Chapter 2484

Eight thousand years, to a mortal, is a terrifying lifespan that can only be hoped for but never attained; to those ancient true spirits who occasionally sleep for thousands of years, it is merely a few long sleeps; and to the existence of a realm, it is nothing more than an insignificant instant.

On a day eight thousand years later, in all the major and minor cities of the human race, now a top-tier force on the Wind Element Continent, countless ordinary mortals surged out from their dwellings and gathered in groups in plazas, teahouses, and similar places, all excitedly discussing something.

On every major and minor street, fully armed warriors could be seen walking back and forth, and from time to time, squads of cultivators could be seen patrolling the skies.

In the several major border fortress cities occupied by the human race, not only were all kinds of restrictions fully activated, but also numerous massive flying magical artifacts rose into the sky, each crowded with armored soldiers, all vigilantly watching for any abnormality outside the city as if facing a great enemy.

On the summit of a huge mountain tens of thousands of li away from a certain giant city, three individuals of different ethnicities, dressed distinctively, each sat cross-legged on a giant stone, facing one another.

One was a fierce, broad-mouthed man drinking heavily, clad in five-colored beast pelts; another was a pale-faced youth in white robes, holding a scroll; the third was an elderly man in green robes, with eyes tightly shut and a face full of wrinkles.

"Sovereign Qingyi, reckon the time—shouldn't it be about right by now?" After an unknown period, the fierce man suddenly spoke.

"To undergo the Tribulation of Ascension, one naturally ought to choose midday when yang energy is strongest. Since that person is hailed as the strongest in the Spirit Realm, such basic knowledge would not be lacking. Fellow Daoist, just wait a little longer with patience." The elderly man in green robes finally opened his eyes and spoke calmly. "That is also true—so close at hand. If the Heavenly Tribulation of Ascension truly descends, how could we possibly feel nothing? Yet, thinking how many years have passed, and now someone finally dares to undergo the Tribulation of Ascension, this Sovereign cannot help but feel a stir of excitement." The fierce man touched his blue short hair, grinning as he spoke.

"When was the last time someone in the Spirit Realm successfully ascended to the Immortal Realm? I can't quite recall—it feels like an eternity ago. But this human Han Tianzun managed to achieve such fame in such a short time, and moreover, he openly declares his intention to undergo the tribulation without secrecy—truly impressive ambition. In the past, those who underwent tribulation always did so secretly, fearing others would find out." The white-robed youth also set down his scroll, speaking with a hint of emotion.

"Over these years, many of our old acquaintances have disappeared—clearly, many have secretly attempted tribulation, yet we felt nothing, suggesting they all failed and ceased to exist." The elderly man continued speaking unhurriedly.

"We old fellows usually desperately suppress our magic power, fearing to attract the heavenly tribulation. Yet this Han Tianzun dares to actively undergo tribulation and ascend after less than ten thousand years in the Mahayana stage. Heh heh. Aside from anything else, just this courage alone earns my deep admiration. By the way, Fellow Daoist Qingyi, I've heard you once met this Han Tianzun thousands of years ago—what exactly is he like?" The fierce man chuckled again as he asked.

"Indeed, I have been in seclusion these years and have indeed never seen this Fellow Daoist Han." The white-robed youth, upon hearing this, also showed a look of great interest.

"I did indeed see Fellow Daoist Han once at a certain grand gathering back then, but I cannot describe him in words." The elderly man furrowed his brow, hesitated slightly, then replied.

"Then what about his cultivation and divine abilities? With your abilities, Fellow Daoist Qingyi, you should at least be able to sense a bit of it." The white-robed youth chuckled lightly.

"If only asking about strength, I can only say he is very strong—extremely strong. Even if I have not directly tested him, I believe even if three or four of me combined, we would still not be his match." The elderly man's facial muscles twitched once before he slowly replied.

"What? Sovereign Qingyi, are you joking? Three or four of you still aren't his match? We three have been acquainted for not a short time—surely you two know the extent of his divine abilities?" The white-robed youth was first startled, then immediately shook his head repeatedly.

The fierce man beside him also wore an expression of doubtful disbelief.

"Why would I joke with you two Fellow Daoists on such a matter? Once you two see him in person, you will understand my words are not half false. Besides, this Han Tianzun's single gaze alone can make me feel a shudder of fear. If not for his divine sense being several times stronger than mine, how could such a thing occur?" The elderly man replied with a bitter smile.

Upon hearing this, the white-robed youth and the fierce man exchanged glances, speechless.

"Never mind—the stronger this Fellow Daoist Han is, the greater his chance of passing the Tribulation of Ascension. If he truly succeeds, at the instant of ascension, that wisp of Immortal Realm fluctuation emanating from the Immortal Passage will be sensed by the powerful beings of the entire realm. If one then gains insight into some legal principles from it, one will surely benefit greatly. Of course, being as close as we are, I believe insight will come even more easily." The fierce man exhaled deeply, then regained his composure and spoke.

"Heh, indeed so; otherwise, why would we have come all this way?" The white-robed youth also gave a faint smile.

After exchanging a few more words, the three once again fell silent, waiting.

The same scene unfolded in several other hidden places outside the giant city.

