Chapter 137: True Immortal Path (Enhanced Edition)

Azure Dragon Peak, Immortal Transformation Hall.

He Fengdi drained his cup of fiery liquor in one gulp. The Spirit Qi within the brew erupted in his chest, leaving a pleasant tingling numbness in his throat.

Setting down the cup, the turbulent emotions that had raged within him gradually subsided.

"In the end, it was all for naught."

"What was the point of any of it?"

Across from He Fengdi sat Han Yi, clad in a deep azure robe. His expression remained calm, yet a thoughtful look lingered in his eyes.

Three days prior, You Wu's death had sent shockwaves through the Profound Pill Sect. Anger and despair had mingled intensely, a palpable disturbance that prompted Han Yi to hastily return to his courtyard on Azure Dragon Peak.

Over the intervening days, these emotions had gradually dissipated. Coincidentally, this afternoon was the appointed time to retrieve the Green Ripple Sword. Han Yi seized the opportunity to invite He Fengdi for drinks early that morning, fulfilling a promise he had made during their journey on the Immortal Boat.

"Senior Brother He, why do you think the Sect chose to publicize this news? Why not keep it secret?" Han Yi asked. "After all, such a revelation is bound to devastate all disciples, both from the Inner and Outer Peaks."

Han Yi genuinely couldn't understand the Sect's decision. In his view, such a devastating blow should have been kept secret.

Yet the Profound Pill Sect had brazenly announced it, then allowed the emotional fallout to fester without interference—an anomaly that struck him as deeply suspicious.

Han Yi refused to believe the Sect's leadership hadn't foreseen this. Their strategic moves over the past decade since the Immortal-Demon War demonstrated far-reaching foresight, not short-sightedness. He was convinced there was a crucial aspect he was missing.

He Fengdi shook his head. "I don't know either."

"But Senior Brother You's death has indeed dealt a severe blow to the Inner Peak disciples. Junior Brother Han, you might not realize this, but Combat Peak has been eerily deserted these past three days, quieter than ever before."

"Based on my years of experience, though, the Sect must have a countermeasure in place. We'll find out soon enough."

Despite his anger and disappointment, He Fengdi firmly believed that the Sect never acted without purpose.

"By the way, Junior Brother Han, do you know where Junior Sister Chu has gone?" He Fengdi asked.

Han Yi shook his head, indicating he had no idea.

"The spirit wine at the Immortal Transformation Hall is truly remarkable. It lives up to the reputation of the foremost Inner Peak, a notch above the Spirit Venerable Tower on White Tiger Peak."

"Junior Brother Han, what are your plans next?" He Fengdi downed another cup of spirit wine. The Spirit Venerable Tower he mentioned was a tavern located on White Tiger Peak, similar to the Immortal Transformation Hall.

"Plans..." Han Yi pondered the word.

"Cultivation," he replied. "Only through cultivation can I increase my strength. Strength is the foundation of this world. I must strive to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement."

Han Yi spoke with conviction.

Once he reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, his cultivation would ascend to a new level. By his estimation, he would become nearly invincible among Qi Refiners, and even stand a chance against Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, even upon reaching the Ninth Layer, he knew he must remain discreet.

No matter how powerful You Wu had been, he had still been cut down with three swift strokes, his glory reduced to ashes in an instant.

The Immortal Path was long. One must seize opportunities when they arise, but humility remained essential.

He Fengdi's raised wine cup faltered slightly, his eyelid twitching before he recklessly drained another glass.

The speaker meant no harm, but the listener heard deeper meaning.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

He Fengdi had risked life and limb to reach the Peak Qi Refining Stage, yet here was Han Yi, already stronger, declaring his next goal was to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement.

Seriously? Is that even humanly possible?

Moments later, the wine flowed freely, and the gathering dispersed, leaving empty cups behind.

Han Yi left the Immortal Chess Pavilion, descended Azure Dragon Peak, and ascended Combat Peak. The scene before him was exactly as He Fengdi had described: unprecedentedly desolate, even more so than when Combat Peak was first established.

As Han Yi approached the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild, he noticed He Fangwei idly meditating with his eyes closed.

He Fangwei opened his eyes as someone entered the shop, and his face lit up when he recognized Han Yi. "Fellow Daoist, I've been waiting for you."

After ushering Han Yi into an elegant chamber, He Fangwei wasted no time. He retrieved a long, azure box from his storage pouch and slid it across the table.

