Han Ming gave a faint smile as he turned to look behind him and spoke in a cheerful tone.
"Isn't it a bit rude to sneak onto my peak like this?"
At that moment, a man dressed in black stepped out from the void, chuckling softly before speaking in a playful voice.
"I'm only here to inform you of a few things… but more importantly, where did you learn to use those formations?"
Han Ming didn't answer right away. He smiled, then spoke slowly.
"I studied them on my own, with a little help from someone in the sect."
The man in black raised a brow and smiled knowingly.
"Let me ask you directly, which family's son of god are you? Or… are you the reincarnation of some god?"
Han Ming let out a quiet laugh.
"I was born right here in this small world. You should know that already, shouldn't you? I'm sure you've already dug up everything about me. You might have even visited my clan."
The man in black laughed, like someone who already knew the answer but decided to ask anyway.
"Fine. I won't waste time arguing with you. I came only to let you know that Mu Nansi is preparing to send the survivors and the souls that escaped death up to the Upper Realm. Her grandfather will be the one to take charge of everything."
Han Ming set down the ladle in his hand before asking, "When?"
"Five days from now," the man replied immediately. "Do you want to go with them? Or do you plan to enter the Tomb of the Divine God of Herbs instead?"
Han Ming fell silent for a moment. He stared at the man in black, uncertain whether there was anyone he could truly trust. He could foresee the fate of others but never once had he seen the future of himself.
But when he tried to divine the path of his seven disciples, if they were to ascend to the Upper Realm now… only death awaited them. Death from the enemies of Mu Nansi lurking in the shadows.
So there was no way he would let his disciples be sacrificed in someone else's game. That meant he wasn't in a rush to ascend. He already had a plan of his own and it was quite safe.
"I won't ascend just yet," Han Ming finally replied, his eyes glinting with a cold light. "My disciples still have a debt to settle with someone."
The man in black stared at Han Ming for a moment before giving a slight nod.
"Very well. I'll let her know. We'll meet again soon… she should be calling a meeting before long."
With that, the man's figure faded into the void, vanishing as if he had never been there.
Han Ming turned back without a care, lifting the pot gently off the fire. The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the wide courtyard atop the peak.
"Come eat," he called out to his seven disciples with a smile.
The sound of hurried footsteps followed by cheerful banter filled the air. The once still and silent Pure Light Peak was coming alive again.
The entire summit was now wrapped in the fragrant scent of warm food drifting in the wind.
Crispy-skinned roasted chicken with tender meat, fragrant mushroom soup that teased the nose, and mellow stewed pork infused with a hint of wine every dish prepared by Han Ming was mouthwatering. Even the two new disciples, who usually carried stern expressions, couldn't help but sit down and join the circle, enjoying the meal with genuine delight.
Guan Zixuan took a bite of the wine-braised pork and widened his eyes.
"This is… what in the world is this flavor?" he murmured in awe. His tongue could hardly believe the taste. The tenderness of the meat, the sweetness of the broth, and the subtle fragrance of wine that lingered in every bite each element blended together in perfect harmony.
Even Ye Liyin, who rarely showed any expression and was known for her constant scowl, froze for a moment as she tried Han Ming's roasted chicken. The skin was crisp and golden, but once she bit into it, she found the meat inside incredibly tender, juicy, and perfectly warm.
Laughter and cheerful chatter echoed through the air. For a moment, they all forgot the world of cultivation. The tension that had weighed on them in recent days seemed to melt away with each bite of their master's delicious cooking.
After a while, they cleared every last dish.
Rong Lixian, who had eaten no fewer than three servings, immediately flopped down onto the ground. Her usually graceful and dignified face was now slightly puffed from how full she was, and not even her natural beauty could save her in that moment.
Feng Huangjun, seeing the sight before him, spoke up at once.
"Senior Sister, could you at least take your dishes to be washed?"
Rong Lixian rolled over lazily and replied,
"You dare speak to your Senior Sister like that? Careful you don't end up as grilled bird while you're strolling around, you black-feathered little crow…"
Feng Huangjun frowned at once. "You can't even wash your own dish, and you think you can roast me? Dream on!"
