Three Immortal Monarchs had descended, including a Peak Immortal Monarch.
Facing this formidable lineup, Han Yi's sense of impending danger surged to its peak.
Although he had collected the Four Fiends Sword Qi, fused it with the sword heart, and elevated the Green Ripple Sword to the level of a Seventh-Rank Immortal Sword, his Sword Control Immortal Art remained only Sixth-Tier, making it difficult for him to fully unleash the full might of the Seventh-Rank Green Ripple.
He estimated that, with his current strength, he should be able to defeat a Black-Robed Star Lord who was merely an ordinary Immortal Monarch. Whether he could actually slay such an opponent would depend on his performance in battle.
Against a Senior Immortal Monarch, victory would be nearly impossible; merely surviving would be a remarkable feat.
As for a Peak Immortal Monarch, he stood no chance whatsoever. Even burning his Life Seed and activating an Ancient Divine Artifact might not force such an opponent to retreat a single step.
With three Immortal Monarchs now descending upon this Small Realm Heaven, the pressure Han Yi felt was unimaginable.
He could tell that the Peak Immortal Monarch was likely a Four-Star Star Lord, the Senior Immortal Monarch a Three-Star Star Lord, and the Black-Robed Immortal Lord a One-Star Star Lord.
It was said that among the twenty-eight Star Lords of the Black Realm, there were two Five-Star Star Lords, four Four-Star Star Lords, seven Three-Star Star Lords, and the remaining fifteen were One-Star or Two-Star Star Lords.
One and two-star Star Lords are ordinary Immortal Monarchs, three-star are Senior, four-star are Peak, and five-star are no longer Immortal Monarchs but Immortal Sovereigns.
This is the correspondence between star rank and strength among the Twenty-Eight Star Lords.
As this thought crossed his mind, the Black-Robed Star Lord acted in an instant. In his hand, a transparent round pearl radiated light—the very same Mirage Dragon Profound Pearl he had unleashed during their first encounter.
This Profound Pearl is a Seventh-Rank Immortal Artifact. Back then, through carelessness, it had endured a strike from the Yueguang Ancient Divine Artifact, leaving only three cracks.
But now, with his utmost attention focused on Han Yi, he would never repeat that mistake.
As for the previous attempt to ambush Han Yi in the Eastern Sovereign Territory, where he had unleashed the power of an Ancient Divine Artifact in alliance with the Great Sage Demonic Ape, there was no need to worry about that this time.
Within this fragmented space, apart from himself, there were two other Star Lords present, including a Four-Star Star Lord. Should Han Yi attempt to use an Ancient Divine Artifact, that Peak Immortal Monarch would intervene immediately.
If the Ancient Divine Artifact proved too formidable, or any unexpected complications arose, the hidden Five-Star Star Lord would step in.
Regardless of what happened, the Black-Robed Star Lord was convinced that Han Yi couldn't escape this time. It would be no exaggeration to say that even if Han Yi grew wings, he wouldn't be able to fly away.
Therefore, he acted without restraint.
Behind the eerie rune mask, a cold, sinister laugh echoed as the Mirage Dragon Profound Pearl transformed into a hundred-zhang Mirage Dragon.
The true Mirage Dragon was a Strange Beast, its Primordial Ancestor hailing from the Primordial Era. This creature possessed the power to bewitch Divine Souls.
Sealed within the Mirage Dragon Profound Pearl was the soul of a specific Mirage Dragon.
After activating the pearl, the Black-Robed Star Lord didn't stop there. He then produced four command flags, each a different color: red, yellow, brown, and white.
With a gentle flick of his wrist, the four command flags vanished and reappeared at the four corners of the segmented space, planted into the Void where they trembled slightly.
From the flags surged four torrents, each a manifestation of a fundamental Law. These currents spread outwards, intertwining to form a complete barrier that completely surrounded Han Yi.
This set of command flags was known as the Divine Restraint Profound Edict Four Sages Flags.
