"Ten artifacts… each?"
The young female disciples assigned to receive Fang Han froze. Their eyes were glued to the cloud of mid-grade treasures swirling above them. Even so, they quickly regained composure; Fang Han's reputation had already spread through Linglong Blessed Land. Everyone knew he was extravagantly generous—a genuine titan of wealth.
He threw out top-grade treasures and even peerless artifacts as casually as breathing. Pills worth billions? He'd hand them out without blinking.
"Yes, pick ten each," Fang Han said with a leisurely wave. "Take them all. After I present my birthday gift to the Immortal Venerable, I'll be staying here for a while. I hope I'll have more time to… get acquainted with you junior sisters."
"Such luck actually exists in the world?" one of them whispered, eyes shining.
They exchanged glances, then hurriedly activated their magic, each selecting ten pieces from the glittering cluster and tucking them into their treasure satchels. Their expressions lit with delight, and they hovered around Fang Han as though he were the rising sun.
These young women were all experts of the Divine Ability realm—nobles in their own sect. Yet even so, they couldn't compare to a Golden Core master like Fang Han. To receive ten mid-grade magical artifacts at once was equivalent to a lifetime's savings. How could they not be ecstatic?
Other disciples who were busy receiving guests looked on with naked envy. They wished they could switch places in an instant.
"Senior Dragon, Senior Wood," Fang Han said loudly, turning toward the two ancient giants. "Your reputations precede you. Even in the Xuanhuang World, the fame of the Dragon-Wood Star is known. Since you've come to honor the Immortal Venerable's birthday… I wonder what gifts you've brought?"
The two giants—Dragon Daoist and Wood Daoist—had been watching him the entire time. Fang Han did not avoid their gaze. If these two old monsters wanted something from him, he fully intended to make them bleed for it.
The disciples attending these two ancient beings weren't ordinary either—four female Golden Core masters, each a small giant in their own right. They wore garments patterned like a cosmic chessboard, black and white interlaced, speckled with shimmering starlight as if containing entire constellations.
Armor made from peerless treasure-grade materials. Fang Han recognized at a glance: this was refined from the very essence of Linglong Da Luo Heaven's supreme divine art.
Linglong Blessed Land truly was formidable. Their Golden Core ranks rivaled those of Taiyi Sect.
"You are Fang Han?" Dragon Daoist's rumbling voice broke across the mountaintop. "I watched your battle with Blood Dance Sun. Your Golden Core holds ninety divine abilities—impressive. But the stronger your core, the fiercer your Wind-Fire Catastrophe. It may reduce you to ash. Best be careful."
He thought Fang Han was trying to curry favor.
Is this brat trying to offer us treasures? To buy us off? How pointless.
Dragon Daoist sneered inwardly. No matter what he gives, Wood Daoist will never let him go.
"My cultivation doesn't trouble you two seniors," Fang Han replied lightly. "But I notice the four junior sisters serving you haven't received any proper meeting gift. As a mere junior, even I can't stand to watch. Let me give them something instead."
He snapped his fingers.
Four beams of treasure-light leapt into the air—four peerless treasure-grade artifacts.
A thunder-needle humming with lightning.
A storm-blue blade.
A wickedly curved hook.
A flying sword forged like a falling star.
Each one pulsed with immense spiritual force, their forms already starting to condense into true Dao-patterns. Just one more step, and any of them could metamorphose into a Dao-artifact.
The four Golden Core female disciples were stunned.
Dragon and Wood Daoist had only given them simple trinkets—low-grade treasures, a few pills. Nothing extraordinary. That was normal. One never gave subordinates too much.
But Fang Han?
He had just given them weapons rivaling the Ghost Emperor's Snake Sword.
Even a Golden Core master would struggle to obtain such a treasure. Owning one meant a significant leap in combat strength.
"We thank you, Fellow Daoist Fang Han," the four women said as they each claimed one artifact, eyes bright with shock and joy.
"You brat!" Dragon Daoist's face flushed with anger.
