Chapter 1172: Returning to the Sect

“What does Master mean by this?” Tian Qin’er looked somewhat alarmed.

“You spent a day in those bamboo houses. What did you feel?” Han Li didn’t answer directly but instead asked calmly.

“I don’t know, but it felt very strange to me, something I can’t quite put into words,” Tian Qin’er murmured.

“That was where an old friend of mine once lived. She also had the Dragon’s Cry Physique and was a born formation master, but she passed away at a young age,” Han Li said slowly.

“Ah, Master, didn’t you try to save her back then?” Tian Qin’er asked in surprise.

“At the time, I hadn’t even reached Core Formation—how could I have saved her? Moreover, she had already lost the will to live due to another matter. The formation book I showed you earlier was a tome she left behind. I first met this friend, Xin Ruyin, through another acquaintance named Qi Xiaoyao. Back then, I had just reached Foundation Establishment and attended an underground auction in a market…” Han Li didn’t mind elaborating, recounting the events of the past—how he coincidentally met Qi Xiaoyao, later encountered Xin Ruyin, and the reasons for their eventual deaths—without holding anything back.

He only stopped when he mentioned meeting Xin Ruyin’s maid’s descendant after his departure.

But the young girl was already stunned, only letting out a long breath after a while, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

“So that’s it… Master, do you think I’m her reincarnation?”

“Originally, I only had a thirty percent suspicion, but after seeing your reaction in the bamboo house, I’m at least fifty percent certain. But that’s enough. It seems the theory of reincarnation may indeed hold some truth,” Han Li chuckled.

“Then Master’s intention in taking me in…” Tian Qin’er grew uneasy.

“Don’t worry, I genuinely took you as my disciple. Back then, I had some friendship with Xin Ruyin and greatly admired her talent in formations. I took you in partly out of sentiment, believing you might be her reincarnation, and partly to nurture your skills in formations, hoping you’ll become a true master—something I may have great use for in the future. Of course, if you’ve changed your mind and no longer wish to be my disciple, I can send you back to the Chaotic Star Sea,” Han Li said slowly, his gaze fixed on her face.

“I don’t know if I’m truly the reincarnation of Master’s old friend, but even if I am, I remember nothing of my past life. Now that Master, a great cultivator, is willing to take me, a mere Qi Condensation cultivator, as his disciple, how could I be so ungrateful as to refuse such an opportunity?” Tian Qin’er quickly shook her head, a hint of panic in her eyes, as if afraid Han Li might truly reject her.

After all, they hadn’t yet held a formal disciple ceremony—she was still only a nominal disciple.

“Good. I can’t promise much, but I’m confident in guiding you safely to Core Formation,” Han Li said with a faint smile.

“Qin’er is willing to become Master’s disciple, with no second thoughts,” the girl declared without hesitation.

“Good. Once we return to Fallen Cloud Sect, I’ll formally accept you as my disciple. I’ve never officially taken a disciple before—only a nominal one. You’ll meet them in the sect later,” Han Li said lightly.

Hearing this, the girl relaxed, a sweet smile appearing on her face for the first time since their departure.

With that, Han Li channeled his spiritual power, and their flight speed increased dramatically, vanishing beyond the horizon in an instant.

Several months later, Han Li and the girl arrived safely in the territory of the Stream Country.

A few days after that, a dazzling azure streak appeared near the Cloud Dream Mountain Range. When it was still a hundred miles away, a deafening roar erupted from within the streak.

The sound pierced the heavens, resembling both a dragon’s cry and a phoenix’s call. The nearby clouds trembled violently, scattering and churning chaotically.

Yet the azure streak moved at an inconceivable speed, covering dozens of miles in mere flashes. The immense spiritual power contained in the roar naturally alarmed the three great sects of the Cloud Dream Mountain Range.

From Nascent Soul elders down to Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment disciples, all who heard the roar were struck with awe.

The Nascent Soul elders, unable to remain seated, personally left their sects to investigate which formidable figure had arrived—and why they were acting so boldly in the Cloud Dream Mountain Range.

Thus, when Han Li had only flown a dozen miles into the mountains, five streaks of light shot toward him—the Nascent Soul cultivators of the three sects.

Han Li’s heart stirred, his excitement at reuniting with Nangong Wan finally settling.

The azure streak dissipated, the roar ceased, and he silently revealed himself with Tian Qin’er, carefully observing the approaching figures.

