The moment the voice fell.
"Thud!"
Two dull thuds, accompanied by the sound of bones shattering.
The two Cultivators holding Immortal Ropes were like being crushed by an invisible Primordial Divine Mountain, their knees slamming onto the cold floor, shattering completely.
Blood instantly gushed from their mouths and noses, their eyes filled only with boundless fear and pain.
And the leading Cultivator was even more miserable.
As if an irresistible immense force was pressing on his head, his entire face was almost integrated with the hard floor, his features twisted and deformed, unable to even groan, only his body trembled violently and uncontrollably from the pain.
The power of restraint around Li Taiqing quietly disappeared, and he looked towards the outside of the hall in shock.
He saw a blurry phantom appear at some unknown time.
The newcomer stood with his hands behind his back, his figure not particularly tall, yet it seemed to support the backbone of this heaven and earth, as if the sun, moon, and stars revolved around him.
His face was shrouded in a hazy Dao light, making it impossible to see clearly, only his eyes, as deep as the eternal starry sky, calmly overlooked everything in the hall.
"Master?"
Li Taiqing's heart was greatly shaken, and he blurted out.
After a long separation, although it was only a phantom, that familiar aura, if not Han Xuanji, then who could it be?
Did Master sense his Ascension and come to welcome him?
When the two Cultivators heard this "Master," they immediately felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.
They immediately realized they had courted disaster.
They struggled to let out wailing cries, tinged with tears:
"Senior, spare... spare our lives.
It... it was him who forced us to do it!
It's not our fault!"
At this moment, they only wanted to desperately distance themselves.
The leading Cultivator wanted to struggle and explain, but Han Xuanji didn't pay attention to them, nor would he give them a chance to speak and explain; he merely casually flicked his sleeve.
The action was understated, like swatting mosquitoes.
Like a gentle breeze sweeping fallen leaves, the three Cultivators who had been arrogant and overbearing just moments before were instantly swept away like trash, turning into three streaks of light, screaming as they disappeared into the distant sea of clouds, thrown to some unknown corner.
They were likely not going to survive.
Han Xuanji had no habit of holding back; he usually settled Karma on the spot.
Only the numerous Storage Magical Artifacts and treasures they had previously plundered remained, scattered across the ground, shimmering with spiritual light.
"These things, you all can claim them yourselves."
Han Xuanji's calm voice sounded, without a hint of ripple.
"Thank you, Senior! Thank you for your great kindness, Senior!"
The Ascended Immortals who had survived the ordeal were first stunned, then erupted in wild joy, stepping forward one after another, excitedly retrieving their items, their gazes towards the azure phantom filled with endless gratitude.
Seeing Han Xuanji, Li Taiqing finally breathed a sigh of relief, and he couldn't help but ask:
"Master, these three dared to act like this; is the Upper Realm so chaotic now?"
"More or less, when I Ascended back then, the situation I encountered wasn't too different from yours."
Han Xuanji pondered for a moment before replying.
If an Ascended Immortal doesn't have a backer after Ascension, it's truly better not to Ascend.
Staying in the Lower Realm as an Old Ancestor might be much more enjoyable.
Of course, most Cultivators who can reach the Ascension Realm have a firm Dao Heart, and very few would fear this and choose not to Ascend.
"Is that so..."
Li Taiqing was silent, feeling even more fortunate.
If not for Master's timely appearance, he would likely have been in grave danger today.
He couldn't help but imagine, what means and strength did Master rely on to gain a foothold in this seemingly magnificent but actually perilous Upper Realm when he Ascended alone back then?
It must have been through difficulties far beyond his imagination.
The other Ascended Immortals in the hall looked on with envy and awe.
Envy because Li Taiqing had a powerful Master to protect him as soon as he Ascended.
Awe because of Han Xuanji's strength, who effortlessly dealt with those few arrogant Upper Realm Immortals with a wave of his hand; his strength was unimaginable.
Just then, an older-looking Ascended Immortal, emboldened, spoke with concern:
"Senior's Divine Ability is vast, and this Junior is endlessly grateful! It's just... it's just that these three acted in such a way, there must be someone behind them instructing or supporting them.
Although Senior punished them, I'm afraid their backer won't let it go easily, and it might implicate Senior.
It would be best for Senior to... to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone who had just relaxed immediately became tense again, their faces once more filled with dread.
Some even secretly looked at Han Xuanji, with a hint of hope in their eyes, wishing that this mysterious powerhouse could take them away as well.
However, Han Xuanji naturally wouldn't bother with these people.
He wasn't an evil person, but he wasn't a saint either.
He helped when it was convenient, but as for how they would survive in the future, that was up to their own Karma.
Li Taiqing's mood also became low at this time; if it weren't for him, Master probably wouldn't have gotten into this trouble.
He knew that Han Xuanji feared trouble the most.
Han Xuanji looked at Li Taiqing, who was bowing his head like a child who had done something wrong, and couldn't help but smile:
"Don't worry, your Master can easily handle this small matter."
As his voice fell.
Several more auras descended, and the newcomers were not friendly.
Outside the Ascension Hall, several figures flew from the horizon, led by an old man with a grim face, dressed in dark gold Immortal robes; his aura was profound, far beyond what the three small fry from before could compare to—he was a True Immortal Realm Cultivator!
The four Disciples following him were all at the Peak of Heavenly Immortal Realm.
Such a lineup, for ordinary Ascended Immortals, was simply irresistible.
The grim old man's gaze was like lightning, first sweeping over the messy ground and the trembling Ascended Immortals, then fixing firmly on Han Xuanji's figure and Li Taiqing.
A cold anger appeared on his face:
"Who are you, daring to injure my Jade Spirit Sect's Ascension envoy here? Show your true self and surrender!"
He was the elder of the leading Cultivator, and sensing that the other party's soul lamp had extinguished, he immediately rushed over to demand an explanation.
Seeing that Han Xuanji was at the True Immortal Realm, he immediately announced the name of the Jade Spirit Sect, instead of directly attacking.
Their Jade Spirit Sect was legitimate, authorized by the Lingxu Heavenly Palace to manage Ascended Immortals.
Among the three Cultivators, the leader was a Prodigy of his clan, who was accustomed to being arrogant due to the Old Ancestor's favoritism; he had already handled many matters for him, but he didn't expect to kick an iron plate this time.
"Truly foolish!"
The grim old man cursed inwardly; as an elder, he naturally couldn't just ignore it.
Li Taiqing's heart instantly rose to his throat; the pressure of the True Immortal Realm made it difficult for him to breathe.
He knew very well that in the Upper Realm, Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal... a True Immortal was no longer a weakling and held a certain status in many Sects.
Generally speaking, being able to cultivate to True Immortal within a thousand years was considered a Genius in the Upper Realm, and an excellent Disciple in large Sects.
Li Taiqing didn't know Han Xuanji's cultivation level, but he felt that he might be a little short of True Immortal.
After all, how many years had passed? Even with the highest talent, he should only be at the Heavenly Immortal Realm, still some distance from the True Immortal Realm.
Han Xuanji shook his head, as if sighing helplessly.
He truly didn't want to waste time on these people.
"Noisy."
Two plain words.
Along with the voice, an invisible and intangible terrifying will, like a tide, permeated the air.
The grim old man's angry expression instantly froze, replaced by extreme shock.
He found that his True Immortal Realm cultivation, in front of this will, was like a candle flame in a strong wind, flickering as if about to extinguish.
This is bad!
He had provoked a Master!