Ten years passed in the blink of an eye. The Han, who had previously defied the forces of Immortal Emperors and roamed freely, began a period of recuperation and temporarily sheathed their blades under a single imperial decree from Yang Hao. In ten years, the dazzling achievements of the Han's conquest of the Void Demon Race and the four Quasi-Emperors forcing back the Void Immortal Emperor gradually faded. The Immortal Realm was vast, and astonishing news emerged every so often, the waves pushing the river of time forward.
In the early years of the Han's three hundredth reign, shortly after the court session concluded, Gan Jiang, who had honed his skills and delved deeply into the art of artifact refining for ten years, finally achieved Nine Yuan Gui Yi. After years of secluded cultivation, he forged a supreme artifact. The birth of this first supreme artifact brought Yang Hao a hero summon that did not count against the quota for the Reincarnation Xuan Huang Pagoda.
This time, Yang Hao obtained the peerless hero Ou Yezi. Ou Yezi, who stood at the pinnacle of artifact refining, having achieved Nine Yuan Gui Yi, was a source of great excitement for Gan Jiang. In the realm of artifact refining, who dared to contend with Ou Yezi? He willingly relinquished the position of chief artifact master. Under Yang Hao's instruction, Ou Yezi took charge as the chief artifact master of the Great Han Holy Court, selecting several exceptionally talented beings and embarking on the path of frantically forging supreme artifacts.
"Detailed information on Ou Yezi, the Ancestor of Sword Forging!"
"Name: Ou Yezi"
"Dynasty: Spring and Autumn Period"
"Cultivation: Second level of Quasi-Emperor!"
"Cultivation Method: Hunyuan Artifact Refining Scripture Immortal!"
"Attached Units: Ten Sixth-Rank Artifact Masters!"
Experience: Ou Yezi's sword forging skills were exceptionally exquisite, representing the pinnacle of ancient sword forging techniques, unsurpassed by any later generation. He hailed from the same master as Gan Jiang.
Legend has it that the peaks of Chijin Mountain once cracked, revealing tin ore within, and the streams of Ruoye dried up, exposing copper ore. Therefore, the Rain Master cast a spell to bring rain, Lei Gong struck the bellows, the Flood Dragon brought the furnace ore, the Heavenly Emperor brought the charcoal ore, and Dong Huang Tai Yi and a host of celestial spirits descended to witness.
Ou Yezi, following the divine will, employed all his sword forging techniques to craft three large swords and two small swords.
The first was named Zhan Lu, signifying the general trend of the world; the second was Chun Jun, noble and peerless; the third was Sheng Xie, emanating an intimidating aura; the fourth was Yu Chang, embodying courage and decisiveness; and the fifth was Ju Que, blunt, heavy, and incredibly hard, thus known as "Supreme Under Heaven," with other precious swords daring not to contend with it.
The appearance of these five swords astonished the world, and from then on, Ou Yezi's reputation for sword forging soared. The King of Chu, upon hearing that Ou Yezi of Yue and Gan Jiang of Wu were skilled in sword forging, prepared precious gifts and invited them to forge swords.
Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang excavated Ci Mountain, drained its streams, and extracted iron essence, forging three iron swords: the first was named Long Yuan, appearing as if one were looking down into a deep abyss from a high mountain, ethereal and profound, as if a giant dragon lay coiled within; the second was Tai'e, a sword of authority, once worn by the First Emperor; the third was Gong Bu, with its hilt commencing with patterns that ended at the spine, like pearls that could not be juxtaposed, its patterns flowing like water without ceasing.
Later, after Ou Yezi's death, no matter how much treasure people expended, such exquisite swords could no longer be found.
Several months later, a group of artifact masters led by Ou Yezi forged a supreme artifact, a Fang Tian Hua Ji. Under Yang Hao's instruction, Ou Yezi mobilized the Nine Cauldrons of destiny, infusing the Fang Tian Hua Ji with the divine light of bronze and the essence of national destiny, further advancing its quality within the supreme artifact grade.
Eastern Region of the Immortal Realm.