Though only a Sixth-Tier Immortal Artifact, rather than a Seventh-Rank, it possessed extraordinary efficacy in suppressing the vitality of divine power. The Black-Robed Star Lord had specifically collected this artifact to counter Ancient Gods.
Seventh-Rank Immortal Artifacts are exceedingly rare. For an ordinary Immortal Monarch to possess even two such artifacts is a remarkable feat.
In the Vast Savage Mountain Range of the Eastern Sovereign Territory, Han Yi activated the Yueguang Ancient Divine Artifact, unleashing a Heaven-Shaking spear strike that not only sent the Demonic Ape's Staff flying but also blasted the Great Sage Demonic Ape's True Form. His strike then shattered the ape's other Seventh-Rank Immortal Artifact, the Great Black Heaven Secret Profound Demonic Scripture.
This artifact from the Wicked Realm was utterly destroyed by a single strike.
When Han Yi returned to the battlefield after his escape, all that remained were fragmented shards of the Demonic Tome, now completely devoid of spirituality.
Now, the Black-Robed Star Lord, grinning ferociously, had consecutively unleashed the Mirage Dragon Profound Pearl and the Divine Restraint Profound Edict Four Sages Flags. He watched, eager to see Han Yi perish instantly under this combined assault.
Yet, Han Yi stood with a grave expression, and just as the Mirage Dragon's attack was about to reach him, he swung his sword with all his might.
This was his full-strength strike.
The peak Sixth-Tier Sword Flight technique, combined with the Seventh-Rank Qingping Sword, channeled a torrent of Immortal Power into a single, pure sword strike.
However, unlike any previous strike, the sword light split into two distinct hues: dark black and azure green.
The black energy, emanating the aura of the Four Fiends, split into four streams of sword qi, swirling towards each corner.
The azure energy, pure Qingping Sword Qi, shot straight towards the Mirage Dragon.
Boom!
The Four Fiends Sword Qi struck the Divine Restraint Profound Edict Four Sages Flags first, shattering these four banners, designed to restrain divine power, into fragments.
The ferocious, vicious, savage, and brutal sword qi raged in all directions, its destructive force spreading far and wide.
Almost instantly after the Four Fiends Sword Qi succeeded, the azure sword qi pierced the Mirage Dragon, which abruptly froze before dissolving into a shower of fragments.
It was as if the ethereal soul of this strange beast, once condensed into a corporeal form, had been sliced into countless pieces by the sword, scattering across the ground.
The dense mist retreated, recondensing into a transparent round pearl that flew back into the Black-Robed Star Lord's hand. His expression changed dramatically, and he gasped in shock.
"How is this possible?"
"Your strength..."
The Black-Robed Star Lord couldn't believe that only forty years had passed since he last set a trap, teleporting Han Yi to the Eastern Sovereign Territory. He had noticed Han Yi's advancement from a Senior Golden Immortal to a Peak Golden Immortal, but hadn't considered it significant.
To the Black-Robed Star Lord, whether Han Yi was a Senior Golden Immortal or a Peak Golden Immortal, he still remained within the realm of Golden Immortals, far removed from the rank of Immortal Monarch.
What truly concerned him was Han Yi's other identity: Ancient God.
When Han Yi had clashed with the severely injured Great Sage Demonic Ape using his True Body of an Ancient God, he had initially been at a disadvantage. Yet, as the battle progressed, his fighting spirit only grew stronger, leaving the Star Lord deeply alarmed.
What truly captivated him, however, was Han Yi's ability to activate an Ancient Divine Artifact in some mysterious way, unleashing a Heaven-Shaking strike. This was what he truly feared.
Yet the strike Han Yi had just unleashed carried not a trace of Ancient God divine power, operating entirely within the Immortal Dao system.
With a single sword strike of the Immortal Path, Han Yi had repelled a Seventh-Rank Immortal Artifact, shattered the Four Sages Banner, and utterly dismantled the meticulously crafted attack the Star Lord had set up.
This outcome was utterly unexpected.
