Chapter 110: The Ritual

After consuming the Blood Bone Spirit Flower and elevating his Fire Astral Profound Art to the Subtle Insight level, Han Yi's cultivation progress had barely slowed compared to his Qi Refining Seventh Layer days.

This refers to the rate of his overall progress in advancing his cultivation realm.

During his time at the Seventh Layer, he spent two and a half years in secluded cultivation, advancing from 43/100 to 100/100. Progress had been slow initially, but accelerated significantly in the latter half as his cultivation technique reached Subtle Insight.

After returning from Daofu City to Azure Dragon Peak, he cultivated for three years. Roughly one year of that time was dedicated to advancing his cultivation realm. During that year, his progress increased from 8/100 to 28/100, a 20% advancement.

Based on these figures, his cultivation speed at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining was generally comparable to his previous rate at the Seventh Layer. If he dedicated all his time and effort to advancing his cultivation realm, he could reach the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining in just four years.

This pace far exceeded Han Yi's expectations.

The True Immortal Path now seemed within reach.

Without the Blood Bone Spirit Flower and the enhancement from his Subtle Insight Grade Cultivation Technique, Han Yi had originally estimated it would take him fifteen to twenty years to advance from the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement to the Ninth Layer, even with abundant Spirit Vein nourishment and a steady supply of Spirit Stones.

One month later...

Han Yi packed his belongings, strapped the Chengying Sword to his back, and headed to Combat Peak.

Today marked the departure of the second batch of disciples for the Cave Heaven Trial at the Jade Capital Mountain Holy Land.

Upon arriving at Combat Peak, he found it strangely deserted, lacking its usual hustle and bustle. Only a few dozen disciples sat scattered around.

Han Yi inquired with a seemingly aloof Ninth Layer Qi Refinement Senior Brother and learned that only those ranked within the top hundred on the Earth Ranking were permitted entry to Combat Peak for this trial. The remaining disciples would observe through the Illusory Immortal Mirror from their respective Inner and Outer Peaks.

"Junior Brother, you look unfamiliar. Why haven't I seen you here before?" the aloof Senior Brother asked, his expression curious.

Han Yi cupped his hands in a respectful greeting. "I don't often visit Combat Peak, Senior Brother. It's only natural you don't recognize me."

"My name is Han Yi. May I ask your name, Senior Brother?"

"Feng Jingyu," the aloof Senior Brother replied, clasping his hands behind his back.

Han Yi recalled the name—Senior Brother Feng Jingyu, ranked sixty-eighth on the Earth Ranking, a veteran of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement.

Although Han Yi hadn't visited Combat Peak often, he knew most of the essentials.

Among the top one hundred Inner Sect Disciples on the Earth Ranking, the top two had surpassed the peak of the Ninth Layer, reaching the Legendary Qi Refining realm. The top thirty were all at Peak Qi Refinement, while the top eighty were seasoned Ninth Layer cultivators. Beyond that, aside from one exceptionally talented Eighth Layer Qi Refining disciple, the rest were at the Ninth Layer.

"Senior Brother Feng, did you participate in the previous Cave Heaven Trial?" Han Yi asked, seizing the opportunity.

Feng Jingyu, the aloof senior brother, shook his head. "I was fortunate enough to avoid the last Cave Heaven Trial."

"Fortunate?" Han Yi asked, surprised. "To avoid it?"

Feng Jingyu glanced at Han Yi. Noticing that the junior brother was only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining yet had managed to reach Combat Peak today—an uncommon feat—he set aside his seniority and offered an explanation.

"Junior Brother, it seems you don't frequent Combat Peak often. Do you know how many of the hundred participants from the last Cave Heaven Trial are still stuck at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining?"

Without waiting for an answer, Feng Jingyu continued, "Over half. And among them, not even a third have reached Peak Qi Refinement."

"Only forty survived."

As he said this, a fleeting flicker of fear crossed Feng Jingyu's face.

"Of those forty, six successfully completed Immortal Foundation Establishment and advanced to become Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators. Thirteen failed, with six perishing in the Heavenly Demon Tribulation and seven suffering cultivation regression, demoted to stewards or managers. The remaining twenty-one retained their positions on the Earth Ranking, all of them at Peak Qi Refinement or higher."

Han Yi felt a jolt run through his body.

The last Cave Heaven Trial had concluded just eleven years prior, and nearly sixty percent of the initial hundred participants—who were among the Profound Pill Sect's most promising Qi Refinement disciples—had perished.

Before Han Yi could voice his questions, the aloof senior brother continued explaining on his own:

"Sect records show that of those sixty deaths, twenty-seven occurred within the Myriad Demon Mountain Range. The other thirty-three died from various causes—ambushes by robber cultivators after leaving the mountains, cultivation deviations, and so on."

Han Yi's heart skipped a beat.

This Cave Heaven Trial seems cursed.

Feng Jingyu was about to elaborate further when a cultivator descended from the sky.

"It's Martial Uncle Fu."

A divine light flickered in Feng Jingyu's eyes as he gazed at the descending Golden Core cultivator, a hint of envy flickering across his face.

"A Golden Core cultivator... I wonder when I'll ever reach that stage," he mused.

Han Yi finally understood that his seemingly aloof Senior Brother was actually quite the chatterbox.

He looked up at the Golden Core cultivator landing in the Combat Arena, a sense of familiarity tugging at him.

"The Fu Clan?" Han Yi's expression shifted as he remembered. Shortly after his transmigration, when he was still on Little Spirit Void Peak under Peak Lord Fan Mo, the neighboring Little Valley Sword Peak had been ravaged by a Heavenly Demon invasion. The corrupted Little Valley Sword Peak Lord had slaughtered his entire sect, triggered the Outer Peak's Formation Arts, and bombarded Little Spirit Void Peak, leaving it devastated. The Golden Core cultivator who had appeared during that calamity bore a striking resemblance in demeanor to the one descending now.

