Even with Fang Han's current cultivation, flying across the ocean and over the entire continent at full speed would take at least ten days, maybe half a month. Yet Wind Whitefeather had brought them back to Yuhua Gate in less than half an hour.
It was a reminder—brutal and awe-inspiring—of what true mastery looked like.
As the protective layer of power around him dissolved, Fang Han found himself standing atop Yuhua Heavenly Palace. Below him stretched a sea of towering peaks. Some mountains blazed with treasure-light that pierced the clouds—likely true disciples refining their artifacts. In the distance, Reincarnation Peak, his own mountain, came into view.
At the heart of the range lay Yuhua City, still bustling as always—hundreds of thousands of disciples cultivating, quarreling, forming alliances, breaking apart, living out countless tales of ambition and fate.
After spending eighteen years cultivating inside the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion—while only eighteen days had passed outside—Fang Han suddenly felt a strange sense of dislocation. Everything was familiar, yet subtly distant.
His mind was steadier now. His spirit sharper. But the world had not waited for him.
With my current Heavenly Being Realm cultivation… where would I rank among Yuhua Gate's 110 true disciples?
Five of them had already formed Golden Cores—each a regional powerhouse. And many others had reached the Sixth Layer, the Unity Realm, or the Fifth Layer, the Heavenly Being Realm like him. Some had terrifying good fortune and rare artifacts that could shift the balance of a fight.
Wind Whitefeather's expression was unusually grave as he addressed Fang Han, Fang Qingxue, Jialan, and the others.
"What Fang Han told you—none of it must leak out. If even a whisper escapes, I will erase the culprit's body and soul. This matter concerns the fate of our sect… and potentially the fate of the entire Xuanhuang World."
His voice deepened.
"I must speak with the Supreme Elders and call for an emergency council. What is coming is far worse than any calamity we have prepared for.
Fang Han—submit your twenty-eight Divine Ability manuals to the Transmission Elder. He will reward you handsomely.
For now, cast everything aside and strengthen yourselves. We must prepare for the catastrophe to come."
With that, Wind Whitefeather vanished into the hidden depths of Yuhua Heavenly Palace, where the elusive Supreme Elders cultivated—ancient beings who rarely emerged unless the sect faced extinction.
The elders of Yuhua Gate were divided into four tiers:
Half-elders, who had not yet reached the Divine Ability Realm and merely managed administrative affairs.Elders, fully initiated Divine Ability experts with voting rights in sect matters.Grand Elders, such as the Transmission Elder, Heavenly Craftsman Elder, and Heavenly Punishment Elder—masters of ninth, tenth-level Divine Abilities, and even Longevity Realm.Supreme Elders—mysterious, unfathomably powerful ancients who slept in the depths of time itself.
Even Jialan and Lingxiao only knew they existed; few had ever seen one.
The fact that Wind Whitefeather sought them immediately said everything about the danger of the God Race's return.
After he left, Fang Han and the others exchanged glances.
"I'll go to the Transmission Elder first," Fang Han said. "After I submit the manuals and receive the reward, please gather at my Reincarnation Peak. We'll refine the Demon God's severed hand together. I've no idea how to even begin using Longevity-Realm flesh as alchemy material."
"It will require serious planning," Jialan agreed. "A being of that level—its flesh is an unparalleled elixir. If we refine it incorrectly, the waste would be unforgivable. Let's meet at your peak and devise a method that benefits us all."
"Also," Fang Han added, pointing at the massive Five Prison King Cauldron, "this thing is far too large to carry around. Could you take it to Reincarnation Peak and anchor it to the ley lines? It can serve as the mountain's suppressing treasure."
"Easily done." Jialan nodded. "And this time… the reward you'll receive will be enough to make even me jealous. Each Divine Ability manual brought back from the outside earns a magic weapon from the sect. And you brought back twenty-eight—"
She clicked her tongue.
"Quite the haul."
"You won't be forgotten," Fang Han said sincerely. After fighting side by side, their bond was no longer shallow friendship—it was the kind forged through life and death.
True comrades. True fellow disciples.
"Go, then," Fang Qingxue waved. "When you return, I have things to ask you—and I'll take you to see Fang Qingwei. I told you: once you reached the Divine Ability Realm, I'd marry her to you. Now you're already at the Fifth Layer. Everything is falling into place."
"What?" Fang Han froze.
"Qingwei has already been punished by the Sect Master," Jialan interjected smoothly. "She's… currently a cat. We'll discuss it later."
She wrapped the massive cauldron in blue qi and soared into the distance.
Fang Qingxue left as well, humming under her breath—an expression that made Fang Han's scalp tingle. She was definitely plotting something.
"That woman is dangerous," Yan muttered in Fang Han's mind. "Be careful not to fall into her traps."
"It's fine," Fang Han said. "I'm not afraid."
He headed straight for the Scripture Hall, where the Transmission Elder resided.
Before he even stepped inside, a voice called out:
"Fang Han? Come in. The Sect Master has already informed us. You've returned with astonishing gains."
Inside the towering library hall, three figures sat waiting:
Transmission ElderHeavenly Craftsman ElderHeavenly Punishment Elder
Three Grand Elders—gathered specifically for him.
Fang Han bowed deeply.
"Greetings, honored Elders."
"No need for formalities," Heavenly Punishment Elder said. "Present the Divine Ability manuals. Once we verify them, we will reward you according to sect law."
Fang Han pressed his hands together. Countless runes flowed from his body, reshaping into paper pages—his Wood Emperor qi made such transformations effortless.
Soon, the pages condensed into a thick tome that floated toward the elders.
"These are twenty-nine Divine Ability techniques, including one more I recorded along the way."
He had included the Grand Cutting Technique as well.
Heavenly Craftsman Elder flipped through the book—and his eyes widened.
"Black Sun Wind Disaster… Great Sun Fire Disaster… Linglong Great Heavenly Realm?! Even the Grand Cutting Technique?!
The reward for this… will be enormous."