As Fang Han spoke, a stream of azure qi surged out of his body. In an instant, it condensed into the form of a Daoist. His body shimmered with blue-gold light, not flesh and blood but a shell forged entirely from Buddhist wish-power and radiance.
Wood Daoist had lost his physical body, and his innate Heaven-and-Earth Dharma Aspect no longer had true sustenance. Yet his cultivation had not declined. Through the Five Elements Land Talisman, continuous streams of Buddhist light flowed in, wrapping around his primordial spirit and condensing into a protective outer form.
Buddhist radiance, remarkably, could temper even a corporeal vessel.
It was no wonder that Buddhist cultivation often deemphasized the physical body, focusing instead on the mind. Of course, this shell was far weaker than true flesh, incapable of further advancement—but it was enough to prevent the primordial spirit from decaying.
Even so, the moment Wood Daoist appeared, overwhelming pressure flooded the Void Garden. Pure yang immortal qi from the Immortal Realm rolled off him in waves, suffocating in its intensity. Any cultivator above the fifth Divine Ability realm could instantly recognize what he was.
An ancient giant.
A supreme existence capable of dominating heaven and earth.
"This humble one, Wood Daoist, greets Fairy Yan Shuiyi," he said calmly, cupping his hands in greeting. "Three hundred years ago, at the Taiyi Sect Master's five-thousand-year birthday celebration, I had the honor of meeting you."
"Wood Daoist… you—you—you—"
Yan Shuiyi stared at him, utterly stunned, words failing her.
Of course she knew who he was.
As the foremost disciple of the Taiyi Sect, with centuries—if not millennia—of cultivation behind her, she knew far more about the Xuanhuang World and the surrounding star domains than Fang Han ever could. The Lord of Dragonwood Star was a legendary figure—an ancient giant worthy of the Taiyi Sect's respect and recruitment.
She pointed at him, speechless.
"My life has been steeped in sin," Wood Daoist said solemnly, palms pressed together. "It was Fellow Daoist Fang Han who delivered me from my karmic debts. Enlightened me. I now devote myself entirely to him, offering all I possess to atone for my past."
Yan Shuiyi's body trembled.
"Fang Han—you used the Great Universal Salvation Zen Light to convert him? That's impossible! Even as one of the Three Thousand Great Daos, it can only subdue those far weaker than oneself. How could you possibly convert an ancient giant?"
Even as the reincarnation of an ancient Water God's fragment, she found this utterly inconceivable.
"What's impossible about it?" Fang Han laughed. "It was mutual. Wood Daoist recognized his sins and willingly opened his heart. I merely helped him."
He looked directly at her.
"Now tell me—do you still think the Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order is any threat to me? If your sect hadn't issued it, I wouldn't have gained Wood Daoist at all."
"You must have defeated him first," Yan Shuiyi said shakily, doubts flooding her face. "Forced him into submission to survive. But even that doesn't make sense. Dragon Daoist and Wood Daoist together—two ancient giants—could crush you utterly. Linglong Immortal wouldn't intervene. Feng Baiyu and the others are occupied refining artifacts. You couldn't possibly have won."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Where is Dragon Daoist? Don't tell me you converted him too."
"He refused," Fang Han said casually. "His inner demons were too deep. He fled."
He watched her stunned expression with quiet satisfaction.
She had no way of knowing that the Mind Demon Elder had intervened—an existence who could defeat the Six Great Demon Emperors with pure doctrine alone. Injuring Dragon Daoist and Wood Daoist had been trivial for him.
"I've cultivated a supreme treasure—the Eightfold Pagoda," Fang Han continued. "You've seen it before. Now Wood Daoist resides within it. If we fought, who do you think would win?"
With that, Wood Daoist dissolved back into azure qi and returned to Fang Han's body, reentering the pagoda.
Yan Shuiyi exhaled slowly.
"You. Obviously you. Unless I step into the Longevity Realm, I wouldn't stand a chance. You've even refined my Azureblood Softwater Sword—I've completely lost contact with it."
She hesitated, then asked quietly, "The rumors say you survived the Wind-and-Fire Tribulation at Linglong Immortal's birthday banquet. That you possess half an immortal body. Is it true?"
