"Truly… thirty years of bitter cultivation are nothing compared to one enlightened stroke from a true master. I actually broke through to the Yin–Yang Realm in just a year of contemplation. Without Senior's guidance, who knows how many decades—how many centuries—it would've taken. My deepest thanks!"
Fang Han rose to his feet. With a flick of his fingers, a strand of astral qi shot out and condensed into the form of a lion—identical to the lion conjured by the Heavenly Lion Clan's divine ability.
Only his version glowed emerald instead of milky white, the color of Wood Emperor qi. He was using the Wood Emperor Art to simulate the Heavenly Lion technique.
What was identical, however, was the creature's lifelike presence. The green lion prowled in the air, its mane bristling, its movements fluid, occasionally rumbling with a low roar that sent a faint ripple of intimidation through the hall. This was no crude illusion—it possessed a spark of spirit, nearly indistinguishable from a real beast.
"Change! Change! Change!"
With three sharp commands, the lion rolled once through the air and transformed—shifting into a massive black-scaled serpent resembling the dreaded Blackwater King Serpent. It hissed, forked tongue lashing out, fangs glistening as if poised to swallow a man whole.
This was the hallmark of someone who had reached the fourth stage of divine ability—Yin–Yang Realm. Only astral qi infused with spirit could manifest such fluid transformations.
At this level, even qi of equal raw strength differed wildly in quality. A practitioner whose astral qi carried the resonance of Yin and Yang could defeat others three to five times stronger on paper.
Such was the difference in realm and refinement.
"One hundred thousand warhorse-force… not bad, not bad," the mysterious voice murmured from beyond the gate. "To think you've just stepped into the fourth realm and already wield such strength. Most Yin–Yang practitioners barely reach five or six thousand. You must have taken some remarkable elixirs."
Ordinarily, only those of the Heaven-and-Man Realm—the fifth stage—could muster ten thousand warhorse-force. The fourth stage's standard ranged from five to six thousand. The third stage's astral qi realm peaked around a few thousand. True Qi practitioners were measured in mere hundreds, and the first stage barely reached two or three hundred.
Fang Han now wielded a force of one hundred thousand—a monstrosity of an anomaly. Even the mysterious prisoner behind the gate couldn't hide his astonishment. It approached the raw might of a Golden Core expert, though not the quality; a Golden Core's power was so refined that a mere ten thousand of their force could crush Fang Han's hundred thousand. Three realms were, after all, three realms—an uncrossable chasm.
"I once consumed a Saint of Law's Relic," Fang Han admitted. "And I used the Grafting Technique to transplant the Blackwater King Serpent's essence and power into my body."
"A Saint's Relic? That alone is extraordinary. Such a pill requires a Golden Core master's origin to refine. Quite the fortune you stumbled into. But the Grafting Technique… that carries immense risk. You're in a great hurry to grow stronger, aren't you? Seeking revenge?"
The voice's guess was spot-on.
"Yes. I have a ten-year pact with someone—and that person is already at the tenth stage. Even if I sprouted wings, I wouldn't catch up within a decade."
Fang Han recounted his entire feud with Hua Tiandu—how his rival inherited the legacy of Panwu Immortal Venerable and possessed a Dao Artifact. Both were trapped with nothing better to do, and Fang Han saw no reason to hide anything from someone who wasn't leaving the mansion either.
"Oh? This grows more interesting. You hadn't even stepped into the Divine Ability Realm, yet you dared provoke such a figure? And Panwu Immortal Venerable… though he never ascended, his power was unmatched ten thousand years ago. One who inherits such a legacy? Naturally formidable."
The mysterious voice laughed, genuinely entertained.
"Thank you, Senior, for your praise."
"Enough. You only have nine hundred years of lifespan. One year less with each passing year. But I helped you earlier—you've just saved yourself at least a century of struggle. You advanced far too quickly before; your foundations were fragile. At a critical juncture, you would've stagnated and wasted decades. Remember that. I hope you reach the Heaven-and-Man Realm soon. That would grant you eight hundred more years. Live longer, talk with me longer. Otherwise, you'll die far too quickly."
The voice paused as though tired.
"Very well. Cultivate on your own. If you face difficulties in your realm, you may consult me."
"What a blessing," Yan muttered in Fang Han's mind. "Having this guy around is like having Yuhuamen's headmaster personally tutoring you. If we have a chance to escape this place, it'll be because of him."
"I just broke through. I need a long period of nourishment to bring Yin–Yang mastery to its peak. But fortunately, I have time."
Normally, breaking through a realm required slow, patient polishing—Yin–Yang especially demanded long refinement…
Meanwhile—
The moment Fang Han was forced into the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion, Yuhuamen erupted into chaos.
High above in Yuhuamen's Celestial Palace—on the Sky Punishment Platform.
The elders of every major division gathered: the Elder of Heavenly Punishment, the Elder of Heavenly Craftsmanship, the Elder of Heavenly Alchemy, the Transmission Elder, the Heavenly Tome Elder, the Heavenly Crane Elder… titans one and all.
Every one of them was a powerhouse—ninth or tenth stage, wielders of tremendous divine abilities. The Elder of Heavenly Punishment alone had already stepped into the Longevity Secret Realm, possessing ultimate authority over life and death.
The force gathered here could shake the heavens.
