Meanwhile, news of the impending demon catastrophe had begun circulating among the lower and mid-tier cultivators. Rumors even leaked into certain circles of mortals with special connections, though only vaguely.
Still, the demon catastrophe was still several centuries away, and the lives of low-level cultivators and mortals alike rarely exceeded two or three hundred years. Though they treated the matter with great seriousness, it was not enough to send them into a panic.
But the smaller and mid-sized clans, along with the myriad mortal factions, had all begun making their own preparations in response to the demon threat.
In the smaller cities, mortals had over the course of these two hundred years been gradually relocating to the territories of the major powers.
Of course, for the ordinary populace, no mention of the demon catastrophe was made openly on the surface. Instead, all manner of other excuses were used as cover.
As the years slipped by one after another, the atmosphere across the human territories gradually grew heavier and more solemn. Cultivators, who had seldom appeared before the mortal public, began turning up in large groups throughout the major cities.
Some openly set about establishing all manner of defensive formations for the cities, while others directly organized the mortal body-tempering practitioners to conduct drills in specialized counter-demon warfare techniques.
Although the body-tempering practitioners currently undergoing this training would most likely have their lifespans run out before the demon catastrophe actually erupted, the training itself had to be promoted among the mortals well in advance. Only that way could it achieve a meaningful scale after three or four generations, so that when the catastrophe finally struck, they could lend the major powers a helping hand.
After all, given the sheer size of the mortal population, the number of body-tempering practitioners was nearly a hundred times that of cultivators. Even though the strongest among them were only comparable to Nascent Soul cultivators, that terrifying quantity alone was more than enough to form a reliable force against the demon calamity.
The demon catastrophes of the past had already proven that fully armed body-tempering practitioners were indeed of great use against low and mid-tier ancient demons.
Spiritual artifacts that had been sealed away deep within the secret treasuries of the major powers were being withdrawn in batch after batch and distributed to the mortal factions under their respective control.
Even more numerous and far more powerful spiritual artifacts were being forged in succession by the artifact-refining masters of the various powers.
At the same time, low and mid-tier magic treasures, as well as pills specifically prepared for low and mid-tier cultivators, were being produced at tremendous expense.
In this way, the raw materials for artifact refinement and pill refinement that these powers had originally stockpiled were being consumed at a staggering rate.
Prices for all manner of materials in the various marketplaces naturally skyrocketed as a result, increasing several-fold over what they had been before.
Even so, shortages of various materials remained a frequent occurrence in those markets — a textbook case of demand far outstripping supply.
The Seven Monster Lands of the monster race found themselves in much the same situation as the human territories.
Of course, these transformations across both races had developed gradually over the span of more than a century, and no actual chaos had erupted within either domain.
Yet for a certain individual, all of this seemed to have had absolutely no effect whatsoever. Not a single piece of news about that person had surfaced in a hundred years.
On this particular day, a streak of white light shot across the sky above the walls of Heavenly Origin City — walls that now stood more than twice as tall as they once had.
Within the white radiance, a slender figure could faintly be glimpsed. After just a few flickers, it vanished from the sight of several armored guards stationed along that section of the wall.
"Hold on — who is that! The nerve of her, a mere Core Formation cultivator, flying straight over our heads without passing through the city gate!" One of the black-armored giants stared in disbelief, then flew into a rage. Black light flashed across his body as he seemed about to give chase immediately.
"Brother Hu, wait. That Fairy Bai is someone who doesn't need to be inspected by us — she has clearance to enter Heavenly Origin City directly," another guard beside him said sharply, grabbing the big man's arm with a quick hand.
"What? Why? She's nothing more than a Core Formation cultivator. How could she possibly have that kind of privilege?" The big man's face changed in surprise.
"Because her master is a Body Integration cultivator — and not just any Body Integration cultivator, but one who went from Deity Transformation to Body Integration in only a few centuries. There's even talk that he might advance further to the late-stage Body Integration perfection realm. And this Fairy Bai herself reportedly went from Foundation Establishment to mid-stage Golden Core in just over a hundred years. Her cultivation talent is equally astonishing. Brother Hu, you only recently joined Heavenly Origin City, so you wouldn't recognize Fairy Bai," the guard who had stopped him explained.
"From Deity Transformation to Body Integration in just a few centuries — you don't mean Senior Han, the one who once fought Ancestor Long of the Long Family to a standstill?" The big man's expression changed drastically, and the words tumbled from his mouth involuntarily.
"Oh, so Brother Hu knows about Senior Han as well. Though I suppose that's not surprising. Even though we've hardly heard any news of that senior in recent years, his great name is known to very few among us who don't recognize it. Otherwise, the Elder Council wouldn't have issued a special decree that his In-Name Disciple, who frequently visits Heavenly Origin City, is exempt from standard inspections," another guard added with a light chuckle.
"So this woman is Senior Han's In-Name Disciple — no wonder she has that privilege. But from the way you gentlemen speak, does this Fairy Bai come and go from Heavenly Origin City very often?" The big man nodded, though he still seemed somewhat puzzled.
"Not all that frequently. Sometimes once every year or two, sometimes perhaps not for seven or eight years. But I've heard from certain fellow guards that each time Fairy Bai comes here, she goes to the marketplace to buy and sell various materials. Though that's hardly strange — with materials in short supply everywhere else, only our Heavenly Origin City can still manage to provide a decent supply." The guard who had stopped the big man answered without hesitation.
"So that's how it is! But if Senior Han's In-Name Disciple is nearby, then Senior Han himself must be living somewhere close as well." The big man murmured, looking thoughtful.
"Now that, I couldn't say for certain. After all, nobody has the nerve to track Fairy Bai's movements. Come now, let's not gossip too much about the affairs of Body Integration seniors. Brother Hu, why don't you tell us about that piece of Purple Gold Iron you found in the marketplace last time?" Someone laughed and steered the conversation away with a note of caution.