The Li Family was arguably the most prominent Foundation Establishment cultivation family in Jia Mountain City. Within the clan, three Foundation Establishment cultivators held positions as Elders: Great Elder Li Yuanyi (Late Foundation Establishment), Second Elder Li Yuanqing (Mid-Foundation Establishment), and Third Elder Li Yuanqing (Early Foundation Establishment). In contrast, the family's Patriarch, Li Wenhe, was merely at the Peak Qi Refining Stage, a contemporary of Li Wenheng.
Li Wenhe was currently discussing the matter of the Fragrant Teachings with Third Elder Li Yuanqing. After hearing the elder's account, Li Wenhe pondered for a moment and said, "Third Uncle, although the newcomer is only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, we can't afford to be complacent. I'll have someone monitor him tomorrow and seize the first opportunity to eliminate him."
"No, that won't do," Li Yuanqing shook his head. "Since he's only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, there's no need to worry. Just have someone keep an eye on him, as I've already told Wenheng."
"If this man dies in Jia Mountain City, the Profound Pill Sect might send more investigators. Next time, they might not be at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining."
Li Wenhe nodded in agreement, then voiced his deeper concerns. "Third Uncle, the Fragrant Teachings are an evil sect. For the Li Family to cooperate with them is like seeking skins from a tiger. One misstep could bring ruin upon our entire clan. If this alliance is exposed, what will become of us?"
This concern wasn't Li Wenhe's alone; it was shared by the Li Family's leadership and all cultivators aware of their involvement with the Fragrant Teachings.
Li Yuanqing's face darkened. "There's no turning back now. It's not that the Li Family refuses to let go; we simply can't escape this entanglement."
"Compared to the Profound Pill Sect, the Fragrant Teachings are a colossal behemoth. Opposing the Profound Pill Sect might offer a sliver of hope, but defying the Fragrant Teachings would be a certain death sentence."
"Besides..."
Li Yuanqing abruptly stood, his tiger-like eyes blazing with fury, and roared, "Who's there?!"
No sooner had his voice faded than a violent wave of Divine Sense, brimming with unbridled rage, swept through the hall and across the entire Li Family estate. In the backyard, it discovered an underground cavern transformed into a living hell.
It was unmistakably the Fragrant Teachings' Pill Cultivation Field. Within it, a familiar figure lay bound upon a grotesque formation, a tangible and intangible essence relentlessly extracted from his body and coalescing into a Medicinal Pill above his head.
The man was none other than Zheng Hai, whom they hadn't seen in years. But the Zheng Hai before them was emaciated, his life force barely flickering.
"Good, good. Just as I suspected."
"The Li Family has a death wish."
"Hmph!"
Before the figure even arrived, a thunderous snort exploded within Li Yuanqing's Sea of Consciousness Space, leaving his mind reeling and his Divine Soul disoriented.
Beside him, Li Wenhe stood paralyzed under the onslaught of the ferocious Divine Sense, his eyes bloodshot and his body utterly incapable of resistance.
As the snort faded, a figure materialized in the hall—Han Yi.
Han Yi stepped into the Li Family's main hall, his gaze immediately locking onto Li Yuanqing. The elder's body stiffened under the oppressive weight of the incoming Divine Sense, and his face paled.
"Senior, please quell your anger. Let's talk this over calmly," Li Yuanqing stammered, his voice trembling.
This Divine Sense was even stronger than that of his elder brother, Li Yuanyi, the Li Clan Grand Elder. Judging by its intensity, Han Yi was a Late Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Yet the Han Yi standing before him now was unrecognizable. His eyes burned with furious intensity, a stark contrast to his usual gentle demeanor.
Rage demanded bloodshed.
"You...?" Li Yuanqing finally recognized Han Yi. Terror washed over him as the truth dawned on him in an instant.
The envoy from the Profound Pill Sect wasn't merely a Sixth Layer Qi Refining cultivator; he was a Foundation Establishment expert who had concealed his true cultivation level with a technique, deliberately misleading them.
And now, he had secretly uncovered their secrets.
"Damn it, it's Li Wenheng! That traitorous wretch has exposed everything!" Li Yuanqing's heart pounded with dread as he realized his enemy knew about the Fragrant Teachings. Overwhelmed by fury and terror, he smashed through the back wall of the hall, desperate to escape.
