Chapter 1720: The World Within the Screen

As soon as the firebird took form, it let out a clear cry and soared into the sky.

Han Li took a deep breath, and a jade-white hand emerged from his sleeve. With a flick of his fingers, he sent out a series of multicolored cold flames.

Each streak of cold flame struck the golden firebird, causing its radiance to dim significantly. After five consecutive strikes, the firebird let out a mournful cry, its golden flames dissipating completely before it transformed back into a golden pill.

The pill was about the size of a thumb, densely inscribed with intricate patterns. Its dazzling golden hue and its earlier transformation made it appear extraordinarily mystical.

“There’s no mistake—this is the Void Spirit Pill!” Liu Shui’er exclaimed, her beautiful eyes flashing with joy the moment the pill revealed its true form.

Shi Kun stared at the pill, his face barely containing his excitement. But then, as if remembering something, his expression shifted slightly, and he hastily asked Han Li, “Brother Han, is there only one Void Spirit Pill in the bottle?”

Han Li didn’t respond but instead formed a hand seal and pointed at the small violet-gold bottle.

The bottle trembled, and golden light flickered at its mouth. With a muffled sound, another golden firebird flew out.

“Excellent! There’s another one!” Shi Kun burst into laughter, overjoyed at the sight.

“Since both of you desire this pill, having two Void Spirit Pills means each can take one. I trust neither of you has any objections?” Han Li chuckled meaningfully as he addressed the two.

Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun exchanged glances. Shi Kun’s expression grew solemn, while Liu Shui’er’s gaze turned icy.

“Very well, let’s proceed this way. Though my master strictly ordered me to retrieve all the Void Spirit Pills, since Sister Liu refuses to yield, this will have to suffice,” Shi Kun sighed after a moment of hesitation.

“I have no objections either. Returning empty-handed would have been unacceptable, but now I can at least give my master an explanation,” Liu Shui’er replied, her cold demeanor softening slightly.

Seeing that neither objected, Han Li nodded and flicked his fingers toward the two pills in the air.

With two sharp whistles, the golden pills shot forward, stopping right before Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun.

Liu Shui’er gracefully caught hers in her delicate palm, while Shi Kun opened his mouth and exhaled a stream of yellow light, which swept up the pill before he retrieved it with ease.

Though both were certain the pills were genuine, given their importance, they each employed secret techniques to verify them.

Liu Shui’er murmured incantations, casting various spells on her pill, while Shi Kun remained motionless, his gaze fixed intently on his.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, both finished their examinations. They exchanged glances and nodded subtly before finally relaxing.

“Brother Han, we owe you our gratitude. Without you, we might never have reached this place or obtained the Void Spirit Pills,” Liu Shui’er said with a charming smile as she stored her pill in a vial.

“I merely repaid the favors I owed to your masters. It was only right to contribute,” Han Li replied noncommittally.

“You’re too modest, Brother Han. But tell me—are there any other pills in that bottle?” Shi Kun asked, eyeing the still-floating violet-gold bottle.

At his question, Liu Shui’er’s eyes flickered with intrigue.

“Hah, Brother Shi is quite the greedy one. If you doubt me, see for yourself,” Han Li chuckled before forming another hand seal and sending the bottle flying toward Shi Kun.

Though he sensed Han Li’s displeasure, Shi Kun ignored it and caught the bottle, scanning it with his spiritual sense.

But the bottle was empty—no third Void Spirit Pill remained.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Shi Kun’s face before he turned to Liu Shui’er with a forced laugh. “Would Sister Liu like to inspect it as well?”

He made as if to toss the bottle to her, but Liu Shui’er shook her head after a brief hesitation.

“Since both of you have already checked, there’s no need for me to do so. I trust you both implicitly.”

With that, Shi Kun could only awkwardly return the bottle to Han Li, who stowed it away with a flick of his sleeve.

Next, Han Li retrieved two more items from the cauldron—rare materials nearly extinct in the Spirit Realm, both specifically requested by Cai Liuying and Duan Tianren.

Since there was only one of each, Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun took one apiece without dispute.

Thus, aside from the three treasures obtained earlier, everything else had been divided between the two, leaving the cauldron empty.

This time, even Shi Kun harbored no suspicions—after all, there had only been a few golden light clusters wrapped in green threads.

“Brother Han, the three treasures you safeguarded earlier weren’t needed by our masters. Let’s divide them among ourselves,” Liu Shui’er suggested with a smile once Han Li put away the Void Heaven Cauldron.

“Haha, indeed! Three treasures for three people—Brother Han, feel free to choose first,” Shi Kun said magnanimously.

Liu Shui’er blinked in surprise but soon nodded in agreement.

This was reasonable—whether it was the golden gourd, the pagoda, or the hexagonal disk, none could be easily assessed in terms of power or function at a glance. Thus, the order of selection mattered little.

A faint smile touched Han Li’s lips as he replied, “Since you both insist, I’ll accept your generosity. I’ve already made my choice—I wonder how you two will divide the remaining two.”

With that, he flicked his sleeve, releasing the golden pagoda and hexagonal disk, while keeping the golden gourd for himself.

Though surprised by his choice, Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun paid it little mind, focusing instead on the remaining treasures.

“I’ll take the golden pagoda, leaving the last item for Brother Shi. Does that suit you?” Liu Shui’er proposed.

“Fine. I’ll take the disk,” Shi Kun agreed after a brief pause.

“Then I thank Brother Shi for yielding,” Liu Shui’er said with a smile, summoning the pagoda to her hand.

Shi Kun likewise claimed the hexagonal disk.

The three exchanged satisfied glances.

“Brother Han, Sister Liu, I trust you won’t contest my claim to this golden cauldron. I’d like to keep it for other uses,” Shi Kun suddenly declared, striding to the cauldron and shrinking it to fist-size with a slap.

Han Li frowned briefly but quickly composed himself. “If Brother Shi desires it, I’ve no objection—so long as Sister Liu agrees.”

“This cauldron would be perfect for storing precious items. I’d considered taking it myself, but since Brother Shi acted first, I’ll yield it to him,” Liu Shui’er conceded, though a trace of regret flickered in her eyes.

With a grin, Shi Kun stowed the cauldron in his sleeve.

His gaze then shifted to Han Li, who was intently studying the mysterious screen once more.

“Brother Han, have you discovered something?” Shi Kun asked, noting Han Li’s focused expression.

“This thing isn’t ordinary,” Han Li replied without turning.

Shi Kun suppressed a sigh—of course the screen, which devoured their spiritual senses, was unusual. But he refrained from pressing further and instead scrutinized the screen with his own techniques.

Meanwhile, Liu Shui’er stood gracefully before the screen, deep in thought.

Suddenly, Han Li blurred into motion, circling behind the screen. His fingers danced as he unleashed a barrage of spells toward it.

Startled, Shi Kun and Liu Shui’er halted their own efforts to watch.

Then, with a low shout, a wisp of black energy coalesced between Han Li’s brows, forming a dark third eye. A beam of black light shot forth, striking the screen.

A resonant hum filled the air as a swirl of seven-colored light engulfed Han Li—then vanished, taking him with it.

The space behind the screen was empty.

Shi Kun and Liu Shui’er exchanged alarmed glances before darting behind the screen themselves. There, amidst the screen’s azure glow, four purple ancient characters had appeared.

“Pavilion of the Heavens,” Liu Shui’er murmured, her pupils contracting.