Han Yi slashed with his sword, blocking the sound-based attack.
In truth, this strike didn't yet demonstrate the full capabilities of an Immortal Monarch. However, Jade Fate Immortal Monarch's sound attack was merely a casual strike, far from her full power. Such an attack would easily overwhelm a typical Golden Immortal, but Han Yi, who had already begun to transcend the Golden Immortal realm, effortlessly severed it with a single sword strike.
The Green Ripple Sword, though still a Sixth-Tier artifact, had absorbed and fully assimilated eight Sub-Swords bestowed by the Pure Yang Dao Ancestor. This had propelled it to the peak of the Sixth-Tier, requiring only a sword heart to ascend to a Seventh-Rank Immortal Artifact. Combined with his mastery of the Senior Sixth-Tier Sword Control Immortal Art, a full-strength strike from this sword could even endanger an Immortal Monarch.
Yet to the other Golden Immortals, this single strike represented a world-shattering revelation.
Those who had initially assumed Han Yi would suffer a humiliating defeat now gasped in astonishment.
"He... blocked it?"
"That sword! That sword!"
"But this isn't a Seventh-Rank Immortal Sword—it's only Sixth-Tier! How could a single strike from it block an Immortal Monarch's attack? Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable!"
"Does this mean... everything Han Yi said earlier was true?"
"Wait, he just mentioned escaping the attacks of the Great Sage Demonic Ape and the Black Realm Star Lord. Could it be that what he said earlier wasn't just arrogant boasting?"
"Hiss!"
The Golden Immortals were filled with doubt. Recalling Han Yi's actions since his promotion to Golden Immortal, they couldn't help but question everything they thought they knew.
Meanwhile, Jade Fate Immortal Monarch, who had unleashed the sound wave attack, frowned deeply. Her earlier sneer had vanished, replaced by a grave expression.
When Han Yi had blocked her attack, it was clear he hadn't exerted his full strength. With a casual flick of his sword, he had deflected the blow as effortlessly as a breeze parting clouds.
In other words, Han Yi might genuinely have reached a certain level of the Immortal Monarch Realm. Recalling his mention of the Donghuang Trap, she realized that if he had truly escaped unscathed from the Great Sage Demonic Ape and the Black Realm Star Lord, his capabilities were far beyond ordinary.
With this realization, Jade Fate Immortal Monarch dared not underestimate him. Yet, she couldn't simply stand down.
Frowning, she picked up her Jade Flute and blew gently. Immortal Power surged into the flute, and Immortal Sound erupted, causing ripples in the Void. Space itself began to undulate, fold, and transform into an invisible assault that surged towards Han Yi from all directions.
Beside Jade Fate Immortal Monarch, Mountain Still Immortal Monarch seethed with killing intent. He connected with the spirit of the mountain, gathering energy without revealing his momentum, waiting for Han Yi to show a weakness. Then, he would strike, inflicting a severe wound and planting a hidden injury that would explode after Han Yi left, ultimately killing him.
Nearly a thousand kilometers away, Han Yi's gaze remained fixed on Mountain Still Immortal Monarch. He had just sensed a fleeting but intense killing intent from the Immortal Monarch. Though the impulse lasted only a moment, Han Yi's perception was keen, honed by years of brutal combat. He immediately pinpointed the source of the murderous intent.
"Mountain Still Immortal Monarch wants me dead," Han Yi concluded.
In the Wild Fracture Mountains territory, none of the other Golden Immortals, including Jade Fate Immortal Monarch who had attacked first, harbored true killing intent. Only Mountain Still Immortal Monarch had revealed his murderous thoughts.
With this realization, Han Yi sighed softly and manifested his True Body of an Ancient God, transforming into a colossal figure a thousand feet tall. With a single punch, he shattered the sound wave attacks closing in around him.
These sound wave attacks, though stronger than the casual strike earlier, still barely reached the Immortal Monarch Realm's power level. Moreover, lacking true killing intent, they couldn't be considered Jade Fate Immortal Monarch's full strength.
