Before leaving the Origin Technique Arena, Han Yi asked Immortal Monarch Yuanshu if there was any way to break through this impasse.
Immortal Monarch Yuanshu shook his head, his expression helpless. "The cultivation of Ancient Gods, especially those at the Extreme Boundary of the Void Extremity Realm and beyond, is the greatest taboo in the Primordial Great World."
"Even if a Dao Ancestor intervened personally, they couldn't protect you. They might even drag the entire Immortal Court into ruin."
"This matter can only be resolved by you alone."
Yuanshu's words weighed heavily on Han Yi's heart.
As he walked back to the Immortal Pavilion from the arena, he pondered strategies relentlessly. But no matter how he approached the problem, he couldn't escape one stark reality: to successfully undergo the Creation Tribulation, he would need strength comparable to a Dao Ancestor or even a Heavenly Venerable.
From this perspective, it seemed his path as an Ancient God had already reached its end.
After a long silence, he finally sighed deeply, forced to acknowledge this truth.
"For now, Ancient Gods can cultivate at most to the peak of the Void Extremity Realm, but not reach the Extreme Boundary that triggers the Divine Tribulation."
"Then, my focus should return to Immortal Dao cultivation."
In recent days, Han Yi had tasted the immense power of the Ancient God Void Extremity Realm. He had originally planned to seize the momentum, using Divine Power Crystals and Life Seeds to push his cultivation to the Peak Void Extremity, further enhancing his combat prowess to the point where he could slay Immortal Monarchs.
After hearing Immortal Monarch Yuanshu's explanation, Han Yi decisively abandoned this opportunity and shifted his focus to the Immortal Path. As for the Ancient God, he allowed it to evolve naturally within the Divine Aperture World, relying on the abundant Divine Power Crystals within it.
This approach would gradually enhance the Ancient God's strength, though without his direct intervention, it might take tens of thousands of years to reach Senior Void Extremity, and several epochs to reach Peak Void Extremity.
Still, it represented a tangible manifestation of his power.
As for his return to Immortal Dao cultivation, Han Yi planned to use the Life Seeds to cultivate the Sword Control Immortal Art, advancing it to the Seventh-Tier, where it could threaten, or even slay, Immortal Monarchs.
After tidying up, he visited the Immortal Ease Pavilion again. His recent ascension to the top of the Golden Immortal Ranking, coupled with his entry into the Immortal Monarch combat domain, had ignited a fervent business boom at the pavilion.
Li Zhengyang was overwhelmed with work. After surveying the place, Han Yi returned to the Returning Immortal Pavilion, sat down cross-legged, and activated a Spirit Gathering Formation to begin cultivating.
Over 30,000 Life Seeds were sufficient to propel him to the limits of the Golden Immortal realm.
However,
he didn't exhaust them all. Instead, he reserved 10,000 Life Seeds as an emergency stockpile, using only over 20,000 as fuel for his cultivation.
Twenty-seven years later, Han Yi emerged from seclusion.
However, his cultivation realm had not reached the Peak Golden Immortal stage; he was still a hair's breadth away.
Immortal Technique: Great Unrestrained Cosmic Light Profound Scripture (Golden Immortal Chapter 88/100)
He had emerged primarily because the Life Seeds he had allocated for this round of cultivation had been exhausted. His panel now showed only 10,000 Life Seeds remaining—these he had reserved for critical moments, whether for a life-or-death struggle or a desperate escape.
"Though I haven't reached the Peak Golden Immortal stage, I'm close. Without using Life Seeds, my own cultivation would only require another decade or so. That's a wait I can afford."
Moreover, his expenditure of Life Seeds to advance his cultivation realm had derailed his original plan to upgrade his Sword Control Immortal Art to the Seventh-Tier.
He now had to turn his attention to finding a sword heart.
A sword heart is essential for a Sixth-Rank Immortal Sword to break through to the Seventh-Rank Immortal Artifact.
The acquisition of each sword heart is unique, defying generalization. Some can be born through re-refining the Immortal Sword, while others require centuries of natural development. Still others demand the infusion of special refinement materials to ascend.
This depends entirely on the innate nature of each Immortal Sword.
