“These people are truly blind, mistaking the Bone of a Medicine Spirit for an ordinary True Spirit Bone. If the owner who put this up for auction knew the truth, I wonder if they’d regret it to the point of vomiting blood and dying.” Han Li’s lips curled slightly as he chuckled inwardly, clearly delighted.
“If this Bone of a Medicine Spirit is used in alchemy, it could replace over a dozen legendary holy medicines. But ordinary people would never recognize its value—only someone like Master could possess such divine insight.” Qu’er flattered enthusiastically.
“I only managed to identify it after consulting an ancient text from an alien race and personally inspecting it. But how did you, little girl, know its wonders beforehand? Did you already suspect this was the bone of a sentient Medicine Spirit?” Han Li asked casually.
“Master, before the Sacred Mushroom Immortal reincarnated and departed, it imparted some inherited memories about transcendent Medicine Spirits to me. If the Sacred Mushroom’s spiritual body is refined and fused with this bone, it could not only cleanse the marrow and greatly enhance spiritual power but also inherit some of the original owner’s divine abilities and traces of their essence. There’s even hope of breaking through previous bottlenecks and advancing to the Mahayana stage!” Qu’er replied excitedly.
Han Li’s Sacred Mushroom spiritual body, after years of cultivation and symbiosis, had almost merged with his own. Thus, if the spiritual body’s powers surged, he would naturally benefit greatly.
“The spiritual body is the Sacred Mushroom’s form, so bottlenecks before the Unity stage were almost nonexistent, and even after reaching Unity, it broke through subsequent barriers with ease. I had worried that reaching the late-stage peak might prove insurmountable, but with this Bone of a Medicine Spirit, that concern is gone. Sometimes, I envy spiritual beings like you—your bottlenecks are less than a tenth of what ordinary beings face. As long as your cultivation is sufficient, breakthroughs come easily.” Han Li sighed suddenly.
“But Master, for Medicine Spirits like us, accumulating spiritual power takes hundreds or thousands of times longer than for ordinary beings. If our bottlenecks were equally difficult, how could transcendent Medicine Spirits exist across realms, let alone leave behind bones like this?” Qu’er replied with a giggle.
“I understand that logic. It’s just a momentary lament. After all, reaching my current level of cultivation would have been a pipe dream without certain opportunities. Now, although this Bone of a Medicine Spirit is ancient, it should still retain many imprints. First, identify what kind of transcendent Medicine Spirit it came from, then refine it. Heh, unless one is also a Medicine Spirit, no one else can inherit the imprints within this bone.” Han Li smiled faintly.
“Rest assured, Master. Give me a few days, and I’ll determine the origin of this bone. However, even if the spiritual body reaches the Mahayana stage, my own cultivation is too low—I can only unleash about half of its power. And a Medicine Spirit at the Mahayana stage can’t compare to ordinary Mahayana beings, though it may gain unexpected divine abilities in concealment and evasion.” Qu’er hesitated before adding this reminder.
“Oh? Is that so? No matter. Having a Mahayana-level helper, even at half strength, is enough to ensure my dominance in the Spirit Realm.” Han Li chuckled dismissively. “That said, even with extraordinary means to boost the spiritual body’s power, it will still take over a century to reach its peak. Master must be patient. During this time, I’ll need to focus all the spiritual body’s power on refining this bone, so I won’t be able to assist in battles.” Qu’er explained with a smile.
“I can wait for such a helper. During my time in the Demon Realm, I have other trump cards to ensure my safety. Don’t worry—begin refining the bone immediately.” Han Li frowned briefly but quickly replied calmly.
With a flick of his sleeve, a verdant bone several inches long silently appeared in his palm before vanishing just as mysteriously.
“Yes, Master! Qu’er will refine it as quickly as possible!” she replied joyfully before falling silent.
Han Li smiled, ceased communication, and continued forward after removing his cloak.
He wasn’t returning to his residence but heading to a nearby materials shop. A few days prior, though he’d found nothing of interest, the shopkeeper mentioned a large shipment arriving soon, including several sizable chunks of exotic demon gold.
The remark had caught Han Li’s attention. Now, with the shipment due, he intended to inspect it, hoping to find another crystal pearl like the one he’d discovered earlier—a single pearl could save him a century of arduous cultivation. Such a boon was not something he’d easily pass up.
But as he turned a corner, two towering demon men blocked his path, their expressions cold.
Han Li scanned them instantly: both at the mid-Refining Void stage, one radiating scorching heat, the other an icy chill—clearly practitioners of unique demonic arts.
He stopped a dozen feet away and said impassively, “Do you have business with me? If not, step aside. I have matters to attend to.”
“Don’t rush, friend. We’re not the ones looking for you—our mistress is. She invites you to join her for a drink.” One of the men, broad-mouthed and high-nosed, gestured coldly to a nearby open-air tavern.
Han Li glanced over and saw a demon woman in a black dress seated at a table, watching him intently. When their eyes met, she smiled coquettishly.
Simultaneously, her voice whispered in his ear: “Why the hurry, friend? Come share a drink. I have a small matter to discuss.”
“Here about the bone?” Han Li replied flatly.
“*Giggle*, you’re sharp. Indeed, I am. If you’re willing to part with it, I can offer rare treasures in exchange—you won’t lose out.” She laughed lightly.
“Not interested. The bone isn’t for trade.” Han Li stepped forward without hesitation, intending to pass between the two men.
The woman’s face twisted in fury at his blunt refusal. With a silent command, the two men hesitated briefly before shifting to block him, their auras flaring—one scorching, one freezing—merging into a violent surge meant to repel him.
An ordinary Refining Void cultivator would have been forced back, but Han Li remained expressionless. A faint golden glow flickered around him as the twin auras crashed against his protective barrier.
A thunderous *boom* erupted, and for an instant, a terrifying aura flashed from Han Li. The heat and cold recoiled violently, forcing the two men to defend themselves.
But with agonized cries, they staggered backward, vomiting mouthfuls of blood with each step. By the time they steadied themselves, their faces were deathly pale—one charred black, the other frostbitten.
They stared in disbelief, while the demon woman rose in shock, too stunned to pursue as Han Li walked away calmly.
The commotion drew brief glances from nearby demons, but in a city like Blood Crow City, such minor clashes were commonplace, happening dozens of times daily.
“Mistress, we failed to detain him,” the two men reported shamefully once they’d suppressed their injuries.
“The two of you combined rival a peak late-Refining Void cultivator, yet he repelled you in an instant. Is he a disguised Demon Venerable?” the woman muttered, her shock barely contained.
“Likely so. Remember the Nan brothers we encountered days ago? Their combined strength could challenge an early-stage Demon Venerable. Why would such figures disguise themselves and infiltrate this city? Blood Crow City feels increasingly ominous—as if unfathomably powerful beings are gathering. Could something major be brewing?” one man murmured fearfully.
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