When Han Yi reunited with Yuan Hong, he noticed that his companion had advanced to the Golden Immortal realm.
Han Yi's eyes lit up with interest. He was intrigued by this Immortal Puppet from Kunlun Mountain, but he quickly dismissed the thought of investigating further.
Yuan Shun had once claimed that when he unearthed this Immortal Puppet from Kunlun Mountain, he suspected it had existed since the Primordial Era, or even earlier.
What made this puppet truly unique, surpassing all modern constructs, was its ability to cultivate normally, comprehend laws, and break through cultivation realms.
In essence, it represented an entirely different form of life, a race distinct from humanity.
Its characteristics bore some resemblance to the Mechanical God Race, a subordinate race of the Great Eternal Wisdom World, but it was far more profoundly mysterious than even that divine lineage.
Seeing Han Yi, Yuan Hong's eyes brightened.
"Senior Brother Han, you've finally emerged from seclusion!"
"Are you planning to establish a Dao Field next?"
It was clear that Yuan Hong was deeply interested in the Dao Field, which would elevate the Profound Pill Sect from an Immortal Sect to a full-fledged Dao Field.
However, even after expansion, Azure Shu Mountain was far too small to meet the requirements for a Dao Field. Each Dao Field serves as a cultivation ground for Immortal Monarchs, requiring a minimum threshold of land area and Immortal Veins, which Azure Shu Mountain simply couldn't provide.
Han Yi shook his head slightly. "Although I've been promoted to Immortal Monarch, I'm not considering establishing a Dao Field just yet."
This decision was the result of careful deliberation.
Firstly, the Profound Pill Sect was still too weak. Yuan Hong was the only Golden Immortal, and there were no True Immortals at all.
Upon arriving at Azure Shu Mountain, Han Yi used his Immortal Sense to scan the area and discovered that, apart from the Immortals who had joined the Profound Pill Sect after hearing of Han Yi's fame, the original Profound Pill Sect had only three True Immortals. Such a weak foundation was far too fragile compared to other Golden Immortals who had been established for tens of thousands of years.
Building a Dao Field on such a foundation would be difficult to sustain and thus imprudent.
Secondly, Han Yi's strength was still in its growth phase. Establishing a Dao Field would entail numerous distractions that could negatively impact his cultivation.
Most Immortal Monarchs establish Dao Fields to expand their influence, gather resources, and support their cultivation. But for Han Yi, doing so prematurely would be putting the cart before the horse.
Therefore, he had decided to wait until either his cultivation progress stagnated or the Profound Pill Sect grew to a certain scale before considering establishing a Dao Field.
Of course...
The Azure Shu Mountain Range no longer provided any direct benefits to the Profound Pill Sect; instead, it had become a hindrance to the sect's development.
Therefore, Han Yi decided to relocate the sect again. He hadn't yet settled on a new location, and this time, he would need to report his choice to the Immortal Court, which would allocate a designated area for the Profound Pill Sect's new site.
Moreover, this area had to meet the future requirements for Han Yi to establish a Dao Field, both in terms of size and the presence of an Immortal Vein to meet the minimum standards for a Dao Field.
He shared this idea with Yuan Hong and Lian Tingxi, who had hurried to join them.
Both men's faces lit up with excitement.
The cultivation resources required by True Immortals were truly staggering. The amount of Immortal Spirit Qi they absorbed was enormous. Despite continuous improvements to the Azure Shu Mountain Range, it still struggled to meet the growing needs of high-level cultivators and Immortals.
Relocating the sect had become imperative, and this time, the move would be proactive rather than reactive.
Next,
Han Yi remained at the Profound Pill Sect for a month. During this time, he held a series of lectures on the Dao, inviting newly promoted Immortals within the sect and newly joined Immortals to attend.
After the month passed, countless high-level cultivators achieved breakthroughs. Even Lian Tingxi, who had been stuck in the ordinary True Immortal Realm, finally broke through to the Advanced True Immortal Realm.
For a month, Han Yi made no attempt to conceal his movements, and countless Golden Immortals from various Immortal Sects sought an audience with him. Even several Immortal Monarchs came to pay their respects. Han Yi received each of them without refusal.
