Of course, during this time, he also needed to gather some supplementary materials to concoct several Body Integration-level elixirs using the Venomous Erosion Grass as the primary ingredient.
Although these other materials were incomparable to the Venomous Erosion Grass, they were still rare treasures in the Spirit Realm. Thus, assembling all the necessary ingredients for pill refinement would require some effort.
Additionally, to prepare for the Great Heavenly Tribulation that occurs once every three thousand years, he needed to refine the Taiyi Green Mountain obtained from the Cold Moon Realm into one of the Extreme Mountains.
Though its power couldn’t compare to the true Five Extreme Mountains of Primordial Harmony, when combined with the Magnetic Extreme Mountain, it would still be somewhat effective in resisting the tribulation.
Similarly, he had to figure out the proper use of the Void Spirit Pill he had acquired before he could safely consume it and determine the most opportune time to do so.
Furthermore, due to his cultivation of the Divine Refinement Technique and the boost in spiritual sense after advancing to the Body Integration stage, he couldn’t yet control tens of thousands of Gold Devouring Beetles at once, but he could now sustain the release of over a thousand mature beetles for a considerable period.
Such a large number of mature Gold Devouring Beetles was already an incredibly fearsome weapon, enough to intimidate even ordinary Body Integration cultivators.
With this capability, he could now begin refining the legendary “Seven-Colored Elixir” using the Rainbow Fish inner core in his possession.
Combined with the ancient elixirs and the Golden Lightning Bamboo leaves, he believed it might allow the mature Gold Devouring Beetles to advance further or undergo mutations.
In the past, he had once used the strange stone pedestal material to mutate a small portion of the beetles. However, aside from their weight becoming abnormally heavy, no other remarkable effects were observed, which left him somewhat disappointed.
As for the Gold Devouring Beetle King, which even True Immortals would avoid, as mentioned by Qing Yuanzi, it was far too elusive for him. Even if he wanted to cultivate one, he had no idea where to start—it was merely a thought.
Nevertheless, whether to control more beetles or to prepare for future cultivation bottlenecks, he had to master the second layer of the Divine Refinement Technique.
Given his current state, he had already met the spiritual sense requirements, but his physical body still fell short. Only after reaching the late Body Integration stage and fully mastering the Sacred Devil True Art could he barely meet the conditions.
Until then, he could first seek external means to strengthen his body.
For example, the Red Luo Heavenly Wine had the wondrous effect of gradually improving constitution, so he could prepare and consume it in advance.
Of course, he also needed time to study the few Immortal Realm talismans and the mysterious Star Map.
Lost in thought, Han Li fell into deep contemplation…
For the remaining year, Han Li never left his cave dwelling on Sunrise Peak, focusing entirely on consolidating his Body Integration-level cultivation and mental state.
However, the outside world was in turmoil due to his advancement. Many factions in the surrounding regions began to stir.
Fortunately, these factions understood that a cultivator who had just broken through a bottleneck would naturally need to seclude themselves for the first year, so they tactfully refrained from disturbing Han Li’s cultivation during this period.
But as soon as the year ended, some could no longer restrain themselves.
On this day, a tall, thin old man with pale golden eyebrows appeared at the edge of the Misty Sea.
Clad in a cyan robe with a green jade ruyi hanging at his waist, he stood atop a nearby mountain, gazing expressionlessly toward the center of the Misty Sea.
Suddenly, the old man turned his head and looked toward the distant sky. At the horizon, a flash of spiritual light appeared, followed by a dazzling silver streak over a hundred feet long.
With a piercing sound, the silver streak moved at an astonishing speed, crossing the distance in just a few flashes before arriving nearby. It seemed poised to plunge into the Misty Sea in another instant.
But at that moment, a soft “Hmm” echoed in the air, faint yet clear enough to reach the old man’s ears.
Hearing this, the old man’s expression shifted slightly. The silver streak immediately swerved and shot toward the mountain where he stood.
In a flash of silver light, a slender figure appeared about thirty feet in front of the old man—a graceful young woman in a blue palace dress, her complexion fair and delicate, resembling an ordinary gentlewoman from the mortal world.
“Fairy Xiaofeng! I never expected the esteemed head of the Gu Family to come here in person,” the cyan-robed old man said, his pupils contracting slightly upon recognizing her.
“So it’s Elder Qi of Sky Deep City. Has the venerable come here for the person on Sunrise Peak?” the woman asked with a slight bow, her eyes flickering.
“Heh, Sky Deep City is only a few months’ journey from here. News of a new Body Integration-stage fellow Daoist naturally reached us early. The other elders are either in seclusion or away, leaving only this old man to make the trip. Has the Gu Family head come with the same purpose?” The old man smiled faintly, his tone polite.
