killing intent momentarily betrayed by a flicker of shock in his aura.