Harmony between the heaven and human

Yang Fan's demeanor underwent a sudden and startling change. A sharp, oppressive aura radiated from him, and his eyes took on a cold, steely glint. 

If the earlier Yang Fan had been like a serene, unshakable forest, standing undisturbed against the winds and rains, then now, he resembled an overwhelming flood, breaking through dams with the wrath of nature itself, delivering punishment upon those who dared to defy its harmony.

Under this pressure, which seemed to emanate from the very will of the heavens and the earth, Huang Yu, despite being a cultivator at the late stage of Qi Refinement, found it hard to breathe. 

A cultivator at the early stage of Qi Refinement, able to exert such immense pressure on him? 

It was utterly beyond belief, and yet, the undeniable truth. At that moment, Huang Yu couldn't even muster the courage to speak. 

Strangely, this crushing aura seemed to affect only him. The others merely sensed that Yang Fan had grown angrier and more intense. Only the elder brother, Yuan Lao, vaguely perceived a trace of this oppressive force, catching a fleeting hint of its potency from Yang Fan's body. 

However, this overpowering presence lasted only for the span of a single breath. In the next instant, Yang Fan regained his usual calm, though his gaze remained as sharp as ever.

"You... What do you propose as a wager?" Huang Yu finally managed to speak, his voice laced with defiance, though his expression betrayed his hostility.

He now understood that Yang Fan was no ordinary person. Yet with events having escalated to this point, retreat was no longer an option. He had no choice but to follow through, no matter what.

"Two choices. I'm ready for either. If you lose, you must honor your word, kneel before me, and offer a formal apology. If I lose, I will immediately leave 'Heavenly Voyage' and fend for myself. What do you say?" Yang Fan's tone was calm, yet firm.

"Agreed!" Huang Yu accepted without hesitation. 

He knew full well that on these treacherous and perilous waters of the Qingjiang River, should Yang Fan leave the safety of the 'Heavenly Voyage,' his life would be in grave danger. Even if he didn't die, he would certainly suffer.

As for losing? The thought had barely crossed Huang Yu's mind. 

If it came down to a duel, as a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, well-versed in battle from his years protecting the 'Heavenly Voyage,' there was no way he could lose to a mere early-stage Qi Refinement alchemist.

After all, it was common knowledge that alchemists, while skilled in their craft, were generally weaker in combat compared to other cultivators of the same level. 

Of course, there were always a few exceptions—legendary alchemists who commanded fear and respect from their peers. But such figures were rare and only appeared among higher-level cultivators. At the lower levels, no one expected an alchemist to pose much of a threat. 

If Yang Fan chose to heal Yuan Lao's injury, Huang Yu would be even more confident. 

Cultivators at the Qi Refinement stage focused solely on cultivating their spiritual energy and had little to no ability to heal soul injuries. Thus, a low-level alchemist like Yang Fan couldn't possibly possess the skills to mend a wound of the spirit.

This much was widely understood.

No matter which option Yang Fan picked, Huang Yu was certain of his victory.

"Yang Alchemist, don't be rash! How can you agree to such an unfair wager?" Li Yue Shuang's eyes were filled with concern as she tried to stop him. She believed that Yang Fan was acting impulsively, allowing his emotions to cloud his judgment.

"You're the one who suggested the wager," Huang Yu sneered. "Are you going to back out now?"

"Do I look like someone who's lost his senses?" Yang Fan smiled faintly at Li Yue Shuang, then turned his gaze to Huang Yu. "Choose whichever you like."

Seeing the calm and composed look in Yang Fan's eyes, Li Yue Shuang felt a sense of reassurance wash over her, easing the worry in her heart.

"You're letting me choose? Very well, then," Huang Yu mused, taking a moment to consider.

Which option should he pick? Even he wasn't entirely sure.

But then, he recalled the strange pressure Yang Fan had exerted earlier, and immediately dismissed the first option.

"I choose the second. Even if I lose, it would be worth it if Yuan Lao's injury is healed. I'll be at peace with that," Huang Yu said thoughtfully.

Yang Fan raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. He hadn't expected such a consideration from Huang Yu.

Yuan Lao, along with the others, was visibly moved by this gesture. Such brotherly affection was indeed rare and admirable.

