Han Yi casually tossed the Ninth-Tier Immortal Sword into his Divine Aperture World.
From the Spirit of the Immortal Sword, he learned his location and discovered that several Immortal Sovereigns and Immortal Monarchs from the Town Ancient Dao Sect had recently arrived, only to be frightened away by him.
He paid little heed to these Immortal Sovereigns and Immortal Monarchs. Even while unconscious and motionless, he remained impervious to their methods, as even a single hair of his body remained untouched.
In fact, with his physical body rivaling a high-rank Dao Artifact, even ordinary Dao Realm attacks would have little effect.
Instead of immediately standing up, he began channeling divine power from his Divine Aperture World to purge the aura of Destruction lingering around the Dao Realm. This accumulated aura, which had shackled his External Dao and crippled his Immortal Path cultivation, was the result of the Heavenly Venerable Ancient Artifact.
Fortunately, his Divine Aperture World had recovered surprisingly quickly, restoring about half of his injuries.
Clearing the accumulated aura of Destruction took Han Yi a full decade. After all, this aura emanated from the Heavenly Venerable Ancient Artifact, possessing an inherently profound nature that far surpassed ordinary Dao Realm power, despite being sourceless.
Ten years later, having completely purged the destructive energy from his body, he finally allowed his Dao Thought to enter the Dao Realm. Upon entering, he immediately saw Taiyuan, who stood guard within.
At that moment, Taiyuan was desperately suppressing the rampant Aura of Destruction within the Dao Realm. Though the destructive energy was limited, its fundamental nature was exceptionally potent. Even with Taiyuan's strength, he could only barely contain it, unable to completely purge it.
Seeing Han Yi's Dao Thought Avatar appear, Taiyuan finally sighed in relief.
"You've finally come," he said. "If you had delayed any longer, the Dao Realm would have descended into chaos, and your injuries would have worsened significantly."
Han Yi nodded. "Thank you, Senior," he replied.
Then, using his Dao Thought, he began channeling divine power into the realm to cleanse the infiltrating Aura of Destruction. With relatively little destructive energy present, he completed the task in just three years.
Seeing this, Taiyuan returned to his Blade Body and retreated to the Pavilion.
Meanwhile, Han Yi began examining the Dao Tower at the heart of the Dao Realm. The Dao Tower was, in essence, his Dao Fruit.
During his battle with Daoist Suxi, his Immortal Path Cultivation Realm had suffered severe damage. His Heretical Dharma Manifestation had collapsed and separated, and his Dao Fruit had been violently expelled.
In other words, his Immortal Path Cultivation Realm had fallen back to the External Dao, returning him to the Dao Fruit Realm.
However, he wasn't worried. As long as he could repair his Dao Fruit, he could reabsorb it into the Dao Realm, reforming the External Dao and returning to the External Dao Realm. With his previous experience, this process would be swift, provided he had sufficient resources.
After examining it thoroughly, Han Yi let out a sigh of relief. Although the Dao Tower was riddled with cracks, it remained sufficiently intact. With time, he could repair the Dao Fruit.
Of course, if he had a Life Seed, he could have repaired the Dao Fruit in a short time. But now, his Life Seed reserves were depleted, leaving him temporarily powerless.
Having finished inspecting the Dao Realm, Han Yi didn't leave. Instead, he observed some peculiar auras seeping into the Dao Realm from its borders, his brow furrowing.
These strange auras were colorless and odorless. He wouldn't have detected them beyond the Dao Realm; it was only within this realm that he could perceive even the slightest changes.
This must be the Yin Ancient Toxic Qi, Han Yi realized inwardly.
If it were any other Dao Realm, even at its peak, it wouldn't be able to block the penetration of this toxic qi. Over time, it would inevitably cause those who have achieved Harmonization with the Dao to fall, and the External Dao to perish.
But for me, it's no trouble at all.
With a thought, divine power surged from numerous Divine Aperture Worlds, converging on his Dao Realm. It enveloped the formless auras seeping into the Dao Realm and gradually dissolved them.
Outside his Dao Realm, he had woven a celestial net with divine power, preventing even the slightest wisp of Yin Ancient Toxic Qi from entering.
He had discovered the anomalies in the Yin Ancient Great Swamp while examining the Ninth-Tier Immortal Sword Spirit. By comparing it to his own situation, he realized that divine power was the Yin Ancient Toxic Qi's nemesis.
This was why, during his years of descent, his injuries hadn't worsened. Physically, the divine power protected him from the poison. Moreover, the Aura of Destruction enveloping his Dao Realm indirectly blocked the corrosive effects of the Yin Ancient Toxic Qi.
Instead of immediately repairing the Dao Fruit, he withdrew his Dao Thought.
