Fang Han's single question hit like a hammer blow.
Everyone knew the truth:
If he died here and the Taiyi Sect seized the Yellow Springs Diagram, they would never hand it back to the Yuhua Sect.
What was the Yellow Springs Diagram?
A supreme Dao treasure. Not only could it open the legendary Yellow Springs Treasury and unleash the power of the Abyssal Gate, but even the river of Forgetting Emotion within it could purify divine abilities, forge Golden Cores, and drastically boost one's chances of surviving tribulation.
A weapon of national destiny.
Once obtained, only a lunatic—or a saint—would give it away.
Zhu Yangyi opened his mouth to say, "Of course we would return it," but the strange looks from Elder Sword-Mad and the other sword cultivators stopped him cold. Even he realized how absurd that lie would sound. He swallowed the words back down.
Fang Han burst into loud laughter.
"So even you Taiyi elites can't do what you demand of others. Hypocrisy at its finest. Enough talk. If you want revenge, here's your chance: one-on-one! Fair duels! Kill me if you can—avenge Zhao Xuanyi and Song Weiyi. You'll even earn the pass that lets you walk freely through the Five Elements Realm.
"But if you break the rules again… I won't bother. I'll leave immediately."
Silence fell.
The Taiyi disciples glanced at one another; Wang Tianyi and Zhu Yangyi's faces were dark as ink. Yes—they were two full realms higher than Fang Han. But after witnessing his methods, neither could muster confidence.
The talisman floating above Fang Han's head—his so-called "life-bound rune"—was terrifying. It had reached the level of sounding the Blowing Conch and Striking Drum—a power usually only seen in mid-grade Dao artifacts.
And neither of them even possessed a low-grade Dao artifact.
Taiyi Sect was mighty, yes, the foremost of the Nine, but Dao artifacts weren't cabbages. Not everyone could carry one.
And apart from his divine abilities, Fang Han still had his arsenal: the Heaven-Severing Devil Hand, the Blood-Night Monarch, the Yellow Springs Diagram. Subduing him would require one of Taiyi's ancient geniuses—those who had secluded themselves for a thousand years, perched on the brink of the Longevity Realm.
Those people wouldn't come fight over two dead juniors. They wouldn't even come out if someone murdered their parents—they'd cultivate to Longevity first, then casually settle the debt.
Elder Sword-Mad himself looked tempted to step forward, but then remembered the "Ghost Emperor" Fang Han had slain. His fighting spirit wilted.
The Ghost Emperor had been stronger than him.
In truth, Fang Han had killed the Ghost Emperor through cunning and traps. If they fought again, he likely wouldn't win. But no one else knew that—and Elder Sword-Mad wasn't eager to test fate.
"If none of you will avenge Zhao and Song," Fang Han said with mock regret, "then I'll take my leave. A bet is a bet, and I've won."
Inwardly, he sneered. If Taiyi dared challenge him, he'd happily kill another one or two. One corpse or three—it made no difference.
"You won't be smug for long," Wang Tianyi hissed, his face flushed red. He glanced at the three sword-sect elders. "Elder Sword-Mad, Elder Feng Feitian, Elder Danxia—you three came to the Five Elements Realm alongside Taiyi. You have a stake in this venture. Our sect's elites didn't come, but don't tell me your sects brought no experts?"
A transparent attempt to goad them.
Sword-Mad's expression soured.
Fang Han immediately stomped on the attempt.
"Don't let his bait move you. Three elders—you've witnessed everything today, and upheld fairness. I'm grateful. Let this prove that justice still exists in the Immortal Dao."
Then he made his move.
"This Five-Elements Pass Token—I'll hand it to our sect master, Immortal Venerable Feng Baiyu. I'll ask him to invite the three of you to jointly study it. Naturally, the three sword sects will receive their share of the insights."
He paused, then added smoothly:
"And personally, as thanks for your fairness, I intend to gift each of your sects one million Nascent Soul Pills. You may send representatives to the Yuhua Sect's Reincarnation Peak in three months to collect them. You've already tasted my pills—they surpass Taiyi's by far. Here—samples."
A flick of his wrist.
Three pills flew toward the elders.
The sword-sect elders caught them, inspected them—and their expressions changed drastically.