Han Yi gripped his sword, his gaze steady as a mountain as he looked at the Black-Robed Star Lord. He felt no pride in his recent strike.
This sword strike represented his peak, and its success lay entirely within his expectations.
What he truly focused on now was whether the other two Star Lords would immediately attack, especially the Peak Immortal Monarch.
Facing such a formidable opponent, Han Yi had burned his Life Seed, harmonizing divine power, Immortal Power, and Demonic Power into a supreme strike, grasping at survival amidst certain death.
Of course.
This was assuming Immortal Monarch Yuanshu wasn't lurking in the shadows.
Now that Yuanshu hadn't appeared, Han Yi didn't know the true reason. Perhaps he was delayed by some matter, or perhaps he wanted to catch even bigger fish.
If it was the second scenario, Han Yi faced no immediate danger. But if it was the first, he would have to rely entirely on himself.
His preparations were based on the most dangerous situation—the first scenario. But...
Just as these thoughts raced through his mind, one of the two Star Lords observing the scene suddenly spoke, his voice calm:
"A Seventh-Rank Immortal Sword."
"Interesting."
Before he finished speaking, he began walking toward Han Yi. Though he hadn't drawn his sword or unleashed any Immortal Arts, Han Yi's hair stood on end from the moment he spoke, as if the god of death had descended. His terror surged to its peak in an instant.
For this Star Lord was none other than the Four-Star Star Lord Han Yi feared most. He was undoubtedly a Peak Immortal Monarch.
Even the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, one of the most powerful Immortal Courts, had only about ten Peak Immortal Monarchs. This alone spoke volumes of their immense power.
The gap between a Peak Golden Immortal and a Peak Immortal Monarch is far greater than that between a Peak Profound Immortal and a Peak Golden Immortal. The difference is so vast that it could be described as a chasm between heaven and earth.
Throughout the Immortal Realm's million-year history, there has never been a recorded instance of a Peak Golden Immortal defeating a Peak Immortal Monarch.
And now...
Han Yi, in his Peak Golden Immortal realm, faced precisely such a formidable existence.
How could he not feel a profound sense of gravity in this situation?
At that moment, Han Yi took a deep breath, calming himself. The greater the crisis, the more he needed to remain composed. His hand slowly unclenched.
Within the Divine Aperture World, the Yueguang Ancient Divine Artifact sensed the shift in divine power and began to tremble.
In the Immortal Spirit Realm, Immortal Power surged like an endless sea, while in the Demon Sea, Demonic Power surged violently. Within the Divine Aperture World, divine power blossomed, radiating boundless golden light.
Three forces, hidden yet ready to unleash.
The approaching Star Lord let out a soft exclamation, clearly sensing the anomaly in Han Yi's aura. His crimson eyes locked onto Han Yi, his voice carrying a hint of malice for the first time:
"Dense divine power."
"Devouring you should prove beneficial to me."
In that instant, Han Yi sensed a fleeting trace of Demonic Power within those crimson eyes.
His heart trembled violently.
The Peak Immortal Monarch had concealed its identity so well that Han Yi had initially mistaken it for an Immortal Path Immortal Monarch. But when its aura was revealed, Han Yi realized it must be a Demon Monarch.
As for its true identity—whether it was even a Saint-Tier Demon Monarch—Han Yi remained ignorant. The fact that its True Body had remained hidden for tens of thousands of years testified to its unparalleled mastery of concealment. Han Yi alone could never force it to reveal itself.
Regardless, Han Yi knew he had to make a desperate gamble. He couldn't pin all his hopes on Immortal Monarch Yuanshu, who remained hidden in the shadows.
Better to prepare for the worst than risk everything on a fluke.
But just as Han Yi was about to unleash his power, a cold, piercing voice suddenly rang out, echoing throughout the entire space:
"Eastern Emperor Demon Lord, show yourself!"
The voice cut through the air.
Before Han Yi could even process the words, the Peak Demon Monarch—the Four-Star Star Lord—vanished in an instant. Beneath its Star Chart Mask, its crimson demon eyes had transformed into vertical slits, a primal reaction among his kind, signaling extreme terror upon sensing mortal danger.
