Deep in the grasslands, an intense mass of battlefield aura of slaughter swirled. Countless auras seemingly from ancient battlefields transmitted outward. The despair, pain, excitement… of tens of millions of people brewed within. These countless emotions were enough to tear through the brain of any expert in the Divine Abilities Secret Realm.
At this time, Fang Han was devoting his entire mind and soul to opening up the "second mind". The seven gourds printed with "skulls" revolved up and down around his entire body, transmitting an extremely intense aura of slaughter, all of which was pouring into his mind.
Inside these seven gourds was the battlefield aura of slaughter that "Young Master Ling" had led people to gather for nine years, having gone through an unknown number of battlefields to condense. Originally, this aura of slaughter and battle was meant to be refined into the "Emerald Blood Soul-Extinguishing Sword", and then with the Emerald Blood Old Monster making a move, it would eventually be refined into a Dao Artifact like the "King of Blood Night". This was no small matter, yet Fang Han had picked up a huge bargain, directly providing enough power for the technique to open up the second mind within the "Panwu Great Power Divine Ability".
"Obscure and profound… Heaven has Yin and Yang, Earth has clarity and turbidity, Humanity has male and female. Lone Yin does not grow, lone Yang does not live. The true astral of heaven and earth, the sun, moon, water, and fire. The second sea of consciousness, the purple mansion reopens…"
As Fang Han absorbed the battlefield aura of slaughter from gourd after gourd, one "Battle Soul Sarira" after another condensed into form within his mind.
First came the seventy-two minor Battle Soul Sariras, followed by the thirty-six major Battle Soul Sariras.
Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends, Thirty-Six Heavenly Dippers.
In the end, almost all of the battlefield aura of slaughter from the seven gourds was poured into his mind. The one hundred and eight Battle Soul Sariras in his mind sparkled like the Heavenly Dipper and Earthly Fiend stars, each one brimming with astral and fiend qi.
Following the formation map of the Heavenly Dipper and Earthly Fiend, Fang Han formed a star array in his mind. Then he made his final push, attempting to sense the thirty-six Heavenly Dipper stars and seventy-two Earthly Fiend stars in the extraterrestrial starry sky, creating a mutual resonance between humanity and astral power, an interaction between heaven and human. By borrowing the majestic and vast power of the stars to neutralize and harmonize with the killing aura of the Battle Soul Sariras, he would ultimately open up the second mind.
The most crucial step in opening up the "second mind" was heaven and human sensing. This could take a minimum of three to five days, or upwards of more than a dozen days. For someone with poor aptitude, they might never sense the astral power in their entire lifetime. However, Fang Han did not have the issue of poor aptitude. He was already a great expert of the "Heaven and Human Realm", and had even defeated a Golden Core expert, marking him as a prominent figure in the cultivation world. As long as he cultivated diligently, there was absolutely no technique he could not master.
Right as Fang Han was working hard on heaven and human sensing, using his intent to communicate with the thirty-six Heavenly Dipper stars and seventy-two Earthly Fiend stars in the extraterrestrial starry sky, on the vast and boundless grasslands, three figures were carefully searching the sky…
They were actually the top assassins among the Forty Great Thieves of the overseas hired by "Young Master Ling"! Figures who struck terror into the hearts of people in the overseas cultivation world!
While Fang Han was cultivating on the grasslands, using the "Mirage Qi Technique" to conceal his form and cultivate the "second mind", the three Golden-Core-level assassins, ferocious and wicked great thieves, were searching to hunt him down.
At this very moment, many elders of the Ascension Sect were also discussing a major affair.
Within the Ascension Heavenly Palace, the floating city suspended among the white clouds in the sky. The "Heavenly Execution Elder", an eternal giant of the Longevity Secret Realm, along with the "Heavenly Craft Elder" and the "Technique Transmitting Elder", both at the tenth level of Divine Abilities, as well as many Grand Elders like the "Medicine King Elder", "Sword Burying Elder", and "Star Constellation Elder"… there were fully dozens of elders at or above the seventh level of Divine Abilities, the Golden Core level.
This was the core essence of the entire sect.
Gathered together in the hall now, it was evident that some major event had occurred.
