Although the Yellow Spring Diagram did not evolve the "Bridge of Helplessness", what comforted Fang Han was that "Yan's" power had improved quite a bit. He could deploy more minor magical arts, supplementary minor demonic arts, for instance, helping him better conceal his identity so that his true appearance would not be seen through by experts.
Now, although Fang Han had admitted his identity, he still used the "Mirage Qi Art" to craft an illusion. He had not revealed his true face in front of Prince Yi; otherwise, if the other party used some sort of water-attribute divine ability to record it, there would be irrefutable evidence. He naturally needed to be careful and cautious in this regard.
With this bout of cultivation, time passed quickly. It was already the third day.
Early in the morning, Prince Yi led the more than thirty cultivators he had recruited into the study. Perfected Xiaoyue, Perfected Xianji, Perfected Liangshan, and Perfected Xihua—these major experts—were now overwhelmingly polite when seeing Fang Han. Firstly, it was because Fang Han possessed immense strength, and secondly, it was because he had a rock-solid background. To rogue cultivators, the ten sects of the immortal path were an existence like towering mountains commanding reverence, so extraordinarily massive that they wouldn't have the slightest thought of provoking them.
"Fellow Daoist, today is the third day, the day of the Nine Tripods Pavilion's treasure selling convention. We must rush over early. Not only does fellow Daoist need to buy the Nirvana Pill, but I also have to buy some precious gifts to celebrate Immortal Venerable Linglong's birthday. This time, my few rival brothers will also go. Fellow Daoist must prop me up a bit when the time comes. Uphold my prestige and teach some people a lesson."
As soon as Prince Yi saw Fang Han, he spoke.
"Of course. Accepting people's wealth means eliminating disasters for them. I will naturally help the prince fight for face." Fang Han stood up, his sleeves flipping with cracking sounds. His body was shrouded in a layer of faintly discernible demonic qi, coupled with a trace of pure starlight power. It seemed both righteous and evil, preventing people from telling exactly which sect's cultivator he was.
The people from the Prince Yi's mansion took to the air just like that, flying towards the "Nine Tripods Pavilion".
Although there were many cultivators in the air, upon seeing such an imposing presence, they made way one after another. Any cultivator who had stayed in Xuanhuang City for some time knew this was the grand procession of Prince Yi.
Suddenly, a seven-colored rainbow flew over from the opposite direction. Its aura was so massive that it actually surpassed the imposing presence of Prince Yi. Standing upon this seven-colored rainbow were fully forty or fifty cultivators.
"A Golden Core expert!"
"Ah, this is a Golden Core expert, a little titan spanning the ages."
"These are the experts of Prince Sa's mansion. It seems they are also here today to attend the Nine Tripods Pavilion's treasure selling convention. Let's hurry and make way. If we cross paths with bad luck, disaster will strike in an instant."
…
Some cultivators with meager cultivation, upon seeing this seven-colored rainbow, hurriedly descended to the ground, not daring to fly high in the sky, seemingly afraid of a collision, lest they be beaten to death on the spot.
Having entered Xuanhuang City for a few days, Fang Han had also secretly observed. The vastness and grandeur of this number one great city in the world were truly jaw-dropping. Take Prince Yi's mansion and the Nine Tripods Pavilion, for example. They were all located in the same city, yet fully separated by thousands of miles. Essentially, within this city were rogue cultivators, inner-court disciples from major sects, martial arts grandmasters from the secular world who came to seek immortal pursuits, diverse original inhabitants of the Grand Xuan Empire, members of the imperial family and noble clans of the Grand Xuan Empire, and affluent merchants from the secular world. There were even some hidden Heavenly Demon Kings and Earth Demon Great Asuras…
The complexity of the demographic structure was unprecedentedly rare.
However, public security was excellent, very rarely seeing any fights. The hidden experts of the Grand Xuan Empire guarding Xuanhuang City were extremely terrifying characters.
"Hahahaha, Prince Yi, my twenty-fourth brother. Recently you have become increasingly spirited, recruiting quite a few experts under your command. And you are going to present birthday gifts to Immortal Venerable Linglong in three months? I wonder what kind of birthday gifts you have prepared? Could you let me, your older brother, take a look? Ah right, ten days from now, Royal Father and the Elders' Council of the imperial family will open an ancient ruin to test the abilities of us imperial princes. I just wonder if twenty-fourth brother will be able to find any treasures within the ruins when the time comes?"
