To Han Li’s surprise, over the next few days, aside from heightened security, the Small Extreme Palace remained surprisingly calm without the expected turmoil. Moreover, Bai Yaoyi had disappeared, seemingly occupied with other important matters.
Han Li remained indifferent to this.
At this point, unless he encountered a full-scale pursuit by a Deity Transformation cultivator or found himself in some deadly peril, there was little in this realm that could threaten his life. Thus, what would have once been a situation he would have avoided at all costs now left him remarkably composed, with no intention of fleeing.
Part of this was due to his promise to Frost Li the Transcendent to assist in his breakthrough to the Deity Transformation stage. More importantly, however, the secret technique for breaking through bottlenecks provided by the Grand Elder of the Small Extreme Palace only contained the portion he needed to perform. To glimpse the complete technique, he had to personally participate in the process. This realization left Han Li somewhat frustrated.
Additionally, he had yet to uncover any leads regarding the Sun Essence Flame, making him even more reluctant to leave.
He revisited the Scripture Pavilion, using the remaining two days to exhaustively search for information on the Sun Essence Flame, but unfortunately, he found no clues.
Han Li wasn’t particularly surprised. If he had found anything so easily, he would have been more astonished.
For the rest of the time, Han Li diligently meditated and cultivated in the guest pavilion, not stepping outside even once, as if he truly regarded the Small Extreme Palace as his own cave abode.
A month passed in the blink of an eye. The Small Extreme Palace remained tranquil, yet everyone could sense the oppressive tension before an impending storm.
On this day, Han Li’s cultivation was interrupted. A visitor had finally arrived—a woman whose appearance bore a striking resemblance to Bai Yaoyi. She was also at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, but seemed to be at its peak, surpassing Bai Yaoyi in cultivation.
“Are you Elder Bai’s cousin?” Han Li asked, hands clasped behind his back as he studied the woman before him with slight surprise.
“Indeed. This humble one is Bai Mengxin, an inner palace elder of the Small Extreme Palace and one of the few cultivators here who has mastered an extreme cold flame.”
“Oh? I recall Frost Li mentioning that aside from him, two others in your palace have cultivated extreme cold flames. So you are one of them! May I ask why you’ve come to mention this, Fellow Daoist Bai?” Han Li’s lips curled slightly, his eyes glinting.
Though the woman was exceptionally beautiful, her crystalline white complexion sent a faint chill through Han Li’s heart—clearly a result of her cultivation technique. He dared not underestimate her.
“Nothing much. I’ve heard that Brother Han possesses extraordinary abilities, rivaling late-stage great cultivators, and that your Violet Essence Flame is profoundly mysterious. I wished to exchange insights with you regarding extreme cold flames using my own Phoenix Departure Ice Flame. Would you be willing to enlighten me?” She raised a slender, jade-like finger, and with a flash of cold light, a wisp of white ice flame appeared at its tip.
The flame resembled a faint wisp of smoke, drifting ethereally, seemingly harmless.
Yet Han Li, also a practitioner of extreme cold flames, could instinctively sense the terrifying power within this white flame. His expression grew solemn.
“Very well! I’ve long heard of the fame of your palace’s three great cold flames. I’d be honored to witness them. But do you intend to spar here?” Han Li glanced around and chuckled lightly.
“Why not? I merely wish to test the potency of your extreme cold flame, not engage in actual combat.” A rare hint of a smile appeared on Bai Mengxin’s face as she blew a breath of cold air toward the white flame at her fingertip.
The white ice flame swelled several times in size, then coiled slightly before transforming into a small white serpent that lunged at Han Li.
Frowning, Han Li flicked his sleeve, sending several array flags of varying colors shooting into the surroundings, vanishing into the void.
He then opened his mouth and spat out a small cluster of purple flame, which morphed into a violet bird that flew toward the incoming serpent.
Under the watchful eyes of Han Li and Bai Mengxin, the white and purple flames collided, intertwining and flashing with low rumbles of thunder.
In an instant, the purple flame surged, gradually engulfing the white ice flame. Moments later, the white serpent vanished entirely, leaving only the radiant purple bird circling in place like a spirit of fire.
Bai Mengxin’s expression flickered with astonishment at the sight.
Han Li calmly raised his hand, and the purple bird dissolved into a streak of violet flame that flew back into his sleeve, disappearing from view.
“Your Violet Essence Flame is indeed extraordinary. With this, I can rest assured. Brother Han, come with me. The other two cultivators with extreme cold flames have already arrived at the palace and are waiting for you at the Grand Elder’s residence.” Bai Mengxin stated her true purpose without further delay.
“So that’s it. It seems Elder Bai wished to test me personally before trusting me.” Han Li smiled, unperturbed.
Bai Mengxin offered no response, merely nodding slightly before forming hand seals and transforming into a streak of white light that shot out through the window.
