The instant the sound faded.
"Thump!"
Two muffled thuds followed by the sound of bones cracking.
The two cultivators wielding the immortal ropes were as if they had been crushed by an invisible ancient divine mountain, their knees slamming violently onto the cold floor, shattering completely.
Blood gushed from their mouths and noses instantly, their eyes filled with boundless fear and pain.
The leader of the cultivators was in an even more miserable state.
It was as if an irresistible force was pressing down on his head, his entire face almost fused to the hard floor, his features distorted and deformed, unable to even utter a sound, only his body trembling uncontrollably from the pain.
The binding force around Li Taiqing vanished silently, and he looked out of the hall in shock.
Suddenly, a blurry, unseen figure appeared.
The newcomer stood with his hands behind his back. He was not particularly tall, but he seemed to be the backbone of this world, and the sun, moon and stars seemed to revolve around him.
His face was shrouded in a hazy light, making it difficult to see clearly. Only his eyes, as deep as the ancient Starry Sky, calmly surveyed everything within the hall.
"Master?"
Li Taiqing was shocked and blurted out.
A long-awaited reunion, though only a phantom image, that familiar aura—who else could it be but Han Xuanji?
Did his master sense his ascension and come to welcome him?
Upon hearing the word "Master," the two cultivators felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, their souls nearly leaving their bodies.
They immediately realized they had gotten themselves into trouble.
They struggled, letting out cries of anguish:
"Senior, spare... spare my life!"
It was... he forced us to do it!
It's none of our business!
At this moment, all they want to do is desperately distance themselves from the situation.
The leading cultivator tried to struggle and explain, but Han Xuanji ignored them and gave them no chance to explain. He simply flicked his sleeves.
The movements were light and casual, as if swatting away mosquitoes and flies.
Like a gentle breeze sweeping away fallen leaves, the three previously arrogant and domineering cultivators were instantly swept away like trash, turning into three streaks of light and disappearing into the distant sea of clouds with screams, their whereabouts unknown.
They'll most likely not survive.
Han Xuanji had no habit of holding back; he usually settled karmic debts immediately.
All that remained were the numerous storage Law Artifact and treasures they had previously looted, scattered across the ground, shimmering with spiritual light.
"You can claim these things yourselves."
Han Xuanji's calm voice rang out, without the slightest ripple.
"Thank you so much, senior! Thank you so much for your great kindness!"
The survivors were stunned for a moment, then burst into ecstasy, rushing forward to retrieve their belongings, their eyes filled with boundless gratitude as they looked at the blue phantom.
Upon seeing Han Xuanji, Li Taiqing finally breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but ask:
"Master, how dare these three act like this? Is the Upper Realm in such chaos?"
"Pretty much. When I ascended to immortality, the situation I encountered wasn't too different from yours."
Han Xuanji pondered for a moment before replying.
If an ascendant doesn't have a powerful backer after ascending, it's truly better not to have ascended at all.
Staying in the lower realm as an ancestor might be much happier.
Of course, most cultivators who reach the Immortal Ascension Realm have a firm Dao heart, and very few would choose not to ascend out of fear.
"Yeah..."
Li Taiqing remained silent, but felt even more fortunate.
If his master hadn't appeared in time, he would probably be in grave danger today.
He couldn't help but imagine what methods and strength his master had used to ascend alone and gain a foothold in this seemingly beautiful but actually dangerous upper realm.
He must have gone through hardships far beyond his imagination.
The other ascended beings in the hall looked on with envy and awe at this sight.
They envied Li Taiqing for having a powerful master protecting him as soon as he ascended to immortality.
The awe stemmed from Han Xuanji's strength; he effortlessly dispatched those arrogant upper-realm immortals with a mere wave of his hand, demonstrating unimaginable power.
Just then, an older-looking ascendant mustered his courage and spoke with concern:
"Senior, you are Divine Ability powerful! I am deeply grateful! But... but these three must have someone behind them directing or supporting them."
Although the senior has punished them, I fear their backers will not let it go and may implicate the senior.
Senior, it would be best to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible.
Upon hearing this, the group, who had just relaxed, immediately tensed up again, and fear returned to their faces.
Some even glanced at Han Xuanji with a glimmer of hope in their eyes, wishing that this mysterious expert would take them away as well.
However, Han Xuanji naturally ignored these people.
He wasn't exactly a bad person, but he wasn't a saint either.
I'll help with whatever it's convenient; as for how I'll survive afterward, that's up to fate.
Li Taiqing couldn't help but feel down at this moment. If it weren't for him, his master probably wouldn't have gotten into this mess.
He knew that Han Xuanji hated trouble the most.
Han Xuanji looked at Li Taiqing, who had his head down, like a child who had done something wrong, and couldn't help but laugh:
"Don't worry, your master can easily handle this."
The words had barely left his mouth.
Several more auras descended, their intentions clearly hostile.
Outside the Ascension Hall, several figures flew in from the horizon. The leader was an old man with a dark Golden Immortal robe and a sinister face. His aura was profound, far surpassing that of the three lackeys from before. He was clearly a cultivator at the True Immortal Realm!
The four disciples following behind him were all at the peak of the Heavenly Immortal realm.
Such a lineup is practically unstoppable for ordinary ascendants.
The sinister old man's gaze was like lightning. He first swept over the messy ground and the silent ascendants, and finally stared intently at Han Xuanji and Li Taiqing.
A cold rage flashed across his face:
"Who are you, daring to injure my Spirit Jade Sect's Ascension Envoy here? Reveal your true form and surrender!"
He was the elder of the leading cultivator, and upon sensing that the other's soul lamp had gone out, he immediately came to question him.
Upon seeing that Han Xuanji was at the True Immortal Realm realm, he immediately announced the name of the Spirit Jade Sect without making a move.
Their Spirit Jade Sect is legitimate; they have the right to manage ascendants authorized by the Spirit Void Heavenly Palace.
Of the three cultivators, the leader was a prodigy of his clan, who was used to being arrogant because he was favored by the clan's patriarch. He had already handled many matters for him, but he never expected to run into such a tough opponent this time.
"How foolish!"
The sinister old man cursed inwardly; as an elder, he naturally couldn't just ignore the situation.
Li Taiqing's heart leaped into his throat; the oppressive aura of the True Immortal Realm made it difficult for him to breathe.
He knew very well that in the upper realms, there were Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal...
True Immortal are no longer weak; they hold a certain status in many sects.
Generally speaking, being able to cultivate to become True Immortal within a thousand years is considered genius in the upper realm, and an outstanding disciple in a major sect.
Li Taiqing did not know Han Xuanji's cultivation level, but he felt that Han Xuanji was probably a little short of being a True Immortal.
After all, it's only been a few years. No matter how talented he is, he should only be at the Heavenly Immortal Realm, and he should be quite far from the True Immortal Realm.
Han Xuanji shook his head, as if sighing helplessly.
He really didn't want to waste his time on these people.
"Noisy."
Two simple words.
Accompanying the sound, an invisible and intangible terrifying will spread like a tide.
The old man's angry expression froze instantly, replaced by extreme horror.
He discovered that his cultivation at the True Immortal Realm was like a candle flame in a storm, flickering and about to be extinguished in the face of this will.
broken!
I've messed with a master!