"Fine, Junior Brother!!"
Rong Lixian fired back with just that before falling silent, closing her eyes in exhaustion as laughter rippled through the group.
Then, Han Ming's voice rang out.
"All right. All of you have now reached the peak of the ninth level of the Golden Core stage. It's time I began teaching you the method to advance to the next realm."
At his words, silence fell over the group at once.
"In ten minutes, prepare yourselves."
"Understood, Master!" the seven disciples responded in unison, their voices resolute and their eyes shining with anticipation.
The sound of dishes being cleared away began to echo softly. The gentle flow of water trickled behind the training grounds. Each of the disciples returned to ready their minds and bodies for what was to come.
As the seven disciples continued their preparations, Han Ming leaned casually against a small tree beside the training grounds before speaking softly in a serious tone.
"System, create an illusion of me and the seven disciples eating right now. Make it as seamless as possible. Seal off the surrounding area. Then open a hidden realm for me… convert all ordinary spirit stones into energy and channel it into that secret realm."
[...]
[...]
[...]
[Confirmed, Host.]
The system's reply echoed in his mind as a faint aura spread out silently, unnoticed by anyone. The illusion, flawless down to the smallest detail, took effect immediately. The area was tightly sealed. To any outsider, it would appear as though everyone on Pure Light Peak was still enjoying a peaceful meal together.
[Ordering me around like I'm some cheap diner menu... damn it…] the system muttered to itself quietly in the stillness.
Ten minutes passed. The seven disciples were fully prepared. With a light wave of his hand, Han Ming transported them all into the hidden realm in an instant.
The moment they stepped through the portal, all eight of them appeared on an island floating amidst a sea of mist, surrounded by waters that mirrored the sky. The island wasn't large, but it was spacious enough for them to gather comfortably. The air was cool and crisp, and the spiritual energy here was far denser than anything found in the outside world.
With another casual flick of his hand, seven thick cushions rose from the ground and arranged themselves in a wide circle, spaced evenly apart.
"All right. Focus your minds and choose your seats."
His voice rang out, and the seven disciples followed his command at once, without hesitation.
Once everyone had taken their seats, Han Ming began transmitting knowledge about the next stages of cultivation, starting from the Nascent Soul, to Spirit Formation, Body Integration, Nirvana, and up to the Heavenly Cavern.
He explained each realm step by step, thoroughly and with profound clarity. Using spiritual energy, he conjured vivid illustrations to make the concepts easier to grasp. Every transformation, every distinction between the realms, was detailed meticulously. Nothing was left out.
Time slipped by unnoticed as the lesson continued. When it finally concluded, Han Ming waved his hand once more, and glowing exam tablets appeared before each disciple.
"There are a total of 500 questions. Each major realm contains 100 questions testing your understanding in detail. If even one of you fails to achieve a perfect score, I will not allow any of you to break through to the next realm. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master!" the disciples responded in unison.
Everyone began the exam with full concentration. Han Ming stood silently, watching over them. Before long, all of them submitted their answers, and the results were the same for everyone 500 points, full marks.
Han Ming didn't show even the slightest surprise. After all, each of them was a genius of this era, and they had passed through his Golden Formation. If they couldn't handle something like this, then it would mean there was a flaw in his Golden Formation itself.
With another flick of his hand, thirty-five golden pills floated out from the void. Their radiant glow shimmered under the light, and each pill was engraved with a number between 4 and 8.
Han Ming had obtained these pills from the system, but he had modified every one of them personally, adding unique enhancements. The result was a pill capable of allowing the one who consumed it to ascend into the next cultivation realm, directly reaching the peak of that realm without any side effects, while also forming an extremely solid and unshakable foundation. However, it required an advanced level of control both over one's body and over the pill itself to guide its energy precisely to the desired locations within the body.
Han Ming distributed five pills to each person.
"Start with the pill marked with the number 4. Go ahead and take it now."
The seven disciples nodded without hesitation and swallowed the pill together.
Spiritual energy began to surge from their bodies at once, like volcanoes on the verge of eruption. All of them entered a state of accelerated cultivation simultaneously, while Han Ming stood nearby, silently regulating the surrounding energy.