The remaining jade boxes were opened one by one by Han Li. Inside one jade box lay a small green porcelain vial, while another contained a fist-sized, purple-hued object.
Casually opening the green vial and bringing it to his nose for a sniff, an intensely pungent scent assaulted his senses. Han Li’s expression changed drastically, as if he had encountered a venomous scorpion, and he hurriedly resealed the vial. After giving it a few more peculiar glances, he cautiously stored it away in his storage pouch.
Finally, his gaze fell upon the purple-glowing object. Picking it up, he gave it a gentle squeeze between his fingers—it was incredibly soft. Instantly, strands of radiant light flickered within the glowing mass, dazzlingly bright.
“Hmm?” Han Li let out a surprised sound, focusing his spiritual sense into a single point to probe the object.
A moment later, realization dawned on him. With a flick of his wrist, the glowing mass transformed into a swirling purple mist above his head. However, after a spell was cast upon it, the mist reverted to its original form and fell back into Han Li’s hand. It turned out to be a delicate, layered purple silk net, its threads so fine they seemed almost invisible, shimmering with a crystalline glow. At a glance, it was clear this was an extraordinary treasure.
“Isn’t this the Violet Silk Net? A renowned ancient treasure from the primordial era,” the white fox exclaimed in astonishment upon seeing the purple crystalline net.
“You know of this item? If it’s so famous, could it be a Heaven-reaching Spiritual Treasure?” Han Li’s eyes flashed with delight as he suppressed a surge of excitement.
“Not quite. Although the Violet Silk Net is among the highest-tier ancient treasures, it pales in comparison to Heaven-reaching Spiritual Treasures. However, in terms of defensive capabilities, it is indeed incredibly versatile. Depending on its refinement, once activated, it can cover an area ranging from hundreds to even thousands of feet—a rare large-scale defensive treasure. It’s said that the most refined Violet Silk Net can shield all living beings within a hundred-mile radius from harm, though whether that’s true remains to be seen. Of course, it’s also exceptionally effective for trapping enemies, capable of releasing ‘Jade Sun True Flames’ to annihilate formidable foes,” Silvermoon explained as if reciting a well-known fact.
“Silvermoon, you seem quite familiar with the Violet Silk Net. Have you encountered it before?” A flicker of disappointment crossed Han Li’s face as he weighed the purple net in his hand, his expression turning peculiar.
At these words, Silvermoon fell silent. After a long pause, she sighed bitterly. “Now that you mention it, Master, I realize that in my fragmented memories, before being refined into a tool spirit, I might have once possessed a Violet Silk Net. That’s why I know so much about it.”
As she spoke, a contemplative look flashed in her eyes, as if recalling something, but she soon shook her head and gave up in frustration.
“If this Violet Silk Net is so formidable, yet I’ve never heard of Frost Li the Transcendent using it in battle, it’s highly likely he obtained it from the Devilfall Valley. Unfortunately, none of the four jade boxes we acquired contained any information about the valley. It seems the relevant details must have coincidentally ended up in the two jade boxes held by Marquis Nanlong. What a pity,” Han Li remarked self-deprecatingly, though his expression showed little genuine regret.
He was well aware that while uncovering the secrets of Devilfall Valley might grant him opportunities to retrieve treasures, it would also make him a prime target. If word got out, countless powerful factions and ancient monsters would come knocking. The pros and cons were difficult to weigh.
“Master, was there nothing in that jade slip?” Silvermoon couldn’t resist asking.
“The jade slip recorded Frost Li the Transcendent’s cultivation techniques and divine abilities. Although I can’t practice his primary cultivation method, the Moon Gazing Art, several secret techniques and insights on cultivation are still valuable references for me,” Han Li replied plainly, seeing no reason to hide the truth.
Silvermoon sighed, her spirits visibly dampened.
Meanwhile, Han Li stored away all the items and jade boxes, then instructed Silvermoon before closing his eyes to meditate. Silvermoon curled up beside him, her dark, gleaming eyes staring blankly at an empty corner of the room.