It was impossible not to feel nervous.

Han Yi cautiously lifted the lid. Inside lay a sword artifact, approximately 1.2 meters long.

The moment the box opened, a fierce, all-consuming aura of destruction surged forth.

A low-level Qi Refining cultivator would likely have trembled in fear at the sword's invisible presence, perhaps even felt their courage shatter.

Han Yi, however, remained unfazed.

He leaned closer to examine the blade in detail. The jade disc He Fangwei had shown him three days prior had only provided a fleeting glimpse, however clear, it couldn't compare to this direct observation.

Both the sword sheath and blade were jet-black. Azure lotus flowers spiraled along the blade's surface, the only ornamentation.

A jade plaque bearing two ancient characters, Qingping, hung from the sword's sheath.

Han Yi stroked the blade, even testing its edge. The sword felt icy cold, radiating an aura of aloofness, as if repelling all who approached. Yet the blade itself was surprisingly dull.

He lightly flicked the blade, and a dull thud echoed through the shop.

The table beneath the jade box abruptly shattered and collapsed.

With lightning reflexes, Han Yi slammed the box shut and cradled it in his arms. "My apologies," he said, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "I couldn't resist the urge to test it."

He Fangwei waved it off magnanimously. "No harm done. It's clear you're a true sword enthusiast, Fellow Daoist. The Green Ripple Sword won't be wasted on you."

Han Yi stowed the Green Ripple Sword in his Storage Pouch, settled the remaining payment, and hurried out of the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild, eager to test this Top-Grade Sword Artifact.

Moreover, the name "Green Ripple Sword" stirred associations with a legendary figure of earth-shattering power from his memory. Even if it were just a coincidence, the mere possibility thrilled him.

After Han Yi's departure, an elderly man descended from the upper floors of the shop.

Had Han Yi remained, he would have immediately recognized Fu Canghai, one of the Supreme Elders of the Sect who had accompanied the expedition to the Jade Capital Mountain Holy Land.

"Ancestral Master!" He Fangwei stood respectfully at attention.

Fu Canghai remained standing, walking to the doorway to glance in the direction Han Yi had departed before withdrawing his gaze.

"A Top-Grade Sword Artifact," he murmured.

"Truly, the younger generation is awe-inspiring."

"This matter is not to be disclosed to anyone else besides me. Is that clear?"

He Fangwei hastily nodded in affirmation.

"Ancestral Master," he continued, "according to my investigation, Han Yi is only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement. He recently visited the Cave Heaven World. What is his relationship with the Sect Leader?"

Han Yi's past performances had left He Fangwei utterly astonished, and he seized this opportunity to inquire. If Han Yi's connection to Yuan Shun proved deeper than expected, the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild would need to adjust its approach to him.

"That's a question I'd like answered myself," Fu Canghai replied.

"However, it's certainly not what you imagine. There's no blood relation between them."

He Fangwei understood, though a new doubt arose. "To possess such strength at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement and independently acquire a Top-Grade Magic Artifact... Even if he hasn't reached Peak Qi Refining, his capabilities should match those of a seasoned Ninth Layer practitioner. I wonder if this person will receive the same treatment You Wu once enjoyed?"

This time, Fu Canghai offered no immediate answer. His eyes also reflected deep contemplation as he withdrew his gaze from the outside world.

"If Han Yi seeks another trade, treat him as before. Charge the standard price—no special treatment required."

With that, Fu Canghai strode away.

He Fangwei looked up, envy in his eyes. "A true prodigy of heaven. Let's hope Fellow Daoist Han doesn't end up like You Wu."

Meanwhile, back in his courtyard, Han Yi activated the Formation Arts, stepped into the Spirit-Locking Formation, opened the box, and lifted out the Green Ripple Sword.

In terms of weight, the Green Ripple Sword felt no different from any other sword artifact.

He lightly tapped the blade, and a dull thud echoed. Where the sword's tip pointed, the ground two meters away suddenly exploded. This time, Han Yi was prepared.

Next, he unleashed his divine sense, enveloping the Green Ripple Sword. Using the Sword Control Technique, he propelled the blade forward with lightning speed. The sword shot out silently, leaving no sonic boom in its wake—so quiet it was almost imperceptible.

Thirty meters away, outside the Spirit-Locking Formation, a pear tree Han Yi had casually planted suddenly tilted and crashed to the ground.

Thump. Behind the tree, a faint sound of earth being disturbed rose.