But Han Yi had no intention of letting him get away.
A dark azure sword light flashed silently through the hall. Li Wenhe, paralyzed by the oppressive pressure of Han Yi's Divine Soul, stood frozen as his head flew into the air.
The sword light didn't pause. It vanished into the void, reappearing instantly above Li Yuanqing's head and descending with deadly speed.
Li Yuanqing glanced up, his eyes bloodshot, and simultaneously crushed three Spirit Talismans: a Teleportation Talisman and two Golden Shield Talismans. These Second-Tier talismans could each withstand a single strike from a Mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.
But Li Yuanqing was merely an ordinary Early Foundation Establishment cultivator, far inferior to Han Xuxiao of the Blood God Sect, let alone the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the world's Great Sects.
In that instant, the dark azure sword qi accelerated tenfold.
A searing pain tore through Li Yuanqing's eyes, as if he were standing beneath a raging thunderstorm, struck by lightning.
Pfft!
A flash of spirit light shimmered as the Teleportation Talisman vanished, instantly shifting Li Yuanqing a hundred meters sideways to land beside Li Yuanqing, the Second Elder of the Li Clan, who had just arrived on his instrument flight.
"Third Brother?"
Li Yuanqing reached out to his teleported brother, but his hand was blocked by the activated Golden Shield Talisman's protective aura.
In the next instant, Li Yuanqing's body, still enveloped in spirit light, plummeted straight down. As he fell, a thin red line appeared around his neck, widening into a crimson circle.
Thud.
The corpse crashed to the ground, its head severed.
A Divine Soul emerged from the body, initially dazed before convulsing violently as it realized it had been killed.
"Second Brother! Kill him!" Li Yuanqing's Divine Soul roared, trembling with fury.
Li Yuanqing turned to Han Yi, who was slowly emerging from the hall, his face contorted with rage and murderous intent.
Instead of attacking immediately, he produced a long-necked pot. "Third Brother, enter the Soul-Nourishing Pot to nurture your Divine Soul. Once I've slain this villain, I'll find you a cauldron furnace with an excellent Spirit Root for Body Seizure and renewed cultivation."
Without waiting for a response, Li Yuanqing retrieved a black long-necked pot and sealed Li Yuanqing's soul inside.
Then, his eyes locked onto Han Yi, his killing intent soaring to the heavens. "Prepare to die!"
Li Yuanqing produced a black banner. As he unfurled it, three black shadows materialized, their forms almost tangible. Two emanated the aura of Early Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the third pulsed with the power of a Mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.
This banner, known as the Soul Refinement Banner, housed these three Main Souls. Combined with Li Yuanqing himself, they formed a formidable force equivalent to four Foundation Establishment cultivators.
This was Li Yuanqing's ultimate weapon, his final trump card. By deploying it from the outset, he made it clear that he considered Han Yi a mortal enemy.
Though he had arrived late, Li Yuanqing had witnessed the fleeting sword light that had flashed through the air. Even he wasn't certain he could have parried such a strike.
"Good, very good," Li Yuanqing snarled. "Killing one isn't enough. Two would barely suffice. Only by slaughtering more can I quench this burning rage."
Han Yi wasn't one for wanton bloodshed, but he felt no qualms about eliminating those from the Li Family who knew the truth behind their machinations.
At Li Yuanqing's finger snap, the three Main Souls from the Soul Refinement Banner surged toward Han Yi, carrying an icy aura that threatened to freeze his very soul.
Han Yi merely grinned savagely and slammed his palm forward. A torrential rain of spirit flame erupted from the sky, cascading down like divine retribution.
The three Main Souls were instantly engulfed in spirit flame, their Soul Bodies erupting on contact. The Black Shadows roared, undeterred, their ferocity only intensifying.
While spirit flame was effective against Divine Souls like the Main Souls, it wasn't lethal. However, these exposed Main Souls, lacking the protection of physical bodies, were perfect targets for Soul Techniques.
A glint flashed in Han Yi's eyes. Within his Sea of Consciousness Space, his Divine Soul abruptly opened its eyes. Above it materialized a Soul Tower, just over a foot tall, only its First Heaven fully formed, the upper levels remaining illusory.
