"Linglong… my disciple… you've finally surpassed me."
Two drops of blood landed on Linglong Immortal Venerable's fingertips—blood from Taihuang Tian and from the Taichi Sect's grandmaster, Huntian Daoist. These two supreme beings had both suffered a small loss at Linglong's hands.
"I surpassed you three thousand years ago, Taihuang Tian. And there was never any true bond of master and disciple between us. None of my arts came from your lineage. One day, just like I shattered Taiyu Tian, I'll suppress and kill you as well. Don't let me catch the slightest chance."
Her voice swept across endless time and space, plunging all realms into silence.
"Is it over…?"
Clarity returned to Fang Han's mind. The overwhelming pull of Linglong's Great Vow Mantra receded at last.
"It's a pity I didn't witness their actual battle… Linglong Immortal Venerable versus Huntian Daoist. And that Great Vow Mantra—what was that? I've never even heard of it in any world. Yan! Yan! Do you know anything about this Great Vow Mantra?"
Inside the Yellow Springs Diagram, Yan was still suppressing the Sun-Moon Wheels, but was fully aware of what had unfolded outside.
"Unbelievable… absolutely unbelievable. Linglong Immortal Venerable—she might be even stronger than the Yellow Springs Emperor once was. She actually cultivated the Great Vow Mantra, the pinnacle art of the Three Sovereigns' master, Hongmeng Daoist! That mantra was composed of forty-eight supreme divine powers—a combined art capable of suppressing karma, demons, and gods alike. The ancient Hongmeng Daoist killed immortals with it!"
"Hongmeng Daoist? Master of the Heavenly, Earth, and Human Sovereigns?" Fang Han murmured. "Someone who could kill immortals? Why have I never heard of him? Did he fall?"
"No one knows. When the Ancient God Clan cut down the World Tree, he slew three thousand God-Emperors alone, then vanished. A being of that level doesn't simply die—he probably entered a hidden dimension… or ascended to the Immortal Realm."
Yan paused, then added urgently:
"Fang Han—your Wind-Fire Calamity is about to descend. You suppressed it earlier by force; that was risky."
"Wait… something's holding it down."
Fang Han quickly examined his golden core—and found a golden power suppressing the calamity within.
"The Great Vow Mantra…" he muttered. "Linglong helped me."
But the next thought made his heart tighten.
"A Heaven-Path Kill Order… a medium-grade Dao artifact, an immortal pill, and a hundred billion essence pills as bounty… The entire world will be after me. This won't end well. How am I supposed to survive that? How many nails can one body of iron withstand…?"
A cold sense of crisis spread through him.
Finally, clarity returned to the audience. Many had not even seen Taihuang Tian appear, nor the final exchange—everyone had been overwhelmed by Linglong's vow-power, their senses drowned beneath her voice.
Then Linglong spoke again, her voice vast as a world:
"Since the Taichi Sect intends to kill Fang Han, Linglong Paradise shall protect him. From this day forward—whoever harms Fang Han shall be the mortal enemy of Linglong Paradise."
"Let the birthday tributes continue," the elders announced smoothly. "Next offering!"
As if nothing world-shaking had just occurred.
"The Innate Demon Sect, represented by Ying Tianqing, offers this tribute!"
Ying Tianqing strode forward with a crystalline coffin. Inside lay a severed arm—still writhing, still alive, pulsing with the vitality of an undying expert.
"This is the arm of Tang Jingshan, the Taichi Sect's Law Elder—cut off by our sect's own Innate Great Emperor during Taichi's raid on us. We present it to Linglong Immortal Venerable as a token of respect."
A murmur rushed through the crowd.
This was no ordinary severed limb. Fang Han immediately recognized the aura—it belonged to someone who had achieved an immortal, undead body.
He had encountered something similar once—the Demon God's hand that Feng Baiyu had sealed in the Heavenly Emperor Mirror, which Fang Han refined for immense benefit.
And now—another such arm appeared before him.
"Tang Jingshan… the Taichi Sect's Law Elder, an undying giant. And he actually lost an arm to the Innate Great Emperor!"
"It's true. The rumors said the Demon Marshal killed three Taichi true disciples, and Taichi retaliated. The Innate Great Emperor struck back and shattered their siege. No wonder an arm fell."
"That arm is priceless…"
"But in front of the Innate Great Emperor? An undying body means nothing. That emperor is terrifying."
"Yes—after the death of the Yellow Springs Emperor, he's rumored to be the strongest in the demonic path. His eighty-one innate divine abilities combine immortality and demonic supremacy. No one knows how far he's gone."
"Still not as strong as Linglong Immortal Venerable."
"Naturally not. Today proved she's the undisputed number one under heaven."
Voices rose in heated discussion.
Yet among the onlookers, the sharpest whispers came from the giants—Water Mirror Master, Six-Paths Wanderer, and the others.
"What is Innate Great Emperor planning? Sending his son, the Demon Marshal, and offering the arm of a Taichi Elder… Is he signaling allegiance?"
"The Innate Demon Sect isn't like the corrupt demon clans—they walk the innate path, akin to daoists. And the emperor does have a sage-like aura."
"I've heard rumors… that the Demon Marshal is pursuing Fang Qingxue, and she, in turn, is entangled with Fang Han."
"That's true? Fang Qingxue is the reincarnation of the Thunder Mother. Anyone who dual-cultivates with her gains the lightning of the heavens—tremendously beneficial for ascension."
"So who's more talented—the Demon Marshal or Fang Han?"
"This isn't even a contest. Fang Han crushed Blood Dance Yang—sixth on the Longevity Candidate List—using only four strikes. The Demon Marshal isn't even in the top thirty."
"But look—the Demon Marshal is clearly challenging Fang Han. Linglong Immortal Venerable will soon allow the younger generation to compete for her personal teachings—Grand Ashura Fist, Great Salvation Light, the Primordial God Qi. The Demon Marshal is here for that."
"And you think he can win?"
Six-Paths Wanderer chuckled.
"He might. I'm betting the Demon Marshal defeats Fang Han."
Water Mirror Master closed his folding fan with a snap.
"Oh? And what do you want to wager?"
"A small stake between friends—a low-grade Dao artifact. I say Fang Han loses. His Wind-Fire Calamity is coming, his power is scattered, and he won't even be able to use thirty percent of his strength."
Water Mirror Master laughed softly.
"Very well. One low-grade Dao artifact. I accept your wager."