Crack!
The silver light piercing Immortal Monarch Suyan was none other than the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment. However, this fragment of the Dao Artifact, which had accompanied Han Yi for over a thousand years, shattered completely upon piercing Suyan's skull, disintegrating under the recoil.
After all, this was an Immortal Monarch. Having perfected the Dao's principles, his Immortal Body had been refined to perfection, making him dozens of times stronger than a Golden Immortal. Piercing his skull was already the peak of the fragment's combat prowess.
In truth, the Heavenly Demon Halberd Fragment had been near its breaking point, already riddled with cracks. This final strike could be considered a peaceful end to its lifespan.
Han Yi had anticipated the fragment's impending destruction since the cracks first appeared. The fragment's performance in his hands had already reached its limit against ordinary Immortal Monarchs.
With one arm severed, his lower body pulverized by divine power, his skull pierced, and his Immortal Soul slain, Immortal Monarch Suyan's final words cut off abruptly.
Yet in that same instant, Han Yi felt no satisfaction. From the corpse of the newly deceased Suyan, a terrifying danger suddenly radiated, sending shivers down his spine.
This peril was formless and intangible, yet Han Yi knew it existed—a primal instinct honed to the level of an Immortal Monarch.
Han Yi exploded backward.
He paused abruptly, realizing that the chilling danger that had made him tremble wasn't directed at him. Instead, it was rapidly diminishing as the invisible threat receded.
Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a line of pale red text suddenly appeared on his Proficiency Panel:
Myriad Nether Tome (Nether Slave · Half-Immortal Chapter 71/100)
In the blink of an eye, the text began to flicker and change:
Myriad Nether Tome (Nether Slave · Half-Immortal Chapter 73/100)
This indicated that his cultivation progress in the seventh layer of the Myriad Nether Tome had surged from 70/100 to 81/100 within a single breath.
Staring at the frozen progress bar at 81/100, Han Yi glanced at the lifeless body of Immortal Monarch Suyan. Suddenly, he understood what had just transpired.
Immortal Monarch Suyan was a Myriad Nether Incarnation, also cultivating the Myriad Nether Tome. Though he didn't know if his practice of the Nether Slave Chapter differed from Han Yi's, there was no doubt they shared a common origin.
Suyan's death here had released the Counter-Dao Aura that had made Han Yi tremble. This aura, which Han Yi's low Cultivation Realm allowed him only to sense as danger, was undoubtedly connected to the Myriad Nether Tome.
As Han Yi retreated explosively, his Proficiency Panel immediately captured the fluctuation and used it to advance the cultivation level of the Myriad Nether Tome.
This had never happened in his nearly two millennia of cultivation, leaving Han Yi momentarily stunned.
"Plundering."
"This is equivalent to plundering the Myriad Nether Tome's cultivation."
"No, it's not cultivation. Immortal Monarch Suyan is already an Immortal Monarch, so the Myriad Nether Tome he cultivates must be at a much higher level than the Half-Immortal Chapter."
"This must be using his Ten Thousand Nether cultivation as fuel to boost my own Myriad Nether Tome cultivation. After the transformation, it allowed my Myriad Nether Tome to advance from the seventh layer to the eighth."
"A full layer of the Myriad Nether Tome! Based on my previous estimates, it would have taken me two hundred years to advance from the seventh to the eighth layer."
"This means that if I kill more Myriad Nether Incarnations, my Myriad Nether Tome cultivation can continue to plunder and advance."
"What a... convenient path."
Han Yi sighed inwardly.
He had estimated that advancing from the eighth to the ninth layer would take a thousand years, and breaking through from the ninth to the tenth layer would require nearly ten thousand years.
Such vast spans of time could be greatly accelerated, or even bypassed entirely, if he could continue killing Myriad Nether Incarnations. This was truly ideal.
Han Yi used Divine Fire to reduce Immortal Monarch Suyan's corpse to ashes, ensuring his complete disappearance.
After thoroughly searching the entire highest-level palace, he leisurely departed, using Spirit God Concealment to hide his presence along the way, ensuring no one witnessed his exit.