Earlier, on Donghuang's Wild Fracture Mountains, Han Yi had manifested his True Body of an Ancient God and clashed with the Great Sage Demonic Ape. Though he was at a disadvantage, his formidable combat prowess clearly placed him within the Immortal Monarch Realm.
Now, transforming back into his True Body—without burning his Life Seed—he stood firm against the onslaught of multiple Dao Sounds. After dispersing the sound attacks with a single punch, he slammed his fist into the ground.
In that instant, the agitated spirit of the mountain retaliated, its shockwave radiating outward and causing tens of thousands of miles of earth to tremble.
Following this strike, Han Yi explosively retreated into the Barren Fold Mountains. Golden light flooded the area as his figure shrank, and he vanished using an Escape Technique.
Simultaneously, a thunderous voice resonated:
"When I return to the Age Candle, I will undoubtedly report this to the Immortal Monarch. Fellow Daoists, if I perish in the Eastern Sovereign Territory, the Immortal Monarch will surely come seeking retribution. Are you prepared to face his wrath?"
The voice boomed in all directions. Mountain Still Immortal Monarch, who had been about to make a move, froze, his face turning ashen. Though others might not have understood, he knew that Han Yi's words were primarily directed at him.
Moments ago, he had inadvertently revealed a sliver of killing intent, and Han Yi had sensed it, just as Han Yi had sensed his own.
If he pursued the killer into the Wild Fracture Mountains, the Senior Golden Immortals behind him would never keep silent. Immortal Monarch Yuanshu was no pushover; if he truly came looking, he would definitely find him, and when that time came, he would be in grave danger.
Moreover, his actions might even provoke a war between the Age Candle and Imperial Court Immortal Courts. Then, not only would he fail to eliminate a Heaven's Chosen for the Immortal Court, but he might also plunge the court into irreversible calamity.
He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and turned to leave, never glancing back at the Wild Fracture Mountains as if none of the events that had just transpired had anything to do with him.
Only Jade Fate Immortal Monarch's expression subtly shifted after hearing Han Yi's words.
She now regretted pressing him so closely. If Han Yi were to die in the Eastern Sovereign Territory, they would indeed be implicated. She had never harbored any true intent to kill Han Yi; her harsh words had stemmed from anger, compounded by the fact that he wasn't an Imperial Court Immortal. She hadn't anticipated the situation spiraling to such a dangerous point.
She swept her Immortal Sense across the surroundings, her presence subtly vibrating.
"You must never reveal this to anyone," she warned. "Otherwise, you'll face my wrath."
"Hmph!"
Jade Fate Immortal Monarch let out a cold snort before following Mountain Still Immortal Monarch in using the Escape Technique.
Around them, a dozen Golden Immortals exchanged uneasy glances, finally snapping out of their daze. Their faces paled as they realized the gravity of the situation.
They now understood the innocent calamity Han Yi had faced.
Han Yi's final words before fleeing carried immense weight. The Immortal Monarch he mentioned could only be Immortal Monarch Yuanshu.
Rumor had it that Yuanshu had already taken half a step into the Immortal Venerable Realm.
If Han Yi truly died, Immortal Monarch Yuanshu—or even Immortal Sovereign Yuanshu—would inevitably hold Jade Fate Immortal Monarch and Mountain Still Immortal Monarch accountable. But even if they escaped direct blame, they would still suffer collateral damage.
The wisest course of action, as Jade Fate Immortal Monarch had suggested, was to maintain absolute silence and pretend Han Yi had vanished after Eastern Emperor Buer's escape.
Some Golden Immortals even went so far as to extract the memory of the incident, grinding it to dust to erase all traces of their involvement.
Meanwhile, after crossing the Barren Fold Mountains, Han Yi didn't continue onward. Instead, he followed the mountain range upward, searching for a suitable path to cross the mountains again and return to the Imperial Court. This time, he planned to use his Sixth-Tier Fetal Transformation Disguise to alter his aura and appearance, transforming into a low-level cultivator.