"Moreover, I investigated the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild's backing—it's the Fu Clan's Supreme Elder. This must be him," Han Yi realized.

Supreme Elder Fu, a Golden Core expert, was a figure of immense renown.

From the moment the Supreme Elder landed, Feng Jingyu forced himself into silence, eager to make a good impression. He wasn't alone; the surrounding cultivators also fell into hushed reverence.

Moments later, Han Yi spotted a familiar face approaching Combat Peak: He Fengdi.

He Fengdi's eyes widened slightly upon seeing Han Yi standing among the crowd, but he quickly composed himself. He simply nodded in greeting, and Han Yi returned the gesture.

Shortly after, two more Golden Core cultivators appeared. As the disciples gathered on the Combat Arena, an unfamiliar Supreme Elder stepped forward. With a grand wave of his hand, he conjured a Magic Treasure before him. Gently cradling the artifact, he channeled energy into it, then tossed it skyward.

The treasure soared into the air, instantly transforming into its true form: an Immortal Boat, far superior to the Transcending Calamity Immortal Boat in both speed and defensive capabilities.

"Disciples whose names are called, step forward and board the Tribulation Transcending Immortal Boat," the Supreme Elder announced.

The crowd was clearly unprepared for this pre-boarding roll call, their surprise evident. A collective pause rippled through the crowd, but the Supreme Elder had already begun calling out names.

Han Yi was equally taken aback by this ceremony, finding it needlessly elaborate and contrived. With a Golden Core cultivator's divine sense, a simple scan would reveal who's on the roster and who isn't. Why waste time with this charade? he thought.

Then it struck him: this wasn't for the benefit of the disciples present, but for the tens of thousands of disciples on the Inner and Outer Peaks watching through the Illusory Immortal Mirror.

It was a ritual, much like the one he had witnessed years ago from Little Spirit Void Peak through the same mirror, when the first group of disciples returned from the Cave Heaven Trial. Whether it was meant to inspire or boost morale, the effect was the same.

"First on the Earth Ranking: Geng Changxu of White Tiger Peak!"

"Second on the Earth Ranking: An Xin of Azure Dragon Peak!"

"Third on the Earth Ranking..."

"Twenty-eighth on the Earth Ranking: He Fengdi of White Tiger Peak!"

"..."

"Sixty-eighth on the Earth Ranking: Feng Jingyu of Golden Court Peak!"

"..."

"One hundredth on the Earth Ranking: Lin Xianda of Zhurong Peak!"

The Supreme Elder's majestic voice fell silent. He swept his gaze across the hundred disciples standing below the Combat Arena and the nine unnamed disciples lingering at the periphery.

"Alright, let's go."

With a wave of his hand, the Golden Core cultivator instantly levitated all 109 disciples—the Earth Ranking's top hundred and the nine others—into the sky.

Just then, a golden beam descended from the Tribulation Transcending Immortal Boat, sweeping across the crowd and drawing them aboard.

The other two Supreme Elders ascended as well, joining them on the Immortal Boat.

Boom!

The Immortal Boat emitted a deafening roar, tearing through the sea of clouds as it transformed into a streak of light, vanishing from Combat Peak in an instant.

The surrounding space shimmered briefly before stabilizing.

Han Yi surveyed his surroundings. The group consisted of one hundred and nine Qi Refining Stage disciples and three Golden Core Stage Supreme Elders. No Foundation Establishment Stage Elders accompanied them.

"You're Han Yi, right?" a voice called out beside him. Han Yi turned and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Supreme Elder. I am Han Yi."

Standing next to him was the Supreme Elder who had announced his name earlier.

The cultivator appeared to be of advanced age, with an ordinary build and a face etched with the marks of seventy years.

"I am Fu Xuanxu," the elder said. "Sect Leader Yuan instructed me to keep an eye on you during this journey. If you need anything, don't hesitate to seek me out."

"However, since you're only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement and not particularly strong, you can participate in the inter-tribal skirmishes within the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven, but you don't need to compete for the command tokens. It would be a waste of your time."

After speaking, Fu Xuanxu walked away to question other disciples.

Han Yi thanked him, then looked up, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Command tokens?"

Before Han Yi could ponder further, a cold voice cut through the air beside him.

"Junior Brother Han, you're not among the top hundred cultivators on the Earth Ranking this time. How did you manage to board the Immortal Boat?"

The speaker was naturally Feng Jingyu, the aloof cultivator Han Yi had just met.

"My apologies, Senior Brother Feng, but this involves sect secrets that I'm not at liberty to disclose," Han Yi said apologetically, gesturing toward Fu Xuanxu a few dozen meters away to indicate that it wasn't his personal unwillingness to speak, but rather matters involving high-level sect affairs.

Feng Jingyu's face lit up with sudden realization.

"I see," he said. "You must be Senior Uncle Fu's relative."

Han Yi's cheek twitched. "Senior Brother Feng, you're mistaken. I have no relation to Senior Uncle Fu."

Han Yi now understood that this seemingly aloof and undeniably powerful senior brother wasn't just a chatterbox, but also prone to bizarre interpretations.

Senior Uncle Fu's relative?

Though his perspective was unconventional, Feng Jingyu had generally guessed the truth.

Of the nine additional participants, everyone except Han Yi was connected to a Golden Core Stage Supreme Elder, either as their disciple or relative, which had secured them this rare opportunity.

Only Sect Leader Yuan Shun's reserved spot, originally intended for You Wu, had become available to Han Yi because You Wu had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage several years prior, relinquishing his status as a disciple.