Immortal Venerable Linglong finally revealed her actual physical form. While Fang Han was struggling to suppress the changes of the Wind and Fire Great Tribulation within his Golden Core, he also used his divine sense to look. Sure enough, he saw this number one expert of the Xuanhuang Great World, the illustriously famous Supreme Immortal Venerable, still possessing the same appearance as when they met. Dressed in men's clothing, dashing and elegant, standing tall like a jade tree in the wind, with a feather crown binding her hair atop her head, sitting completely still. By her eyes, countless stars were born and destroyed, and the changes from birth to death of billions of worlds were being drill-practiced.
Fang Han felt as if he could see his own past and future within Immortal Venerable Linglong's eyes, all changes, from birth to death, every single variation.
The Immortal Venerable Linglong sitting beneath the canopy on Brightness Peak right before his eyes, although identical in physical form to the one who saved him, possessed an entirely different aura.
The incarnation that saved him was lively and approachable, making one feel very intimate at a glance. But the Immortal Venerable before his eyes now was entirely devoid of human emotion, completely aloof, mastering supreme creation, turning the cycle of birth and death among the living beings of heaven and earth, aligning with the heavenly Dao, enforcing justice on behalf of the heavens, and operating the evolution of the universe. All sorts of rules were firmly in her grasp.
Immortal Venerable Linglong's hands were fair and elongated, resting on the armrests of her chair. Every finger of her hand seemed to govern a specific rule of the heavenly Dao, whether space, time, the four seasons, thunder, five elements' primeval energy, or life, death, and the soul… In Fang Han's perception, Immortal Venerable Linglong was utterly irresistible. Just pointing a finger at him would be enough to cause his death, and any Dao Artifact would shatter.
The dharma power of this woman was boundless and inconceivable.
"So formidable, so formidable! Trillions of times stronger than I am. Even if I cultivated bitterly for another thousand years, I still wouldn't be a match for her. How noble must one be to cultivate to such a realm? Roaming heaven and earth freely, traversing endlessly, attaining true ease in the world. How utterly carefree that must be? Without birth and without cessation." Fang Han spoke enviously in his heart.
Seeing the true body of Immortal Venerable Linglong, Fang Han genuinely witnessed a master approaching the level of an immortal.
The ancient Demon Venerable, the mysterious person in the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion, the artifact spirit of the Human Emperor Pen—the prowess of these formidable existences was overwhelming, enough to bomb and kill everything, yet they were all overshadowed by Immortal Venerable Linglong.
Immortal Venerable Linglong was indeed just like the cultivation method she created, the Great Luo Heaven.
Achieving Great Luo, eternally free across all space-times.
"Any other time would have been fine, but it just had to be now that the signs of the Wind and Fire Great Tribulation were triggered. I have to suppress the Wind and Fire Great Tribulation, expending an extremely mighty amount of mental energy. If I fight someone now, I can only unleash a third of my power." Fang Han pondered over it while looking at Immortal Venerable Linglong.
Originally, the arrival of the Wind and Fire Great Tribulation was a good thing. Passing it led to the eighth tier of the Divine Ability Realm, and accumulating enough primeval energy made breaking into the ninth tier not a difficult task.
But coming now was just bad timing. This was because after presenting the birthday gift, there would be a competition among individuals fighting for the instruction of Immortal Venerable Linglong's three supreme divine abilities: "Zuma Ancient God Energy," "Great Pudu Zen Light," and "Great Sumeru Mountain King Fist."
The other two supreme divine abilities were one thing, but the Great Pudu Zen Light was a vital divine ability for sacrificially refining the Eight Divisions Pagoda. If he failed to get it, there was no telling when he would be able to use the Eight Divisions Pagoda to suppress the "Sun and Moon Essence Wheel" and covert it.
"All well-wishers, present your birthday gifts!"
Successive waves of congratulatory sounds rang out from all directions. The guests coming to offer birthday congratulations stepped forward continuously, presenting their birthday gifts one after another. Some ancient giants offered magic treasures, medicinal pills, Daoist texts, and various heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Meanwhile, the Linglong Blessed Land disciples reading out the gift list loudly chanted, announcing many precious magic treasures and medicinal pills word by word. The sound rippled between heaven and earth, making one feel as if all the treasures of the Three Thousand Great Chiliocosms were being presented in tribute to Immortal Venerable Linglong alone.