The Mulan caravan advanced slowly, with Han Li and Silvermoon remaining peacefully inside the carriage for two days and nights. During this time, the group was inspected twice by Mulan spellcasters. However, after being awakened by Silvermoon, Han Li cast a simple spell, and the low-level spellcasters left empty-handed.
This carriage was designated for storing trivial items, and none of the Mulan tribesmen bothered to inspect it.
Once the caravan exited the Mulan grasslands, Han Li and Silvermoon stealthily departed, taking a different route through the wilderness toward the Heavenly South.
Thanks to his formidable spiritual sense, Han Li could detect spellcasters from over a hundred miles away, allowing him to easily avoid unnecessary trouble. He smoothly traversed the wilderness and entered Fengyuan Country, a member of the Nine Nations Alliance.
Fengyuan was one of the three nations closest to the Mulan grasslands, typically garrisoned with numerous Nine Nations Alliance cultivators at its border spirit mountains. However, in the days following Han Li’s arrival, he encountered no cultivators—only roaming Mulan spellcasters. Clearly, the Nine Nations Alliance had suffered initial setbacks from the Mulan surprise attacks and had temporarily retreated. The true large-scale conflict had yet to begin.
Han Li paid little mind to this, focusing instead on traversing remote areas.
After three or four uneventful days, while flying over an unnamed hill as a streak of azure light, he suddenly turned his head in surprise, sensing intense spiritual energy fluctuations and a surge of murderous intent not far away. A fierce battle was underway between cultivators of considerable strength.
Given the location, it was almost certainly a clash between cultivators and spellcasters.
Upon closer inspection, he detected one overwhelmingly powerful aura—an early Nascent Soul cultivator—while four or five others at the Core Formation level were jointly resisting them. Among the Core Formation auras, one or two felt vaguely familiar, though he couldn’t immediately place them.
After a moment’s hesitation, curiosity got the better of him, and he stealthily approached.
With Han Li’s speed, the distance was covered in an instant. Ahead, spiritual light flashed, multicolored radiance soared into the sky, and the sounds of explosions and howls filled the air—a fierce battle was raging.
Five male and female cultivators in varied attire were encircling a spellcaster, fighting desperately. Though the five Core Formation cultivators wielded their natal treasures with masterful precision, they were steadily being pushed back by waves of yellow mist emitted by the yellow-robed, bald spellcaster in the center.
The spellcaster, with a brutish face and early Nascent Soul cultivation, held the upper hand effortlessly, relying solely on a profound technique and superior cultivation. Had he not been intent on capturing a stunningly beautiful woman among the five—frequently holding back—they would have been defeated long ago.
Though the woman seemed faintly familiar, Han Li’s attention was drawn to an obese old man enveloped in silver-white lightning arcs. The old man wielded a massive sword crackling with electricity, his power the greatest among the five Core Formation cultivators.
“Him? What a coincidence,” Han Li murmured, his expression unreadably complex as he recognized the old man’s face and techniques.
“You foolish girl, don’t test my patience. If not for my cultivation method requiring an excellent cauldron, I wouldn’t have spared your life this long. Surrender now, or I’ll show no mercy,” the yellow-robed spellcaster snarled at the beautiful woman, his patience wearing thin.
With that, he spat out a yellow feathered fan, its surface glowing with spiritual light and faintly inscribed with patterns. Gripping it, he glared at his opponents.
The five Core Formation cultivators paled, realizing their adversary had been holding back. Yet, fleeing was not an option—breaking formation would leave them vulnerable to individual capture and certain death.
Gritting their teeth, they mustered their remaining spiritual power, intensifying their attacks. Their five treasures surged with renewed vigor, dispersing some of the yellow mist and briefly regaining ground.
Enraged, the bald spellcaster hurled the fan into the air, spitting a stream of yellow essence onto it while chanting incantations.
With a flick of the fan, a deafening roar erupted as a deep-yellow hurricane surged forth, swelling into a towering cyclone that engulfed all five cultivators in an instant.
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