These pills brimmed with spiritual essence. No impurities. No residual will. So pure that with a little refinement, they could rival pure mana crystals.
Fang Han's pills were refined using qi filtered through the World Tree, and washed again by the Yellow Springs river. Of course they were flawless.
Compared to them, Taiyi Sect's pills looked counterfeit.
Elder Sword-Mad, Elder Sky-Split, and Elder Danxia stared at their samples, breath growing heavy, eyes burning with mad hunger.
"A million… each?" Sword-Mad croaked. "In three months? Truly?"
He knew what that meant. A thousand pills was nothing. Even ten thousand was manageable. But a million? That was wealth beyond comprehension.
These pills could be traded at a three-hundred-to-one ratio for Baiyang Pills on the market. Two hundred to one was considered a bargain.
A million pills meant billions in resources. Enough to buy celestial materials—or even a supreme treasure.
"That's right," Fang Han said calmly. "Come to Reincarnation Peak in three months."
The three elders exchanged glances—then nodded wildly.
"Then we won't be modest. Fang Han, your generosity is unmatched. We'll recount today's events truthfully."
"You—!"
"This boy must die!"
The Taiyi disciples shook with rage. But what could they do? Fang Han's bribe wasn't a bribe—it was a declaration of financial warfare. A million Nascent Soul Pills. Who in all of Taiyi could match that?
One thing was certain:
The three sword-sect elders would absolutely spread what they saw today—as loudly and honestly as possible.
"Hmph! Taiyi may be mighty," Fang Han thought coldly, "but I have wealth. I have pills. I earn spirit stones like breathing. Who dares outspend me?"
Yes, it was a colossal sum. But buying three powerful allies was worth every pill—especially at this critical moment.
He didn't even have the extra pills on hand right now—but he could refine over thirty thousand a day. Over a hundred thousand a month. In three months, he would easily make good on his promise.
And for those three months, the elders would remember that million-pill mountain—and stand firmly on his side.
"Well then," Fang Han said, "I won't keep the elders any longer. It's time I leave the Five Elements Realm."
"Wait."
Wang Tianyi suddenly spoke.
"Oh? Do you want to fight me?" Fang Han turned.
"The three elders seem to forget something." Wang Tianyi smirked. "The only reason they could come to the Five Elements Realm is because Taiyi opened the space-time passage. If they refuse to fight you, then Taiyi may… close the gate. Permanently."
"You—!"
The elders' faces turned ashen.
It was true. Without the space-time gate, they'd be trapped here forever. Their power wasn't enough to cross the endless void back to the Xuanhuang World. The Five Elements Realm lay in the farthest reaches of the cosmos.
"You dare threaten us?" Sword-Mad's voice dropped to a dangerous growl.
"It's not a threat," Wang Tianyi said coldly. "Merely a reminder. Compete with Fang Han for the pass. That's all."
"And if you close the gate," Sword-Mad retorted, "are you ready for our three sword sects to become Taiyi's eternal enemies?"
Watching the scene unfold, Fang Han nearly laughed aloud.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
"Wang Tianyi, you're a fool among fools," he said. "You think you can force these elders? I already possess the pass. I can escort them out whenever I choose. In fact—I'm not leaving yet. If I do, what's stopping Taiyi from killing them all? You'd blame it on me, claim I colluded with the demons of the Five Elements Realm, and frame me for their deaths. With your track record, I wouldn't put it past you."
"W–what?!"
"Form the sword-dragon!"
"Raise the sword formation!"
The elders barked orders. Their disciples instantly assembled three massive sword-dragons, retreating far from Taiyi and surrounding Fang Han instead.
Originally they'd dismissed Fang Han's suspicion—but Wang Tianyi's words had struck too close to treachery. Now they had no choice but to prepare for betrayal.
Wang Tianyi froze.
Then slowly—regret crept into his face.
He realized too late that he had played his hand wrong.
He'd wanted to provoke a fight between Fang Han and the sword sects, let both sides bleed, then pounce.
But instead he had driven them straight into Fang Han's embrace.
And Fang Han, infuriating as he was, had toyed with Wang Tianyi until the man's wits unraveled.
Today, Taiyi had lost more than disciples.
They had lost their dignity.
And the tide had fully turned.