Facing this object that could easily annihilate a cultivator’s Spirit Infant, Han Li dared not be the slightest bit careless. Several techniques for refining demonic flames surfaced in his mind, but in the end, he chose a secret art from the Profound Yin Scripture, deeming it the most reliable.
Once his decision was made, Han Li focused his gaze on the golden sphere for a moment before calmly extending a finger. With a crackling sound, a slender arc of lightning shot from his fingertip, striking the golden sphere in the box. Instantly, the sphere trembled several times, emitting a brilliant glow. Then, pulled by the lightning arc, it floated up from the box, rising to the ceiling of the quiet chamber.
Han Li sat cross-legged below, looking up at the sphere enveloped in golden light. His eyes narrowed slightly as his fingers continuously flicked and changed, forming several complex hand seals.
Dense, pale golden lightning arcs crackled and flashed amidst a thunderous roar, weaving into a tightly-knit net of electricity about ten feet wide. The net perfectly encased the sphere, trapping it within, poised and ready.
Only then did Han Li relax slightly. With a thought, he connected with the Evil-Warding Divine Lightning enveloping the outer layer of the icy flame. A sharp screech erupted as the golden sphere’s surface blazed with dazzling light, tiny golden arcs leaping and dancing. Finally, the restraints on the sphere loosened, revealing a deep-blue, translucent pearl spinning wildly within the net of lightning.
Gazing at the Dry Blue Ice Pearl, Han Li held his breath. He had personally witnessed the terrifying power of the icy flame it once transformed into, and the memory still sent shivers down his spine.
Now that the pearl had revealed its true form, Han Li wasted no time. He opened his mouth, and a green flying sword shot out. Simultaneously, he clapped his hands together before separating them, unleashing a thick golden lightning arc. The green sword light and golden lightning struck the ice pearl with overwhelming force.
A crisp cracking sound echoed as the pearl flickered between light and darkness, transforming into a mass of blue flame. The flame expanded and contracted, condensing into a beautiful blue flower the size of a fist, its crystalline petals slowly unfurling.
At the same time, a hissing sound filled the air as a layer of shimmering blue frost spread eerily across the floor and walls, thickening rapidly. In an instant, the room became unbearably cold, as if plunged into an icy world.
Han Li, however, was prepared. Though his expression turned solemn, he remained calm. A flash of green light enveloped him in a sturdy protective barrier. With his current Spirit Infant cultivation, the cold was formidable, but as long as he wasn’t directly attacked by the icy flame, his protective light was more than enough to keep him safe.
Seeing the pale blue cold repelled by the green light, Han Li felt reassured. Without hesitation, he pointed at the air. The net of Evil-Warding Divine Lightning flickered and contracted, slowly enveloping the blue flower. Golden and blue lights flashed alternately as the flower reverted to its flame form, desperately resisting the tightening net.
Watching the Dry Blue Ice Flame restrained once more, Han Li took a deep breath. With a thought, thunder cracked as the golden net split open briefly, allowing a wisp of blue flame as thin as silk to slip through. The flame shot toward Han Li with eerie intelligence.
Han Li remained expressionless. He formed a hand seal and closed his eyes. A green aura surged from the crown of his head, and a tiny infant, barely an inch tall, emerged within the green light. Han Li had summoned his Spirit Infant.
The infant’s face was tense, its eyes fixed on the approaching blue flame. Its chubby hands rubbed together before lifting, releasing two blinding green beams. At the same time, the infant opened its mouth, spitting out another fist-sized orb of light. Three green beams simultaneously intercepted the blue flame.
The clash of green and blue light was fleeting. The blue flame was instantly engulfed by the green light, struggling violently but unable to escape. Though the green light gradually dissolved where the flame touched, the tiny flame remained tightly trapped.
The infant’s face broke into a faint smile. With a beckoning gesture, the green orb carrying the blue flame flew back to it. After scrutinizing the flame at close range, the infant hesitated, its expression flickering between resolve and fear. Finally, with a determined glint in its eyes, it grabbed the green orb and, without hesitation, stuffed it into its mouth, swallowing both the green light and the blue flame.
Green light shimmered around the infant as it vanished back into Han Li’s body through the crown of his head.
