Having witnessed battles between Immortal Sovereigns, slain two Immortal Monarchs, and spent over a century advancing his Sword Control Immortal Art to the Seventh-Tier, Han Yi's next goal was to ascend to the Immortal Monarch realm.
His current cultivation had already reached the peak of the Golden Immortal realm. Even if he continued to cultivate other Immortal Arts, the enhancement to his combat power would be minimal.
Only by ascending to Immortal Monarch, from mastery of the Laws to perfection in the Immortal Spirit Realm's Tribulation Crossing, would he undergo a true transformation.
The gap between Golden Immortal and Immortal Monarch was vast, like a chasm. Ascending to Immortal Monarch would inevitably lead to a quantum leap in strength, a breakthrough he deeply craved.
Given his current ability to slay ordinary Immortal Monarchs, if he truly ascended to Immortal Monarch, he would instantly reach the combat prowess of a Peak Immortal Monarch. At that point, even the most powerful Immortal Monarchs below Immortal Sovereign—such as Donghuang's Great Sages, including the fully recovered Great Sage Demonic Ape—would be no match for him. Even if he couldn't defeat them outright, he could easily escape.
This was his estimation of his post-ascension strength. Even if slightly off, the margin of error would be negligible.
Thus, after leaving the Profound Repository Palace, Han Yi contacted the Immortal Ease Pavilion and the Profound Pill Sect to confirm everything was progressing smoothly. He then returned to the Immortal Pavilion to prepare for secluded cultivation.
Han Yi's path to becoming an Immortal Monarch differed from others, such as Golden Resonance Daoist, who spent years seeking the opportunity to enter the Immortal Monarch Realm. In contrast, Han Yi relied solely on his Panel, methodically absorbing the insights that continuously flowed from it.
In terms of difficulty, it wasn't particularly challenging.
Of course, what remained constant for all cultivators was the fundamental process of Immortal Monarch cultivation.
Once a cultivator achieved perfection in the Laws—meaning they had comprehended at least ten thousand Laws—they needed to transition to cultivating Immortal Monarch-level Immortal Techniques. These advanced techniques would transform the Immortal Spirit Realm into the Grand Unity Realm.
The initial formation of the Grand Unity Immortal Spirit Realm marked Han Yi's official entry into the Immortal Monarch Realm.
The reason it took hundreds of years for Golden Immortals to break through to the Immortal Monarch Realm was precisely because they needed to shape the initial form of the Grand Unity Realm.
This is also why the true name of the Immortal Monarch Realm is the Grand Unity Realm.
The Grand Unity Realm serves as the foundation for the Immortal Venerable Realm Heaven. An Immortal Monarch's cultivation involves continuously refining this realm. By the time one reaches the Dao Ancestor level, they can manifest a Boundary Heaven within the Chaos. However, even these manifested Boundary Heavens, though capable of withstanding the Chaos Tides, remain relatively fragile.
Only a Heavenly Venerable can transform their world into a Chaos World, though it remains merely a world, not a Great World.
According to legend, only entities above the Heavenly Venerable realm can forge Great Worlds. At that level of cultivation, they can be called Chaos Creators. Han Yi had recently learned of such a realm from the Great Abyss Divine Blade.
The Transcendent.
Within the Immortal Pavilion, Han Yi reined in his wandering thoughts and focused on comprehending Laws. He had now grasped over 9,800 Laws, needing just over 200 more to meet the minimum threshold for the Immortal Monarch realm.
To be cautious, he planned to comprehend 13,000 Laws before considering a shift to cultivating the Mi Luo Primordial Chaos True Scripture, which would enable his breakthrough to Immortal Monarch.
By his calculations, this would take approximately 800 years—a span neither short nor excessively long.
After 800 years, his lifespan would still be less than 3,000 years.
If anyone were to learn of this plan, all Golden Immortals would be shocked. Even with sudden enlightenment and opportune moments, Golden Immortals typically find it nearly impossible to smooth their path to Immortal Monarch within a millennium. More commonly, it takes three to five thousand years.