With his current Sixth-Tier Fetal Transformation Disguise, he had already proven capable of fooling even Immortal Monarch-level Evil Immortals at the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool. Now, within the Imperial Court's territory, even if he encountered another Immortal Monarch, they would be unable to discern his true identity.
This method ensured his safety.
Han Yi wasn't worried about Jade Fate Immortal Monarch and Mountain Still Immortal Monarch pursuing him. Even if they slaughtered the other Golden Immortals and came after him, they wouldn't necessarily catch up. The vast Barren Fold Mountains, filled with ancient forests and littered with ancient ruins, allowed Han Yi to conceal his aura and vanish effortlessly. Even an Immortal Monarch would struggle to find him.
Suppressing his aura, he flew low toward the north.
However, after the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he suddenly halted, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. Below him, within the ancient forest, a blazing fire raged, spreading rapidly.
This was no ordinary mountain fire, but flames emanating from a Demon Beast.
At the heart of the flames, a creature lay sprawled on the ground, deep in slumber. Its fiery red feathers trembled with each breath, shedding sparks that rapidly expanded into scorching waves of flame, radiating outward.
Han Yi raised an eyebrow, slowly descending until he landed. He reached out and caught the flames spreading toward him, feeling their warmth.
"This must be Ancient Phoenix True Fire..."
!
"This isn't just any demon beast—it's an Ancient Demon! Specifically, it must be the Primordial Fire Phoenix!"
"But the Great Luo Immortal Court shouldn't have such an Ancient Demon. How could it suddenly appear in the Barren Fold Mountains?"
Han Yi was puzzled, but it didn't deter his resolve to tame this creature.
After all, this was the Primordial Fire Phoenix, a true Ancient Demon. According to ancient records, it was one of the most formidable creatures from the Primordial Era. Legend had it that the Primordial Fire Phoenix could undergo nine cycles of nirvana, evolving into the ultimate Ancient Demon after each cycle.
However, each evolution was a perilous journey from death to rebirth, truly a test of nirvana. Those who failed to be reborn from the flames would perish completely. Achieving even seven cycles of evolution was exceedingly rare throughout the entire world.
The moment the thought crossed Han Yi's mind, the Primordial Fire Phoenix lying asleep on the ground ahead suddenly opened its eyes. Its eyes burned with pure flame, devoid of any discernible emotion.
"This is a newly born Primordial Fire Phoenix."
"Even more peculiar."
Han Yi resumed his flight, his Immortal Sense sweeping across thousands of miles. Aside from alerting a few True Immortal-grade Demon Immortals, he detected nothing unusual.
He grew wary, suspecting this might be a deliberate trap. Someone had likely placed the newborn phoenix here to lure him into action, with a hidden agenda surely lurking behind the scenes.
Below, the fire phoenix flapped its wings and soared into the air. Though its wingspan measured only two meters, its aura rivaled that of a Demigod.
This Ancient Demon possessed innate talent that placed it among the foremost of its kind.
Han Yi gazed into the phoenix's innocent eyes, pondered for a moment, then channeled his Immortal Sense into an Imperial Beast seal, which he cast toward the phoenix, aiming to imprint it upon its Demon Soul.
But he paused, startled, as he sensed a formidable defensive energy surrounding the phoenix's Demon Soul, causing his seal to bounce back.
In the next instant, however, the phoenix's Demon Soul unexpectedly opened a sliver, automatically accepting his seal.
The moment was fleeting. Before Han Yi could even glimpse the interior of the Demon Soul, the defensive energy snapped shut again.
When he probed deeper with his Immortal Sense, he was once again repelled.
Han Yi's Immortal Sense was that of a Senior Golden Immortal, yet this Fire Phoenix, though an Ancient Demon with innate talent allowing it to reach Demigod level upon birth, should have been unable to block his perception. Yet it did, leaving him slightly astonished.
