Meanwhile, within Heavenfall City, a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator clad in crimson robes withdrew his gaze from the Divine Warship stationed outside the city walls, his expression darkening.
"Yuan Bai is missing?"
"Damn it! He was carrying the Golden Light Shuttle, a Top-Grade Magic Artifact bestowed upon him by Yuan Changtian. Even a single strike from that artifact could obliterate an ordinary Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement cultivator. How could he possibly vanish?"
The Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator understood that in battle, "missing" usually meant dead.
"Find him! Search everywhere! Even if he's dead, his corpse must still be somewhere."
"Bring him back alive, or at least his body!"
Unbeknownst to him, Yuan Bai—the cold youth wielding the Golden Light Shuttle—had already been reduced to ashes by Han Yi's Exploding Talisman. The Golden Light Shuttle itself had found a new master.
The cultivator knew that Yuan Bai was the son of Yuan Changtian, a peak Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator from the Blood God Sect. Yuan Changtian doted on his son, lavishing him with not only a Top-Grade Magic Artifact but also numerous life-saving measures.
Logically, no disciple from the Profound Pill Sect should have been able to kill him.
He couldn't understand it.
After searching all night, he reluctantly sent a message at dawn to Yuan Changtian, who was in another city.
Han Yi remained completely unaware of all this.
Once aboard the Soaring Divine Warship, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"I survived."
Han Yi slumped into a corner of the warship, mentally tallying his gains and losses from the night.
"My Perfected Purity spells are incredibly powerful. I can easily obliterate ordinary Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivators."
"Even against an Eighth Layer practitioner, I can hold my own."
"Though untested, under specific circumstances, I might even stand a chance against a Ninth Layer expert."
"Furthermore, Magic Artifacts are crucial. All three of my daggers were destroyed. When I return, I must acquire at least a set of Mid-Grade Magic Artifact daggers, or higher, to prepare for future emergencies."
"Spirit Talismans are also highly effective. I need to devote more time to mastering the Talisman Crafting Art and learning more life-saving methods. If I can't manage that, I'll buy some instead."
"And..."
Han Yi mentally tallied the loot he'd acquired from tonight's killings, a surge of excitement coursing through him.
The Golden Light Shuttle alone was a Top-Grade Magic Artifact. Even if he didn't use it himself, selling it would easily fetch enough to buy seven or eight High-Grade Magic Artifacts.
This single item had made him truly rich overnight.
This windfall would more than cover his cultivation expenses all the way to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, with plenty to spare.
In addition, there was the Body-Protecting Inner Armor worn by the sinister youth. If Han Yi's hunch was correct, it should be a High-Grade magic robe.
He had long coveted a defensive magic robe or inner armor. It seemed his trip to Heavenfall City had saved him a fortune, making it well worth the effort.
Indeed, as the saying went, "Kill and plunder, and you'll wear a golden belt." Han Yi's understanding of this phrase deepened with each passing moment.
"Han Yi, do you know what's going on?"
A cultivator, Luo Yunzhou, quietly approached Han Yi and whispered the question.
Han Yi glanced at him and shrugged irritably. "How would I know? Martial Uncle Gu is clearly in a foul mood. Who would dare ask him anything now? That's just asking for a scolding!"
"Just wait. We'll find out the details when we return to the Sect."
Han Yi paused, then reminded Luo Yunzhou, "By the way, Senior Brother Luo, I'd appreciate it if you kept the matter of me killing the Blood God Sect cultivators and obtaining the Golden Light Shuttle confidential. I don't want to attract unnecessary trouble."
Han Yi's concern was well-founded. He was only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining. If the Sect learned he possessed a Top-Grade Magic Artifact, they would undoubtedly demand he surrender it. Even if the Sect didn't intervene directly, Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators or those at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining would likely resort to various means to coerce him into handing it over willingly. While such arrangements might offer some compensation, it would never be commensurate with the artifact's true value.
"Rest assured, Junior Brother Han," Luo Yunzhou vowed solemnly, raising his hand to swear on the spot. "I swear on my life I won't breathe a word of this. If I break this oath, may I be struck by five bolts of heavenly lightning!"
Though Han Yi remained cautious about Luo Yunzhou, he was satisfied with the senior brother's earnest demeanor.
Luo Yunzhou, too, felt a surge of inner delight. By safeguarding Han Yi's secret, he had solidified their bond significantly. He now believed he was the only member of the Profound Pill Sect aware of Han Yi's true strength, as Cui Xingchen and Tao Shouhua had fled early and missed Han Yi's stunningly decisive final strike.
In Luo Yunzhou's eyes, this junior brother was extraordinary, his combat prowess nothing short of divine. He was certain Han Yi would become a pillar of strength in the future. I should latch onto him early so I can ride his coattails to the top, Luo Yunzhou thought.