When Han Yi arrived, he found the Green Ripple Sword completely buried in the ground, its hilt flush with the surface. His face lit up with delight.

"So fast! It's far too fast!"

"Moreover, how can something so incredibly fast be so silent? I didn't even detect its activation! What kind of property is this?"

Han Yi swept his divine sense over the ground, and the Green Ripple Sword rose from the earth, hovering before him.

Re-entering the Spirit-Locking Formation, Han Yi began testing the sword using various methods.

He assessed its speed, hardness, sharpness, the limits of his divine sense when wielding it, its form and power enhancement when controlled with the Li Fire Sword Manual, and more.

Three days later, Han Yi emerged from the Spirit-Locking Formation, his eyes brimming with undisguised delight.

During those three days, he hadn't only tested the Green Ripple Sword; he had also spent a full day mastering the Nine Li Daggers.

The results thoroughly pleased him.

The Green Ripple Sword was exceptional. Though its sharpness was unremarkable, it activated silently and imperceptibly, its blade was unbelievably tough, and its speed rivaled even the Golden Light Shuttle, a magic artifact renowned for its velocity.

As for the Nine Li Daggers, despite their name referencing an ancient Human Race tribe, they were merely ordinary Mid-Grade Magic Artifacts. While inferior to the Wind Demon Daggers, they would still prove invaluable to Han Yi.

With his current divine sense, he could wield all nine Nine Li Daggers simultaneously. In contrast, he could only control six Wind Demon Daggers at once, and he had yet to fully master the seventh.

Unfortunately, only three Wind Demon Daggers remained, and even when wielded together, they posed no threat to a Legendary Qi Refining cultivator.

As for the Nine Li Daggers, Han Yi considered them purely tactical weapons. In critical moments, he could detonate them to buy time. This strategy, tested in the Cave Heaven World, proved surprisingly effective.

After experimenting with these two newly acquired Magic Artifacts, Han Yi returned to his Meditation Chamber to resume his cultivation.

Seven days later, he opened his eyes, a hint of pleasant surprise in his gaze, though he remained uncertain.

Following his departure from True Dawn Grand Void Heaven, Han Yi had continued cultivating aboard the Immortal Boat during his journey home. Yet, throughout that month-long voyage, he had sensed no change in his Root Bone.

When absorbing Spirit Stones, he still wasted the same proportion as before. Only about thirty percent of the Spirit Qi actually converted into Mana within his body—the standard absorption rate for a tri-attribute True Spiritual Root.

If the rate reached forty percent, it would indicate a Dual-Attribute True Spiritual Root. Above fifty percent would signify either a Heavenly Spirit Root or a Variant Spiritual Root.

Of course, these Spirit Qi absorption rates applied specifically when replenishing depleted Mana reserves.

Even when his body's mana was full, the Spirit Qi absorption rate remained consistently low.

Over a month had passed since Han Yi left the Cave Heaven World. He had initially dismissed the bizarre Stone Insect as one of Wu Kuang's deceptions, convinced it was nothing more than an ordinary Stone Insect with no special properties.

He had all but given up hope.

But just moments ago, he noticed a slight increase in his body's Spirit Qi absorption rate—a subtle yet undeniable improvement over his previous level.

It wasn't much, but it was a tangible advancement.

Suppressing his excitement, Han Yi vaguely sensed that his transformation had begun. More than a month after consuming the Stone Insect, changes were finally surfacing.

He stood up, walked into the Spirit-Locking Formation in the backyard, and began casting Wind Wall Techniques relentlessly.

One after another, slanted Wind Wall Techniques materialized, forming overlapping barriers before him.

After about an hour, Han Yi had completely depleted all the mana in his body.

Enduring the lingering weakness, he returned to his Meditation Chamber, retrieved a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, took a deep breath, and focused his divine sense entirely on monitoring his body's Spirit Qi absorption.

Closing his eyes, Han Yi fully activated the Fire Astral Profound Art.

Two hours later, the Mid-Grade Spirit Stone in his hand shattered with a crisp crack.

Han Yi opened his eyes, their brightness noticeably intensified.

"Again."

He continued to deplete his body's mana, replenishing it with Spirit Stones.

After half a month, Han Yi abandoned mana conservation. Instead, he focused solely on absorbing Spirit Stones directly, a wasteful method but one that significantly shortened his cultivation time—trading resources for time.

One month later.

Han Yi opened his eyes, the initial surprise now replaced by unwavering certainty.

