Inside a room in the main building of Little Spirit Void Peak, Han Yi sat rigidly, his face betraying his nervousness.
Across from him sat a young man in his early forties, Zhou Xiong, the closed-door disciple of Peak Lord Fan Mo. Zhou Xiong looked weary, his eyes bloodshot, clearly not in good condition.
Han Yi took a deep breath and cut straight to the point. "Senior Brother Zhou, I'm here for a spot."
Zhou Xiong's expression softened slightly. "Let's be clear: spots are limited, and the price has increased significantly. You need to be prepared for a hefty sum."
"Also, I can only guarantee that securing a spot gives you a chance to avoid selection—not a hundred percent certainty."
"You need to understand that."
"Of course, rest assured that if you can't evade it and are truly chosen, half the price will be refunded."
"Think it over carefully."
Zhou Xiong's words were equally direct.
Han Yi had come specifically for the "spot" they were discussing—a position on Little Spirit Void Peak that exempted one from being selected to join the Heavenly Demon encirclement campaign. He had learned of this opportunity from a regular customer who purchased Medicinal Pills from him, who had secretly divulged the information.
Han Yi's extensive investigations had confirmed the existence of these "slots."
In short, Han Yi had come to bribe his way out.
"Senior Brother Zhou, please name your price," Han Yi said, feigning helplessness. "If it's within my means, I'll do everything I can to afford it."
And indeed, he was helpless.
Being selected to participate in the Heavenly Demon extermination wasn't just a matter of life and death; it was practically a death sentence. If he could avoid selection, he was willing to pay any price. That was why he was here.
"Thirty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, or the equivalent value in Medicinal Pills or Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Take it or leave it."
Han Yi's expression darkened. The price was outrageously high. Among the Mid-Stage Qi Refining disciples on Little Spirit Void Peak, fewer than ten could afford such a sum. Even those Sixth Layer Senior Brothers with exceptional Pill Refinement skills, who had been saving for over a decade, might struggle.
"Thirty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones is equivalent to three thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. My current reserves are a bit short, but if I include my Medicinal Pills, I should have enough."
"But that would mean my hard-earned savings of over three years would vanish in an instant."
"I can't help but feel bitter about it."
After a brief internal struggle, Han Yi steeled his resolve and paid the price.
Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills could be earned again, but losing his life meant everything would be over.
Half an hour later, Han Yi emerged from the main building, gazing blankly at the sea of clouds. His momentary daze quickly gave way to renewed determination.
The recent Heavenly Demon incident had only strengthened his resolve to survive at all costs.
A Great Heavenly Demon, having escaped from the Demon Cave, had seized the opportunity while Gu Wuchen, the Foundation Establishment Stage Peak Lord of Little Valley Sword Peak, was in cultivation. It infiltrated Gu Wuchen's body, slaughtered the entire peak, and then, wielding terrifying power, crashed into Little Spirit Void Peak, shattering its protective Formation and forcing Peak Lord Fan Mo to flee. The attack resulted in massive casualties and devastation on Little Spirit Void Peak.
It was utterly horrifying.
And that was just one Great Heavenly Demon.
If he were to truly venture into the Demon Cave, such beings would be countless, not to mention the even more formidable Heavenly Demon Kings, Lords, and Gods. A single glance from one of them could spell his doom.
Danger.
Unimaginable danger.
Thus, Han Yi resolved to spare no effort in surviving. If he could hide, he would hide; if not, he would create the conditions to hide.
After leaving the main building, Han Yi stopped wandering aimlessly and returned to his courtyard. He activated its defenses and began cultivating the Spirit Void Finger technique.
He had done everything within his power to prepare.
If fate still selected him for this mission, then it was simply his destiny. There was nothing more he could do.
As for fleeing, that would be suicide, and Han Yi wasn't foolish enough to consider it.
Half a month later, the draft results were announced. Han Yi's name was not on the list. He finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zheng Hai's name was also absent, just as Han Yi had predicted. Of the three thousand Mid-Stage Qi Refining cultivators drafted, eighty percent were at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, with the remainder at the Fourth or Sixth Layers.
"Great! Neither of us got picked."
"This calls for a drink!"
Inside the Little Spirit Void Pavilion, Han Yi treated this time, ordering two barrels of spirit fruit wine—perfectly sweet and delightfully fragrant.
Han Yi didn't reply. He simply downed a large cup in one gulp before looking up with a wistful sigh.
"I wonder how many of those who go on this expedition will make it back?"
Zheng Hai shrugged indifferently. "Who knows? We can only leave it to fate."
"By the way, I heard that above the Demon Cave, a Great Qian Sword Immortal clashed with a Heavenly Demon God. Their battle shattered the space above the cave, revealing glimpses of the magnificent realms beyond. It was terrifying beyond imagination!"
"If I could become a Transformation God Stage Sword Immortal someday, that would be legendary!" Zheng Hai's eyes lit up with ambition.
"Stop daydreaming," Han Yi snapped. "Just focus on surviving first." With that, he drained his cup.
Suddenly, a few tables away, a group of Outer Sect disciples in their gray robes were also drinking.
"Did you hear the Peak Lord is joining the expedition to wipe out the Heavenly Demons? Is that true?"
"Of course it's true. The roster's already been announced."
"Hmph, if he hadn't fled so quickly last time, if he'd resisted a little longer, Little Spirit Void Peak wouldn't have suffered such heavy losses."
"Ah, let it go. When faced with death, self-preservation is instinct. We can't blame him."
"Speaking of the Peak Lord, did you hear about his reprimand? The sect elders ordered him to join this expedition to atone for his past failures. You really think he volunteered out of the goodness of his heart? Bullshit."
"So, will Little Spirit Void Peak get a new Peak Lord?"
"I imagine they'll select one soon."
A few tables away, Han Yi lowered his perked-up ears.
But inside, more suspicions stirred.
Earlier rumors about the selection process had credited Fan Mo's disciple, Zhou Xiong, with overseeing it. In truth, Fan Mo still held ultimate authority.
Now, it seemed clear: Fan Mo was using this opportunity to secure a final advantage for himself, his descendants, or his clan.
Han Yi's hand, mid-raise with his wine cup, paused momentarily.
Han Yi suddenly remembered the Senior Brother who had revealed the "quota" information to him. Looking back, the "information leak" now seemed deliberately staged.
It appeared he had already been on Fan Mo's list back then. The so-called information leak was merely a way to identify those with deep pockets.
After all, Fan Mo knew of Han Yi's Pill Refinement skills. While he didn't know exactly how wealthy Han Yi was, he likely assumed he had saved a considerable sum and could be easily extorted.
"Damn it, that bastard's cunning," Han Yi muttered under his breath.
"What's wrong?" Zheng Hai asked.
"Nothing," Han Yi replied tersely, unwilling to elaborate.
This matter would have to remain buried in his heart.
As for the legality of it all, the saying held true: "If the people don't complain, the authorities won't investigate." What did it matter if it was technically against the rules?
Moreover, from a certain perspective, Han Yi had also benefited from this arrangement. Naturally, he wouldn't make any unnecessary waves.
In short, he had successfully used money to avoid trouble.
After finishing their drinks, they parted ways and returned to their respective homes.
Half a month later, under the leadership of the Supreme Elder of the Profound Pill Sect, three Golden Core cultivators, twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators, four hundred Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators, and three thousand Mid-Stage Qi Refining cultivators boarded the Soaring Divine Warship, a massive Sect-level Magic Treasure. They set course for the northern region of Qian Prefecture, east of the Jade Capital Mountain Holy Land and west of the Grand Void Sect.
This journey would take them...
And so, three years passed.