The previously bewildered True Immortal now found all the clues remarkably logical.
Since four Half-Immortals had been annihilated, it was understandable that True Immortal Hong Fang would be angered by this incident.
The only illogical aspect of this affair was how a demon, merely a flawed creation, could possibly have eliminated four Half-Immortals.
He could not comprehend this matter.
Later, he understood.
For, in front of him, Fang Ming unleashed a palm strike, its power far exceeding that of a Half-Immortal, infinitely approaching that of a True Immortal.
All the Immortals witnessed a colossal palm, capable of obscuring the heavens and shielding the earth, seemingly boundless, completely engulfing the entire expanse of the sky.
The sun, moon, and stars trembled. Even True Immortal Hong Fang was filled with shock, as if he had never anticipated such a turn of events!
"You! You! Could it be that you have achieved the realm of True Immortal?"
True Immortal Hong Fang asked, trembling.
True Immortal was the epitome of perfection.
True Immortals were immortal, while even those below True Immortal, no matter how long-lived, would ultimately face death.
With an imperfect physical body, even if the primordial spirit endured eternally, it would be burdened by the physical form.
With imperfect magical power, even if the primordial spirit and physical body were eternal, there would still be flaws.
With an imperfect primordial spirit, even if the physical body did not decay and magical power transformed into immortal energy, there would still be death.
Since ancient times, many Half-Immortals had emerged in World Number Seven, which was not uncommon. However, when it came to True Immortals, the accumulated number to this day was only in the dozens.
While this did not exclude the possibility of True Immortals dying in combat.
True Immortals were beings of perfect essence, spirit, and energy, flawless and nearly immortal. They were difficult to kill, but since it was stated as "nearly," there were ultimately ways to deal with them.
However, these methods were extremely difficult to achieve.
Therefore, since ancient times, True Immortals had indeed been rare. The number of True Immortals alive at this moment was only a few dozen, and even including those who had died in history, the total was only around a hundred.
This was not a case of a hundred True Immortals being born in a single era.
Rather, it was the accumulation of countless years since the genesis of heaven and earth, the development of the path of cultivation, and the separation and merging of the Nine Realms, that only about a hundred True Immortals had been born.
One could imagine how rare and precious True Immortals were. Furthermore, this world of merged Nine Realms was not particularly vast for True Immortals.
The domains of a few dozen True Immortals were even close to each other, and they were all very familiar with each other, as well as with every True Immortal in this world.
From the reasons stated above, one could understand how difficult it was to achieve the status of a True Immortal.
However, before True Immortal Hong Fang, an exception had appeared!
A demon!
A soul, nurtured from the body of a Half-Immortal, was actually on the verge of ascending to the realm of True Immortal?
This unbelievable scene caused True Immortal Hong Fang's complexion to turn from red to purple and black!
"Impossible!"
"Impossible! How could a demon, merely a flawed remnant left by a Half-Immortal, achieve True Immortal status?"
"I don't believe such an outrageous event! I don't believe it!"
True Immortal Hong Fang's expression was extremely contorted.
It was understandable that his expression would be contorted.
In previous years, during demon-extermination operations, the strength of demons had not been stagnant.
But under normal circumstances, even if they increased, it was merely an increased control over their original physical body and magical power. If it did not reach one hundred percent, they were still inferior to Half-Immortals of the same tier.
True Immortal Hong Fang had only ever encountered one demon that had reached over ninety percent control, and that was the strongest demon he had ever seen. Such a demon was close to its former strength, considered a powerful Half-Immortal.
But ultimately, it was still only a Half-Immortal.
This was already the strongest demon in historical records.
Any stronger would mean one hundred percent control. Although theoretically, a demon was another soul and could indeed continue to cultivate, and there was a possibility of achieving True Immortal status—in reality, no such demon had ever appeared in the history of the Nine Realms.
True Immortal Hong Fang had never imagined that he would encounter such a powerful demon!
A True Immortal Demon!
"A True Immortal Demon!"
True Immortal Hong Fang regarded Fang Ming as if facing a formidable enemy.
His mood at this moment was clearly different from when he arrived.
Previously, it was anger due to the deaths of the four Half-Immortals.
But this time, he had clearly assessed Fang Ming's True Immortal-level strength, and thus, in addition to anger, there was a deep sense of apprehension.
He now considered Fang Ming to be an existence of the same level!
"How were you able to ascend to Immortality as a demon?"
True Immortal Hong Fang finally asked this question.
This question was skillfully posed.
If he had arrived in anger earlier, believing Fang Ming to be still at the Half-Immortal level, True Immortal Hong Fang would never have asked this question.
After all, their statuses were different, and he believed he could judge Fang Ming from a superior position, thus negating the need for a question.
But now, having realized Fang Ming's True Immortal-level strength.
True Immortal Hong Fang also considered Fang Ming an equal, thus giving Fang Ming an opportunity to respond.
"How to ascend to Immortality as a demon..."
Fang Ming murmured.
Then he retorted, "When did I ever say I was a demon?"
"Let me say it again, I am not a demon. You have mistakenly identified me as one. I come from beyond the domain!"
Fang Ming had said this to the old monster Cheng Fu before.
However, that Half-Immortal at the time had no intention of listening to Fang Ming's words, definitively labeling him as a demon and never giving him a chance to explain.
Now, with an opportunity to explain, Fang Ming naturally spoke up.
And these True Immortals were willing to listen to Fang Ming's explanation, unlike before when they refused to hear him out.
The specific reason for this—was nothing more than the difference in strength!
If Fang Ming had only had Half-Immortal strength at this moment, True Immortal Hong Fang would have crushed him with a single palm strike. Who would care what Fang Ming thought or how he explained himself?
But because of his strength, True Immortal Hong Fang was now willing to listen to Fang Ming's explanation.
"You are not a demon? You come from beyond the domain?"
"Are you a True Immortal from beyond the domain?"
True Immortal Hong Fang, at this point, temporarily disregarded the fact that the term "beyond the domain" had never been used before.
He merely gazed at Fang Ming, his mind suddenly opening.
Indeed, a demon with True Immortal strength was a highly unreasonable matter.
But a True Immortal who was not a demon seemed less unacceptable.
And Fang Ming... this person...
True Immortal Hong Fang realized that he had never sensed any malice towards heaven and earth from him...
He harbored no malice towards heaven and earth!