After staring at the jade box in his hand for a long while, Han Li sighed and slowly stored it away in his storage pouch. A flash of cyan light later, the pale cyan jade slip reappeared in his palm.
Should he take the risk to cultivate this second Spirit Infant? Or should he wait until he fully comprehended the profound incantations of the Profound Yin Infant Transformation Art before making a decision? After all, the risks and difficulties involved were extraordinary, and it would be wise for him to proceed with caution. With this prudent thought in mind, Han Li immersed his divine sense into the technique, once again entering a state of self-forgetfulness.
The door to the secluded chamber remained tightly shut, while Silvermoon, in another nearby chamber, was also deeply engrossed in her cultivation. All other miscellaneous tasks within the cave abode were handled by a few giant ape puppets.
Time flew by swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, spring gave way to winter as over a year passed.
On this day, near the Twin Peaks where Han Li’s cave abode was located, two streaks of light—one cyan and one white—streaked through the sky from afar. As the radiance dissipated, two figures emerged before the hazy mist: the two elders of the Falling Cloud Sect—the silver-haired elder and the middle-aged man with a sallow complexion, surnamed Lü.
Seeing the tightly locked formation restrictions, the two couldn’t help but exchange a smile.
With a flick of his finger, the middle-aged Lü shot out a pre-prepared message talisman, which transformed into a streak of fire and vanished into the restrictions. Turning to the silver-haired elder beside him, he said with a smile, “It seems Junior Brother Han hasn’t left his cave abode since his last return. He truly is dedicated to his cultivation.”
“This is quite normal. Otherwise, Junior Brother Han wouldn’t have been able to form his Spirit Infant at the mere age of two hundred. It’s a pity that my lifespan is nearing its end, and I can no longer advance further on the path of immortality. As for you, the chances are slim as well,” Elder Cheng remarked with a peculiar expression.
“Senior Brother, you jest. With your age, you surely have at least another century or two ahead of you,” the middle-aged man hurriedly reassured him.
“Heh, Junior Brother Lü, do you think I don’t know my own condition? Before my last injury, I might have lived another century or two without issue. But now, though my injuries have mostly healed, the vitality I lost cannot be replenished through mere meditation,” the silver-haired elder said calmly, shaking his head.
“Senior Brother!” The middle-aged Lü’s expression changed, and he seemed about to say more.
But the elder waved his hand, cutting him off. “Even if I avoid all conflicts from now on, I can barely hold on for another fifty or sixty years. There’s no need to console me—this is indisputable. Otherwise, why would I be in such a hurry to recruit Junior Brother Han into the Falling Cloud Sect and deliberately befriend him? Under normal circumstances, no matter how eager one is to recruit someone, they would first thoroughly investigate their background. But now, my judgment has been proven correct. Although his origins are somewhat convoluted, he indeed harbors no ulterior motives toward our sect.”
“Did the disciples Senior Brother sent out truly uncover Junior Brother Han’s background?” the middle-aged Lü asked, startled.
“Indeed. Though Junior Brother Han was vague about his origins, based solely on his name, appearance, and his roots in the State of Yue, a few of our disciples infiltrated Yue and managed to uncover his general background. You might not believe it, but over a century ago, our Junior Brother Han was actually a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Yellow Maple Valley in Yue. Moreover, he was quite renowned among Foundation Establishment disciples, having slain many peers single-handedly during the war against the demonic path. However, when Yellow Maple Valley collapsed, that cunning old fox, Master Linghu, for some reason misjudged him and discarded him as a pawn. After that, Junior Brother Han vanished without a trace, presumably cultivating incognito somewhere until he recently reappeared with Core Formation late-stage cultivation and later formed his Spirit Infant in our sect. It seems he must have encountered some extraordinary opportunities during that blank period,” the elder explained coolly.
“Discarded as a pawn? How laughable. To cast aside a disciple who turned out to be a once-in-a-millennium prodigy, advancing from Foundation Establishment to Spirit Infant in such a short time—I wonder if that old fox Linghu would stomp his feet in regret if he knew! After all, Yellow Maple Valley isn’t faring well in the Nine Nations Alliance these days, barely held together by that old ghost alone. If I recall correctly, he’s from the same era as Senior Brother and doesn’t have much lifespan left either,” the middle-aged Lü remarked with a cold smirk.