Three days after his departure, a Golden Immortal, urgently needing something, entered Immortal Monarch Suyan's palace. Finding the Immortal Monarch absent, he simply assumed he was out on business and paid it no further mind.
It wasn't until years later, when Su Yan failed to return, that the cultivators gathered on Mount Taisu gradually sensed something amiss, their suspicions growing.
Of course, Han Yi paid no attention to these developments.
After leaving the Grand Solemn Hall, he headed directly west, his destination the Luo Tian Immortal Court.
This journey served two purposes: to fulfill the mission assigned by Immortal Venerable Daoling—to eliminate the Myriad Nether Incarnation—and to obtain one of the Four Fiends Sword Qi he needed for his plan: the Life-Burning Sword Qi.
The Life-Burning Sword Qi was the signature technique of Immortal Monarch Life-Burning of the Luo Tian Immortal Court. Han Yi intended to personally visit the court, pay his respects to Immortal Monarch Life-Burning, and request a strand of this Sword Qi.
Though he lacked an invitation from Immortal Monarch Yuanshu, he wasn't deterred by the prospect of approaching the Immortal Court alone to seek a strand of Sword Qi.
If his request was denied, he could simply consider other Sword Qi. If it was accepted, any terms could be negotiated. Han Yi believed he could meet any reasonable demands, and if not, he would simply withdraw.
Pro Immortal City served as a massive transportation hub, second only to Celestial City of Luo Tian.
Upon emerging from the Transmission Formation in Pro Immortal City, Han Yi immediately used an Escape Technique to head straight for the Immortal Court. Upon reaching its perimeter, he presented his Identity Token and declared his intention to pay his respects to Immortal Monarch Life-Burning. He then began to wait.
The Immortal Court was not a closed institution. Those seeking an audience would first be screened by a specialized body before being allowed entry.
Han Yi's status was far from ordinary. He currently ranked first on the Golden Immortal Ranking of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court and had been confirmed to possess the combat prowess of an Immortal Monarch. His innate talent and strength placed him among the top-tier of his peers, naturally garnering him significant attention.
Before long, he was escorted into the Immortal Court, entering a Boundary Heaven.
Before the Great Luo Division, the Great Luo Immortal Court had possessed thirty-three Boundary Heavens, also known as Heavenly Realms. During the fall of the Imperial Cliff Heaven Realm, Han Yi had been present and encountered the rampant Counter-Dao Aura.
Following the fall of the Void Antiquity Dao Ancestor and the subsequent division of Great Luo, many of these thirty-three Heavenly Realms were lost. The remaining realms were divided between the Luo Tian and the Imperial Court.
Luo Tian inherited the majority, securing nine Heavenly Realms, while the Imperial Court was left with only seven.
Of course, although the Luo Tian Immortal Court retained only nine Boundary Heavens, this did not mean there were only nine Immortal Monarchs.
Han Yi was led into the Extreme Wind Heaven Realm.
Within the Extreme Wind Heaven Realm, Han Yi finally met his objective for this visit to the Luo Tian Immortal Court: Immortal Monarch Life-Burning.
Immortal Monarch Life-Burning appeared aged, his vitality unremarkable. If he were to be found in the mortal realm, one might mistake him for an ordinary old man.
Yet Han Yi dared not underestimate him.
According to the information he had gathered, Immortal Monarch Life-Burning's appearance was exactly as described.
However, this seemingly frail Immortal Monarch, when enraged, unleashed a life-or-death fury that even veteran immortals found difficult to withstand.
It was precisely because he fought with such reckless abandon, draining his life force to the point of exhaustion, that his appearance had become so aged and haggard.
This was the origin of his Daoist title, "Life-Burning."
A Sword Immortal who burned his very life force.
In the presence of Immortal Monarch Life-Burning, Han Yi boldly stated his request for a strand of Life-Burning Sword Qi. He also candidly explained that this request stemmed from his need to refine a sword heart for his own sword. This frankness was not casual, but rather a deliberate approach tailored to Immortal Monarch Life-Burning's known temperament.