The seven-colored rainbow paused in front of Prince Yi. Among them, a leading man, wearing a yellow robe, with eyes like an eagle—a man who at a glance possessed the aura of an ambitious and ruthless hero—laughed heartily and greeted him.
Fang Han slightly focused his gaze. Distinguishing the aura on this man's body, he astonishingly was an expert of the sixth layer of the Divine Ability realm, the "Unity Realm", seemingly even holding a slight edge over the Ascension Gate's "Perfected Profound Iron". And even more terrifying was the an old man behind him, with a goatee, thin and capable, his entire body's aura possessing a sensation of perfectly rounded brilliance. This goatee-sporting old man was actually a little titan at the seventh layer, the Golden Core realm!
"Eighteenth brother, Patriarch Qingyang, trust you have been well since we last met." Prince Yi casually returned the greeting. "I have already known for a long time about Royal Father and the elders of the imperial family opening the ancient ruin. Us imperial princes will sooner or later have to go in there and search for treasures. However, rumors say it is extremely dangerous within the ruins; I just hope eighteenth brother does not die inside."
"Hahahaha." A burst of sharp laughter rang out. It was precisely that goateed Patriarch Qingyang. "With this patriarch accompanying and protecting Prince Sa, how could there be danger? Moreover, Prince Sa has already cultivated to the sixth layer of the Divine Ability realm, the Unity Realm, where myriad Dharmas unify into one. Just one step away, he can condense a Golden Core. Coming to the Nine Tripods Pavilion this time is to buy the Nirvana Pill. Once consumed, he will ascend to the heavens in a single bound and forge a Golden Core. At that time, he will be among the top ten experts of all the imperial princes! Prince Yi, this patriarch thought you had newly recruited some experts, but it turns out to still be just a rabble! Xiaoyue! Hurry over and submit to Prince Sa. Otherwise, do not blame my Qingyang Sect for finding an opportunity to wipe out your Xiaoyue Mountain!"
Patriarch Qingyang was making a naked threat. Right in front of Prince Yi's face, he actually threatened the experts recruited by his subordinate. It was simply the height of arrogance. But threatening them with the status of a Golden Core expert was exceedingly reasonable; there was no other reason, a Golden Core powerhouse was an outstanding figure even among the ten sects of the immortal path, let alone among rogue cultivation sects.
Perfected Xiaoyue's face completely changed color, casting a pleading look at Fang Han.
"Fellow Daoist Fang Han, fight for some face for me." Prince Yi sent a voice transmission to Fang Han.
"Hmph! A goat demon who got a great fortuitous encounter yet doesn't hide to properly cultivate, instead coming out to swagger. You are simply courting death!" Fang Han sneered coldly and stepped out. He was dressed in a black cloak that wrapped his entire body. This black cloak was manifested from Avici demonic qi. It looked densely sinister with ghost qi, but there were starlike speckles upon it, condensing many starry patterns, instead bringing out a bit of an immortal aura.
"Junior, you court death!" Patriarch Qingyang flew into a towering rage. He was a top-tier figure among rogue cultivators, a Golden Core expert who founded a sect, a highly renowned patriarch in the rogue cultivation world! Even ordinary disciples of the ten sects of the immortal path didn't dare provoke him. Having always been respected by people, how could he tolerate the scolding of a junior.
The aura of Fang Han had not cultivated to the seventh layer Golden Core realm; many people could see this point.
Those who had forged a Golden Core possessed a flawlessly rounded aura all over their body. Flickering unsteadily, making it impossible to pin down, much like the dazzling sensation of a Vajra pearl spinning under a lamp.
As he spoke, Patriarch Qingyang flicked his five fingers continually. Five green-colored beaded pellets flew out like lightning, striking toward Fang Han's face. This divine ability was the "Green Spirit Thunder Pellet Art" he had bitterly cultivated, condensing astral qi into pellets that exploded at will. Should they hit a person, the enemy's magical artifacts would instantly shatter, and their fleshy body would turn into mud.
Who would have thought that Fang Han waved his large sleeve, and these five beaded pellets immediately entered his sleeve. Like a clay ox entering the sea, they vanished without a trace.