In reality, ever since Fang Han informed Feng Baiyu, the Supreme Headmaster of the Ascension Sect, all the senior elders had been secretly discussing major affairs every day. With a major event like the appearance of the God Race, no one who knew even a little of the inside story could remain unshocked.
"Grand Elders, Senior Brother Headmaster is in the depths of endless space-time, working together with the Supreme Elders to refine the Emperor's Mirror, hoping to refine it into an Immortal Artifact before the great change arrives. This upcoming great change is probably the Most severe tribulation the Profound Yellow Great World has ever faced. If not handled well, our Ascension Sect will naturally be reduced to ashes. If handled well, our Ascension Sect can become the number one major sect, replacing the Taiyi Sect to control everything in the entire Profound Yellow Great World."
The Heavenly Execution Elder swept his gaze over the many elders and spoke solemnly.
"We clearly know in our hearts about this great change. However, a great change also has a starting point. Where will it begin first? Even the mighty figures of the God Race couldn't possibly attack the ten sects of the immortal Dao, the seven branches of the demonic path, the five schools of the demon path, and the subterranean demon race all at once. They will certainly proceed one by one. We must seize the initiative." An elder wearing a star robe all over stroked his beard and said.
This elder wearing the star robe was the "Star Constellation Elder", the person who observed the stars in the extraterrestrial sky, guided the power of the stars in the sky, and maintained the operation of the entire Ascension Heavenly Palace. This person possessed supremely profound divine abilities and was just a tiny step away from stepping into the Longevity Secret Realm. He was a powerhouse at the tenth level of Divine Abilities, "Defying Heaven and Changing Fate". For the entire Ascension Heavenly Palace to float in the air, immense power was required, all utilizing the power of the stars in the sky. Otherwise, no expert could possibly support the operation of this heavenly palace for a long time.
Among the sects in the world, the one most adept at utilizing the power of the stars was naturally the "Multitude of Stars Sect", but every major sect also had divine abilities that utilized the power of the stars.
"The overseas! If the God Race wants to invade! Senior Brother Headmaster predicts that this time it will start from the overseas first! Moreover, Senior Brother Headmaster has long made some preparations, knowing that the forces in the overseas are the most complex and there are many rogue cultivator experts. For this God Race invasion, they will probably first control some rogue cultivators overseas to establish sects, then develop and grow stronger, leaving everyone off guard. Boiling a frog in warm water!" The Heavenly Execution Elder said: "Therefore, Senior Brother Headmaster had Fang Qingxue establish the Thunder Emperor's Cave Abode overseas, moving a chess piece to test the waters first, which is also a kind of foresight."
"So that's how it is… I originally thought Fang Qingxue establishing the Thunder Emperor's Cave Abode was to establish her own sect in the future." A Grand Elder realized suddenly.
"For Fang Qingxue to establish her own sect, she would at least have to cultivate to the Longevity Secret Realm, which is still a long way off." The Technique Transmitting Elder smiled faintly: "Actually, many experts vaguely feel that there are issues overseas. Otherwise, why would the Connate Great Emperor order the Demon Commander to go overseas to eradicate the Forty Great Thieves!"
"What, do the Forty Great Thieves have connections with the God Race?" the Sword Burying Elder asked, his eyes flashing with red light: "Then I shall kill whichever one I see."
This Sword Burying Elder was the elder holding specific authority over the sword mound within the Ascension Sect, possessing a murderous aura rarely seen among cultivators.
"The Forty Great Thieves are not easy to kill. Among them, there are six Golden Core experts. The top-ranked Forsaking Heaven Great Thief probably has a cultivation base even higher than ours, being an existence who could step into the Longevity Secret Realm at any time. When the God Race descends this time, they will probably approach this person, promise to help him enter the Longevity Secret Realm, and then establish a sect and build power. However, we cannot act rashly. If we elders all went together to eradicate the Forty Great Thieves, it would be too conspicuous. All sects would probably take notice, and the Ten Thousand Returns Immortal Island would not permit it either. The best method is to let disciples go, so it is less conspicuous. Therefore, Fang Qingxue establishing the Thunder Emperor's Cave Abode there is to provoke the Forty Great Thieves and then eliminate them one by one. This is a chess move."
