“I didn’t contribute much at all. It was all thanks to the formation Brother Han set up beforehand that we could suppress the fluctuations of the world’s spiritual energy. Otherwise, with my meager cultivation at the Deity Transformation stage, how could I possibly possess such divine abilities?” Frost Li chuckled lightly, her eyes shimmering like water.
“Master, you’ve truly become a mid-stage cultivator now! That’s wonderful. With this, you won’t even need to fear late-stage cultivators anymore,” Hai Dashao exclaimed excitedly, grinning widely.
“Nonsense! Late-stage Great Completion cultivators possess immense divine abilities—how could I possibly compare? But you’ve returned at the right time. I was planning to venture back into the untamed wilderness soon after emerging from seclusion. Even if everything goes smoothly, the round trip will likely take a hundred or two hundred years. Before I leave, I want to meet with you three disciples once to provide individual guidance and arrangements for your future cultivation. All three of you must strive to advance several levels before the demon calamity erupts. Qilingzi aside—I’ve already heard from your Aunt Frost about his successful Core Formation. As for Guo’er, she’s already at the late Core Formation stage and should reach the Nascent Soul stage within a century. But your cultivation is only at mid-stage Core Formation—that’s truly a bit slow,” Han Li said sternly.
“Master, I’m cultivating both body and spirit—it’s natural to progress slower. I haven’t slacked off in my training at all,” Hai Dashao muttered nervously, sensing the gravity in Han Li’s tone.
“Of course I know the difficulty of dual cultivation. But once the demon calamity arrives, those ancient demons won’t care how hard you’ve trained. Only your own strength can ensure your survival,” Han Li retorted with a slight roll of his eyes.
“Yes, Master. I’ll redouble my efforts in cultivation from now on,” Hai Dashao replied, not daring to argue further.
“Good. I’ll soon send a message to Qilingzi and Guo’er, instructing them to return as quickly as possible. You don’t need to go to Tianyuan City for now—I’ll guide your cultivation first. For now, you may leave. I need to speak privately with Aunt Frost,” Han Li nodded before issuing his orders.
“As you command, Master!” Hai Dashao immediately complied and withdrew from the hall.
“Fairy Frost, congratulations on not only fully recovering your magic power but also advancing your cultivation!” Han Li turned to Frost Li with a smile once Hai Dashao had left.
“This is all thanks to Brother Han’s immense assistance. Without such an abundance of medicinal pills, how could I have recovered so quickly? Meanwhile, Brother Han has advanced to mid-stage Body Integration in just two or three centuries—truly astonishing. It seems you truly intend to attempt the late-stage bottleneck before the demon calamity,” Frost Li replied with a radiant smile.
“Haha, Fairy Frost sees through everything. Indeed, I have such plans. But when the time comes to break through the late-stage bottleneck, I may truly need to borrow your Heavenly Phoenix Primordial Yin energy,” Han Li said slowly.
“Rest assured, Brother Han. By then, I should have reached the Great Completion stage of late-stage Deity Transformation. The efficacy of my Primordial Yin energy will only be more beneficial to you. Though my cultivation is still shallow, I’ve learned from the ancient texts in your cave that advancing to late-stage Body Integration is far more difficult than any bottleneck you’ve faced before. How confident are you?” Frost Li asked with a hint of curiosity.
“Heh, among the hundreds of Body Integration cultivators in our human race, fewer than ten have reached the late stage. And those who do are all once-in-a-million geniuses. How could I dare claim any degree of certainty? I can only try my utmost,” Han Li replied noncommittally, stroking his chin.
“Haha, if anyone else said that, I might believe it. But since Brother Han has such plans, I suspect your confidence in advancing is at least three or four parts out of ten!” Frost Li said with a sly glint in her eyes.
“Haha, if Fairy Frost insists on thinking so, I won’t dissuade you,” Han Li chuckled after a brief pause.
“However, Brother Han, planning to break through the late-stage bottleneck while being away from the human race for so long isn’t wise. With the demon calamity imminent, even though our race has formed alliances with neighboring tribes, the untamed wilderness bordering them will only grow more chaotic,” Frost Li said, her tone shifting to concern.
“I’m well aware. But this journey is of utmost importance—it must be done,” Han Li replied solemnly, his smile fading.
