Amidst these structures, numerous high-ranking Winged Spirit People of varying appearances were constantly coming and going, creating a rather lively scene.
But when the sky suddenly darkened and Yuelong appeared, riding a fierce gale, all the Winged Spirit People in the basin were startled. No matter what they were doing, they immediately knelt and kowtowed in reverence.
“Fellow Daoist Han, this is one of my seven major cave abodes, and it’s built in a rather unique manner. Let us descend together.”
After emerging from the gale, Yuelong pointed toward the massive tower below and spoke to Han Li, who was following closely behind.
Han Li also emerged from his flight light, nodded, and began descending slowly toward the towering structure.
Yuelong’s figure blurred as he surged forward, accompanied by a black wind, and entered the topmost entrance of the tower.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Han Li found himself in an exquisitely decorated hall, seated on a chair of crimson gold.
Opposite him, Yuelong sat on a chair of the same color, raising a jade-green wine cup with great enthusiasm.
“Brother Han, this ‘Huyuan Wine’ is brewed from forty-nine types of spiritual herbs. Not only does it have the miraculous effect of restoring spiritual power, but it also sharpens the mind and refreshes the senses. It’s truly a rare spiritual wine.”
“Indeed, it is a rare and fine brew. Fellow Daoist has quite the refined taste,” Han Li remarked after taking a sip, his brows lifting slightly in appreciation.
“If Brother Han enjoys it, why not have a few more cups?” Yuelong replied with a beaming smile.
“Then I shall not stand on ceremony,” Han Li said with a faint smile, downing the entire cup in one go. With a wave of his other hand, he summoned the wine jug from the table before him and poured himself another cup.
“Haha, I’m glad Brother Han likes this wine. Besides this, I also have another treasure here that is rarely seen elsewhere. Fellow Daoist, why not take a look?” Yuelong chuckled and lightly clapped his hands.
With a soft *snap*, footsteps sounded outside the door, and three Winged Spirit women, dressed as maidservants, entered with bowed heads, lining up before Han Li.
Han Li’s gaze flickered, but he did not linger on their delicate, flower-like faces. Instead, his eyes fell upon the faintly silver trays they held.
On each tray lay a crystalline brick the size of a palm, each of a different color but all exceptionally smooth—one deep yellow, one light blue, and one as red as fire.
“These are…” Han Li’s divine sense swept over them, and his expression shifted slightly.
The three bricks emitted distinct auras of earth, fire, and water, each incredibly pure—far surpassing even the finest spirit stones in quality.
“What does Brother Han think of these Extreme Yuan Crystals? They are materials I personally refined. Whether used for crafting artifacts or as substitutes for spirit stones, they are extraordinarily profound,” Yuelong said, observing Han Li’s reaction with a low chuckle.
“Extreme Yuan Crystals! These aren’t natural treasures—you refined them yourself?” Han Li’s expression changed visibly.
“Indeed. These materials were refined through a secret technique of mine. Countless rare ingredients were wasted, and I failed many times. But obtaining these three pieces makes it all worthwhile,” Yuelong replied with a hint of pride.
“A secret technique?” Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Haha, Brother Han, why not examine these items closely first? I’ll explain in detail afterward,” Yuelong said with a mysterious smile.
“Very well, then I shall not hold back.” Han Li nodded and reached out casually.
The light-blue brick trembled on the silver tray before levitating steadily into his hand.
Han Li lowered his head slightly, and with a soft *pfft*, a crystalline thread shot from between his brows, vanishing into the brick. His eyes slowly closed.
Yuelong watched with a smile, making no move to interfere.
After a long while, Han Li’s brows twitched, and his eyes reopened. The crystalline thread dissipated from the brick and vanished.
“Such pure energy of heaven and earth. The spiritual power contained within is four to five times that of a spirit stone of the same volume, and its purity is unmatched by ordinary spirit stones. But its structure is peculiar—it contains innate spiritual patterns. If used to craft artifacts, it would likely manifest unique abilities. I wonder how resilient it is?” Han Li remarked with a hint of gravity.
“Brother Han’s insight is truly remarkable. You’ve discerned most of the Extreme Yuan Crystal’s unique qualities. As for its resilience, feel free to test it yourself,” Yuelong said, his eyes brightening as he clapped his hands.
