"What?! The master of the Taiyi Sect personally issued a Heavenly Dao Pursuit Decree? We went into seclusion for a thousand years, and now a disciple of the Yuhua Sect has turned into something this vicious?"
The voice rose in disbelief. "What exactly did he do? Even Daoist Huntian was enraged? You must understand—Daoist Huntian is Linglong Immortal Venerable's senior brother. His power is bottomless. Destroying heaven and earth is effortless to him. When I traveled the realms back then, his name already shook the myriad worlds, and his cultivation surpassed even that of a sect master."
The ancient titan known as Wang Daoling, addressed by Ruyi Zi as "Dao Ling," visibly trembled when he heard this.
The other Deputy Heads wore the same stunned expressions.
They all understood what it meant for Daoist Huntian himself to issue a Heavenly Dao Pursuit Decree.
By all logic, no matter how monstrous someone in the Divine Ability Realm might be—even if they turned the world upside down—they would never attract the attention of an eternal giant of the Longevity Realm. The two were not even on the same plane of existence.
Ants could riot as much as they pleased; humans would never bother to notice.
The unfamiliar faces present were all Deputy Heads—former True Disciples from a thousand years ago who had ascended to the Longevity Realm and risen sharply in status. They were candidates to succeed Feng Baiyu, their authority towering far above ordinary elders.
All of them, like Ruyi Zi, were at the first level of the Longevity Realm—the Myriad Lifespan Realm. The moment any one of them broke through to the Undying Body, Feng Baiyu's eventual abdication would make that person the unquestioned Sect Master. These figures had all clawed their way up from the ranks of True Disciples—arrogant, lawless, and legendary in their era.
If Fang Han, Hua Tiandu, Fang Qingxue, or Meng Shaobai were to step into the Longevity Realm and become Deputy Heads, they would immediately contend with these people for the supreme position.
"This Fang Han merely killed two Golden Core disciples of the Taiyi Sect and presented their corpses as birthday gifts to Linglong Immortal Venerable," Elder Tianxing said coldly. "Well? Wang Daoling, Yi Jianqiu, Chen Tianxia—did any of you display such audacity back then? Ruyi Zi now wants to punish a disciple with this kind of future. I oppose it. What do you think?"
"Hahaha! Magnificent!"
A middle-aged man in white laughed loudly. A soft sword coiled around his wrist like a bracelet, gleaming faintly. This was Yi Jianqiu, a Deputy Head. A thousand years ago, he was even more renowned than Hua Tiandu among the True Disciples, though after ascending to eternal giant status he vanished into seclusion, leaving no trace in the sect's memory.
"Killing Taiyi Golden Core disciples and offering them to Linglong Immortal Venerable—impressive! That kind of nerve? Even I admire it. Ruyi Zi, a True Disciple of Yuhua without killing intent—how could he ever rule a great sect? If he were a coward, I wouldn't even bother competing with him for the Sect Master seat. I'd just cut him down with a single strike."
Within the Yuhua Sect, even elite True Disciples at the fifth level of Divine Abilities—the Celestial Realm—could not live for a thousand years.
A millennium was enough for entire generations to rise and fall.
"Yi Jianqiu is right," said another towering Deputy Head, tall and gaunt—Chen Tianxia. "A True Disciple must be ruthless. Otherwise, even if he becomes Sect Master, he won't be able to intimidate anyone. If this Fang Han ascends to the Longevity Realm, I'd actually like to test him. A thousand years of seclusion has dulled my bloodlust."
He paused, then glanced at Ruyi Zi.
"By the way—how is Hua Tiandu's seclusion progressing? Though he's my junior, he's always been my most dangerous potential rival."
"Killing intent must have limits," Ruyi Zi replied calmly. "Hua Tiandu has obtained a Life-Creation Rebirth Pill. He could break into the Longevity Realm and form an Undying Body at any moment. When that happens, he will naturally spar with all of you."
Ruyi Zi continued, his words measured and deliberate.
"He has rendered tremendous service—allying us with the Taiyi Sect. He is even engaged to Yan Shuiyi, the Taiyi Sect's foremost True Disciple, the reincarnation of the Water God. This marriage has earned unanimous approval from the Supreme Elders. Feng Baiyu himself is preparing to transmit the Void Yin-Yang Dao to him. You all know what that implies."
The atmosphere subtly shifted.
"Furthermore," Ruyi Zi went on, "since Fang Han joined the Yuhua Sect, he has never cultivated our orthodox techniques. Every art he uses belongs to the Demonic Path. That alone shows that the Sect Master and the Supreme Elders regard him as an outsider. If he continues unchecked, he will inevitably bring catastrophic disaster upon Yuhua. If we don't discipline him now, he might truly believe he can become our Sect Master."
With a casual wave of his hand, Ruyi Zi dissected the situation point by point. The expressions of the Deputy Heads gradually darkened.
They all knew how difficult it was to break through to the Undying Body. A thousand years of seclusion without success had already taught them that lesson.