Meanwhile, he used his divine sense to investigate the Central Palace Divine Aperture World. To his surprise, not only was it unharmed, but it had also unexpectedly grown significantly larger.
He then entered the second Divine Aperture World, where he found the same phenomenon. As he explored one Divine Aperture World after another, he discovered that all of them had experienced similar growth.
However, when he entered the 22nd Divine Aperture World, he found a different situation. This world hadn't improved; instead, it had suffered varying degrees of destruction. Yet, due to the blessings of divine power, its recovery had been relatively successful.
The unusual changes in the Divine Aperture World puzzled Han Yi, but he quickly noticed the notification on his Proficiency Panel.
"Boundary Force consumed?"
"My original Boundary Force was 21 points. After using it all, the 21 corresponding Divine Aperture Worlds underwent extraordinary transformations."
"What exactly is this Boundary Force?"
Han Yi frowned deeply. He had acquired this Boundary Force during his encounter with the mysterious vortex and the Primordial Chaos World on Demon Witch Mountain. The Panel offered no explanation of its purpose.
Yet, through a series of accidents, the Boundary Force had inadvertently repaired the Divine Aperture Worlds. Moreover, the restored Divine Aperture Worlds now exhibited changes he didn't fully understand.
After further investigation, Han Yi shook his head. He couldn't yet grasp the full implications of the Boundary Force, but he sensed that these transformations would greatly benefit him.
He then shifted his focus beyond the Divine Aperture Worlds, specifically to his physical body. His right hand and half his arm remained damaged, but for a cultivator of the Divine Race, such physical impairments were no insurmountable challenge.
At the wound site, the aura of destruction still clung. Han Yi continued to channel divine power, dispersing the destructive aura from his injury. This process took another eight years.
Only after eight years had passed did he finally purge the lingering influence of the crimson Ancient Sword from the previous battle.
With a thought, his arm and right hand slowly regenerated. However, this portion of his Divine Body was only at the initial Immeasurable stage and required constant reinforcement with his divine power to maintain a High-Rank Immeasurable level.
His gaze then settled on the Yueguang Ancient Artifact, its tip buried deep in the earth beside him.
He rose and slowly extracted Yueguang. As he did so, Ancient Mirror Mountain trembled violently, and rocks cascaded down the surrounding mountain range, sending shockwaves that rippled outward for miles.
To be precise, the fluctuations detected by the Town Ancient Dao Sect in the Yin Ancient Great Swamp were not caused by Han Yi's impact with the earth, but by the vibrations radiating outward as the Yueguang Ancient Artifact pierced the land.
After freeing Yueguang, Han Yi's gaze sharpened. He had spotted an incredibly faint crack on the surface of the powerful ancient Divine Artifact.
Han Yi sighed softly.
During the final moments of the brutal battle near the Myriad Journeys Palace in the Chaos Space, he had realized this truth.
Strictly speaking, the deep crimson Ancient Sword was of a higher grade than the Yueguang Divine Spear. However, Yueguang's spirituality was weaker than that of a typical Ancient Artifact, forcing it to rely solely on its physical resilience in the final clash. In the end, Han Yi had slain Daoist Suxi, reducing her to a fragmented Dao Soul, while he himself suffered the loss of his right hand and half his arm. This outcome was due not only to his formidable physical strength but also to Yueguang's tenacity.
Han Yi gently caressed the Yueguang Divine Spear, sensing the newly reborn, ten-thousand-year-old spirituality, now withdrawn deep within the Ancient Artifact, falling silent.
"Rest assured," Han Yi vowed solemnly, "once I ascend to the God Sovereign realm, I will journey to the Ancestor God Star to seek materials and restore you."
With that, he stored the Yueguang Divine Spear within his Divine Aperture World, nurturing it with divine power.
From now on, he could no longer rely solely on this Ancient Artifact. Against External Dao or Dao Harmonization Realm cultivators, he could effortlessly crush them with the Taosi Divine Axe. But against a Heavenly Venerable, the damaged Yueguang Divine Spear would struggle to hold its own.
After securing the Yueguang, Han Yi didn't immediately depart from the Yin Ancient Great Swamp. Instead, he ventured deeper into its heart.
Within the consciousness of the Ninth-Tier Sword Spirit, Han Yi learned of the legendary connection between the Yin Ancient Great Swamp and the origin land of the Void Profound Great World. This knowledge spurred him to investigate further.
If his investigation yielded no results, he planned to leave the Void Profound Great World, enter the Chaos, and return to the Primordial era. However, if he managed to obtain some Origin to mend his Life Seed, that would be ideal. It would allow him to swiftly repair his Dao Fruit and recover his cultivation.
