Chapter 584: Goodbye, Fang Han!

Above Yufeng, time flowed slowly.

On days of heavy snow outside, many disciples of Yuhua Sect stayed within their cave dwellings, cultivating external and internal arts, not venturing out.

Even true disciples like Fang Yu and Fang Qingxue did not leave; having survived the Wind and Fire Great Calamity, they received two million Pure Yang Pills as rewards from the sect—now they needed nowhere to go, only to refine the Pure Yang Pills to gather sufficient Pure Yang energy to manifest their Celestial Phenomena.

Fang Yu's Celestial Phenomenon appeared exceedingly noble: a divine canopy of the Five Emperors atop its head, boundless Ultimate Divine Light behind it, one hand holding the Seal God Scroll, the other brimming with Catastrophe Energy—once fully cultivated, it would surely possess limitless power.

This Celestial Phenomenon of his was deeply tied to the Great Dao Arts he cultivated.

The Great Five Elements Art manifested the Five Emperors' Canopy, the Great Star Art manifested the Ultimate Divine Light, the Great Seal God Art manifested the Seal God Scroll, while Fang Yu's cultivation of the Great Devouring Art, Great Thunder Art, Great Cutting Art, Great Slaughter Art, and Great Catastrophe Art formed countless storms and thunder in his other hand.

As for the Great Primordial Art, it nurtured silently and invisibly—every ounce of immense power within the Celestial Phenomenon stemmed from the Great Primordial Art's enhancement.

One could imagine that once Fang Yu refined the Pure Yang Xu Yuan Qi to perfect completion, his Celestial Phenomenon would be fully born.

Yet this process required time—at least ten to fifteen days.

Beside Fang Yu, Fang Qingxue had also cultivated many of Fang Yu's Great Arts, yet her Celestial Phenomenon differed slightly: it was dominated by thunder, with the Great Five Elements Art, Great Seal God Art, and Great Star Art manifesting as streams of divine light surrounding her, while the core was a Thunder Lightning Mother, radiating boundless majesty.

If Fang Qingxue's Celestial Phenomenon were to reach the mortal world, mortals who saw it would surely believe the Lightning Mother had descended, and bow in worship.

Ding ding ding.

As the two cultivated, a melodious bell tone rang out—the howling snowstorm outside could not block its spread; it was the signal from Yuhua Sect's Central Dacheng summoning disciples.

"The Shanhe Ranking Tournament is about to begin. Brother Yu, let's go watch. I heard many talented disciples have emerged among the inner sect, several even have manifested Divine Abilities."

Fang Qingxue spoke.

"Indeed, this year's Shanhe Ranking Tournament will be far livelier than last year's. Our Fang Clan has produced several who reached the Divine Ability Secret Realm."

Fang Yu nodded.

Last year, Fang Han was the one from the Fang Clan who reached the Divine Ability Secret Realm; this year, two more have—Fang Cheng and Fang Dong, both direct disciples who followed him since their days in the Fang Clan, especially since they received his gifts: two Tianji Elixirs, the Seven Return Divine Fire Pills, elixirs from a Divine Clan Divine Lord, naturally allowing them to reach the Divine Ability Secret Realm.

These two disciples even witnessed the opening of a Divine Mansion during their travels, barely survived, and further cultivated to the 2nd Stage of Divine Abilities, True Qi Realm, acquiring several Upper-Grade Magic Treasures and many elixirs.

They've certainly been fortunate.

Fang Yu himself never witnessed the opening of the Xuan Huang Great World's Divine Mansion.

Of course, this so-called "Divine Mansion" was not one of the famed Seven Divine Mansions of the Xuan Huang Great World, but merely the residence of some ancient ordinary expert—such as the dwelling of a Longevity Secret Realm expert—equally valuable to a 1st Stage Divine Ability Secret Realm cultivator.

When the Divine Mansion opened, countless cultivators fought over it in bloody battle; that Fang Cheng and Fang Dong survived and gained benefits was already extremely rare.

When Fang Yu and Fang Qingxue stepped out of the hall, Fang Cheng and Fang Dong emerged from a nearby palace—both now experts of the 2nd Stage of Divine Abilities, True Qi Realm, with formidable magic power, having cultivated the strength of a thousand Xuan Huang Warhorses.

Against inner sect disciples of the Physical Body Secret Realm with only five to six or a dozen Xuan Huang Warhorse strengths, they would utterly crush them.

"I'm entering the tournament, haha! I'll get magic treasures, elixirs, and tons of rewards!"

He Xianzi cheered excitedly; though clad in white robes and resembling a "little Fang Qingxue," her personality was entirely unlike Fang Qingxue's, her voice still that of a young girl, brimming with excitement.

Meanwhile, Hong Yi Princess was far more composed; her cultivation had also reached the 2nd Stage of Divine Abilities, True Qi Realm, and she cultivated the Purple Lightning Yin Thunder Blade, one of Yuhua Sect's Eight Great Arts, capable of sweeping across all directions with its cutting force.

