The visitor was none other than Taixia Sect's top-ranked true disciple.
Yan Shuiyi—second place on the Longevity Candidates List. A figure said to be only a single breath away from stepping into the Longevity Realm itself. Rumor held that she had remained at the tenth layer of the Divine Ability Realm—Fate Reversal—for many years already. Her power was unfathomable, her arsenal endless, and she even possessed a Dao-artifact. In sheer might, she surpassed Hua Tiandu.
For a long time, Fang Han had wondered: If someone as fierce and tyrannical as Hua Tiandu could break into the Longevity Realm at any moment and become an ancient giant… then what kind of person could be stronger than him while still remaining in the Divine Ability Realm?
Now he finally understood. Yan Shuiyi wasn't simply stronger—she was operating on an entirely different level.
The simple fact that she could construct a semi-real, semi-illusory pocket world inside the Nine Heavens Astral Wind placed her techniques frighteningly close to those of the Longevity Realm.
More than that, her presence radiated a layered, rolling pressure—like mountains upon mountains, hazy and boundless like drifting mist and flowing water. Even when he strained his perception to the limit, Fang Han couldn't clearly make out her actual face.
"Strange, isn't it?" Yan Shuiyi's voice drifted like mist. "This realm, 'The Mistwater Domain,' is formed from my second nascent soul. It originated as a divine pearl—the Canghai Divine Pearl—a Dao-artifact left behind by an ancient Water God. I cultivated it through the method of external incarnation and transformed it into my second nascent soul. As long as you are within it, you cannot escape. Like Fang Qingxue, I too am the reincarnated wisp of an ancient natural deity. She is the reincarnation of the Lightning Mother—while I am the reincarnation of the Water God. Now you understand my nature."
Yan Shuiyi finally revealed her true form.
Her robes rippled like smoke and water. Her face was ethereal, as if sculpted from clear lotus petals floating on a still lake. Between her brows, a faint water-mark shimmered, adding a deeper layer of mystery.
One glance was enough to know she was not a cultivator forged by mortal effort but a reincarnated natural deity. There was no trace of human aura on her—nothing of the mortal world clung to her.
Fang Han felt it clearly: this woman… was not human.
Fang Qingxue, though hailed as the Lightning Mother reborn, still carried a distinctly human presence. Yan Shuiyi, however, possessed none. It was terrifying. Primeval natural spirits were fundamentally different from the divine clans.
Natural spirits were born from the world itself—manifestations of elemental essence shaped over countless eras. Thunder Kings, Lightning Mothers, Water Gods… even the Mountain Spirit Pearl he'd seen at auction was merely an embryo of such a being. Given hundreds of millions of years more, it too would become a Mountain God.
The sacred beasts of the Five Elements Lands—White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, Black Tortoise, Serpent—were also natural spirits, though not yet deities.
A true natural deity—such as a fully matured White Tiger Spirit—would be equivalent to a high-tier Longevity Realm giant. Fang Han wouldn't even have the chance to refine such a creature; he would be annihilated by a single strike.
If his Five Emperors Demon Arts ever reached their ultimate limit, then the White Emperor, Golden Sovereign, Red Emperor, Fire Emperor… would all transform into existences akin to natural deities. That would be the true mastery of the innate world, five elements and ten directions under his command.
Such beings were born with boundless talent. Anyone who reincarnated from one cultivated at terrifying speed. Fang Qingxue was a prime example—Hua Tiandu didn't dare provoke her.
And now, Yan Shuiyi was even stronger than Fang Qingxue.
"The Canghai Divine Pearl… a counterpart to the Immortal Lightning Talisman. I did not expect you to be the Water God reborn. A natural deity! And your second nascent soul is a Dao-artifact. No wonder your power is overwhelming." Fang Han's eyes narrowed. "So, you've come to challenge me? You should already know—your Taixia Sect's Taihuang Celestial couldn't kill me."
