As he made his way toward the center of the hidden tomb, Han Ming wasn't just scanning his surroundings with wary eyes. Deep within his mind, he was entangled in a labyrinth of complex thoughts, contemplating the future and the path he should take once everything within this tomb had come to an end.
It wasn't because he had idle time to spare, but because he understood clearly that every step he chose from here on would shape the course of his life for a long time to come.
Han Ming possessed the ability to divine the outcome of future events by exchanging it with his lifespan. But this wasn't a power he could use recklessly. If he failed to define the topic precisely or used it in a situation with too many unpredictable variables, it would consume an immense portion of his life, since he might have to divine the same thing multiple times just to obtain a reliable answer. And more importantly, lately, the accuracy of his divinations had begun to falter.
He was weighing the paths before him with utmost seriousness whether to travel to the Holy Land of the Immortal River in the upper realm, or to withdraw from that path entirely and begin building a force of his own.
The benefits of journeying with Mu Nansi were considerable. An abundance of resources, a stable and secure place to train where he could focus completely on cultivating without worrying about threats from enemies. There were also rare and valuable manuals, training artifacts, and advanced cultivation grounds far beyond anything found in the lower realm.
But that did not mean there were no drawbacks. In truth, they might be far greater than he could afford to accept for he did not trust Mu Nansi.
The image of Mu Nansi clashing with Zhou Luocheng still lingered in his memory, vivid and unforgettable. Their conflict was no mere personal dispute. And it remained unclear how deep that feud truly ran or when it might erupt again. If he stayed close to Mu Nansi, the chances were high that he would be drawn into that inferno of war without meaning to. That path could lead to unparalleled glory or to wounds of catastrophe that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
More crucially, he had no idea what his status would be once he reached the upper realm. One thing was certain he would never be granted the position of elder unless he proved himself outstanding enough to deserve it.
Han Ming was no fool. He knew full well that the chances of becoming a Peak Master or a core elder of the Holy Land of the Immortal River in the upper realm were slim. He didn't possess an advanced cultivation level. He had no powerful force backing him, no overwhelming fortune, and no exceptional status. What he did have was a talent for comprehension and the system within him. But of course, that wasn't something he could ever reveal to anyone.
Without the status of an elder, taking in disciples under his own name would be even more difficult. Although the system within him could grant him a certain degree of freedom, it couldn't completely conceal his shortcomings from the countless powerful individuals within the sect. No matter how well he hid himself, there would always be those who would try to uncover the truth, one way or another.
The Holy Land of the Immortal River in the upper realm was filled with powerful forces and factions, each with their own agendas and constant scrutiny of one another. And if he were to remain close to Mu Nansi, he would undoubtedly draw even more attention from various parties.
Another concern that weighed on his mind was his own disciples especially the last two, Guan Zixuan and Ye Liyin. Both of them possessed tremendous potential and were already targets of the Ten Heavens Alliance. If he brought the two of them into the upper realm without thorough preparation, it would be no different from personally throwing himself and his disciples into boiling water.
He had to plan carefully, without allowing a single misstep. Because he knew well that the upper realm was no place for the weak. It was nothing like the lower realm, where he had been able to control everything at will.
Han Ming raised his head and gazed at the path stretching endlessly before him. Faint light shimmered through the spiritual energy in the air, gently reflecting off his pupils. The stillness on his face did not mean he was emotionless. It was simply that every moment, his mind was calculating, planning the course of his life from this point onward.
Another possibility lingered quietly in Han Ming's mind faking his death within the Hidden Tomb as a means to withdraw from the Holy Land of the Immortal River in the upper realm.
It was, without a doubt, a risky choice, but one that promised unparalleled freedom, a life unbound by anyone's control.
If he were to take this path, the first step would be to remain in the lower realm for another month or two, using that time to strategize, prepare resources, and reorganize his internal system. Only then would he ascend to the upper realm, completely independent from any sect or authority, and establish a small trading hall in a lower-tier city. The short-term plan was straightforward: sell items provided by the system to accumulate spirit stones, then use those spirit stones to acquire more items to invest in his disciples. After that, he could either resell the items returned by the system or enhance them before selling them again.
A simple cycle. A clear plan. He could handle almost everything by himself, using puppets that he had already planned to modify to resemble humans as the primary labor force no wages, no complaints, no need for sleep. All he had to do was program them with tightly written commands, giving them high-level trading skills, and let them manage everything in his place.
