Although the God Clan's Hatred-Heaven God Emperor appeared to be only at the first level of the Longevity Secret Realm—the Myriad Lifespan Realm—Fang Han knew better than anyone what that truly meant.
He had crossed blades with the God Clan for years.
Even without concealing his strength, Hatred-Heaven alone was likely stronger than Dragon Daoist and Wood Daoist combined.
In front of such a being, Fang Han did not dare make the slightest rash move.
Even with Yan Shuiyi at his side, neither of them had stepped into the Longevity Secret Realm. No matter how immense their cultivation foundations were, their explosive power could not exceed one hundred million galloping horse force.
As for the Wood Daoist he had subdued—if that ancient had still been at full strength, killing Hatred-Heaven might have been possible. But now?
Not even a sliver of certainty.
And Fan Qingying was standing right there as well.
Fang Han wanted to strike big—but not at the cost of his own life. His thoughts spun rapidly, weaving calculation after calculation, searching for a way out. A way to deal with these people. Or better yet—to use something else to kill Hatred-Heaven for him.
More than that, Fang Han knew Hatred-Heaven possessed a supreme-grade Dao Artifact: the Hatred-Heaven Compass.
A supreme-grade Dao Artifact in the hands of a Longevity Realm expert was a completely different monster than one wielded by a Divine Ability cultivator.
Take the Yellow Springs Diagram, for example. In Elder Tianxing's hands, it could push the Gate of Abi and the Bridge of Helplessness to their absolute limits—opening spatial portals across millions of miles, striking invisibly, appearing and vanishing like a ghost, holding off several ancient giants alone without losing ground.
In Fang Han's hands, it could only allow instant movement across a few thousand miles.
The difference was heaven and earth.
The God Clan.
Among all races across the heavens and myriad worlds, their bloodline was the most exalted.
And a God Emperor among them possessed power that could overturn the cosmos.
If Fang Han made a move now, there would be only one outcome: eternal suppression—or instant death. Even his half-undying body would be meaningless.
"Hatred-Heaven God Emperor… Abandon-Heaven Thief… one hates Heaven, one abandons Heaven. Are they connected? And what exactly is the relationship between Hatred-Heaven and Fan Qingying? Master and disciple?" Fang Han's thoughts surged. "But Qingying clearly isn't God Clan—otherwise the World Tree would have reacted violently."
He had originally assumed Fan Qingying's lair housed only God Kings. That would have been manageable—kill them, seize their divine seeds and vital essence, strip their treasures, suppress Fan Qingying, steal the Great Chaos Thunder Sword, and escape.
But with a God Emperor present, that plan collapsed completely.
"Fang Han," Yan Shuiyi's voice entered his mind through the flow of water qi, silent and flawless as it merged with his Black Emperor Water Sovereign energy. "This Hatred-Heaven Daoist feels terribly wrong. His aura isn't Immortal Dao, nor Demonic Dao. It triggers a primal suppression in me—as if he's my eternal nemesis. What is this?"
"You feel it too?" Fang Han replied. "Remember what I told you. Do not act rashly. Otherwise, both of us will die here. Follow my lead."
He cut off the transmission.
"Ula Prince, Miss Yan," Hatred-Heaven said with a faint smile, noticing the two of them weighing the crystal cards in their hands, half-reluctant, half-unwilling to let go. "Do you find my little gift… inappropriate?"
He had no idea their hesitation was merely cover for silent communication.
Yan Shuiyi was sharp. She exchanged a glance with Fang Han, then swiftly put the crystal card away. Both spoke in unison:
"One does not refuse a gift from an elder."
"Hahaha!" Hatred-Heaven laughed heartily. "Excellent. Truly a perfect pair—talented, beautiful, and of one mind. This time, I am determined to kill Fang Han. With the two of you assisting, he has no path of escape. You are indeed the brightest stars of the cultivation world—each of you capable of contending with an ordinary ancient giant."
And he wasn't wrong.
Both Yan Shuiyi and Fang Han truly possessed that level of potential.
"Senior Hatred-Heaven," Fang Han asked calmly, "have you discovered Fang Han's current whereabouts?"
"Not yet," Hatred-Heaven replied. "I divined for three days and nights with the compass—only enough to confirm that Fang Han killed my seven subordinates. Miss Yan is a disciple of the Taiyi Sect, with extensive intelligence channels. I assume you wouldn't come unprepared?"
Divination was one of the most taxing arts. It consumed vast mana and invited inner demons, drawing the ire of Heaven and spirits alike. Divining the past was manageable—but divining the present or future interfered directly with the laws of Heaven and Earth, often costing lifespan or leading to madness.
