Central Region, Langya Pavilion: Cultivation Secret Realm

A white-clad figure slowly emerged from the pitch-black cave entrance. The Langya Pavilion disciples responsible for guarding the Cultivation Secret Realm hurried forward.

"Pavilion Master."

"Mm. Nothing happened recently, right?" Xiao Han asked expressionlessly.

"No, everything is as usual."

The disciple answered.

Xiao Han then flashed away, leaving the Cultivation Secret Realm.

At that moment, one disciple elbowed the person beside him, shock mixed into his eyes. "Hey, I'm not seeing things, am I? The Pavilion Master just walked out of a Space Wormhole?"

The disciple beside him also looked completely dazed. His eyes were vacant as he said,

"I don't know anything."

It was no wonder the two of them had reacted so poorly. What Xiao Han had just done was simply unimaginable.

Although Dou Zong experts could initially make simple use of spatial power,

Dou Zun experts possessed the ability to construct Space Wormholes independently. However, those were only miniature Space Wormholes, and they took a very long time to create.

Xiao Han had clearly constructed that one casually just now. Considering his widely circulated glorious achievements, he would never have done this if it consumed too much energy.

Thus, with the knowledge of the Langya Pavilion disciples, it was easy to guess that their Pavilion Master's strength had long since surpassed the Dou Zun level. He should be called the Ice Saint instead.

A Saint—even if one was merely a Half-Saint, one could still bear the word "Saint."

Reaching this stage proved that one's cultivation path had basically touched its peak.

The backbone of the Ancient Races had always been Dou Zong and Dou Zun experts. Even among the Ancient Races, where Experts Like Clouds and geniuses stood everywhere, a Half-Saint was fully qualified to become high-end combat power.

Placed among the first-rate forces of the Central Plains, such a person could establish a sect and become its revered founder.

Breaking through to the Half-Saint level was exceedingly difficult. Many peak experts with extraordinary talent remained stuck at this threshold for decades or even centuries. It would not be surprising if they were unable to enter that gate for their entire lives.

That was also why the Bodhi Pill was so highly sought after.

Even if it could only raise the odds of advancing to the Half-Saint level by twenty percent, the Bodhi Pill remained a treasure that money could not buy.

Even the core disciples of those Ancient Races might not necessarily have the qualifications to use Bodhi Seeds. Of course, that was also related to the rarity of Bodhi Seeds.

After a long silence, one of them asked, "Should we spread the news that the Pavilion Master has broken through to the Half-Saint level?"

That disciple began scheming. Of course, it was not out of selfishness. He simply wanted to raise Langya Pavilion's prestige.

The rarity of Half-Saint experts went without saying. This level represented a force's foundation.

Why did the Heavenly Underworld Sect dare to act so arrogantly? Was it not because they had a Half-Saint ancestor?

The disciples of the Heavenly Underworld Sect had always been synonymous with tyranny and overbearing behavior in the outside world.

Bullying the weak through strength, forcibly seizing property, wantonly killing innocents—they had practically committed every evil imaginable. Disciples from many forces would retreat when they encountered them, not daring to contend with the disciples of the Heavenly Underworld Sect.

If they relied solely on the Dou Zun experts under their command, they would have been jointly exterminated long ago.

In recent years, their conduct had grown even more overbearing. Only when Xiao Han was still around had the Langya Pavilion disciples dared to stand against them.

That was because although Xiao Han was merely a Peak Dou Zun, his Combat power was extraordinarily powerful.

His unique Extreme Ice Dou Qi could even freeze Exotic Fire when facing an opponent of the same level. That battle had also been the one that made Xiao Han famous, after he broke through to the Dou Zun level and received the title of Ice Venerable.

Fighting above his level was effortless for him.

Even when facing a Half-Saint, he might be able to injure the opponent.

Under normal circumstances, Half-Saints serving as a force's foundation would not act easily.

Especially an old monster like the Heavenly Underworld Old Demon, the ancestor of the Heavenly Underworld Sect. After suffering an injury, he might very well affect his already scant remaining lifespan.

