"I've never really roamed through the Great Li Dynasty before. Who would've thought the mortal world could be so vast and beautiful?"
High above the clouds, a white crane glided just beneath the drifting mist. Below, mountains rolled like green waves, rivers shimmered like silver veins, and sprawling cities breathed with life—people bustling like ants across the land. The mortal world's glory, its chaos and clamor, unfolded in one sweeping view.
From above, Fang Han gazed down, awe stirring in his chest.
"The Great Li Dynasty isn't even the grandest," Princess Hong Yi replied, her tone calm yet proud. "To the east lie greater realms—the Grand Xuan Empire under the Taiyi Sect, for instance. Its population exceeds a hundred billion, ruling over thirty-six thousand provinces. The land is rich, the spirit of its people even richer. That is what a true empire looks like. By comparison, our dynasty is but a minor power."
"A hundred billion people?" Fang Han blinked. "That's… inconceivable. Line them up and they could fill the seas."
"The Taiyi Sect," Hong Yi continued, "is the oldest and most powerful among the Ten Immortal Sects. Their disciples are required to descend into the mortal world to perform good deeds—heal the sick, slay monsters, punish corruption, help farmers—accumulating 'merit' to advance in rank. The greater their merit, the higher their rewards: spiritual tools, elixirs, even divine treasures. Because of this, the realms under Taiyi's rule prosper beyond comparison. Talents emerge endlessly. No wonder they stand above all others."
"Merit records, then?" Fang Han mused.
"Exactly. Every outer disciple of Taiyi carries a Book of Virtue where their deeds are recorded. When they return, the sect reviews the merit and rewards them accordingly. It's a rigorous and just system. That's why they're known as the beacon of the righteous path."
Fang Han nodded thoughtfully. "Such discipline and moral governance… No wonder they flourish. Our Yuhua Sect pales in comparison."
Hong Yi gave a small smile. "Other sects have tried to imitate them. Even this recent turmoil within our sect—when Hua Tiandu made a move against you and seized your Seven Fiends Gourd—it might have been a step toward reform. But Yuhua's strength can't rival Taiyi's. With demons stirring and rival sects scheming, enforcing merit and order across the realm is far harder than it sounds."
She glanced at him sidelong. "And remember, the Starmoon Sect, Sun-Moon Sword Sect, and Ten Thousand Isles all recruit disciples in the same mortal kingdoms. The Great Li, Great De, and Great Xu dynasties are not Yuhua's exclusive domain."
Fang Han found himself quietly impressed. This princess, it seemed, wasn't merely beautiful—she understood the world's power balance far better than most cultivators.
Their eyes met briefly, then both turned away.
"Every sixty years," Hong Yi went on, "the Ten Immortal Sects hold the Grand Celestial Assembly. It's partly a unification effort against demonic forces, and partly a measure of each sect's strength. Only those who've reached the Divine Ability Realm may compete, but disciples on the Mountains and Rivers Ranking may observe. The last assembly was fifty-five years ago—five years from now, the next will begin. Whichever sect prevails will dominate vast territories and claim the right to recruit new disciples there. The more gifted their recruits, the more likely they'll produce true successors."
She paused. "I've heard the Starmoon Sect now has over six hundred thousand exceptional disciples. Their true inheritors already exceed a hundred and fifty, still growing. Our Yuhua Sect can barely keep pace. If not for Hua Tiandu's rise, we might already be in decline."
Fang Han gave a faint, confident smile. "Then I'll rise to meet him. Once I break through to the Divine Ability Realm, the sect will have no choice but to recognize my worth."
Hong Yi's eyes flickered. "You're daring, I'll give you that."
Suddenly, she pointed ahead. "Look! The abyssal rift—we're here. Get ready. I've been down there before. Deep inside lies a rare treasure: a Law-Crystal Jade Mine. The demonic armies guard it fiercely, mining its essence. That's why I brought you—since you possess a Dao Artifact, we can gather as much as we can carry!"
Far ahead, between the dark mountains, a massive chasm split the earth open like the jaws of some ancient beast. Shadows coiled within, whispering of danger and opportunity alike.
"Law-Crystal Jade…" Fang Han's heart quickened.
These legendary stones contained condensed spiritual law energy—a remnant of divine and demonic forces from the primordial wars of heaven and hell. Their value was immeasurable. A single piece could forge a high-grade artifact or refine a potent elixir. Some even held natural formations within them, capable of being refined into top-tier treasures.
Even among the Ten Immortal Sects, few such mines existed.
"Then let's descend," Fang Han said, his voice low and resolute. "But quietly. If there's a Law-Crystal mine, it'll be heavily guarded. We can't risk alerting a host of Ashura or greater demons."
"Understood. Let's go!"
They dove together into the rift, the crane folding its wings to slice through the darkness. Fang Han summoned the Blood Cotton Robe, its demonic threads shimmering faintly, cloaking his aura. Within his Yellow Springs Diagram, ten shadowy Asuras stirred restlessly, awaiting his command.
After a long descent—nearly the time it takes an incense stick to burn—they landed upon the subterranean plains.
The underground world was vast, lit by ghostly fungi that towered like trees. Strange beasts roamed among glowing mushrooms and crimson moss, locked in constant, savage struggle.
A sudden rustle—then a dozen blood-colored wolves burst from the shadows, leaping straight toward them.
Before they even reached halfway, ten spectral figures erupted from Fang Han's side. Swords flashed; the wolves fell in silence, sliced cleanly apart. From each corpse, a crimson crystal essence floated up, drawn into the Yellow Springs Diagram.
Inside, the Saint Water of the Yellow Springs rippled as a sesame-sized Blood Pellet condensed within.
"Barely enough to feed a mosquito," Fang Han muttered.
"Their blood is too weak," the spirit Yan replied from within. "You'll need stronger prey—Ashura, Nightfiends, true demons. Still… the scent of Law-Crystal Jade is near. Eastward. I can feel it."
"Fang Han… those…" Hong Yi's eyes widened, staring at the ten hovering demonic shades.
"These are the ten Flying Nightfiends I captured before," Fang Han explained calmly. "Refined into Asura puppets, each fused with a flying sword. They're living weapons—strong enough to carve through an army."
With that, they pressed on.
The ten Asuras drifted around them like shadows of death. Every creature within a thousand paces—serpents, wolves, blood-bears—was cut down before it even knew terror. Blood crystals streamed into the Yellow Springs Diagram, forming new blood-pills like sparks of crimson rain.
Hours passed in grim serenity—harvest, refine, move on. Fang Han gathered herbs and minerals along the way, guided by Yan's keen senses.
Just as they were about to rest, a blinding streak of sword-light flared in the distant dark—sharp, pure, and radiant as a falling star.
"That sword aura—it's not demonic," Hong Yi exclaimed. "It's the Starmoon Sect! Their disciples must be fighting nearby!"
"The Starmoon Sect?" Fang Han's eyes narrowed. "Interesting. Let's go see what's happening."
And with a silent command to his Asuras, they surged toward the flashing brilliance in the depths.