In truth, before reaching the Great Unity Golden Immortal stage, the Immortal Spirit Realms of ordinary Immortals can also be exposed to the outside world.
However, once exposed, they are subjected to the pressure of the Great World, causing their internal Immortal Spirit Qi to gradually leak out and their Laws to dissolve. The inevitable result is their disintegration.
Before his Immortal Ascension, Han Yi had once explored several Immortal Spirit Realms that were in the process of disintegrating. This process, however, could take thousands of years, so during short visits, the signs of decay were barely noticeable.
Only after enduring the World Tribulation and reaching the Immortal Monarch realm, with their Laws perfected, can these Immortal Spirit Realms exist independently of their Host. Through countless years of reinforcement and evolution, they can transform into stable, Immortal Small Worlds.
This is the metamorphosis path of the Immortal Spirit Realms.
As Han Yi's two fingers guided the Immortal Spirit Realm from deep within his forehead, an illusory world gradually manifested above his head.
Though called a world, it was in fact a substantial Cave Heaven. At its center stood a towering mountain over three thousand feet high, while the surrounding areas consisted of plains and forests. The realm was uninhabited by humans, containing only a few Spirit Beasts.
Overall, aside from being several times larger than the spatial limit of the Golden Immortal Realm, the Immortal Spirit Realm showed no remarkable qualities.
This was because Han Yi hadn't invested time in its development. Compared to managing the Immortal Spirit Realm, enhancing his own strength was naturally more important.
He understood what truly mattered.
Within the Myriad Tribulations Dao Formation, the Thunder Tribulation dissipated, and immediately, an Immortal Spirit Realm materialized above Han Yi's head.
As the Immortal Spirit Realm appeared, Han Yi focused his thoughts, and countless Laws surged around him, then flowed into the realm. The entire Immortal Spirit Realm began to expand continuously, growing more stable with each moment.
Within mere breaths, the Immortal Spirit Realm had already nearly reached the central area reserved by the Dao Formation.
The Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor, seated at the edge of the formation, his eyes suddenly brightened. Sensing the unexpected development, he mentally adjusted the Manifest Immortal Tribulations, pushing them back significantly. The distance between the tribulations widened, tripling the size of the central space.
The Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor had originally reserved this space, taking into account Han Yi's profound reserves. It was already twice as large as the Immortal Spirit Realm of an ordinary Immortal Monarch.
But he hadn't anticipated that Han Yi's reserves would far exceed his expectations. The manifested Immortal Spirit Realm was far beyond what he had imagined.
Within the Dao Formation, the expanding Immortal Spirit Realm finally stabilized at four times the size of an ordinary Immortal Monarch's realm.
As the Lion Camel Demon Venerable and the assembled Immortal Monarchs observed this crude yet colossal Immortal Spirit Realm, they collectively gasped.
Generally speaking, the size of an Immortal Spirit Realm reflects the number of Laws it contains and the strength of the Immortal's Immortal Power. The larger the Immortal Spirit Realm, the stronger the Laws it can accommodate. Conversely, the greater the number and strength of the Laws, the greater the pressure the Immortal Spirit Realm can withstand, allowing it to expand into a larger space.
Han Yi's Immortal Spirit Realm, manifested before his Tribulation Crossing, was already four times the size of an ordinary Immortal Monarch's realm. To put this in perspective, a Senior Immortal Monarch's Immortal Spirit Realm is roughly twice the size of an ordinary Immortal Monarch's, while a Peak Immortal Monarch's Immortal Spirit Realm is twice the size of a Senior Immortal Monarch's.
In other words, before undergoing the Great Unity Inner Tribulation, Han Yi had infused all the Laws into his Immortal Spirit Realm, resulting in a realm already comparable in size to that of a Peak Immortal Monarch.
Although successfully passing the World Tribulation doesn't significantly alter the size of the Immortal Spirit Realm—merely refining the Laws and Immortal Power through the Thunder's purifying baptism, fully integrating them with the Immortal Spirit Realm—it was still enough to shock and even terrify the surrounding Myriad Immortals.