She had great confidence in winning first place in this Shanhe Ranking, yet facing these two Fang Clan disciples who had both reached the 2nd Stage of Divine Abilities, True Qi Realm, victory would be slightly difficult—not easy to secure.

Tap!

When Fang Yu and Fang Qingxue descended onto the Shanhe Ranking Tournament stands, their noble status immediately stirred the crowd upon landing.

"Look! Master Fang Yu and Senior Sister Fang Qingxue have arrived! Their aura is so strong—even from this distance I can feel the terrifying energy radiating from them!"

"These are truly immortals! When will I, Su Xiaoli, ever reach such terrifying realms like Master Fang Yu?"

"That's impossible—people's innate talent differs. If we can earn the elder brother's and elder sister's favor and cultivation, reaching the Divine Ability Secret Realm is already a stroke of luck; if we return to the Da Xu Dynasty after achieving the Divine Ability Secret Realm, even the Emperor will treat us with respect."

"I heard Master Fang Yu was only just a new disciple last year—how did he reach the legendary 8th Stage of Divine Abilities this year? It's simply unbelievable."

"We must work hard. Master and Senior Sister are watching us—we must show our talent! If they take notice and bestow gifts, my rise to glory will begin!"

"A great figure has arrived—our Yuhua Sect's great figure! We must perform excellently!"

In the Shanhe Courtyard of Yuhua Sect's Dacheng, tens of thousands of disciples had already gathered, densely packed.

This year, Yuhua Sect admitted even more disciples—outer sect disciples increased by at least three hundred thousand, while inner sect disciples numbered several times higher than last year.

Many inner and outer sect disciples, upon seeing Fang Yu and Fang Qingxue arrive, began whispering among themselves—including royal heirs from numerous nations and elite youths from secret great clans and Dashang Society families.

Though their cultivation was low—mostly Physical Body Secret Realm 7th to 10th Stage—they possessed excellent intelligence, knew well the identities of Yuhua Sect's true disciples, understood they must never offend them, and must perform well, curry favor—if they received even a casual gift from these great figures, they could rise.

Great figures like Master Fang Yu and Senior Sister Fang Qingxue must be understood thoroughly—absolutely must not offend.

8th Stage of Divine Abilities, having survived the Wind and Fire Great Calamity, destined to become a 9th Stage Celestial Phenomenon, their power is nearly boundless, their treasures unimaginable—any random gift of a magic treasure could launch them to prominence.

At this moment, all disciples in the arena wished the tournament would begin quickly, hoping to display their talent and be noticed by the senior masters; the elders presiding over the tournament also greeted Fang Yu and Fang Qingxue before announcing the rules and rewards of the Shanhe Ranking Tournament.

The rules beneath the Shanhe Ranking have remained unchanged over the years, yet this year's rewards far surpassed last year's.

Fang Yu saw on the platform beneath the Shanhe Ranking a dazzling array of elixirs and magic treasures, emitting waves of potent spiritual power, radiant auras, gripping the hearts of many disciples.

"Heavens, the sect really went all out this time—so many treasures…"

"That's the Yin-Yang Wan Shou Elixir, a Tianji Elixir? Five of them! Five Yin-Yang Wan Shou Elixirs! How is that possible? Isn't it said the Sect Leader only refined five total? How can there be five here at once?"

"That's the Jiazi Divine Elixir—also excellent; one pill grants sixty years of lifespan, and the sect has produced a hundred at once!"

"And that's a Top-Grade Magic Treasure? The sect is giving away a Top-Grade Magic Treasure as a prize? This is truly a massive outlay."

"Not just one magic treasure—besides the rare Top-Grade item, there are over a hundred Upper-Grade, Middle-Grade, and Lower-Grade Magic Treasures! Over a thousand Spirit Treasures! Has Yuhua Sect become this wealthy? I can't believe it."

"Even obtaining a Spirit Artifact upon entering Yuhua Sect was already exceptional—something impossible in the mortal world—but now the sect is distributing so many Spirit Treasures and Magic Treasures? So extravagantly wealthy? Yuhua Sect truly deserves its place among the Xiandaoshi Sect—I didn't come here in vain!"

"Aaaah! Competition—I must give everything I have to win these treasures!"

After the Shanhe Ranking rewards were revealed, nearly all Yuhua Sect inner sect disciples erupted in excitement.

Not just inner sect disciples—some true disciples watching also became excited. True disciples at the 1st to 4th Stage of Divine Abilities, upon seeing the treasures beneath the Shanhe Ranking, all showed envy in their eyes.

These cultivators below the 5th Stage of Divine Abilities could not even forge a single Lower-Grade Spirit Treasure themselves—unless they gained a miraculous fortune, they had no hope of obtaining one.

As for Magic Treasures, they were extremely precious to them.

Even a single Lower-Grade Magic Treasure could allow them to challenge opponents of higher realms.

"This year's rewards are indeed generous—far more than last year's. I recall last year only the first place received a Magic Treasure."

Jialan spoke, murmuring in admiration.