"The demonic aura ahead is thick. We should be careful—there must be a great number of sky demons gathered here."
The Wolf Smoke Orb glided low across the barren land, moving at tremendous speed. Even the fastest horses could never hope to match a third of its pace. Compared to the blinding sword-lights of those in the Divine Power Realm, however, it was still slower—but Fang Han preferred caution over haste.
He had grown quite adept at maneuvering the Wolf Smoke Orb. By now, he understood that the artifact's core formation was sealed within one of the compartments of the Seven Fiends Gourd. The more he focused his mind, the faster that formation spun, and the greater the orb's power became. But if his concentration wavered, its strength faltered accordingly.
Controlling the orb demanded great mental energy.
Fortunately, Fang Han's body was now far stronger than before, his mind clear and sharp. Daily practice of the Primordial Spirit Art had expanded his mental reserves until they brimmed with raw vigor. His will was honed like tempered steel—waiting for the moment when accumulated spirit would transform into true mana, breaking through into the Divine Power Realm.
This journey through the battlefield of sky demons had benefited him immensely. The newly learned Heavenly Dragon Eight Tones—a supreme art that harmonized body, voice, spirit, and will—proved invaluable for refining his consciousness.
As he guided the orb forward, he contemplated the intricate connection between those four forces—body, sound, spirit, and will. Just as a new insight dawned upon him, a vast, icy aura suddenly swept through the air ahead—so chilling it felt like the breath of an endless snow mountain.
Sensing this, Fang Han immediately slowed the orb. "There's a powerful demonic presence ahead."
"I feel it too," Xu Yue'er murmured. She took out a yellow talisman, ignited it with true fire, and tossed it into the air. It burst with a boom, scattering into thousands of sparks that drifted toward the ground.
Her expression darkened. "There are thousands of sky demons ahead. This is a Demon-Seeking Talisman—it explodes into as many sparks as there are demons nearby. Look—too many to count. We should avoid them if possible."
The eight female disciples of the Jialan Association grew visibly uneasy. Facing thousands of sky demons was far beyond their capability, even with treasures at hand.
Fang Han, however, showed no fear. "If so many demons are gathered, there must be trapped disciples nearby—maybe hundreds. We're going in. Even if there are thousands, we'll hold our ground and defend. We can endure."
His calm boldness impressed the women despite themselves.
The orb drifted forward cautiously, revealing towering barren peaks ahead, jutting into the sky like spears. Beyond them stretched a vast plain shrouded in howling, twisting demonic wind.
Within that storm, Fang Han spotted them—disciples of the Feathered Gate. Not a handful, but over two hundred strong. And around them—no fewer than three thousand sky demons, led by dozens near Demon King level.
"What kind of treasure can hold off so many demons?" Fang Han exclaimed. "Even hundreds of skilled disciples shouldn't last long against thousands."
Then he saw it—nine radiant golden towers floating above the disciples' heads, each the size of a fist, blazing with sacred light. Their glow merged into a vast golden dome, shielding everyone beneath from the demonic onslaught.
Inside that barrier, the disciples fought in coordination—some striking bells that unleashed waves of sound, others wielding spirit bags that sucked sky demons straight into their depths.
Xu Yue'er gasped. "That's the Nine Palace Golden Tower! It's the guardian treasure of Heaven's Capital Peak—an ultimate Pure Yang treasure! How could it appear here among outer disciples? Oh—there! Those nine inner disciples must have brought them as reinforcements."
Even the normally calm Ye Yu was awestruck.
Inside Fang Han's Yellow Springs Diagram, a deep, hungry voice stirred. "A Pure Yang treasure... the Nine Palace Golden Tower—its purity surpasses even the Heavenly Rooster Sun-Binding Rope. If I devour those nine towers, I could recover to the fifth Divine Power level, the Heaven–Man Realm. Then I could forge you a spiritual weapon…"
It was Yan, the ancient soul sealed within the diagram, its tone trembling with excitement.
Fang Han's mind tightened. If you don't want the sect to tear you apart for sacrilege, don't even think about touching those towers. He thought coldly. The only thing we should be focusing on now is slaying more demons and refining more pills.
He raised his voice. "Since the Nine Palace Golden Towers are here, it means reinforcements from the Feathered Gate have arrived. Let's break through the encirclement and enter the tower's protection!"
"Agreed," Xu Yue'er said quickly. "It's said that the towers were gifted personally by the Sect Master to the first true disciple, Hua Tiandu of Heaven's Capital Peak. If they're here, it means Senior Brother Hua is somewhere nearby, likely hunting stronger fiends. The towers were left to safeguard the others—there's no safer place to be."
Fang Han frowned slightly. "How did so many disciples gather together?"
"We have communication talismans," Ye Yu explained, handing him a small glowing slip. "Hold onto this. If we ever get separated, the talisman will guide you to any Jialan Association member."
"Perfect." Fang Han tightened his grip on the orb's control formation. "Then let's go—all at once! Break through the horde and join the others inside the towers!"
But just as the orb surged forward—
A cold, hollow voice echoed from behind.
"You're not going anywhere."
Fang Han's heart jolted. He turned, and what he saw froze his blood.
Not far behind stood a towering figure—its eyes pale and burning like twin ghostly flames.
"I am the Great Might Virtue Demon King," it said in a voice devoid of emotion. "You have slaughtered more than five hundred of my kin. For that… you deserve to die."