Half a year later, near a little-known ruin in Jingzhou, Yue Country, Tiannan, a figure in a green robe stood at the end of a narrow path, gazing motionlessly at a broken section of a stone wall before him.
The ruins had clearly existed here for an unknown length of time, with waist-high weeds and shrubs growing everywhere, and the remnants of stone bricks covered in layers of dark green moss.
On the grayish-white part of the stone wall before the green-robed man, a partially damaged relief of the character “Han” could faintly be seen, missing a corner.
After an indeterminate amount of time, footsteps sounded from the path behind the green-robed man. Moments later, a couple with a young boy emerged from around the bend, chatting and laughing.
The couple appeared to be in their early thirties. The man had a dark complexion and rough hands and feet, while the woman was somewhat pretty, though her face was slightly flushed.
Both bore the marks of a hard life, carrying bamboo baskets filled with incense and candles—typical of rural folk. Upon noticing the figure ahead, they froze in surprise.
The boy, about seven or eight years old, was exceptionally adorable, with bright, intelligent black eyes that gleamed with curiosity as he studied the stranger.
“Uh… Young master, may I ask who you are…?” the man stammered after a brief hesitation, stepping forward with his wife and son.
Though the green-robed man had his back turned, his refined demeanor clearly marked him as someone from a prominent background, which naturally intimidated the rural man, who rarely ventured far from home.
“It’s nothing. My surname is Han. I’ve come to pay respects to the ancestral shrine of the Han family from long ago,” the green-robed man replied indifferently before finally turning around. His face was ordinary, but there was a faint resemblance to the man in the couple.
“Young master is also surnamed Han? Then you must be from one of the distant branches of the Han family. My great-grandfather once said that the Han family flourished over a thousand years ago, with many descendants scattered elsewhere. Years ago, some would still come to pay respects here, but in recent times, we’ve rarely seen any other Han family members visit,” the man in his thirties said, not particularly surprised but visibly pleased.
“Yes, as generations pass, those branches have likely forgotten that this place was the origin of the Han family. Why would they come to pay respects now? But your branch has done well, willingly staying here without straying far,” the green-robed man remarked approvingly.
“Heh, my great-grandfather said their generation once considered leaving, but they couldn’t bear to abandon the Han family’s former prosperous land. Besides, they heard our ancestors once included an immortal. If our branch left, the immortal ancestor might return one day and find no descendants left. So they gave up the idea,” the Han man said with a simple smile.
“An immortal ancestor? Hmph, I’ve heard that rumor too, but it’s from thousands of years ago. It’s hardly credible,” the green-robed man said noncommittally.
“I don’t know much about it, but that’s what the elders say. During major ceremonies, my great-grandfather would even display what he claimed was the scabbard of the immortal ancestor’s divine sword. That must count for something,” the Han man chuckled.
“Divine sword scabbard?” The green-robed man’s eyebrows rose slightly in surprise.
“Yes. The elders said the sword once hung in the ancestral shrine and saved the Han family from destruction multiple times. But after one final use, it shattered into golden light and vanished, leaving only the scabbard behind. Though it no longer holds any power, our branch has kept it safe ever since. But without the sword, the Han family eventually declined in another calamity, forcing the remaining members to scatter,” the Han man inexplicably found the stranger amiable and shared everything he knew.
“I see. I wasn’t aware of all this. But the rise and fall of a family is natural—no one can avoid it. Is this your child? He looks quite clever. What’s his name?” The green-robed man sighed lightly before shifting his gaze to the boy, asking casually.
“Yes, this is my third son, Han Ming. Come, kowtow to your uncle!” The Han man, pleased by the praise, pulled the boy forward.
Though young, the boy wasn’t shy. He promptly knelt and knocked his head twice on the ground, calling out “Uncle” before standing back up.
“Good, a fine child indeed. Since fate has brought us together, I’ll give him something. If he’s truly blessed, it may lead to great fortune. If not, it will at least ensure a long life.” The green-robed man noticed the boy had a spiritual root—albeit an ordinary one—and was moved to act.
With a flick of his hand, he produced a translucent jade pendant. After channeling a spell into it, he threaded it with a red string and hung it around the boy’s neck.
A bizarre scene unfolded—the pendant glowed white, blurred, and then vanished along with the string, disappearing into the boy’s neck.
The Han couple gasped in shock. When they looked up again, the green-robed man was gone.
“Good heavens! Did we just see a ghost in broad daylight?”
The Han man stood dumbfounded, while his wife shrieked in fright.
Days later, rumors spread through nearby villages about Han Heizi encountering a ghost. The tale became a favorite topic among gossiping villagers for months before fading away.
Little did anyone know, months later, Han Ming would accidentally unlock the pendant’s secret, run away from home, and years later, use its power to become a disciple of a Nascent Soul elder in the Falling Cloud Sect. Eventually, he would rise as a renowned great cultivator, reviving the Han family’s fortunes.
—
Thousands of years later, the once-bustling outskirts of the Demonfall Valley had grown desolate, stripped of spiritual herbs and treasures, with no one daring to venture inside.
But on this day, a green figure ignored the valley’s lingering restrictions and dangers, charging straight in.
By noon, a deafening explosion shook the valley, rattling the ground outside. A dazzling green streak shot into the sky, vanishing beyond the clouds after a few flashes.
The commotion alarmed nearby small and mid-sized sects, who sent disciples to investigate.
Upon arrival, they were stunned to find the mountain separating the valley’s inner and outer sections completely gone, replaced by a massive crater spewing silvery-white threads of light.
“Arctic Divine Light!”
Knowledgeable sect members recognized the threads at once. Many eagerly rushed into the crater, hoping to gather Arctic Divine Crystals.
But despite thorough searches, they found only a dozen or so crystals, sparking fierce conflicts among them.
The green figure responsible was none other than Han Li, who had just returned from Jingzhou, Yue Country.
Having extracted all the Arctic Divine Crystals hidden beneath Demonfall Valley with immense power, he had no reason to linger in the human realm. He quickly found a secluded cave nearby to set up an intricate formation.
This return journey, burdened with Arctic Divine Crystals, was even more challenging than his descent. Thus, he needed the formation’s assistance.
Hours later, the formation was complete.
Han Li sat at its center, forming hand seals. A massive five-colored disk resembling a full moon rose from his body.
The formation hummed to life, erupting with radiant light that engulfed him.
Moments later, a thunderous boom echoed in the cave as a colossal milky-white pillar of light shot skyward, piercing over ten thousand feet before vanishing.
Simultaneously, Han Li’s body shimmered with green light, reverting to his blue-robed scholar form before collapsing lifelessly on the formation.
—
In the Spirit Realm, within the secluded chamber of the Boundless Sea’s Green Origin Palace, Han Li suddenly opened his eyes. Before him, a pale yellow storage bracelet had inexplicably appeared.
Gazing at it, Han Li smiled in satisfaction.
With these Arctic Divine Crystals, he could finally forge the long-coveted Five Extreme Mountain. Combined with the True Soul Pill, he now stood a chance at surviving the ascension tribulation.
Still, to ensure success, he needed to master the third layer of the Soul Refinement Technique and complete several immortal realm cultivation methods, including the Five Organs Forging Art, using the power of the Vast Spirit Physique.
With these preparations, his chances of ascending to the immortal realm would be significantly higher.
Han Li silently pondered, unable to suppress a flicker of excitement in his heart.
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