The Spirit Mushroom Fairy, witnessing this scene, displayed an unusually gentle expression. It suddenly stepped forward and made a grasping motion toward the white rabbit with one hand. A burst of purple light flew from its palm, swiftly enveloping the rabbit and the tuber on the ground, lifting them to its front.
The rabbit continued eating calmly within the radiant glow, seemingly oblivious to any disturbance.
After gazing at the rabbit for a moment, the Spirit Mushroom Fairy’s eyes flickered with an odd light, and it couldn’t resist reaching out to touch the creature within the glow.
However, before its fingers could make contact with the rabbit’s fluffy body, the rabbit’s fur shimmered with spiritual light, transforming into a series of afterimages before vanishing into thin air.
The next moment, the rabbit reappeared on the ground, standing on its hind legs with its snow-white fur bristling, baring its teeth at the Spirit Mushroom Fairy. Clearly, the fairy’s earlier action had greatly angered the creature.
The Spirit Mushroom Fairy merely smiled in response. Its aura shifted, and the purple glow around it turned emerald green, exuding a rich, woody spiritual energy.
Upon sensing this energy, the previously aggressive rabbit paused, its pink nose twitching slightly. Its expression softened, and it even began to regard the fairy with a hint of affection.
“Come here, little one,” the Spirit Mushroom Fairy clapped its hands and beckoned to the rabbit.
The rabbit seemed to understand the fairy’s words. After a brief hesitation, it leaped into the fairy’s arms.
Delighted, the Spirit Mushroom Fairy gently stroked the rabbit’s head, clearly overjoyed.
The rabbit closed its eyes in contentment, even extending its small pink tongue to lick the fairy’s fingers.
“Good, good. It seems it won’t be long before its intelligence fully awakens. Fellow Daoist Han, since this little one moves so freely in your herb garden, it’s clear you’ve treated it well. In that case, I’d like to help further awaken its intelligence and teach it a few things. I hope you don’t mind,” the Spirit Mushroom Fairy said, turning to Han Li with a serious expression.
“Awaken its intelligence?” Han Li was slightly surprised and began to ponder.
“Indeed. As a spirit herb that has gained sentience, the abilities and techniques I’ve mastered can only be inherited and cultivated by beings of my kind. This will save it from many detours. If it can take human form like me, it may become a valuable ally for you in the future,” the Spirit Mushroom Fairy explained slowly, its eyes gleaming.
“I don’t object, but whatever you do, my puppet must witness it firsthand. Moreover, this puppet will not leave your side from now on,” Han Li said after studying the fairy for a long moment, nodding but setting his own conditions.
“Absolutely no problem. There are no secrets in what I do,” the Spirit Mushroom Fairy replied with satisfaction.
“Then there’s no issue. For the next year, you may rest and recuperate here. If you need anything, inform my puppet,” Han Li said, then turned and patted the “doll” behind him.
The puppet stepped forward obediently.
“From today onward, you will accompany Fellow Daoist Spirit Mushroom Fairy without leaving its side,” Han Li commanded sternly.
Though the puppet’s intelligence was limited, it could understand simple orders. Its eyes flickered before it nodded expressionlessly.
The Spirit Mushroom Fairy chuckled lightly, flicking its wrist to send the rabbit gently to the ground with a swirl of purple light.
It then vanished, reappearing several feet away from the Nine-Curve Spirit Ginseng. Its limbs transformed into pale purple tendrils, plunging into the earth as its body glowed with a vibrant emerald light.
Han Li remained in place, watching as a towering purple mushroom emerged before him, its roots burrowing deep into the ground. Only then did he smile slightly and turn to leave the herb garden.
Though he was deeply curious about the Spirit Mushroom Fairy’s mysterious purpose, he had urgent business elsewhere.
The day he had agreed upon with Xian Xian to repair the Heavenly Devil Armor had nearly arrived, and he was eager to see the results.
To be cautious, Han Li left the Leopard-Qilin Beast and his second soul in the cave, activating all the restrictions before departing.
Hours later, he arrived at the crystal woman’s shop in a beast-drawn carriage. The shop was still closed, showing no signs of opening.
Without hesitation, Han Li flicked his sleeve, sending a streak of fire into the door. He then waited patiently outside.
Soon, the door creaked open, and the crystal woman’s gentle voice floated out. “Brother Han is truly punctual, arriving right on the agreed date.”
“I’m eager to see the armor repaired. Forgive my impatience,” Han Li chuckled, stepping inside as the door closed behind him.
In the center of the shop stood the graceful and beautiful woman, Xian Xian, smiling at him.
She said nothing more as Han Li approached, merely forming a hand seal to activate the teleportation array.
In a flash of light, they vanished from the shop, reappearing in the crystal woman’s spatial rift.
As Han Li stepped out of the array, his gaze immediately fell upon a massive black formation in one corner of the space.
The formation, over thirty feet in diameter, was inlaid with dark crystals. At its center stood a green bronze cauldron, half a zhang tall, covered in intricate inscriptions and emitting a faint white mist.
Above the cauldron, enveloped in thin mist, floated a fist-sized object radiating intense black light—the crystallized core of the Saintly Devil Ape.
“Impressive. You’ve been busy,” Han Li remarked, narrowing his eyes.
“I’ve spared no effort these past days, using rare materials to erase the ape’s traces and stabilize the core’s volatile energy,” Xian Xian explained with a smile.
“So, you plan to refine the core rather than embed it whole into the armor?” Han Li asked, stroking his chin.
“You’re knowledgeable about artifact refinement. Indeed, embedding it whole would only repair major cracks, leaving minor flaws. Surely you wouldn’t want vulnerabilities in battle,” she replied, slightly surprised.
“I’m merely passingly familiar. Proceed as you see fit. I have great faith in the crystal race’s craftsmanship,” Han Li said with a smile.
“The repair will take about three days. I’ll need your assistance at times,” she added.
“Three days is no issue. It’s only right I contribute to repairing my own treasure,” Han Li agreed readily.
“Then let’s begin.”
Xian Xian raised a jade-like hand, sending a control disk spinning above her. Multicolored spells shot out, vanishing into the space.
Suddenly, dark clouds roiled overhead, and gray mist seeped from the walls, plunging the space into darkness.
Han Li remained unfazed, summoning a white light orb to illuminate his surroundings.
Xian Xian stepped to the large formation, activating it with a spell. Dark energy surged, its purity astonishing Han Li.
Chanting, she glowed with green light, a massive azure qilin phantom appearing behind her. It spat a bizarre black-and-green fireball at the cauldron, igniting it in dual-colored flames.
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