Chapter 165: Grandmasters Camping the Spawn

On this day, after Fang Han eradicated yet another gathering point of Earthly Primordial Qi node, the immense surge of primordial qi finally pushed him into the Astral Qi realm.

If a True Qi realm martial artist could only barely condense their power into a thin protective layer of qi, then upon reaching the Astral Qi realm, that power underwent a qualitative transformation. It became the sharpest extension of the practitioner's own body.

With a single thought, astral qi could condense into an indestructible sword, or transform into a saber capable of cleaving mountains and shattering boulders.

The overwhelming force and ferocity of astral qi made pulverizing stone from afar a trivial feat.

It was precisely because of this that the destructive power unleashed by a Astral Qi realm expert far surpassed that of the True Qi realm. One possessed enough strength to establish a martial sect of their own.

'The next step... is the Grandmaster realm.'

Just as Fang Han was immersed in the insights gained from his breakthrough—A sudden change erupted.

Without warning, a bone-chilling sense of danger surged from the depths of his heart.

Every hair on his body stood on end. His instincts screamed at him with unprecedented urgency.

A deadly threat was rapidly approaching.

'This is... a martial artist's premonition. My instincts are warning me!'

Fang Han narrowed his eyes.

Instead of retreating, he remained where he stood, silently waiting for the danger to arrive.

Moments later, he sensed a figure tearing across the sky at incredible speed.

Although the newcomer had deliberately concealed his aura, Fang Han could still clearly feel the terrifying pressure unique to a Grandmaster.

Just as he was about to call out in greeting...

The newcomer showed no intention whatsoever of speaking.

Violent winds erupted through the air as the phantom of a massive tiger demon beast with a pair of wings materialized high above.

The beast opened its enormous jaws and, accompanied by a deafening roar, lunged toward Fang Han with overwhelming force.

In that instant, it felt as though a mere mortal were standing before an ancient primordial beast capable of trampling the heavens.

Fang Han's body instinctively trembled in fear.

But a cold light flashed through his eyes.

Relying solely on his indomitable martial will, he forcibly wrested control of his body back in the blink of an eye.

His foot stomped heavily upon the ground.

Assuming the stance that had long since become second nature, he unleashed the Imperial Fist's Pacify the Court, driving his fist forward with irresistible force.

Although Fang Han had yet to become an Innate Grandmaster, the immense astral qi contained within this punch already carried the faint bearing of one.

As his fist intent surged forth, it was as though countless iron-blooded soldiers roared together across a boundless battlefield.

The charging winged tiger phantom was actually forced to pause for the briefest instant under the pressure of that fist intent.

But only for half a breath.

The next moment, as though gravely provoked, the tiger phantom erupted in an even more savage roar before crashing down once again.

Boom!

The instant they collided, Fang Han felt his protective astral qi shatter inch by inch.

An unstoppable force of destruction poured into every corner of his body with overwhelming might.

The gap between the Grandmaster realm and the Astral Qi realm was simply too vast.

Without the slightest suspense, Fang Han was blasted backward.

The moment of contact alone shattered most of the bones throughout his body.

His internal organs fared no better.

Blood streamed endlessly from all seven orifices.

With a single strike, Fang Han had been grievously wounded and pushed to the brink of death.

'So this is an Innate Grandmaster...'

'They're practically equivalent to the Spirit Resonance realm of the Great Qian world.'

The thought flashed through his mind.

Yet Fang Han felt no despair whatsoever.

As the Verdant Wood Invocation circulated at full power, an immense torrent of life force surged through him like a mighty river.

In the blink of an eye, his shattered body was forcibly restored to perfect condition.

"Again!"

Facing a Grandmaster in a life-and-death battle for the first time, Fang Han's fighting spirit only burned even brighter.

His qi and blood boiled like raging magma.

All distracting thoughts vanished from his mind.

His entire world now contained only his opponent... and himself.

Only then did Fang Han finally see the newcomer's appearance.

It was an emaciated old man whose body resembled withered wood.

Yet something was deeply unsettling.

The Grandmaster's eyes were completely vacant, like those of a walking corpse.

'Hm?'

Fang Han's heart skipped a beat.

He instantly realized something was wrong.

At that very moment, another streak of light shot across the distant horizon.

