Demon Witch Mountain.
Han Yi was deeply exhilarated to calculate that he could condense a Dao Fruit and advance to the Second Step of the Dao Realm within just over a century.
In the Primordial Great World, he had relied on numerous low-level cultivators, Immortal Monarchs, and Immortal Sovereigns to estimate that he would need approximately seven thousand years to complete the remaining 70% of his progress, which equated to one point of progress per century.
However, under the pressure of imminent crisis, he swiftly shifted his approach. Over the past decade, he had traversed nearly half of the Dao God Continent and "developed" 390 Dao Realm cultivators. By utilizing the Myriad Nether Tome and the Proficiency Panel, he had these Dao Realm cultivators provide proficiency.
This allowed him to accelerate his understanding of the Dao Scripture to a rate of one point of progress every two years, a fifty-fold increase.
Comparing the quantity of proficiency provided, the tens of millions of Myriad Nether Incarnations he had cultivated in the Primordial Great World were equivalent to just eight Dao Realm cultivators.
This vast chasm between ordinary Immortals and those of the Dao Realm was as expected. After all, despite the countless cultivators and Immortals in the Primordial Great World, only a few dozen Dao Realm cultivators had ever emerged.
This was precisely why Han Yi had meticulously selected the Myriad Nether Incarnations, choosing the best. Had he indiscriminately accepted all, the disparity would have been even greater.
Instead of continuing to develop his Dao Realm through external cultivation with his Myriad Nether Incarnation, Han Yi chose to remain on Demon Witch Mountain to cultivate.
A century was a span he could afford to wait.
However, just thirty years later, news reached his Cultivation Palace. Han Yi's expression shifted as he emerged from the palace, passing beyond the protective Great Formation of Demon Witch Mountain.
Standing at the edge of Chaos, he bowed respectfully toward a figure atop Demon Witch Mountain.
That figure was Mountain Lord Wangxi, the Third Mountain Lord of Sword Demon Witch Mountain.
Without delay, Han Yi used an Escape Technique to vanish into the Chaos. Half a minute later, he found himself in the Chaos region surrounding Demon Witch Mountain, where he encountered Celestial Venerable Suizhu.
The earlier message had come from Mountain Lord Wangxi, informing Han Yi that Celestial Venerable Suizhu wished to meet him.
As a Chaos-Grade Great Power, it was inconvenient for Celestial Venerable Suizhu to enter Demon Witch Mountain directly. Instead, he had relayed his message through Mountain Lord Wangxi, instructing him to summon Han Yi.
In the Void Land of Chaos, Han Yi met Celestial Venerable Suizhu, his face radiating excitement.
"Greetings, Heavenly Venerable."
It had been over four thousand years since their last face-to-face conversation. Back then, during the Nine Realms Unification, when the Dao warned of impending danger, Purgatory Island and Void Demon Palace had been eyeing the Sui Zhu Immortal Court like tigers eyeing their prey. Celestial Venerable Suizhu had emerged from the Chaos, wielding the majestic authority of a Heavenly Venerable, deterring those two great forces from making any rash moves.
At that time, Han Yi was merely in the Grand Unity Realm, not even an Immortal Sovereign.
"Good, good, good."
"Han Yi, you've actually ascended to the Dao Realm so quickly. You truly live up to the name of Heaven's Chosen."
"By the way, how did you join Demon Witch Mountain? How is the situation at the Immortal Court now?"
Although he had set up contingencies within the Immortal Court, even as a Heavenly Venerable, Age Candle couldn't sense the situation there across three Dao Domains.
"Everything was fine at the Immortal Court when I left over seventy years ago."
"For these past few thousand years, Fellow Daoists Myriad Tribulations and Profound Repository have been overseeing the Immortal Court..."
Han Yi began slowly recounting the events that had unfolded in the Immortal Court and his own experiences over the years.
He spoke in great detail about the Immortal Court's affairs, but glossed over his personal matters.
When he reached the part about the Primordial Dao Realm crashing into the Kunlun Region, and how he had stormed into it to seize numerous treasures, Celestial Venerable Suizhu exclaimed with satisfaction.
When he described the reactivation of the Great Expedition and their actions in the Great Eternal Wisdom World, Celestial Venerable Suizhu slowly exhaled, as if a weight had been lifted from his heart.
When he mentioned Dao Ancestor Xuanzang's return from Chaos, his severe injuries, and the Void Demon Palace Elder's southern advance, a ferocious gleam flashed in Celestial Venerable Suizhu's eyes.
When he recounted how, at the First Step of the Dao Realm, he had slain a Dao Fruit Tier expert from the Void Demon Palace, Celestial Venerable Suizhu's expression filled with immense approval.
It took Han Yi half an incense stick's time to recount all that had transpired between the Immortal Court and himself over the years.
Based on his encounter with Celestial Venerable Suizhu at the Dao God Sect forty years ago, Han Yi surmised that the Celestial Venerable's prolonged silence over the past millennia was due to being fully absorbed in the Boundary Heart Deduction, leaving him unable to attend to other matters or focus on anything else.