"It worked."

"My Root Bone has improved."

"That bizarre Stone Insect actually took over a month to fully manifest its effects."

"A full ten percent increase in my Spirit Qi absorption efficiency!"

"In practical terms, I've truly transitioned from a Tri-Attribute True Spiritual Root to a Dual-Attribute True Spiritual Root. With an ample supply of Spirit Stones, my cultivation progress will now be twice as fast."

"Twice as fast!"

"Previously, reaching the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement was estimated to take four years. Now, it will only require two."

With this realization, Han Yi rose, left his Meditation Chamber, and gazed out at the sea of clouds stretching before him.

True Immortal Path: Enhanced Edition.

He had initially planned to vent his emotions at Azure Dragon Cliff, as he often did. However, the memory of repeatedly encountering Sect Leader Yuan Shun there deterred him.

Fueled by his newfound determination, he continued his cultivation, striving to reach the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement.

In truth, Han Yi wasn't opposed to relying on medicinal pills for cultivation. However, most pills suitable for the Qi Refining Stage paled in comparison to the effectiveness of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. After all, among the many Qi Refining disciples in the Inner Sect, few could afford to cultivate with such reckless abandon, using Mid-Grade Spirit Stones without restraint.

Moreover, as an alchemist himself, Han Yi understood the pitfalls of relying on pills. While they offered rapid initial breakthroughs, they later fostered dependency—a multi-layered reliance he would only resort to in dire circumstances.

As Han Yi entered another period of secluded cultivation, the Profound Pill Sect introduced three additional policies following its initial reforms:

First Policy: The Escort Program.

Each year, ten Inner Sect disciples at the Peak Qi Refining Stage or higher would be selected to receive a Foundation Establishment Pill. A Supreme Elder would safeguard their Foundation Establishment process, providing guidance and protection. This program would remain in effect for three years, granting thirty Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators this escorted opportunity.

Second Policy: The Consultant Elder Program.

The Sect introduced Consultant Elders from external sources, including cultivators at the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment Stages.

These Consultant Elders held no real power; their positions were purely honorary. They weren't even required to reside within the Profound Pill Sect. Nevertheless, the Sect provided them with annual cultivation resources, including rare, high-quality medicinal pills from the Sect Secret Treasury—pills highly prized by both Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators.

While not publicly disclosed, it was clear that certain obligations existed between the Sect and these elders.

Third Policy: The New Peak Lord Plan

This initiative involved reorganizing the 108 Outer Peaks. Both Inner and Outer Sect disciples were eligible to apply for the position of Peak Lord, with selections managed centrally by the Sect. Incumbent Peak Lords also retained the right to reapply.

The plan effectively reshuffled the Outer Peak leadership, removing those who had become complacent and replacing them with more capable individuals. Peak Lords received significantly more cultivation resources than ordinary Inner Sect disciples.

Each appointment lasted three years.

Upon announcement of this policy, cultivators at the Ninth Layer and above of the Inner Peak went wild.

Six months after Han Yi entered seclusion, the first phase of the Escort Opportunity program commenced. Ten selected Peak Qi Refining cultivators, including two Legendaries, sequentially attempted breakthroughs to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Even with a supply of Foundation Establishment Pills and the protection of a Supreme Elder, two of the ten cultivators failed their breakthroughs. Though they narrowly survived, their paths to immortality were severed, leaving them no choice but to retire as stewards or managers within the sect.

In the same year, a Golden Core cultivator and seven Foundation Establishment cultivators became Consultant Elders of the Profound Pill Sect. These individuals were all ancestors of prominent cultivation families from Nanyang County and Luofeng County in Shu Prefecture. Their impeccable backgrounds and resources aligned perfectly with the Profound Pill Sect's needs, forging mutually beneficial alliances.

Also that year, the inaugural New Peak Lord Plan was launched with great fanfare, plunging the entire sect back into a feverish atmosphere of anticipation.

The following year, the Escort Program saw seven Peak Qi Refining cultivators successfully advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage, while three failed to achieve Immortal Foundation Establishment.

In the same year, ten more Foundation Establishment cultivators joined the Profound Pill Sect as Consultant Elders, granted honorary status and access to limited Elder resources.

This year marked fourteen years since the full-scale conflict between the Blood God Sect and the Profound Pill Sect, and twenty-two years since Han Yi's transmigration.

Han Yi was now forty-three years old.