Fang Han forcibly held Yan Shuiyi's hand and flew out of the Six Paths Alliance. Once that scene was witnessed, it immediately became valuable intelligence. That was precisely the effect Fang Han wanted—to create a shockwave, one loud enough to reach Hua Tiandu's ears, to stir his inner demons, perhaps even drive him into deviation during cultivation.
Best case: Hua Tiandu died to his own heart demons.
Worst case: he would never step into the Longevity Secret Realm.
Either outcome suited Fang Han perfectly.
"Let go of me. Now."
High in the Nine Heavens' astral winds, Yan Shuiyi's protective qi flared violently as she shook with all her strength, trying to break free. It was useless. Fang Han's grip was like iron shackles, locking down not only her hand but faintly suppressing the flow of her entire protective energy.
Even more unsettling was what followed.
From Fang Han's palm flowed gentle streams of water-aspected qi, merging seamlessly with her own. The resonance was so perfect that, for a fleeting instant, she felt reluctant to pull away.
That was a dangerous sign.
Yan Shuiyi knew exactly why. She was the reincarnation of a Water Deity Primordial Spirit, and the Black Emperor Water Sovereign qi within Fang Han possessed a fatal attraction to her essence. If their energies were allowed to circulate together in true dual cultivation, the benefits would be immeasurable—for both of them.
"So pure…" Fang Han murmured.
He hadn't let go sooner not entirely by choice. Immersed in her water-origin energy, he entered a near-forgetful state. In just moments, his Black Emperor Water Sovereign qi refined itself further. His pores opened, devouring water essence in torrents. Around his body, black dragon phantoms condensed from mist and vapor, coiling and roaring soundlessly.
"This is terrifying," he realized. "Yan Shuiyi is an enormous boon to my cultivation. If we truly cultivated together, my progress would be explosive. She, too, might directly pierce the barrier of the Longevity Secret Realm."
With a controlled breath, Fang Han released her hand.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Yan Shuiyi was the first to break the silence, her laughter cold. "Your goal is achieved. The Six Paths Alliance saw us. They'll sell this information, and it will reach Hua Tiandu very soon."
"And?" Fang Han replied indifferently. "You don't care. There's no affection between you and Hua Tiandu—just naked. You'd never let him touch even a finger, would you?"
She stared at him with an unreadable expression. "I don't care. But don't use me either. You and Hua Tiandu have a ten-year pact—win or lose by your own ability. Using me to disrupt his cultivation and provoke his heart demons… isn't that dishonorable?"
Fang Han laughed aloud. "On the Great Dao, nothing exists beyond the self. Heaven and Earth revolve around my will. If this alone can provoke his heart demons, then he isn't fit to be my opponent. Dying that way would be deserved."
"You're ruthless," Yan Shuiyi said quietly. "You have the bearing of a demonic emperor. You should cultivate the demonic path, not the immortal one."
"Hmph. Name a sect master who isn't ruthless. Cultivators replace Heaven's will with their own. You're no exception, Yan Shuiyi—or you wouldn't have reached your current level."
After a long pause, she said softly, "You're crueler than I am."
"And that's why my strength surpasses yours," Fang Han replied flatly. "Now, lead me across the sea to Fan Qingying. Do not expose my true identity. If you do, both of us will face annihilation. You don't truly understand that woman—but I do. We're going after the power behind her. Once we take it, you'll be able to cultivate a half-immortal body just like mine."
"There's another force behind Fan Qingying?" Yan Shuiyi froze, then her eyes sharpened. "That explains it. Her endless treasures, pills, artifacts… robbery alone couldn't account for it. And the Great Chaos Thunder Sword—she didn't have it when I first met her. She obtained it suddenly. There's definitely more going on."
"Good. I know the full truth," Fang Han said calmly. "Once this is done, and once there's enough trust between us, I'll tell you everything—provided you swear secrecy. What's at stake isn't small. It concerns the survival of the entire Xuanhuang World."
His tone grew heavy, carrying an unmistakable weight.
Yan Shuiyi felt a chill. She trusted her instincts—and they told her Fang Han wasn't exaggerating.
"If you can truly help me cultivate a half-immortal body, then I'll cooperate," she said decisively. "Your identity remains the Ula Prince. I'll take you to Abandon-Heaven Island—the true base of the Forty Great Thieves—to visit my 'close friend' Fan Qingying."
Two figures streaked through the astral winds, cutting across the heavens. In moments, they crossed into the open sea. After several more hours—and then a full day and night of flight—the endless ocean suddenly gave way to a terrifying sight.
Countless islands emerged from the deep, clustered tightly together. Each island resembled a massive fang, jagged and brutal, like the teeth of some ancient beast rising from the sea.
This was Fang Han's true objective.
Through Yan Shuiyi, he intended not only to obtain the Panwu Strength Divine Art, but to trace the God Clan lurking behind Fan Qingying.
Celestial demons fed best on Black God Pills. Not even immortal qi compared. And the God Clan—if plundered—could provide limitless pills, treasures, and energy.
Right now, Fang Han had no wealth.
So he would rob the God Clan.
Dragging Yan Shuiyi into this was simply perfect.
Find Fan Qingying. Find the God Clan's stronghold in the Xuanhuang World. Strip it clean in one ruthless strike—enough wealth to last a lifetime. Then return to the Yuhua Sect, cultivate in peace, and crush Hua Tiandu.
Otherwise, returning empty-handed would mean stagnation.
Moreover, refining the Eightfold Floating Pagoda fully into Dao Artifacts would require materials worth hundreds of billions—resources that could only be obtained by looting the God Clan.
The God Clan was powerful—but the World Tree was their nemesis. With the Wood Daoist's aid and Yan Shuiyi at his side, wielding two top-grade Dao Artifacts, Fang Han was confident he could even slay a Longevity Realm ancient giant.
Most importantly, he wanted the Great Chaos Thunder Sword.
Once he obtained its Great Chaos Thunder Art, Hua Tiandu's death would be inevitable.
And Fang Qingxue—the reincarnation of the Electric Mother—would become unimaginably terrifying if she wielded it alongside the Undying Lightning Talisman.
This was the heist of Fang Han's life.
One decisive strike.
After this, he would vanish—cultivating in seclusion until he reached the Longevity Realm, emerging as a true hegemon, no longer fearing any Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order.
"Let it be brutal," Fang Han thought. "Rob the God Clan's lair. Capture Fan Qingying. Take the Great Chaos Thunder Sword. Find a God King body for the Wood Daoist. When this is done, I will surpass Hua Tiandu completely."
This mad plan had been born during his month of underground cultivation.
Yan Shuiyi had no idea what kind of insanity was unfolding in Fang Han's mind. If she did, even she would be shaken to the core.
"Fang Han," she said at last, pointing ahead, "that's the true base of the Forty Great Thieves—the Fang Archipelago. Three thousand islands in total. They aren't reefs. They're the fangs of an ancient Taotie beast, gathered by Fan Qingying herself. A grand formation is embedded within them. Anyone who enters is torn apart completely. Even I wouldn't escape."
"Taotie fangs?" Fang Han's pupils contracted.
He activated his divine vision. The jagged islands radiated ferocious killing intent, enveloping hundreds of miles of sea.
Taotie—an ancient feral beast, infamous even among primordial monsters. More savage than Kunpeng, roaming the stars, feared even by Longevity Realm giants. Each fang was as large as a mountain.
Staring at the archipelago, Fang Han felt it clearly.
This great robbery… would not be simple at all.