Linglong Immortal Venerable finally revealed her true form.
While Fang Han was still suppressing the storm of wind-and-fire tribulation threatening to erupt inside his golden core, he extended his divine sense toward her—and what he saw stole the breath from his chest.
There she sat beneath the canopy of the summit, exactly as he remembered when she once rescued him: dressed in men's robes, elegant as moonlit jade, a feathered coronet gathering her hair. Yet her presence now was nothing like that gentle avatar. Her eyes contained galaxies—stars blooming and dying, worlds rising and collapsing. Within those pupils, Fang Han could almost glimpse his own past and future, the entire cycle from birth to extinction.
The avatar he'd met had been warm, alive, almost playful.
This was different.
This was a being fused with the laws of creation itself—aloof, emotionless, sovereign over the birth and death of all living things, a will that moved with the rhythm of the universe.
Her hand rested lightly against the armrest—slender, pale, perfect. Yet Fang Han felt as though each finger commanded a different law of heaven: space, time, seasons, thunder, the five elements, life and death… If she pointed at him, he knew—utterly—that no artifact, no magic, no miracle could save him. He would simply cease to exist.
Terrifying… She's terrifying beyond measure. Compared to her, I'm not even a speck of dust.
Even ancient demons, immortal artifacts, primordial entities—none carried the oppressive inevitability radiating from Linglong Immortal Venerable.
To reach this realm… how glorious would that be? To walk through all heavens, free from life and death, beyond karma, beyond time…
But the awe turned quickly into bitter irony.
Why now of all times? I actually triggered the prelude to the wind-and-fire tribulation! If this erupts, my combat power will be cut by more than half… damn it, this is the worst possible moment.
Crossing the tribulation would bring him to the eighth level of divine abilities, and from there, the ninth—Heaven and Earth Dharma Manifestation—was within reach.
But if it hit now, right before the contest for Linglong Immortal Venerable's three supreme divine arts, he would be throwing away victory. Especially the Great Salvation Light—critical for subduing the Sun–Moon Wheels inside his Eight-Part Pagoda. Without it, who knew when he could refine them?
"Present your offerings!"
Voices rose from every direction. One after another, powerful cultivators stepped forward, offering treasures: artifacts, elixirs, heavenly materials, scriptures. The air filled with shimmering auras and ancient fragrances, as though all the riches of the three thousand worlds were being carried here.
Finally, it was Fang Han's turn.
He flew upward and stopped before the highest platform beneath Linglong Immortal Venerable. Lifting both hands, he presented a golden core pulsing with twenty-seven divine abilities—the core of Taiyi disciple Song Weiyi.
"Fang Han of Yuhua Sect," a Linglong disciple announced, "presents the Golden Core of Taiyi Sect's Song Weiyi. May Immortal Venerable Linglong enjoy eternal youth and boundless dominion!"
The golden core erupted with visions—raging suns, devouring black storms, lightning that coiled like dragons—twenty-seven perfected arts swirling into a storm that filled miles of sky.
Murmurs exploded around the mountain.
"So it's true—he did sacrifice a Taiyi disciple's golden core."
"That's not provocation; that's a declaration of war. Taiyi will never forgive this."
"Does he want to die? Even if Yuhua Sect favors him, this is madness…"
"But Linglong Immortal Venerable seems pleased."
Indeed, Linglong Immortal Venerable gave a faint smile. Light gathered beneath the golden core, forming a divine tray that lifted it gently beside her throne.
This was open acknowledgement.
Fang Han returned to his place, listening to the rising waves of shocked commentary.
Good. Let everyone see it. Any possibility of negotiation with Taiyi is gone. The bridge is burned. From this moment on, they must kill me.
Just then—
BOOM.
The sky split open above Sumeru Golden Mountain.
Black smoke poured from the crack. Stars detonated like thunder in the void. And from somewhere far above the heavens, a cold, absolute voice descended:
**"Decree of Taiyi Sect:
From this moment onward—
Across all realms, all worlds—
Whoever kills Fang Han
may come to Taiyi Sect and claim:
One mid-grade Dao-artifact, 'Heaven-Rending Sword.'
One immortal pill, 'Supreme Hunyuan Divine Elixir.'
Ten billion spirit pills.
Thus is issued the Heaven-Mandated Kill Order.
Against Fang Han—no forgiveness, no retreat."**
A tsunami of sound shook the entire mountain.
"It's the voice of Taiyi's sect master… Mixed-Heaven Daoist!"
"He actually tore open Linglong Blessed Land's barrier to broadcast this?"
"A mid-grade Dao-artifact! An immortal-grade pill! Ten billion pills!"
"Even I'm tempted—who wouldn't be?"
"They're serious. This is absolute."
Fang Han felt a chill settle in his bones.
So this was Taiyi Sect. Ruthless, overwhelming, tyrannical—ready to drown the world in blood just to preserve their face.
A quiet, icy voice rose:
"Mixed-Heaven child… You think fusing with an immortal artifact and ripping my barriers makes you bold? Did you forget how I crushed you four thousand years ago? Crash my celebration—and you think you can leave without paying a price?"
It was Linglong Immortal Venerable.
She lifted one pale hand.
And the heavens trembled.