"Alright, let us go."
With a sweep of his large sleeve, Fang Han rolled up a number of Yuhua Sect Holy Sons and Golden Immortal experts, storing them into the Ghost Martial Sage Map. Then, alongside the Love Emperor, Heartbroken Nangong, he flew out of the Ascension Heaven Kingdom.
"Perfect timing, I am also heading to the Heavenly Court, so let us travel together." Heartbroken Nangong looked at Fang Han, who was walking shoulder to shoulder with him: "My task is to lead the many disciples of the Nangong Family to participate in the Heavenly Court's Genius Battle. Originally, my Nangong Family also had a few secluded monstrous geniuses fully confident about this Genius Battle. Unfortunately, with a figure like you appearing, everyone else will have to yield."
"Actually, I am not interested in any Genius Battle. In my eyes, it's just children playing house." Fang Han shook his head. "I am going to the Heavenly Court this time to see a person."
"That person is a woman?"
The Love Emperor, Heartbroken Nangong, said: "And someone who was once your closest person?"
"Hmm?"
Fang Han gave him a look of surprise.
"Don't look at me like that. Although I have advanced by leaps and bounds, encountered consecutive fortuitous events, and received the guidance of Lord Chaos Heavenly Lord, I cannot calculate everything about you. You are a strange person; in your previous life, you must have been a highly important figure, otherwise Lord Heavenly Lord wouldn't be guarding you. But have you forgotten? I am the Love Emperor, possessing a unique sense of smell for the word 'love.' Your words just now contained deep affection, which I sensed instantly."
Nangong Shangxin's white clothes fluttered; as he walked, he carried a dashing, archaic feel.
"Worthy of being the Love Emperor." The expression on Fang Han's face was very calm: "Let us go. We'll get settled down in the Heavenly Court first."
"Alright. Myriad Emperors Sundering the Sky, the Great Dao Shattering."
The Love Emperor shook his hands, and immediately cracked traces emerged in the air, piecing together to form a passage that led directly through the firmament.
"Let us arrive at the Heavenly Court as soon as possible. The Heavenly Court places great importance on this Genius Battle. After entering the Heavenly Court, disciples from various sects will be assigned to station in Cave Dwellings and Blessed Lands. Because the great battle will last for a period of time, some disciples can cultivate in the Heavenly Court's Cave Dwellings and Blessed Lands; this is a rare opportunity. I know a few good friends in the Heavenly Court who can help arrange premium Cave Dwellings and Blessed Lands for us." The Love Emperor walked into the passage.
"What's so rare about cultivating in Cave Dwellings and Blessed Lands? Is it worth scrambling over?" Fang Han smiled.
"You don't understand this. Other Cave Dwellings and Blessed Lands are normal, but the Heavenly Court's are different. Within the Heavenly Court, there is Heavenly Vein origin energy. Even for you and me, it is of enormous benefit! The Heavenly Vein is the necessary cultivation origin energy to advance to a Heavenly Lord."
The Love Emperor said solemnly.
"There is actually such a thing?" Fang Han was stunned for a moment. "Heavenly Vein origin energy is no small matter. The Heavenly Court actually leaked some out; it seems they really place great importance on this Genius Battle."
"Perhaps this Barbarian Race invasion provided a great stimulus to the Heavenly Court. The Heavenly Court's past policies were to divide and suppress the major sects, instigating hatred among them. But this time, it seems they intend to unite the major sects." The Love Emperor pondered: "The Barbarian Race has always operated on the fringes of the Heaven Realm's hundred thousand provinces, completely locked down by the Heavenly Court. They had lain dormant for hundreds of millions of years. Who knew they would actually erupt with such formidable combat strength this time, attempting to directly destroy the Heavenly Court? This has caused many experts of the Heavenly Court to panic."
"I am also very surprised by the Barbarian Race's sudden attack on the Heavenly Court." Fang Han nodded: "The Heavenly Court has so many Supreme Heavenly Lords holding down the fort. Although the Barbarian Race is a group of savages, they are not fools. To launch an attack like this, they should have at least a fifty percent certainty."
"That is inevitable."