"An elder of our Taiyi Sect, Grand Elder Tai Mangtian," Yan Shuiyi said, "reached the fourth Longevity level and comprehended the laws of time. When he tried to divine his own future tribulation, he suffered qi deviation—his body shattered, inner fire consumed him, and he turned to ash. For Senior to divine the past alone already speaks to your immense power."
"I merely relied on a treasure," Hatred-Heaven said quickly.
"Ula Prince," Yan Shuiyi continued, turning to Fang Han, "tell them the intelligence we purchased from the Six Paths Alliance for ten million pills. The possible hiding places."
Hatred-Heaven, Fan Qingying, and the Immortal-Execution Thief all focused their attention on him.
Fang Han remained composed. He cleared his throat and spoke evenly.
"According to the Six Paths Alliance, since Fang Han has not returned to the Yuhua Sect, there are three likely hiding places. First: the Barbaric God Temples, within the Lands of the Five Elements. Second: the Taiyuan Immortal Manor. Third: the underground depths. Fang Han cultivates the Yellow Emperor Earth Sovereign Dao—he can pulverize earth into primordial qi. Hiding underground would be his safest option. He may currently be in a place known as Seal-Demon Ridge."
"Underground? Seal-Demon Ridge?" Hatred-Heaven and Fan Qingying frowned. Neither had heard of such a place.
Yan Shuiyi herself was inwardly confused—but she played along flawlessly, her expression natural and assured.
"I've already divined the Five Elements Lands and the Taiyuan Immortal Manor," Hatred-Heaven said slowly. "Fang Han isn't there. But Seal-Demon Ridge—without a precise location, I cannot divine it."
"We don't know its exact position either," Yan Shuiyi said. "But the Six Paths Alliance provided an approximate direction. Why don't we investigate directly? However, we aren't particularly skilled in burrowing deep underground. Does Senior possess such means?"
Hatred-Heaven's eyes lit up.
"Seal-Demon Ridge… so that's where he's hiding," Fang Han thought coldly. "Good. I'll lead you straight to the Human Emperor Brush."
That was his true scheme.
The Human Emperor Brush had participated in the Primordial War. After being struck down by the God Clan, it had fallen to the level of a supreme-grade Dao Artifact—but its might still shook the heavens, capable of suppressing all realms.
If Hatred-Heaven encountered it, death would be inevitable.
And once everyone was drawn underground—it would become Fang Han's domain. Underground combat overwhelmingly favored him.
Borrowing a blade to kill.
"Seal-Demon Ridge—where is it?" Hatred-Heaven rose to his feet. "No wonder the Taiyi Sect's Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order has failed so many times. He's hiding underground. Don't worry about burrowing—I possess a Dao Artifact called the Earth-Piercing Divine Needle. Though its combat power is mediocre, it can open earth veins and descend hundreds of thousands of zhang with ease."
"Then let's depart at once," Yan Shuiyi said smoothly, rising and subtly yielding the lead to Fang Han.
"Da Yin, Da Ming, Da Yuan, Da Qiong, Da Tao—come with me. Qingying, you as well," Hatred-Heaven commanded.
Five figures in deep purple robes flew out from the depths of the Unending Palace.
All of them were Golden Core experts—minor ancient giants.
Fang Han's heart skipped.
They were God Kings—the same level as the seven he had already killed.
"So many Golden Core experts…" Yan Shuiyi looked at Fan Qingying, her longtime confidante.
"They are Senior Hatred-Heaven's subordinates," Fan Qingying explained via divine sense.
"The stronger our force, the surer Fang Han's death," Yan Shuiyi said, enveloping herself in the Azure Sea Divine Pearl, fully alert. "With Senior's help, the Taiyi Sect's reward will surely include your share."
"I care nothing for rewards," Hatred-Heaven said flatly. "Immortal pills, Dao Artifacts, pills—I lack nothing. You may have them all. I want only Fang Han's head."
Thunder crackled as his body shook. A vast force wrapped around Fang Han and Yan Shuiyi, carrying them instantly to the surface of the sea.
"That direction," Fang Han pointed. "Fly several hundred thousand miles, near the Falling Star Mountain of the Stellar Gate. Seal-Demon Ridge lies there."
"Good," Hatred-Heaven said. "Though you are swift, neither of you has entered the Longevity Realm. Time is precious—I'll carry you."
His voice turned cold and absolute.
"I have mastered a supreme divine ability—Grand Shift Art."
"In a single instant—one hundred thousand miles."