“Since you say so, I shall give it a try.” A flicker of curiosity passed over Han Li’s face. He opened his mouth slightly, and a green thread shot out with a sharp whistle, circling the brick in his hand before darting back.
The light-blue brick glowed brilliantly, revealing a shallow sword mark on its surface.
Then, rings of faint blue light shimmered, and the mark rapidly faded and disappeared before his eyes.
“Reconstructive Spiritual Molding! This material possesses the miraculous ability to self-repair!” Han Li exclaimed in astonishment.
“Brother Han recognized the Reconstructive Spiritual Molding trait at a glance—truly worthy of your reputation. Indeed, not just this one, but the other two Extreme Yuan Crystals also share this property. Artifacts crafted from such materials can repair themselves completely over time, unless utterly annihilated. While some soul-bound treasures also possess self-repairing abilities, they require constant nurturing by their owners and take far longer to restore. Thus, the value of these materials speaks for itself,” Yuelong said slowly, a trace of surprise flashing across his face.
“Materials with Reconstructive Spiritual Molding are exceedingly rare, not just in the Spirit Realm but across all realms. Moreover, this item withstood my sword light without being split—its resilience is undoubtedly extraordinary. Fellow Daoist, you didn’t bring out these Extreme Yuan Crystals just for me to admire, did you?” Han Li mused, turning the brick in his hand before addressing Yuelong.
“Brother Han is direct, so I shall not mince words. I invited you here because I have a request. If you agree to assist, I will gift you these three Extreme Yuan Crystals as compensation. What do you think?” Yuelong blinked, his expression unchanging.
“A single Extreme Yuan Crystal is already of great value. For you to offer three suggests this task is far from simple. Speak your request, and I’ll decide afterward,” Han Li replied, frowning slightly as he examined the brick in his hand.
“This matter might be difficult for ordinary Mahayana cultivators, but for someone of Brother Han’s caliber, it should be trivial. I painstakingly refined these Extreme Yuan Crystals to craft a Five Elements treasure to withstand my next Heavenly Tribulation. However, after millennia of effort, I’ve only succeeded in refining crystals of water, fire, and earth. To obtain the remaining two elements, I require assistance—and Brother Han is the most suitable candidate,” Yuelong explained frankly after a brief hesitation.
“You wish for my help in refining Extreme Yuan Crystals?” Han Li was visibly surprised.
“Indeed. To be honest, refining these crystals requires harnessing the power of different elemental forces. The first three were manageable, though I failed many times before succeeding. But the metal and wood elements summon such overwhelming natural forces that I can no longer control them alone. Hence, I must seek your aid,” Yuelong clasped his hands earnestly.
“If it’s merely about controlling natural forces, I may be able to assist. However, I have two questions that require clarification,” Han Li said cautiously after a moment’s thought.
“Ask freely. I’ll answer truthfully,” Yuelong replied without hesitation.
“This is our first meeting. Why not seek help from trusted acquaintances instead? Second, will controlling these natural forces pose unforeseen dangers? The power of heaven and earth is unpredictable and immense. Lastly, how can you be certain I’m capable of refining the remaining Extreme Yuan Crystals?” Han Li’s eyes gleamed sharply as he spoke.
“Ah, so Brother Han is wary of my intentions. That’s understandable—I’d be even more cautious in your place. But rest assured, I can address each concern,” Yuelong laughed heartily.
“Then I’m all ears,” Han Li replied calmly.
“For the first question, you haven’t witnessed the metal and wood elemental forces I summon. They are far more potent than the first three—several times stronger, in fact. Ordinary Mahayana cultivators cannot withstand them. After two attempts, I dared not try a third. Though I have a few close friends, their cultivation is comparable to mine, making them equally unsuited for this task. Moreover, controlling these forces isn’t a matter of numbers—it requires a single individual’s mastery to refine the crystals successfully,” Yuelong explained solemnly.
“As for the second question, claiming there’s no danger would be dishonest. But with proper preparation, the risks can be minimized. During my two attempts, though perilous, I emerged unscathed.”
“And the final question…” Yuelong paused briefly before continuing.
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