If this was true of Celestial Venerable Suizhu, it likely held for the other Heavenly Venerables as well, including Eastern Emperor Taiyi, the Heavenly Venerables of Purgatory Island and Void Demon Palace. None of them knew what had occurred in the Primordial Great World.
Han Yi was likely the first cultivator to have crossed three Dao Domains from the Primordial era to reach the Dao God Continent. Without the aid of Sword Demon Witch Mountain, such a journey would have been far more arduous.
It's worth noting that even the Chaotic Antiquity Dao Domain alone was enough to deter most cultivators at the Dao Fruit and External Dao Realms. The omnipresent dangers meant that a single misstep could result in being crushed by a passing Chaos-Grade expert—a death that would be utterly futile.
The range of expressions that crossed Celestial Venerable Suizhu's face was remarkable. Though a Heavenly Venerable could typically maintain composure even in the face of internal storms, he revealed his true emotions to Han Yi—a testament to the trust he placed in him.
After Han Yi finished speaking, Celestial Venerable Suizhu took several moments to compose himself before slowly saying:
"You've done well."
"I truly didn't misjudge you."
"Now, we will return to the Primordial. Will you return with us, or remain here?"
Celestial Venerable Suizhu didn't immediately take Han Yi away; instead, he asked for his preference. Han Yi's future was limitless—by their next meeting, he might even have become a Heavenly Venerable.
The Great Chaos Cataclysm brought with it the rise of Heaven-Defying Cultivators, a truth Suizhu had fully grasped through Han Yi.
Without hesitation, Han Yi nodded. "Naturally, I will accompany the Heavenly Venerable back to the Heavenly Court."
In truth, this choice wasn't difficult for Han Yi. He had long prepared himself for this moment: if Age Candle were replaced and returned to the Primordial, he would follow without question.
Remaining on Demon Witch Mountain would mean a long journey back to the Primordial without the mountain's assistance. Crossing three Dao Domains required at least the External Dao Realm; even ordinary Dao Fruit Realm cultivators wouldn't be safe.
As for the 390 Dao Realm Avatars he had cultivated on the Dao God Continent, Han Yi had long prepared a plan.
No rule dictated that these Avatars had to remain on the Dao God Continent. Therefore, Han Yi intended to pull all these Dao Realm entities into his Divine Aperture World, carrying them with him at all times, to truly "corral" them and have them provide "Proficiency."
After all, the Dao Realm cultivators he had selected were not ordinary Dao-seeking cultivators from mainstream sects. They were either utterly wicked, bloodthirsty murderers, or those who had undergone Demonic Transformation. Even if he exploited them as mere machines, he felt no moral qualms—instead, he saw it as carrying out the will of Heaven.
Of course, Dao Realm entities inherently possess "mass." Normally, a Dao Realm cultivator can only absorb a limited number of other Dao Realm entities into their body, regardless of where they are stored. Exceeding this limit, becoming overloaded, would cause the absorbing Dao Realm cultivator to be "crushed."
In the Cultivation World, the general rule is that a Dao Realm cultivator can bear ten other Dao Realm cultivators of equal cultivation without significant adverse effects.
But Han Yi was different. His multi-disciplinary cultivation, combined with his refinement in the Divine Refinement Heavenly Pool on the Ancestor God Star, had transformed his Ancient God Bloodline into the Innate Primordial Chaos Divine Clan.
With the perfect cultivation provided by the Proficiency Panel, Han Yi had calculated that he could withstand approximately one thousand Dao Realms. Any more than that, and his internal Divine Aperture World would be crushed, endangering his very existence. Seeing that Han Yi showed no attachment to the title of Mountain Lord of Demon Witch Mountain, Celestial Venerable Suizhu felt even more pleased.
"Good. We agree. In ten years, we'll depart from Dao God Mountain and return to the Primordial. I'll come for you then."
"Use this decade to prepare. Settle affairs as Mountain Lord of Demon Witch Mountain. Once we return, if you wish to come back to the Central Dao Domain, it will likely be until the Second Stage of the Dao Tomb Ripples—100,000 years from now."
Han Yi had wanted to ask for more time. He had already sent messages through the Myriad Nether Tome to numerous Dao Realm Avatars scattered across the Dao God Continent. Traveling at full speed, they would need about a month to reach him.
But Celestial Venerable Suizhu's words dispelled his final concern.
His thoughts shifted. He surmised that these Heavenly Venerables, in their journey from the Primordial to this place, must have gained more than just methods to transcend the Dao Grave.
The ten-year agreement was likely the time needed for the Heavenly Venerables to digest their gains.
Celestial Venerable Suizhu gave a few more instructions, left a communication method, and returned to Dao God Mountain. He still had unfinished business there, and he had rushed to meet Han Yi out of concern for the Immortal Court's situation, wanting to inquire about it immediately.
Han Yi swiftly returned to Demon Witch Mountain, made some quick arrangements, left a message, and then departed again, vanishing into the Chaos.
For him, Demon Witch Mountain was merely a rest stop for temporary rest and cultivation. Though he was the Mountain Lord, he felt little sense of belonging and hadn't established a true Dao Field or power base.
His true allegiance lay with the Primordial Great World.
