Accidentally invincible!

The murky Heavenly Vault churned as clouds tumbled and gathered under some unseen force, coalescing into a massive face that covered half the sky, looming over the world.

"This kind of aura makes even this Emperor tremble with fear."

The Dragon Emperor felt an immense pressure weighing down on him.

Huang Jiujiu's face turned ashen. Facing a single Dragon Emperor was already beyond their ability to contend with, and now an ancient Demon of unknown origins had appeared, cornering them into utter despair.

Master.

Save me!

The one who had just appeared was the ancient Demon—once attempting to seize Lin Fan's body, but ultimately settling for a wager with him.

"Indeed, you've grown." The ancient Demon regarded Little Sun thoughtfully.

Little Sun stepped in front of Huang Jiujiu, looked up, and said, "Let my senior sister leave. If you have an issue, take it up with me."

Such domineering words.

The ancient Demon glanced at Huang Jiujiu and muttered softly.

Human Clan.

Willing to stay behind to ensure the safety of a Human Clan member, prepared to sacrifice yourself.

"Never did I imagine I would truly lose to him. For the most malevolent thing to harbor thoughts of the Human Clan, even willing to sacrifice itself—indeed, I have lost."

The ancient Demon struggled to accept this reality.

He had wagered with that Human Clan cultivator, fully confident in his victory, yet the current outcome was far from what he envisioned.

"Can good and evil really transform?"

"Is it true that all beings are inherently good at their origin?"

The ancient Demon recalled the words Lin Fan had once spoken to him, but the more he thought, the angrier he became. Losing to a Human Clan member felt deeply humiliating to him.

"Where is the one who gave you your name?" the ancient Demon asked.

Little Sun responded, "He's dead."

Huang Jiujiu added, "My master ascended."

The two spoke in unison, albeit with differing results. Huang Jiujiu felt exasperated—Little Sun seemed destined to be at odds with their master. She treated others decently, but with the master, things always turned sour.

A truly difficult personality.

The ancient Demon froze momentarily, as if caught off guard, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha… Seems I haven't lost after all. To be so ruthless even toward the one who nurtured you, it's clear your malevolence persists. I have not lost!"

"Let me see for myself what he did to you—it will also help me unleash your evil nature."

The ancient Demon's attack was even more terrifying than that of the Dragon Emperor. Space shattered as he attempted to seize Little Sun directly.

But at that moment—

The Void tore open.

A dragon tail swept across, shattering the Heavenly Vault and neutralizing the ancient Demon's assault entirely.

"Hey, you old Demon, what do you think you're trying to do to my good friend's disciple?"

Immediately after—

A giant dragon emerged, half of its body extending from the Void while the other half remained within it. Shaking its massive form, Ao Wudi made his dazzling entrance. Yet, when his gaze landed on this formless ancient Demon, he remained vigilant.

What a formidable foe.

Not necessarily a match for him.

"Uncle Ao…"

Huang Jiujiu's joy surged upon seeing Ao Wudi's arrival. Her reinforcements were here, and her wildly thumping heart calmed, her panic subsiding.

"Don't worry. Your Uncle Ao is here." Ao Wudi reassured her.

The ancient Demon remarked, "An Emperor of the Sky Dragon Clan. Alas, even you are no match for me."

Ao Wudi chuckled, "You're not wrong. You are indeed an ancient Demon who has lived countless years. Naturally, I, Ao Wudi, am not your match. But it's a shame, really—over the past few decades, I haven't just been idly passing time. I've made quite a few friends."

"Te, my fellow Daoist."

"Bear Daoist."

"Care to come out and take a stroll?"

Soon—

The Heavenly Vault quaked, the Void shattered, and two fearsome, ancient beasts stepped through, their terrifying aura spreading across the world, stirring violent storms.

"Beasts from the Forbidden Land… You actually dare to emerge…?" The ancient Demon was astonished and instantly recognized who they were—these were extremely ancient and ferocious beings.

Ao Wudi laughed, "Why wouldn't they emerge? Everyone deserves a vacation now and then. Besides, I should let the Dragon Emperor know to be careful—one of my other Daoist friends loves poking around in others' lairs. While you're out here, he might already be inside. It'd be a shame if you returned only to find your home emptied."

The Dragon Emperor's expression changed dramatically upon hearing this.

Who would dare to trespass his lair? Were they courting death?

Meanwhile, at the Dragon Emperor's lair, the scoundrel Li Daode was clutching a Dao Artifact, taking a deep breath with a look of utter pleasure on his face.

"So fragrant…"

Ao Wudi turned to the ancient Demon and said, "If you want to fight, then let's fight. Even if your strength surpasses ours, with me and my two Daoist friends teaming up, we might not be unable to defeat you."

"Good… good…" The ancient Demon repeated the word twice before vanishing abruptly.

"Whew!"

Ao Wudi exhaled in relief, then glanced at Little Sun. This girl was now the key pivot point between Immortal and Demon—he couldn't fathom what Lin Fan had been thinking when he raised this terrifying girl.

Immortal Realm.

Yin Immortal Mountain.

Upon hearing the ancestor's words, Han Li sought out Lin Fan early in the morning to discuss cultivation.

The defeat from the previous day hadn't disheartened Han Li; instead, it seemed to fuel his determination, igniting an ever-stronger fighting spirit.

"Brother Han, could it be that all the Divine Skills of Yin Immortal Mountain are like that?" Lin Fan was very interested in Yin Immortal Mountain's Divine Skills—not to practice them himself, but because using them seemed highly likely to end up killing the user in the process.