Thus, even though the two sides had a deep hatred between them, the Heavenly Underworld Sect had never completely gone to war with Langya Pavilion.

During that period, the Heavenly Underworld Sect disciples also behaved themselves considerably more.

After Xiao Han disappeared, however, the Heavenly Underworld Sect began acting up again. Although the Langya Pavilion disciples were furious, they generally endured it unless absolutely necessary.

Only in the past few days, after news of Xiao Han's return had spread, had the situation begun to ease.

But Xiao Han breaking through to the Half-Saint level was an entirely different matter.

Being able to injure one did not mean one truly possessed Half-Saint-level Combat power. That required a life-for-injury fighting style and ultimately could not be considered conventional combat power.

Now, however, things were different. With Half-Saint cultivation, Xiao Han could, in that Langya Pavilion disciple's mind, beat that Heavenly Underworld Old Demon into submission.

Moreover, once this news spread, Langya Pavilion would definitely gain another wave of prestige, and its power would rise to a higher level.

Thinking about how the Heavenly Underworld Sect disciples would all detour around Langya Pavilion members in the future, that disciple could not help smiling. Drool trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Hey, hey, are you all right?"

Seeing his abnormal appearance, the person beside him could not help waving a hand in front of his eyes.

"Ah, I'm fine." Coming back to himself, he asked, "What do you think of my idea?"

"Not very good." The other person rolled his eyes at him and said,

"Since the Pavilion Master did not announce his breakthrough to the Half-Saint level himself, he naturally has his own plans. If something unexpected happens and you disrupt his arrangements, can you bear that responsibility?"

"That's right. You make a good point. Brother, I nearly committed a grave mistake." The disciple suddenly understood, then looked at the other man with gratitude.

Putting an arm around his shoulder, he said, "It's our shift change today. My treat. We'll go to the best restaurant and won't leave until we're drunk."

It had to be said that these two Langya Pavilion disciples had already become Xiao Han's little devotees and die-hard fans.

They had their own interpretations of every action Xiao Han took, practically resembling Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong. Their loyalty was absolutely top-notch.

No wonder they had been sent to guard the vital Cultivation Secret Realm.

Xiao Han, completely unaware of the trouble his casual actions had caused his own disciples, was currently facing a tribunal from the Elder Council.

The one leading them was none other than his good brother and Langya Pavilion's Grand Elder, Ye Jianxin.

More than ten Dou Zun-level elders were staring at you. Would you be afraid?

"What's wrong?" Xiao Han asked weakly. Although he possessed Dou Sheng cultivation, he naturally could not use it against his own people.

"Where's Yi Huang? Where is our Deputy Pavilion Master? Did she run away because you, you scoundrel, toyed with her and abandoned her?"

Ye Jianxin drew the Clear Wind Sword and said viciously.

"Who said that?"

The moment Yi Huang was mentioned, Xiao Han immediately found his confidence.

But before he could speak, Ye Jianxin interrupted him. "Good. Since that's the case, tell us—when are you holding the wedding banquet?"

"Although Yi Huang is usually carefree, she's still a woman. She can't possibly bring it up herself." He then said angrily, exasperated by Xiao Han's lack of initiative,

"But why won't you do it? Is she really that unimportant to you?"

"..."

Xiao Han fell silent. Just as Ye Jianxin thought Xiao Han had finally seen the light,

one sentence shattered his composure:

"What should I do?"

"Aren't you the one marrying a wife? You should be asking yourself that question."

"I've never married anyone either! Don't you have experience?"

Just as the two were about to fall into an endless loop, the group of elders could not stand it any longer. One of the younger elders grabbed Ye Jianxin, who was about to hit someone.

"Pavilion Master, Grand Elder, leave this matter to us!"

"Exactly. Don't worry. We'll absolutely make the wedding between you and the Deputy Pavilion Master grand and glorious."

"That's right, that's right..."