Finally, it was Fang Han's turn.
Fang Han immediately flew forward, holding in his hands a large Golden Core containing twenty-seven divine abilities. Reaching the highest point of Brightness Peak, directly below Immortal Venerable Linglong's seat, the female disciple of the Linglong Blessed Land loudly proclaimed: "Fang Han of the Yuhua Sect presents one Golden Core of the Taiyi Sect's Song Weiyi in tribute, congratulating Immortal Venerable Linglong for eternal longevity across millennia, perpetual freedom, and boundless Great Luo!"
At the exact moment Fang Han presented the Golden Core, under the urging of his dharma power, the twenty-seven divine abilities within this Golden Core flew out, spinning everywhere. The Great Sun Fire Calamity, the Black Sun Wind Calamity… all the supreme divine abilities of the Taiyi Sect manifested and rotated all around, forming a dark cloud several miles in circumference, from which lightning flashed and thunder rolled with a grandiose aura.
"It truly is the Golden Core of a Taiyi Sect's Golden Core disciple. To think this child Fang Han truly offered up the Golden Core of a Taiyi Sect disciple as tribute. I didn't believe it before, but now I finally do. This child is indeed daring beyond measure, not hesitating to offend the number one sect of the Xuanhuang Great World. No wonder he dared to mock the two Daoists, Dragon and Wood. Though the two Daoists Dragon and Wood are formidable, compared to the Taiyi Sect, they are mere ants."
"It's hard to guarantee this isn't at the behest of the Yuhua Sect. Could it be the Yuhua Sect wants to wrestle for the title of the number one sect under the heavens with the Taiyi Sect now?"
"It's impossible to be at the Yuhua Sect's behest. One must know that the first true disciple of the Yuhua Sect, Hua Tiandu, and the first true disciple of the Taiyi Sect, Yan Shuiyi, are already engaged."
"So this is just this child Fang Han's personal intention? That's far too bold."
"Immortal Venerable Linglong should be very pleased."
"Of course. Dedicating this Golden Core is equivalent to thoroughly clutching onto Immortal Venerable Linglong's thigh. In two years' time, there'll be a grand show to watch at the Assembly of Immortals. Hua Tiandu will be the first one unwilling to let Fang Han off. Rumor has it that Hua Tiandu fought the Demon Emperor in the underground world; despite being injured, he comprehended many principles and has been undergoing closed-door bitter cultivation recently. Once he emerges from seclusion, he will definitely step into the Longevity Mystic Realm, and right into the Immortal Body stage. At that time, suppressing Fang Han will not be a difficult task."
"The Immortal Body is terrifying indeed. Many giants wander helplessly at this very pass."
"Daoist Dragon and Daoist Wood coming to offer birthday congratulations to Immortal Venerable Linglong this time, isn't it exactly to please Immortal Venerable Linglong so she would impart them some Daoist secrets to successfully cultivate an immortal body? Once achieving an immortal body, one can enter the sun and moon halos, endure the tidal forces of the sun and moon, and collect various treasures within them. They could even venture into many dangerous places and wouldn't easily fall to calibrations."
"If this child Fang Han can step into the Longevity Mystic Realm, he will definitely have deep accumulations and directly achieve the Immortal Body, too. His physical body right now is outrageously forceful, and who knows how it was cultivated. To be able to challenge others three tiers higher and defeat Xue Wuyang; if he cultivates further in the Divine Ability Realm, what then?"
"Immortal Venerable Linglong seems quite highly appreciative of Fang Han."
Sure enough, the moment Fang Han presented the Golden Core, Immortal Venerable Linglong's figure smiled slightly at him. That Golden Core flew directly upwards, and the brilliance around her condensed into a tray, holding the Golden Core up.
This was her showing that she was very satisfied with this birthday gift of a Golden Core.
