An immortal pill was something far beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators—an object containing infinite profundities. Even after acquiring the Life-Creation Rebirth Pill, Hua Tiandu still had to suppress it with all his strength, lest it tear through space and escape on its own.
If a cultivator's realm was insufficient, consuming an immortal pill would not refine it at all. Instead, the pill would drain the cultivator's spiritual energy—and even their divine powers—before bursting out of the body.
At the level of an immortal pill, it was no different from a Dao artifact. It could cultivate itself, plunder energy, possessed formidable intelligence, and if not firmly suppressed, could even self-detonate. The destructive power of such an explosion rivaled the detonation of a Golden Core refined with over twenty divine abilities. Even with Hua Tiandu's current cultivation, he did not dare swallow the Life-Creation Rebirth Pill.
"Consuming an immortal pill requires extreme caution," Ruyi Zi sighed. "A single mistake, and blessing turns into calamity. Tiandu—how long do you think it will be before you step into the Longevity Realm?"
"That's hard to say," Hua Tiandu replied calmly. "But it won't be long. Perhaps with a single moment of enlightenment, I could break through at any time. My battle underground with the Demon Emperor gave me many insights. Though I was injured, I've fully recovered—and the Sect Master personally taught me the Void Yin-Yang Dao. I can already sense the Immortal Gate."
He paused briefly, then continued, his expression unchanged.
"But I'm in no hurry. I'll accumulate steadily. One day it will come naturally, like a dam bursting. When that happens, I'll consume this immortal pill, achieve the Undying Body, and suppress every dissenting voice among the elders and disciples of the Yuhua Sect with ease."
"Exactly," Ruyi Zi said coldly. "And you must kill Fang Han."
A chill flickered in his eyes.
"Your nemesis has been making waves lately. He attended Linglong Immortal Venerable's four-thousandth birthday and consecutively defeated Wan Lianshan, Jiao Fei, and Xue Wuyang—ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth on the Longevity Candidate List. He even survived the Wind–Fire Tribulation in the arena and inherited three supreme divine abilities: Zuma Ancient God Qi, Light of Universal Salvation, and Great Sumeru King Fist."
Ruyi Zi sneered.
"But the Taiyi Sect's Sect Master, Hunyuan Daoist, and the Elder Supreme, Taihuangtian, appeared at the banquet and issued a Heavenly Dao Kill Order against Fang Han. His days won't be easy. He'll either flee back to the Yuhua Sect to hide—or die on the road at the hands of a Longevity Realm giant."
"So much has happened?" Hua Tiandu was momentarily startled, then quickly regained his composure. "I've been cultivating here and knew nothing of the outside. Hunyuan Daoist and Elder Taihuangtian actually went to Linglong Paradise? Then they must have fought."
"They did," Ruyi Zi replied gravely. "Linglong Immortal Venerable unleashed the Great Wish Technique—earth-shaking beyond words. She forced them to retreat and once again cemented her position as the number one expert of the Xuanhuang Great World."
"The Great Wish Technique…" Hua Tiandu repeated coldly. "Ranked third among the Three Thousand Grand Daos. Far above my Great Origin Technique, and even above our sect's Great Yin-Yang Technique. Still—if the Taiyi Sect's Sect Master and several Supreme Elders joined forces and activated an immortal artifact, Linglong Immortal Venerable would only be able to flee."
He paused, then his gaze sharpened.
"It's a pity Fang Han also obtained fragments of my Great Origin Technique. That useless trash Wanluo—losing to him. Otherwise, Fang Han would never have accumulated such immense power."
Ruyi Zi sighed regretfully. "The Great Origin Technique is one of the Three Thousand Grand Daos. Pangu Immortal Venerable rose to become one of the Nine Ancient Immortal Lords because of it. And now that arrogant brat Fang Han has stolen part of its essence."
Hua Tiandu remained composed.
"The Pangu Great Strength Technique I gave Wanluo could at most open seven seas of consciousness. The true Great Origin Technique opens nine. Fang Han doesn't possess the later cultivation methods—his progress will eventually stall. In the end, that technique won't strengthen him at all. Instead, it will become a fatal obstacle when he tries to enter the Longevity Realm."
He said flatly, "He thinks he gained an advantage. He doesn't realize that advantage is actually a curse."
Ruyi Zi nodded with satisfaction.
"The Supreme Elders rewarded you greatly this time. The Sect Master personally taught you the Great Yin-Yang Technique and healed your injuries. It shows how highly the sect values you. Your status far surpasses Fang Han's. Only future sect masters receive the Great Yin-Yang Technique. Fang Han hasn't been taught it at all. You are still the future Sect Master of Yuhua."
Hua Tiandu shrugged slightly.
"My status was always above his. What is Fang Han? A petty demon who inherited devilish arts. If he weren't temporarily useful, the Yuhua Sect would've already eradicated him."
