"So that's what this is… ingenious, truly ingenious." Fang Han studied the demonic patterns carved across the Kunpeng giant egg, admiration rising in his chest. "The Great Devouring Art is nearly impossible to cultivate, so they found a Kunpeng egg, leveraged its innate life traits, and used it to incubate a devouring formation. Each generation of schemers more brilliant than the last."
"Exactly. Never underestimate the Heavenly Demons—many of them were once unmatched prodigies." Yan chuckled inside the Yellow Springs Diagram. "It seems fate is handing us another gift. Once that formation matures, you'll gain another supreme divine ability. Fortune's on our side—unstoppable. Pour some True Immortal Qi into the egg. Keep nurturing it. When it succeeds… heh, the next time Meng Shaobai wants to swallow your treasures, you can swallow him instead."
Fang Han nodded. "I'll try."
He opened his mouth and released a thread of Immortal Qi. It shot forward like an arrow, piercing straight into the egg. Instantly, the runes stirred and absorbed the qi completely.
A humming sound erupted—like thousands of bees beating their wings inside the shell. The egg trembled, rhythmically at first, then slowly calmed. Not a single wisp of energy escaped.
"It seems my earlier idea—using this egg to upgrade the Great Cutting Technique—won't work. All I can do is feed it and wait for it to transform into the Devouring Formation," Fang Han said.
"Just keep pouring qi in. It will convert soon enough," Yan said. "Even I've never seen the true Great Devouring Art. I can't imagine its full power."
"Not even the Yellow Springs Emperor?" Fang Han blinked.
"It's not that he couldn't cultivate it," Yan replied. "He simply chose not to. His Great Samsara Technique is no weaker. These are ancient, incredibly difficult arts—few throughout history have ever mastered them. The Yellow Springs Emperor cultivated ninety-nine divine abilities, all to support the Great Samsara. Your current abilities are a mess—mixed, uneven, some high, some low. Not ideal. But once you step into the Longevity Realm, you'll have time to refine everything from the ground up."
Yan snapped his claws lightly. "Anyway, you focus on training. Meng Shaobai's sword did damage me—I need time to recover. And that Blood Night King… after absorbing Kunpeng blood, he's advancing extremely fast. You should find more ancient-beast blood for him. His growth rate will skyrocket."
That was the advantage of a Dao Artifact—its spirit could cultivate on its own.
A magic treasure was dead matter; it required constant refining and qi input from its owner. But a Dao Artifact's spirit grew through battle, blood, and essence. The Blood Night King thrived on blood—especially powerful, high-quality blood. If it absorbed the essence of several ancient divine beasts—or drained Meng Shaobai dry—it might even break through to a mid-grade Dao Artifact. And if Fang Han ever died, it could fly off and cultivate alone, becoming a roaming demon.
Fang Han closed his eyes. "Back to training, then. I'm close to condensing the Golden Core, but still missing something. The seventh layer is truly difficult. No wonder those who reach it are called 'Little Giants.' The Mountain–River Ranking Tournament is only days away. I'm not participating, but the prizes are impressive. If my people win, the benefits could be immense. I wonder how Princess Hongyi is doing with Sister Qingxue's guidance…"
Winter arrived again.
A northern wind howled through the night. Snow fell like white feathers, blanketing the mountains of Yuhua Sect for a thousand miles. The storms were fierce; even disciples who could fly on magical tools spun helplessly in the freezing gales.
Everyone hid in caves or rooms, meditating, refining pills, strengthening internal arts.
Everyone except Fang Han.
These days, true disciples and elders flooded Reincarnation Peak—visiting nonstop. Some came seeking rare pills. Some came to curry favor. Some begged for pointers in cultivation. Fang Han barely had time to breathe, let alone cultivate.
Even the two peak giants—the Sky Punishment Elder and Elder Jiang Rourou—sent disciples to request Forgetfulness Water.
Grand Elders of every type—Artifact Elders, Transmission Elders, Medicine Elders, Constellation Elders, Sword Tomb Elders… cultivators at the eighth, ninth, even tenth level of Divine Ability—came in person. Each wanted Forgetfulness Water and a good relationship with Fang Han.
A few elders at the fifth level and below even swore private loyalty—whispering their willingness to support Fang Han against Hua Tiandu, even in the distant future when the position of Sect Master was contested.
Fang Han didn't reject their loyalty—but he certainly didn't hand out pills for empty words. He ordered Garan's inner disciples to document every name and observe them quietly.
After Fang Han defeated Meng Shaobai, Garan publicly declared her support for Fang Han in the future fight for the Sect Master's position.
Almost all female true disciples—and most inner and outer sect female disciples—were now aligned with Garan's faction. In effect, the majority of the sect's women supported Fang Han.
Of course, such support was only surface-level. In the end, the sect's leadership would go to whoever first reached the Longevity Realm—Hua Tiandu or Fang Han.
Still, after a few days of constant visits, Fang Han finally understood the depth of Yuhua Sect's power.
There were over four or five thousand elders who had stepped into the Divine Ability Realm—most hidden deep within Yuhua Heaven Palace. They were the true backbone of the sect.
By defeating Meng Shaobai, Fang Han had won only a fraction of them. As his strength continued to rise, more would join him.
Defeat Hua Tiandu… and he would be the rightful successor—the future "Crown Heir" of Yuhua Sect, destined to stand alongside the greatest demonic emperors of the world.
The thought alone was dizzying.
He watched the snow beyond the mountain. One year ago, he was just an inner disciple competing in the Mountain–River Ranking. Now, he was one of the strongest true disciples, a contender for the pinnacle of the immortal path.
Life was surreal.
"How are you holding up?" A sudden crack of thunder split the sky. Fang Qingxue appeared before him, eyes sharp as lightning. "You defeated Meng Shaobai. You're now one of the two candidates for Sect Master. Seven years from now, if you defeat Hua Tiandu, the position is yours."
Fang Han bowed slightly. "Your aura is purer, Sister Qingxue. You must be close to crossing the Fire-Wind Tribulation?"
She didn't answer. Instead, a bolt of lightning flashed above her head. An electric rune opened—and three figures fell out.
Nebula Baby. Princess Hongyi. Crane Fairy.
Nebula Baby had grown taller—but his face looked even younger. A giant infant with the aura of a newborn universe. Clouds of starlight drifted from his pores. His entire body shimmered like a miniature cosmos.
And his cultivation…
Fang Han's eyes widened.
"He's already at the peak of the fourth level? Ready to break into the fifth?" He was stunned. It took him eighteen years of secluded training in the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion to reach the peak of Yin–Yang. Nebula Baby had done it in half a month—and reached the peak within ten more days.
What speed was this?
Fang Qingxue nodded, equally amazed. "When I washed his body with the Lightning Emperor's divine power, I discovered every one of his meridians contains the essence of mid-grade or high-grade spiritual pills. No wonder he grows like this. The Stargate Sect Master has poured unimaginable resources into his son."
"At this rate, he'll reach the fifth level within two or three years," Fang Han said, shaking his head.
Princess Hongyi had also advanced—she'd stepped into the second level of Divine Ability, cultivating the Violet Thunder Blade Technique, likely taught by Qingxue.
But the most surprising was Crane Fairy.
She had transformed into a young girl—ethereal, dressed in white, with long black hair tied by a red ribbon. She looked like a miniature Fang Qingxue. In her arms was a small cat, glaring at Fang Han with deep resentment.
"That cat…" Fang Han murmured. "That's Fang Qingwei."