Han spent an entire night meticulously etching the Grand Thousand Immortal Tree visualization onto the artifact embryo.


    For someone of his cultivation, it wasn’t tough—especially since he’d perfectly visualized the tree back in the day.


    When he finished, the clay-like embryo transformed. It stretched and split, shedding its muddy look for something woodier.


    Han’s eyes narrowed. Wait a sec…


    From a lump of clay to… a tree?


    Based on my soul’s essence, paired with these runes, the artifact best suited for me is a tree?


    Were there any famous tree-shaped artifacts out there?


    He racked his brain—actually, yeah, there were.


    Still, he’d have to wait for it to fully form to know its deal. The embryo was ravenous, still gorging on energies even now.


    But Han’s bond with it was ironclad—unbreakable. The vaguely tree-shaped thing zipped around his soul homeland—diving into his mental sea, swimming freely, then hovering midair—before nesting back in his soul to keep nurturing.


    Only then did he realize it wasn’t just feeding. It was imprinting itself onto him, forging a primal connection—becoming his natal artifact.


    Stepping out of his room, Lu Qingmo zeroed in on him instantly.


    “That treasure juice—it’s extraordinary. Keep it under wraps, or you’ll draw trouble,” she warned.


    She had the eye and the wisdom to peg the creation essence’s value right after using it.


    “I know,” Han nodded. A talent-boosting gem? The allure was insane.


    “There’s not much left anyway—just a tiny stash.”


    Tiny, for real—only a month’s worth.


    Lu Qingmo nodded, figuring as much. A fate-altering treasure couldn’t be plentiful—scarcity was its nature.


    Han shifted gears. “Aunt Mo, I’m planning to unlock the Three Yin Legacy.”


    “Out of the blue? You ready?” She raised an eyebrow.


    “You could wait till you’re stronger—it’s not going anywhere.”


    He shook his head. “Grabbing it early sets my mind at ease. A treasure’s only yours when it’s in your hands. I want it this month.”


    He could’ve delayed, but with the Cauldron of Creation in play, waiting wasn’t an option.


    Lu Qingmo had said the Three Yin Mountain God excelled at alchemy. With a god’s lifespan, its legacy might hold a goldmine of refining goodies—perfect for maxing out his new cheat.


    She studied him, sensing his resolve. “I’ll rope in some help—extra muscle,” he laid out.


    The Huang family’s guard at Three Yin Valley was an unknown quantity. Solo was too risky—better call in backup.


    “The Yun family?” she guessed.


    “Yeah, I’ll give it a shot.”


    She paused, then asked, “If you’re pulling in help, why not me?”


    Han blanked. Good question.


    “You never piped up when I brought it up before—I figured you weren’t interested,” he said. “So I didn’t want to bug you.”


    That was his honest take. He hadn’t been in a rush, planning to take it slow—until now.


    “You kept saying there was no hurry, that you’d go when you were stronger,” she replied evenly. “I thought having that goal would push your growth. I’ve got faith in your talent—didn’t offer to tag along. By the time you’re ready, you might not even need me against the Huangs.”


    “…”


    Han floundered, then grinned. “You sure think highly of me, Aunt Mo.”


    His spirits lifted. “Since you’re game, I’ll ride your coattails!”


    With her on board, no need to hit up the Yuns. He was closer to her anyway—her help felt natural, no awkwardness.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    “Nonsense,” she shot him a look. “Who’d let you pull that?”


    “I meant leaning on you, not literally—”


    Her stare grew sharper. He gave up explaining.


    Guess it’s a generation gap—we’re divided by a tragic wall.


    “Today, then?” he ventured.


    “Sure,” she nodded. “I’ll swing by the Ghost God Division first—leave a soul fragment there so the crew can reach me.”


    Saint-tier cultivators could split souls, attaching them to strong hosts—lasting a while in the world.


    “Cool.”


    Han sent Bai Ruoyue a quick snail-message: Off for some alone time with Aunt Mo, Senior Sister—don’t crash the party.


    They slipped out of Heiyun Town quietly, Han leading the charge to Three Yin Valley. With Lu Qingmo, the pace was lightning-fast.


    Still a ways off, she halted. “Smart move not rushing here solo.”


    “What’s up?”


    “There’s a Saint-tier in the valley ahead—plus two mid-tier Day Roamers.”


    No Bone Refinement martial artists—those couldn’t enter Three Yin—so any Viscera folks weren’t worth mentioning. No threat.


    Han’s face tightened. “Good thing you’re here, Aunt Mo. Even if I’d dragged the Yuns in, we’d be outmatched.”


    The Yuns’ top visible strength was Day Roamer-tier—Bone Refiners wouldn’t cut it here. They’d just tip off the enemy.


    “The Huangs are going all out—looks like they know something,” he said.


    “A Tianyue County heavyweight with a long legacy,” Lu Qingmo agreed. “Picking up on a past Three Yin Mountain God from some old source? Not surprising.”


    She was spot-on.


    Decades back, the Huangs seized Three Yin Valley, spinning a tale for their disciples about stumbling onto its cultivation perks for ghost-taming. Only the top brass knew it was premeditated—ancient texts hinted at another mountain god in Tianyue’s history. After digging, they pinpointed the valley, claimed it, and locked it down.