Dan Xue Mountain.
"Father King!"
"Mother Queen!"
Within the grand hall of Dan Xue Mountain, Tai Xu Immortal Emperor and Shi Yuan Immortal Emperor were seated at the head of the table. Below them, nine figures, led by Jin Ling and Yun Rou, rose and respectfully bowed towards the head of the table in salutation. Even Kong Xuan and Yu Yi, who had achieved the Dao, stood respectfully below.
"Rise," Tai Xu Immortal Emperor said with a benevolent smile.
"Thank you, Father King and Mother Queen!" The nine figures rose and took their seats. Kong Xuan and Yu Yi remained in their original positions, without any airs of Immortal Emperors. At the head were their parents, and beside them were their kin; there was no need to put on airs.
"Our Dan Xue Mountain lineage now has four Emperors present. The Great Fortune is depleted, and our descendants can no longer bear the heavy responsibilities. The situation in the Immortal Realm is changing. Even we two must adhere to the decrees of the four great powers."
"There is a gap between generations, and the situation is elusive and unpredictable. The Han is rising powerfully, with immense supporting strength behind them. You must all cultivate good relationships and not lose this hard-won bond!" Shi Yuan Immortal Emperor said softly, his gaze sweeping over his nine children. He and Tai Xu were most proud and satisfied with two things. The first was to forcefully revive the Phoenix Clan, which was on the verge of extinction, allowing them to re-establish themselves and rejuvenate in the Immortal Realm. The second was having these nine children, each of whom possessed extraordinary talent and unparalleled combat power. Especially their sixth son, Kong Xuan, and their seventh son, Yu Yi, who had now achieved the Dao and ascended to Immortal Emperor!
"Father King, Mother Queen!" Heavenly King Lei Yuan, Lei Hua, stood up with a grave expression, his gaze moving. "The Great Han Holy Court has already produced an Immortal Emperor, named Lu Bu, who is under the command of Marquis Zhuge Liang of the Great Han Vermilion Bird Legion!"
"Oh?" Jin Ling asked with surprise, "Has the Han truly produced an Immortal Emperor?"
The expressions of Tai Xu Immortal Emperor and Shi Yuan Immortal Emperor stirred. During the battle of Dan Xue Mountain, they had twice sensed Li Yuanba's aura, marveling at the unfathomable depths of the Han human race. Yet, for the past hundred years, the Great Han Holy Court had indeed not had a living Immortal Emperor; there were only those few historical records. But now, with the emergence of a genuine Human Immortal Emperor, they felt increasingly that their previous understanding of the Great Han Holy Court was mistaken.
"Lu Bu!" Yu Yi murmured softly, "How many Imperial Destinies does this person control, and what is his position in the Great Han Holy Court?"
"Lu Bu controls two Imperial Destinies. There is no record of him in the four regions of the Immortal Realm. It is unknown when he achieved the Dao. In the Great Han Holy Court, he serves as a Guard General, holding the rank of a true second-grade official."
"What!"
"Only second grade? He doesn't even have a noble title?"
The Quasi-Emperors were shocked, and even Kong Xuan's expression changed slightly. Tai Xu and Shi Yuan Immortal Emperors at the head of the table had their pupils constrict. An Immortal Emperor, yet in the Han, he wasn't even first grade and lacked a noble title, whereas even Zhuge Liang, a Quasi-Emperor, held a marquisate.
Little did they know that Lu Bu had just emerged, without any prior merit or reputation. Entering the Han, he was immediately granted the rank of a true second-grade official and commanded the third army of the Vermilion Bird, which was a high recognition of his strength.
"The Great Han Holy Court now has an Immortal Emperor among its ranks, so the decrees of the supreme overlords are naturally void. Kong Xuan, on behalf of our Dan Xue Mountain, visit the Great Han Holy Court and declare to the world that our Dan Xue Mountain and the Great Han Holy Court will continue to advance and retreat together!" Shi Yuan Immortal Emperor said after a moment of contemplation.
"Your Majesty's decree shall be obeyed!" Kong Xuan rose and bowed slightly.