After escaping into the Chaos, he found a large city at the edge of the Dao God Continent and descended into it.
Over the next month, Dao Realm Avatars from various lands secretly entered the city, undetected, and sought out Han Yi. He then absorbed them into his Divine Aperture World.
Despite repeatedly warning them to exercise utmost caution, only 375 of the original 390 Dao Realm cultivators he had developed returned. A staggering fifteen had perished.
Han Yi wasn't surprised. On the Dao God Continent, Dao Realm Avatars were universally targeted for extermination. Even the most discreet among them faced a far greater risk of being killed than ordinary Dao Realm cultivators once their identities were revealed.
He had no intention of developing more Dao Realm Avatars. Instead, he preferred to remain quietly here, waiting for the Celestial Venerable Suizhu's summons.
Yet, despite his desire for a smooth path, fate had other plans.
Three years later, a figure descended from the heavens and landed in the heart of the great city.
Though the city was vast, its strongest openly acknowledged cultivator was a single Dao Fruit Realm expert. Sensing the newcomer's arrival, this Dao Fruit Realm cultivator moved to intercept, only to be met with a deafening roar that nearly shattered his Dao Soul:
"Get lost!"
The Dao Fruit Realm expert plummeted like a severed kite string, crashing down at terrifying speed. Though he survived, grievously injured, terror gripped his heart, and he dared not show his face again.
Even Han Yi, deep in profound cultivation, was instantly startled by the commotion. Emerging from his Immortal's Cave, he gazed upward and identified the descending figure. His brow furrowed, and a subtle shift crossed his face.
The Daoist robe on this person was strangely familiar to Han Yi.
He had seen a similar robe on the Myriad Dynasties Dao Ancestor, though the style wasn't identical, sharing about seventy percent similarity.
Most strikingly, the pattern on the robe's chest was identical to those worn by the three True Saint Palace Dao Realm female cultivators Han Yi had slain near the Eternal Dao Trace, as well as the Myriad Dynasties Dao Ancestor's robe.
Could this be a True Saint Palace cultivator?
Was this person coming for him?
How did they find him?
As Han Yi's thoughts raced,
the descending figure seemed to sense his gaze. Turning to face Han Yi, a cold smile spread across their face, their killing intent surging.
"I've found you."
With that, the figure drew their Dao Sword and slashed downward.
Whoosh!
Silver sword light descended like a celestial river, splitting the heavens and earth in two. The chilling Sword Intent that erupted from the strike immediately alerted the city's cultivators. Those who looked up from their residences and streets felt a sudden, bone-chilling cold.
Boom!
Countless buildings below crumbled to dust under the sword's path, disintegrating at a touch. Among them were countless low-level cultivators' residences and streets, all swept into destruction.
High in the air, the sword wielder tilted his head upward, meeting the gaze of a figure who had appeared at his level in an instant.
"As expected of the one who killed Senior Brother Wanchao. Your strength is impressive."
This figure was Han Yi, who had evaded the sword strike using the Traceless Dao Technique.
Han Yi reached into his sleeve, pinched a strand of silver light, and rubbed it between his fingers until it vanished.
This silver light was a fragment of the earlier Sword Light. Even with the Traceless Dao Technique, he had narrowly avoided being struck—a perilous near miss.
He then looked down at the Immortal's Cave below, where the silver light was gradually dissipating, revealing a valley a hundred miles long, a mile wide, and several miles deep.
Just a breath ago, this valley had been a thriving land.
Han Yi's expression turned cold and severe.
He raised his head to look at the man with the Silver Sword, finally seeing him in full. He was a youth of around thirty, his brow radiating innate arrogance.
The silver longsword in his hand was flexible, its slight movements sending dazzling, shimmering light rippling through the air—a sight both magnificent and profoundly dangerous.
This sword was no ordinary weapon.
Han Yishen gazed deeply at the young man and slowly asked, "True Saint Palace?"
"Truly stubborn and foolish."
The young man before him was not at the External Dao Realm but merely the Dao Fruit Realm. Moreover, he addressed Myriad Dynasties Dao Ancestor as "Senior Brother," implying that both his cultivation realm and seniority were below that of Myriad Dynasties Dao Ancestor.
Yet the danger he exuded far surpassed that of Myriad Dynasties Dao Ancestor, existing on an entirely different level. Facing him, Han Yi felt as if he were confronting an External Dao Realm powerhouse.
He knew that, like himself, this young man was a Heaven's Chosen capable of fighting beyond his cultivation realm.
Han Yi raised his guard. He had never underestimated other Dao Realm cultivators.
As for how this young man had traveled from the Vast Heng Dao Domain to the Central Dao Domain, it wasn't difficult to deduce. The Dao God Sect's Boundary Heart Deduction involved the Three Thousand Heavenly Venerables, and some needed to be replaced. This meant other Heavenly Venerables had rushed to the Central Dao Domain from the Nine Great Dao Domains.
This likely explained the young man's presence on the Dao God Continent. The True Saint Palace's Heavenly Venerables had also arrived.
However.
There was one thing Han Yi still couldn't figure out: How had Myriad Dynasties Dao Ancestor and this young man from the True Saint Palace managed to find him?