Fang Han's actions were an open slap in the face. They were ancient Long-Life experts—unfathomably superior to Golden Core cultivators. They considered Divine Ability experts little more than commoners. And now, this junior was mocking their stinginess right in front of everyone.
"What's wrong, seniors?" Fang Han said with a sunny smile. "Surely you're not jealous of such small trinkets?"
"You… you…" Dragon Daoist stepped forward, killing intent leaking through.
But Wood Daoist grabbed his arm. "Dragon, calm yourself."
Wood Daoist studied Fang Han for a long moment, then finally spoke with dry, wooden speech:
"Truly, a hero among youth. Fearless as a calf before the tiger. Since you provoke us so openly, we cannot be outdone. If you shame us in public, we lose face before the entire cultivation world."
His sleeve flicked.
Four fiery pills appeared in the air, radiating terrifying power. Like small suns burning in the wind.
"Nirvana Pills," someone whispered.
Nirvana Pills—the legendary top-tier Heaven-rank pills, one step below Immortal Pills. Each could elevate cultivation and help a Golden Core approach the next realm.
The four female disciples trembled as they received them.
Dragon Daoist's voice buzzed in Wood Daoist's mind: "Why give those away? We spent years acquiring them from Nine Cauldrons Immortal Sovereign! They were meant for our four core disciples!"
"No matter," Wood Daoist replied. "To lose face before all these people is worse. Better to sacrifice the pills."
Then he said aloud, "Boy, these four Nirvana Pills—how do they compare to your peerless treasure-toys? I heard you spent ten billion pills to buy one from Jiuding Pavilion. I purchased these four for only twenty billion. What do you think?"
Fang Han burst out laughing.
"The two seniors are indeed wealthy beyond compare!"
Then he turned to the four female disciples and said:
"These four Nirvana Pills cost twenty billion. I happen to need them to break through. Would you sell them to me? I'll offer forty billion."
He flicked a hand.
Forty crystal cards flew out, shimmering with the number 1,000,000,000—forty billion pills in total.
The four Golden Core female disciples almost fainted.
This was more wealth than they could hope to accumulate in their lifetimes.
Nirvana Pills were priceless… but with forty billion pills, one could buy treasures, spells, cultivation lands—even divine abilities sealed in scrolls sold by major trade alliances.
The temptation was unreal.
They didn't hesitate.
They accepted the cards and handed Fang Han the four Nirvana Pills.
The moment they touched his palm, Fang Han's heart practically sang.
He had failed to obtain one for himself last time—he had given it to the Starcloud Spirit. But now… four at once.
Perfect for breaking through Wind-Fire Catastrophe.
These pills couldn't be bought with simple wealth. Only ancient giants could procure them directly from Nine Cauldrons Immortal Sovereign. Fang Han, for all his money, had no such access.
Forty billion was expensive… but absolutely worth it.
He still had fifty billion left from Prince Yi's compensation. Spending forty billion to obtain four Nirvana Pills hardly pained him.
"Hahaha! I'm at a critical point in my cultivation. With these Nirvana Pills, I'll definitely reach the Eighth Layer—Wind-Fire Catastrophe!"
He cupped his hands toward the two giants, smiling brightly. "Senior Dragon, Senior Wood. Junior sisters—I'll take my leave."
And he walked off in triumph.
Leaving Dragon Daoist and Wood Daoist feeling… utterly humiliated.
They had given away priceless treasures only to watch Fang Han buy them back on the spot—stealing all the prestige and gaining all the benefit.
They had gained nothing. Worse—they had strengthened the very man they intended to kill.
Meanwhile, the four Golden Core female disciples each held one peerless artifact and ten billion pills.
The biggest winners of all.
"Where did Fang Han get such insane wealth? To throw out forty billion like loose change?"
"Dragon and Wood Daoist were completely outplayed."
"Too rich. Too reckless. Too terrifying…"
Every guest watching couldn't stop whispering, their voices trembling with awe.