"Soul Technique: Divine Soul Five Declines."
The Divine Soul extended a finger, unleashing an invisible wave that rippled outward from the Sea of Consciousness Space into the real world. Concentric circles of energy surged outward, first enveloping the three Main Souls, then sweeping past Li Yuanqing behind them.
Li Yuanqing's expression tightened. "Not good—it's a Soul Technique!"
Yet he didn't recall his Main Souls. Soul Techniques varied in strength; harming a Foundation Establishment-level Main Soul required at least a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Divine Soul cultivation. With his own Divine Soul still anchored within his physical body, he felt secure.
Moreover, his earlier Exploration Spell had revealed this rogue to be merely a newly advanced Mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator. This was the primary reason he dared to confront Han Yi alone.
Though only at the Mid-Foundation Establishment stage, Li Yuanqing was no match for the Foundation Establishment Elders of great sects like the Profound Pill Sect. However, he possessed the Soul Refinement Banner, and with its three Main Souls unleashed, he effectively commanded four Foundation Establishment cultivators to surround and kill a single target. Even if his opponent had three heads and six arms, they would still fall.
At worst, he could detonate one of his Main Souls to create an opening for escape, confident in his foolproof plan.
Yet, the next instant, terror gripped his eyes as he frantically retreated.
Before his very eyes, the Soul Technique swept over his three Main Souls. Initially, there was no visible effect, but in the blink of an eye, the three entities began howling madly, their frenzy defying even the Soul Refinement Banner's control.
Then, a putrid stench arose from the three Main Souls, as if emanating from mortals who had gone days without bathing in sweltering heat.
But that wasn't all.
Beyond the stench, the three Main Souls began tearing frantically at nonexistent clothing.
Finally, their Soul Bodies began to disintegrate. Within a mere three breaths, they had completely dissolved, vanishing without a trace.
In that instant, the three Main Souls summoned from the Soul Refinement Banner under the influence of the Soul Technique left no trace behind. The Soul Technique: Divine Soul Five Declines.
Li Yuanqing's face twisted in utter horror. Without hesitation, he hurled the Soul Refinement Banner away and detonated it. As the explosion ripped through the air, he turned and fled.
But...
His speed was clearly far slower than Han Yi's, and Han Yi had mastered this technique countless times, knowing it far better than Li Yuanqing ever could.
As Li Yuanqing hurled the Soul Refinement Banner and detonated it, a flash of Blacklight erupted. The Broken Sword Blacklight struck with devastating force, sending the exploding banner flying back toward Li Yuanqing. The banner chased after him, its eerie glow illuminating his face, now frozen in deathly horror.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion shook the Li Family Manor, jolting cultivators for miles around, even those in Jia Mountain City. They raced toward the scene.
At the epicenter of the Top-Grade Magic Artifact's self-destruction, a blood-soaked figure crashed through a wall. Taking flight on his magical instrument, he desperately tried to escape.
But a flash of Blacklight materialized, and the Broken Sword severed his head mid-flight. A geyser of blood shot skyward as the headless corpse plummeted to the ground. The severed head rolled to the base of the wall, eyes wide in deathly shock.
A Divine Soul emerged from the body and turned to flee, only to be struck by a mysterious wave that triggered the Five Declines of the Celestial Being. With a mere finger snap, it disintegrated into nothingness.
Just like that—a rabbit startled, a falcon swoops. Life extinguished, Dao extinguished.
Han Yi seized the Storage Pouches and Storage Rings of the two fallen Li Family Elders. Then, mounting his sword, he soared toward the Li Family's backyard.
Han Yi dared to act so brazenly for two main reasons. First, he had learned from Li Wenheng's Divine Soul memories that the Li Clan's Great Elder had been away for seven years. The Li Family was now led by the Second and Third Elders, with the strongest member being a Mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator—no one had reached the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.
This knowledge fueled his surging rage.
Second, upon entering the Li Clan Manor, Han Yi's Divine Sense had swept through the entire complex, probing dozens of meters underground to uncover every hidden detail.
Han Yi's Divine Sense could now extend eight kilometers in open areas. This range naturally diminished in obstructed environments, compressing to just a hundred meters underground.