However, plans often change.
Ten years later, Han Yi was forced to interrupt his cultivation and emerge from seclusion. A crisis had arisen in Great Luo, and the Immortal Court had issued a mission.
This mission wasn't targeted at him alone; all Golden Immortals of the Immortal Court had been summoned.
A similar situation had occurred during the Eastern Emperor's invasion years ago.
When Han Yi arrived at the Golden Immortal Pavilion, he found countless Golden Immortals already gathered inside. Three Golden Immortals were on duty within the pavilion, one of whom was Ruyi Golden Immortal, whom he knew relatively well.
Upon seeing Han Yi, Ruyi Golden Immortal's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward to greet him. The surrounding Golden Immortals respectfully cleared space for him, acknowledging his status.
Now, Han Yi's status extended far beyond merely being the top-ranked Golden Immortal on the Golden Immortal Ranking. He was now considered to be on par with an Immortal Monarch.
All the Golden Immortals in the Immortal Court were speculating about when he would break through the Golden Immortal Realm and become an Immortal Monarch.
Some believed he would continue to defy expectations and achieve this breakthrough soon. Others were certain that the Immortal Monarch Realm would hold him back for years, and that it would take him decades or even centuries to break through the shackles and step into the Immortal Monarch Realm.
Regardless of their opinions, no one could deny that Han Yi's status far surpassed that of a mere Golden Immortal.
The immortals of the Immortal Court had already begun treating him as an Immortal Monarch-level powerhouse masquerading within the Golden Immortal Realm.
"Fellow Daoist Han, have you also received the mission teleported by the Realm Spirit?" Ruyi Golden Immortal asked.
Han Yi nodded. Though he found Ruyi Golden Immortal's enthusiasm somewhat excessive, he quickly understood the reason behind it and didn't mind. After all, such enthusiasm worked to his advantage.
"How is the situation with the Demonic Calamity progressing?" Han Yi asked.
This was the very question that had brought him here.
Indeed, the reason he had been forced to interrupt his cultivation and emerge from seclusion was the outbreak of the Demonic Calamity.
And the source of this calamity was none other than the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool.
This was no ordinary Demonic Calamity triggered by a Demonic Mountain or Demonic Immortal, but one unleashed by a Chaos Evil God. Its severity rivaled the full-scale invasion by the Eastern Emperor Demon Clan.
Therefore, the Immortal Court's Realm Spirit had issued missions to all Immortals of True Immortal-Rank and above, including Han Yi.
To the Realm Spirit, it mattered not that Han Yi possessed the combat prowess of an Immortal Monarch. It only recognized cultivation realms. In its eyes, Han Yi remained a Golden Immortal, entitled to no special privileges.
Ruyi Golden Immortal shook her head slightly. "The situation is dire."
"Rumor has it that within the depths of the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool, a peak Dao Ancestor-level malevolent aura is leaking out, polluting the pool. The Evil Immortals and other malevolent entities that were previously confined within are now breaking free and scattering."
"Moreover, these Evil Immortals are becoming increasingly chaotic, showing signs of transforming into the lowest-tier Chaos Evil Gods."
Ruyi Golden Immortal's tone was grave. Her information undoubtedly came from the highest levels of the Immortal Court and was absolutely reliable.
Han Yi frowned upon hearing this.
"A peak Dao Ancestor-level aura, malevolent entities spreading, and Evil Immortals transforming into Chaos Evil Gods..."
"This is serious trouble."
A sudden realization struck him. "Doesn't that mean the fleeing Evil Immortals are becoming even stronger?"
Han Yi knew the true nature of Chaos Evil Gods. In the Chaos, they were considered Wayless Ones, with even the weakest being at the Immortal Monarch level.
Now, with these countless Evil Immortals being corrupted by the malevolent aura and beginning to fall into transformation, wouldn't they all eventually reach the Immortal Monarch level once fully transformed into Chaos Evil Gods?
