A Golden Core.
Fang Han had actually formed a Golden Core.
And not just any core—
a true Golden Core built from ninety divine arts.
In ten thousand years, such a feat was almost unheard of.
Forming a Golden Core wasn't simply a matter of having enough essence. The more divine arts one possessed, the more chaotic the internal energies became, requiring immense wisdom and unshakable focus to subdue and harmonize them. Every divine art was both a source of power and an obstacle. As ancient cultivators once said—the greater the power, the deeper the obstruction.
Some extreme sects in antiquity even claimed that divine arts were irrelevant and cultivation required none at all—a laughable doctrine, but born from the real difficulty of advancing while carrying many arts.
That difficulty, however, was a fact.
And Fang Han had crushed it.
He had seized the fortune of heaven and earth, absorbed the brilliance of sun and moon, grasped the mysteries of immortals and demons, and touched the underlying laws of the universe. Through insight, discipline, and absolute will, he broke through every barrier and reshaped them into stepping stones.
He once planned to form his Golden Core before refining the Nine Ghost Immortal Emperor's soul. In that scenario, he believed he would already be invincible among divine-ability cultivators—perhaps even able to defeat Hua Tiandu.
But fate had reversed his path.
He had first refined the Nine Ghost Emperor's soul…
then formed the Golden Core.
Which made the result terrifyingly stronger.
Now all ninety of his divine arts had become life-bound. The demonic techniques of the Ghost Emperor had been melted into his blood and bones, their demonic ferocity subdued by Fang Han's iron will—turning demonic essence into Dao.
His mana now approached the mythical boundary of one billion.
One human, one dragon—representing the number "billion."
Though he stood at the seventh realm, Golden Core, the sheer density of his mana already rivaled the peak of the tenth realm. Ahead of him lay the eighth realm's Wind-Fire Tribulation, the ninth realm's Heaven-Earth Dharma Phase, and the tenth realm's Fate-Reversal. Three monumental thresholds.
But even now, a first-layer Longevity Realm master—the so-called "eternal giants"—
could no longer kill him.
He could walk away alive from anyone short of the absolute top.
Just as Hua Tiandu once stood unbowed before the Demon Emperor, Fang Han had now reached that same level of composure.
He stepped forward, and his speed multiplied several times over. His strikes now skirted the edge of Longevity-level might. Though he didn't yet possess the metaphysical pressure of an ancient giant, he carried an innate, unspoken majesty—like a sovereign overlooking heaven and earth.
Xingmie Xie's eyes widened in disbelief.
With a single step, Fang Han arrived before him. The protective Buddha-light of the Burning Lamp Umbrella tore apart like paper. The Dao artifact was still formidable, but having burned through all five million of its heavenly demons, its power had plummeted. It could no longer block Fang Han's advance.
Fang Han's fist drew back—
Xingmie Xie's expression hardened. He retreated half a step, star-soul merging with his physical body, golden body radiating indestructible brilliance. He gathered every shred of the Starry Sect's paradise, drawing the full power of the heavens into his strike.
But it was pointless.
Their fists collided.
Fang Han merely swayed.
Xingmie Xie, however, erupted into cascading fireworks of exploding starlight. His body shot hundreds of miles backward, smashing into a distant mountain. He managed to stay conscious, though his complexion was slightly pale.
Fang Han hovered in midair, walking through the sky like a celestial beast—radiant and oppressive, shining like a star, unshakable as sun and moon. He stepped again—this time splitting into six shadows at once, each appearing beside the six watching disciples. A single palm descended.
Wu Zixu, Hua Wumei, Yu Tianhua, Cang Wei…
and the two Wind-Fire–Tribulation experts—all gasped and unleashed their treasures and techniques in unison.
It didn't matter.
With a casual press, Fang Han shattered every spell, every weapon. The six plummeted—only for a wave of gentle wind to catch them, setting them upright beside Xingmie Xie.
"My apologies," Fang Han said evenly, hands clasped behind his back. "I have just completed my Golden Core. My strength is not yet perfectly controlled. I ask for your understanding. Brother Xingmie Xie—shall we call this duel finished?"