Immediately after, Fang Han's body vanished with a swish. In a thousandth of a split second, he silently and trace-lessly appeared beside Patriarch Qingyang. Smack! A loud slap was drawn across his face.
Patriarch Qingyang's substantial body was directly slapped flying. The several protective magical artifacts on his body didn't even have time to activate!
"Pfft!"
He spurted out a mouthful of fresh blood, bringing alone with it several large teeth! He never in his wildest dreams expected to actually suffer such an insult! Patriarch Qingyang was thoroughly infuriated. "Junior! You are courting death. You are courting death!"
"Who exactly is courting death?"
Smack!
Fang Han's voice sounded by his ear. Patriarch Qingyang saw a hand appear on the other side of his face and ruthlessly slap down, but no matter what he did, he could not dodge it. Because the opponent was too fast, much faster than his cognitive reaction down.
He was heavily slapped in the face again, beaten until a nosebleed flowed out, seeing stars spinning in front of his eyes. For a Golden Core expert, whose fleshy bodies were already exceptionally powerful, being slapped to such a state was considered highly inconceivable.
Patriarch Qingyang was furious, absolutely and thoroughly furious. For him, a dignified Golden Core expert, a little titan across the ages, to actually be slapped in the face repeatedly? If word of this got out, the shame would kill him!
Boom! The powerful aura on his body erupted, and a Golden Core rose up from the top of his head. It contained fully thirteen kinds of divine abilities, its aura tyrannical. First protecting his body, and then activating divine abilities and magical artifacts to kill.
But it was useless.
Fang Han once again silently appeared beside him. A left hand burning with pitch-black demonic flames, lightning, starlight, and extremely fine five-colored light grasped outward. It actually directly tore open the defenses of several divine abilities of his Golden Core, grabbing straight onto the true body of his Golden Core. With a single move, the Golden Core was seized into his hand.
That Golden Core seemed to sense something, desperately expanding, but to no avail. Under slight contamination from the Avici demonic qi, it completely lost its sensation, becoming seemingly like an ordinary pearl held in Fang Han's hand.
"Swish!" Snatching the opponent's Golden Core in one grab, Fang Han's body blurred, instantly teleporting back to Prince Yi's side, toying with this Golden Core in his hand. "Truly a piece of trash. Only thirteen kinds of divine abilities, and six of them were cultivated after forging the Golden Core, not having undergone the transformation. Even if it exploded, there wouldn't be much power."
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Fang Han kept this Golden Core in his own magical artifact pouch.
"Ah!" That Patriarch Qingyang let out a miserable shriek as his body fell down. Luckily there was a rainbow supporting him; otherwise, having lost all his divine abilities, he would have plummeted to the ground and plunged to death! Having lost his natal Golden Core, he did not even have the means to activate magical artifacts.
Instantly shocking the entire scene! A Golden Core expert, a little titan across the ages, the illustrious patriarch of the Qingyang Sect in the rogue cultivation world, was actually crippled in a single move like this. Who was this person wearing the cloak? A secluded expert of the tenth layer of the Divine Ability realm, the Defying the Heavens and Changing Fate realm, who had isolated himself for a thousand years?
These few moves of Fang Han seemed effortlessly casual, but in truth, he was utilizing his strongest methods. What was most formidable about him now was activating the White Emperor Metal Emperor Slash to instantly teleport, and then using the Heaven Shrouding Devil Hand to strike and kill opponents. Like the swift and fierce wind and thunder, silent and trace-less, executing instantaneous slaughter, appearing globally and unpredictably.
Although Patriarch Qingyang was a Golden Core expert, he was an unknown number of times weaker than Zhao Xuanyi and Song Weiyi. Having his Golden Core instantly snatched was not strange at all.
Furthermore, Fang Han actually looked down upon this Golden Core.
"Eighteenth brother, Prince Sa. The little titan spanning the ages you recruited, Patriarch Qingyang, has already been crippled. It seems your eye for talent isn't very good." Prince Yi watched all this, stunned for a moment, before maintaining his calm to speak up. Yet his heart blossomed with absolute joy: "This Fang Han, how could he be so powerful! Actually powerful to such an extent! Instantaneously slaying a Golden Core with a wave of his hand. And he hasn't even cultivated a Golden Core yet! This… Could it be that he is the reincarnation of some immemorial demon god? Innately bearing grand divine abilities! It must be like this!"