The mountain forest was lush and dense, with colossal trees towering into the sky, their canopies blotting out the heavens.
Two figures darted through the woods, their movements as swift as lightning.
Whoosh!
The pair suddenly halted. One, a handsome young man with jade-like skin, produced a beast-hide map. A spark of spirit light flickered from his fingertips, landing upon the map.
The two-dimensional illustration on the hide instantly swelled and stretched, transforming into a three-dimensional holographic projection.
"We're here now," the young man said, pointing to a spot on the map. "At this pace, it should take us about the time it takes an incense stick to burn to reach the Cang Seven Division."
"Recently, a group of Descenders besieged the Cang Seven Division, but their attack failed when the Patriarch unexpectedly broke through to a higher level. Now, more Descenders, along with Legendary and Peak Qi Refining Cultivators, will be converging on the area."
"The Grand Void Token remains suspended within the Grand Void Light Pillar. Only by slaying the Cang Tribe's strongest member can we shatter the light pillar, causing the token to fragment and scatter across the land."
"If we're too late and the Cang Seven Division's Patriarch is killed, the Grand Void Token Fragments will undoubtedly be snatched up."
"Let's go."
The two resumed their journey. After another incense stick's worth of time, they emerged from the dense forest into a vast, flat mountain plateau.
The plateau stretched far, nestled against a towering cliff that pierced the clouds.
The mountainous terrain was dotted with countless stone houses of varying sizes and heights, the distinctive dwellings of the Black Demon Race, which Han Yi had observed during his first descent.
"We've arrived!" Zuo Lie exclaimed, gazing into the distance with relief. "Fortunately, we made it in time—the siege hasn't begun yet."
"The time isn't right yet," Zuo Lie said, unconcerned. "Let's wait here for now." He settled into a cross-legged position at the edge of the forest, facing the Cang Seven Division.
"During the last encirclement of the Cang Seven Division, four Legendary Qi Refining cultivators participated. Unfortunately, they ran into the Cang Seven Division's Black Demon breaking through to a new level. Two of the Legendary cultivators were killed instantly, and the surrounding Peak Qi Refining cultivators suffered heavy casualties. Less than thirty percent managed to escape."
"That's how the news spread."
"This time, I've secretly learned that at least twelve Legendary Qi Refining cultivators have gathered. Even if that Black Demon is as formidable as before, it's doomed."
Han Yi followed suit, sitting cross-legged two meters away. Hearing Zuo Lie's words, a thought struck him. "Fellow Daoist Zuo, when I first descended, it was during the previous siege of the Black Demon Race. I recall seeing four Legendary Qi Refining cultivators there. Do you happen to know any of them?" Han Yi's true intention was to make connections with these Legendary figures.
Zuo Lie turned to him, puzzled. "You descended directly into Black Demon territory during your first descent?"
"That's right, it was my first descent. Is there a problem?"
Zuo Lie frowned. "Your first descent landed you in Demon Race territory?"
"No wonder Fellow Daoist Han knows so little about the Cave Heaven World. That explains it."
"You really have terrible luck."
After Zuo Lie's explanation, Han Yi finally understood just how unfortunate his situation had been.
Typically, Descenders would land in primitive Human Race tribes. Shamans, sensing the aura of a first-time Descender, would then arrive to explain everything about the Cave Heaven World.
This was what Fu Xuanxu had meant when he said, "Once you enter the Cave Heaven World, someone will naturally explain things to you."
The Shaman's briefing covered essential topics like the Grand Void Token, the Grand Void Light Pillar, exchange mechanics, maps, and the process of descent.
However, Fu Xuanxu couldn't have anticipated what happened to Han Yi.
Han Yi's first descent had landed him among the Black Demon Race, where there were no Shamans. Although his second descent was normal, landing him in the Crimson Radiance Tribe, his Grand Void Body already carried the aura of the Cave Heaven World. Naturally, the Crimson Radiance Tribe's Shaman didn't recognize him as a first-time Descender. Through a series of mishaps, Han Yi remained completely uninformed.
Fortunately, he had encountered Zuo Lie, who had just descended. Without this chance encounter, Han Yi would have continued stumbling around in the dark, undoubtedly making countless embarrassing mistakes.