"Whether he even makes it back to the sect is uncertain," Ruyi Zi said with malicious delight. "He humiliated Long Daoist and Mu Daoist at Linglong Immortal Venerable's banquet. Those two have sworn to kill him—and many eternal giants have set their sights on him."
Hua Tiandu laughed twice.
"He truly doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. He actually dares provoke eternal giants of the Longevity Realm. He'll never understand why they're called giants. They are utterly incomparable to Mystic Realm cultivators. A single eternal giant could make his life worse than death."
"Exactly," Ruyi Zi laughed. "If not for concerns over the sect's reputation—and the Sect Master shielding him—I'd have already crushed that brat under a mountain and made him eat dirt for three years."
"Master, you'll soon achieve the Undying Body as well, won't you?" Hua Tiandu asked.
"Yes," Ruyi Zi growled. "If I could obtain Fang Han's vast supply of Forgetfulness Water, achieving the Undying Body wouldn't be difficult at all. Damn it—Elder Tianxing already acquired that water and has entered seclusion. He'll likely break through before me."
"Why not take this Life-Creation Rebirth Pill, Master?" Hua Tiandu suggested. "Refined within my Great Desolation Ancient Furnace, you might achieve the Undying Body."
"No," Ruyi Zi said firmly. "You are the priority. I can wait. Once you enter the Longevity Realm and become Undying, you'll be the unquestioned next Sect Master. With absolute authority, what benefits would be beyond reach?"
"That's true," Hua Tiandu said coolly. "Once Sect Master Feng Baiyu steps down, I'll rightfully succeed him. As for Fang Han—that wretch still dreaming of becoming Sect Master—it's laughable. Once he loses his usefulness, his end will come."
His fingers tightened. The air exploded, as if Fang Han himself were being crushed.
"There are still two people competing with you for the sect master position," Ruyi Zi warned. "First, Fang Qingxue. Second, Meng Shaobai. After losing to Fang Han, Meng Shaobai refined his temperament through bitter cultivation. Last month, the Sect Master summoned him and sent him into deep cultivation here in the Feathered Immortal Palace. He'll likely emerge soon at the tenth level—Defying Fate."
"Meng Shaobai practices the ancient Path of Non-Being Sword Dao," Hua Tiandu replied thoughtfully. "His killing intent is unparalleled. Losing to Fang Han didn't break him—it tempered him. He's a true threat."
He paused.
"As for Fang Qingxue, I've long been wary of her. She's the reincarnation of a Primordial Natural Deity. The sect has plans for her—but she's still a woman. She'll never be Sect Master. Besides, I've already laid my chess pieces."
He smiled faintly.
"My fiancée, Yan Shuiyi—she's the reincarnation of a fragment of the Ancient Water God. She'll clash with Fang Qingxue perfectly."
"Excellent," Ruyi Zi said with deep satisfaction. "Fang Han may be crafty, but you're far superior. Every move you make is part of a grand design. He only plays with scraps and corners—narrow-minded and shortsighted. He's no match for you."
He continued, "Cultivate here in peace. Absorb energy freely. If you ever lack vitality, I'll transfer my refined immortal pure yang qi to you."
"Thank you, Master," Hua Tiandu replied.
He closed his eyes.
Seventy to eighty thousand meters beneath the earth, Fang Han sat in silent meditation, motionless like an ancient monk. Rings of yellow light radiated from above his head, transforming soil, stone, and even metal veins into pure energy that surged toward his body.
Five-element energies continuously blossomed within him.
Behind his head, halos shimmered—ninety-three divine abilities in total.
Inside his body, Mu Daoist and millions of heavenly demons within the Eightfold Pagoda prayed ceaselessly. Faith power and immortal qi poured into Fang Han's blood and flesh. Every pore of his body emitted golden light, accompanied by countless voices chanting sutras.
To an outside observer, it would seem as though millions of beings were praying within his body.
After swallowing the Eightfold Pagoda and tempering it with his blood essence, Fang Han had gradually merged with it completely—artifact and flesh inseparable.
This pagoda had become his true life-bound treasure.
Even the talisman of the Five Elements Land grew clearer, its profundity increasingly evident.
Suddenly, Fang Han's mind stirred. Vast mana surged into the talisman.
Far away, in the depths of endless starfields, on the Five Elements Land planet, a colossal green dragon coiled around a mountain peak—the Azure Wood Dragon, embodiment of pure Yi-Wood energy.
It sensed mortal danger.
A gigantic hand descended from the void, seized the dragon, and crushed it.
Crack.
The dragon shattered into pure energy, which streamed through the talisman and into Fang Han's body.
As Fang Han continued refining the talisman with the Light of Universal Salvation, the distant planet grew clearer in his mind—as though it resided within his consciousness. The planet's monstrous inhabitants could be harvested at will.
Only one region remained untouchable.
At the planet's core lay a pitch-black chaos vortex, seething with endless heavenly demons.
That was Crimson Abyss Demon Venerable's domain.