They always seemed to hurt themselves half to death before managing to harm others.

After some contemplation, Han Li stood and said, "Brother Lin, please follow me."

Curiosity sparked in Lin Fan's heart. He had no idea where Han Li was leading him.

Soon enough—

After a long trek, they finally stopped in a remote mountain. Around them stood several ancient stone pillars, and Lin Fan could sense several powerful presences concealed within the surroundings.

It was clear this place was under heavy guard.

"Brother Lin, this is the origin of Yin Immortal Mountain's Divine Skills. The first ancestor meditated here for thousands of years, comprehending 108 Divine Skills and ultimately founding Yin Immortal Mountain," Han Li explained, pointing at a massive object up ahead.

It was an ancient cauldron of unknown material—unlike anything Lin Fan had ever seen. At a glance, it could only vaguely be classified as belonging to the cauldron category.

"Brother Han, such an important place, and you dare to bring me here?" Lin Fan asked in astonishment.

Han Li turned and smiled mysteriously. "You are an honored guest of Yin Immortal Mountain—why would you not be allowed?"

That was what the ancestor had said.

Build a good relationship with Daoist Lin.

Besides, while this place was indeed important, its secrets had already been studied extensively for countless years. What could be understood was already understood; what could not be understood remained so. A mere glance wouldn't change anything, and it wasn't as if Lin Fan could take the cauldron away.

The aura emanating from the ancient cauldron was profoundly archaic and steeped in an overwhelming sense of time. If observed closely, one could even see blackened solidified blood caked upon its surface.

The surface of the cauldron was carved with intricate, unfathomable patterns.

It was otherworldly.

To derive over a hundred Divine Skills from a single cauldron—what kind of miraculous cauldron must this be? Even the Eternal Immortal Venerable's Eternal Divine Furnace couldn't possibly compare.

"May I touch it?" Lin Fan inquired.

Han Li replied, "Feel free."

Suppressing his curiosity, Lin Fan slowly approached the cauldron, reaching out cautiously to touch it. The texture was icy cold, and an imposing aura surged forth, startling him so much that he quickly withdrew his hand and stumbled back several paces.

What an astonishing artifact.

At the same time, information about the cauldron flooded his mind.

[Era Witch Artifact: A relic from the fall of the Witch Epoch, containing 129,600 Divine Skills. The spirit of the artifact has perished.]

I think I may have discovered a massive secret.

Lin Fan stared at the ancient cauldron before him in shock. Its origins ran deeper than he had anticipated. It seemed clear that Yin Immortal Mountain didn't truly understand what this artifact was—only their first ancestor had managed to comprehend Divine Skills from it, mistaking it for a medium for passing down techniques.

If it could be refined—

This artifact would undoubtedly surpass Holy Weapons and Dao Weapons, qualifying as an Era Heavy Weapon.

"Brother Lin, are you alright?" Han Li asked.

Lin Fan waved dismissively, "I'm fine, I'm fine. It's just that I didn't expect this artifact to be so formidable. If it were in pristine condition, it would surely be a Dao Weapon."

Han Li nodded, "Who knows? However, the ancestor once said that this artifact is likely a medium for Divine Skills. It might still hold other Divine Skills, but they're difficult to comprehend. The elders stationed here have already meditated for thousands of years, yet the last time anyone derived a new Divine Skill was 800 years ago."

"Oh, I see," Lin Fan responded with a nod. It was indeed a remarkable treasure, one unlike any other he had encountered before. Unfortunately, its true nature remained unrecognized, leaving it to lie dormant and underappreciated, regarded only as a medium for acquiring techniques.

Eventually—

The two left the location, strolling leisurely around Yin Immortal Mountain.

"Brother Han, I noticed Yin Immortal Mountain lacks plant life. It's quite barren. If possible, I'd suggest planting some greenery to add a touch of vitality," Lin Fan suggested.

He couldn't understand how Brother Han tolerated it.

If it were him, he would surely lose his mind staying in such a desolate place.

Han Li nodded, committing the suggestion to memory. Planting greenery seemed feasible; however, their cultivation techniques often required absorbing the vital energy of surrounding life forms, making desolation an unavoidable consequence.

As they wandered Yin Immortal Mountain, many disciples greeted them respectfully wherever they went, while some of the female disciples were bolder in their gestures.

Han Li was long accustomed to this.

Although Lin Fan remained impervious to beauty, he found himself repeatedly resisting the urge to throw punches when confronted by Yin Immortal Mountain's female disciples. Were it not for his friendly relations with Yin Immortal Mountain, he might have dragged these women to the lakeside, stripped them down, and thrown them in to give them a proper wash. Couldn't they at least take some care in their appearance?

If you insist on seducing me, I'm certainly interested in deeper interactions, but I just can't stomach it like this.

"Ancestor, Han Li took that boy to the vital grounds." An elderly man reported.

Mao Zhenjun nodded approvingly. It seemed Han Li wasn't foolish after all, understanding his intentions—good, very good. As for the so-called vital grounds, they weren't really all that important; anyone was free to take a look.

Just as the elder was about to continue his report—

Mao Zhenjun raised his hand to interrupt, then closed his eyes. Moments later, he spoke, "I just received news from the Heavenly Court. A Heavenly Secret Realm has been discovered, and Yin Immortal Mountain is allowed to send disciples to participate."

The elder was astonished. "The Heavenly Court is certainly being generous."

Mao Zhenjun chuckled, "The Heavenly Court wants control over the Four Domains—showing magnanimity befitting a big brother is expected."