A month later, he departed Azure Shu Mountain and returned to the Immortal Court. Throughout the journey, his expression remained calm, but his heart grew increasingly tense. Yet, upon his arrival at the Immortal Court, everything remained as usual.
The moment he arrived, a Phantom Shadow emerged from his Immortal Robe. The shadow solidified into the form of an elderly man.
"Greetings, Immortal Venerable Hongwu!" Han Yi said respectfully, bowing in greeting.
Hongwu nodded, his gaze sweeping across the landscape. His eyes held galaxies and swirling phantom shadows, yet he detected no signs of disturbance.
"Nobody took the bait. They're truly patient," Hongwu remarked with a smile. He turned to Han Yi. "Very well. I can only assist you this far. From here on, you're on your own. Be careful."
With that, Immortal Venerable Hongwu vanished in a flash, leaving Han Yi alone, his expression turning solemn.
"The trap remains empty."
"Enough. This was too conspicuous. It backfired."
"From now on, I must be more cautious."
Han Yi deliberately made a grand entrance at the Profound Pill Sect to draw out any hidden dangers.
For example, assassins from the Black Realm, the Great Sage Demonic Ape, Demon Monarchs or even Demon Venerables seeking to ambush him, or other Immortal Monarchs or Immortal Sovereigns coveting his opportunities.
Therefore, he secretly paid his respects to Immortal Venerable Hongwu, requesting support. Hongwu gladly agreed, but only for a month. After all, an Immortal Sovereign's time was far more precious than his.
During this month, Han Yi used the Profound Pill Sect's public lectures to spread his presence. Moreover, when he left the Azure Shu Mountain Range, he deliberately left his aura unmasked. Anyone secretly observing would undoubtedly have noticed.
If anyone truly intended to ambush him, they could have set a trap along the way and ambushed him.
But the result left him slightly disappointed. The entire journey passed safely and without incident; not a single Immortal emerged to ambush him, leaving the time wasted.
Back at the Immortal Court, Han Yishen took a deep breath, clearing his mind of distractions.
Since he couldn't lure his enemies out, he resolved to strengthen himself instead, to defeat them honorably and directly. Whether facing soldiers or floods, he would meet them with appropriate strategies—what was there to fear?
Over the past two millennia, he had faced countless crises. He was confident he could continue to confront even more powerful Immortals.
Returning to the Immortal Court...
Han Yi entered the Heavenly Candle Hall, a Boundary Heaven that also handled some basic administrative duties for Immortal Monarchs. Here, he could apply for a Dao Field.
After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Han Yi left the Heavenly Candle Hall and headed towards Heavenly Kui Mountain, an Immortal Mountain within the Immortal Court.
This Heavenly Kui Mountain would serve as Han Yi's future Dao Seat within the Immortal Court.
Of course, since Immortal Venerable Yuanshu still had three hundred years before entering a millennium-long seclusion, Han Yi could continue using his existing Immortal Pavilion at the Primal Art Dao Field during this time.
However, having secured his own Dao Seat, Han Yi chose to use it. This seat would become his permanent base within the Sui Zhu Immortal Court.
During his visit to the Heavenly Candle Hall, the Realm Spirit had offered to rename Heavenly Kui Mountain to Heavenly Yi Mountain to harmonize with Han Yi's newly established Dao Seat. Han Yi declined the offer.
For now, he preferred not to make any changes. He would reconsider the matter after he had fully established his Dao Field.
Upon reaching Heavenly Kui Mountain, Han Yi used Immortal Arts to transform this modest mountain range. He then sent a message via his token to summon Li Zhengyang, entrusting him with the task of further developing and arranging the Dao Seat.
In the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, Li Zhengyang was the one person Han Yi trusted most.
When Li Zhengyang heard the news, he was overjoyed.
This was a future Dao Field seat! Entrusting him with its development and arrangement was a clear sign of immense trust. Moreover, within this Dao Seat, he would rank second only to Han Yi himself.
Meanwhile, having abandoned Li Zhengyang to his own devices, Han Yi ascended to the summit of Heavenly Kui Mountain. There, he selected a suitable location and deployed an Immortal Artifact-grade Imperial Palace. Stepping inside, he began to cultivate.