“Correct. That old fox Linghu is slightly older than me. But he’s well-versed in life-prolonging techniques, so his lifespan is relatively longer. And with his reputation as a Spirit Infant cultivator, Yellow Maple Valley won’t face major issues before his demise. I had similar concerns for the Falling Cloud Sect—once I’m gone, I fear you’d be left struggling alone.”
“If we didn’t occupy a spiritual mountain like Cloud Dream Mountain, your strength alone would suffice to maintain the sect’s prosperity. But with our current position, even a slight decline in power would invite covetous eyes from other factions. Originally, I intended to advise you to voluntarily withdraw from Cloud Dream Mountain after my passing to avoid calamity. But now, with Junior Brother Han’s addition, the situation has changed.”
“Though Junior Brother Han appears to be a reclusive cultivator solely devoted to the Dao, indifferent to sect affairs, this is precisely why I’m more at ease. As long as we keep him well within our fold, barring some once-in-ten-millennium catastrophe, our sect can remain secure for another millennium,” the silver-haired elder said confidently, stroking his beard.
“However, despite Junior Brother Han’s prodigious talent, he’s still young and has only recently formed his Spirit Infant. We have no idea of his true combat prowess,” the middle-aged man voiced his concern hesitantly.
“Hmm, I share your worry. Some reclusive cultivators disdain spending time on combat techniques, focusing solely on advancing their cultivation realm. Such cultivators, despite their profound cultivation, may struggle to defeat opponents even a tier or two below them. Though Junior Brother Han doesn’t seem like that type, it’s better to test him. That’s why I chose to remain at the sect this time, while you accompany him to the trade fair,” the elder said mysteriously.
“Senior Brother, are you suggesting…?” The middle-aged man seemed to grasp his meaning.
The elder smiled faintly, but before he could elaborate, the mist before them suddenly churned, prompting him to fall silent. The middle-aged man likewise ceased speaking.
The surging mist parted gently, revealing a passage. Without hesitation, the two stepped forward side by side, their figures gradually swallowed by the thick fog until they vanished entirely.
—
The grandest trade fair in the South Sky Region was about to commence in the northernmost State of Yu. Built deep within the mountains of this state, Tian Tian City served as the headquarters of the Nine Nations Alliance and was the only city in the South Sky Region exclusively inhabited by cultivators.
Every resident of this city, regardless of age or gender, possessed spiritual roots. The city housed six or seven mid-Spirit Infant elders of the Nine Nations Alliance, ensuring that any troublemakers or challengers would be swiftly eradicated. Thus, whether they were from the righteous or demonic paths, the Heavenly Dao Alliance, or unruly rogue cultivators, none dared to act recklessly here.
One or two months before the trade fair, as the host, the Nine Nations Alliance began dismantling most of the city’s famed defensive formation, the “Upper Origin Annihilation Light Array.”
By then, distant cultivators had already begun arriving. Some eager individuals even set up stalls in the city’s markets, attracting early buyers. After all, though the fair’s official days would feature countless treasures and rare materials, most were beyond the means of ordinary cultivators. Those seeking slightly uncommon yet affordable materials were better off shopping early.
Soon, the once-quiet Tian Tian City bustled with activity, resembling a bustling mortal city—except the crowds filling its streets were all mid-to-high-level cultivators. The sole currency accepted was spirit stones.
The city’s only auction house, operated by the Nine Nations Alliance, also began accepting rare items for appraisal and auction. The entire city gradually grew livelier.
Half a month before the fair, three streaks of light could be seen flying leisurely toward the city from thousands of miles away.
As they drew closer, the figures became discernible: two men and one woman. The coldly beautiful female cultivator hovered close to an ordinary-looking young man in cyan robes, their demeanor intimate. The third was a middle-aged man in blue robes, his sleeves fluttering with an imposing aura.
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