The Great Emperor

The voice of Qi Lan Kong echoed throughout the massive arena. Every disciple and elder present halted in their tracks, their eyes filled with shock.

"The Great Emperor Ascension Field!?"

"Isn't that the field reserved only for cultivators at the peak of the Half-Emperor stage?"

"Which elder could possibly…"

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

Meanwhile, Han Ming teleported his twelve new disciples to the protected area beside the Ascension Field, a space surrounded by emperor-level barriers. Each of them looked out at the stage with different emotions stirring within.

More and more disciples and elders arrived at the field. Even the principal elders and the Peak Masters of all eight sacred peaks had gathered. Among them stood Mu Nansi, the current leader of the Holy Land of the Immortal River. It was as if all activity within the sacred land had come to a standstill, with every eye focused on the great arena.

Sitting beside Han Ming, Jin Tian muttered to himself, "I wonder if she's still here…"

At that moment, the Peak Masters began to arrive with their own disciples.

Bai Li, Peak Master of the War Peak.

Fu Yuechan, Peak Master of the Five Elemental Sacred Peak.

Zhao Honglong, Peak Master of the Heaven-Refining Peak.

Chen Xingtian, Peak Master of the Sword Emperor Peak.

Bai Jingcen, Peak Master of the Eternal Formation Peak.

Luo Yunhai, Peak Master of the Alchemy King Peak.

Yun Zhenying, Peak Master of the Mysterious Heaven Peak.

Ling Ruhe, Peak Master of the Divine Talisman Peak.

Ji Yiren, Peak Master of the Heavenly Bamboo Peak.

Each of them was a powerhouse at the pinnacle of the Half-Emperor realm and a pillar of the Holy Land of the Immortal River.

At the same time, Lei Chen arrived at the field.

Han Ming smiled and turned to his disciples. "This is your senior brother. His name is Lei Chen."

Lei Chen smiled warmly, bowing toward Han Ming before greeting the four younger disciples.

"I am Lei Chen. It's an honor to meet you all."

The four disciples respectfully returned the bow. Though they had just met, the aura Lei Chen emitted was enough to tell them just how strong this senior brother truly was.

Before Han Ming could introduce more of his new disciples, a storm of spiritual energy suddenly began to brew in the sky.

Han Ming paused and spoke calmly, "We'll continue introductions later. For now, watch closely. What you're about to witness will be of great benefit to you."

All five disciples nodded in unison, their gazes fixed on the main stage.

At the heart of the Ascension Field, Qi Lan Kong sat cross-legged, absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy into his body. Once he was satisfied, he took out a single pill and swallowed it.

Boommmmmmm!

His entire body erupted with radiant light. A mighty aura surged outward, engulfing the entire field. Then, he stood and soared into the sky.

Crack!

Crack!

Crack!

Massive bolts of lightning rained down from the heavens, striking the old man's body nine times in succession. The overwhelming force of heavenly punishment was the trial for breaking through a higher realm. But even as lightning tore into him, Qi Lan Kong remained standing, unyielding.

Before long, cracks began to form across his aged body. Wrinkled flesh flaked away, revealing a rejuvenated figure beneath, younger and more vigorous than before.

A surge of vast spiritual energy flooded into his body. Qi Lan Kong sat cross-legged midair, gathering all of his power to reinforce his newly reconstructed foundation.

Boommmmm!

The intense aura of a Great Emperor rippled out across the entire Holy Land. Disciples and elders below closed their eyes, absorbing the waves of energy that spread through the air. They sat in deep meditation, earnestly studying the essence of Great Emperor power.

Han Ming's disciples were no different. They immediately sat down and meditated. The aura of the Great Emperor stimulated their growth, awakening potential within them. Meanwhile, Han Ming remained unmoved by the waves of energy. He quietly sat and jotted something down on a piece of parchment.

Thirty minutes passed...

"Congratulations to Elder Qi on achieving the breakthrough to the Great Emperor realm!"