    They scoured it for years—practically flipped it inside out—but found zilch tied to the god beyond the lakebed’s odd energy. Over time, with no big wins, their focus waned. Still, the lake’s red energy boosted ghost-taming, so they held it to bolster clan strength.


    A Day Roamer guard was plenty—until one got killed recently, and the lakebed was probed. That lit a fire under them.


    Killing their Day Roamer was a blood feud—enough for a Saint to hunt the culprit. Happening in the fabled god’s domain? They went full throttle, sending a Saint-tier titan who could dominate counties.


    “Those two Day Roamers—mid-tier,” Lu Qingmo noted, scoping them out before they twigged.


    A county overlord versus a world-class power? No contest. She couldn’t break into Yin God, but her skills still towered over these scrubs.


    “Leave it to me,” Han said. “I’ll mop up the two fast, then grab the legacy.”


    “Fine,” she agreed. “Park your body with me.”


    “You’re taking the Saint…”


    “Don’t worry—he won’t touch it.”


    Her tone brimmed with unshakable confidence.


    “Alright.”


    Han’s soul slipped free—only out-of-body could he unleash its full might. Until a certain realm, the body was a drag—vital, but limiting.


    Legend said high-tier martial-cultivation dualists could split soul and body, both acting at peak power—essentially two fighters, doubling the odds. But that was leagues beyond Yin God.


    Lu Qingmo’s mental energy wrapped his body, shielding it. Not arrogance—just certainty.


    After a beat, Han’s soul morphed—into a demon again. Not the Sea-Overturning Jiao this time, but a God-Driving Yucan—a monkey-like beast.


    Lu Qingmo blinked. “What’s this?”


    “New soul trick,” he explained. “Since I could turn into the Jiao, the other two secret arts started tweaking my soul too. Tested it on the down-low—here’s the result.”


    She mulled it over. The Jiao precedent made this… tolerable. But what kind of secret arts were these—warping the soul so wildly?


    “Ease up on the shapeshifting—could backfire unpredictably,” she cautioned.


    “No worries, Aunt Mo—I feel great,” he grinned. “Heh, I’ll roll in like this, leave a few alive to report back to the Huangs. Who’d tie today’s Three Yin mess to us?”


    Clearly a monkey demon’s doing!


    Even Lu Qingmo had to admit—brilliant move. Total cover.


    His body shimmered with dazzling light, veiling the truth from prying eyes.


    “No gaps now,” she said.


    “Genius!”


    They zipped toward the valley, Han packing all he needed onto his soul.


    “Who’s there?!”


    As they neared, the valley’s cultivators clocked them. A streak of light shot up—a stern middle-aged man blocked their path, his Saint-tier aura flaring, churning the clouds.


    Lu Qingmo ignored him. Heaven and earth’s energy roared at her command, exploding outward.


    “Enemy attack!” the Saint bellowed, alerting the Huangs below. “Another’s a Day Roamer—engage!”


    He pegged the glowing figure beside her as just a body—two foes total.


    Boom!


    The Saint got blasted back, charging right back at Lu Qingmo. Han didn’t register—her presence was too overwhelming, demanding his full focus.


    No matter—others would handle the “Day Roamer.”


    Han didn’t bother with that fight, diving straight into the valley.


    You ignore me? Fine—I wasn’t planning to play with you anyway!


    Last time, he’d crept in cautious. This time? He strutted like a king crab.


    The valley’s two Day Roamers spotted him, faces twisting. One barked, “What demon dares trespass Huang turf? We’ll skin you alive today!”


    “Hah! I’m Sun the Wanderer from Flower-Fruit Mountain’s Waterfall Cave!” Han roared, voice booming everywhere, claiming his title.


    Out in the wild, no shame in tossing out a name—it’s just an ID.


    All about that bold swagger!


    Want more aliases? I’ve got plenty. Not vibing with “Sun the Wanderer”? Call me “Wanderer Sun” instead.


    Boom!


    Thick demonic qi erupted unchecked, selling his act.


    No fancy arts—just a straight charge at the two Huang cultivators, both in soul form. They braced, qi surging. Han clashed and broke off, then bolted out the valley’s far side.


    “Stop right there!”


    No hesitation—they gave chase.


    Two intruders: one tangling with their elder up top, one down here. No trap to fear—just hunt.


    Outside, beyond Huang sightlines, Han hovered, watching them close in.


    “Demon filth—attacking our land? Next year’s your death day!”


    “Your soul’s ours!”


    “Big talk, small game,” Han scoffed, hands flashing through seals.


    Whoosh!


    Tricolor yin fire erupted around them, climbing their soul-bodies faster than they could blink.


    “Argh!”


    Twin screams merged into one. Mighty Day Roamer souls crumbled, crashing down, writhing to douse the flames.


    The yin fire fed on them, their robust forms fueling it. Solar-derived yang qi snuffed out in seconds.


    In moments, they faded to phantoms.


    Yin Earth Fire’s might had spiked—Han didn’t need to lift another finger; their fate was sealed.


    These mid-tier Day Roamers? No match for his top-shelf arts.


    Expression cool, Han unleashed the Grand Righteous Hand Seal, slamming down.


    The fire would finish them, but why wait? Speed was king.


    No “lure-the-tiger-out” ploy here—just lure and slay.