The Heavenly Craft Elder said.
"Even if all the disciples of our Ascension Sect went, they probably wouldn't be able to eradicate the Forty Great Thieves." The Sword Burying Elder shook his head.
"If Fang Qingxue can successfully cultivate a Golden Core at the seventh level of Divine Abilities, and furthermore, if Fang Han can successfully enter the Wilderness Temple, find the Five Elements Spiritual Root, smoothly enter the Unity Realm, and then refine a Golden Core, their strength will increase vastly. Both of them possess Dao Artifacts, and they are from the same family. Establishing a sect overseas and eradicating the Forty Great Thieves would also be a matter of course, and no one would find it overly suspicious." The Heavenly Execution Elder said.
"It all depends on whether Fang Han can find the Five Elements Spiritual Root and successfully refine a Golden Core. He is indeed a talent, a person with great immortal destiny, surprisingly able to defeat Wan Luo. With the strength of the Heaven and Human Realm, defeating a Golden Core expert is an instance rarely seen since antiquity." The many elders all sighed deeply.
Many elders had found out about Fang Han's betting match with Wan Luo on the Heavenly Execution Platform a month ago. Some elders had even seen it with their own eyes. They all had a newly estimated measure of Fang Han's strength.
An expert at the fifth level of Divine Abilities, the "Heaven and Human Realm", was an important figure for a sect, but absolutely not a primarily nurtured seed. A seventh-level Golden Core was.
But a Heaven and Human Realm expert who could defeat a Golden Core was a peerless prodigy.
"Yes indeed, during Fang Han's decisive battle with Wan Luo, we actually thought he could only achieve a draw, never expecting Fang Han to be this formidable. Exerting all divine abilities with such superb artistry, if the Yellow Springs Diagram restores its strength in the future, I'm afraid he truly will be stronger than Hua Tiandu. A figure like this, if he doesn't die prematurely, I'm afraid will be another Linglong!"
A Grand Elder nodded.
Linglong referred to Linglong Immortal Venerable, the current Supreme Headmaster of the "Linglong Fortunate Land", whose magic power was unimaginably high. Even the Taiyi Sect, possessing an Immortal Artifact, was somewhat wary of her, showing just how formidable she was.
"Fang Han is a seed that can be heavily nurtured, and he seems to clearly distinguish gratitude and grudges; he treats well whoever treats him well. This kind of character is actually not bad either." The Sword Burying Elder chuckled sinisterly: "I precisely like characters with this kind of personality. Hopefully one day, when the Yellow Springs Diagram restores its full power, I would actually like to see just how powerful this talisman edict that shook the demonic path truly is."
"By the time the Yellow Springs Diagram recovers, I am afraid Fang Han will have to cultivate to the Longevity Secret Realm."
The Star Constellation Elder shook his head: "The Longevity Secret Realm, how difficult it is. A single step inside brings eternal life. Even many figures like us, cultivating for over a thousand years, what fortuitous encounters have we not had? Yet we still probably have no hope in this lifetime. The Longevity Secret Realm is not something that can be entered relying solely on fortuitous encounters, luck, and immortal destiny."
"That is true. Even Hua Tiandu, who cultivated to the tenth level of Divine Abilities early on with boundless magic power and possesses several Dao Artifacts left behind by Panwu Immortal Venerable, finds it extremely difficult to break through that checkpoint and change his fate successfully." The Heavenly Craft Elder shook his head. He was also a figure stalled at the tenth level of Divine Abilities. Even though his magic power could move mountains, he just abruptly could not make that crucial step.
Only figures at the tenth level of Divine Abilities who sought to "Defy Heaven and Change Fate" fully knew how arduous the Longevity Secret Realm was to enter, unable to find the door.
"Let's see if Fang Han can smoothly find the Five Elements Spiritual Root on his trip this time." The Technique Transmitting Elder said: "That Wilderness Temple indeed holds many oddities. Many primeval curses lurk within. Even if we went in, we would have to be extremely cautious and would dare not venture deep. However, this is also a type of tempering for Fang Han. We shall see how his luck holds out."