Unnoticed, a startlingly large number of Mahayana-stage beings from the Spirit Realm had gathered near the human territory, many of them ancient monsters of other races who usually remain in seclusion, forced to suppress their magic power desperately just to venture out.

……

On a reef at the edge of a desolate island in the Boundless Sea of the human race, a man and a woman stood side by side.

The woman wore white robes, her features exquisite and radiant—indeed, it was the Ice Soul Shi Xianzi; the man was of extraordinary bearing, with tiger eyes and flowing beard, dressed in brocade robes.

"Fellow Daoist Hu Jun, Han Brother this time truly has a good chance of passing the tribulation. Being so close to observe, we will surely gain great benefit. Later, we must observe carefully." The Ice Soul Shi Xianzi turned her head to speak to the brocade-clad man.

"Naturally. Han Tianzun's divine powers are vast; back then, if I had not obtained several kinds of spiritual pills from the Qingyuan Palace, I might not have entered the Mahayana stage even for a single day." The brocade-clad man replied with a hint of respect—this was none other than Hu Jun, another Mahayana cultivator newly emerged among the human race over these ten thousand years.

And Mo Jianli, once a Mahayana cultivator of the human race, finally perished in another great heavenly tribulation hundreds of thousands of years ago.

On the other side of the desolate island, moreover, more than ten men and women of varying cultivation levels stood before a black giant ship, among them three women of peerless beauty and differing appearances, their expressions solemn as they gazed toward the island's center.

They were precisely Nangong Wan, Yuan Yao, and Yin Yue.

Yuan Yao, after Han Li's divided soul returned from the lower realm to the Spirit Realm not long ago, brought back her beauty and resided in the human race, living ever since in a side hall of some palace on Hehua Island, never stepping half a step off the island.

As for Yin Yue, after dispelling the aftereffects of the Forgetting Love Technique, she finally advanced to the Mahayana stage over a thousand years ago.

Somewhat later than the three women, Bing Feng stood with the Artifact Spirit Child, Hai Daoshou, Bai Guo'er, and other disciples.

Over the course of thousands of years, sufficient time has passed for Han Li's disciples to all enter the Harmonious Body stage one by one; as for whether they can truly enter the Mahayana stage, that depends on their future fortunes.

Bing Feng, like Nangong Wan, Yuan Yao, and others, after so many years of cultivation, remains stuck at a stage just one step away from advancing to Mahayana; but I believe, given her Bing Feng physique, her chances of later advancing to Mahayana are far greater than others'.

These people closest to Han Li, though they have great confidence in him, still, at this moment facing the rumored Heavenly Tribulation of Ascension, show not a trace of worry on their faces.

……

In the high sky over ten thousand li above, a black-clad girl barefoot stood on the back of a black strange bird, her expression complex as she gazed toward the direction of the desolate island.

Beside her, a woman in purple palace robes looked at the girl with a hint of helplessness, and after a moment, said:

"Dai'er, if you truly wish to bid farewell to Senior Han, why linger here? Go directly—it would be better, and avoid leaving any emotional knot behind."

"No need. Han Brother has always regarded me as a sister these years; since Senior Nangong and the others are there, I need not pester anything—just to quietly watch his ascension is enough." The black-clad girl spoke calmly.

Upon hearing this, the purple-robed palace woman could only sigh lightly and say nothing more.

……

At the center of the desolate island, in the heart of a giant ** array already prepared, Han Li stood together with Xie Daoist, Huo Xuzi, and Mo Guang, all raising their heads to gaze upward at the high sky.

Above the desolate island at this moment, a five-colored cloud mass, nearly covering the entire island, was slowly forming under the endless rolling influx of spiritual energy; although the speed is slow, it is still visibly growing larger bit by bit to the naked eye.

"It seems that in a little while, Fellow Daoist Han will no longer be able to suppress the Tribulation of Ascension. I believe, given your strength, passing this tribulation will be effortless." Mo Guang lowered his skull slightly, then smiled and spoke to Han Li.

"Mo Guang Brother jests—under this Tribulation of Ascension, countless Mahayana powerhouses have fallen; how could I dare to slight it in the slightest?" Han Li lowered his head slightly, then spoke calmly.

"Heh heh, if it were some other lower-world braggart, I, Huo Xuzi, might still believe it a little, but you? Since you cultivated the third layer of the Spirit-Refining Art and that Five Vessels Tempering Origin Technique, your strength now probably cannot even be matched by a true immortal. If you were to encounter Ma Liang from before, with his magic power suppressed, I believe a few exchanges would be enough for you to slay him. Tsk tsk, this is indeed strange—clearly your aptitude is not outstanding, yet you have cultivated these immortal arts to such a degree; I have never encountered such a freak before." Huo Xuzi also chimed in from the side, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Perhaps I was simply born suited to cultivate these immortal arts." Han Li gave a faint smile.

"After you truly ascend to the Immortal Realm, do not forget your promise to me." One of them, the Crab Daoist with a wooden expression, suddenly spoke up voluntarily.

"Since you have sincerely acknowledged me as your master after recovering your past memories, I will naturally fulfill whatever I promised you." Han Li glanced at the Crab Daoist, then replied with a slightly solemn expression.

(The next chapter should be the grand finale of the mortal! My goodness, after so many years, it's finally ending!)