"Sigh, I don't know what the Sect is up to this time. Something feels off," Luo Yunzhou muttered, letting out a heavy sigh after making his silent vow.
Han Yi shared his unease. The Sect's expedition had lasted less than a day—a childish farce. What kind of scheme are they cooking up? Still, Han Yi kept his doubts to himself, focusing on fulfilling his duties.
Before dawn, the Soaring Divine Warship had already returned to Overturning Sea Peak. This time, Han Yi noticed a disturbing detail. When they had set out the previous day, there were three Golden Core Stage cultivators and twenty-six Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators. But as the transport-type Magic Treasure, the Soaring Divine Warship, was being stowed away, Han Yi counted only two Golden Core Stage cultivators and barely a dozen Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators.
This doesn't look good. Could it be that we lost a Golden Core Stage cultivator and several Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators in a single night?
This is seriously bad news.
Han Yi felt a deep unease, not only for himself but also for the Profound Pill Sect. After all, it was a towering tree beneath whose shade he could find shelter. If that tree fell, he would surely be swept away in the aftermath.
Without the Sect, reduced to a rogue cultivator, his survival would be precarious, a hand-to-mouth existence.
Han Yi descended the mountain with the others, returning to Little Spirit Void Peak.
As soon as he reached his courtyard, he laid out all his spoils from the trip.
It was time to tally his gains.
In Heavenfall City, he had killed four people: three at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining and one at the Eighth Layer.
In total, he had four Storage Pouches and several Magic Artifacts:
Top-Grade Magic Artifact: Golden Light Shuttle High-Grade Magic Artifact: Body-Protecting Inner Armor High-Grade Magic Artifact: Three Silver Orbs Intact Mid-Grade Blade Artifact Severely damaged long-handled umbrella artifact Slightly damaged crimson banner artifact
The Golden Light Shuttle, Silver Orbs, and Body-Protecting Inner Armor had all been obtained after the death of the Cold Youth at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining. These three artifacts were in perfect condition, filling Han Yi with wild joy.
"The Body-Protecting Inner Armor—I'm definitely keeping this. It could save my life in a critical moment."
"What about the other Magic Artifacts? Should I sell them all?"
The thought had barely formed in Han Yi's mind when he paused, shaking his head in denial. He realized he had fallen into a trap of his own making.
Why sell everything?
Top-Grade Magic Artifacts were possessions typically reserved for Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators. If he sold this one, there was no guarantee he could ever acquire another. It would be wiser to keep it for himself.
Once he reached the Late-Stage Qi Refining, his Mana would undergo a transformation, and his divine sense would grow stronger. He could then attempt to wield this Top-Grade Magic Artifact, even if only for a single strike. Without a doubt, it would become his most potent trump card.
Aside from the Golden Light Shuttle and Body-Protecting Inner Armor, the rest could be considered for sale. The three High-Grade Magic Artifact beads, for instance, could be exchanged for a set of High-Grade Magic Artifact daggers.
That set of daggers had proven invaluable during his trip to Heavenfall City. Since they had served him so well, Han Yi had no intention of parting with them.
A black cat or a white cat—as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat.
The principle applied equally to Magic Artifacts: as long as it could slay enemies, it was a good artifact.
With his Magic Artifacts organized, Han Yi prepared to open the four Storage Pouches like treasure chests. However, he suddenly realized a problem he had overlooked.
These Storage Pouches belonged to Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators, their seals reinforced with intricate divine sense formations that someone at Han Yi's Sixth Layer of Qi Refining couldn't break through in a short time.
"Damn it, I miscalculated," he muttered.
"I'll have to wait until I reach the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining to grind these open."
"Never mind. I'll save this surprise for later."
Han Yi hid the four Storage Pouches and stowed his Magic Artifacts. After a moment's thought, he settled back into a meditative posture and resumed his cultivation.
Once he sold the Magic Artifacts he had on hand, he would have a substantial sum of Spirit Stones. With no immediate need to worry about resources, there was no point in wasting time on alchemy. Cultivation should take priority.
During this expedition, though he had managed to defeat Seventh and Eighth Layer cultivators while still at the Sixth Layer, he had also become acutely aware of his shortcomings: his Cultivation Realm. Only his exceptional Skills had masked this deficiency.
Since his Skills couldn't be improved quickly, he needed to focus on breaking through to the next realm first.
Han Yi wasn't blinded by arrogance or complacency from his recent gains. Instead, he analyzed his strengths and weaknesses with meticulous care, refusing to let temporary success go to his head.
With renewed focus, he returned to cultivation, determined to grow stronger.