Watching this, Han Li rubbed his nose with a hint of resignation.
She had entered through the window as well, startling him initially.
But with her departure, Han Li had no choice but to transform into a streak of azure light and follow her out the same way.
Within the time it took to finish a meal, Han Li and Bai Mengxin arrived at the hall of ten-thousand-year profound ice where Frost Li the Transcendent resided.
The massive cauldron emitting Dry Blue Ice Flame remained unchanged, while four figures sat on nearby meditation mats.
Frost Li the Transcendent sat beside a middle-aged man in green robes, while an elderly woman with white hair and a gray-robed monk with long eyebrows sat opposite them at a slight distance.
As Han Li and Bai Mengxin entered, the gazes of all four immediately fell upon them. Han Li clearly sensed that the elderly woman and the monk only briefly glanced at Bai Mengxin before focusing intently on him.
Naturally, Han Li reciprocated by sweeping his spiritual sense over them.
The two were no weaklings—the elderly woman was at a similar cultivation level to him, while the monk was at the peak of mid-Nascent Soul stage.
Han Li stepped forward calmly, offering a slight cupped-fist salute to the four before taking a seat on another meditation mat, positioned at an equal distance from all of them.
Bai Mengxin sat beside Frost Li the Transcendent.
“Madame Long, Master Moju, this is Fellow Daoist Han. He is the fifth cultivator I’ve found who has mastered an extreme cold flame. With your assistance, the method I’ve spent centuries researching to break through the Deity Transformation bottleneck can finally be put to the test today!” Frost Li the Transcendent introduced Han Li with a warm expression, unable to conceal his excitement.
The elderly woman remained expressionless, giving Han Li a cold glance without a word, as if her temperament was somewhat peculiar. The gray-robed monk, however, wore a benevolent smile, resembling a kindly elder.
“Frost Li mentioned that, like myself, Brother Han does not cultivate an ice-attribute technique yet still possesses an extreme cold flame. Is this true?” the monk asked mildly.
“I merely obtained it by chance,” Han Li replied evenly.
“I heard your cold flame is self-created. The emergence of new cold flames is something that hasn’t happened in tens of thousands of years. Might this old woman witness it?” the elderly woman asked icily, though her voice was as melodious as a maiden’s, startling Han Li into glancing at her again.
“Don’t be surprised, Fellow Daoist Han. Madame Long is the Grand Elder of the ‘Verdant Willow Sect.’ Her cultivation technique is unique, allowing her voice to retain its youthful tone,” Frost Li the Transcendent explained smoothly.
Despite the explanation, Han Li couldn’t hide his astonishment. While he had encountered many female cultivators skilled in preserving their youthful appearances, a technique specifically for maintaining a youthful voice was unheard of to him.
Noticing Han Li’s odd gaze, the elderly woman’s white hair trembled slightly as she snorted. “What? Do you have any criticisms of our Verdant Willow Sect’s techniques?”
“Not at all! I was merely curious. My cold flame is unrefined and hardly comparable to the extreme cold flames of you esteemed cultivators.” With his current abilities, Han Li had no fear of a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, but he saw no reason to provoke unnecessary enmity, so he deflected with a lighthearted tone.
The elderly woman, hearing this, could hardly press further and simply lowered her eyelids, falling silent.
At this moment, Bai Mengxin transmitted a few words to Frost Li the Transcendent via voice transmission.
After listening briefly, a flicker of joy passed through Frost Li’s brows, and he cast a deep glance at Han Li before clearing his throat. “Very well. Madame Long and Master Moju are old friends of mine, and Fellow Daoist Han shares a close relationship with one of our palace’s elders. Thus, I’ve been able to secure your assistance. Though my estimates suggest only a thirty percent chance of success, my current circumstances leave me no choice but to take this risk.”
“Fellow Daoist Shi, though your lifespan is nearing its end, I’ve noticed many high-level demon beasts gathering near North Dark Island on my way here. Attempting this secret technique now seems equally perilous for your palace, does it not?” the monk inquired with apparent concern.
“Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Moju. If I succeed in breaking through this bottleneck, I’ll no longer fear those demonic creatures. If I fail, the palace has already prepared contingency measures. My demise won’t lead to the annihilation of our sect,” Frost Li the Transcendent declared with unwavering confidence.
“Since you’ve said so, this humble monk is relieved,” the gray-robed monk replied with a smile.
“This old woman has no objections either. I’ve long wished to witness the true profundity of this secret technique!” the elderly woman nodded in agreement.
Pleased by their responses, Frost Li turned to Han Li, who said calmly, “When do we begin? I’ve no objections and have been waiting for this moment.”
“Excellent! Since none of you object, please follow me. I’ve prepared everything in advance.” Rubbing his hands together in delight, Frost Li the Transcendent rose to his feet.
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