Inside Ruyi Zi's mind, it was as if mountains collapsed and seas overturned.
For the first time, genuine fear crept into his heart.
Even a sneak attack with the Instant Kill Grand Art hadn't managed to harm Fang Han in the slightest. Worse still, Fang Han had counterattacked immediately. If Ruyi Zi hadn't possessed the supreme treasure Nine-Bends Yellow River Diagram, he would have suffered a real loss.
What unsettled him even more was what he'd felt in that exchange.
Within Fang Han's punch surged a vast power like a sea of stars—interwoven with endless Brahma chants and the wailing of countless demons. Two utterly opposed forces of supreme holiness and extreme evil invaded his consciousness at once, making him feel so sick he almost retched.
And that was with Fang Han not yet using the Yellow Springs Diagram.
Ruyi Zi had already gathered intelligence on that demonic artifact. It could manifest the Gate of Avīci and the Bridge of Naihe. Though it had not recovered the overwhelming might of a supreme Dao Artifact, its current power still rivaled that of a high-grade Dao Artifact.
"Still… it's not hopeless," Ruyi Zi thought grimly.
"He hasn't become an eternal giant yet. He can't extract Pure Yang from immortal qi or burn it to fully unleash Dao Artifacts. If I truly want to kill him, I can use forbidden arts that consume lifespan."
His gaze flickered.
"I still have the Heaven-and-Earth Life-Sharing Art. Sacrifice a thousand years of lifespan for world-destroying power. I've never used it. But this Fang Han… if he's allowed to grow, he'll become a catastrophe sooner or later. Perhaps—"
Murderous intent flared violently in his eyes.
Fang Han caught that look instantly.
"This bastard is really ready to go all out," he thought coldly.
"If so, I might as well unleash everything—summon Daoist Wood, the Eight-Section Pagoda, the Yellow Springs Diagram, the Great Chaos Thunder Sword—and kill him outright."
For Fang Han, there was nothing more dangerous than an enemy with eyes like that.
Someone willing to pay any price to kill you had only one acceptable fate—death. Erase body and soul. Strike first, or suffer later.
But killing a grand elder—especially an eternal giant—would rock the entire sect like an earthquake.
Even the reclusive Supreme Elders cultivating deep within space-time would be alarmed.
Figures on the level of Hun Tiandaoist would inevitably intervene.
And Fang Han also remembered something Yan Shuiyi had once told him.
"Ruyi Zi possesses a suicidal art that burns a thousand years of lifespan—the Heaven-and-Earth Life-Sharing Art. Hua Tiandu mentioned it to me himself. He said that even if an eternal giant tried to kill him, he could drag them down together."
Fang Han knew many of the secrets of the master and disciple from Yan Shuiyi.
No one knew exactly how terrifying that art was—but ignoring it would be foolish.
After the brief exchange, Ruyi Zi stood on the Punishment Platform.
Fang Han hovered in midair.
For a moment, both fell silent.
Their gazes locked, brimming with murderous intent, each calculating how to obliterate the other in a single decisive move.
"Fang Han," a leisurely voice suddenly echoed, "you're impressive indeed. Rumor has it you've cultivated ninety-three divine abilities, many of them supreme. Since we're all here, why not take this chance to spar with Daoist Brother Ruyi Zi on the Punishment Platform?"
It was Yi Jianqiu, one of the Deputy Heads.
"Let us see what your Heaven-and-Earth Dharma Form truly looks like. And frankly, I'd like to witness the might of the demonic path's most fearsome artifact—the Yellow Springs Diagram."
"Yi Jianqiu," Elder Tianxing snapped, stepping forward, "you may be a Deputy Head, but matters of punishment fall under my authority. Don't stir things up. You are not the Sect Master."
He placed himself squarely between Fang Han and Ruyi Zi.
Though he appeared youthful, his presence was like an ancient divine statue that had stood for countless eons.
"If you want to fight, you'll have to defeat me first."
With that, two jagged weapons appeared in his hands—neither blade nor sword, radiating boundless murderous qi.
The Heavenly Punishment Twin Blades.
A matched pair of mid-grade Dao Artifacts.