"I know," she replied calmly. "But Taihuang was hindered by the Primeval Demon Sovereign. The secrets of the Five Elements Lands… I know them far better than you. The Demon Sovereign cannot manifest his full power in this world while the Savage God Temple still exists. Regardless—I'm not here to fight you. We hold no grudge. Hua Tiandu's feud with you has nothing to do with me. But one thing is unacceptable—you intend to gift our disciple Song Weiyi's golden core to Linglong Immortal Venerable as a birthday tribute. I cannot allow that. I've come to negotiate."
Her voice remained light, emotionless yet not cold—like drifting mist over water. No one could guess what lay beneath her calm surface.
"A Dao-artifact in exchange for Song Weiyi's golden core," she continued. "A fair trade, yes?"
Fang Han sneered. "A Dao-artifact for a single golden core truly is generous. But I can see you originally planned to seize it by force. Only when you saw I'd formed my own golden core did you reconsider. You probably don't realize that after refining the Nine Ghost Primordial Souls, my power is unmatched within the Divine Ability Realm. Unless you break into the Longevity Realm, you're not my equal."
He stepped forward—imposing, predatory, like a primordial beast baring its claws.
"Unmatched?" Yan Shuiyi shook her head, not mockingly, but speaking as though stating simple fact. "My innate Heaven-Calamity Dharma Body, my second nascent soul, and the Divine Pearl itself—all are not inferior to you. The Ghost Emperor was strong, but he was no match for me. Even a mere incarnation would have reduced him to dust. The only reason I hesitate to fight you is because of your Five Emperors Demon Arts—they are difficult to counter. If I fought you, I could win with seventy percent certainty, but I might risk light injury—or the loss of an incarnation. This is the most critical period in my breakthrough to the Longevity Realm. I cannot afford even the slightest damage. Thus—I offer the Dao-artifact."
A green sword appeared between her fingers—no longer than a child's palm. Misty green energy swirled around it, forming the shape of a graceful green-clad maiden—the sword spirit.
It was a Dao-artifact. A lower-grade Dao-artifact, but a Dao-artifact nonetheless. And the maiden's strength was no less than that of the Blood-Night King.
"This is…" Fang Han's eyes flashed.
"The Jadeblood Softwater Sword," she explained. "Far superior to the Jadeblood Sword forged by that Bloodshadow Sect elder. And more importantly—it complements your Blood Sky Demon Blade. Your blade is ferocious and violent. My sword is pure softness. Their spirits can dual-cultivate. If you pair them, their combined might will far surpass what either can achieve alone. A Dao-artifact of this level exceeds the value of a mere golden core by far. Exchange it, and Taixia Sect will erase all grudges with you."
The Blood-Night King trembled with excitement inside the Blood Sky Demon Blade.
"She complements me," he rumbled to Fang Han. "If our spirits dual-cultivate, we could merge and push toward mid-grade Dao-artifact. Combined, we could contend with Hua Tiandu's Panwu Divine Sword."
Fang Han chuckled. "Sounds tempting. But I suspect you're the type to drain a partner dry. Be careful you're not the one being drained."
Then he turned to Yan Shuiyi. "Your offer is indeed generous. But I gave the golden core to Linglong Immortal Venerable as a gift. Who knows what she'll give me in return? Her generosity is legendary. I don't lack treasures—I need cultivation guidance. Can you offer that? Her level of insight surpasses yours."
Yan Shuiyi sighed softly. "Must you make this difficult? We have both worked tirelessly to reach this level. Mercy where mercy is due—this is how one preserves longevity. Too much greed invites calamity."
"I have plenty of calamities already," Fang Han replied. "One more hardly matters. But I'm not opposed to trading. I simply don't want the Dao-artifact. Fulfill a few conditions, and I'll return the golden core."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "What conditions?"
"First," Fang Han said, "I have a ten-year duel with Hua Tiandu. You are engaged to him. That alone makes you my enemy. If we trade, I must know you won't stab me in the back. So—break off your engagement."
Yan Shuiyi nodded lightly. "Not difficult. My engagement with Hua Tiandu is merely transactional. Even if we were married, I would never dual-cultivate with him. Your demand simply gives me an excuse. But since you said 'first,' I assume there is a 'second.' Speak."
Fang Han smiled.
"Second… I want you to be the one betrothed to me."
The words dropped like thunder.