To Prince Yi, there was only one reasonable explanation for Fang Han's overwhelming strength: he had to be the reincarnation of an ancient demon god—born with terrifying talent and a soul far beyond ordinary mortals. Only such a being could cripple a Golden Core expert in a single move. The thought both thrilled and unsettled him, planting a faint seed of fear in his heart.
In truth, Fang Han's power came entirely from his own fortune and encounters.
If he were truly a reincarnated primordial demon, the ancient memories would have awakened long ago.
Still… a man who can snatch a Golden Core bare-handed… keeping him close is a great advantage—but also a double-edged blade.
Prince Yi's mind raced. Use him poorly, and I could lose everything. But now, I can't afford not to use him. Fortunately, he has a personal feud with Hua Tiandu—my eldest brother's greatest supporter. Through Fang Han, I can finally suppress my brother's faction…
In the vast Xuanhuang Empire, more than a hundred princes existed. Prince Yi ranked among the upper tier, yet ten princes had already formed their Golden Cores. Their power overshadowed him completely. He had always been forced to act cautiously and keep his ambitions small.
But now?
With Fang Han at his side, his strength had risen sharply. He no longer needed to fear anyone.
"Azure Ram Patriarch! Azure Ram Patriarch!"
Prince Sa—Eighteenth Prince—finally snapped out of his shock. He shouted twice, but the patriarch remained a broken wreck, mind and body alike. Realizing the old man was now useless, Prince Sa's expression twisted with rage and humiliation.
He looked ready to lash out.
"What is it?" Fang Han's voice dropped into a low, unnervingly calm register, cold enough to chill bone. "Prince Sa… do you intend to make a move against me?"
He examined Prince Sa with the hungry stare of a wolf sizing up a trembling lamb.
Prince Sa's heart nearly froze.
Fang Han had faced down ghost emperors, star pirates, demonic prodigies, and geniuses like Meng Shaobai. He had killed and battled his way through countless life-and-death struggles. His very presence carried the pressure of a seasoned warlord—crushing and suffocating.
"You—!"
Prince Sa wanted to roar back, but a single look at Fang Han extinguished the impulse. Someone who could crush a Golden Core expert like trash was far beyond what he could provoke. Yet this was the Xuanhuang Imperial City—his territory—so he stiffened his spine, trying not to show weakness before the crowd.
"Hahaha, calm yourself, Prince Sa," Fang Han said, suddenly laughing. "The Azure Ram Patriarch is just a loose cultivator with no backing. Crippling him is no great matter. You, however, are an imperial prince. If I were to cripple you… well, I'd have to think twice. The consequences are manageable, but today I'm not in the mood to create unnecessary trouble."
Prince Sa's expression changed instantly.
Hidden behind Fang Han's casual tone was a more frightening truth—Fang Han clearly had powerful backing of his own. Otherwise why say "the consequences are within my tolerance"?
Prince Sa's eyes flickered.
Finally, he snorted coldly.
"So the rumors are true—Twenty-Fourth Brother, you really have managed to recruit a monster. Today you've destroyed my greatest advisor… It seems you intend to rise in force. But a word of advice: tall trees attract the fiercest winds. The senior princes will soon focus their attention on you. When that happens, I hope you and your new expert survive the consequences."
"That's none of your concern," Prince Yi replied, unfazed. "Let's go."
The confrontation ended quickly, without any earth-shaking commotion. It spread only a little beyond the immediate crowd. In the imperial city, power struggles between princes were considered internal affairs, not something outsiders would interfere in.
If ordinary cultivators had been fighting, enforcers would've appeared instantly. But this? This was imperial politics.
The victory felt sweet, but Prince Yi knew the repercussions would be heavy. He had removed one of Prince Sa's most important strategists, but in doing so, he had also drawn the eyes of far stronger princes.
Stronger princes with Golden Core cultivation.
"Worried the other princes will notice?" Fang Han said lazily. "Don't be. Compared to Taixia's Divine Disciples—Zhao Xuanyi, Song Weiyi—your princes are nothing. I killed both of them, and nothing happened. So what are you afraid of?"
Prince Yi paused.
"…You're right. Even our imperial status isn't as weighty as the disciples granted the title 'One' by the Taixian Sect."
His confidence restored, he descended toward the towering gates of Nine-Cauldron Pavilion.