A Sect Master of a great sect had to possess an Undying Body—no exceptions. The reason was simple: such a being was almost impossible to kill. Even reduced to ashes, they could regenerate.
Feng Baiyu had seized the Sect Master position three thousand years ago by breaking through to the Undying Body in a single leap.
If Hua Tiandu succeeded, these Deputy Heads would have virtually no chance left. The fact that the Supreme Elders and Feng Baiyu were teaching him the Void Yin-Yang Dao was a clear declaration of succession.
"Breaking into the Undying Body isn't easy," Wang Daoling said calmly. "If Hua Tiandu succeeds, I will withdraw from the Deputy Head position and not contest him."
He paused, then added slowly,
"But if what you say is true—if Fang Han has never cultivated our orthodox arts—then he is clearly not a legitimate disciple of Yuhua. Causing this much chaos… yes, he needs a warning. But not excessive. Let's discuss what form that warning should take."
"I take no position," Yi Jianqiu said lazily, flicking his fingers. "Neither for nor against. But if Fang Han returns, I want to see for myself how strong he really is."
"Same," Chen Tianxia nodded.
"I support punishing Fang Han," said a high-ranking elder at the tenth level of Divine Abilities, raising his hand. "He's made travel dangerous for Yuhua disciples."
"I agree."
"A warning is appropriate."
One after another, influential elders voiced their approval—clearly aligned with Hua Tiandu's faction.
Ruyi Zi nodded in satisfaction.
He had deliberately spread news of Hua Tiandu receiving the Void Yin-Yang Dao. That single revelation had flipped many undecided elders overnight. Hua Tiandu's cultivation was already close to Fang Han's, and his engagement to Yan Shuiyi bound him tightly to the Taiyi Sect.
All signs pointed to one conclusion: Hua Tiandu was destined to become Sect Master.
And the Taiyi Sect's Heavenly Dao Pursuit Decree?
Was this not Daoist Huntian subtly aiding Hua Tiandu as well?
Under such overwhelming momentum, many wavering elders chose sides.
Ruyi Zi had gained powerful backing.
"I oppose punishing Fang Han."
A clear voice cut through the hall.
It was Jiang Rourou.
"And Ruyi Zi," she continued coolly, "you've been running around stirring things up these days, all to build momentum for Hua Tiandu. In the process, you're quietly destabilizing Yuhua's balance. Aren't you afraid that when Fang Han returns, he'll cause chaos beyond your control? With his current strength, very few could suppress him."
"Ridiculous!" Ruyi Zi slammed the table, fury flashing across his face.
"Suppress Fang Han? Impossible? He is still only in the Divine Ability Realm! He is not an eternal giant! If he dares defy us when he returns, I will personally teach him what an eternal giant truly is. Longevity Realm power is not something Divine Ability cultivators can contend with!"
BOOM!
At the instant his palm struck the table, the entire Yuhua Heavenly Palace trembled slightly.
From outside came a thunderous roar:
"Ruyi Zi! Who gave you the courage to punish me?!
Who gave you the courage?!
You and Hua Tiandu—come out to the Punishment Platform!"
"Ruyi Zi! Who gave you the courage—!"
The voice echoed again and again, at first indistinct, then growing clearer and louder.
There was no mistaking it.
Fang Han.
"What?!"
"Fang Han is back?"
"Under a Heavenly Dao Pursuit Decree, he still made it back to Yuhua?"
"What is this madness? Has he gone insane? How dare he shout at Ruyi Zi like that?!"
Within a few breaths, every elder in the chamber heard the domineering,狂傲 voice clearly.
They all stood up at once.
Wang Daoling, Yi Jianqiu, and Chen Tianxia—all three Deputy Heads—changed expressions simultaneously and looked toward Ruyi Zi.
"This Fang Han… incredible," Yi Jianqiu exclaimed, giving a sharp thumbs-up. "Arrogance beyond measure! Even the greatest demonic figures aren't this bold. He's more reckless than we ever were!"
His body flashed, transforming into a streak of light as he shot out.
"Come on. Let's see what he's relying on."
Chen Tianxia and Wang Daoling followed, their immense power tearing faint裂痕 through space.
"He's mad," someone muttered.
Ruyi Zi stood there, face flushed crimson under countless gazes.
He was an eternal giant—and Fang Han had just returned and publicly demanded to know who gave him the courage.
It was naked humiliation.
Unbearable.
His foot stamped down. His body crackled with explosive sounds as countless afterimages burst forth. In a single surge, he vanished.
"Taiyi Soaring Phantom Technique," Jiang Rourou laughed softly. "Looks like Ruyi Zi is truly enraged."
"Let's go as well," Elder Tianxing said calmly. "Fang Han is at the Punishment Platform. Ruyi Zi is an eternal giant—there must be a reason Fang Han dared to provoke him the moment he returned. Could it be… that he truly has the power to challenge an eternal giant?"
He paused thoughtfully.
"Even Yan Shuiyi or Fan Qingying could only escape from one, not confront them."
"Then let's see for ourselves," Jiang Rourou replied.
And with that, they moved.