Ruyi Golden Immortal nodded solemnly. "Indeed, those Evil Immortals have become significantly stronger than before."
"However, they are still far from becoming true Chaos Evil Gods. Although their power has increased, it remains within manageable limits."
"That's why the Immortal Court has issued this mobilization mission, summoning all Immortals to converge near the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool to suppress the Evil Immortals and prevent them from further mutating into true Chaos Evil Gods."
"By the way, this isn't just the Age Candle's responsibility. Other Immortal Courts, Dao Fields, and even the Monster Court are sending forces. After all, once those Evil Immortals escape, their threat to the entire Immortal Realm knows no distinction between the Human Race or the Demon Race."
Ruyi Golden Immortal offered a few more explanations.
Han Yi understood. He now had a comprehensive grasp of the mission.
In summary, a terrifyingly malevolent aura had erupted deep within the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool. The core of this aura was suspected to be at the peak level of a Dao Ancestor. Influenced by this aura, Evil Immortals who were previously unable to leave the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool began to experience distortions in their nature, losing their sense of self and falling toward becoming true Chaos Evil Gods.
At the same time, they discovered that the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool's shackles, which had previously prevented their escape, had vanished. Seizing the opportunity, they fled in all directions.
Among them were those who, while aware that the malevolent aura could temporarily enhance their power, found this surge too violent. The amplified strength threatened to overwhelm their very essence, pushing them dangerously close to transforming from the Immortal Path into Chaos Evil Gods.
Once truly transformed into a Chaos Evil God, they would lose their self-awareness, falling into a completely different existence.
Though the Evil Immortals were malevolent, they weren't foolish. Losing one's self-awareness and falling into another existence, though different in nature from death and being possessed by another entity, led to the same inevitable outcome. Naturally, they were unwilling.
The surrounding Golden Immortals, having heard Ruyi Golden Immortal's explanation, fell into thoughtful contemplation, each forming their own plans.
After learning the full details of the mission, Han Yi immediately turned and headed straight for the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool.
This mission...
The Immortal Court had tasked the peak Golden Immortals, those who had climbed the Golden Immortal Ranking, with slaying an Evil Immortal of the same rank. This was Han Yi's mission as well.
To him, the task was clearly too simple. With his current strength, even a full-force attack against a peak Immortal Monarch-level Evil Immortal would be difficult to survive, let alone a peak Golden Immortal-level one.
Han Yi teleported from Nine Rivers Plaza to a nearby Immortal City near Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool. As soon as he stepped out of the Transmission Formation and looked up, he saw the sky above the Immortal City filled with swirling, pervasive evil qi.
Beneath this evil qi, the Immortal Light emanating from the Immortal Formation surged, resisting the malevolent energy.
Outside the Immortal Formation, four Evil Immortals attacked it frenziedly, intent on breaking through the Formation Arts, escaping into the Immortal City, and devouring the Immortal Energy to strengthen themselves.
Han Yi didn't rush into action. Instead, his eyes shimmered with golden light as he observed the four Evil Immortals.
These four were merely Profound Immortals, but their mental states were unstable, teetering on the brink of collapse and madness.
Under the scrutiny of Han Yi's Golden Pupils of the Dao of Fate, he detected a peculiar aura lurking deep within their Immortal Souls. This aura was the root cause of their mental instability.
This state of heightened agitation allowed them to unleash greater power, but once they crossed a certain threshold, their rationality would crumble, their minds would transform, and they would lose their self-awareness.
"That aura originates from the depths of Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool," Han Yi realized.
He sensed that this aura bore some resemblance to the Heaven-Devouring Evil God Mark that had once been on his arm, yet it was not identical.
"I wonder what truly happened in the depths of the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool."
"Could it be that even the Dao Ancestor has no solution?"
"And Eastern Emperor Taiyi, already a Heavenly Venerable, why hasn't he intervened to eliminate the Chaos Evil God?"