He truly hadn't used lethal force. They were in the Starry Sect's paradise—killing promising disciples would be unthinkable, and Fang Han had no desire to create enemies here. A display of power was more than enough.
"This man's mana… how can it be this monstrous?" Yu Tianhua shivered. He had not been injured, but the shock of his earlier arrogance now twisted in his gut.
"Golden Core complete—and with this level of power, he could rank top three on the Longevity Candidate List," Xingmie Xie said slowly. "I can't imagine how fierce his future battle with Hua Tiandu will be. But let's set that aside."
He bowed.
"Congratulations, Fang Han. A Golden Core formed from ninety divine arts is almost unheard of. But the more arts you possess, the greater your karmic burdens. Ahead lies the Wind-Fire Tribulation—the most terrifying ordeal in a cultivator's life. Your arts are many, so your tribulation will be immense. Survive it, and your power will crystallize. Fail…"
He didn't finish.
He didn't need to.
Xingmie Xie rose into the air. "I lost today. As promised, I will step down from the position of true disciple and enter the ranks of the elders."
"There's no need," Fang Han replied with a faint smile. "I don't wish to interfere with the Starry Sect. A great calamity is approaching, and the cultivation world grows restless. We must stand together, not fracture. You need the Forget-Emotion Water—I won't withhold it. Take it."
A ribbon of golden-yellow mist shot toward Xingmie Xie.
"Forget-Emotion Water!"
His eyes lit up as he hurriedly produced a gourd to collect it. "With this, my chances of reaching Longevity grow much higher."
His earlier dejection vanished instantly.
This liquid was valuable even to Tianxing the Execution Elder—it washed impurities from the soul and helped cultivate the Undying Body. Even the Yellow Springs Emperor had relied on Forget-Emotion Water when advancing to the tenth layer of Longevity.
"As for organizing elite enforcers," Fang Han continued, "that is exactly why I came. I am willing to open Five Elements Land so that Starry Sect disciples may train there. As for Xingyun Baobao—though I am his elder brother, I will not interfere in his growth. Without pressure, talent stagnates. If you withdraw from the succession struggle, he will prosper too easily, and his future potential will weaken."
The logic was simple.
Challenge birthed greatness.
A truth as old as cultivation itself.
"Fang Han…" Xingmie Xie let out a long breath. "Your vision is vast."
"Let us discuss further in the coming days," Fang Han said. "You cultivate Buddhist arts—I happen to possess a Buddhist treasure. I could use your insight. And once Linglong Immortal Venerable's four-thousandth birthday arrives, we will bring gifts together."
Fang Han's interest in the Burning Lamp Umbrella was obvious. The treasure's ability to convert violent heavenly demons into devout worshippers was a heaven-defying miracle.
Fang Han could subdue demons with the Yellow Springs Diagram, but he could not make them pious. If he learned this technique, he could transform the Eightfold Hell Furnace. Imagine refining eight million demons—not just into resources, but into loyal believers providing endless wish-power. His cultivation would soar to unimaginable heights.
Of course, feeding eight million demons required astronomical amounts of qi. But with the World Tree, Fang Han had no fear of exhaustion.
"Attending Linglong Immortal Venerable's birthday is a major event," Xingmie Xie agreed. "Her Linglong Paradise is filled with gifted female cultivators—many go hoping to form Dao bonds. I intend to go too, not for romance, but because Linglong Paradise produces Buddha-Light Grass, essential for refining my umbrella."
"Linglong Paradise is a true celestial land," Fang Han nodded. "World Compendium records countless treasures inside it."
Around the arena, the watching elders finally exhaled in relief.
"This Fang Han is not overbearing after all," the Execution Elder said with a satisfied nod. "Forget-Emotion Water… I would like to examine it myself. It could help my Undying Body. I should ask him for a small amount."
"I don't need the water," said Elder Yixing, who had already achieved the Undying Body and studied spatial mysteries. "I want to ask him where his star techniques come from. To restrain our Starry Sect's arts so completely… such profundity is extraordinary."
He still remembered the moment Fang Han devoured the star power of the entire paradise—an act that, even with his cultivation, had stunned him to the core.