His recent attempt to lure out potential enemies had failed, leaving him not reassured but increasingly wary of impending danger.
Should he face peril again, his adversary would undoubtedly be extraordinarily powerful: perhaps a Demon Clan Great Sage fully recovered to its peak, a Peak Immortal Monarch teetering on the brink of Immortal Sovereign status, or even an Immortal Sovereign itself.
Therefore, he needed to become even stronger.
Within the Imperial Palace atop Heavenly Kui Mountain, Han Yi focused his thoughts, summoning the panel before him:
Name: Han Yi
Lifespan: 2,449/129,600 years
Immortal Technique: Mi Luo Primordial Chaos True Scripture (Great Unity Chapter: 6/100)
Life Seed: 0 units
Cultivation Realm: Grand Unity
Skills:
- Sword Flight (Seventh-Tier Immortal: 17/100)
- Cosmic Light Thought Realm (Sixth-Rank Immortal Art: 98/100)
- Fetal Transformation Disguise (Sixth-Rank Immortal Art: 76/100)
- Four Origins Dao Technique (Black Tortoise)
- Ten Thousand Realms Fate Unification Divine Canon (Void Extremity Realm: 86/100)
- Sword Realm (Sixth-Rank Immortal Art: 95/100)
- Myriad Nether Tome (Nether Slave - Half-Immortal Chapter: 80/100)
- Ancient Vault Seal (Refinement Progress: 1/100)
After approximately 2,500 years of cultivation, Han Yi's cultivation had stabilized at the Grand Unity Immortal Monarch realm.
Since his breakthrough in the Sword Control Immortal Art to the Seventh-Tier, his other Immortal Arts had gradually approached the peak of the Sixth-Tier, presenting opportunities for further advancement.
Among them, the Cosmic Light Thought Realm Immortal Art had reached 98/100 of the Sixth-Tier, and the Sword Realm had reached 95/100, making these two skills the most likely to break through to the Seventh-Tier.
Additionally,
Han Yi casually flipped his hand, summoning an Immortal Ring from the Divine Aperture World. This ring had been gifted to him by Sui Zhu Dao Ancestor five hundred years ago, after he successfully endured the Great Unity Immortal Monarch Tribulation.
Within the Immortal Ring lay a black stone. Han Yi recognized it as an Ancient Demon Heartstone. In the past, focused on stabilizing his cultivation, he had not absorbed it.
Now, it was time to absorb this Ancient Demon Heartstone.
It was quite remarkable.
Although Han Yi practiced Three-System Co-Cultivation, the Immortal Path required the most of his attention. In contrast, opportunities for the Ancient God and Monster Dao paths came effortlessly, one after another.
The Ancient God path had been aided by two major factors: the Divine Power World at the bottom of the Jade Lake, and the Ancient God's Revelation Land in the Ferocious Realm. These two aspects had allowed his Ancient God cultivation to reach the Void Extremity Realm.
Cultivating the Monster Dao required even less effort. The Demon Race inheritance and the Ancient Demon Heartstone he possessed ensured that, though his Monster Dao cultivation wasn't particularly strong, he at least managed to keep pace.
Han Yi focused his thoughts and retrieved the Ancient Demon Heartstone gifted by the Dao Ancestor from his Immortal Ring. As he mentally connected with it, a ferocious aura surged into his mind, causing his expression to drastically change and a shiver to run down his spine.
He knew the Ancient Demon Heartstone bestowed by Sui Zhu Dao Ancestor must be extraordinary, but he never imagined it would be this terrifying.
As the ferocious aura flooded through him, he seemed to witness a Nine-Headed Savage Giant Beast rampaging across heaven and earth, plucking stars, destroying moons, devouring the sun, and annihilating worlds.
Its ferocity reached its absolute peak.
He had encountered this ferocious aura before.
In a flash, a scene from his past surfaced. It was during his time in the Ferocious Realm, after he had endured the Great Truth Ancient God Tribulation. In the void, he had witnessed Qiankun Dao Ancestor being pursued by Celestial Venerable Chonglou. As the Dao Ancestor fled, he turned back for one final glimpse of the scene.
