The terror between life and death is immense.
Han Yi cried out in alarm, leaping to his feet. Only when he realized he was back in the Great Void Illusion and his Grand Void Body remained intact did he breathe a sigh of relief.
Before him floated a fist-sized orb of ethereal light, the True Ascension Mark. With a mere thought, he could regenerate a Grand Void Body from this mark, allowing him to re-enter the Cave Heaven World.
Instead of immediately re-embodying, Han Yi sat back down in meditation. Only then did he realize his forehead was drenched in cold sweat, the lingering fear still clinging to him.
"I died... I really died."
"The sensation was utterly real."
"Even though it was just my Grand Void Body that perished in the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven, the memory of that death—etched deep within my Divine Soul—was still carried back to my true form."
"Death isn't without its consequences, even in this realm."
Han Yi's expression turned grave, his mind in turmoil. After taking a deep breath, he began to piece together his experience.
First, when entering the Cave Heaven with a Grand Void Body, death would return his Divine Soul to the Great Void Illusionary Realm, allowing him to reconstitute the body. However, all experiences from the Cave Heaven—including the sensation of dying—would be transferred to his true form.
Suddenly, Han Yi's heart skipped a beat. A terrifying possibility had just occurred to him: what if he were captured within the Cave Heaven and rendered unable to even die? His Divine Soul wouldn't return to the Grand Void Illusionary Realm; instead, he might endure a full year of torture, or be manipulated as a puppet until the True Ascension Mark's efficacy wore off, finally allowing his soul to escape.
A year of imprisonment, torment, or being used as a living test subject for spells would be a hellish catastrophe.
Therefore, he must never be captured alive. If capture seemed imminent, self-destruction was the only honorable course. Better to die with dignity.
Beyond this grim realization, two further questions surfaced in Han Yi's mind.
First, he had entered the Cave Heaven empty-handed, without any weapons. Yet the Legendary Qi Refining cultivators he had observed within the Cave Heaven World all wielded Magic Artifacts—Spirit Swords, war banners, halberds, and Blood Swords. Under Han Yi's Qi Observation Technique, each artifact radiated power comparable to his own Golden Light Shuttle.
Top-Grade Magic Artifacts.
Every single one of those artifacts was a Top-Grade Magic Artifact.
Could there be some hidden circumstances at play here?
No, that wasn't right. Fu Xuanxu had said that if a cultivator died in the Cave Heaven World while carrying a Magic Artifact, the artifact would not return. Could it be that these cultivators who brought artifacts into the Cave Heaven had a way to retrieve them?
Otherwise, wouldn't the fallen Sword Immortal have lost both his Spirit Swords? Losing seventy percent of a Sword Immortal's combat power would be a devastating blow.
Secondly, both Feng Jingyu and Fu Xuanxu had mentioned that first-time entrants to the Cave Heaven World would receive guidance and have their questions answered. Yet, Han Yi had nearly been killed by a Black Demon's punch the moment he arrived. This discrepancy suggested something had been overlooked.
Han Yi temporarily set aside these doubts, resolving to investigate further once inside the Cave Heaven World.
With a thought, his consciousness shifted, his Divine Soul now residing within his Grand Void Body.
This time, instead of immediately turning to enter the Light Gate passage, he retrieved two Magic Artifacts from his main body's Storage Pouch: a Low-Grade sword artifact and a Mid-Grade sword artifact, acquired from Robber Cultivators outside Daofu City years ago.
The Mid-Grade sword artifact was the Seven Stars Sword.
The Low-Grade sword artifact was the Cold Bamboo Sword.
Han Yi had originally planned to sell all the sword artifacts, but he later reconsidered. He realized they could be detonated at critical moments to buy him time or create trouble for his enemies, essentially treating them as disposable consumables.
He never expected to actually need them in such a situation.
This time, Han Yi carried the sword artifacts with him for two reasons: to enhance his combat capabilities and because losing these particular Magic Artifacts would be of little consequence to him, causing no significant loss.
