For three and a half uninterrupted months, Yuhua Sect remained unusually quiet. The turmoil faded, every disciple went into seclusion, and winter passed in this hushed stillness.
During this time, Fang Han enjoyed an uncharacteristically peaceful cultivation life. As winter gave way to spring, he finally finished refining four million Nascent Soul Pills. With that, he settled his debts to the three sword sect elders and to Fang Qingxue. His hands were at last free—he could now focus entirely on nurturing the Kunpeng Giant Egg and cultivating the Devouring Grand Formation.
Once the egg hatched and the formation was absorbed, the power he'd gain would eclipse even Meng Shaobai's Kunpeng soul. Kunpeng devours by instinct—primitive and unrefined. But the Grand Devouring Art was born from ancient Heavenly Demons, a supreme technique designed to consume and seize everything. Compared to it, Kunpeng's natural instincts were crude.
Originally, Fang Han had intended to refine Zhao Xuanyi's Golden Core and extract the divine ability sealed within. If he completed the cultivation of all five internal organs, his physical body would reach unimaginable strength. But absorbing an entire Golden Core now would burst him apart. Extracting just one divine ability was possible, yet wasteful—Golden Cores were complete systems. Once cracked open, they could not be re-condensed. Taking one ability meant destroying twenty-six others.
Zhao Xuanyi's core contained twenty-seven divine abilities. Wasting twenty-six for one would be criminal.
Fang Han had hoped that once Nebula Baby reached the fifth realm of the Celestial Human Stage, he could split the Golden Core—leave Nebula Baby with twenty-six abilities and keep the divine "Sealing God" technique for himself.
He had an instinct—Sealing God was crucial for him.
Once mastered, he faintly sensed it could melt the Six-Eyed Sealing Monument into his organs, further strengthening his body. If that happened, his White Emperor Golden Radiance Slash would be truly instant—he could kill someone a thousand miles away before they even took their first step. Compared to that, Meng Shaobai's famed speed would be a joke.
But for that… Nebula Baby had to advance first.
He looked at the giant infant sleeping soundly beside him and tapped its head like a rubber ball.
"Nebula Baby, when will you finally step into the Celestial Human Realm?"
The baby stirred, opened its mouth, and bit down on Fang Han's hand with a loud chomp, chewing happily in its sleep. Fang Han pulled free, helpless as always.
At that moment, powerful voices echoed across the mountains:
"Elder Swordmad of Sun-Moon Sword Sect, Elder Danxiaozhi of Dan Cauldron Sword Sect, and Elder Feng Feitian of Heaven-Piercing Sword Sect request an audience with Fang Han!"
Fang Han shot into the sky, seeing three sword lights waiting beyond the mountain range. Hearing his response, they flew directly toward Yuhua Mountain and stopped above his Reincarnation Peak, sword auras sweeping the surroundings.
Three elders of the ninth level of Divine Ability—figures who could shake the world with a stomp—visiting at once sent shockwaves throughout Yuhua Sect. Disciples and elders alike emerged from their cultivation to witness it. Many had never heard of Fang Han's transaction with them, nor that he had killed two Taichu Sect Golden Core experts—Song Weiyi and Zhao Xuanyi.
The three elders themselves hadn't spread the story, and Taichu Sect certainly wouldn't. The news remained contained.
On a distant peak, Ling Xiao—who had always hoped to someday defeat Fang Han—felt his heart sink.
"Three million Nascent Soul Pills… something I couldn't gather even if I sold everything. And he treats it like pocket change. How am I supposed to surpass someone like this?"
Inside Yuhua Celestial Palace, ceremonial elders greeted the visitors, but the three sword elders waved them off politely.
"We have come purely for a private meeting with Fang Han—not to disturb the honored elders of Yuhua."
But Fang Han merely lifted a finger. A cloud of energy carried all three elders toward the grand reception hall. They exchanged startled glances—his power was far beyond what it had been in the Five Elements Domain.
The reception hall was vast, lavish, and imposing. Rows of ceremonial elders stood respectfully, all of them far weaker than Fang Han now. Fang Han walked directly toward the throne-like seat reserved for the Sect Master—an unspoken taboo.
A hush fell instantly.
Even the three visiting elders were stunned. Though not written in any rule, the Sect Master's seat was sacrosanct.
Fang Han paused before the seat, lost in thought.
If I defeat Hua Tiandu and help secure the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion, Feng Baiyu promised to give up this position… Should I sit now, or wait?
The silence grew heavy. His presence alone was enough to make all nearby elders swallow their words.
Finally, he stepped aside without sitting.
Then he waved his hand, sending out three crystalline dragon-shaped streams—each made of one million Nascent Soul Pills.
"Three elders, your elixirs are ready."
They accepted immediately. Something so valuable needed no ceremony.
Fang Han asked casually, "By the way… why is there no news circulating? I killed two of Taichu Sect's Golden Core masters—Zhao Xuanyi and Song Weiyi. They shamelessly ambushed me despite agreeing to a fair duel."
The hall exploded.
"What?! Fang Han killed both Golden Core titans of Taichu Sect? Impossible!"
"Those two dominated wherever they appeared—how could they fall?"
"If this is true, why hasn't Taichu Sect declared war already?"
"No one would believe this… but the elders' presence today says otherwise."
Shockwaves rolled through the great hall.