"These movements… they're all Yuhua Sect techniques." Yan's voice sharpened. "Someone is using Dragon-Tiger Steps, another practices the Feather-Soft Body Technique, and I even see traces of the Immortal Crane Longevity Fist. Some have cultivated Spiritual Refinement Arts—Origin Spirit Visualization, Mixed-Cavern Breathing, Righteous Heaven Qi… A few of them are exceptional. They've reached the 'Refined Spirit' stage—definitely worthy of the Mountain–River Ranking."
Prompted by Yan, Fang Han looked more closely. Indeed—these young men and women were all disciples trained in Yuhua Sect martial arts. Their cultivation wasn't shallow either; several had even "refined the spirit," the pinnacle of physical transformation, approaching the threshold of Divine Ability.
Those who reached this level—even without magical treasures—could compete for places on the Mountain–River Ranking.
"Speak! Who are you?" one of the young men barked, exchanging frantic glances with his companions. "If you don't answer, we'll activate our command talismans, summon the island disciples, and capture you with our grand formation. Don't think your cultivation means you can stand against the Forty-Nine Islands of the Thunder Emperor's Domain! Our sect is famed across the South Sea and holds ties with powerful immortal clans. Don't make a mistake!"
They were cautious—clearly aware Fang Han wasn't someone they could provoke lightly. They tried to hold moral ground, hoping he'd back down.
Fang Han snorted. "Thunder Emperor decrees? Reincarnated Thunder Mother? Tell me then—why is everyone here practicing Yuhua Sect techniques?"
"Hmph! Because the reincarnated Thunder Mother is currently cultivating Divine Abilities in the Yuhua Sect!" a female cultivator retorted sharply. "She is one of the sect's True Disciples. Once she perfects her thunder arts, she will return and elevate the Thunder Emperor's Domain to stand beside the Ten Great Immortal Sects—as the Eleventh!"
"What?" Fang Han's heart jolted violently.
Yan's spirit flared at the same moment.
"You don't mean… Fang Qingxue, do you?"
"I'll ask again—who is your Thunder Mother?" Fang Han demanded. "I am also a True Disciple of the Yuhua Sect, cultivating the Heavenly Wood Divine Ability. My name is Fang Han! Don't you dare lie to me!"
"You… are also a True Disciple?"
The group froze.
The young woman steadied herself and continued, "Our Thunder Mother's reincarnation is named Fang Qingxue. If you truly belong to the Yuhua Sect, you must have heard of her. She discovered the inheritance of the ancient Thunder Emperor in the Void Return Realm, learned her past identity, and gained the support of the Yuhua Sect. With that, she subdued the wanderers of the South Sea and reestablished the Thunder Emperor's Domain. Do you have proof of your identity?"
"Fang Qingxue… it really is her."
Shock rippled through Fang Han.
Even Yan in the Huangquan Diagram thumped his dragon claws against his skull.
"Never expected this girl… But reincarnation is a complicated matter," Yan muttered.
Fang Han flicked his wrist and produced the Book of All Worlds, the Yuhua Sect's emblem of identity. "Not only that—Fang Qingxue is my senior sister. I was once a member of her mortal Fang clan in Longyuan Province. I'm also the former fiancé of her younger sister, Fang Qingwei. You mean to tell me you've never heard of me?"
To ease the tension, he sent several Life-Extension Golden Pills floating toward them. "A few mid-grade spirit pills for our first meeting."
"Thank you, Uncle-Master Fang!"
Relieved, the disciples bowed deeply. Facing someone of Fang Han's level, they had no intention of fighting.
Fang Han pressed further. "I'd like to see how deep Senior Sister Qingxue has rooted her domain here. How many cultivators reside in these Forty-Nine Islands? Who is in charge? She's in secluded cultivation in the Little Immortal World refining the Thunder God Dao—she will emerge soon. I'll be assisting her in the future. Can you take me to the central island?"
The disciples exchanged glances. Finally, a young woman spoke carefully:
"We have over three thousand cultivators across the Forty-Nine Islands. The central Thunder Emperor Sanctuary is guarded by six Divine Ability experts—the Six Thunder Envoys. They cultivate the Thunder Mother's sacred inheritance. We don't have the authority to escort you directly, but if you allow us to report your arrival, it will be of great merit."
"Very well. Go." Fang Han waved, sending out a gleaming flying sword.
An exceptional-grade spirit weapon.
The girl nearly burst with joy. "T-thank you, Uncle-Master! I'll report immediately!"
The others watched with envy. Fang Han's generosity stunned them—without even blinking, he gifted a treasure that would make most cultivators weep.
Before long, the girl returned with several disciples dressed in violet thunder-cloud robes.
They bowed.
"Uncle-Master Fang, the Six Thunder Envoys have long heard of your feats—ranking first on the Mountain–River Ranking and becoming a True Disciple. They wished to personally greet you, but the Water Gu Devil Cavern's seal is loosening, and the Sky Demons are restless. They must maintain their suppression and cannot leave. They instead request your presence at the central Thunder Emperor Sanctuary. A banquet—the Pill Essence Ceremony—has been prepared in your honor."
"A Pill Essence Ceremony? That's quite the welcome." Fang Han nodded. "And the Water Gu Heavenly Demon King… it wasn't destroyed? Only sealed?"
The thunder-robed disciple explained respectfully, "Lady Fang Qingxue and the Demon Commander once fought the Water Gu Heavenly Demon King, but though they injured it heavily, it could only be sealed. Recently, the seal has weakened. Also, with the Demon Commander killing three True Disciples of the Taiyi Sect, the sea is in chaos…"
As they walked, the disciple continued reporting the turmoil across the ocean—news of the Demon Commander using the Great Collapse Arts to injure six Taiyi Real Persons, killing countless Taiyi inner disciples, escalating the immortal–demonic conflict.
Fang Han felt a chill.
"Fortunately, the Demon Commander is taking the blame for me…"
He wondered silently:
When Qingxue emerges… will she side with the Demon Commander? Or the Taiyi Sect?
This place—her secret domain—might provide answers.
He followed the group toward the central island.
But then—
A surge of terrifying demonic energy erupted from afar.
A storm of black clouds spiraled upward, dragging seawater into the sky. The world dimmed beneath a veil of ghostly howls.
"What terrifying demonic qi!" Fang Han's heart pounded. "Not even the Great Mighty Virtue Demon King was this overwhelming!"
"Not good—the Water Gu Heavenly Demon King has broken free!"
The disciples blanched in horror.
And the sky above them opened into darkness.