After another flash, the golden and silver threads retracted smoothly without any hindrance.
Seeing this, Han Li’s face showed a contemplative expression before he swiftly formed another hand seal.
The golden and silver threads shot out once more from the firebird’s beak, this time targeting a wooden chair in the room.
A chilling sight unfolded before Han Li’s eyes.
The threads passed through the chair in a flash, and the once faintly fragrant wooden chair instantly turned from green to pitch-black before dissolving into a wisp of smoke.
These golden and silver threads were also incredibly poisonous!
Han Li exhaled deeply, formed a hand seal, and the silver firebird circled once before diving back into his body, vanishing without a trace.
Closing his eyes, Han Li seemed ready to begin meditation.
But the next moment, his eyes snapped open again, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Just as his expression shifted, a voice drifted in from outside:
“Junior Qingxiao pays her respects to Senior Han. May I request an audience?”
The voice was unfamiliar—a woman’s, somewhat low but carrying an inexplicable magnetism that made it hard to refuse.
“Qingxiao?” Han Li was puzzled. He was certain he had never heard this name before.
With that thought, he released his spiritual sense, bypassing the restrictions to survey the scene outside.
In the courtyard stood a young woman in a green palace gown, appearing to be in her mid-twenties. She was strikingly beautiful, exuding an air of grace and nobility.
A sweep of his spiritual sense revealed that despite her youthful appearance, she was at the mid-stage of the Deity Transformation realm—no weak cultivator.
After a brief consideration, Han Li spoke slowly:
“Fellow Daoist, who are you? You are not of the Fire Yang Clan from Fire Cloud Island, are you? How did you know I was here?”
“Junior is the master of Bai Zhuer of the Fire Yang Clan. I had heard that the clan was facing a great enemy and came to assist. However, I arrived to find that Senior had already resolved their crisis. My disciple spoke of your immense power, suggesting you might be a high-tier elder of the upper clans. Thus, I came to pay my respects and seek guidance.”
The woman smiled, her tone sincere.
“You are that little girl’s master?” Han Li chuckled. “I was planning to emerge in a few days to inquire about certain matters with nearby cultivators. Since you’re here, I suppose I must meet you.”
Qingxiao was momentarily stunned, but before she could respond, the white light enveloping the wooden hut dissipated abruptly, and the door creaked open on its own.
After a brief hesitation, she stepped forward gracefully and entered.
Inside, her gaze immediately fell upon Han Li seated on the wooden bed. A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes—his youthful appearance was unexpected.
But when her spiritual sense swept over him, her expression turned respectful. She bowed deeply.
“Senior is indeed a high-tier elder of the upper clans. It seems my visit was not in vain.”
“Your cultivation is not weak either. Please, take a seat.” Han Li’s eyes gleamed faintly blue as he studied her before withdrawing his gaze.
Qingxiao thanked him and sat on a nearby wooden chair.
“Fellow Daoist Qing, you cultivate a wind-attribute technique, don’t you?” Han Li suddenly asked.
The woman’s expression shifted slightly in surprise.
“How did Senior know? Have we met before?”
“No. But your movements are exceptionally agile, and the aura of your treasures carries a wind attribute. Hence my guess.”
Han Li’s casual reply belied the shock in Qingxiao’s heart. While discerning someone’s cultivation level was common, detecting the attributes of concealed treasures was no ordinary feat.
Her respect deepened, and she asked cautiously, “Senior’s insight is unparalleled. Indeed, I focus on wind-attribute techniques. My disciple mentioned that Senior is a sword cultivator and not from our Fire Coral Archipelago. Might I ask if you hail from another sea region or the Thunder Continent?”
Han Li smiled.
“I am neither from nearby waters nor the Thunder Continent.”
Qingxiao frowned briefly before realization dawned. “Could Senior be from another continent?”
“You are quite perceptive.”
Her heart raced at his confirmation. After a long exhale, she composed herself.
“For Senior to traverse continents speaks volumes of your power. No wonder those two Blackscale Kings fell so easily. However, cultivators from other continents rarely pass through our archipelago. You may be the first in millennia.”
Han Li smirked wryly. “Then I should feel honored. Though my presence here is purely accidental.”
“Regardless, your techniques must be extraordinary. I’ve encountered some cultivation difficulties recently. Might I seek your guidance?”
“Guidance is too strong a word. I, too, am curious about the mysteries of Thunder Continent techniques. We can exchange insights.”
Qingxiao beamed with gratitude. She knew well that such an exchange heavily favored her, given their disparity in cultivation.
For the next half-day, she posed questions about her cultivation. Though their techniques differed, many bottlenecks and epiphanies were universal.
Han Li held nothing back, offering detailed advice. Though his words were few, his insights as a Void Refinement cultivator resolved many of her dilemmas, leaving her elated.
Naturally, some of her technique’s secrets slipped out, which Han Li absorbed with quiet satisfaction.
When the discussion concluded, Qingxiao meditated briefly before rising to bow deeply.
“Senior’s guidance has saved me decades of arduous cultivation. I am eternally grateful.”
“It was your own fortune. Now, I have questions of my own. Consider this an exchange.”
“Ask freely, Senior. I will withhold nothing.”
“Very well. Are there any long-distance teleportation arrays here that connect to other continents?”
Han Li’s expression grew solemn.
“A teleportation array? Does Senior wish to return home?”
“Indeed. My injuries have healed, and I’ve no reason to linger. Typically, regions with many cultivators have such arrays.”
Qingxiao’s face fell. “I fear my answer will disappoint you.”
“You mean there are none?” Han Li’s heart sank.
“Had you come millennia earlier, there was one linking to the Thunder Continent. But it was destroyed by a sea beast, along with its guardians. Unless you can fly back directly, our archipelago is now isolated. This is likely why the Blackscale Tribe dared attack the Wa Clan.”
“Can the array not be repaired?”
“With the right materials, yes. But one core component—Void Cloud Crystal—is exceedingly rare, found only in a few mines on the Thunder Continent. It’s unobtainable here.”
“Void Cloud Crystal?” Han Li frowned. He had never heard of it.
Given the complexity of teleportation arrays, materials likely varied across continents.
As his expression darkened, Qingxiao suddenly spoke again, startling him before sparking hope.
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