"Very well. I'll begin the treatment for Yuan Lao's injury," Yang Fan nodded in agreement.

"Wait." Huang Yu stopped him.

"What now?" Yang Fan asked.

"There should be a time limit to this treatment. Yuan Lao needs to steer the 'Heavenly Voyage.' If you take too long, even if you succeed in healing him, the other passengers on board will suffer," Huang Yu remarked coolly.

"Rest assured," Yang Fan replied with a faint smile, "I won't disrupt Yuan Lao's duties. In fact, I'll heal his soul before dawn."

"That would be ideal…" Huang Yu felt a slight unease at Yang Fan's unshakable composure.

"Alright, everyone, carry on. I'll head back to my quarters to prepare for the treatment," Yang Fan said, excusing himself.

"Yang Alchemist…" Li Yue Shuang hurried after him.

Huang Yu's eyes flickered with suspicion. *Could it be that he's trying to delay things, or perhaps planning an escape?* he thought, deciding to keep a close watch on Yang Fan's room.

"Miss Li, I'll be back in an hour at most. I just need to prepare a few things," Yang Fan assured Li Yue Shuang with a smile as she followed him.

"Yang Alchemist, even if you lose, it doesn't matter. I have a magical tool that allows us to walk on water. It won't get us far, but it can at least bring you safely across the river to the shore," she whispered discreetly.

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Li, but there's no need," Yang Fan replied with a gentle smile, declining her offer.

Once the door to his room was shut, the smile faded from Yang Fan's face. Muttering to himself, he said, "With my current soul level at the late stage of Spirit Consolidation, mastering the 'Soul Restoration Technique' from the *Sacred Healing Scripture* should pose no difficulty."

The "Soul Restoration Technique" was a method from the *Sacred Healing Scripture*, specifically designed to heal soul injuries and restore the spirit. While it required a cultivator at the Spirit Consolidation stage to practice, Yang Fan's current spiritual power surpassed that level, making it feasible for him.

Given his past experiences, Yang Fan was confident that he could learn this technique in no time.

However, instead of immediately focusing on the technique, Yang Fan's mind wandered back to the brief moment when he stood on the deck of the ship earlier.

In that fleeting instance, he had entered a profound and mysterious state, where his mind seemed to merge with the life force of the world around him, connecting with the natural energies within a hundred-mile radius. He had even touched upon the legendary state of oneness with the heavens and the earth.

Through that moment of enlightenment, Yang Fan's spiritual soul had leapt from the peak of Qi Refinement straight into the late stage of Spirit Consolidation—a feat that would have taken others decades to achieve through cultivation and meditation.

Moreover, during that moment of insight, the Qingjiang River had stirred, and the colossal water giant had emerged, demonstrating its awe-inspiring power. Its final cryptic words echoed in Yang Fan's mind: "Ha ha ha… To think that such an extraordinary anomaly exists in this world… When the day of ascension comes, come visit me at the 'Abyssal Court!'"

The water giant's mention of "ascension"—what did it mean? And what was the Abyssal Court? What mysterious force lay hidden in the depths of the Qingjiang River?

Shaking off these questions, Yang Fan closed his eyes and entered a state of tranquil meditation. His body exhaled a thin mist of life energy, which intertwined with the surrounding flows of vitality. 

In that moment, everything within a hundred feet became vividly clear in his mind, even clearer than what he could sense with spiritual perception.

Yet no matter how hard Yang Fan tried, he couldn't quite recapture that previous state of boundless harmony with the heavens and earth.

After a while, he opened his eyes, a slight look of regret crossing his face.

"Well… this elusive 'Heaven-Man Mode' can only occur through the rarest of chances. That I managed to break through at all was already a great stroke of fortune."

With a deep breath, Yang Fan pushed aside the thoughts of that mystical state, which he had temporarily named "Heaven-Man Mode."

He then directed his mind inward, delving into the depths of his soul, where a soft, ethereal green glow flickered.

The incantation for the Soul Restoration Technique surfaced in his consciousness.

In less than half a cup of tea's time, Yang Fan had grasped the basic concepts of the technique. 

Half an hour later, he raised his finger to the air, and a faint, translucent green light bloomed like a delicate flower, its brilliance shining momentarily before fading away.