The Love Emperor said: "Actually, Feather Emperor slaying the Barbarian Race and penetrating deep into the wilderness this time is entirely to investigate exactly what greatest secret backing the Barbarian Race relies upon. If we discover it clearly, it will be a monumental merit. Even the Heavenly Court would have no choice but to bring out a portion of Heavenly Vein origin energy as a reward for the Yuhua Sect. When that time comes, the Yuhua Sect will truly develop at flying speed."
"Heavenly Vein origin energy…" Fang Han murmured these words. For a sect, its most foundational element was a spirit vein, and one of high grade at that.
The Yuhua Sect only had one Saint Grade spirit vein, which an average Holy Son could not absorb.
If there were many veins and even true-transmission disciples could absorb them, to what extent would the Yuhua Sect expand? Furthermore, the power of a spirit vein could adjust time.
One hour passing outside would mean ten thousand years inside the Yuhua Sect. Numerous disciples directly cultivating for ten thousand years, crazily absorbing high-quality spirit veins; what kind of scene would that be? Within a few short years, the Yuhua Sect's strength would increase by thousands, if not hundreds of times.
But a Heavenly Vein was even more miraculous, entirely incomparable to a Saint Grade spirit vein.
The gap between the two was like the difference between a King Grade Immortal Artifact and a Sacred Grade Immortal Artifact, perhaps even greater.
Spirit veins ranged from the ninth grade up to the first grade, then King Grade, Saint Grade, and finally, the Heavenly Vein.
At every stage, the difference in origin energy quality was massive.
Fang Han had never tasted the flavor of a Heavenly Vein, and he rather wanted to absorb some. He was even considering using the Thirty-Three Heavens Treasures to calculate the structure of a Heavenly Vein; who knew, he might be able to 'clone' one in the future.
"This trip to the Heavenly Court holds many expectations. Heavenly Stage spirit veins—rumored to be capable of nurturing Heavenly Lords; what exactly do they look like? The many Heavenly Lords of the Heavenly Court… Eternal, Chaos, Slaughter, Thunder Emperor… Ah, exactly, Thunder Emperor Heavenly Lord. I might run into him; I hope he doesn't spot any clues on me."
Regarding this trip to the Heavenly Court, Fang Han felt both expectation and tension in his heart.
Expectation because of Yan Shuitian; tension because, under the prying eyes of the many Heavenly Lords, he could easily expose himself. Although he was not even afraid of "Lifespan Equivalent to the Heavens" Utmost Immortal Emperors now, he still held deep misgivings when it came to Heavenly Lords.
A Heavenly Lord could easily crush him to death without wasting any effort at all.
However, he believed that Chaos Heavenly Lord had long made arrangements and would not place him in a situation of dangerous exposure.
The two traveled swiftly like wind and lightning. With a movement of their bodies, they passed through endless layers of overlapping spaces, launching towards the highest firmament. After flying for about a day and a night, with a "boom" sound, they saw a boundless, colossal palace stretching over trillions of miles, towering above the Ninth Heaven. This was where the Heavenly Court was located.
It was only when Fang Han flew close to the Heavenly Court for the first time that he truly felt its magnificent grandeur.
Immeasurable size.
Only a grand existence like the Good Fortune Immortal King could forge such a vast Heavenly Court, holding the Heaven Realm's ultimate authority and intimidating experts of the alien realms and savage races as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.
Looking at the Heavenly Court, Fang Han shook his head, feeling the greatness of its power; he was merely a drop in the ocean.
When would he possess such majestic power? The power to forge the Heavenly Court? To slaughter through eternal ages, obliterate the void, and pierce through the past and future.
Back then, he had also seen the silhouette of the Heavenly Court within the Heaven Province, but it was nowhere near this shocking.
The location of the Heavenly Court was high up in the Ninth Heaven, deep within endless space. Ascending from the ground, one had to brave endless spatial tempests, spatiotemporal secret holes,朔 winds, layers of fire, layers of ash… innumerable dangerous zones. Only experts could reach it.
Ordinary Golden Immortal experts simply couldn't reach the Heavenly Court by flying. When Fang Han advanced to the Half-Saint cultivation level back then, he estimated that flying from the Heaven Province to the Heavenly Court would require several days and nights, not to mention for Golden Immortals.