According to Qingping herself, the sword heart of the Green Ripple Sword required refining a strand of Four Fiends Sword Qi.
The "Four Fiends" referred to any four ferocious sword energies, though whether the final refined sword heart would meet the requirements for advancing to the Seventh-Tier remained uncertain.
Therefore, Han Yi resolved to collect the most ferocious Four Fiends Sword Qi possible.
After years of investigation, he identified his targets: Life-Burning Sword Qi, Demon-Witch Sword Qi, Abyssal Ghost Sword Qi, and Evil-Slaying Sword Qi.
In the Great Luo Immortal Realm, these four sword energies were exceptionally ferocious and relatively accessible.
The Life-Burning Sword Qi was cultivated by an Immortal Monarch of the Luo Tian Immortal Court, who bore the Daoist Title "Life-Burning." When unleashed, this sword energy burned with immortal power, each strike carrying a fatal intent—utterly ferocious.
The Demon-Witch Sword Qi belonged to a rogue cultivator in the Yinglong Immortal Domain. Though lacking a Daoist Title, this cultivator resided on a mountain called Demon-Witch and maintained a nameless sword formation that attracted sword immortals from across the realm. Within this formation, the Demon-Witch Sword Qi, forged from the power of Heavenly Demons and Ancient Witches, thrived. This sword energy possessed a sentient malice; any who dared touch it would face an unrelenting, life-or-death struggle.
The Abyssal Ghost Sword Qi originates from the Lingxiao Immortal Court. "Abyssal Ghost" is not a Daoist title but refers to a deep pool called the Abyssal Ghost Pool. At the bottom of this pool lies a mysterious golden stone. Soaked in the frigid waters for millions of years, it emits a dark golden light that radiates like ferocious sword qi, filled with a savage aura.
The Demon-Slaying Sword Qi comes from the Sui Zhu Immortal Court. Han Yi was no stranger to this sword qi; it was born from the Heavenly Dao Demon-Slaying Sword Canon cultivated by Immortal Venerable Daoling. This sword qi, capable of annihilating all evil, is exceptionally fierce.
Hundreds of years ago, at the Pure Yang Mountain Sword Debate Immortal Assembly, Han Yi witnessed Immortal Venerable Daoling demonstrate his Dao Sword. The ferocity of his sword qi was utterly overwhelming, living up to its reputation for evil-slaying might.
Life-Burning, Demonic Witch, Abyssal Ghost, Demon-Slaying.
Ferocious, brutal, savage, fierce.
These are the Four Fiends Sword Qi that Han Yi selected after extensive comparison.
Among them, the latter three are relatively easier to obtain. The first, however, presents a challenge. Nevertheless, with his current strength, if he presents Immortal Monarch Yuanshu's invitation card to the Luo Tian Immortal Court and pays his respects to Immortal Monarch Life-Burning, he should have a chance to acquire a wisp of the Life-Burning Sword Qi.
If refused, he will naturally choose another equally ferocious sword qi.
Before seeking the Four Fiends Sword Qi, however, Han Yi plans to spend over a decade cultivating until he reaches the peak of the Golden Immortal realm.
Having devised his plan, Han Yi didn't emerge from seclusion but resumed his cultivation. Without the Life Seeds, his progress naturally slowed, but he persevered with unwavering patience.
Seventeen years later.
Within the Immortal Pavilion, Han Yi finally broke through to the Peak Golden Immortal realm, two years later than he had anticipated.
After fleeing from Donghuang, Han Yi had invested over 20,000 Life Seeds over 44 years, finally reaching the Peak Golden Immortal Realm.
Immortal Technique: Great Unrestrained Cosmic Light Profound Scripture (Golden Immortal Chapter 90/100)
His speed would undoubtedly cause another uproar. Normally, it would take a Golden Immortal at least 3,000 years to reach the peak of their realm. Yet Han Yi had done it in less than 300 years—a true miracle.
In less than 300 years, he had progressed from a fledgling Golden Immortal to the peak of the realm, shattering the Sui Zhu Immortal Court's records.
As he emerged from the Immortal Pavilion, preparing to seek an Invitation Card from Immortal Monarch Yuanshu, he spotted a familiar figure approaching slowly from afar.