Cheers and congratulatory voices erupted from disciples and elders across the vast arena.

Qi Lan Kong gave a small nod before instantly warping down to Han Ming's side.

He looked at the young man before him, eyes gleaming. "Brat, can you refine that pill you gave me again?"

Han Ming smiled and waved his hand, casting a sound-isolating barrier before replying in a calm tone. "If I had one hundred Saint-grade alchemists, a Great Emperor with a fire-based physique, and forty-two types of emperor-tier ingredients, I could probably refine as many as you want… Or perhaps if I became a Great Emperor myself."

He took out a list of required herbs and handed it to Qi Lan Kong.

Qi Lan Kong glanced over the paper, furrowing his brows slightly. "Most of the ingredients we might be able to procure, but what we lack are the alchemists and a Great Emperor with a fire-aligned body… This might not be feasible for now."

The two of them spoke for over fifteen minutes as the surrounding disciples and elders gradually dispersed to cultivate and stabilize the energy they had just absorbed.

While they were deep in conversation, Luo Yunhai, Peak Master of the Alchemy King Peak, approached with a smile and said, "Oh? You've taken on four more disciples, have you?"

Han Ming smiled and replied, "You can tell just by looking who they are?"

Luo Yunhai chuckled softly. "Of course. They're clearly different from the others. I don't need to explain. You already understand, don't you?"

Han Ming didn't respond. He merely returned the smile. At that moment, Fu Yuechan, Peak Master of the Five Elemental Sacred Peak, walked over and asked, "So, brat, those other eight aren't your disciples then, are they?"

Han Ming gave a slight nod, his gaze shifting toward a young woman with long, sleek black hair. Though her elegant figure was modestly concealed beneath her robes, her beauty could not be hidden. A faint smile played at his lips as he spoke.

"That's right. They've already completed their registration and are now official outer disciples of the Holy Land. I found them on my journey while I was searching for new disciples."

At that moment, Yun Zhenying, the Peak Master of the Mysterious Heaven Peak, a woman veiled in white, spoke with a composed and graceful voice. "Jin Tian, is that you?"

Jin Tian was taken aback when he saw the brown-haired woman gazing straight at him. Before he could say a word, his body was suddenly pulled away by the woman, disappearing in an instant, leaving the other disciples stunned.

Qi Lan Kong let out a long sigh. "What a troublesome romance… But what should I call him now, I wonder?"

Luo Yunhai, Zhao Honglong, Bai Jingsen, and Chen Xingtian exchanged glances before speaking in unison.

"Of course, we should call him Junior Brother Jin Tian!"

Qi Lan Kong shook his head and turned away in silence. Meanwhile, Mu Nansi, the leader of the Holy Land of the Immortal River, arrived with two elders at her side. With a gentle smile, she said, "Congratulations to Peak Master Han for acquiring four new disciples. This is a gift from the Holy Land."

Han Ming accepted the spatial ring she handed over and replied courteously, "Thank you, Sect Master."

Mu Nansi's smile deepened. "No, I should be the one thanking you. For your efforts in finding disciples of such great potential for our Holy Land."

Han Ming offered a faint smile. "It's simply my duty."

Luo Yunhai, Zhao Honglong, Bai Jingsen, and Chen Xingtian all shared the same silent thought.

"Silver-tongued snake…"

After a brief conversation, Han Ming led his disciples back to Pure Light Peak, while the eight new disciples were assigned to various other peaks according to arrangement.

The three siblings of the Song clan were sent to the Five Elemental Sacred Peak.

Yang Fanxu, Long Hei, and Zhao Yueling joined the War Peak.

Xia Lanyi became a direct disciple of Mu Nansi.

As for Jin Tian, though there had yet to be an official announcement, it was clear he would be joining the Mysterious Heaven Peak.

A joyful and celebratory atmosphere spread throughout the Holy Land—the arrival of new disciples, and the successful breakthrough of the Guardian Elder to the realm of Great Emperor, both brought great honor and momentum to the sect.