Still, this reach was more than sufficient. Though the Li Clan Manor was vast, its deepest section extended less than four kilometers.
As his Divine Sense raged through the manor, Han Yi immediately located a highly secretive area. This discovery, however, alerted the two Li Clan Elders.
Before rescuing the prisoners, Han Yi didn't mind eliminating a few targets to vent his pent-up fury.
He soared into the air on his sword, moving with lightning speed. In just three breaths, he landed atop a decorative rockery in the Li Clan's backyard.
Then...
The sword artifact whistled through the air, its pale crimson glow crackling with the power of Li Fire. It slammed into the artificial mountain, unleashing a deafening explosion that shattered the rock into fragments and revealed a hidden entrance over two meters wide.
Han Yi vanished inside.
Before even half an incense stick's time had passed, he emerged, carrying a limp figure slung over his shoulder, and soared back into the sky.
Three figures already hovered in mid-air on their sword artifacts, their faces grim.
One of them was Yuan Fei, the Imperial Observatory cultivator Han Yi had encountered upon entering the city. Beside him stood another cultivator clad in the same standardized magic robe. The third cultivator wore a different style of robe.
Forcing down his fury, Han Yi addressed Yuan Fei: "Fellow Daoist Yuan, this underground complex is a Pill Cultivation Field belonging to the Fragrant Teachings. I urge the Imperial Observatory to thoroughly investigate this matter and bring the Li Family to justice."
Han Yi summoned his Human Immortal-grade Immortal Boat and gently placed the unconscious Zheng Hai inside.
A swift scan with Han Yi's Divine Sense revealed that Zheng Hai's Middle Dantian, the reservoir of his Mana, was nearly depleted, containing less than one percent of the Mana expected of a typical Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator.
Within his Sea of Consciousness Space, his Divine Soul had withered to a mere sliver, teetering on the brink of dissolution.
Beyond this, a putrid aura, as if Zheng Hai's lifespan were nearing its end, emanated from his body.
His Spirit Root, aptitude, Spirit Sea, Divine Soul, and even his lifespan had been nearly completely drained. Had Han Yi not intervened, Zheng Hai wouldn't have survived another month.
Yet, at that very moment, a middle-aged man frowned and turned his gaze to Han Yi.
"The truth of this matter remains to be verified. Two Elders of the Li Family died by your hand, and when we arrived, you were emerging from the Fragrant Teachings' Pill Cultivation Field. The suspicion against you is undeniable."
"Bind your Mana and surrender quietly, or face the consequences of my lack of mercy."
Han Yi scrutinized the man. He caught a fleeting flicker of resentment in his eyes, though he didn't recognize his face.
"Lord Chu, there might be a misunderstanding," Yuan Fei hesitantly interjected. "Fellow Daoist Han only entered Jia Mountain City this morning to search for missing disciples of the Profound Pill Sect. He shouldn't be considered a suspect."
"Hmph! What if he's actually a Preaching Envoy of the Fragrant Teachings? He might have used some secret method to build their Pill Cultivation Field on Li Family land without detection. To escape exposure, he could have staged this entire drama himself, framing the Li Family to divert suspicion."
"This matter involves the Fragrant Teachings and falls under the jurisdiction of the Robber Apprehension Bureau. The Imperial Observatory need not interfere."
A fierce glint flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes.
Han Yi, standing several meters away, frowned. This cultivator's hostility toward me suggests either a connection to the Fragrant Teachings or an alliance with the Li Family. The latter seems more likely.
However, Han Yi was no pushover. He retrieved a black token from his Storage Ring, channeled mana into it, and a beam of light erupted, solidifying into a line of characters in mid-air:
"Four-Command Patrol Envoy, Han Yi."
Han Yi glanced at the hostile middle-aged cultivator, then at Yuan Fei and the other Imperial Observatory cultivator beside him. His expression turned serious.
"I am Han Yi of the Heaven's Will Sect, personally appointed as a Four-Command Patrol Envoy by the Great Qian Emperor Monarch. My jurisdiction grants me the authority to execute first and investigate later."
"Fellow Daoist Yuan, I suspect the Fragrant Teachings have established a Pill Cultivation Field within the Li Family's territory in Jia Mountain City, and that this Robber Apprehension Bureau cultivator is involved. His persistent hostility toward me makes it hard to believe he's unconnected."