The newcomer was Daoist Xuan Cheng.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Han! Reaching the Peak Golden Immortal realm is truly a cause for celebration!"
Xuan Cheng's expression shifted dramatically. He was utterly astonished by Han Yi's rapid cultivation progress. Considering the relatively short time since Donghuang raised his army, the gap between their cultivation realms had widened dramatically. Back then, Xuan Cheng had been an ordinary Profound Immortal, while Han Yi was already a Senior Profound Immortal, and they had fought together.
After returning to the Immortal Court, Xuan Cheng had drawn upon the resources from his previous life, causing his cultivation realm to advance by leaps and bounds. Only recently had he finally reached the Golden Immortal realm, a speed he had once been proud of. But now, compared to Han Yi, he felt utterly inferior.
He had just ascended to the Golden Immortal realm, while Han Yi had already reached its peak. The gap between them was growing ever wider.
Han Yi smiled. "What brings you here, Fellow Daoist Profound Sincerity?"
Xuan Cheng clasped his hands. "I've come to invite you, Fellow Daoist Han, to the opening ceremony of Immortal Lord Zhenxiao's Dao Field."
With that, he produced an invitation and handed it to Han Yi.
Han Yi accepted it, glanced at it, and nodded. "Very well. I will definitely attend."
Xuan Cheng clasped his hands again, gave Han Yi a deep, lingering look, then turned and departed.
This time, he would send out a total of nineteen invitations, all to Golden Immortals. Seven of them were Sui Zhu Golden Immortals, while the rest were from other Immortal Courts. Without exception, they were all peak Golden Immortals, with several even comparable to Immortal Monarchs. Among them, Han Yi ranked only third.
However...
Xuan Cheng felt that Han Yi's ranking should have been higher, perhaps even first. After all, over forty years ago, when Han Yi topped the Golden Immortal Ranking, he was merely a Senior Golden Immortal. Now, he had reached the peak of the Golden Immortal Realm.
For someone like Han Yi, the difference of a single tier represented a significant leap in strength.
Outside the Immortal Pavilion, Han Yi put away the invitation.
He hadn't known in advance that the True Immortal Monarch was emerging from seclusion, but since his own cultivation had reached a temporary conclusion, attending the reopening of the Dao Field would broaden his horizons and wasn't entirely meaningless.
Next, he used the Escape Technique to head towards the Primal Art Dao Field. However, when he arrived, he found the entire Origin Technique Arena had vanished without a trace.
The Origin Technique Arena was crucial to Immortal Monarch Yuanshu's path to becoming an Immortal Sovereign. Within the Immortal Court, it wouldn't be casually used. Its disappearance meant Immortal Monarch Yuanshu had taken it with him, which was highly unusual.
Han Yi turned and headed toward the Golden Immortal Pavilion. Inside, he learned from the on-duty Golden Immortals that the Origin Technique Arena had vanished twenty-five years prior, though they had no information about Immortal Monarch Yuanshu's whereabouts.
As he exited the pavilion, Han Yi formed a theory: Immortal Monarch Yuanshu had likely retreated to a secluded realm to break through to the Immortal Venerable Realm, explaining his prolonged absence.
The more he considered it, the more plausible it seemed.
Next, he headed straight for the Dao Ling Realm Heaven.
Within the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, each Immortal Sovereign had their own Boundary Heaven for cultivation. Immortal Venerable Daoling's cultivation realm was the Dao Ling Realm Heaven.
Outside the Boundary Heaven, Han Yi explained his purpose, and he was granted entry.
Inside, he met Immortal Venerable Daoling.
Han Yi was no stranger to this venerable figure. Immortal Venerable Daoling was immensely powerful, his strength subtly surpassing even that of Immortal Venerable Age Candle.
Han Yi had crossed paths with this Immortal Sovereign during the Donghuang invasion and the Pure Yang Mountain incident. On Pure Yang Mountain, he had personally witnessed the Immortal Sovereign's overwhelming sword might.
Immortal Venerable Daoling cultivated multiple Dao paths: the Sword Dao, Blade and Sword, Art Dao, and Formation Dao—all of which he mastered with exceptional skill.