After listening to Han Yi's request, Immortal Monarch Life-Burning did not immediately respond. He and Han Yi had no prior connection, and now that Han Yi was seeking Sword Qi, he was essentially making a request of him. If he granted it, it would create a karmic debt that Han Yi would need to repay.
Karmic debt, in essence, was a price—a broader form of transaction.
"My strand of Sword Qi is not particularly precious," Immortal Monarch Life-Burning began.
"However, even a single strand of Sword Qi creates a karmic debt. Fellow Daoist, you should understand this, correct?"
Han Yi's heart stirred slightly at these words.
Immortal Monarch Life-Burning hadn't addressed him by name, but instead used the respectful term "Fellow Daoist," which struck Han Yi as somewhat odd. He found it strange, but didn't dwell on it.
Before coming, Han Yi had already understood that repaying karmic debts was inevitable, so he calmly accepted the implication.
Seeing Han Yi's composed acceptance, a hint of amusement flickered in Immortal Monarch Life-Burning's solemn expression. His deep-set eyes regarded Han Yi with a new meaning as he continued:
"I have one condition. If Fellow Daoist Han agrees, this karmic debt will naturally be considered repaid."
"!"
"The condition is simple, but its fulfillment lies not in the present, but in the future. When Fellow Daoist Han ascends to the rank of Immortal Monarch, you must assist me in killing a certain person."
Upon hearing this, Han Yi's brow furrowed slightly.
The Immortal Monarch Life-Burning sought to kill someone of considerable stature, at least another Immortal Monarch. Yet, a single wisp of Life-Burning Sword Qi, which bound Han Yi to assist in this assassination, seemed insufficient.
Though described as mere assistance, once he acted and bound himself to this causality, it would be no different than if he had carried out the killing himself.
In essence, this transaction was imbalanced: the initial cause did not justify the potential consequences.
Moreover, Immortal Monarch Life-Burning must have known that the price of a single wisp of Sword Qi was the life of an Immortal Monarch. Given this extreme imbalance, he should never have agreed so readily. Why, then, did he propose it outright?
As these thoughts raced through Han Yi's mind, he was about to refuse when Immortal Monarch Life-Burning signaled him to remain calm and continued:
"Fellow Daoist Han, please withhold your refusal. In this matter of causality, you need only assist. I will personally deliver the final blow."
"More importantly, the Immortal Monarch I intend to kill, a figure you recognize, has a certain karmic debt with you. Your involvement will not be a reckless entanglement in causality, but a means to settle it."
"Do you recall the recent incident in the Barren Fold Mountains, where you clashed with two Immortal Monarchs from the Imperial Court? One of them was named Mountain Still Immortal Monarch."
"The person I wish to kill is Mountain Still Immortal Monarch," Immortal Monarch Life-Burning declared.
As he spoke, a terrifying killing intent surged from his body, like a ten-thousand-year blaze that startled even Han Yi.
"Mountain Still Immortal Monarch," Han Yi murmured. He naturally remembered this Immortal Monarch. When he had escaped Donghuang, crossed the Barren Fold Mountains, and prepared to return to the Age Candle via the Imperial Court Immortal Court, he unexpectedly witnessed Mountain Still and Jade Affinity Immortal Monarchs surrounding and annihilating Eastern Emperor Buer's Celestial Ghost True Body.
He then sensed Mountain Still Immortal Monarch's subtle killing intent directed at him and retreated into the Barren Fold Mountains, leaving behind two cryptic lines that deterred Mountain Still and Jade Affinity from pursuing him.
He recalled that over a dozen Golden Immortals had observed the scene.
Immortal Monarch Life-Burning must have learned of this incident either through a Golden Immortal's revelation or by placing a Golden Immortal spy near Mountain Still Immortal Monarch to relay information.
Connecting the dots, Luo Tian and Imperial Cliff were both fragments of the Great Luo Division. Before the division, Life-Burning and Mountain Still had some conflict, which now appeared to be no ordinary dispute, but a life-and-death grudge.