He disappeared so quickly that Han Yi couldn't react.
By the time Han Yi's thoughts caught up...
The entire space exploded with a deafening roar.
This was caused by the fleeing Peak Demon Monarch, who had just shattered the temporarily isolated space by crashing through it.
Immediately after,
the Senior Immortal Monarch, a Three-Star Star Lord, seemed to realize something. Without a word, he turned and fled in another direction.
In less than a ten-thousandth of a kshana, within the shattered space above the mountain forest, only Han Yi remained—having just mobilized the power of three systems, prepared to burn his Life Seed, activate an Ancient Divine Artifact, and unleash a desperate, life-or-death attack. Beside him was the Black-Robed Immortal Lord, frozen in place, his face still twisted in a ferocious grin.
"You ran fast, but unfortunately, you can't escape."
The voice echoed again.
As the sound continued, Han Yi saw an enormous Demon Body materialize beyond the shattered space. It had a human face and a serpent's body, was entirely crimson, and possessed vertical, ferocious eyes.
"Candle Dragon."
"It's the Yin Candle Immortal Lord."
Han Yi took a deep breath, finally identifying the true identity of the fleeing Peak Demon Monarch.
In the Eastern Sovereign Immortal Court, there exists a demon clan known as the Candle Dragon Clan. The current Patriarch of this clan, who inherited the Daoist Title of Candle Dragon Immortal Venerable, is one of the Immortal Sovereigns of the demon race, slightly weaker in power than the Kunpeng Demon Master.
Within the Candle Dragon Clan, besides the Candle Dragon Immortal Venerable, there are two other Demon Monarchs. One of them is the Yin Candle Immortal Lord, whose cultivation realm has reached the peak of the Demon Monarch stage. Though he hasn't earned the title of Great Sage, he is considered the most powerful Demon Monarch beneath that rank.
"I never expected Yin Candle Immortal Lord to be the Black Realm Star Lord," Han Yi thought, inwardly shocked.
He shifted his gaze to the short, elderly man blocking Yin Candle Immortal Lord's path, forcing him to reveal his True Body. Finally, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Immortal Venerable Hongwu."
The old man blocking Yin Candle Immortal Lord's path was none other than Immortal Venerable Hongwu, whom Han Yi had encountered at the World Barrier years ago.
Back then, after the Expedition to the Wisdom Realm, Immortal Venerable Hongwu had been injured. Judging by his performance today, he must have fully recovered.
A sudden realization struck Han Yi, sending a jolt through him.
Where is Yuan Shu?
A Four-Star Star Lord had no reason to mobilize two powerful immortals like Hongwu and Yuan Shu. Something was clearly amiss.
As this suspicion flashed through his mind, another sudden change occurred.
After Immortal Venerable Hongwu, a mysterious figure wearing a Star Chart Mask suddenly appeared, holding a green bamboo stalk. With a gentle strike, he tapped Hongwu. Though the motion was unassuming, Han Yi saw the green bamboo suddenly swell, transforming into a Heaven-Spanning Green Bamboo that descended with crushing force, as if compressing the entire world into dust.
But in the next instant, another sudden change occurred. A familiar voice rang out from beside the masked figure:
"I've been waiting for you."
Countless stone steles seemed to stretch, twist, and grow from a singularity, piercing the surrounding space and transforming the empty world into a forest of stone steles.
Each stele radiated Immortal Spirit Qi, converging into an unimaginable Immortal Art that pressed down on the masked Star Lord.
Far away, Han Yi's thoughts raced, and a realization flashed through his mind:
"Yuan Shu has arrived."
Meanwhile, Immortal Venerable Hongwu, who had been standing before Yin Candle Immortal Lord, turned and unleashed a punch.
The power of this punch was a true cataclysmic destruction. The green bamboo was instantly sent flying, space shattered, and even the lowest layers of space were reduced to absolute void. In that region, the very concepts of time and space ceased to exist.