In the Eastern Sovereign Territory, the Great Sage Demonic Ape had just arrived, his aura trembling with fury. Yet, upon seeing the Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor, he maintained his composure. Charging forward now would be suicidal.
He glared fiercely at Han Yi, his demonic killing intent so thick it seemed tangible. Around him, demonic energy surged, Space fracturing—clear evidence of his extreme rage.
Moreover, his aura no longer betrayed the severe injuries he'd sustained three centuries ago when he ambushed Han Yi. He had largely recovered to his peak, the realm of a Demon Clan Great Sage, equivalent to a Peak Immortal Monarch.
"Han Yi!"
The Great Sage Demonic Ape gave Han Yi a deep, lingering look, committing his figure and aura to memory. Then, unexpectedly, he turned and left without another glance, leaving the other Demon Monarchs slightly bewildered.
Yet, upon reflection, they understood. The Demonic Ape's departure wasn't a sign of abandoning his quest to slay Han Yi, but rather a testament to his burning, unwavering resolve to kill him. Next time, he would be fully prepared, unleashing the full might of a Peak Immortal Monarch, bolstered by the authority of a Great Sage, to crush Han Yi.
Ahead, at the edge of the Void, Han Yi remained focused on controlling the Immortal Spirit Realm, oblivious to the surrounding auras.
In truth, before encountering Eastern Emperor Buer, his understanding of Laws had barely surpassed thirty thousand—a far cry from the exaggerated claims. His true strength lay in his mastery of Seventh-Tier Immortal Arts and numerous Sixth-Rank Immortal Arts.
However, after encountering Eastern Emperor Buer, the Abyssal Divine Phoenix Feather he gave Han Yi contained such profound insights that his understanding of Laws far surpassed the typical 30,000, reaching over 70,000.
The threshold for becoming an Immortal Monarch is mastering 10,000 Laws, the minimum requirement for this realm. Most Immortal Monarchs, however, cultivate to 30,000 Laws before attempting the Tribulation Crossing. This milestone is known as the Perfected Laws, a level most Peak Golden Immortals choose to reach.
Beyond this point, the difficulty of comprehending additional Laws increases exponentially, while the marginal gains in power from each new Law become negligible. Consequently, most Peak Golden Immortals stop here, focusing instead on comprehending the Immortal Monarch path and attempting the Grand Unity Immortal Tribulation.
Han Yi's ability to surpass 70,000 Laws stemmed from Eastern Emperor Buer's condensation of insights gained through his Nine Great Demon Bodies into a single Abyssal Divine Phoenix Feather. By cultivating this feather, Han Yi was able to exponentially increase his understanding of Laws.
At the heart of the Dao Formation, as Han Yi's Immortal Spirit Realm expanded to its limit, Divine Lightning began to surge in the upper reaches of the sky, striking down upon his Immortal Spirit Realm. Over time, the power of the Divine Lightning steadily intensified.
For Golden Immortals with weaker foundations, this Divine Lightning would shatter their Immortal Spirit Realms, ultimately causing them to disintegrate. The Host of such a shattered Immortal Spirit Realm—the Golden Immortal attempting the Tribulation Crossing—would perish instantly.
Han Yi's foundation was profound. No matter how much Divine Lightning raged, it couldn't shake his Immortal Spirit Realm.
The ordeal lasted for eighty-one days before the Divine Lightning gradually weakened and finally dissipated. The Void fell silent, then erupted in radiant glory as splendid Immortal Qi flooded the area.
This was the Dao's reward to an Immortal Monarch who had successfully endured the Grand Unity Immortal Tribulation.
Having been purified by the Thunder Tribulation, Han Yi's Immortal Spirit Realm was once again absorbed into his body.
His Immortal Body, Immortal Power, and Immortal Soul underwent a transformative rebirth within the luminous Immortal Qi bestowed by the Dao. In the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they were completely renewed.
With this, Han Yi had finally reached the realm of the Grand Unity Immortal Monarch.
