For a cultivator just beginning their journey, a century felt like an eternity. A failed Foundation Establishment attempt, coupled with a Dao Injury, could mean that after a hundred years, they'd be nothing but dust.
But for a Dao Realm cultivator, a century was merely a brief period of seclusion.
Thus, Han Yi was quite satisfied that within a century, or at worst a millennium, the Myriad Journeys Palace's extensive intelligence network could investigate the Chaotic Antiquity Dao Domain for information about the Celestial Venerable Suizhu.
Of course, Han Yi's primary plan was to personally visit the Chaotic Antiquity Dao Domain to conduct his own investigation. If an opportunity arose, he would directly contact the Myriad Journeys Palace there to obtain clues.
This commission was merely an initial step, one part of his broader strategy to locate the Celestial Venerable Suizhu. He couldn't possibly place all his hopes on the Myriad Journeys Palace alone.
"By the way," Han Yi asked, "if I travel to the Chaotic Antiquity Dao Domain myself, can I use this Myriad Journeys Token to locate the Imperial Palace there?"
The shopkeeper nodded. "Certainly. A single Myriad Journeys Token grants access to the Imperial Palaces in all Nine Great Dao Domains."
Hearing this, Han Yi finally felt reassured. After paying one hundred million Dao Crystals, he rose and departed.
After leaving the Myriad Journeys Hall, Han Yi prepared to depart from the Myriad Journeys Palace and return to the Primordial World. According to his plan, before heading to the Chaotic Antiquity Dao Domain, he needed to return to Great Luo to handle matters related to Donghuang. He also intended to inform Dao Ancestors like Myriad Tribulations and Profound Repository about his arrangements around the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, to put their minds at ease.
Additionally, if possible, he would intervene to convert the Dao Fruits, External Dao practitioners, and even the Dao Harmonization cultivators of the Void Demon Palace into Myriad Nether Incarnations, thereby completely eliminating the northern threat to the Sui Zhu Immortal Court.
By then, the northern Void Demon Palace, the eastern Donghuang, and the southern Purgatory Island would all be under his control.
Unless the Heavenly Venerables of the north and south insisted on attacking the Sui Zhu Immortal Court, the Immortal Court could rest assured without any worries.
But at that moment...
The entire Myriad Journeys Palace trembled slightly. Though the vibration was subtle, it was keenly felt by those in the Dao Realm.
"Hmm? What's happening?"
"This vibration... is the Imperial Palace accelerating?"
"Why is this happening?"
Han Yi looked up into the sky, his eyes concentrating divine power, emitting golden light that pierced through the protective barrier. Through it, he observed the Chaos Space continuously speeding up.
Han Yi was puzzled. Normally, the Myriad Journeys Palace maintained a constant speed, only accelerating in extraordinary circumstances.
Just as his confusion deepened, a streak of light suddenly flashed across the Chaos, accompanied by a furious roar that erupted from the void:
"Wizard Elephant, get the hell out here!"
The streak of light struck the palace's protective barrier and instantly detonated. The terrifying force caused the palace to veer off course, and instead of the slight tremors caused by acceleration, the entire structure began to tremble violently.
This violent shaking was unmistakably the result of a powerful attack.
Han Yi's face paled, his heart pounding. The Dao Sound that had just echoed through the Chaos struck an instinctive fear within him—a primal reaction reserved for confronting an overwhelming, irresistible force.
"A Heavenly Venerable... and not just any ordinary one."
"A Heavenly Venerable is attacking the Myriad Journeys Palace!"
"But how dare he?"
The Palace Master of the Myriad Journeys Palace remained shrouded in mystery; no one knew his true cultivation realm. However, rumors in the Chaos suggested that he was a Half-Step Transcendent-level supreme expert—the only kind capable of restraining the numerous Heavenly Venerables across the Nine Great Dao Domains.
If an Imperial Palace were attacked and the situation escalated beyond control, the Palace Master would undoubtedly intervene.
