So soon? Fang Han was mildly surprised. He had only just voiced his request, yet the Six Paths Alliance had already arranged a meeting with Yan Shuiyi. Either their efficiency was terrifying—or fortune had decided to favor him today.
Timing mattered. Arriving early was never as good as arriving at the right moment.
Yan Shuiyi still hadn't broken through to the Longevity Secret Realm. If that was the case, then despite everything, she was still not his match.
Although Fang Han had yet to cultivate the ninth layer of Divine Abilities—Heaven-and-Earth Dharma Aspect—and had not condensed the bizarre thousand-armed, thousand-eyed demon god, the subjugation of Wood Daoist had drastically elevated the power of the Eightfold Pagoda.
Wood Daoist was far weaker than at his peak, but when integrated with the Eightfold Pagoda, his existence alone was equivalent to having an ancient giant fighting as Fang Han's personal enforcer.
Inside the pagoda now resided:
Two thousand five hundred Heavenly Demon Kings,
Over three million lesser heavenly demons,
The Reincarnation Saint King,
The Sun–Moon Essence Wheels,
Black Nether King,
Nebula Babe,
A low-grade Dao Artifact—the Sun–Moon Five-Star Bracelet,
And Wood Daoist himself.
Day and night, the pagoda was refined and tempered, its might growing without pause.
Even more formidable was the Five Elements Land Talisman within. Under the constant refinement of the Great Universal Salvation Zen Light, it grew increasingly profound, drawing endless Buddhist radiance from the void's Buddha Realm. That radiance continuously reinforced the pagoda's body.
Buddhist light did not replenish vitality—it empowered. It granted artifacts an inherent suppressive force against demonic beings, a blessing-like amplification.
Those dwelling within the pagoda found cultivation far easier as well. The cleansing clarity of the Buddhist radiance washed away agitation and inner demons, stabilizing the mind.
Through the Five Elements Land Talisman, Fang Han could even project his divine sense into the Five Elements Land, slaughter its beasts, and siphon their elemental essence across space, allowing Wood Daoist to further temper the pagoda's structure.
After days of such refinement, the Eightfold Pagoda's body had begun to change. Beneath the surging Buddhist light, faint yet brilliant five-colored radiance emerged—the unmistakable sign of vast Five Elements essence being integrated. The tower grew smoother, denser, more refined. Its power rose sharply.
Originally, refining the Eightfold Pagoda required immense quantities of Five Elements essence.
Ancient records from the Dragon Realm spoke of dragon cultivators spending tens of thousands—sometimes hundreds of thousands—of years gathering such energies. Generations labored together just to ensure the pagoda would not shatter under enemy attack.
Now, Wood Daoist not only supplied Fang Han with abundant Immortal Realm vitality through ceaseless prayer, but also poured his boundless wish-power into the pagoda. At the same time, he studied the Dragon Scripture day and night, refining the tower exactly as described within.
He even emptied his own treasure vault.
Wood Daoist and Dragon Daoist had ruled Dragonwood Star as rogue cultivators for countless years. The world's rare materials had long been stripped bare by their hands. His collection was staggering—and his artifact-refining experience far exceeded Fang Han's.
With Wood Daoist presiding over refinement, progress advanced at an astonishing pace.
The Eightfold Pagoda grew more mysterious, more terrifying by the day.
With this artifact alone, Fang Han was confident he could withstand Yan Shuiyi.
And that was without even considering the Yellow Springs Diagram—or his Golden Core containing ninety-three divine abilities.
Following Peach Blossom Immortal deeper into the Six Paths Alliance headquarters, Fang Han suddenly halted before a massive gateway.
"A Gate of Time and Space!" he exclaimed.
"Correct," Peach Blossom Immortal said, smiling. "All Six Paths Alliance branches are connected by such gates. Goods, personnel, reinforcements—everything moves freely. If an ancient giant attacked our Five-Dragon City branch, this gate would instantly unleash thousands of experts to annihilate them."
"Impressive," Fang Han said smoothly. "Our Wula Star is preparing to purchase medicinal goods worth tens of billions. The Six Paths Alliance will certainly be our top priority."
Peach Blossom Immortal's smile deepened. "As expected of Prince Wula."
They stepped through the gate.
Space twisted—and in an instant, they arrived at the Six Paths Alliance's main headquarters in Xuanhuang City.