Han Yi's primary purpose for this visit was to obtain a strand of Demon-Slaying Sword Qi to prepare for the Azure Lotus Sword Heart.
"Han Yi, what brings you here?" Immortal Venerable Daoling asked softly. Seated within the palace atop the mountain, he exuded no Immortal Might. His gray robes were simple and ancient, his demeanor that of an immortal sage, his white eyebrows cascading down to his shoulders.
Only his eyes, unnaturally bright, were piercing enough to make Han Yi instinctively lower his head.
It was clear that Immortal Venerable Daoling recognized Han Yi, and not merely casually. Han Yi's ascension to the Golden Immortal Ranking and his breakthrough to the Immortal Monarch combat strength tier had made him so renowned that even Immortal Sovereigns took notice—a testament to the latent power of fame.
"Disciple pays his respects to the Immortal Sovereign," Han Yi said, bowing with clasped hands, his demeanor deferential. "I have come to request a strand of your Demon-Slaying Sword Qi. My Immortal Sword has reached the peak of the Sixth-Tier, needing only a sword heart to ascend to the Seventh-Tier. My sword heart requires ferocious sword qi, and your Demon-Slaying Sword Qi is the foremost among all Great Luo ferocious sword energies. Thus, I have come to seek it."
Immortal Venerable Daoling nodded slightly. "By the shores of East King Lake, there is a rogue cultivator named Su Yan. He is an avatar of the Ten Thousand Nether."
"I had intended to send Yuan Shu, but he is currently in seclusion within the Sui Zhu Dao Realm, preparing to break through to the Immortal Sovereign Realm."
"Fortunately, your strength is considerable, and you've recently broken through to the Peak Golden Immortal realm, further enhancing your combat prowess to the level of an Immortal Monarch."
"Sending you on this mission gives me peace of mind," Immortal Venerable Daoling said.
With these words, he lightly pointed his finger, unleashing a golden streak of Sword Qi that materialized before Han Yi.
The Sword Light radiated an intensely sharp aura, capable of slaying evil and repelling all that is vile, its ferocity unmatched.
Moreover, the Sword Light coalesced into a tangible form, resembling golden thunder, hovering before Han Yi.
Instead of immediately accepting the Sword Qi, Han Yi clasped his hands toward Immortal Venerable Daoling and said, "This disciple accepts this mission. Thank you, Immortal Sovereign."
The Immortal Venerable's intentions were crystal clear to Han Yi.
He had discovered a Myriad Nether Incarnation belonging to the Myriad Nether Immortal Venerable. However, this avatar was merely an ordinary Immortal Monarch, unworthy of his direct intervention. He had initially intended to assign this task to Immortal Monarch Yuanshu, but Yuanshu was currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Immortal Venerable Realm.
Before he could decide on another candidate, Han Yi had arrived at the perfect time.
As part of the agreement, Immortal Venerable Daoling bestowed upon Han Yi a strand of Demon-Slaying Sword Qi, while Han Yi accepted the command to slay the Ten Thousand Nether Avatar.
Han Yi had already prepared to acquire a strand of Demon-Slaying Sword Qi to fulfill Immortal Venerable Daoling's request.
In the Immortal Realm, equivalent exchange was the norm. Even among immortals of the Immortal Court, where Han Yi was a junior, he couldn't expect to obtain a strand of Sword Qi without any cost.
Moreover, Immortal Venerable Daoling's request wasn't unreasonable.
Furthermore, the mission didn't specify a deadline, and the Demon-Slaying Sword Qi was given upfront, rather than after the mission's completion.
This meant that even if Han Yi collected all the Sword Qi, allowing his Immortal Sword to advance to Seventh-Tier, he could still proceed to slay Immortal Monarch Suyan.
Additionally, from Immortal Venerable Daoling's words, Han Yi confirmed his earlier conjecture: Immortal Monarch Yuanshu was indeed in the midst of a breakthrough, which was why he had brought the Origin Technique Arena.
After thanking the Immortal Sovereign, Han Yi used the Divine Sealing Art to envelop the strand of Demon-Slaying Sword Qi and sent it into his Divine Aperture World.