Therefore, in Han Yi's understanding, no ordinary Heavenly Venerable would be foolish enough to attack the Myriad Journeys Palace.
As Han Yi's thoughts flashed through his mind, the besieged Imperial Palace seemed to realize it couldn't escape by accelerating. Instead, it gradually slowed until it came to a complete stop.
Simultaneously, three figures emerged from three different directions around the palace, soaring directly into the Chaos.
The auras emanating from these three figures were incredibly powerful, unmistakably those of Heavenly Venerable cultivators who had surpassed the Dao Harmonization Realm.
"This is intolerable! Lu Jiuxiao, have you lost your fear of death?"
"Damn it! He's broken through to the high-tier Heavenly Venerable realm. No wonder he dared to intercept our Imperial Palace."
"Vice Palace Master, what should we do?"
These three figures stood amidst the Chaos, their faces twisted with shock and fury. The two Heavenly Venerables on the sides looked at the one in the middle, clearly recognizing him as their leader.
This central figure was none other than the ruler of the Myriad Journeys Palace within the Vast Heng Dao Domain, and within the palace itself, he held the title of Vice Palace Master.
His Daoist Title was Wizard Elephant.
Wizard Elephant's face was ashen. Being intercepted filled him with burning rage. Although he was himself a high-tier Heavenly Venerable, he knew all too well that against another like Lu Jiuxiao, he would be utterly outmatched.
Due to Lu Jiuxiao's strength and reputation, he was renowned throughout the Nine Great Dao Domains.
Though a rogue cultivator, he possessed prodigious talent and aptitude. Through his tumultuous journey through the Chaos, he had acquired numerous rare treasures. His combat prowess was truly heaven-defying, allowing him to fight beyond his rank even among the Heavenly Venerables.
In essence, Lu Jiuxiao's fame had been forged through sheer strength, carved out through relentless battles.
Tens of thousands of years ago, during a conflict over a Supreme Treasure, Wuxiang Celestial Venerable had clashed with Lu Jiuxiao. At the time, Wuxiang, being a high-tier Heavenly Venerable, had managed to suppress Lu Jiuxiao, who was still a mid-tier Heavenly Venerable.
Now, Lu Jiuxiao returned with the aura of a high-tier Heavenly Venerable. It was no wonder that Wuxiang Celestial Venerable and the other two Heavenly Venerables of the Myriad Journeys Palace were both enraged and alarmed. After all, Lu Jiuxiao had already proven capable of challenging high-tier opponents while only a mid-tier cultivator. Now that he had broken through to the high-tier, his combat power had undergone a metamorphosis. Even Wuxiang Celestial Venerable found him an incredibly thorny adversary.
Yet, despite the challenge, with their path blocked, they had no choice but to act.
"Never mind, you two maintain the formation. I'll handle Lu Jiuxiao."
"With the Myriad Journeys Palace as our backing, even Lu Jiuxiao can't touch me."
With a wave of his hand, a massive beam of light erupted from the core of the Myriad Journeys Palace behind him. Piercing through the protective barrier, it coalesced in Wizard Elephant's grasp into a pitch-black long blade.
At that precise moment, a figure clad in Qingxuan robes burst through the Chaos, stepping across the void.
It was a middle-aged man with a resolute countenance. His eyes radiated a willpower that seemed capable of piercing heaven and earth, suppressing even the Chaos itself.
This was Lu Jiuxiao.
The Ancient Artifact in Lu Jiuxiao's hand was a Giant Axe, its surface flowing with dazzling light. The killing intent emanating from this radiance was so potent it could seemingly freeze the very Chaos.
Lu Jiuxiao's gaze, deep like an abyss, settled on Wizard Elephant. Without a word, he raised the Giant Axe and swung it downward.
As the axe descended, the entire Chaos erupted in radiant energy, a terrifying force that seemed capable of cleaving the very fabric of existence.