Clutching a sword artifact in each hand, Han Yi turned and stepped through the Light Gate.
Light and shadows swirled, the world shifted around him.
This time, Han Yi had learned from experience.
Before the spatial transformation completed, he immediately cast the Wind Wall Technique, conjuring four thick, invisible walls of wind around himself. He kept his Mana concealed within his hands, ready to unleash it at a moment's notice.
But the instant he clearly perceived his surroundings, Han Yi dispelled the Wind Walls and withdrew his Mana.
He had arrived in a primitive tribal settlement. Around him, tribespeople clad in animal skins moved through the village, exuding an air of raw antiquity.
This must be the "primitive Human Race tribe" Fu Xuanxu had mentioned.
Obtaining the Grand Void Token allowed one to find the tribe's Shaman and exchange it for treasures.
Suddenly, a cultivator materialized out of thin air just a dozen meters away. Han Yi focused his gaze and realized he didn't recognize the white robes the man wore.
The cultivator's abrupt appearance was eerily peculiar, yet the primitive tribespeople passing by showed no surprise, their eyes utterly unfazed as if such occurrences were commonplace.
So, that's how I must have arrived too, Han Yi realized. Entering the Cave Heaven from the Grand Void Illusionary Realm is this crude and abrupt.
The newly arrived cultivator was a young man roughly Han Yi's age. Dressed in pristine white robes, his jade-like face was handsome and framed by a high crown securing his hair. A silver sword hung at his side, radiating an air of refined dignity and otherworldly grace.
"Fellow Daoist, are you headed to the Cang Tribe of the Black Demon Race?" the sword-wielding youth inquired with a cupped-fist salute. "Would you mind if I joined you? I'm willing to pay for your guidance."
Caught off guard by the directness of the approach, Han Yi hesitated. With the man standing before him, it would be impolite to use the Qi Observation Technique directly—a breach of etiquette that could easily provoke conflict.
Han Yi waved his hand. "I just arrived myself."
"Fellow Daoist," he continued, "could you explain what the Black Demon Race's Cang Tribe is?"
Han Yi felt no embarrassment. He knew the Black Demon Race was a branch of the Demon Race, but that was the extent of his knowledge. Having finally encountered a cultivator, he was eager to ask.
The other cultivator clearly hadn't expected Han Yi to be so ignorant of even these basic facts. His face registered utter astonishment.
"Fellow Daoist, you've never heard of the Cang Tribe?"
"Surely you know about the twelve major branches of the Demon Race?"
When Han Yi shook his head, the cultivator's astonishment deepened, quickly replaced by a dawning understanding.
"Ah, I see. Is this your first time entering the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven?"
"How strange. Didn't the Shaman explain anything to you?"
"Well, no matter. I'll just have to buy a map from the tribe's Shaman. It'll be expensive, but there's no other way."
Han Yi's interest piqued. "My name is Han Yi, from the Profound Pill Sect. May I ask your name, Fellow Daoist?"
"The Profound Pill Sect? That's a sect from Shu Prefecture. No wonder you're not familiar with the situation here, Fellow Daoist," Zuo Lie said.
"My name is Zuo Lie, a True Disciple of the White Jade Tower in Qian Prefecture."
A hint of pride flickered across Zuo Lie's face as he mentioned the White Jade Tower, clearly proud of his affiliation.
Han Yi recalled the brief introductions to the major sects of Great Qian that he had read in the Scripture Pavilion, one of which was the White Jade Tower.
It was indeed a major sect, and within Qian Prefecture, it was one of only five sects—excluding the two Holy Lands and the Three Great Sects—that possessed cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage.
Moreover, the disciples of the White Jade Tower shared a distinctive trait: handsome men and stunningly beautiful women, a level of striking attractiveness that stood out even among cultivators.
"So you're a True Disciple of the White Jade Tower," Han Yi said, delivering a well-timed compliment. "No wonder Fellow Daoist Zuo possesses such extraordinary bearing. My apologies for not recognizing your status sooner. My utmost respect."