"Taiyi Sect is actually this powerful… Look at those outer disciples—every one of them is formidable. Truly worthy of being the number-one Daoist sect under heaven."
Hidden among the crowd, Fang Qingwei whispered to Ye Nantian.
"Indeed. These past few days, we've been fawning over Zhang Wei, and he rewarded us with a few Nascent Soul Pills. After taking them, I can feel my body being refined from the inside out. Compared to Bigu Pills or Essence-Nourishing Pills, Taiyi's Nascent Soul Pills aren't even in the same league. If I could take one regularly, I'd reach the Divine Ability Realm in three years—and then I could avenge myself! I could even challenge Fang Han on the Heavenly Execution Platform!"
Ye Nantian nodded eagerly.
"Nascent Soul Pills are miracle pills… If only our ties with Taiyi were deeper. Look—so many of their disciples came this time, including six Heaven-Human Realm experts! If we manage to win their favor, we could be showered with Nascent Soul Pills. Our chances of stepping into the Divine Ability Realm would skyrocket."
Yuan Jiankong stood nearby on the desolate island. Their flying robes and spirit tools were low-grade; they couldn't stay airborne for long and had to land. Meanwhile, Taiyi's inner disciples hovered in the sky effortlessly—their artifacts overflowing with refined spiritual power.
At this moment, four to five hundred Taiyi inner disciples had arrived. Even the weakest among them was at the Shape-Transforming Realm, with physical power exceeding ten horses.
And there were thirty to forty true disciples.
Among them stood the six pillars of the group: Realmen Changchun, Dafang, Kunyuan, Kanli, Fushou, and Luming—six experts of the Heaven-Human Realm.
With these six combined, they could sweep the entire South Sea, crushing a thousand rogue cultivators and making even large demonic sects tremble.
A single Heaven-Human master could start a sect that, though not comparable to the great immortal or demonic giants, would still dominate among rogue sects. They possessed lifespans of at least eight hundred years and could refine their own spirit artifacts—enough to raise a powerful generation of disciples.
"Senior Brother Wei Yi is here! All disciples of Taiyi, prepare to receive him!"
A true disciple flew in from the horizon, his voice like an imperial edict echoing across the sea.
The six Heaven-Human Realmen cupped their fists and shouted:
"Welcome, Senior Brother Wei Yi!"
Hundreds of inner disciples and dozens of true disciples echoed in unison:
"Welcome, Senior Brother Wei Yi!"
The roar split the clouds overhead, revealing brilliant starlight. The sound traveled for a thousand miles—its momentum far more overwhelming than the mortal world's imperial chants of "Ten thousand years!"
Fang Qingwei, Yuan Jiankong, Ye Nantian, and Xiao Shi—the man with a blood feud against Fang Han—stood pale with shock.
Because in the midst of the thunderous chant, celestial music suddenly drifted from the sky. Ninety-nine maidens flew out playing flutes and zithers. Following them, ninety-nine handsome men soared forth carrying ceremonial banners.
Then came nine golden flood-dragons, each as large as the Blackwater King Serpent, pulling a massive throne through the sky.
The nine dragons spiraled through the clouds with majestic, crushing force. When they descended, their presence weighed upon everyone like a mountain.
Seated on the throne was a Daoist cultivator, eyes closed, unmoving—like a heavenly emperor descending to survey the mortal realm.
"Golden four-clawed flood-dragons… These rank alongside the Blackwater King Serpent, the Devouring Titan Python, the Blueblood Fei Qiu, and the Ice-Horned Chi Dragon—the top ancient serpent breeds! Just one could obliterate us. And there are nine… pulling a chariot!"
Fang Qingwei murmured, trembling.
"Silence. That is one of Taiyi's great prodigies—a peer of Senior Brother Hua Tiandu. The most outstanding Taiyi disciples all receive the character 'One' in their bestowed Daoist name: Wei Yi, Zheng Yi, Du Yi, Xu Yi… Each one is a monster who has already formed their Golden Core seed, manifested their Heaven-Earth Dharmic Phase, or even defied fate itself. In the upcoming Immortal Gathering, they'll be Hua Tiandu's fiercest rivals."
Even Ye Nantian's eyes shone with envy.
"If I had that kind of power, I could crush Fang Han and finally avenge my father…"
Xiao Shi twisted his face into a grim, vicious smile.
"Such ostentation…"
Some rogue cultivators whispered in fear.
The nine golden flood-dragons slowed into formation and hovered midair. The Daoist on the throne—Senior Brother Wei Yi—opened his eyes. In that instant, everyone felt as if he were staring directly at them.
The six Realmen rushed forward.
"Senior Brother Wei Yi, we arrived as ordered by the decree, but three junior brothers have already gone missing. We sent search parties, but no trace was found."
"No need to search. They are dead."
Wei Yi's voice was calm, but every word shook hearts.
"As soon as I landed, I sensed heavy resentment and lingering death-qi. It belongs to them."
"What! The Demon Commander dares to kill disciples of Taiyi! The Xiantian Demon Sect will be annihilated!"
Changchun Realman roared.
"We must first capture that Demon Commander and interrogate him. If he truly killed our three disciples, not even Ying Xiantian can save him. If someone framed him, we will investigate—thoroughly."
Wei Yi's tone was slow, steady, and terrifyingly absolute—every word carried the weight of law.
"Listen carefully. Notify every major sect. Issue the Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order. Hunt the Demon Commander. I will return to the sect to consult with the elders—we will surround the Xiantian Demon Sect and force Ying Xiantian to hand him over. If they refuse to give us an explanation, then the Demon Sect shall be erased from this world."
With a wave of his hand, the nine dragons ascended again, pulling the throne back into the heavens until it vanished from sight.
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
All Taiyi disciples answered in unison.
"Disciples—issue the Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order! Send word to all sects, rogue cultivators, and the Nine Immortal Gates!"
The six Realmen roared, their voices echoing across the sea.
This moment marked the opening act of a bloody war between the immortal and demonic paths…
Meanwhile, Fang Han remained unaware of the storm he had stirred. Inside the Five-Prisons King Cauldron, he was soaking the fragment of the World Tree in Six-Sun Holy Water.
The World Tree—once said to stand at the center of the ancient world, its branches reaching the Immortal Realm—was a mythical existence even Elder Yan had never witnessed in its prime. For thousands of years, Yan had studied this tiny shard: refining, slicing, dissolving, crushing, eroding with flame, lightning, and divine arts.
Nothing worked.
It was indestructible—completely unmoved.
Yan believed that even if Fang Han unleashed his Great Annihilation Technique, he wouldn't be able to damage it.
But the moment Fang Han dropped Six-Sun Holy Water onto it…
The fragment began to change.