The congratulatory voices of the cultivators lasted for a full nine repetitions before Han Li, seated atop the azure lotus platform, flicked his sleeves and spoke:
“Rise, fellow Daoists! You have traveled great distances to attend my Ascension Celebration, and for that, I am deeply grateful. I have not prepared much, but I offer you some tea as a token of my hospitality. I hope you will not find it lacking.”
As soon as Han Li finished speaking, Qilingzi at the base of the stone tower clapped his hands twice with a crisp “pa-pa.”
Figures flickered at the edge of the plaza as rows of slender white-robed women emerged from different directions, each carrying a tea tray and presenting a cup of amber-colored tea to every cultivator present.
The tea itself, though of the highest quality, was not particularly extraordinary given Han Li’s status as a newly ascended Great Ascension cultivator.
What astonished the guests, however, was that these white-robed women, though fair-faced, all wore wooden expressions and moved with slight stiffness—they were nothing more than puppets.
Hundreds of such lifelike puppets appearing at once left most of the attendees marveling inwardly.
Once the tea was served, a burly man seated in the inner circle near the tower suddenly stood and bowed deeply to Han Li, proclaiming loudly:
“I am an envoy of the Huatian Sect, here to celebrate Senior Han’s ascension to Great Ascension. My sect specially presents a pair of Ten-Thousand-Year Longevity Insect Shells, wishing Senior eternal life and boundless mastery of the Dao!”
With a flick of his wrist, the man produced a pale yellow wooden box, opening it to reveal two fist-sized insect shells.
Both were crystalline and crimson, resembling two blazing flames.
Han Li smiled faintly.
“Your sect is one of the three great human sects, and I have long heard of your Grand Elder. If the opportunity arises, I shall pay a visit.”
The Huatian Sect was a renowned powerhouse among humans, governing over a dozen cities and boasting multiple Body Integration cultivators.
The Grand Elder Han Li mentioned had once been a legendary figure in the human race, famed for slaying two Body Integration-level foreign cultivators in a single battle. However, despite multiple attempts, he had never succeeded in breaking through to Great Ascension.
“The Grand Elder will be overjoyed to hear of your regard, Senior. When news of your ascension arrived, he was in secluded meditation, hence his inability to attend. But these Ten-Thousand-Year Longevity Insect Shells were personally selected by him as a gift,” the burly man said with a pleased expression, bowing again.
“These shells are a key ingredient for refining ‘Tranquil Spirit Elixir,’ something I happen to need after my recent breakthrough. Your Grand Elder has been most thoughtful,” Han Li remarked, a faint smile playing on his lips as he glanced at the fiery shells.
The man quickly handed the box to a white-robed attendant, bowed once more, and sat back down.
“The city of Weiyun congratulates Senior Han on his ascension and offers thirty thousand jin of Gold Essence and one hundred thousand jin of Profound Yin Sand as gifts,” announced an armored youth from the outer circle, presenting a gift list with reverence.
“Your city is most kind.”
Weiyun was merely a mid-sized city on the border between humans and demons, barely qualified to attend such an event. Han Li merely nodded indifferently, yet the youth still flushed with excitement before sitting back down.
“On behalf of the Thousand Ring Mountain, we congratulate Senior Han on his ascension and present three sections of Nine Mystic Tung Wood and three Soul-Seducing Pearls!” Two green-skinned, red-haired demonic cultivators stood, each holding a jade box.
As more factions presented their gifts, others followed suit, offering treasures either exceedingly rare or astonishing in quantity, all vying to curry favor with the newly ascended Great Ascension cultivator.
Dozens of envoys announced their identities in turn, representing nearly every notable faction among humans and demons. Their gifts were either priceless rarities or staggering in quantity, all demonstrating their eagerness to ingratiate themselves with Han Li.
The independent cultivators in attendance marveled at the legendary treasures on display, their horizons broadened.
Of course, with Han Li present, no one dared entertain thoughts of coveting these gifts.
Han Li acknowledged each envoy with a faint smile, nodding or offering brief thanks.
However, when a white-robed woman stood, Han Li spoke first:
“So Fairy Xu has also come to my celebration. Are you representing the Xu Family?”
The woman was Xu Qianyu.
The crowd murmured in surprise—her cultivation was not particularly high, yet Han Li had greeted her warmly.
“Senior Han flatters me. I am indeed here on behalf of the Xu Family to congratulate you on your ascension. We offer a stalk of South Sea Purple Flame Bamboo, three Infinite Spirit Fruits, and a Void Heaven Treasure Cauldron. May your Dao path reach even greater heights!”
Xu Qianyu, though slightly nervous, relaxed upon hearing Han Li’s question and replied respectfully.
“Void Heaven Treasure Cauldron… I see. Thank the Xu Family for their thoughtfulness. Since we are old acquaintances, feel free to linger here—you may find unexpected gains.”
Han Li’s eyes gleamed with understanding as he nodded.
“Many thanks, Senior!” Xu Qianyu bowed and sat back down, drawing envious glances from the crowd.
Han Li’s words implied special rewards for her, sparking widespread jealousy.
Next, envoys from the major True Spirit families appeared, including Xiaofeng the Fairy from the Gu Family and Ye Ying from the Ye Family.
Both women had known Han Li in the past, but witnessing the grand spectacle of ten thousand cultivators bowing to him left them awestruck.
Had they not sensed his unfathomable aura, they might not have believed that the man they once knew had truly ascended to such heights.
Han Li exchanged a few more words with them, further stoking the envy of the crowd.
Though seemingly trivial, this interaction signaled to all that these two women had a prior connection with Han Li—a fact that would deter any future hostility toward their families.
The Long Family also sent an envoy—their newly appointed Grand Elder, a previously hidden Body Integration cultivator who expressed deep gratitude for Han Li’s notification of their patriarch’s demise in the Demon Realm.
Han Li had relayed the news of the Long and Ye patriarchs’ deaths during his time in the Wood Tribe.
Back then, their reactions were unknown, but now, with Han Li as a Great Ascension cultivator, neither family dared question the matter further.
To Han Li’s slight surprise, the Black Phoenix Clan’s envoy was not Dai’er but one of their Body Integration elders.
It seemed Dai’er was still in seclusion—otherwise, the Black Phoenix King would surely have sent her to strengthen ties with the newly ascended Great Ascension cultivator.
“Moonchaser, envoy of the Spirit Race, representing our Sacred King, presents five elemental spirit cores, three clusters of Heavenly Light Spirit Flames, ten top-grade treasures, one hundred Green Chain Walls, and ten thousand jin of Abyssal Purple Crystal Iron in celebration of Senior Han’s ascension,” declared a figure wreathed in violet light, standing and bowing.
The voice was deep—a Spirit Race envoy!
“A guest from the Spirit Race! I have long admired the Sacred King’s name. For him to send such lavish gifts truly honors this humble place,” Han Li replied solemnly, rising from his lotus seat to return the bow.
“The Sacred King has also tasked me with inquiring about two matters, if Senior is willing to answer,” the violet-lit envoy added cautiously.
The plaza fell silent in surprise.
“Ask freely,” Han Li replied, unfazed, as if expecting this.
“The Sacred King wishes to know two things. Whether you answer is entirely at your discretion,” the envoy clarified carefully.
“Since the Sacred King himself sent you, I will permit two questions—no more. Understood?” Han Li’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“Understood. I shall not overstep,” the envoy agreed hastily.
“Proceed.”
“First, does our race’s Eternal Sage still live?”
“No.”
“Who caused her demise?”
“The Demon Ancestor.”
Han Li’s answers were swift and unhesitating.
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