The advantage of this plan was the complete freedom of movement. No need to complete missions to earn cultivation resources, no need to share profits with anyone, and no need to act courteous around elders to win their favor. With a well-structured management system, there would be no need to worry about others snooping around or asking where his resources came from. He could operate freely, without excessive scrutiny.
No masters. No restrictions. Everything would belong to him. But... that didn't mean there was no price to pay.
Without the protection of any established faction, facing high-level enemies would become a true disaster. If trouble arose, there would be no one to rely on, no powerful allies to call upon. He would have to shoulder everything alone, like a man walking straight into a storm without even a cloak to shield him.
And if he became too wealthy, he could forget about living a peaceful life.
Espionage, assassination, theft of property, hostage-taking of his disciples if not handled properly, all of it would gradually erode his very existence like insects devouring a corpse. Especially in the upper realm, where key resources were monopolized by major powers, starting out as an unaffiliated force would be no different from painting a target on his back.
The small trading hall he planned to open might not be destroyed by enemies, but by neighboring traders who saw him as stealing their customers or perhaps even by the city lord himself.
He would also need to invest heavily in building his faction from the ground up, using a great deal of resources. And he wasn't confident he could train puppets to understand commands more complex than simple deliveries. No matter how advanced he made their logic systems, they still lacked the flexibility of human beings. And that didn't even account for the possibility of running into Mu Nansi in the future he didn't even know what kind of expression he should wear if that happened.
Even though it looked like he had several promising paths ahead of him, none of them offered true safety.
Han Ming continued flying forward without pausing for even a second, yet his mind remained trapped in a loop of the same unanswered question.
Would he follow Mu Nansi for the sake of short-to-mid-term stability, or would he take the risky path of establishing his own force, unstable at the start but promising long-term independence? Both paths led to greatness... and were riddled with traps. In his heart, he found himself leaning slightly toward the Holy Land of the Immortal River.
Suddenly, Han Ming slowed his pace before coming to a complete stop, his body seemingly frozen in space, unaffected by gravity. His voice rang out softly, yet carried a clear and unyielding intent that left no room for hesitation.
"System, seal off the area around me."
[Understood.] The curt response echoed within his consciousness.
He closed his eyes and sat down slowly, entering meditation without a single movement. Not even the faintest breath escaped from his nose, as if his body had become lifeless.
One minute passed.
Two minutes passed.
Three minutes passed.
Nothing changed. The world remained eerily silent. Only the faint aura of spiritual energy, like a drifting mist, spread slowly from where he sat. It was so still, it became unsettling.
Then, Han Ming's eyes snapped open. His gaze had completely transformed. It was cold, emotionless, devoid of even the faintest ripple of feeling. Without hesitation, he gathered his power and severed the spiritual fragment he had linked to the Holy Land of the Immortal River. At this moment, he had found the answer to his question.
His body shifted, and in the blink of an eye, Han Ming shot toward the green portal ahead. His figure vanished into the swirling arcane light, which twisted like a curtain of distorted water.
When Han Ming arrived at the inner area, the scent of blood still hung thick in the air. His figure appeared without a sound. The seven disciples who had arrived earlier immediately dropped to their knees in unison, voices rising in reverence and devotion.
"Greetings, Master!"
Han Ming nodded in silence, his gaze sweeping over the seven disciples before him. His eyes remained calm, yet within that stillness was a deep satisfaction. Each of them had acquired a great fortune, taken from the very enemies they would one day face.
Behind him, Ye Liyin remained seated, wholly immersed in his state of enlightenment, his spirit plunging deeper into the ocean of comprehension that was forming within him.
Han Ming slowly raised his hand.
A sliver of spiritual power flowed from his fingertip toward the seven disciples. In the next instant, their soul connections to the Holy Land of the Immortal River were severed completely. None of them resisted. Not a single one questioned his actions.
Han Ming's gaze shifted to Ye Liyin. He raised his hand once more, and this time, the target was the thread of spiritual connection still tethered to the Wu Clan.
In a flash, the link was obliterated. Nothing remained to tie Ye Liyin to the Wu Clan. No control, no contract, no spiritual chain.
Han Ming slowly lowered his hand, and his voice rose in a cold, quiet tone.
"From this moment forward... your paths are your own."