After dedicating his birthday gift, checking the gazes around him and hearing the animated discussions, Fang Han laughed coldly in his heart: "Once this birthday gift is offered, letting everyone know, the split with the Taiyi Sect is absolutely certain. There will be no more possibility of reconciliation. From this point on, the Taiyi Sect will have no choice but to kill me to gain satisfaction."
Before the Golden Core was presented, the Taiyi Sect could still discuss reconciliation, like sending Yan Shuiyi over to exchange the Golden Core with the Emerald Blood Gentle Water Sword. But now, it was a fight to the bitter end.
Boom!
Just as Fang Han prepared to return, the endless void within the Sumeru Golden Mountain suddenly split open. Countless swaths of black smoke seeped out, resembling an approaching natural disaster. Earth, water, fire, and wind roared and rushed amidst it. The sound of stars disintegrating could even be heard, and out transmitted a voice from high above the Nine Heavens, a supreme sovereign voice: "Taiyi Sect Talisman Edict: From this moment on, fellow Daoists of all heavens and myriad worlds, whoever kills this child Fang Han can come to my Taiyi Sect to claim one Mid Grade Dao Artifact, the Heaven-Blurring Sword, one Taiqing Heaven-Blurring Divine Pill, and ten billion medicinal pills! My Taiyi Sect, right here and right now, promulgates the Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order directed against this child Fang Han, not resting until death!"
The massive sound wave propagated directly throughout the entire space of the Linglong Blessed Land, loud and clear enough for even every single person offering congratulations on the Sumeru Golden Mountain to hear it distinctly.
"It's the Taiyi Sect Leader, Daoist Hun Tian!"
"That's right, this voice is the Taiyi Sect Leader, Daoist Hun Tian. To actually come disrupt Immortal Venerable Linglong's four thousandth birthday at this moment with a Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order to kill Fang Han! A Mid Grade Dao Artifact, the Heaven-Blurring Sword, and a Taiqing Heaven-Blurring Divine Pill, that's an Immortal Pill! Rumor has it that a Golden Core master who went to subdue this medicinal pill ended up beaten to the point of vomiting blood by its pill spirit."
"The Heaven-Blurring Sword, the Taiqing Heaven-Blurring Pill! Ten billion medicinal pills! Taking out such rich rewards just to kill Fang Han! Even I am tempted."
"Who wouldn't be tempted? Ten billion medicinal pills, the Taiqing Heaven-Blurring Pill, and a Mid Grade Dao Artifact as well! Obtaining any single one would explosively boost one's strength. Especially for ancient giants, this medicinal pill practically has them drooling with desire!"
Immediately, everyone who had come to offer birthday congratulations jolted all over, looking at Fang Han, and then looking toward Immortal Venerable Linglong.
"The Taiyi Sect is worthy of being the Taiyi Sect, remaining the number one sect of the Xuanhuang Great World, an eternally dominating behemoth. To actually issue a Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order against Fang Han at Immortal Venerable Linglong's four thousandth birthday!"
"The current Taiyi Sect Leader, Daoist Hun Tian, was also an outstanding prodigy four thousand years ago. Feng Baiyu once lost by his hands."
"Yes, back in the day, Daoist Hun Tian subdued all the heroes with his power. At the Assembly of Immortals, he defeated the disciples of all sects."
"I wonder what level his dharma power has reached now."
……
The Taiyi Sect Leader, Daoist Hun Tian, actually dared to directly issue a Heavenly Dao Pursuit Order at this time, putting forward incredibly rich rewards to urge the pursuit and killing of Fang Han. This was a refusal to show weakness, proving that they absolutely did not fear Immortal Venerable Linglong!
Fang Han was briefly stunned internally, and following that, cold light flashed in his eyes. He now truly understood the Taiyi Sect's overbearing nature; they absolutely would not tolerate anyone challenging their dignity.
"Hun Tianzi, you think just because you advanced a step in your cultivation, enabling you to merge with an Immortal Artifact and borrow its power to tear open the barrier of my Linglong Blessed Land, you can come and disrupt my birthday celebration? Back then, I could beat you to a living death, and now I can likewise leave you in eternal pain! Since you disrupted my birthday celebration, leave something behind before you go."
Immortal Venerable Linglong suddenly spoke, beckoning with her hand.