"Damn… even Hua Tiandu showed up? That's the last person I expected."
Fang Han—no longer the novice he had been a year ago—felt the weight of the moment settle on him. His cultivation was deeper, his senses sharper, his understanding of the world vastly transformed. And precisely because he had grown so much, Hua Tiandu now appeared even more terrifying.
A strange, vast force rippled from the man. Heaven and earth energy swirled around him as though he were a living vortex, drawing the world inward. Fang Han could sense it clearly—Hua Tiandu was only a breath away from sainthood… from godhood. A year ago, Fang Han hadn't understood how dangerous he was, and he'd dared to oppose him without hesitation.
Now that he understood… a sense of helplessness rose unbidden.
"He's too strong… If he intervenes, this entire situation becomes impossible."
With Hua Tiandu's arrival, Fang Han instantly sensed disaster looming. With this man's strength—bolstered by the legacy of the ancient Panwu Immortal and a Dao Artifact in his grasp—even longevity experts might not be able to shift the balance.
"Perfect timing," Fang Qingxue said coolly, lightning flickering across her skin. The air crackled, faint electric threads crawling through space. Everyone present felt a sting on their skin, as though touched by a live wire. "Taiyi Gate slaughtered disciples of our Yuhuamen. As the sect's foremost true disciple, you should defend our honor. State your stance."
Hua Tiandu's gaze swept the crowd, finally locking onto Fang Han.
"So your strength has risen this quickly… impressive among Yuhuamen disciples. But your methods are reckless, unscrupulous. That is not the path of an immortal cultivator."
Fang Han laughed coldly.
"Spare me. I killed demons, slew the Lord of Death Island and claimed the Five Prison King Cauldron, then beheaded Seven-Leaf Demon Monarch and took Blood Sky. Those are righteous deeds. Even Elder Heavenly Punishment would reward me. What right do you have to judge me? And don't forget—we're both true disciples now. You don't outrank me."
He leaned closer, voice sharp as a blade.
"One year down, nine to go. When the ten-year promise ends, I'll defeat you. Count on it."
Fang Qingxue lifted a brow, surprised. She had heard rumors of Fang Han confronting Hua Tiandu, but seeing it in person—his unyielding stance under Hua Tiandu's crushing aura—was another thing entirely. Like a lone pine in a blizzard, refusing to bow.
"Oh?" Hua Tiandu's expression didn't shift. "I'm here under the Sect Master's order to handle internal matters. Personal grudges can wait. Those magic treasures you obtained—keep them. Yuhuamen will reward you properly."
His voice hardened.
"I came only to ensure Yuhuamen does not interfere with Taiyi Gate and the Demon Commander's conflict. Fang Qingxue, Fang Han, Long Xuan—return to the sect with me. This matter ends here. Consider it a misunderstanding."
So that was his intention—restraining Fang Qingxue before matters escalated.
Everyone knew her connection to the Demon Commander. If Taiyi Gate chased him down and she intervened, Yuhuamen would be dragged into an impossible situation. Only Hua Tiandu had the authority—and power—to stop her.
Fang Han understood instantly.
Fang Qingxue's gaze grew frigid.
"And if I refuse? What I choose to do is none of your business."
"Then I'll take you by force," Hua Tiandu replied calmly. "Yuhuamen stands together with Taiyi Gate. If conflict erupts now, how will we unite when the demonic invasion comes?"
"Oh? Then show me how you intend to take me."
Lightning roared around her, killing intent surging.
Two peerless geniuses of Yuhuamen stared each other down—one like a thunderbolt piercing the heavens, the other like a sun and moon hanging high above, immovable.
Hua Tiandu raised a hand.
"Fine. As true disciples, if we must fight, it will be on the Heavenly Judgment Platform. But here—" He stepped before the Gate of Returning Void. "I stand guard. If you and the Demon Commander can break through me, I won't interfere again. I'll turn and leave. If you fail, you return to Yuhuamen peacefully and stop provoking conflict with Taiyi Gate."
