The rules of Yuhua Sect were something Fang Han had long memorized.
Any disciple who contributed to the sect could earn corresponding rewards—and the most valuable contribution of all was offering new cultivation techniques. Whenever a true disciple returned from a journey with some ancient inheritance or forgotten art, the sect would reward them generously.
Even a minor martial-body refinement method was worth piles of pills. Many noble disciples, once they joined Yuhua Sect, willingly handed over their family's secret techniques just to exchange for these rewards.
If even ordinary martial arts earned resources, then the value of what Fang Han brought today was beyond measure.
But when Fang Han saw the three great elders hesitate, their expressions slightly troubled, he immediately laughed.
"What's wrong? A sect as enormous as ours can't afford a few rewards for contributions? Three venerable elders—each of you is a titan whose stray hair is thicker than my leg. Surely you're not struggling over a few treasures?"
He spoke lightly, teasingly, completely relaxed. Ever since "Yellow Springs Diagram" had been exposed yet the sect master declined to pursue the matter, Fang Han felt for the first time that Yuhua Sect was a place he could truly call home. Facing these ancient giants, he didn't feel the same strain as before.
"You little rascal," the Transmission Elder said, stroking his messy beard, "you act as if this is nothing. Do you realize the techniques you offered aren't just high-tier—they include several supreme-level divine abilities? If you had brought only one, fine. But twenty-nine in one go—how exactly are we supposed to reward that? You know the rules."
Fang Han grinned, completely unfazed.
"Of course I know. A minor divine ability earns spiritual tools. A major divine ability earns treasure artifacts. And a supreme divine ability…"
He paused meaningfully.
"The reward is… extremely generous. Elders study it, and I can even raise certain requests."
Supreme divine abilities were the distilled essence of heaven and earth—the kind mastered only by sect leaders and ancient ancestors. Even the Five Emperor Demon Arts and the Demon Marshal's bone-shattering Annihilation Technique belonged to this tier.
Fang Han fully expected the sect to reward this contribution lavishly.
The Criminal Elder flicked the thick book containing the twenty-nine techniques.
"'Great Cutting Technique,' 'Exquisite Da-Luo Heaven,' 'Black Sun Tempest,' 'Solar Firestorm'… just these four alone are supreme-tier. 'Great Cutting Technique' is fine—it came from a Heavenly Demon, so no one will bother us. But the other two? If Linglong Blessed Land discovers we acquired the Da-Luo Heaven scripture, they will come knocking. And so will Taiyi Sect. Your contribution is… impressive, yes. But it also brings trouble."
Every sect guarded its core scriptures more jealously than life itself. If one leaked, the sect would kill the recipient, then punish whoever let it escape.
Divine abilities were sacred—worth massacring millions to protect.
Fang Han waved casually.
"If Linglong or Taiyi come, great! We'll negotiate. Worst case, we just forbid disciples from cultivating these techniques and demand compensation from the other sects. With such leverage, we can extort hundreds of treasure artifacts. Elders, you're wise enough to see that. Don't tell me you're trying to use this as an excuse to reduce my reward—otherwise who would ever contribute anything again?"
The Heavenly Works Elder burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! I told you—this boy isn't easy to handle."
"All right, enough." The Criminal Elder raised a hand, though a trace of a smile finally showed. "You slippery little fox—nothing gets past you. By rights, what you've done today—these techniques, plus reporting the existence of the Protoss—earns you five hundred treasure artifacts at minimum. Even a Dao Artifact could be justified.
"But the sect has tens of thousands of disciples preparing for the upcoming Immortal Gathering. We cannot empty the treasury for you alone. So instead—state a condition. As long as it's possible, we will grant it."
When he spoke of "the Protoss," even his voice lowered, as though he feared the word itself would summon disaster.
Reporting the reappearance of the ancient Protoss—this alone outweighed all the techniques. It affected the fate of the entire cultivation world.
Fang Han straightened.
"If I may ask for only one thing—help me refine the Five-Prisons King Cauldron and the Blood-Sky Demon Blade into Dao Artifacts."
The three elders exchanged glances. Clearly, they had expected this request.
The Criminal Elder spoke first.
"A treasure ascending to Dao Artifact is no small matter. Even a Longevity expert struggles to refine one. Your Five-Prisons King Cauldron is powerful but far too complex. To refine it, you'd need eight million Heavenly Demons, plus centuries of a Longevity expert's blood essence. You cannot wait that long."
A voice sounded in Fang Han's mind—Yan.
"He's right. The cauldron's path is too slow."
"Then what about the Blood-Sky Demon Blade?" Fang Han asked.
"The blade is superior in quality and far simpler—it's pure destructive force. Refining it is faster, but still requires a century of work." The Criminal Elder paused, then added, "However—since the sect master severed the demon god's hand, that material will reduce our workload significantly. Bring out the blade."
Fang Han summoned the weapon, which the elder caught bare-handed, unconcerned by its murderous aura.
"There's still Seven-Leaf Demon Lord's remnant spirit inside," the Criminal Elder noted. "His corpse should be with you as well. Take it out. I'll refine it as part of the process."
Fang Han immediately summoned Seven-Leaf's corpse—still youthful in appearance, silver robes gleaming, though long dead after eighteen years trapped in the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion.
"A corpse of a sixth-realm Heavenly Demon King… quite useful."
The Criminal Elder tapped lightly.
Soul-Shift, Spirit-Transfer!
Fang Han felt his own power rush out uncontrollably as the elder infused Seven-Leaf's corpse with Fang Han's essence. The dead eyes opened—and Fang Han abruptly felt as if that body were an extension of himself.
A second self.
"Now summon the Blood-Sky blade's spirit!" the Criminal Elder barked. "Fuse your new body with it!"
"Blood-Night King!"
At Fang Han's shout, a massive blood-bat shadow flew from the blade. The entire hall dimmed under a storm of blood fog—the unmistakable arrival of the blade's spirit, the Blood-Night King.
Fang Han sent his Seven-Leaf demon body forward. The two merged violently, fusing soul to soul.
The Blood-Night King's aura skyrocketed.
The elders exchanged startled looks. Even so, the blade still had not reached the Dao Artifact level.
But Fang Han felt it—this new demonic body and the spirit were now him. A second existence, independent yet fully under his control.
"Bring out the demon god's hand," the Criminal Elder said.
Fang Han released the massive severed hand.
"Please leave some blood—I promised to refine pills for my senior sisters."
"Of course."
A flash of sword-light—five fingers fell cleanly away.
"Tiangong, Transmission—assist me!"
The two elders roared, sending pure energy into the Blood-Night King's new body. The pressure was terrifying—both were tenth-realm peak experts, surpassing even Hua Tiandu.
Under their force, the Blood-Night King swelled, its power exploding upward.
"Now—swallow the fingers!" the Criminal Elder commanded. "Then I'll use the True-Void Yin-Yang Dao to force a metamorphosis. Whether you ascend to a Dao Artifact depends on this moment!"
The Blood-Night King opened its maw and devoured the first finger.
Then the second.
Then—more changes, each more earth-shaking than the last…