Ruyi Zi again.
That same cold, cutting voice.
That same pointed accusation.
Fang Han kept his expression calm, but irritation coiled in his chest like a tightening spring. If this old fossil weren't an ancient powerhouse standing at the same level as Elder Tianxing—if he weren't one of Hua Tiandu's biggest backers—Fang Han would've already beaten him into the ground like a stray mutt.
This man has to go.
As long as Ruyi Zi remains, Hua Tiandu remains unshakeable.
If Fang Han ever hopes to confront Hua Tiandu directly, this obstacle must be removed first.
But killing a Longevity-level expert?
Impossible.
Even with his current power—capable of slaying beings like the Ghost Emperor—going against a true Longevity Titan was suicide. Only after forming his Golden Core and refining the Nine Ghost Immortal Souls would escape even become possible. Winning was out of the question.
He had witnessed the gap with his own eyes inside the Grand Primordial Immortal Mansion.
A Longevity expert's power was not simply stronger—it was of an entirely different order.
Even an absolute-grade Dao Artifact wasn't enough to bridge that gulf.
Only an Immortal Artifact could—but that was a fantasy for anyone below the fifth stage of Longevity.
Fang Han quietly ran countless scenarios in his mind, calculating, deducing, preparing for the future.
But he knew he didn't need to panic today.
Because someone would intervene.
And indeed, when Ruyi Zi stepped forward, his tone icy enough to frost the air:
"You dare defy the sect's laws? Fang Han killed three disciples of divine ability—we must punish him severely. Otherwise, every disciple will claim the right to kill whoever they please. Shameless manipulation of the Mountain River Ranking for personal gain—unacceptable! Today he must be whipped on the Heavenly Punishment Platform and thrown into the Immortal Prison!"
Tianxing Elder finally moved, his voice calm but sharp:
"Ruyi Zi, I administer the laws of this sect. Judgment falls within my authority, not yours."
"You abuse your position!" Ruyi Zi snapped. "As the Elder of Impeachment, I have every right to expose your favoritism before the Sect Master."
The air cracked.
Neither used flashy spells, yet pressure surged like a storm collapsing inward. Fang Han felt the void constrict around him—every direction sealed. If he tried to escape, he would be crushed instantly. Only by burning his life, detonating Golden Cores, and using his lifebound talisman might he break free, and even that wasn't guaranteed.
Tianxing Elder swept a hand through the air.
The invisible cage shattered.
Fang Han sensed nothing—no wind, no ripple, no aura.
Just… power.
Pure and terrifying.
"You're nearing the Undying Body," Ruyi Zi said coldly, eyes flickering. "No wonder—so it was the Forgetting Emotion Water you gained from Fang Han. Enough strength to grow arrogant."
Tianxing did not respond.
Ruyi Zi turned back to Fang Han. "You cost the sect three divine ability disciples. Our losses are immense!"
"Losses?" Fang Han sneered. "Three traitors. Removing them was a service to the sect. And I can prove it."
He turned abruptly.
"Xu Yue'er, step forward."
She approached nervously. "Senior brother Fang Han?"
Fang Han pressed a glowing green sphere—no larger than a chestnut—onto her forehead.
A thrum filled the air.
It sank into her consciousness instantly.
A surge of spiraling energy erupted, transforming her spiritual power into pure divine ability force. Her body rose from the ground, surrounded by vibrating waves of new power.
Her mind blanked.
Her realm broke.
She stepped directly into the Divine Ability realm.
Fang Han smiled.
So the Godhood Fruit works.
A divine-grade treasure born from slaying a god of the Heavenly Realm—condensing the life essence of a being equivalent to a Heaven-and-Man expert.
A treasure capable of violating the natural order.
A treasure capable of creating Divine Ability experts instantly.
Shock spread like wildfire through the crowd.
"That's impossible!"
"Divine Ability through a single pill?!"
"No elixir in record can do this—not even the Yin-Yang Longevity Pill!"
"This is… this is against heaven!"
Even several Elders stood frozen.
Fang Han wasn't done.
"You. And you. Step up."
Night Rain and another woman from the Jialan Society approached.
Two more fruits.
Two more shimmering impacts of green light.
Two more breakthroughs.
The air trembled as three fresh Divine Ability auras rose into the sky.
Now no one could call it coincidence.
Now no one could deny what they were witnessing.
Fang Han burst into laughter.
"Ruyi Zi, you think losing three traitors harms the sect? I have just created three Divine Ability experts before your eyes. Losses? They cancel each other. You accuse me of manipulating the Mountain River Ranking to profit? I have celestial-grade elixirs. I can make Divine Ability cultivators as easily as plucking fruits from a tree!"
His voice rolled like thunder:
"Now—tell me again who harmed the sect today."