The moment they entered, the difference was obvious. Ten white-robed sword attendants immediately welcomed them and guided the entire group into an enormous private VIP chamber. Through the wide crystal windows, they could overlook the immense auction floor below—hundreds of cultivators bustling between rows of displays, attendants rushing about with scrolls and trays, the atmosphere electric with anticipation.
Fang Han looked at the crowds.
Good thing I came with Prince Yi. If I were packed down there among the masses, the moment I bid for the Nirvana Pill I'd draw unwanted attention. This is safer.
Prince Yi leaned forward suddenly.
"Interesting. The host of today's auction is none other than the personal disciple of Nine-Cauldron Immortal Sovereign—Yu Ji!"
Fang Han's gaze snapped to the man standing at the center of the grand hall. He wore a deep-black jade robe, his expression calm, movements purposeful and precise. His presence was serene—no violent aura—but to Fang Han's seasoned senses, he was vast as the sea, bright as a full moon.
A peerless master.
Someone whose strength rivaled even the Ghost Emperor.
A true Tenth Level existence—one who had reversed fate itself.
Yu Ji, direct disciple of the enigmatic Immortal Sovereign who founded Nine-Cauldron Pavilion but never established a sect.
Prince Yi's mental voice brushed Fang Han's mind.
"Yu Ji ranks highly on the Longevity Candidate List. Ah, right—you appeared on the list recently as well."
"The Longevity Candidate List?" Fang Han asked mentally. "A list of cultivators with the potential to reach the Longevity Realm?"
"Exactly. It's Six Paths Alliance's classified intelligence. Every three years, they evaluate all top experts—immortal, demonic, rogue, monster. Anyone at the Tenth Level of Divine Ability is listed, along with dazzling new talents like yourself, Fang Qingxue, and Meng Shaobai."
A jade booklet appeared mentally in Fang Han's hands. It seemed blank until he channeled a trace of energy into it. Immediately, a massive list of names flooded his mind.
He skimmed through.
The top two names were unfamiliar. But third—
Hua Tiandu.
Third? With Pangu Immortal Sovereign's inheritance and several Dao Artifacts, he's still not first? How powerful must the top two be? Are they ancient monsters?
Fang Han continued scanning.
Yu Ji ranked ninth.
Feather Gate's Transmission Elder ranked thirty-seventh.
He found his own name somewhere beyond the hundred mark—Fang Qingxue appeared ahead of him, and right behind him was Meng Shaobai.
So that's how it is… Qingxue is likely rated higher because she's the reincarnation of the Lightning Mother. Her potential outstrips mine.
He returned the list to Prince Yi as the prince explained:
"For weapons, go to Heaven's Dao Pavilion.
For pills, Nine-Cauldron Pavilion is unmatched.
For secrets and intelligence—Six Paths Alliance reigns supreme."
Before he finished speaking, a fiery crimson box opened at the center of the hall.
A single round pill floated upward.
Flame-like medicinal qi rose from its surface, forming strands of red light that shimmered like musical notes, singing a soft, ethereal melody.
A pill of immense power.
A pill worthy of legends.
"The Nirvana Pill!"
"A mythic Heaven-grade pill that can break bottlenecks!"
"To think it's the very first item up for auction!"
Shock, envy, hunger, and awe rippled through the crowd.
So that's the Nirvana Pill… Fang Han thought.
It's best used at the final barrier before breakthrough. Both I and Nebula Baby are stuck at bottlenecks. But there's only one pill. I'll let Nebula Baby take it. Once he breaks into Heaven-and-Man Realm and refines the Golden Core, I can extract the God-Sealing Technique from him. As for myself… breaking through with a pill yields less insight.
Yu Ji's voice echoed across the hall, smooth and steady:
"Everyone, this is the legendary sacred NIRVANA PILL. For Divine Ability Tenth Level experts at the peak of Fate-Reversal, it significantly increases the chance of breaking into the Eternal Realm. But it does not guarantee success."
His sleeve flicked.
"The starting bid is four hundred million. Minimum increment: ten million per call. The auction begins now."
Four hundred million.
Fang Han's brows twitched.
His Great Brahma Light Ship had cost only two hundred sixty million—and that was a top-tier Pure Yang treasure.
Four hundred million for a single pill meant its price rivaled even a lower-grade Dao Artifact.
He exhaled slowly.
This would not be easy.