That scene.
He saw, at the heart of the Ferocious Realm, a ferocious aura surging skyward, as if the entire world were shattering within its malevolent embrace. Even Han Yi, separated by countless distances, had felt overwhelming terror and fled in panic.
"This is undoubtedly an Ancient Demon from the Primordial era. Moreover, this venerable being must have been a Dao Ancestor-level existence in life, and even among the Dao Ancestors, it belonged to the pinnacle echelon, to possess such a ferocious demonic aura."
Han Yishen took a deep breath, his heart trembling. He focused his thoughts to perceive the aura more clearly. After a moment, he finally received the complete information.
"Nine-Headed Ancient Demon: Nine Howl."
"Rampaged through the Primordial era, feeding on Wild Dragons and Ancient Heads..."
A realization struck Han Yishen.
The Ancient Demon Heartstone he had originally inherited was that of a Wild Desolate. The Wild Desolate was a type of Ancient Head, and also a staple in the Nine Howl's diet. By inheriting the Nine Howl's Inheritance, he could directly consume the Wild Desolate Inheritance within him, leaving no trace.
"Truly befitting a Dao Ancestor. He must have a perfect understanding of my cultivation progress."
"The only question is whether he knows about my Panel."
With this thought, Han Yishen shook his head slightly.
Even the Sui Zhu Dao Ancestor couldn't possibly detect his Panel.
As for his Three-System Co-Cultivation, if someone's Cultivation Realm far surpassed his, they might naturally detect it, which wouldn't be surprising.
After preparing, Han Yi began to refine the new Ancient Demon Heartstone, absorbing it into his Demon Sea. Through ingestion and fusion, it replaced the original Wild Desolate Heartstone.
In truth, for a typical Demon Cultivator, the Demon Sea would transform into a Demon Spirit Realm upon reaching the Demon Immortal stage. However, Han Yi's path of cultivation deviated from the norm, allowing him to retain his Demon Sea.
For him, the Demon Sea served merely as a vessel, its sole purpose being to contain the Ancient Demon Heartstone. This heartstone, forged by an Ancient Demon before its demise, encapsulated a space akin to a Demon Spirit Realm. In other words, Han Yi's 'Demon Spirit Realm' was not derived from the transformation of his Demon Sea, but had always been hidden within it.
This was an unconventional path of cultivation for the Demon Race.
Three years later, the Nine Howl Heartstone had stabilized within Han Yi's Demon Sea, continuously emitting a ferocious demonic aura. This marked a sustained breakthrough in his Monster Dao cultivation realm, a process that now unfolded without requiring his active effort.
Leaving his Imperial Palace, Han Yi strolled through Heavenly Kui Mountain. He discovered that the mountain range had been transformed, now home to dozens of massive palaces. The once-untamed forests had been meticulously cultivated, their vibrant aura now radiating a flourishing vitality.
Han Yi was quite satisfied with the arrangements.
He summoned Li Zhengyang and entrusted him with the Immortal Court's decree and token for establishing the Profound Pill Sect's new Dao Field. He instructed Li Zhengyang to represent him in matters concerning the sect.
Next, Han Yi handed over several Fifth-Rank and Sixth-Rank Immortal Swords he had used but would no longer need. He gave Li Zhengyang full discretion over their disposal—whether to sell them at the Immortal Ease Pavilion or keep them for personal use.
However, he retained a mark on one Sixth-Rank Immortal Sword, specifically instructing Li Zhengyang to use it for self-defense. He assured him that as long as he didn't face a Peak Immortal Monarch, the sword would ensure his survival.
Li Zhengyang accepted the responsibilities without hesitation. He willingly took charge of managing the Dao Seat and gladly accepted the Fifth-Rank and Sixth-Rank Immortal Swords. He understood that only by advancing his own cultivation could he better assist Han Yi, however modest the help might be. He was willing to contribute in any way he could.
Meeting Han Yi had been the greatest and most astonishing opportunity of his cultivation journey.
After giving instructions to Li Zhengyang, Han Yi entered the largest cultivation palace located at the central peak of Heavenly Kui Mountain.
There, he prepared to confront a Sixth-Rank Immortal Art head-on.