However, he was a true Saint now, and an outrageously formidable one capable of slaying Emperors at that. Flying to the Heavenly Court took virtually no effort.
The Love Emperor was the same.
As the two flew up from the ground to the outside of the Heavenly Court, they were both struck by the magnificent scenery. The Love Emperor seemed to have been to the Heavenly Court before; looking at the Heavenly Court, he appeared to be searching for something: "Let us go. We will fly to the Welcome Immortal Gate. Upon reaching the Heavenly Court, you must not charge around blindly; otherwise, you will be executed without exception, even an Emperor."
The two shifted directions again, approaching the Heavenly Court, and flew towards the location of the Welcome Immortal Gate. While still a hundred and eight thousand miles away from the Heavenly Court, they felt violent spatial fluctuations; rolling celestial waves surged, marking the forbidden magic of the Heavenly Court.
"Who goes there?"
"Buzz!"
Dozens of powerful Saints burst forth from the celestial waves. These Saints, wielding long spears and wearing heavy armor, looked at Fang Han and the Love Emperor, Heartbroken Nangong.
They were guardians of the Heavenly Court.
"Yours truly is Heartbroken Nangong, the Love Emperor, the leader of the Nangong Family bringing disciples here to participate in the Heavenly Court's Genius Battle. This is the Holy Son Wind Fate of the Yuhua Sect, who led his subordinate Holy Sons here."
Nangong Shangxin cupped his hands together.
"So it is the Love Emperor! Brother Nangong." One of the Saints showed a look of surprise on his face: "What kind of fortuitous encounters did you exactly receive to advance so swiftly? Last year you were still the Love Saint, yet this year you have become the Love Emperor. And if I am not mistaken, you have cultivated to the supreme realm of 'Lifespan Equivalent to the Heavens'; from now on, as long as the Heaven Realm remains indestructible, you shall be unperishing!"
"Radiant Saint, I trust you have been well since we last met; you and I haven't seen each other for many years." Nangong Shangxin laughed heartily: "Take us inside. Arrange a somewhat better Cave Dwelling for us, one possessed with Heavenly Vein origin energy. This is my good friend, Holy Son Wind Fate of the Yuhua Sect, the leader bringing the Yuhua Sect's team."
"What? A Holy Son as the team leader? Why didn't the Yuhua Sect's Feather Emperor come? Even if Feather Emperor didn't come, other Emperors should have come. What about the Emperors of the Hua family? I remember their relationship with the Heavenly Court was always pretty good."
The several Saints looked at Fang Han with surprise. The genius disciples coming from major sects this time were all led by Utmost Immortal Emperors. Yet the Yuhua Sect was now only led by a wet-behind-the-ears Holy Son. This heavily exceeded many people's expectations.
"With this Barbarian Race invasion, the Emperors in our sect have all gone out to slaughter, but me leading the team is already sufficient," Fang Han said calmly.
"Is that so?" These Saints guarding the Heavenly Court sized Fang Han up and down but did not spot anything special. Still, they wouldn't entangle themselves over this matter; waving their hands, a passage opened within the surging celestial waves, and two Saints stepped out to lead the way for the Love Emperor and Fang Han.
"Radiant Saint, what is the best Cave Dwelling available this time? I need one rich in Heavenly Vein energy. In return, I can privately give you some benefits of magic treasures and medicinal pills."
Walking forward into the Heavenly Court, Nangong Shangxin suddenly spoke to the Saint beside him.
"By coincidence, I happen to have a Yuque Cave Dwelling available," the Radiant Saint said: "It can accommodate the people of the Nangong Family. As for other Cave Dwellings…" He cast a glance at Fang Han.
"Wind Fate and I are friends of life and death; arrange them together. Your benefits will not be lacking," Nangong Shangxin hastily added.
"Hmph! The Yuque Cave Dwelling has already been booked by us long ago, and the Nangong Family still wants to lay hands on it?" Just as Nangong Shangxin and the Radiant Saint were discussing, a voice was transmitted from ahead.