As Han Yi departed the Ancient Mirror Mountain Range, a realization struck him: a full eighty years had passed since that pivotal battle. The first forty years had been spent drifting between the Chaos and the Void Profound Great World's void, while the latter forty had been spent within the Ancient Mirror Mountain Range.
He had no interest in the power dynamics beyond the Yin Ancient Great Swamp. This Great World's strength paled in comparison to the Primordial Great World; it housed only two Heavenly Venerables and a limited number of Dao Realm cultivators.
As he ventured deeper into the Yin Ancient Great Swamp, he noticed the formless toxic qi in his surroundings growing increasingly dense. Were it not for his unique divine power, any Dao Harmonization Realm cultivator venturing here without protection would swiftly be corroded by the Yin Ancient Toxic Qi, ultimately leading to their death and Dao Extinction.
Ten years later.
Han Yi finally stopped, completely enveloped in a golden glow of divine power. Within this radiant aura, intricate runes flickered intermittently, radiating a potent sealing power.
He had activated the divine-sealing effect of a Divine Art, isolating himself from the external world.
The Yin Ancient Toxic Qi here was so potent that ordinary divine power could barely withstand it. Only this method could ensure his safety.
Before him, the Great Swamp had transformed into a towering mountain range that stretched into the clouds. Its summit seemed to vanish into a mysterious space, its peak invisible.
The sight of this mountain range stirred Han Yi's excitement.
"The legends prove true. This Yin Ancient Great Swamp is indeed the outer realm leading to the Origin Land of this Great World."
His thoughts continued:
"However, the Void Profound Great World is home to two Heavenly Venerables. Even the potent toxic qi of the Yin Ancient Great Swamp would pose no challenge to them."
"Could those two Heavenly Venerables be at the summit of this mountain range, within that mysterious space—the Origin Space itself?"
Han Yi's heart tightened.
He took a deep breath. Even if Heavenly Venerables were present in the Origin Space, he would still attempt to reach it. His goal was to absorb some of the Origin and convert it into his Life Seed, thereby enhancing his strength.
He stepped forward, reaching the foot of the mountain, and then slowly began to ascend. As he drew closer to the summit, the divine power required to maintain his protective barrier grew increasingly vast.
When he was about a mile from the peak, a familiar message finally appeared on the panel:
Life Seed detected. Absorption possible. Proceed?
Han Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief. In truth, he had already reached his limits. He couldn't fully traverse this final stretch; the Yin Ancient Toxic Qi had become utterly terrifying, even saturating the space itself. Each step forward now demanded immense pressure.
But now that the Life Seed had finally been detected, his efforts hadn't been in vain.
With a thought, he commanded:
Absorb.
The Life Seed counter, which had been at zero, began to gradually increase.
He settled into a cross-legged position, simultaneously resisting the onslaught of the Yin Ancient Toxic Qi while using the panel's special function to absorb the Life Seed.
Half a month later.
The previously fluctuating Life Seed count on the panel ceased its upward climb.
He continued to advance ten meters further, and the stagnant Life Seed count slowly began to rise again.
In this manner, Han Yi made twenty incremental advances, covering a total distance of about two hundred meters.
By the twentieth attempt, Han Yi knew he had reached his limit. Any further upward movement would likely overwhelm him, and the powerful Yin Ancient Toxic Qi could shatter his Dao Realm.
He came to a complete stop.
The Life Seed count on the panel had been completely refreshed:
Life Seed: 134,284 units
Over 130,000 Life Seeds brought Han Yi a wave of satisfaction. This massive amount was equivalent to half a Source Crystal, a significant quantity for him.
He retreated backward, feeling the pressure lessen with each step. Once he reached the foot of the mountain, then moved far away from the Ancient Mirror Mountain Range, he withdrew his divine power protective barrier. Next, he left the Yin Ancient Great Swamp, soared upward, entered the Void, and headed straight for the Chaos Beyond the Realms.
In just half a day, he had left the Void Profound Great World and once again entered the Chaos.
Entering the Chaos, he deployed his Dao Boat, set its navigation course, and programmed it to automatically head toward the Eastern Boundary's Primordial Great World.
Then, within the Dao Boat, he began to repair the Dao Fruit's injuries.
However, instead of directly consuming Life Seeds to rapidly mend the Dao Fruit, he used normal healing methods, allowing time to gradually repair it.
At his level, ordinary Dao Pills had a negligible effect on repairing the Dao Fruit's injuries.
In most cases, repairing the Dao Fruit and healing injuries requires self-reliance, using one's own Dao resonance to mend the Dao Defect. Over time, the wounds gradually heal.
Of course.
For Han Yi, who possesses over a hundred Ten Thousand Nether Dao Realm Avatars, including several at the External Dao Realm, his healing process is akin to having over a hundred Dao Realm cultivators assisting him, collectively using their Dao resonance to mend his injuries.