Fang Qingxue and Hua Tiandu stood before them, recounting what happened—accusing each other with matching intensity.
"Elder of Heavenly Punishment," Fang Qingxue said coldly, "Hua Tiandu forced Fang Han to his death. Our sect has lost another unparalleled talent. As a true disciple, he should have protected his juniors—not suppressed and murdered them. He abused his power and destroyed one of our sect's future pillars. I request the elders to pass judgment."
The Elder of Heavenly Punishment narrowed his eyes.
"Hua Tiandu," he said, "what have you to say? Fang Han accomplished feats beyond imagination—slaying the Seven-Leaf Demon Lord, seizing the Blood Sky Demonic Blade, and capturing six Taiyi Sect Real Persons with the Five-Prisons King Cauldron. He greatly bolstered our sect's prestige."
Around him, the elders exchanged looks.
Fang Han's actions had indeed pleased them. Taiyi Sect had grown arrogant in recent years, acting as though they intended to dominate all of immortality. The elders could not openly suppress them politically. But a mere disciple humiliating Taiyi's elites? Perfect.
And if Fang Han truly brought two powerful artifacts back to Yuhuamen… their overall strength would have soared. Now all of it was lost. A painful blow.
"I don't intend to argue with Junior Sister Qingxue," Hua Tiandu said calmly. "In fact, I have someone who will speak for me."
With a wave of his hand, a gust of wind swept several figures into the hall—Fang Qingwei, Xiao Shi, Ye Nantian, and Yuan Jiankong, all inner disciples who bore deep animosity toward Fang Han.
"Fang Qingwei," Hua Tiandu said smoothly, "tell us—is Fang Han a good man or an evil one? Junior Sister Qingxue is your sister; I trust you won't lie. You went overseas together this time. Speak."
Fang Qingwei hesitated at first, glancing at her sister—but when she saw Hua Tiandu's expression, her courage swelled.
"Fang Han practices demonic arts," she said firmly. "He kills without restraint. He's no different from a great demon king! Sister, don't be fooled. A slave from our household suddenly advancing this fast? Clearly someone from the Devil Dao taught him forbidden techniques!"
Fang Qingxue's expression turned to ice.
"You dare speak to me like this?"
"Everything I said is true! Xiao Shi—tell them your grievance."
With a dramatic thud, Xiao Shi fell to his knees and began weeping.
"Elders! Fang Han murdered my father! My mother still cultivates in Linglong Paradise—if she finds out, she'll be heartbroken! Fang Han is trying to provoke conflict between our sect and Linglong Paradise!"
His father—the Lord of Sleepless Island—had indeed been slain by Fang Han. A feud of blood.
"This…"
Even the Elder of Heavenly Punishment hesitated. Hua Tiandu was cunning—he let the juniors speak, especially Fang Qingwei, sister to Fang Qingxue. It placed the elders in an awkward position.
No matter what, Hua Tiandu had gained the moral high ground. Combined with his power and status, reprimanding him lightly would be difficult.
"Elder Heavenly Punishment… it seems this matter is difficult for you to resolve."
A deep voice rolled through the hall.
Every elder jerked upright in shock. Even Hua Tiandu's expression tightened.
The Elder of Heavenly Punishment was the first to bow deeply.
"Master—Headmaster Supreme—have you emerged from seclusion?"
"The Headmaster!"
All elders stood immediately, bowing reverently.
A sphere of pure light drifted into the hall—no human form, only radiance. The voice speaking came from within that light.
"Since you cannot decide, Elder Heavenly Punishment, I shall."
This glowing sphere was the Headmaster Immortal of Yuhuamen—the wielder of the Ascension Scripture, a living legend, a sovereign of the Immortal Dao.
"Fang Han is a true disciple of our sect," the Headmaster said, voice ringing with gentle authority. "His accomplishments—slaying a Demon Lord, capturing six Taiyi Real Persons—mark him as a rare genius. It would be a tragedy for Yuhuamen to lose such a child. I do not believe he will die in the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion. Therefore, we must prepare to rescue him. Every true disciple is our child. We must cherish them. Hua Tiandu—do you understand?"
"I understand, Master! But—"
"No 'but.' When you become Headmaster one day, your first duty will be to protect this sect's people."
The Headmaster's tone sharpened.
"Transmit my decree! Inner disciple Xiao Shi—expelled from Yuhuamen. Fang Qingwei—disgraced; transformed into a flower cat for one year. Ye Nantian and Yuan Jiankong—attacked a true disciple; unforgivable. Transformed into mice for three years!"
Three beams of light shot from the sphere, striking the three disciples.
Agonized screams echoed—and their bodies began to shrink and twist.
Fang Qingwei collapsed, body shrinking, limbs warping until she became a plump calico cat.
Ye Nantian and Yuan Jiankong shrieked as their limbs contorted, fur sprouted, and their entire skeletal structure changed—until two gray field mice trembled on the floor.
"Headmaster… you have reached such a level?"
The Elder of Heavenly Punishment trembled. "You've truly mastered the art of altering matter itself… transmuting flesh and form at will? Turning stone to gold… water to oil?"
This was no illusion.
No transformation technique.
This was true metamorphosis—the rewriting of physical structure.
They weren't humans disguised as beasts.
They had been turned into actual animals.