Han Li didn’t need to exert any effort to find the speaker. The person was sitting cross-legged on a stone platform about ten zhang in front of him. It was a young woman dressed in black robes, her hair tied up with a wooden hairpin.
The woman had delicate features, but her face was pale, and her eyes shimmered with an ethereal glow, as if veiled in a faint luminescence. However, what startled Han Li was that one of her sleeves hung empty—she was missing an arm.
Before Han Li could speak, the woman let out a soft exclamation of surprise upon seeing him summon his magic treasure.
“So, you’re not a mere Qi Condensation cultivator but a Core Formation cultivator. Tsk tsk, your concealment technique is quite impressive—even I was nearly fooled.” The woman chuckled lightly, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
Curled up comfortably on her lap was the Snowcloud Fox, which regarded Han Li with intelligent, curious eyes.
“So this is the secluded cultivation site of a senior. My apologies for intruding,” Han Li said, inwardly startled after scanning her with his spiritual sense.
The area around her was like transparent air—his spiritual sense passed through her effortlessly without detecting any fluctuations of spiritual energy. This meant she was either concealing her cultivation with some extraordinary treasure or was far more powerful than him. Given her tone and the abilities she had just displayed, the latter seemed far more likely.
Han Li’s vigilance heightened.
“You’re quite young to have already reached late Core Formation. That’s rare indeed,” the woman remarked leisurely, stroking the Snowcloud Fox with a jade-white wrist as Han Li pondered his next move.
“You flatter me, Senior. I merely had some luck to reach this stage. May I ask for your esteemed name?” Han Li exhaled lightly, keeping his tone calm.
“My name is of little consequence—you wouldn’t know it anyway. In fact, even among the Nascent Soul cultivators of your generation, few would recognize me.” The woman sighed faintly.
Han Li was momentarily stunned, then felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Could this woman truly be some reclusive ancient monster?
A chill ran through him, but he kept his composure. With his improved cultivation and mastery of secret techniques, he no longer feared Nascent Soul cultivators as much as before. The recently learned “Blood Shadow Escape” technique had also bolstered his confidence. If it came to a fight, he might not win, but he could certainly flee—though the severe blood essence loss would require years of secluded recovery.
That aside, why would such a mysterious figure hide under the noses of the three sects? Did she have some ulterior motive, or was she, like him, simply drawn here by the dense spiritual energy?
Han Li’s gaze swept the stone chamber, and he was surprised to find it completely isolated—no connecting passages, no furnishings except for the stone platform beneath the woman. The entire room was stark and cold.
He also noticed that the walls were extremely rough, unlike the smooth surfaces of typical cultivator caves shaped by flying swords or magic tools. Instead, they looked as if they had been hacked haphazardly by a giant axe, full of uneven protrusions.
Noticing Han Li’s confusion, the woman suddenly chuckled. “If you’re puzzled, why not touch the walls? That might clear things up.”
Han Li’s interest was piqued.
“Since Senior suggests it, I won’t hesitate.” He was indeed curious. His earlier spiritual sense scan had revealed nothing unusual—the walls seemed like ordinary bluestone.
He cautiously approached the left wall, keeping his spiritual sense locked on the woman, wary of a sudden attack. Despite her lack of hostility so far, Han Li’s years of experience had made him far more cautious than most.
Touching the wall revealed nothing unusual.
After a moment’s thought, he extended a finger, summoning a few inches of cyan sword light at its tip.
He stabbed the wall—only to be met with a sharp clatter as the sword light was completely blocked, leaving no mark.
Han Li was stunned but unwilling to accept it. Gathering his spiritual power, he extended the sword light to a full foot and slashed at the wall.
The wall remained unscathed.
Without a word, Han Li pointed at one of his hovering flying swords, which shot down in a streak of cyan light before returning with a clear hum.
A shallow inch-deep hole appeared on the wall—but it slowly smoothed over, vanishing moments later.
“What is this? It repairs itself? Did you place some restriction on it, Senior?” Han Li inhaled sharply, turning to the woman in shock.
“A restriction? You overestimate me. This is Azuregold Stone, also called Spirit-Absorbing Stone—an extremely rare refining material. It can only be damaged by brute force; all spiritual energy from spells and treasures is ineffective against it,” the woman explained indifferently.
“Azuregold Stone? I must admit my ignorance—I’ve never heard of such a material.” Han Li frowned slightly before returning to his original spot.
“Of course you haven’t. Even in ancient times, this was rare. Nowadays, few know of it.” The woman waved it off dismissively.
Han Li was about to ask more when the woman suddenly smiled.
“Though your cultivation is nearing the False Nascent stage, your spiritual roots seem… rather poor. No, downright terrible. To reach this level, you must have had some extraordinary fortune. Otherwise, even with immense effort, you’d be stuck at Foundation Establishment. Since fate has brought you here, I have a treasure that might aid you further.”
“Lend me a treasure?” Han Li blinked, his expression turning odd.
“Of course, there are conditions. First, it’s only a temporary loan—you must return it. Second, you’ll have to do something for me in exchange.” The woman’s expression cooled as she spoke.
She reached into her robes and produced a small, black jade box—rough and aged, its surface darkened with time.
Han Li studied her expression, then the box, neither accepting nor refusing. After a long silence, he finally asked cautiously, “Senior, could you first tell me what this treasure is? Then I can consider it properly.”
The woman’s patience seemed to wear thin. She pointed at the box. “You must know of Spirit Eye Stones. This box contains the highest form—Spirit Eye Jade. With its spiritual energy, you can stabilize your False Nascent stage before attempting true Nascent Soul formation, making the breakthrough far easier. I’ve kept this treasure for years—only because my current cultivation can’t be improved through mere cultivation would I lend it to you.”
As she spoke, she caressed the box, her face betraying reluctance.
“Spirit Eye Jade!” Han Li’s expression shifted several times. With this, the time needed to reach False Nascent could be cut by a third. The refusal on his lips died unspoken.
“What task would you have me do? If even you cannot accomplish it, how could I?” Han Li sighed.
“Relax—I’m not asking for murder or arson. I simply need you to deliver a letter. Due to certain reasons, I cannot leave this chamber, but I must send a message to someone.” Seeing Han Li’s hesitation fade, the woman brightened.
“Just deliver a letter?” Han Li was taken aback.
“Of course. Did you truly think I’d ask for bloodshed?” The woman covered her mouth with a delicate hand, laughing softly, her charm undeniable.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage