Chapter 1175: Subduing Two Sects

He secluded himself in the secret chamber for four days and nights.

When he emerged with a satisfied expression, he discovered Lü Luo sitting cross-legged outside the restrictions of his cave abode, having waited for an unknown length of time.

Han Li pondered briefly and immediately understood the situation. With a faint smile, he opened the cave’s restrictions and personally went out to greet him.

“Junior Brother Han, I heard from Disciple Tian that you were in seclusion refining artifacts. I thought I’d have to wait a couple more days. I didn’t expect you to emerge so quickly,” Lü Luo said with great delight upon seeing Han Li, quickly rising and cupping his hands in greeting.

“I merely refined some minor items I obtained from the Great Jin. I initially thought it would take two or three days, but it ended up taking longer than expected. Apologies for keeping you waiting, Senior Brother! Have you come regarding the visitors from the Ancient Sword Sect and the Hundred Refinements Academy?” Han Li asked calmly.

“Indeed, several elders from both sects have arrived. It seems some of them still doubt whether you’ve truly advanced to late Nascent Soul stage,” Lü Luo replied with a smile.

“In that case, I shall meet them,” Han Li said indifferently.

“That would be best,” Lü Luo agreed, greatly pleased.

The two immediately transformed into streaks of light and flew toward the Falling Cloud Sect.

A short while later, they arrived outside the grand hall at the foot of the main peak.

A dozen Foundation Establishment disciples guarding the entrance respectfully greeted them, though a few couldn’t resist stealing glances at Han Li.

Han Li frowned slightly and let out a soft hum.

To others, the sound was unremarkable, but to those peeking disciples, it was like a thunderclap, startling them into lowering their heads, not daring to look again.

“Are those fellow Daoists inside?” Lü Luo asked casually, ignoring Han Li’s action.

“Reporting to both Ancestors, the seniors from the Ancient Sword Sect and the Hundred Refinements Academy have been meditating inside without incident,” a quick-witted disciple replied.

Lü Luo nodded.

Han Li had already swept his spiritual sense through the hall, gauging the cultivation levels of those inside.

Two mid-Nascent Soul cultivators and three early-Nascent Soul cultivators—it seemed the grand elders of both sects had come personally. Han Li mused lazily.

Having once slain a late-Nascent Soul cultivator, he naturally paid little heed to those inside.

Without a word, Han Li strode directly into the hall.

Lü Luo was momentarily stunned but quickly followed, deliberately staying a step behind to show deference.

However, after only a few steps, Lü Luo was shocked to find that Han Li had seemingly “vanished.”

Though his physical form remained visible, Han Li’s presence was completely undetectable by spiritual sense—as if he were nothing but air.

Lü Luo gasped, his heart filling with slight concern.

This ability to completely conceal one’s aura was a technique only high-level cultivators could employ against far weaker opponents, relying on their superior spiritual sense.

The fact that Lü Luo, an early-Nascent Soul cultivator, couldn’t sense Han Li despite knowing his location meant that if Han Li wished to ambush him, he could approach undetected.

Moreover, he worried whether Han Li, as a newly advanced late-stage cultivator, could truly intimidate the grand elders of the Ancient Sword Sect and the Hundred Refinements Academy, both mid-Nascent Soul cultivators. If Han Li failed to overpower their spiritual senses, the attempt might backfire.

Still, Lü Luo understood that Han Li wouldn’t use this method without confidence.

With mixed emotions, he followed Han Li down the short corridor into the hall.

“Whoosh!”

Ten pairs of eyes instantly turned toward them, first landing on Lü Luo before shifting in shock to Han Li.

Lü Luo relaxed slightly—this confirmed that none of the five Nascent Soul cultivators inside had sensed Han Li’s approach.

The five inside paled and quickly rose to their feet.

“Fellow Daoist Han truly has reached the late Nascent Soul stage! Even we mid-stage cultivators couldn’t sense your presence,” said a burly, bearded elder with sharp eyes, his initial astonishment fading into solemnity.

This was the Ancient Sword Sect’s grand elder, the “Golden Old Freak.”

“Indeed, in just over a century, Fellow Daoist Han has advanced to late stage. Such speed is nearly unprecedented,” added a purple-robed burly man—the Hundred Refinements Academy’s “Blazing Fire Old Freak.”

Han Li had met both during his visit to the Hundred Refinements Academy years ago and had even sparred with the Golden Old Freak once.

With a faint smile, Han Li replied, “I merely encountered some fortuitous opportunities during my travels. It is I who should apologize for keeping you all waiting.”

“Haha, for us cultivators, such time is but a blink of an eye,” the Golden Old Freak laughed.

Han Li smiled slightly before surveying the other three. Two were newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivators, while the last was a gentle-looking young woman—Ming Xin, the female cultivator from the Ancient Sword Sect who had once tested him with a secret technique during the Hundred Refinements Academy ceremony.

His spiritual sense swept over her, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

“Fairy Ming Xin, it’s been a while. Your cultivation seems near the early-stage bottleneck. With another decade of diligent cultivation, advancing to mid-stage should be within reach,” Han Li remarked casually.

The woman’s expression stiffened, then turned pale as Han Li accurately assessed her progress.

Before meeting Han Li, she had been the most skeptical of his late-stage advancement—more so than even the mid-stage elders.

During the Hundred Refinements Academy ceremony, she had been a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator, relying on a rare treasure to cultivate at several times the normal speed. She had broken through bottlenecks with ease, earning her reputation as a prodigy.

When she encountered Han Li—who had supposedly cultivated for less time yet surpassed her—she had tested him but failed to gauge his depth. Though unsettled, she remained confident that her treasure would eventually allow her to catch up.

Now, hearing of Han Li’s late-stage advancement, she had refused to believe it—until now.

Han Li’s overwhelming spiritual pressure and precise assessment of her cultivation left her trembling.

After a long pause, she forced a smile.

“Fellow Daoist Han’s divine abilities are indeed vast. With you overseeing the Yunmeng Mountains, no petty factions would dare challenge our three sects.”

“Haha, Fairy Ming Xin speaks wisely. With Junior Brother Han’s current age, the Yunmeng Mountains will remain secure for centuries. In fact, perhaps it’s time for our three sects to expand beyond these mountains,” Lü Luo interjected boldly.

The Golden Old Freak and the purple-robed man exchanged glances, their expressions resigned. Lü Luo pretended not to notice.

Han Li remained silent, but his suppressed aura gradually re-emerged, growing stronger until the overwhelming spiritual pressure of a late-Nascent Soul cultivator filled the hall.

Within moments, the five inside were nearly forced to their knees, their faces grim—all doubts now erased.

Lü Luo then began discussing plans to expand their influence, aiming to bring the entire Xi Kingdom’s cultivation world under their control. His tone subtly treated the Ancient Sword Sect and Hundred Refinements Academy as subordinate sects.

The Golden Old Freak and the purple-robed man could only sigh in resignation.

—

Meanwhile, at a certain location in the outer valley of the Devilfall Valley, Mu Peiling and the two women emerged from a seemingly hidden cave, their expressions grim and anxious.

“This was the last possible location for Illusion Spirit Grass, yet we’ve found nothing. Has the outer valley’s supply been completely harvested?” Liu Yu said hesitantly once they were outside.

“That’s possible. But the inner valley would surely have it,” Song Yu said, her brows furrowed, her earlier composure gone.

“The inner valley? Absolutely not! Entering there would be a death sentence for us,” Mu Peiling protested, her face paling.

“Not necessarily. I once met an old acquaintance of Uncle Han’s and obtained a safe route into the inner valley. If we stick to it, we can minimize the danger of spatial cracks,” Song Yu said thoughtfully, her eyes gleaming.