Fang Han donned his ceremonial robe, fastened the Demon-Slaying Sword to his side, and tucked five spirit talismans into his belt. After twenty days of relentless training—ignoring pain, sleep, and even the fear of death—he had finally refined every drop of the Nine Aperture Golden Pill's power. Beneath his skin, a dense, protective membrane had formed—proof that he had ascended to the eighth stage of body cultivation: the Stage of Divine Strength.
At this level, his body had reached a new limit. The telltale mark of mastery was the growth of that inner "flesh membrane," a layer tough as cured leather, capable of absorbing tremendous blows. But Fang Han's was different—thicker, denser, far more powerful than others at the same realm. The Nine Aperture Golden Pill, forged by the demonic emperor of the Netherworld himself, had not granted him mystical powers outright, but it had done something rarer—it had given him an indestructible foundation.
And today, he would put that strength to use.
He would repay the humiliation of being struck down by Prince Bao.
A gentleman waits ten years for revenge, Fang Han thought coldly.
A petty man doesn't wait until dawn.
He smiled grimly. He was no gentleman.
Stepping out, his strides were steady and fierce, his breath like rolling thunder. The Demon-Slaying Sword at his waist shimmered faintly as he made his way toward the Hall of Celestial Gathering—a massive square where all disciples of the Yuhua Sect convened. The plaza stretched for miles, surrounded by towering dragon-carved pillars shrouded in drifting clouds. Even the grand forecourt of the Dali Dynasty's imperial palace would pale in comparison.
Today, the square was crowded—tens of thousands of outer disciples stood in orderly clusters, each wearing robes marked with the sigil of their division.
Fang Han weaved through the crowd, searching for familiar faces. "Red Yi! Liu Kang!"
A soft voice called from under one of the marble pillars. "Fang Han, here!"
He turned and quickly joined her. "Where's Prince Bao and those Da De royals?"
"Liu Kang went to find them. It's too packed right now. Let's wait for the elders' announcement," Red Yi replied, her sharp eyes scanning Fang Han. "You broke through another realm, didn't you? That speed is... unnatural. No one, no matter how gifted, advances from one major stage to the next in twenty days. The pill you took—don't tell me it wasn't just from a horned viper? Was it some ancient elixir, like the Yin-Yang Longevity Pill?"
Her tone was casual, but her eyes were razor-sharp—this was the intuition of someone who had once been a top assassin of the Scarlet Pavilion.
Fang Han coughed lightly. "Just the viper's core, nothing more."
He had used that excuse before—it had fooled Fang Qingxue, but Red Yi wasn't so easily deceived.
"Forget it," she said, shrugging. "Everyone has their secrets."
Indeed, in a sect as vast as Yuhua Gate, every disciple—from noble scions to royal descendants—carried hidden cards. Even Prince Bao's mastery of Immortal Fisher Techniques from Wan Gui Island suggested a background far deeper than his words implied.
Before they could speak further, a piercing sword cry split the clouds above. The sky itself seemed to tremble as the clouds tore apart, revealing five glowing figures descending from the heavens.
"Elders from the Celestial Palace," Red Yi whispered reverently.
Each elder stood upon radiant clouds of light rather than mere flying beasts, their auras vast and divine. When they landed upon the towering Immortal Platform, silence fell over the entire square.
One elder, his robe crackling faintly with lightning, stepped forward and spoke. His voice rolled like thunder, resonating through every disciple's mind:
"In the Hanhai Desert, the Kingdom of Blue Moon has fallen under siege—bandits and remnants of the subterranean demon clans run rampant. The sect now calls upon you to aid in purging this corruption.
Those who perform well in this mission shall be promoted—outer disciples to the inner ranks, inner disciples to the realm of True Transmission.
Moreover, any who slay the instigators—the Heavenly Wolf Disciple Wang Molin of the Demon God Sect, the Fox Princess of the Celestial Demon Sect, or the Crimson Prince of the Six Desires Hall—shall be rewarded with one Yin-Yang Longevity Pill!"
The words sent ripples through the crowd. Gasps erupted.
A Yin-Yang Longevity Pill! A legendary elixir said to extend life by sixty years and aid one's breakthrough to divine power. Crafted personally by the Sect Master through thirty years of alchemy using over three thousand rare herbs—it was one of the sect's sacred treasures.
The elders' message concluded, and the five figures lifted off, vanishing into the clouds once more.
The crowd erupted into excited chatter.
Red Yi's eyes gleamed briefly, then dimmed with a knowing smile. "To kill them? Easier said than done. Each of those names is a prodigy of the demonic sects, rumored to wield powerful artifacts. Many who go hunting may end up being the prey."
Fang Han asked, "Who are these people exactly?"
"The Da De royals have detailed intel," Red Yi said. "But with a prize like the Yin-Yang Pill, even the Mountain and River Ranking disciples will move."
"Mountain and River Ranking?" Fang Han frowned.
"The ten strongest inner disciples of the sect," she explained. "They wield spirit weapons—some even have divine artifacts. Once they reach the Divine Ability Realm, they'll instantly become True Disciples."
As they spoke, the crowd began to disperse—disciples forming alliances in twos and threes, planning their journey to the distant Blue Moon Kingdom.
Just then, Liu Kang emerged from the throng. "Found them! The Da De royals are waiting. They've gathered quite a few experts this time."
"Let's go."
Fang Han followed him to a secluded courtyard beyond the plaza. There, several young nobles stood, their embroidered robes gleaming. Among them was the man he sought—Prince Bao himself.
"Liu Kang, you brought them," Prince Bao said coolly. His eyes flicked toward Fang Han with casual arrogance. "Good. I have some errands for you to run."
Fang Han smiled faintly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"Errands?" he said, stepping forward. "Prince Bao, before we talk about that—why don't we settle our unfinished business first?"