Moments later, a rare smile appeared on his face.

When the five streaks of light halted thirty to forty feet away, the cultivators within revealed themselves.

Han Li recognized most of them.

“Junior Brother Han, is that you?” A blue-robed middle-aged man, Lu Luo of the Fallen Cloud Sect—the same elder who had once invited Han Li to join—exclaimed in surprise and delight.

“Senior Brother Lu, it’s been a while!” Han Li clasped his hands in greeting.

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Han returning to the mountain! I wondered who could possess such astonishing power. Wait—Brother Han, you’ve advanced to late stage?” The first to speak was a red-robed, childlike cultivator—Fire Dragon Child of the Ancient Sword Sect. His face now bore an expression of utter disbelief.

“Brother Lan, haven’t you also reached mid-stage?” Han Li replied with a smile.

“Brother Han jests. How can my mid-stage advancement compare to you becoming a great cultivator?” Fire Dragon Child swallowed hard before replying stiffly.

The others, startled, immediately probed Han Li with their spiritual senses—and were equally dumbfounded. Lu Luo, his voice trembling slightly, asked again, “Is it true? You’ve reached late-stage Nascent Soul?”

“This journey brought me many gains, allowing me to advance to late stage by chance,” Han Li replied calmly.

Lu Luo was overjoyed, momentarily speechless, his face beaming.

“Congratulations, Brother Han! To think that in just a century, you’ve taken such a great leap in cultivation. It seems our Cloud Dream Mountain lineage will now command awe across the South Heaven Region,” said the Feng elder of the Hundred Crafts Pavilion, whom Han Li had met once before. After his initial shock, he spoke with great enthusiasm.

Han Li merely nodded with a faint smile, saying nothing more.

Though early and late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators were both of the same realm and addressed each other as peers, the gap between them was undeniable.

The others naturally deferred to Han Li, their demeanor more subdued.

The remaining two were unfamiliar faces—newly advanced elders from the Ancient Sword Sect and Hundred Crafts Pavilion. They were even more reserved in Han Li’s presence, offering brief greetings before tactfully falling silent.

“Brother Lan, Fellow Daoist Feng, you may return first. After so many years away, I’d like to spend a few days in the sect before visiting the Ancient Sword Sect and Hundred Crafts Pavilion. How does that sound?” Han Li suggested.

Fire Dragon Child and Elder Feng immediately declined, insisting they would instead visit Fallen Cloud Sect to pay their respects. After securing Han Li’s agreement, they set a date three days later and took their leave.

In the blink of an eye, only Lu Luo remained.

“Senior Brother Lu, the other two sects have new Nascent Soul elders. Has our sect not produced any? To trouble you to personally welcome me…” Han Li frowned once the others had vanished from sight.

“Ah, it’s embarrassing. Though our sect has recruited many talented disciples in the past century thanks to your reputation, their cultivation is still low. Few show promise of reaching Nascent Soul soon. But once these gifted disciples mature, the situation will improve. Hmm, who is this young lady…?” Lu Luo glanced at Tian Qin’er behind Han Li, puzzled.

“She’s a disciple I took in during my travels. We haven’t held a formal ceremony yet,” Han Li explained.

“Greetings, Uncle-Master!” Tian Qin’er promptly stepped forward and bowed gracefully. Despite her Qi Condensation cultivation, as Han Li’s personal disciple, her status differed from ordinary sect members ranked by strength.

“Haha, rise, rise! So Junior Brother has finally taken a formal disciple. As your uncle-master, I don’t have much to offer, but here’s a protective artifact from my younger days!” Lu Luo laughed, retrieving a glowing red crystal sphere from his storage pouch and handing it to her.

The girl, momentarily stunned, quickly bowed again in delight before accepting the treasure.

Han Li merely smiled at the exchange before the three set off for Fallen Cloud Sect.

Along the way, Lu Luo briefed Han Li on the sect’s developments over the past century, focusing particularly on Elder Cheng’s passing and Nangong Wan’s continued confinement.

Though Han Li had anticipated Elder Cheng’s death, hearing it confirmed still saddened him—they had shared a good rapport.

But news of Nangong Wan still trapped in the ice wall darkened his mood, his face tensing.

Lu Luo quickly reassured him:

“Don’t worry, Junior Brother. Though your wife hasn’t broken free yet, she’s already awakened and is unharmed. She’s cultivating a technique within the ice—emerging now would ruin her progress.”