He turned to the Taiyi disciples.
"Zhao Xuanyi, Song Weiyi—do you agree to this wager?"
Song Weiyi exchanged glances with the others.
"Hua senior brother's arrangement is fair enough… but if the Demon Commander escapes again, our losses—"
"No matter," Hua Tiandu said. "If he escapes today, I will personally capture him later and deliver him to Taiyi Gate. And as compensation for your losses, next month I will send one thousand Age-Extending Pills to Taiyi Gate—one for each disciple, granting sixty years of life."
Even the Taiyi disciples inhaled sharply.
A thousand pills of that level? Only Hua Tiandu could casually offer such a thing.
Song Weiyi nodded.
"Very well."
Hua Tiandu turned back.
"Fang Qingxue?"
She ignored the question and instead asked,
"Fang Han—are you returning? Will you swallow this insult from Taiyi Gate?"
Fang Han barked a laugh.
"You lead, I follow. But Taiyi Gate trying to rob me and pin false crimes on me? I'd enjoy paying them back."
"Good." Her eyes glinted with approval.
"To surpass Hua Tiandu, you need more than cultivation. You need battle—real danger, real killing intent. Only by doing the impossible again and again will you break through."
As she spoke, lightning erupted from her again, forming countless talismanic seals that surged toward Hua Tiandu like a storm.
Hua Tiandu didn't move.
"Friends," he said calmly, "help me restrain Fang Han. Do not harm him or seize his treasures. Simply seal him. I must bring him back to preserve peace."
The Demon Commander, silent until now, suddenly laughed wildly.
"Hua Tiandu, you think you can stop me?"
The moment Fang Qingxue attacked, he launched forward as well, unleashing a devastating Collapse Technique.
Lightning and demonic force surged together—both aiming to blast open the Returning Void Gate.
The battlefield erupted.
Song Weiyi snapped an order.
"Six of you—Fushou, Kun Yuan, Dafang, Kanli, Luming, Changchun—seize Fang Han! Don't kill him, just seal him!"
The six Taiyi real-person experts had been waiting. They struck at once, their Heaven-Pillar Formation sweeping out in a crushing wave.
Zhao Xuanyi growled,
"Six of them for Fang Han… that's enough. But sealing him won't be easy. Shouldn't we move?"
"No rush," Song Weiyi answered through spiritual transmission. "Let them fight first. With Hua Tiandu occupied, when the battle peaks—we kill Fang Qingxue and the Demon Commander. That will force Hua Tiandu to fully side with Taiyi Gate. Fang Han must also die. Wait for the opening."
"Can Hua Tiandu truly handle both demon and lightning?" Zhao Xuanyi asked.
"Fang Qingxue hasn't formed her Golden Core yet. If Hua Tiandu uses his Dao Artifact, she can't withstand him. But he's avoiding it because of sect rules."
"And that's our chance."
"Exactly. Watch Fang Han."
Fang Han had already anticipated danger. With the six Taiyi experts acting in unison, the danger multiplied. The moment they attacked, he dove into the Five Prison King Cauldron, activating its formations. Blood-drenched demonic light surged outward, forming an impregnable barrier.
At the same time, he unleashed Blood Sky, slashing out arcs of blood-red blade light that ripped into the Heaven-Pillar Formation.
Blade met formation with a thunderous crack.
Several runic chains shattered instantly.
The six Taiyi cultivators snarled and infused more power into the formation. Their runes expanded, attempting to engulf Blood Sky entirely.
"They want to swallow my blade?" Fang Han sneered.
He gave the signal.
Yan, now in the Heaven-Man Realm and far more adept than Fang Han at controlling the cauldron, channeled the power of over two hundred thousand heavenly demons.
A terrifying aura erupted.
And the entire battlefield trembled—
As Fang Han struck back.