"There must be a great secret hidden here, beyond my current understanding."
Han Yi stopped his thoughts, rose into the air, and used the Spirit God Concealment to pass through the Immortal Formation. With a flick of his finger, he conjured a sword, its spiritual light dancing as it slaughtered the four rampaging Profound Immortal-Class Evil Immortals.
After slaying the four Evil Immortals, he noticed that the four malevolent auras lurking deep within their immortal souls hadn't vanished. Instead, they vanished in an instant, moving in a manner and speed beyond his comprehension, heading straight toward the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool.
Han Yi frowned. "Can these malevolent auras be retrieved?"
The lord of the Immortal City, a Peak Profound Immortal, clearly recognized Han Yi and offered a distant salute of thanks. Han Yi waved dismissively and swiftly headed toward the Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool.
The lord of the Immortal City watched Han Yi's retreating figure, his heart filled with envy. Though Han Yi was only a Golden Immortal, his display of power and status far surpassed his own, making him, in a certain sense, equivalent to an Immortal Monarch.
Three minutes later, Han Yi encountered another Evil Immortal. This time, it was a True Immortal, and its condition was even more disturbing. Seated atop a small mountain, the figure trembled violently, its expression shifting rapidly between ferocity, malevolence, resentment, and fury, as if two consciousnesses were vying for control of its body.
Han Yi observed for a moment as the figure's aura rapidly stabilized, all traces of ferocity and resentment vanishing, leaving only a state of stupefied confusion.
Then, the malevolent aura lurking deep within its Immortal Soul dissipated completely, merging utterly with the Evil Immortal's soul.
In the next instant, the True Immortal's aura began to surge. Within a few breaths, it had already reached the peak of the True Immortal realm, but the process continued, steadily advancing toward the Profound Immortal realm.
Finally, it settled firmly at the level of a Veteran Profound Immortal.
This spectacle left Han Yi utterly shocked. Right before his eyes, the Evil Immortal had directly ascended from an Advanced True Immortal to a Veteran Profound Immortal, spanning an entire major Cultivation Realm.
Had he not witnessed it himself, he would never have believed it possible.
The Profound Immortal opened its eyes, revealing a different kind of malevolence. This was not the malevolence of ordinary Evil Immortals, which stemmed from their twisted cultivation methods. This was a chaotic malevolence, a malevolence that rejected the Immortal Path itself.
"A Chaos Evil God."
"No, far from it."
"I understand now."
"This is Gu Cultivation."
"It's essentially a prototype of a Chaos Evil God. By feeding on the Immortal Path and devouring without restraint, it will eventually evolve into a true Chaos Evil God."
"And right now, in the region around Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool, there are at least a hundred thousand—perhaps even a million—of these Chaos God Progenies."
"These progenies, spread through Gu Cultivation, have a high chance of eventually breaking through to become true Chaos Evil Gods."
"And those Chaos Evil Gods will most likely become sustenance, devoured by the Chaos Evil Gods already rooted in Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool."
"That, I suspect, is their ultimate goal," Han Yi mused.
The Evil Immortal, who had just transformed into a Profound Immortal, barely stood before Han Yi's Sword Strike cut it down.
He continued toward Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool.
This journey served two purposes: to complete the Immortal Court's mission of slaying a Golden Immortal-level Evil Immortal, and to attempt the same trick again—approaching the depths of Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool to obtain a Life Seed.
According to the Immortal Court's intelligence, not all the Evil Immortals in Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool had fled. A small portion remained within the pool itself.
These remaining Evil Immortals must have already transformed into Chaos God Progenies, their power greatly enhanced. But Han Yi was far stronger than when he last visited, so he wasn't particularly intimidated.
Moreover, the Chaos Evil Gods in the depths of Emperor's Fall Heavenly Pool were undoubtedly being contained by Immortal Sovereign and Dao Ancestor-level experts.
He could observe the situation and act accordingly.