"Of course," Fang Han replied lightly. "You just witnessed proof."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"So the Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order means nothing to me. I'm here for a different trade. You want to break into the Longevity Realm—yet without Forgetting Emotion Water, how can a reincarnated Water God succeed?"
Yan Shuiyi's eyes gleamed.
"What do you want, then? I am interested in trading with you. It wouldn't be about my engagement to Hua Tiandu again, would it?"
She paused, then smiled faintly.
"Though… given the current situation, that matter is negotiable."
This time, Fang Han was the one stunned.
Ending her engagement with Hua Tiandu was negotiable?
"Not that," Fang Han said, regaining composure. "But it does involve him. You possess the complete cultivation method of the Panwu Strength Divine Art. I want it—all of it."
"I see," Yan Shuiyi nodded. "You cultivate the Grand Origin Art, but it's incomplete. Without the full method, you can't enter the Longevity Realm—yet you refuse to abandon it. So you came to me."
She had read him perfectly.
"And now you plan to extort me?" Fang Han smiled faintly.
"Not this time." She waved her hand, amused. "Give me Forgetting Emotion Water, and I'll give you the complete Grand Origin Art. Hua Tiandu gave it to me as a gift when we first met."
She looked at him steadily.
"The Panwu Strength Divine Art is the Grand Origin Art—one of the Three Thousand Great Daos. You didn't know that, did you?"
"Of course I did," Fang Han said smoothly. "My Five Emperor Great Demon Art is the Great Five Elements Art. Your Taiyi Sect's Three Calamities and Nine Trials—along with the Twelve Mystic Laws—are collectively the Great Catastrophe Art."
He smiled.
"But giving me the full Grand Origin Art so easily—won't that cause trouble for you if your sect or Hua Tiandu finds out?"
Her eyes flashed with surprise, then amusement.
"So you know about the Three Thousand Great Daos as well. Few across the heavens do."
She shrugged calmly.
"The sect won't know. And even if Hua Tiandu does—what can he do to me? I have my own plans. I won't let anyone bind me."
"Excellent." Fang Han laughed loudly. "This is the most satisfying trade I've ever made."
He flicked his hand.
A ribbon of Forgetting Emotion Water arced through the air and settled into Yan Shuiyi's body.
At the same time, her brow glowed faintly. Vast, profound streams of intent poured into Fang Han's mind—the complete Grand Origin Art.
He examined it briefly. Every principle aligned perfectly with his cultivation.
It was genuine.
So simple. Almost too simple.
It left him uneasy.
"Now that we've exchanged," Fang Han said casually, "tell me—under what conditions would you truly abandon your engagement to Hua Tiandu?"
"Very simple," Yan Shuiyi replied softly. "You must abandon it as well."
"Abandon what?"
She looked at him intently.
"The Thread of Ten Thousand Tribulations entwined around your finger."
Her voice dropped, deadly serious.
"I'm not joking. You once suggested I dissolve my engagement and bind myself to you instead. That's possible—if you give up the thread."
Fang Han's mind raced.
So that's it…
The Taiyi Sect wants to move against Linglong Immortal. I'm the key to her emotional tribulation. Hua Tiandu is expendable.
"That thread saved my life," Fang Han said slowly. "Abandoning it would make me ungrateful. And offending Linglong Immortal is far more terrifying than offending your Taiyi Sect."
He shook his head.
"I refuse."
"I knew you would," Yan Shuiyi replied calmly. "But you won't refuse forever. This will ultimately benefit you."
She gazed into the void.
"Linglong Immortal faces a calamity she cannot overcome. And the Taiyi Sect was founded under Heaven's mandate. We will unify the Xuanhuang World."
"Every sect claims Heaven's mandate," Fang Han said lightly. "Yet fate belongs to no one."
He smiled.
"Today's trade was pleasant. And setting aside pursuit orders and grudges—at the very least, we can sit here and speak peacefully. That means we are no longer enemies."
"Indeed," Yan Shuiyi replied, smiling faintly, her eyes full of mystery. "An enemy as terrifying as you—no one wishes to have one."
She studied him closely.
"To convert even Wood Daoist… how many secrets are buried within you, Fang Han?"