"Fifteen years… an ordinary person would certainly have starved to death by now. But I've used the Nine-Palace Divination. Fang Han's fate does not end here—he should still be alive. He must have found some other means of survival. Perhaps he even encountered another opportunity within the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion."
The voice inside the sphere of pure light was soft and enigmatic—the Sect Master of the Yuhua Sect speaking.
"Nine-Palace Divination…" Jialan frowned deeply. She knew that only experts of the Longevity Realm could peer into the hidden patterns of fate. Such methods were far beyond what anyone in the Divine Ability Realm could hope to grasp.
She had followed the Sect Master here precisely to witness this level of power.
Even she, a highly ranked disciple, rarely had the opportunity to ask the Sect Master for guidance. This trip was a rare chance to learn, to observe a true ancient powerhouse of the Longevity Realm in action.
"Master, how will you make your move?" Fang Qingxue asked, scanning the surroundings. The light around the mansion radiated immense force—any disturbance might trigger deadly counterattacks.
The Taiyuan Immortal Mansion was a massive, rotating field of power. Its movements were slow, steady, and immutable—like the rising and setting of the sun. It followed a natural law.
A structure that had become a part of nature itself—indestructible.
Anyone who tried to disturb it would face the backlash of heaven and earth.
Fang Qingxue knew she had no power to shake such a thing. She, too, was eager to witness how the Sect Master intended to challenge something that resembled the very laws of nature.
The Sect Master's body of clear light expanded suddenly, illuminating the entire mansion in crystalline blue radiance. He seemed to be inspecting something.
"The restrictive formations around this mansion aren't especially strange. The Taiyuan Radiance can't harm me. In fact, for thousands of years the various sects have coveted this place. They've studied it thoroughly. The most dangerous structure is deeper inside—the three Gates of Mysterious Femininity. They were formed from a true immortal artifact. No one can move them. Every sect wants this mansion, wants that immortal relic—but none have succeeded."
Long Xuan nodded vigorously.
"Master, doesn't the Taiyi Sect have an immortal artifact of their own? Why don't they bring it out, break this mansion open, and seize the treasures inside? It's said the mansion contains countless treasures—elixirs, secret scriptures, divine techniques. Any sect that obtained it would become number one overnight. Taiyi could exterminate demon path, suppress the monster clans, and dominate the entire world!"
"It isn't that simple," Jialan explained calmly.
"Taiyi may have the strength to break the mansion, but they would need to exhaust enormous power—and even then, at least one or two Longevity experts might fall. And even if they succeeded, who would allow them to casually take the spoils? If they truly made a move, the Seven Demon Sects, the Five Monster Clans, even the nine other Immortal Sects would all intervene. Even immortals wouldn't be able to control the chaos. Taiyi would end up doing all the work… only for others to reap the reward."
Fang Qingxue nodded.
"Exactly. No one will allow Taiyi to seize this mansion. And if anyone else managed to obtain it, the same siege would fall on them. Even with you here today, Master, I'm sure some forces are already watching."
"You two see clearly," the Sect Master said warmly. "Power corrupts. The stronger one becomes, the more they rely on brute strength to solve problems. But that path leads easily to destruction. When your strength grows, you must grow even more cautious. The future of Yuhua Sect may rest on you. Remember that."
Fang Qingxue bowed deeply.
"Thank you for the guidance, Master."
The Sect Master's voice sharpened.
"Enough. I will now break through this radiance. Protect yourselves."
"Master, won't attacking the mansion draw attention? What if others think we're trying to seize it?"
"No need to worry. My solitary strength cannot claim this place. I am merely rescuing a disciple. If the entire sect's Longevity elders came, bringing out all our Dao artifacts—that would attract trouble. Not this."
With a booming laugh, the Sect Master struck.
Light and darkness clashed. Two suns—the first pure white, the second bottomless black—appeared above the mansion, alternating rapidly. The entire sky warped under their alternating brilliance.
The mansion's defenses erupted. Taiyuan Radiance surged like a million warhorses, and within the light, golden armored warriors, giant spirits, and celestial guardians manifested and charged.
Drums thundered—deep, ancient, violent.
"The Chónghuá Heavenly Drum!" Jialan gasped. She recognized the legendary Dao artifact—used in ancient immortal wars to counter demonic sound arts.
The drum must once have fallen into the hands of the Taiyuan Immortal Sovereign and became part of the mansion's defense.
Yet not even this mattered.
The black-and-white radiance of the Sect Master's power pierced everything. The divine soldiers dissolved. The radiance melted. Even the Heavenly Drum's sound waves were neutralized, broken down, and permeated inch by inch.
"What divine art is that?" Fang Qingxue whispered.
"The true essence of his Vacuum Yin-Yang Dao," Jialan answered reverently. "One of the Primordial Ancient Arts. It unifies the ten directions—splitting into two forces, forming three talents, four symbols, five elements… all the way through the Nine-Palaces. It's a divine art that suppresses the world."
While the Sect Master tore open the defenses outside, Fang Han—deep within the mansion—felt the entire hall tremble violently.
The Taiyuan Mansion floated in the sky. Earthquakes should have been impossible.
"What's happening?" Fang Han jolted awake.
"Your luck has arrived," the ancient voice murmured. "Someone is attacking the mansion from outside. A very powerful expert. He's trying to tear a temporary opening to get you out."
"Who!? Who would come for me—?"
"This one is strong. Vacuum Yin-Yang Dao… a Primordial divine art! He's not as powerful as I once was, but even for me, killing him would not be easy. He could escape my grasp. It must be your Yuhua Sect's Sect Master. Good fortune—very good fortune. If anyone can tear open a path, it's him. Be ready. Opportunities come once."
Fang Han immediately shouted, "Mo Nu, get inside the Royal Cauldron! We'll take the chance together! Senior, if I escape, I swear I'll find a way to free you!"
The mysterious being laughed.
"Good! Cause and effect—sow good, reap good. I believe you. When Fire Cloud Fairy was trapped, someone came to save her as well… but without the World Tree, she died before they could reach her."
The mansion roared again. Fang Han gathered his strength. Thirty-one divine abilities surged within him. He sat inside the Royal Cauldron, ready to shoot forth at the first sign of an opening.
And then—
Two years passed.
Inside the mansion, two full years of starvation, meditation, and exhaustion.
Outside, only two days.
Fang Han's elixirs were gone. His qi was the only thing sustaining Mo Nu. The ten Asura warriors and sword demon puppets had long since perished inside the Yellow Springs Diagram—there wasn't enough qi to keep them alive.
Yet Fang Han persisted, refining his divine arts, sharpening his spirit, pushing his cultivation even further.
Finally—
A voice echoed through the chaos.
"Fang Han? Can you hear me? This is the Sect Master. If you're alive—answer me!"