However, as the Beast Taming Seal penetrated the phoenix's Demon Soul, Han Yi sensed its thoughts, establishing a preliminary connection between them.
He had acquired the Beast Taming Seal while exploring the Ancient Vault Dao Ladder. There, he had progressed to the twelfth level, each representing a different art of immortal cultivation. He had a foundation in early skills like Pill Refinement and Talisman Crafting, but for later skills like Beast Taming and Immortal Plant cultivation, he only possessed theoretical knowledge.
To refine the Ancient Vault Seal, Han Yi had patiently used his Immortal Power to simulate practice, forcing several skills, including the Beast Taming Art, to the level of Immortal Arts.
It was a fortunate coincidence. Had he not ventured into the Ancient Vault Dao Ladder, he wouldn't have been able to use the Beast Taming Art now. And if he had tried to forcibly imprint a Soul Slave Seal, given the Fire Phoenix's mysterious origins and the protective restrictions on its Demon Soul, the process might have failed.
After implanting the Beast Taming Seal, affection appeared in the phoenix's eyes as it approached Han Yi, expressing emotions of hunger and a desire to eat.
Han Yi was taken aback. He knew that most Demon Beasts fed on Spirit Fruits and Spirit Crystals. Spirit Fruits were self-explanatory, while Spirit Crystals were derived from Spirit Stones.
With a flick of his wrists, Han Yi produced Spirit Fruits from the Immortal Spirit Realm. However, the Fire Phoenix didn't even glance at them, its fiery eyes still gleaming with anticipation as it stared at him.
Realizing this wasn't what it wanted, Han Yi tried Spirit Crystals, Spirit Stones, and even Immortal Stones. The juvenile Ancient Demon only took a few bites of the Immortal Stone, but it didn't seem particularly fond of it.
Now he was truly stumped.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. He retrieved the Wild Desolate Heartstone from the Demon Sea.
If there was anything he possessed that might be connected to Ancient Demons, it was this Wild Desolate Heartstone. As fellow Ancient Demons, the Fire Phoenix should surely be interested in such a thing.
But to his surprise, when he produced the Wild Desolate Heartstone, the Fire Phoenix suddenly spat out a mouthful of True Fire, sending the stone flying.
Han Yi put the Wild Desolate Heartstone away.
Having obtained the Wild Dragon Inheritance, he could now manifest the Wild Dragon True Body, reaching the Profound Immortal cultivation level. The Ancient Demon Heartstone's residual energy was minimal, barely enough to elevate his Wild Dragon True Body to the Heavenly Demon tier.
With the Wild Desolate Heartstone stowed away, Han Yi found himself in a predicament.
The Fire Phoenix was clearly waiting for him to offer it something to eat. This was the first time he'd been unable to comply, and the awkwardness was palpable.
Just then, the Fire Phoenix suddenly swooped closer and bit Han Yi's arm.
Han Yi was momentarily startled, but quickly realized that the juvenile Fire Phoenix wasn't biting him—it was sucking.
A wisp of divine power was drawn from his physical body and swallowed by the phoenix. Its eyes suddenly lit up with delight.
"Divine power?"
Han Yi recalled something and retrieved a palm-sized Divine Power Crystal from the Divine Aperture World.
What he didn't expect was the Fire Phoenix's extreme reaction. The phoenix flapped its wings wildly, clearly overjoyed by the sight of the crystal.
"You're an Ancient Demon, eating a Divine Power Crystal from an Ancient God?" Han Yi exclaimed in surprise.
He casually tossed the crystal to the phoenix, which caught it and swallowed it whole. As the phoenix flapped its wings, the true fire it emitted burned even hotter.
After consuming the crystal, the phoenix's aura surged, bringing it even closer to the realm of a True Immortal.
Han Yi's eyes lit up slightly, but his astonishment only deepened: