The shadow was somewhat taken aback. “You’re at Divine Connection already? Impressive! You’re almost comparable to me back in the day. I didn’t misjudge you after all! Well, as the name suggests, it uses the spirit pool as nourishment to supplement the soul, enhance soul power, and nurture a divine sense seed!

“When the seed breaks out of its shell and the divine sense initially takes form, that is the first stage of Divine Connection. One’s divine sense can extend up to one hundred zhang. By that measure, at the ninth stage of Divine Connection, it would reach nine hundred zhang. At the Supreme Stage, its reach expands to a staggering thousand zhang.”

Gu Han was taken aback. “Huh? Just a thousand zhang?”

The shadow glanced at him. “What do you mean ‘just’?! A hundred zhang is just the foundation! In a battle against someone with similar strength, the difference of even a single zhang can determine the outcome, let alone a hundred zhang! Moreover, when you undergo the earthly tribulation, your divine sense will be enhanced again, widening this gap further. The further you progress, the greater it grows, until it becomes an unbridgeable chasm.”

Gu Han exclaimed, “It’s that formidable?!”

The shadow said proudly, “Each Supreme Stage has its own profundities. The more Supreme Stages you cultivate, the more pronounced the benefits. You currently have a Dual Supreme Stage. That so-called Great Barbaric War Physique can still hold out against you for a while. But if he can endure even one strike once you attain the fourth Supreme Stage, I will personally cut off my head and offer it to you!”

Gu Han reminded him. “You’re a remnant soul right now. You don’t have a head.”

The shadow nearly coughed up blood in anger. Little bastard! Your mouth is still as venomous as ever!

However, Gu Han’s expression remained unchanged. “How does one cultivate the thousand-zhang divine sense?”

The shadow snorted angrily. “It’s simple! Burn your boats and fight with your back to the river! Seek life in the face of death!”

“Speak human language.”

The shadow took a deep breath, reminding himself not to stoop to the level of arguing with this little bastard. “When your divine sense has reached its peak and cannot advance even a bit further, ignite both your soul and divine sense.”

Gu Han looked suspicious. “Ignite?”

Isn’t that a method commonly used by cultivators in desperate, life-or-death fights?

The shadow seemed to know what he was thinking. “In fact, most Supreme Stages in the Divine Connection realm are achieved by chance during such desperate fights. As for those who actively ignite their own, they are exceedingly rare.”

Gu Han shot back. “Were you one?”

“Of course! Back when I was at the Divine Connection realm, I was backed into a corner. With no other choice, I used this mutually destructive move. That was how I turned misfortune into blessing. After my soul power and divine sense were ninety-nine percent burned away, I unexpectedly obtained the most refined divine sense seed in the world. This seed was the embryo of the thousand-zhang divine sense. That one battle established my reputation as the number one prodigy of the Ninefold Demon Domain.”

Gu Han gave a thumbs-up. “That’s remarkable! Truly worthy of the title Demon Monarch!”

The shadow felt utterly disgusted. Having spent so much time with Gu Han, he knew him well. Whenever Gu Han praised him, it meant he wanted something.

“Just say what you want!”

Gu Han didn’t mince his words. “Back then, how did you endure it?”

Learning from the shadow’s experience would be far better than groping in the dark alone, significantly increasing his chances of success.

The shadow sneered. “How to endure? By enduring to the death!”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it!”

“What if that still isn’t enough?”

The shadow looked at him as if he were an idiot. “Then you really die! Do I really need to teach you that?”

Gu Han’s face darkened and he almost drew his sword on the spot. He turned and left. “Goodbye!”

The shadow sighed. “Not a single Supreme Stage is simple. If you can walk the path of the nine great Supreme Stages...”

He glanced at the golden seal in his hand. Mysteriously profound, it shimmered with golden light, as if it had no connection whatsoever to the demonic path.

“What lies behind that door?” the shadow asked, his tone complex and tinged with longing.

***

Opening his eyes, Gu Han saw Ah Sha’s face again.

After seeing Gu Han awake, she seemed to snap out of her dazed state. “Young master, you’re finally awake!”

Gu Han smiled gently and patted her head. As he slowly stood up, the layer of light retracted into him. The hundred-zhang spirit pool was now completely filled with spirit power.

As if sensing his will, the spirit power surged, and a point of spirit light rose and vanished into the unknown. His already formidable soul power increased once more and a divine sense seed quietly formed. Nourished by the powerful soul power, it broke out of its shell in the blink of an eye.

Subconsciously, he closed his eyes again. “Is this the divine sense?”

In an instant, everything within a hundred zhang radius clearly appeared in his perception. Even every speck of dust on the ground was visible, far clearer than with the naked eye. He had reached the first stage of Divine Connection, but it didn’t stop there. His soul power was simply too vast and profound, spurring that sprout to grow into a seedling.

***

Outside, Yu Miao sensed Gu Han’s breakthrough and softly exclaimed in admiration, “That’s remarkable! As expected of the person Senior Brother chose!”

However, Zuo Yang was too preoccupied to hear her. He scratched his head and muttered to himself, “The recipe isn’t right! The amount of Cold Spirit Herb should be reduced by one part, the Scorching Sun Fruit increased by half a part, and another half part of Silver Scale Flower should be added...”

Looking at him, someone who didn’t know better would mistake him for some great alchemist. In reality, he was only talking about seasonings.

Yu Miao smiled happily. “Wonderful! Senior Brother has also had a breakthrough.”

Of course, the breakthrough she referred to was certainly not in cultivation.

Right at that moment, the ground outside the mountain gate shook violently. Yu Miao helplessly glanced into the distance. She didn’t even have to guess who had arrived.

Sure enough, Murong Yan’s booming voice rang out. “Brother Gu, you didn’t even tell me about this treasure hunting and secret exploring business? That’s not very considerate—”

The arrival of the three was a pleasant surprise for Gu Han. With the liquid treasure, they had smoothly broken through to the Divine Connection realm. Yang Ying’s progress was slightly faster than the two, perhaps due to the Marrow-Draining Pill.

Yang Ying stated his purpose, “I’ll take you to find that secret land.”

Gu Han smiled. “Brother Yang, great minds think alike!”

In fact, even if Yang Ying hadn’t come looking for him, Gu Han would have sought him out. Having just broken through, his progress could only be described as advancing a thousand li in a single day. It probably wouldn’t take long at all for him to reach the ninth stage of Divine Connection.

After some thought, he had also devised a solution. There was a high chance of finding soul-nourishing pills in the secret land. If he could replenish his soul power after igniting it and the divine sense, his chances of cultivating the thousand-zhang divine sense would improve.

Honestly, this was the only method he could think of. Moreover, such pills held extraordinary significance for Ah Sha as well. No matter from which perspective he considered it, he absolutely had to make this trip.

Upon learning of their plans, Zuo Yang once again shouldered the big black pot. “Junior Brother, although the wastelands have sparse spirit qi and are seldom visited, this journey is extremely far. It’s inevitable you might encounter some mishaps. How about I come with you?”

Gu Tian stepped forward. “I... will also go!”

Gu Han thought for a moment and did not refuse. After all, according to Yang Ying, the secret land seemed extremely difficult to find. With Zuo Yang around, they’d likely have an easier time finding it. As for Gu Tian, Gu Han was purely afraid he would wander off alone and get lost again.

After a brief discussion, the group prepared to leave.

Suddenly, Ah Sha mustered her courage and approached Gu Han. “Young Master, I-I want to go too.”

Gu Han smiled. “Ah Sha, don’t worry. This time I’ll be back in just a few days.”

Ah Sha frowned slightly. “No! I want to go!”

Now, she didn’t want to be separated from Gu Han for even a moment.

Murong Yan scratched her head. “Huh? This little girl is acting a bit strange.”

In her memory, Ah Sha had always been obedient and well-behaved. This was the first time she’d seen her act willful like this.

Gu Han was also momentarily stunned, but then agreed. “Alright, let’s all go together.”

With Zuo Yang and Gu Tian present, plus the Saint realm method within that spirit seal, their journey held almost no danger. The group set off after bidding farewell to Yu Miao. In the past, it took Yang Ying several months to reach that secret land. However, with Zuo Yang and Gu Tian carrying them, they arrived in less than two days.

During the journey, Gu Han consecutively broke through realms and astonished everyone. For ordinary people, breaking through in the Divine Connection realm was far more difficult than in the Spirit Profound realm. Yet for Gu Han, it was easier than eating or drinking.

Gu Han had no choice but to temporarily suppress the urge to break through. Otherwise, he would break through to the ninth stage before even reaching their destination.

***

Compared to the interior of the Border Wasteland, the secret land was far more desolate. Barren land stretched as far as the eye could see, the spirit qi so thin it was almost imperceptible. The few small hillocks lay forlornly in the distance, dotted sparsely with greenery and devoid of any vitality.

Murong Yan frowned deeply. “Yang Guy, are you sure this is the right place? No way there’s a secret land here! Absolute bullshit!”

Shen Xuan shook his head. “It’s unlikely. Cultivators have photographic memories. Even if there have been some changes, the deviation shouldn’t be too large.”

Yang Ying thought for a moment. “Correct. It should be roughly within a hundred li of this area.”

Given their cultivation level, a hundred li was an extremely precise location.

Zuo Yang glanced around. “Junior Brother, Fellow Daoist Gu and I will go look further afield. If that secret land is truly as you described, it must have hidden secrets within. With our higher cultivation level, it’ll be easier to find.”

Gu Han was a bit worried about Gu Tian. “Father, don’t go too far!”

Gu Tian instantly soared into the air. “I’ll... try!”

This only served to worry Gu Han further.

Murong Yan shook her head at the sight. “Brother Gu, was your father always like this?”

Ah Sha shook her head. “No. The family head was very, very good before!”

Gu Han sighed. “He became like this for my sake.”

Watching Gu Tian’s departing figure, Yang Ying’s expression turned somewhat desolate. “Actually, I envy you.”

The others sighed inwardly. Gu Han’s father and Yang Ying’s were as different as heaven and earth.

Just as the group was lost in thoughts, a light cough suddenly reached their ears.

Gu Han was the first to turn around. “Who’s there?!”

How could anyone be in a place even demonic beasts avoid?!

There was an old man several zhang away. Even he seemed taken aback. He hunched over, leaning on a polished wooden staff. His eyes were tightly shut, and his aura was weak. He trembled as if he would topple over at any moment. The old man looked like an ordinary, decrepit elder.

Murong Yan instinctively asked, “Old sir, who are you?”

The hairs on Gu Han’s scalp stood on end as he aggressively drew his sword. “Don’t move!”

The others were startled. Little did they know, Gu Han was becoming a bit paranoid. Every time he encountered a stranger, he suspected it was the demoness in disguise! Transforming into an old man wasn’t beyond her.

After hearing the sound of the sword being drawn, the wrinkles on the old man’s face momentarily smoothed, and he praised sincerely, “Fine sword!”

Gu Han’s face darkened. Is he insulting me?