If an eternal giant could truly be converted with the Light of Universal Salvation and made to serve with absolute devotion, the benefits would be immeasurable. The power of faith generated by a single Longevity Realm expert, praying sincerely day after day, would surpass that of millions of heavenly demons and countless demon kings combined.
But how could a Longevity Realm expert genuinely submit?
Fang Han knew very well that Mu Daoist harbored resentment deep in his heart. His earlier submission had merely been a stopgap measure. Still, if Mu Daoist truly opened his mind and willingly accepted the Light of Universal Salvation, then everything would be different. Under the illumination of Buddhist radiance, all hatred would be dissolved.
The Light of Universal Salvation was one of the Three Thousand Grand Daos—an ability of unfathomable authority.
Even a hatred born of annihilated clans, stolen wives and daughters, blood-deep vendettas spanning lifetimes—once bathed in that light, all resentment would collapse, and the victim would willingly submit, worshiping their converter with utmost devotion.
Of course, such conversion required overwhelming superiority in cultivation.
Without that, it was completely useless.
In the past, when Fang Han used the Light of Universal Salvation, the most he could manage was converting a ferocious tiger into a vegetarian beast. But after inheriting Linglong Immortal Venerable's legacy and truly mastering this Dao, he could now convert experts of the Mystic Realm.
Only cultivators at the fifth level or above—the Celestial Being Realm—had any real chance of resisting.
Golden Core experts were beyond reach. As for eternal giants of the Longevity Realm, ordinarily they wouldn't even flinch.
However, if a Longevity Realm expert willingly submitted, the situation changed entirely. Mutual consent, mutual cooperation—no exhausting struggle required.
"Light of Universal Salvation… convert me!" Mu Daoist's voice trembled, then sharpened with fury. "Fang Han, you are ruthless!"
"As expected—you were harboring treacherous intent all along," Fang Han said coldly, his voice freezing the air itself. "An eternal giant would never sincerely become my laborer. Since that's the case, I'll drain you completely with the World Tree and use you to nourish myself."
He intensified the extraction. The World Tree drew Mu Daoist's essence as though scraping marrow from bone, forcing a howl that shook the earth.
Mu Daoist's reserves were vast, but even so, within a year he would be completely drained—body and soul erased.
"I submit! I submit!" Mu Daoist finally roared, unable to endure any longer. "I'm willing—willing to open my heart and receive the Light of Universal Salvation!"
"Good," Fang Han said sharply. "Wheel-Saint King, command the heavenly demons and demon kings. Recite the Six-Syllable True Mantra and the Universal Salvation Sutra with me. We will convert Mu Daoist completely."
Laughing loudly, Fang Han sat cross-legged. From his Golden Core burst a beam of Zen light that first illuminated the Eightfold Pagoda. Instantly, the talismans of the Five Elements Land flared once more, drawing down streams of Buddhist blessing from the endless void. The entire pagoda became resplendent beyond measure.
The Wheel-Saint King, the Sun–Moon Essence Wheel, even the Dark Nether King, Starcloud Babe, the Pure Fox girl, millions of heavenly demons, and countless demon kings—all began chanting the mantra and scriptures in unison.
Their voices merged into a thunderous tide. Boundless Buddhist radiance poured down, enveloping Mu Daoist's primal spirit.
Pain twisted across his face. The radiance and scripture struggled to penetrate his life-bound Dharma Form.
The Light of Universal Salvation carried no offensive force—it existed solely to convert.
If Mu Daoist refused, even a hundred million demons chanting for a thousand years wouldn't affect him in the slightest.
"Mu Daoist!" Fang Han roared. "Release your obsessions and accept the light, or do you want to die? Resist me any longer and I'll kill you outright. Life or death—it's decided by a single thought."
That shout shattered Mu Daoist's last resistance. His entire body trembled as he finally opened his heart, allowing Fang Han's radiance and the prayers of millions of demons to flood into his Dharma Form.
Slowly, his primal form turned gold from the outside in. Hatred drained from his face, replaced by serenity. The resentment he bore toward Fang Han dissolved, transforming instead into gratitude.
That was the terror of conversion.
Even mortal enemies, once converted, would become utterly loyal.
Still, Fang Han knew the process wasn't complete. Mu Daoist's deepest core had yet to be fully transformed. It would require seven days and seven nights at minimum.
And so, deep beneath the earth—seventy or eighty thousand meters down—Fang Han and millions of demons chanted without pause for seven full days and nights.
At the end, Mu Daoist's entire body shone with crimson-gold light. His expression became one of profound enlightenment. Suddenly, he rose and bowed deeply to Fang Han.