Before the Myriad Journeys Palace, Wuxiang Celestial Venerable stood with a grave expression. The long blade in his hand, amplified by the palace's power, emitted an aura that nearly matched that of an Ancient Artifact.
Seeing that Lu Jiuxiao had attacked immediately with a full-strength strike, Wizard Elephant wasted no words. With a thunderous shout of "Kill!", he charged forward.
The blade's annihilation clashed with the axe's dazzling light, both forces colliding in the Chaos.
Endless destruction and boundless light filled the Chaos. Within the Myriad Journeys Palace, Han Yi looked up and saw the spectacle. He immediately closed his eyes, severing his visual connection. Even so, the colliding light seemed to ignore the barriers of space, exploding directly within his eyes through that brief glimpse.
A surge of resolve stirred within him. Divine power surged through his body, converging in his eyes. Using his Divine Sealing Power, he froze the light exploding within his eyes, then dispersed it outward.
As he recovered, he sensed that the collisions in the high skies beyond the palace were not isolated incidents, but a continuous barrage, growing increasingly intense.
Yet within two breaths, the aura of the collisions began to fade, moving further away.
He surmised that the Heavenly Venerables were deliberately avoiding the Myriad Journeys Palace, shielding this vast mobile world from harm.
What he didn't know was this:
The ruler of the Myriad Journeys Palace, one of its Vice Palace Masters, the Wuxiang Celestial Venerable, had originally intended to harness the palace's immense power to block the high-level Heavenly Venerable Lu Jiuxiao.
But Lu Jiuxiao's strength proved too formidable, and he somehow managed to disrupt Wuxiang's connection to the palace's power.
Left with no other choice, Wuxiang Celestial Venerable had led the other two Heavenly Venerables in drawing Lu Jiuxiao away.
Han Yi, lacking the necessary understanding of Heavenly Venerable-level conflicts, suppressed the light in his eyes and opened them again, his heart already pounding with apprehension.
This is unimaginably powerful. This clash at the Heavenly Venerable level is truly extraordinary.
Though Han Yi wasn't yet a Heavenly Venerable, he had witnessed their power firsthand on the Dao God Continent. During his attempt to slay a Dao Fruit Realm cultivator from the True Saint Palace, he had been targeted by the Third Palace Master. The Celestial Venerable Suizhu had arrived just in time to block the attack.
But comparing that earlier clash between two Heavenly Venerables to the current confrontation outside the Myriad Journeys Palace was like comparing a village shaman to a grand sorcerer—the difference was staggering.
Squinting and having taken precautions to protect himself, Han Yi looked up into the sky. By now, only a turbulent tide of destruction remained, and the four figures had vanished.
Han Yi felt a twinge of regret. He knew that observing ordinary Heavenly Venerables was still possible, but witnessing a clash between mid- to high-tier Heavenly Venerables was beyond his current capabilities. Even attempting to follow them using escape techniques would be futile.
He slowly ascended, scanning the surroundings of the Myriad Journeys Palace. He spotted over a dozen figures stationed at strategic points, maintaining order and preventing chaos.
The auras of these figures were those of External Dao and Dao Harmonization Realm cultivators.
Without a Heavenly Venerable to oversee the Myriad Journeys Palace, even this grand Imperial Palace feared that its passengers might harbor ulterior motives. Displaying their strength preemptively was the best way to maintain stability.
With this thought, Han Yi produced the Myriad Journeys Token. After activating it, the token transformed into a streak of light that shot skyward, pierced through the protective barrier, and entered the Chaos. After discerning his direction, he vanished in an instant.
After Han Yi's departure, a Dao Harmonization Realm cultivator who had been observing him finally relaxed his furrowed brow.
"Who is this man? Though an Outer Dao cultivator, his presence triggered my Technique. He's clearly extraordinary. Good he's left; otherwise, he would have been a nuisance."
But his brow only remained smooth for three breaths before furrowing again. This time, his meditating body in mid-air rose to its feet as he stared in the direction Han Yi had fled. His purple eyes glowed as he perceived Han Yi halted in the Chaos, facing a figure in a plain robe.