“If Brother Han says so, you must have your reasons. I won’t press further. Still, since you’ve only just advanced to mid-stage, it would be best to consolidate your cultivation before departing,” Frost Li said with a wry smile.
“Thank you for the reminder, Fairy Frost. I wasn’t planning to leave immediately—it will be at least two or three years before I set out. During that time, I may have to trouble you to look after and guide my three disciples,” Han Li said with a confident smile.
“Of course. Your three disciples have always treated me with respect. Even without your request, I would have guided them diligently. You needn’t worry about that,” Frost Li agreed readily with a smile.
“Then I thank you, Fairy Frost. Also, if you encounter any unsolvable troubles after I leave, you may use my token to seek help from the Gu Family or the Golden Moon Zen Master in Tianyuan City…”
Han Li continued discussing arrangements with Frost Li, his voice echoing through the hall.
Two months later, Qilingzi hurriedly returned to Han Li’s cave abode upon receiving the message.
Half a year after that, Bai Guo’er also returned.
Thus, the three disciples—Hai Dashao, Qilingzi, and Bai Guo’er—began receiving personal guidance from Han Li, resolving many previously obscure aspects of their cultivation.
Thanks to Han Li’s strict orders, news of his advancement to mid-stage Body Integration remained unknown to the outside world. Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the cave’s gate slowly opened, and Han Li emerged in a blue robe, followed by Frost Li and his three disciples.
“No need to see me off, Fairy Frost. As for you three, don’t neglect your cultivation. If you encounter difficulties, seek guidance from the Fairy,” Han Li said, clasping his hands toward Frost Li before addressing his disciples calmly.
“Yes, Master. We won’t slack off.”
“Safe travels, Brother Han!”
Bai Guo’er and the others bowed deeply in farewell, while Frost Li also offered a respectful gesture.
Han Li nodded. A flash of cyan light enveloped him as he shot into the sky as a streak of azure light, vanishing into the distance.
Moments later, the cyan streak disappeared beyond the horizon.
“Let’s return. I hope your master’s journey proceeds smoothly. For now, the three of you should remain in the cave and thoroughly comprehend what he has taught you,” Frost Li said softly, retracting her gaze.
The three disciples assented, and the four returned to the cave. As the stone gate closed behind them, silence once again enveloped the area.
High in the sky, the azure streak raced onward. Inside the light, Han Li wore a pensive expression.
Suddenly, his eyes flickered, and he flicked his sleeve, releasing a golden orb that fluttered within the light. With a wave of his hand, the orb flew into his grasp, revealing itself to be a fist-sized, ferocious golden beetle.
The spirit insect, identical in appearance to a mature Gold Devouring Beetle, was covered in bizarre, multicolored patterns.
Han Li studied the insect before emitting a low whistle. The beetle’s wings buzzed to life, its patterns glowing vividly. Astonishingly, its body began turning translucent, flickering in and out of visibility like a phantom.
With a flick of his wrist, the beetle vanished into thin air. Smiling, Han Li reversed his grip, and with a flash of five-colored light, the insect reappeared in his grasp, still flickering intermittently.
“Those Seven-Colored Pills truly live up to their reputation. They’ve allowed these mature Gold Devouring Beetles to evolve further, granting them not only greater speed but also the ability to conceal themselves. They’ll be quite useful in battle,” Han Li murmured approvingly.
This fearsome beetle was one of the new variant Gold Devouring Beetles Han Li had painstakingly cultivated using the Seven-Colored Pills refined from Flying Rainbow Fish demon cores. This time, the results exceeded his expectations.
These mutated beetles could now conceal themselves at will and were even more vicious and durable than their mature counterparts.
Han Li was confident that commanding ten thousand of these insects in battle would force even late-stage Body Integration cultivators to flee. Unfortunately, even with his mid-stage cultivation, his spiritual sense was insufficient to control such numbers. However, once he advanced to late-stage Body Integration and mastered the second layer of the Divine Refinement Art, it might become possible.
This was precisely why Han Li was eager to reach late-stage Body Integration—it would grant him this formidable trump card.
Exhaling deeply, he stowed the beetle away and accelerated his azure streak toward Tianyuan City.
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