“Your insight is sharp, venerable! In truth, a year ago, one of our Gu Family elders had already made contact with the senior on Sunrise Peak. But who could have imagined that in just over a year, this senior would unexpectedly advance to Body Integration? Naturally, I had to come in person.” The woman smiled gently.
“If I recall correctly, the True Spirit Ceremony, held once every three thousand years by your True Spirit families, is just a few years away. No wonder you’re so eager to strengthen the Gu Family’s power. However, if this fellow Daoist from Sunrise Peak truly has reached the Body Integration stage, I cannot yield. During the last alien siege, Sky Deep City lost two elders. Moreover, two more may not survive the next Great Heavenly Tribulation. We urgently need new Body Integration cultivators to fill the ranks.” The old man shook his head, showing no intention of backing down.
“I see. But this matter concerns the Gu Family’s honor in the True Spirit Ceremony, so I, too, cannot easily concede.” The woman frowned slightly, a bitter smile on her lips.
“Haha, a Body Integration cultivator isn’t so easily persuaded to join any faction. Perhaps both of us will return empty-handed! Let’s meet this fellow Daoist first before discussing further.” The old man chuckled softly, unperturbed.
“Indeed. In that case, I shall accompany Elder Qi to pay our respects to this senior.” The woman nodded in agreement.
The cyan-robed old man had no objections, so the two immediately soared into the air, arriving at the edge of the Misty Sea in an instant.
Taking a deep breath, the old man suddenly spoke in a clear, resonant voice: “Qi Xubing of Sky Deep City and Fairy Xiaofeng of the Gu Family request an audience!”
His words, infused with profound spiritual power, echoed across the Misty Sea, reverberating for hundreds of miles.
Inside his cave dwelling, Han Li, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, his expression turning solemn.
But he quickly reached out with one hand, summoning a white jade disk into his palm. With a few swift incantations and a whisper, he activated the disk.
Simultaneously, Han Li’s calm voice rang out at the edge of the Misty Sea where the old man and the woman stood: “So it’s the two fellow Daoists. Han is still in seclusion and cannot greet you immediately. Please enter my humble abode for a brief rest. I shall emerge shortly to meet you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the mist below churned, revealing a passage several yards wide. Exchanging a glance, the old man and Fairy Xiaofeng flew in one after the other.
A short while later, they arrived above the mountain and descended at the cave entrance halfway up the slope.
The doors to Han Li’s cave were wide open, and the two stepped inside without hesitation.
Moments later, they were seated in a simple hall.
A cold-faced woman in white robes silently served them two cups of fragrant spirit tea before standing quietly to the side.
At first, the old man and the woman paid her no mind, but when they casually swept their spiritual senses over her, their expressions changed dramatically.
“Venerable Qi, am I mistaken? This woman… seems to be a puppet,” the young woman transmitted her voice, her tone uneasy.
“Indeed, she is a puppet—and from her aura, a Deity Transformation-level one at that. Strangely, she appears to be moving autonomously without any external control.” The old man’s sharp eyes noticed details the woman had missed.
Hearing this, the woman was even more astonished.
But before she could examine the puppet further, light footsteps sounded from outside the hall. A young man in his twenties walked in calmly.
The woman’s gaze immediately shifted toward him. The next moment, her expression stiffened, and she rose to her feet, bowing slightly. “Senior has indeed advanced to Body Integration. On behalf of the Gu Family, I congratulate you on your great achievement.”
Beside her, the old man also stood with a smile, cupping his fists. “I am Qi Xubing, an elder of Sky Deep City. It’s an honor to meet you, fellow Daoist.”
“You’re too kind! Forgive me for not greeting you at the gates, fellow Daoists.” Han Li returned the courtesy with a faint smile.
“Haha, Fellow Daoist Han has just advanced to Body Integration and must consolidate his cultivation. How could I not understand?” The old man stroked his beard amiably.
After a few more polite exchanges, the three took their seats as host and guests.
“To be honest, Senior Han, when I first heard of your advancement, I could scarcely believe it. Not long ago, Elder Gu Yun of our family had just returned, clearly stating that you were still at the Deity Transformation stage. Who could have imagined that in just a year, you’d reach such heights?” The young woman sighed with emotion.
“Ah, at the time, I was already preparing to attempt the breakthrough. But as you both know, the odds of advancing to Body Integration are slim. I hadn’t expected to succeed, so I didn’t mention it to Elder Gu Yun. My apologies for the oversight.” Han Li wore a slightly apologetic expression.
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