Han Li’s body trembled slightly, his eyes still closed, but his face showed no sign of disturbance, as if he were merely asleep. Inside, his Spirit Infant sat cross-legged in his dantian, hands forming seals, its small face solemn.
Six months later, Han Li emerged from the quiet chamber, his expression shifting between gloom and contemplation.
The Dry Blue Ice Flame was truly formidable. Even that tiny wisp had taken him so long to barely refine. Moreover, its extreme yin coldness required at least another year of internal cultivation before he could fully control it. To avoid mishaps, he dared not refine more of the flame prematurely. As for the flame’s role in opening the Void Heaven Cauldron, Han Li received no hints—likely because the amount he refined was too minuscule.
The reason Han Li left seclusion now was to visit the silver-haired elder and his companion, hoping they might have information about “Geng Essence.” Additionally, he planned to leave Falling Cloud Sect temporarily and travel to Yuan Wu Country to fulfill a promise he had made to Xin Ruyin years ago. With his current cultivation, wiping out a cultivator family should be effortless.
Incidentally, the Fu Family of Yuan Wu Country was distantly related to the Fu Family of Hundred Craft Academy. Rumor had it that the former was a distant branch of the latter. Over time, however, the two families grew apart. When Yuan Wu Country fell into the hands of the Devil Dao, the Fu Family, as one of the country’s top clans, unhesitatingly joined the Devil Dao. This greatly displeased their counterparts in the Heavenly Dao Alliance, leading to a complete severance of ties.
This suited Han Li just fine. Though Yuan Wu Country was now under Devil Dao control, with his Spirit Infant cultivation, few in the country could threaten him.
Before leaving his cave, Han Li checked on Mu Peiling in her sub-cave. A sweep of his divine sense revealed her diligently cultivating in a stone chamber, her face glowing faintly—her cultivation had advanced significantly. Satisfied, Han Li left quietly without disturbing her and headed straight for Falling Cloud Sect’s main peak.
Several hours later, Han Li left the silver-haired elder’s cave in silence. Though he hadn’t obtained concrete information about “Geng Essence,” the elder informed him of a grand trade fair in Yu Country of the Nine Nations Alliance two years later—the largest in the South Sky Region. Rare treasures from across the region would appear, and nearly half of the South Sky’s Spirit Infant cultivators would attend. At their level, ordinary materials and elixirs were worthless; only such gatherings provided opportunities to exchange for what they needed.
The fair was held in Yu Country because the Nine Nations Alliance was neutral and, constantly threatened by the Mulan Dharma Masters, posed no danger to the other three major powers. This neutrality ensured participants could attend without undue suspicion or fear of ulterior motives.
For now, Han Li could only hope the fair would yield the “Geng Essence” he sought. Otherwise, he had no idea how to complete the Great Geng Sword Formation. Venturing to the legendary “Great Jin Empire” seemed too distant an alternative.
After inquiring about “Geng Essence,” Han Li didn’t disclose his destination, merely stating that his Spirit Infant had stabilized and he intended to travel for a while, hence his farewell.
The silver-haired elder expressed no suspicion, merely advising Han Li on the power structures of various countries, notable Spirit Infant cultivators to beware of, and a few infamous old monsters to avoid at all costs—including the infamous “Heaven’s Grudge Old Freak” Han Li had heard of before.
Han Li listened with keen interest, memorizing each name before thanking the elder and taking his leave.
Early the next morning, Han Li packed his most vital belongings, sealed his cave with powerful formations, and departed Cloud Dream Mountain alone, flying straight for Yuan Wu Country.
The Fu Family of Yuan Wu Country was one of its three great clans, renowned throughout the land. A century ago, when the Devil Dao invaded, the family surrendered without resistance, aligning themselves with the Blazing Flame Sect of the Six Sects. As a result, the Fu Family emerged unscathed from the upheaval, even thriving and surpassing the other two great clans to become Yuan Wu’s foremost family.
Over the past century, the Fu Family had frequently sent members to join the Blazing Flame Sect and married several of their most talented daughters to high-ranking sect members as concubines. Thus, they firmly secured the sect’s backing, flourishing under its support and enjoying unparalleled prosperity.
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