Han Yi shook his head with a wry smile.
"It seems fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Though my first descent landed me in Black Demon territory, I also participated in that terrifying battle. It wasn't a complete loss after all."
"Senior Brother Zuo, last time I saw a Sword Immortal wielding two Spirit Swords, a cultivator floating in mid-air with nine battle flags planted before him, a warrior on the ground with a gilded halberd, and another with a crimson longsword. They all appeared to be Legendary Qi Refining cultivators."
"Do you recognize any of them?"
A faint, almost imperceptible hint of battle intent flickered across Han Yi's face before he shook his head.
If I had my Chengying Sword and Wind Demon Dagger with me, and the opportunity presented itself, I might have considered testing my current combat prowess.
But now, armed with only a Mid-Grade and a Low-Grade sword artifact, my strength is effectively halved. Facing Legendary Qi Refining cultivators with such a handicap would be pointless. Why invite unnecessary trouble?
"Fellow Daoist Han isn't from Qian Prefecture, so it's natural you wouldn't know them well," Zuo Lie said.
"Sword Immortal Yang Yu isn't from the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom, as you've likely guessed. He hails from Sword Cliff."
Zuo Lie's expression turned grave as he mentioned Sword Cliff.
Han Yi's face also grew serious.
There was a saying in the Cultivation World: "All the world's Sword Immortals emerge from Sword Cliff." The meaning was simple: the vast majority of Sword Immortals in the entire cultivation world originated from Sword Cliff.
Sword Cliff wasn't just a cliff; it was a sect—one of the world's top factions, boasting a Transformation God Stage Sword Immortal and possessing power surpassing even that of ordinary Holy Lands.
Sword Cliff was located neither within Great Qian, Great Qin, nor the newly established Immortal Kingdom of Great Yong, but far to the north.
Han Yi had long suspected that Chu Jinmo, who had left the Leaving Sect, had gone to Sword Cliff.
"As for the other cultivator, the one meditating in the void with the Nine-Colored Battle Flags before him, he's from the Spirit Battle Sect. His name is Xie Jingshan, and that set of flags is a Top-Grade Magic Artifact. What's even more terrifying is that each individual flag is also a Top-Grade Magic Artifact."
The Spirit Battle Sect, like the Three Great Sects of Great Qian, was a sect led by Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, ranking just below them in prestige.
Within Great Qian, seven other sects also boasted Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, though they were far inferior to the Three Great Sects. Among these, five were located in Qian Prefecture, including the Spirit Battle Sect and White Jade Tower, while two were in Shu Prefecture, including the Heaven's Will Sect.
"As for the remaining two, I suspect one is Changsun Anjing, the eldest grandson of Great Qian's Duke of Anguo, and the other is Fu You from the Southern Dipper Divine Palace."
Han Yi realized that the cultivator wielding the halberd was likely Changsun Anjing, the Duke of Anguo's eldest grandson from the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom, while the one with the crimson longsword was probably Fu You from the Southern Dipper Divine Palace. The crimson longsword itself was most likely one of the Southern Dipper Divine Palace's Top-Grade Flame Series Magic Artifacts.
"Sword Cliff, Spirit Battle Sect, the Duke of Anguo from Great Qian, and the Southern Dipper Divine Palace," Han Yi murmured. "These are all major powers."
A quiet battle intent began to stir within him. This journey was already proving to be an eye-opening experience.
He suddenly recalled Sect Leader Yuan Shun's words from a month earlier on Azure Dragon Peak. Yuan Shun had remarked that Han Yi's strength was merely passable and encouraged him to venture out and witness the legendary Qi Refining cultivators of the world.
Now it seemed Yuan Shun's true purpose was revealed. The Sect Leader likely felt that with Han Yi's Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement cultivation, competing for the Grand Void Token in the Cave Heaven World would be too risky. However, entering the Cave Heaven World would at least allow him to observe numerous legendary Qi Refining cultivators firsthand, broadening his horizons in advance.
Han Yi drew his Mid-Grade Sword Artifact—a longsword with a faintly silvery blade etched with the characters "Seven Stars."
Mid-Grade Sword Artifact: Seven Stars Sword.