Of course, the Grand Unity's profound mysteries could not be fully comprehended in such a short time. Han Yi would need to enter secluded cultivation to fully digest the insights gained from the Grand Unity Immortal Tribulation. Only then would his strength be fully stabilized, and his combat prowess truly advance.
Han Yi opened his eyes. The surrounding Dao Formation dissolved into streams of light, vanishing into the illusory world above the Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor's head.
This illusory world was a manifestation of the Dao Ancestor's own Immortal Spirit Realm.
Han Yi looked around and realized that the faint auras of the Demon Monarchs and even the Demon Venerables he had sensed earlier had vanished without a trace. Following the Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor, over a dozen Immortal Monarchs approached to congratulate him upon successfully completing his Tribulation Crossing.
Han Yi recognized most of these Immortal Monarchs; he had interacted with them during the grand ceremonies when Yuanxiao and Golden Cry established their Dao Fields.
What surprised Han Yi was the absence of Golden Resonance Daoist, whom he knew best.
Perhaps something urgent detained him, the thought flashed through Han Yi's mind.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Han, on attaining the Grand Unity. You will now establish your own Dao Field and become its Lord. Henceforth, you have a rightful place in the Immortal Realm."
"May you rejoice, Fellow Daoist, in stepping into the Grand Unity and guiding your sword toward the Great Luo."
"The last time I saw you, Fellow Daoist Han, I sensed your extraordinary potential and predicted you would ascend to the Immortal Monarch Realm soon. I'm humbled that it happened even faster than I imagined. You truly possess the essence of a Heavenly Being."
"Fellow Daoist Han, I have an Immortal Pavilion called Spirit Peak Pavilion. It has already formed an alliance with your Immortal Ease Pavilion. We envision further collaboration in the future and hope you will honor us with your presence in the negotiations."
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Han..."
The voices of congratulations came in a steady stream, and Han Yi responded to each one with unwavering humility, showing no trace of arrogance.
These Immortal Monarchs had witnessed Han Yi's terrifying potential. They understood that if he survived, he was highly likely to ascend to Immortal Sovereign, or perhaps even further, allowing the Age Candle to possess three Dao Ancestors.
This was why they had lowered their status, offering sincere congratulations in hopes of cultivating a closer relationship. After all, befriending a future Immortal Sovereign or Dao Ancestor was an opportunity that couldn't be overstated.
Moments later...
Myriad Tribulations waved his hand, taking Han Yi away and finally freeing him from the Immortal Monarchs' "surrounding."
As Han Yi departed, the Immortal Monarchs gradually calmed down.
Gazing at the lingering aura of the Immortal Tribulation in the Immortal Realm, they sighed. Though the aura wasn't exceptionally strong, it marked the rise of a new Star Immortal Monarch.
"I remember Fellow Daoist Han has only been cultivating for a little over two thousand years," one Immortal Monarch murmured softly.
"Exactly," another replied. "I checked the records in the Myriad Immortals Hall. To be precise, he's only been cultivating for two thousand years and a little over a hundred thirty years."
After a moment of silence, the dozen or so Immortal Monarchs present rose and returned to the Immortal Court.
Meanwhile, after returning to the Immortal Court with Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor, Han Yi was taken to its core location: Sui Zhu Mountain.
To put it in perspective, the Sui Zhu Immortal Court occupied roughly half of an Immortal Domain. Surrounding it were numerous Immortal Foundation Spirit Mansions, the Nine Palaces of the Immortal Mansion, Myriad Tribulations Mountain, Sui Chen Mountain, Eternal Tribulation Mountain, and many other Dao Fields.
At the heart of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, its very core, stood only one mountain: Sui Zhu Mountain.
Sui Zhu Mountain's sheer size defied imagination. In terms of land area, it ranked first in the entire Great Luo Immortal Realm. The combined area of the rest of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court was roughly equal to that of Sui Zhu Mountain itself, meaning the mountain occupied half of the court's total area. This alone attested to its majestic grandeur and vastness.
Upon reaching the foot of Sui Zhu Mountain, Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor paused and said slowly:
"Immortal Monarch, you have become a pillar of the Immortal Court. Within the court, each Immortal Monarch is granted a Dao Seat."