"That's Daoist Suxi of the True Saint Palace."
It wasn't just this Dao Harmonization cultivator who noticed the disturbance in the Chaos.
On the Myriad Journeys Palace, over a dozen External Dao and Dao Harmonization Realm cultivators, most of them, had also observed the event.
After all, this was a special period for the Myriad Journeys Palace. Even the slightest change in the nearby Chaos Territory would be magnified, scrutinized, and analyzed.
The travelers atop the Imperial Palace also noticed the scene unfolding within the Chaos.
"It's Daoist Suxi of the True Saint Palace. Strange. I thought the three Palace Masters, along with all the cultivators of the palace, had departed for the Central Dao Domain four thousand years ago."
"Even within the True Saint Palace, Suxi is considered one of the top experts, second only to the Heavenly Venerable. How could he be here?"
"The cultivator he intercepted is also an External Daoist, but his aura and appearance are completely unfamiliar. He's not a well-known cultivator in the Chaos."
"Anyone who could draw Suxi's attention must be no ordinary figure. The Myriad Journeys Palace must have records on him."
"Fascinating. First a battle between Heavenly Venerables, now a clash between External Daoists. What kind of day is this?"
The crowd buzzed with speculation.
Meanwhile, within the Chaos...
Han Yi had only been three breaths away from the Myriad Journeys Palace when he stopped. He hadn't gotten far using his Escape Technique. A figure in a plain white robe was approaching him.
With Han Yi's perception, the instant their Dao Thoughts touched, he sensed an overwhelming aura of killing intent emanating from the approaching figure.
The killing intent wasn't scattered but concentrated, and it was clearly directed at him.
Han Yi's thoughts raced, but he had never met this female cultivator and shouldn't have any connection to her.
Yet, the intensity and specificity of this killing intent left him no room for doubt.
Just then, within the Dao Realm, where he had merged with the Dao Fruit, the Great Abyss Divine Blade suddenly warned him:
"Han Yi, be careful. The sword behind her is no ordinary weapon. I sense a killing intent that penetrates to the bone."
"It's undoubtedly a Heavenly Venerable Ancient Artifact, and it's likely far more powerful than my True Form."
Though Han Yi's expression remained calm, his heart trembled with shock. From her aura, the female cultivator appeared to be an External Dao cultivator, like himself. Yet she wielded a Heavenly Venerable Ancient Artifact of exceptionally high caliber.
Who exactly was this woman?
Han Yi mentally reviewed all the factions and individuals he had offended, narrowing it down to two possibilities: the Wisdom Realm or the True Saint Palace.
If it were the Wisdom Realm, they would most likely send a Wisdom Sovereign, not an External Dao cultivator.
Therefore, the answer was clear.
True Saint Palace!
The attacker was from the True Saint Palace. The three Palace Masters of this faction had been invited by the Dao God Sect to develop techniques to counter changes in the Dao Grave. They had even brought their entire palace to the Dao God Continent.
Therefore, the one who came wasn't one of the Palace Masters, but an Outer Dao cultivator.
Furthermore, four thousand years ago, when Han Yi was on the Dao God Continent, he was only at the Dao Realm. Sending an Outer Dao cultivator to kill him was overkill. Those three Heavenly Venerable Palace Masters never imagined that in just a few thousand years, the mere Dao Realm cultivator they wanted dead would break through two realms and ascend to the Outer Dao.
As this thought crossed his mind, Daoist Suxi, who had stopped ahead, spoke in a cold, measured voice: "Primordial World, Han Yi?"
Han Yi's heart lurched.
So, the enemy had indeed come for him, knowing both his origin and name.
Instead of denying it, Han Yi countered with a question: "True Saint Palace!"
Though phrased as a question, it wasn't out of doubt, but confirmation.
His voice carried no malice, yet the moment these three words hung in the air, a tense, sword-drawn atmosphere instantly filled the space between them.