"Ninety-nine ancient divine abilities... what kind of might is that, to look down upon heaven and earth?" Fang Han was deeply shaken when he heard that the Yellow Springs Emperor once wielded ninety-nine kinds of primordial powers. He couldn't even begin to imagine such strength.
"The Azure Emperor's Wood Monarch Art is one of those ancient abilities," Yan said coolly. "If you master it, it'll far surpass the Purple Lightning Yin Thunder Saber. As for the Great Freedom Profound Metal Sword Qi—no need to bother with that. Learn instead the White Emperor's Metal Monarch Slash. That is the true essence of the metal path, the mystery of Heaven and Earth's Geng Gold. If you reach the fifth realm—the Heaven-Human Realm—your mind can hold various true energies, and then you'll be able to learn the Five Emperors Demon Art. Even Hua Tiandu might not be able to kill you. You might even be able to hold your ground against him."
"The Five Emperors Demon Art…" Fang Han quickly asked, "Is that the ultimate art of the Yellow Springs Sect?"
"Correct. It's the sect master's supreme art. Only one who masters the Five Emperors Demon Art is qualified to rule the Yellow Springs Sect. The five arts are: the Azure Emperor's Wood Monarch Art, the Crimson Emperor's Fire Monarch Qi, the White Emperor's Metal Monarch Slash, the Black Emperor's Water Monarch Fist…" Yan's tone turned solemn.
"Azure, Crimson, White, Black… that's only four. You said five, didn't you?" Fang Han asked.
"The last one," Yan said, "is what you're cultivating now—the Yama King Body! Its next stage is the Yellow Emperor's Earth Monarch Dao. The Earth Monarch is the Emperor of the Land—Yama himself. This art absorbs the essence of the earth and fuses it with magic power to form the Earth Monarch True Qi. But you can't cultivate it yet. It conflicts with the Wood Monarch Qi. If you try now, you'll explode like a roasted chick. Even your current Yama King Body clashes with your Wood Monarch Qi. Every session of cultivation risks madness and qi deviation. You've been surviving only because of sheer effort. If you add more true qi on top of that, it'll destroy you."
Yan was finally revealing his cards. After all this time together, it was time to be honest. Until now, Fang Han still didn't fully trust him—Yan was a mystery, and their relationship was built on trade, not true loyalty. Yet, at present, their fates were bound together; if one perished, so would the other.
"You know all five of these arts?" Fang Han pressed. "When will you teach me? Just hearing their names tells me they're world-shaking."
"I do," Yan said flatly. "But I can't teach them to you yet. Your power is still too weak. Both the immortal and demonic paths have soul-searching techniques—if someone captures you and reads your mind, all five arts will be exposed. That would destroy the foundation of the Yellow Springs Sect. Only when you reach the fifth realm—the Heaven-Human Realm—will I teach them, along with the thirty-six divine abilities I know. Then, it'll depend on your talent. Once the Five Emperors Demon Art reaches minor mastery, you can subdue the scattered remnants of the sect and build your own power. For now, train hard—and gather information on how much of the Yellow Springs Sect still survives, and into how many factions it's split."
"That's easy enough," Fang Han nodded. "First, I'll focus on cultivation. The fifth realm—Heaven-Human Realm! I'll reach it soon. Without that, I can't defeat Hua Tiandu."
Yan chuckled darkly. "Easy to say, hard to do. At your current pace, ten years wouldn't be enough unless fate grants you a great encounter. You'll need to travel, seek ancient ruins, forgotten caves—find your own chance."
"I'll first reach the True Essence Realm, refine my mana into true qi—that alone will make me stronger and safer when traveling," Fang Han said, taking out a Blood Pill and swallowing it. Replenishing his strength, he sat cross-legged again, forming the Azure Emperor and Wood Monarch seals with his palms, drawing in the life energy of the purple bamboo forest.
His control over these two fierce runes had improved—he no longer drained the bamboo into lifeless husks, though the suction was still immense. The entire grove trembled; purple-green energy spiraled around him in whirlpools, streaming into his body.
His body would "woodify," harden, and then shatter the effect again and again. Each cycle, he'd swallow another Blood Pill to maintain balance. These new pills were forged from the blood of a slain White-Haired Corpse King—infused with a trace of demonic emperor lineage.
As he absorbed more of this blood essence, it merged perfectly with the Yama King Body, enhancing his organs, his spiritual strength, and his mana capacity.
Days passed into months. Outside Jialan Peak, the snow melted and spring arrived—life blooming anew. For over three months, Fang Han sat motionless in the purple bamboo forest.
He ate only Blood Pills and drank spiritual water—pure sustenance requiring no waste. The Purification Charm kept him perpetually clean. To anyone looking, it seemed no time had passed at all—only that his skin had grown more luminous, and from every pore emanated a soft, springlike vitality.
His qi had turned into a deep violet-green, identical to the bamboo itself. Sometimes, the energy he exhaled took root in the soil and sprouted into short-lived purple shoots before dissipating.
The two runes—the Azure Emperor's and Wood Monarch's—had already fused within him, invisible but radiating immense power. The suction they generated now reached beyond the grove, drawing the life essence of the entire peak—grasses, herbs, all were stirring.
The spring breeze and radiant sunlight of the season seemed to converge toward Jialan Peak, flowing into the forest.
Atop the peak, within the alchemy chamber, Jialan's eyes suddenly opened.
At the same time, Long Xuan, cultivating nearby, also sensed the change. Having taken the Yin-Yang Longevity Pill Fang Han had given her and under Jialan's guidance, she had successfully transformed her spirit into mana—stepping into the Divine Ability Realm and becoming a true disciple. Though she was still far from condensing true qi, her foundation was solid and her progress swift.
"What kind of power is that?" she murmured, astonished. "The Springwind Spiritwood Art—how could it be so strong? The wood essence of the whole peak… it's like the spirits of nature are bowing to an emperor!"