"These Dao Seats are located on Sui Zhu Mountain."
"And only Immortal Monarchs possess the strength to ascend Sui Zhu Mountain."
"This mountain is more than just a mountain; it is a Heavenly Venerable Supreme Treasure that transcends even a Dao Artifact."
"You'll understand this in time."
"After ascending to the Immortal Monarch realm, every Immortal Monarch may ascend Sui Zhu Mountain to meet Brother Sui Zhu."
"Your aura is stable. There's no need to rush with your seclusion to assimilate the Grand Unity Immortal Tribulation."
"You should first ascend Sui Zhu Mountain and request treasures from Brother Sui Zhu."
"Brother Sui Zhu's expectations of you are quite high."
With these words, Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor glanced at Han Yi, his eyes flickering with an enigmatic light. Then, with a flash, he vanished from sight.
Han Yi couldn't discern the slightest trace of his disappearance. He took a deep breath, his reverence for the Dao Ancestor realm deepening.
Though he hadn't yet assimilated the gains from the Grand Unity Immortal Tribulation, Han Yi already sensed a significant increase in his strength compared to before the Tribulation Crossing.
He could now easily defeat a Senior Immortal Monarch.
Once he fully assimilated the Grand Unity Immortal Tribulation's rewards, he was confident he could hold his own against even a Peak Immortal Monarch.
Yet even then, facing a Dao Ancestor, he still felt as insignificant as a grain of sand.
"Dao Ancestor!"
Han Yi withdrew his wandering thoughts and focused his gaze on Sui Zhu Mountain. The Immortal Mountain before him defied description; "grand" or "majestic" seemed inadequate.
He slowly extended his Immortal Sense up the mountain, but even when stretched to its limit, it couldn't reach the summit. The sheer vastness of the mountain left Han Yi awestruck.
With a pilgrim's reverence, he took a step toward Sui Zhu Mountain. A profound wave instantly swept over him. Though the pressure wasn't overwhelming, Han Yi understood its meaning: anyone who wasn't an Immortal Monarch would be instantly repelled.
Only now did he fully grasp why Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor had earlier stated that only Immortal Monarchs possessed the strength to ascend Sui Zhu Mountain.
"A Heavenly Venerable Supreme Treasure, surpassing even a Dao Artifact."
Han Yi's heart trembled.
This information wasn't entirely new to him; the Profound Repository Palace's records mentioned it. But the difference between reading about it and experiencing it firsthand was profound.
The palace records also revealed that Sui Zhu Mountain was more than just a mountain of the Immortal Court; it was the True Form of Sui Zhu Dao Ancestor himself.
Trapped within this Heavenly Venerable Supreme Treasure's True Form, Sui Zhu Dao Ancestor remained perpetually bound to the Dao Ancestor realm, unable to ascend to the Heavenly Venerable realm.
However.
Within the bounds of Sui Zhu Mountain, even a Heavenly Venerable who has not reached the Great Heavenly Venerable realm is no match for Sui Zhu Dao Ancestor.
This is the most formidable hidden strength of this ancient Dao Ancestor.
Of course, these are only rumors. The true situation remains unknown to outsiders, and Han Yi couldn't make any definitive conclusions.
It's not that flying is impossible on Sui Zhu Mountain; it's just that flight is restricted to low altitudes.
Moreover, the first time one ascends Sui Zhu Mountain, teleportation is forbidden. One must physically fly to the summit. Only on subsequent visits can one directly teleport to the peak using the Dao Seat's coordinates.
Han Yi had read about these rules in the Profound Repository Palace. This was one of the benefits of having Immortal Monarch-level access beforehand.
After flying for the duration of an incense stick's burn, Han Yi finally reached the summit of Sui Zhu Mountain. Even for someone at the Immortal Monarch Realm, traversing this two-hour distance was remarkably long.
The moment he set foot on the summit, an ancient voice echoed in Han Yi's mind:
"Han Yi, come to Sui Zhu Hall."