A vast hall stretched endlessly before them, eerily reminiscent of the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion: colossal pillars, countless doors arranged like a grand formation.
"This way," Peach Blossom Immortal said, leading him through one of the doors. "Please rest for a while. Yan Shuiyi will arrive shortly. Once you meet, our task is complete. And the one hundred million pills—nonrefundable."
The space beyond was not a room.
It was a private world.
Mountains and rivers spread across dozens of miles. At the center stood a classical aloeswood pavilion—an artificial Void Garden, carved directly from space itself.
Fang Han ascended to the pavilion's upper floor and sat. Beautiful attendants brought rare fruits, then silently withdrew. Soon, even Peach Blossom Immortal was gone.
Silence.
"A Void Garden… What extravagance," Fang Han murmured. "I've seen Six Paths Wanderer before, at Linglong Immortal's birthday banquet. Judging by this alone, his cultivation is likely no weaker than our sect master, Feng Baiyu."
Outside the garden, violent spatial storms raged endlessly.
At Fang Han's current level, hiding within the Yellow Springs Diagram could protect him from such turbulence—but doing so was still dangerous. Without comprehension of spatial laws, one could easily become lost forever. Only cultivators at the third Longevity layer could truly traverse the void.
As he pondered, the garden suddenly trembled.
Dense water essence flooded the space. The air thickened, heavy as an ocean.
A white-robed stepped forward.
Yan Shuiyi.
The Taiyi Sect's foremost true disciple—the woman who, even together with Fan Qingying, had failed to kill Fang Han.
Her gaze locked onto him instantly.
"The Six Paths Alliance said an acquaintance wished to see me," she said calmly as she descended onto the pavilion. Then she paused. "You?"
"Yan Shuiyi," Fang Han said, his voice changing—but his appearance remaining that of Prince Wula. "We meet again. It's been months since our last battle. Your cultivation has advanced. When will you step into the Longevity Realm and claim immortality?"
Her body shook.
"Fang Han—it's you!"
She stared at him for a long time, disbelief flashing through her eyes. Yet there was no killing intent—only curiosity.
"Why are you looking for me?" she asked, smiling faintly. "Revenge? This transformation… the Reincarnation Transmigration Art from the Yellow Springs Diagram. No wonder I couldn't see through you."
"Revenge?" Fang Han shook his head. "Of course not."
He found her reaction intriguing. Curiosity, not hostility.
"I spent one hundred million pills through the Six Paths Alliance," he continued. "I came to make a deal."
"A deal?" Yan Shuiyi sat down leisurely. "What kind? Don't tell me you want me to persuade the sect master to revoke the Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order. Life must be unpleasant with ancient giants hunting you everywhere. Without this technique, you'd have died countless times already."
She smiled knowingly. "Still, revoking it isn't impossible. But you must give me a secret."
"What secret?" Fang Han asked calmly.
"What exactly is your relationship with Linglong Immortal?" Yan Shuiyi's gaze sharpened. "For your sake, she expended tens of millions of years of cultivation and tied the Thread of Ten Thousand Tribulations to your hand. Others don't understand her—but I know enough."
She spoke slowly.
"Rumors say she has already survived the Immortal Tribulation of the Void Heavens, resolving countless calamities. Only one remains—the Tribulation of Emotion. Once that is severed, she can tear open the Immortal Realm's gate and ascend as a Da Luo Immortal."
"And that final tribulation…" Yan Shuiyi said softly, "…seems to rest on you."
Fang Han's suspicions were confirmed.
"I don't concern myself with tribulations," he said lightly. "As for the Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order—it's troublesome, yes. But also convenient. It brings me treasures and opportunities."
Yan Shuiyi laughed. "Then tell me the full secret of the Five Emperor Great Demon Art—and give me Forgetting Emotion Water. In return, I'll persuade the sect master to cancel the order. Fair, no?"
She leaned closer, mist-like aura drifting from her body.
"I never approved of issuing that order in the first place. After failing to kill you last time, I proposed a softer approach. Unfortunately, it was rejected."
Fang Han laughed loudly.
"Yan Shuiyi, you truly believe the Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order troubles me?"
"It's nothing more than an excuse to loot treasures and kill my way forward."
He clapped his hands.
"Wood Daoist—come out and greet Fairy Yan Shuiyi of the Taiyi Sect."