"In that case," Han Yi declared, "I propose that the Robber Apprehension Bureau refrain from intervening in this matter. The Imperial Observatory should conduct a thorough investigation."
"Is that feasible?" Yuan Fei asked, his expression doubtful.
Han Yi turned to the middle-aged cultivator who harbored animosity towards him, a ferocious light igniting in his eyes.
The man was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator. If not for his status within the Robber Apprehension Bureau under the Ministry of Justice, Han Yi would have silenced him with a single sword stroke long ago, sparing himself this pointless debate.
Han Yi's words stunned the three cultivators present.
Chu Xiong, the middle-aged cultivator, erupted in fury. "How dare you!" he roared.
Yuan Fei, however, wore an expression of resignation.
This Han Yi of the Heaven's Will Sect was truly unpredictable. He had entered the city with a gentle demeanor, yet now radiated unbridled arrogance. Moreover, as a Patrol Envoy—akin to an imperial envoy on tour—his authority complicated matters considerably.
This posed a real challenge.
"Do you have a death wish?" Han Yi's murderous intent reached its peak. A black longsword materialized before him, poised to strike if his opponent dared to challenge him.
Under different circumstances, Han Yi would have retreated temporarily, investigated thoroughly, and acted with careful deliberation.
But not now.
Zheng Hai was injured, and this man dared to continue his pointless babble. Han Yi considered his restraint in not striking already remarkable.
"Enough," a voice called out as a cultivator arrived on a sword flight. "We're all on the same side here. What's the meaning of this?"
"Greetings, Lord Gu," Yuan Fei and the others bowed respectfully.
Seeing this, Han Yi sheathed his magic sword.
The newcomer was a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator whose aura resembled Senior Brother Shen Ping's.
"I am Gu Wu, Deputy City Lord of Jia Mountain City. What exactly happened here?"
Before Chu Xiong, the middle-aged cultivator, could speak, Gu Wu stopped him. "Yuan Fei, you explain."
Yuan Fei nodded and began recounting the events from his shift the previous day. He spared no detail, adding no embellishment or personal judgment, simply stating the facts as they were.
Gu Wu nodded, his Divine Sense probing the lower cave entrance. His brow furrowed.
"Chu Xiong, given your close ties to the Li Family, you must recuse yourself from this matter."
"Yuan Fei, Cao Li, the Imperial Observatory will handle this investigation. First, rescue the cultivators from the Pill Cultivation Field below, then investigate the Li Family's collusion with the Fragrant Teachings."
"With that settled, Fellow Daoist Han, does this arrangement meet your approval?" Gu Wu turned to Han Yi, his gaze steady and treating him as an equal.
Han Yi of the Heaven's Will Sect, a Four-Command Patrol Envoy, was a specially appointed imperial envoy whose authority transcended the established hierarchy of the Immortal Kingdom. There was no superior-subordinate relationship between him and the local officials.
"Thank you, Lord Gu," Han Yi said, clasping his hands in gratitude. The man's handling of the situation was most reasonable.
With the arrangements finalized, Gu Wu departed, accompanied by the middle-aged cultivator Chu Xiong.
As they turned to leave, Chu Xiong shot Han Yi a venomous glare, his face contorting with malice.
Han Yi narrowed his eyes, meeting the man's gaze without flinching. An invisible surge of killing intent surged between them in the void, then dissipated upon contact.
After their departure, Yuan Fei bowed respectfully to Han Yi. "I never imagined Fellow Daoist Han was a Patrol Envoy. Please forgive my previous negligence."
"Fellow Daoist Yuan, you're too kind," Han Yi replied. "I hadn't presented my Patrol Envoy Token earlier. Your actions were entirely proper."
"I urge you to thoroughly investigate the Li Family. By the way, their Great Elder is a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who, as far as I know, has been missing for many years. Please proceed with caution during your investigation."
"My companion requires immediate medical attention. I trust you'll understand my abrupt departure."
Han Yi clasped his hands in farewell, then summoned his Immortal Boat. With a flash of light, the vessel shot into the sky, slicing through the air before vanishing into the distance.