Judging by its aura...

It was another Grandmaster.

Looking from afar, Fang Han saw that this person also wore a deathly expression, like nothing more than a puppet controlled by someone else.

And it wasn't just the two of them.

He could also sense at least seven or eight more Grandmaster auras rapidly converging upon his position.

'Ten Grandmasters hunting me alone?'

'They really think highly of me.'

Fang Han immediately understood.

The mastermind lurking behind the scenes had finally made his move.

Had it been a one-on-one fight against a Grandmaster, Fang Han would still have considered tempering his martial will through battle.

But being surrounded by ten Grandmasters...

He had absolutely no intention of resisting.

Without the slightest hesitation, his body instantly shattered apart, disappearing from the Martial Dao World as he retreated into Fangcun.

After waiting a full three days and judging that it should finally be safe, he descended once more.

But...

The instant he reappeared in the Martial Dao World, Grandmasters attacked simultaneously from every direction.

Their auras erupted without the slightest restraint.

Each strike carried the unwavering intent to kill Fang Han on the spot.

Although Fang Han reacted the instant something felt wrong and immediately tried to return to Fangcun...

These Grandmasters had clearly prepared an ambush long ago. Their attacks were unimaginably swift.

More importantly, an eerie drumbeat suddenly exploded through the surrounding void without any warning.

The booming rhythm shook heaven and earth.

Fang Han felt as though an enormous hammer had smashed directly into his heart.

His mind froze for half a breath.

That brief delay proved fatal.

Before he could react, intersecting torrents of destructive astral qi tore his body into countless pieces.

Fortunately...

Those shattered fragments of flesh still managed to flee back into Fangcun.

Li Shun's expression darkened.

"So they've started camping my spawn."

"Fortunately, my reaction was fast enough."

"But..."

Every time he returned to the Martial Dao World, he would reappear at the exact location where he had previously left.

And judging from the current situation...

"The moment I return, I'll be killed immediately."

"Do I have to abandon this identity and start over?"

"I wonder how that person behind the scenes suddenly managed to lock onto me."

"Was it because I advanced into the Astral Qi realm?"

"Or because I touched too many Primordial Qi node gathering points within such a short period of time?"

After pondering for a long while, Li Shun decided to try once more.

This time, he waited a full seven days.

Yet when he descended again, just as expected, several Grandmasters immediately launched another coordinated assault.

Although there were fewer than before, it was still more than enough to kill Fang Han's puppet body instantly.

Li Shun promptly withdrew into Fangcun once again.

"They're certainly patient."

Li Shun snorted.

Looking at the Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth drifting across the dome of the Fangcun space, an idea suddenly came to him.

This time, while passing through the Gate of Myriad Mysteries, Li Shun proactively made a request.

"I want to change my landing location."

The Xuanhuang Qi paused briefly before manifesting a number within his mind.

"Ten strands?"

"Why don't you just rob me?"

The Xuanhuang Qi had made an outrageously high demand.

Li Shun was initially indignant.

But after a moment, he understood the reason.

"So it isn't because changing locations itself costs more."

"It's because everything I've done in the Martial Dao World has already attracted the Heavenly Dao's attention."

"If I simply return to the place where I previously left, there is no additional cost."

"But if I change my landing location... or even abandon my current identity and assume a new one."

"The amount of Xuanhuang Qi required increases."

"The cost has increased tenfold, from one strand to ten."

"This..."

Li Shun frowned before asking another question.

"What if I simply travel to another world?"

After the Xuanhuang Qi circulated once more...

No new Gate of Myriad Mysteries appeared.

"Forget it. Ten strands it is."

Li Shun gritted his teeth.

"I can still afford ten strands."

"If the cost were any higher, the expenses would outweigh the gains."

This time, after Fang Han passed through the Gate of Myriad Mysteries, he found himself directly back at his home in Tianmu City.

Moreover, the instinctive sensation of impending death that had been lingering within his body disappeared completely.

Li Shun recalled the information the Xuanhuang Qi had conveyed to him.

"Heavenly Dao warning..."

"Could it be..."

"Those Grandmasters hunting me were being controlled directly by the will of heaven itself..."

"And not by that mastermind hiding behind the scenes?"