They were Elder Tianxing's legendary killing weapons, stained with the grudges and blood of countless fallen experts—ancient, merciless, and terrifying.
"Elder Tianxing," Ruyi Zi roared, "are you blocking me too? This brat has humiliated me beyond endurance!"
"I am an eternal giant! A supreme being of the Longevity Realm! To be insulted by a mere Divine Ability cultivator—could you endure that? This isn't just provocation against me. It's a trampling of the dignity of all eternal giants! If he's not killed, how do we uphold the laws of cultivation?"
"I must kill him today—no matter what!"
"I'm not taking sides," Elder Tianxing replied calmly, ignoring Ruyi Zi and turning to Fang Han instead.
"I know you've gained immense fortuitous encounters during your travels—perhaps even fully restored the Yellow Springs Diagram at Linglong Immortal Venerable's side. That's why you've come back for revenge."
"But you and Hua Tiandu have a ten-year pact. When you were weak, he could have killed you—but he honored that pact. Now that you're strong, you shouldn't take advantage of his seclusion to cause trouble."
"Moreover, a great calamity is approaching. The greater picture matters. You should let go of your grudge and reconcile."
"Elder Tianxing," Fang Han said coldly, "I acknowledge your fairness and the protection you've given me before."
"I can honor the pact and leave Hua Tiandu alone for now. But Ruyi Zi has repeatedly plotted against me, and today he even gathered the elders to punish me. If I don't settle this, I'll have to watch my back forever."
Elder Tianxing nodded.
"With your strength, we've all seen that you can already contend with eternal giants. A disciple like you is a great fortune for Yuhua Sect. I guarantee that from today onward, no elder council will dare punish you again. Focus on cultivation."
But then a sharp voice cut in.
"Tianxing, do you think you're the Sect Master? Such authority you claim. The elder council punishing a true disciple is sect law."
It was Wang Daoling, another Deputy Head.
"Though your cultivation is high, final decisions still depend on us three Deputy Heads. With the Sect Master absent, major matters must heed our opinion. Your authority doesn't surpass ours."
"Then what is your opinion?" Elder Tianxing frowned.
Wang Daoling smiled faintly.
"My view is simple. Since Fang Han and Ruyi Zi have irreconcilable enmity, and both are willing to resolve karma on the Punishment Platform, isn't that a clean solution?"
"You wish to smooth things over for the sake of the sect—commendable. But hatred never dissolves on its own. Blades are blades, jade is jade."
"We cultivate for two things: longevity and freedom. What is freedom? Living as one pleases. Swift vengeance, clear gratitude. That is true freedom."
"Well said," Fang Han thought. Despite knowing Wang Daoling had ulterior motives, the words struck home.
Longevity meant living long.
Freedom meant settling grudges cleanly.
No wonder this man was a Deputy Head.
"A formidable rival in the future," Fang Han noted inwardly.
"Elder Tianxing," Ruyi Zi snarled, "this brat has desecrated my authority—trampled the dignity of an eternal giant. If I don't punish him, how will I command respect?"
"Interfere further, and you'll offend both sides."
"Elder Tianxing," Fang Han said firmly, eyes locked on Ruyi Zi, "you needn't involve yourself."
"Ruyi Zi—today, on the Punishment Platform, this year, this month, this very day, I challenge you."
"I, Fang Han—ninth level of the Divine Ability Realm, Heaven-and-Earth Dharma Form—challenge you, an eternal giant."
"Do you dare accept?"
"Life and death on the platform—each bears their own fate. If I die, I die for nothing. All my treasures, including the Yellow Springs Diagram, are yours."
"If you die—you die for nothing as well."
"One question only."
"Do you dare?"
Step by step, Fang Han forced Ruyi Zi into a corner.
Hua Tiandu was in seclusion. Fang Han couldn't storm the Heavenly Palace directly.
But Ruyi Zi stood right here.
Defeating—or killing—him would be like severing half of Hua Tiandu's body. It would also display Fang Han's true strength, forcing Yuhua Sect to truly value him—perhaps even granting him the Void Yin-Yang Dao.
Fang Han knew one thing clearly.
Yuhua Sect needed him—to claim the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion and the Yellow Springs Treasury.
No matter how violently he made waves—
They would never truly abandon him.