Perhaps, before the Great Luo Division, they already harbored a death grudge against each other. Back then, under the overwhelming pressure of the Immortal Court, neither could kill the other. But after the Great Luo Division, with their powers now equal, neither could gain the upper hand.
This time, when Han Yi came calling, Immortal Monarch Life-Burning, struck by sudden inspiration, made this unexpected request.
After hearing Immortal Monarch Life-Burning's proposal, Han Yi initially wanted to refuse. However, although Mountain Still Immortal Monarch hadn't directly attacked him, he had been the primary force that forced Han Yi to retreat to the Demon Realm.
Thus, Han Yi reluctantly agreed, but made his terms clear from the outset.
"However..."
"One strand of your Sword Qi is enough for me to make a single move. I'll only intervene once at a critical moment—either to prevent his escape or create an opportunity for you."
"Furthermore, before and after the operation, you must not reveal my identity."
Han Yi made it clear that Immortal Monarch Life-Burning wanted to slay Mountain Still Immortal Monarch, he would only act once, and in secret. He would not act as Sui Zhu Hanyi, the Age Candle. After all, if this matter became public, the other Immortal Monarchs or Immortal Sovereigns of Imperial Cliff would surely take notice, potentially introducing new variables.
Immortal Monarch Life-Burning nodded in agreement.
"Of course," he replied.
His aura surged, and with a flick of his finger, a strand of crimson Sword Qi, blazing like fire, shot towards Han Yi.
Prepared, Han Yi reached out and grasped the energy, his hand enveloped in a matching crimson flame.
Divine Sealing Art.
Just as he had in the Dao Ling Realm Heaven, Han Yi effortlessly sealed the strand of Sword Qi with his divine power and stored it in his Divine Aperture World.
Having secured the Sword Qi, a hint of satisfaction appeared on Han Yi's face.
Though the cost had been considerable, he had now completed the first half of the process to upgrade Qingping to a Seventh-Rank Immortal Sword.
Moreover, this initial half had been the most challenging part. The remaining Abyssal Ghost Sword Qi and Demon-Witch Sword Qi would primarily test his own strength, making them relatively easier for him.
Whether it was the Abyssal Ghost Pool or the Demon Witch Mountain Sword Formation, both relied on brute force. Han Yi was confident that with his current cultivation, he could easily obtain a strand of Sword Qi from either.
After leaving the Luo Tian Immortal Court, Han Yi returned to Pro Immortal City and used the Inter-Domain Transmission Formation to travel south. His destination was the Yinglong Immortal Domain.
The other end of the transmission formation was Yinglong Immortal City, the largest Immortal City in the Yinglong Immortal Domain.
Yinglong Immortal City was also the location of the Yinglong Daoist Temple, where the Yinglong Immortal Venerable had achieved enlightenment.
As one of the peak Immortal Sovereigns, the Yinglong Immortal Venerable, along with the Pure Spirit Immortal Venerable and the Qingxuan Immortal Venerable, dominated the three southern domains of the Immortal Realm, beyond the jurisdiction of the Immortal Court. This demonstrated their formidable influence and strength, placing them among the top-tier Immortal Sovereigns.
Han Yi didn't linger in Yinglong Immortal City. After leaving the massive city, he headed straight for Demon Witch Mountain.
The master of Demon Witch Mountain was a rogue cultivator who, lacking a proper Daoist title, was simply known as the Lord of Demon Witch Mountain due to his long residence there.
The Lord of Demon Witch Mountain's sword qi was far too potent to belong to a mere Golden Immortal, leading many to speculate that he was at least an Immortal Monarch, possibly even an Immortal Sovereign.
On Demon Witch Mountain, the Lord of Demon Witch Mountain had set up the Nameless Sword Formation, inviting sword immortals from across the realm. This formation was composed entirely of Demon-Witch Sword Qi, a brutal energy forged from the fusion of Heavenly Demon and Ancient Witch powers.
Demon Witch Mountain was a considerable distance from Yinglong Immortal City, located even further south in the Immortal Realm. Before the Sacrificial Daoists established the South Pole Immortal Domain by gathering and consolidating the land, Demon Witch Mountain must have been one of the most remote and inhospitable regions.