"Thank you, Daoist Fang Han, for severing my karmic sins. At this moment, my heart has never been so peaceful. All that came before was delusion and debt. From now on, only by cultivating diligently under your command can I atone for my past."
"Good. Very good," Fang Han nodded.
Even he was shaken. An eternal giant—completely converted, convinced he had attained liberation.
The Buddhist path is terrifying, Fang Han thought. To strip a being of its self like this is worse than killing them.
"Mu Daoist," he said aloud, "your sins were grave. Now that you've submitted, you'll labor within the Eightfold Pagoda. Supply immortal qi daily and refine artifacts. I'll gather materials for you to study the Dragon Realm scriptures and refine the pagoda itself—and its eight treasures—into true Dao artifacts."
"Yes," Mu Daoist replied calmly. "Only through such labor can I atone."
His body flickered and entered the Eightfold Pagoda, seating himself beneath the Wheel-Saint King. As he synchronized with the pagoda, a rift opened above his head, spewing vast quantities of immortal qi—far purer than what even the World Tree could draw.
Mu Daoist became a tireless benefactor, keeping only the bare minimum to survive and offering everything else outward. At the same time, he prayed devoutly. Streams of faith power surged from him, condensing into golden rainbows that rolled through the pagoda.
The Eightfold Pagoda shuddered—and compressed again, growing more refined.
An eternal giant refining artifacts was far faster than Fang Han doing it himself. And this one gave everything, without the slightest reservation.
Eternal giants could refine low-grade Dao artifacts.
At the same time, Fang Han felt torrents of immortal qi pour into his own consciousness through the pagoda. His mana condensed and recovered rapidly, the sensation of insufficiency vanishing completely.
"Excellent," Fang Han laughed. "With both the World Tree and an eternal giant supplying immortal qi, I'll never be lacking again. Attacks equivalent to the force of a hundred million galloping horses—I can unleash them hundreds, even thousands of times in succession!"
Immortal qi surged through his five seas of consciousness, nourishing them endlessly.
Before long, he would have enough accumulated power to complete the transformation of that strange thousand-armed, thousand-eyed Dharma Form.
Having an eternal giant laboring with full devotion was far superior to refining him.
"With Mu Daoist refining the Eightfold Pagoda day and night," Yan said enviously, "its power already surpasses mine."
"The pagoda's foundation can't compare to the Yellow Springs Diagram," Fang Han replied, smiling. "Once I enter the Longevity Realm, its true power will unfold."
He then opened his mouth and inhaled.
The Eightfold Pagoda shrank instantly and flew into his mouth, swallowed whole.
His physical body was already half-undying, capable of endless transformation. By nourishing the pagoda with his own blood essence and tempering himself with faith power, both his body and the artifact would grow stronger. Over time, even his lost lifespan might be restored.
"Good," Fang Han murmured. "We'll remain underground for a few more months, let the storm pass. If I leave now, I'll just be hunted again. This quiet time is perfect to consolidate my cultivation."
He sat cross-legged, refining Dao techniques, tempering his Golden Core, clearing away the mental debris left by countless battles. His thoughts grew clear and tranquil.
He entered a state of profound stillness.
At the same time, far above, within the Yuhua Sect, Hua Tiandu was also cultivating.
Deep within the Feathered Immortal Palace lay a mysterious pocket of space where time flowed differently—one month inside equaled a single day outside.
As one of the Ten Immortal Sects, the Feathered Immortal Palace was a colossal ancient structure, comparable to the Primordial Meteor of the Star Sect. Countless experts sustained its operation, and within certain secret realms, time itself could be reversed—ideal for cultivation.
"Hua Tiandu," a voice asked, "have you accumulated enough? If so, it's time to consume the Life-Creation Rebirth Pill and step directly into the Longevity Realm—forming the Undying Body."
Hua Tiandu sat calmly in meditation.
Beside him sat another Daoist—none other than the eternal giant Ruyi Zi.
Before Hua Tiandu stood the high-grade Dao artifact Great Desolation Ancient Furnace, suppressing a single pill. Upon its surface, a powerful Dharma Form churned endlessly—dragon, phoenix, tiger, overlord, lion, mastiff—shifting without rest.
This was the Life-Creation Rebirth Pill—an immortal elixir.
"One cannot consume an immortal pill without reaching the Longevity Realm," Hua Tiandu said calmly. "Otherwise, the pill will drain me dry and break free—cultivating itself into immortality."
The real storm… was still gathering.