“Senior!” Han Li stroked his chin, a peculiar expression flashing across his face.
The plump elder before him was none other than the “Uncle Lei” who had once traded pill recipes with him for spiritual medicines. Now, this man was addressing him as “senior.” Though this was perfectly normal by the conventions of the cultivation world, Han Li couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation rise within him.
As for the stunningly beautiful woman named Nie Ying, she was the “Senior Sister Nie” he had briefly encountered years ago, the one who had stood up for the Lei Spirit Root-bearing Murong brothers. Though Han Li had never interacted with her directly, he had heard enough to know that her talents were extraordinary, her beauty and wisdom renowned. Back then, countless male disciples had admired her. Who would have thought that after all these years, she too had formed a Golden Core.
While Han Li silently observed Lei Wanhe and Nie Ying with a complex expression, Lei Wanhe was also secretly puzzled.
This “senior” before him was not only impossibly young—clearly skilled in preserving his appearance—but also strangely familiar. Lei Wanhe felt as though he had seen that ordinary-looking face somewhere before, leaving him both startled and uneasy.
Nie Ying’s beautiful eyes also flickered with surprise as she studied Han Li, as if she too had noticed something.
Han Li, of course, had no intention of letting the silence drag on. With a faint smile, he finally spoke: “It seems that after all these years, Uncle Lei truly doesn’t remember me. However, the pill recipe you gifted me back then was of great help to me.”
“Uncle? Pill recipe? You… you are…” Lei Wanhe’s jaw dropped in shock at Han Li’s address, momentarily unable to close it. But when he heard mention of the pill recipe, something clicked, and he stammered in disbelief.
The others present were equally stunned. For a Nascent Soul-stage senior to suddenly address Lei Wanhe as “Uncle” was something their minds couldn’t immediately process.
Only Nie Ying, after a moment of shock, re-examined Han Li with wide eyes and exclaimed, “You’re Uncle Li’s disciple, Han Li… Junior Brother Han?” Her voice was filled with disbelief.
“I’m surprised Nie Daoyou still recognizes me,” Han Li replied, genuinely taken aback.
Unbeknownst to Han Li, during his Qi Condensation stage, his low profile and weak cultivation had meant few knew or remembered him. But after surviving the Bloody Trial, successfully establishing his Foundation, and being taken in as a disciple by Li Huayuan, many had taken notice of him—including this “Senior Sister Nie.”
Later, when the Six Sects of the Devil Dao invaded Yue Country and he slew numerous Devil Dao cultivators of his rank, his reputation among low-level disciples soared. Though they never met again, the impression he left on Nie Ying only deepened. Now, with Han Li’s appearance unchanged from when they last met, her memory of the once-famous Junior Brother Han resurfaced, prompting her startled exclamation.
“So you really are the Junior Nephew Han from back then!” Lei Wanhe gulped, his gaze fixed in a daze.
Though the cultivation world was no stranger to bizarre occurrences—where talented disciples could rise to stand as equals with their former seniors—a Foundation Establishment junior suddenly becoming a Nascent Soul-stage senior was something even the well-traveled Lei Wanhe couldn’t immediately comprehend.
“Uncle Lei, there’s no need for surprise. But this isn’t the place to talk. Let’s continue our conversation on the way,” Han Li said calmly, glancing around.
“The title ‘Uncle’ is something I dare not accept now. Since Senior Han has advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, you are my senior. I will defer to your instructions,” Lei Wanhe said after a bitter laugh, his expression shifting between red and pale. Despite his words, his tone remained respectful, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
Regardless of Han Li’s past identity, his current cultivation and abilities far surpassed Lei Wanhe’s, making any pretense of seniority impossible.
The other three cultivators, now grasping the relationship between Han Li and Lei Wanhe, exchanged bewildered glances.
Han Li showed no surprise at Lei Wanhe’s response. After a brief silence, he nodded in acceptance.
“Since Lei Daoyou puts it that way, I won’t stand on ceremony. We must leave this place immediately. Your flight speed may be insufficient, so allow me to assist.” With that, Han Li patted his storage pouch, producing a small, exquisite object. Tossing it aside, a flash of white light revealed a refined square carriage—the newly acquired Windriding Chariot.
Under the activation of his spell, the chariot rapidly expanded to over ten zhang in size.
“Everyone, board the chariot,” Han Li instructed without ceremony. Lei Wanhe and the others naturally complied, swiftly entering the vehicle.
Once Han Li stepped aboard and channeled a trace of spiritual power into the chariot, it trembled slightly before transforming into a white streak that shot into the sky. Its speed far surpassed that of ordinary flying treasures, vanishing from sight in an instant.
Delighted by the chariot’s incredible speed, the group felt their worries ease. With such a vehicle, pursuit by the Mulan Fa Masters was impossible.
“Fellow Daoists, Fengyuan Country has likely fallen entirely to the Mulan Fa Masters. Why were you all here, and how did you end up cornered by a high-level Fa Master? Had this not been such a remote location, even my intervention might not have secured your escape,” Han Li asked casually as he piloted the chariot.
The five exchanged glances, their expressions varied. Lei Wanhe, clearly their leader, hesitated before replying, “Senior, we had little choice. We were dispatched by the alliance to carry out an important mission here. After being delayed for several days at a certain location, we emerged to find Fengyuan Country already overrun by the Mulan people. Forced to take secluded paths on our return, we encountered some low-level Fa Masters and had no choice but to silence them. Unfortunately, a Nascent Soul-stage Fa Master happened to be nearby. After eliminating the last low-level Fa Master, the old monster discovered us and gave chase. Knowing we stood no chance, we chose to fight rather than scatter and be picked off one by one. Had we not been fortunate enough to encounter Senior Han, we surely would have perished.”
As he spoke, Lei Wanhe couldn’t help but steal glances at his former “Junior Nephew Han.” Even now, it all felt like a dream.
Han Li showed little interest in further details, merely nodding. After a pause, he asked, “Lei Daoyou, how is my master, Li Huayuan?”
“Senior Han, Junior Brother Li fell in battle against the Mulan Fa Masters over a century ago. His wife, having failed to form a Golden Core, also passed away when her lifespan reached its end,” Lei Wanhe answered truthfully, seeing no reason to conceal the facts.
“Did none of my martial brothers form Golden Cores?” Han Li’s body trembled slightly, a shadow of sorrow crossing his face.
“No. Though two or three of Junior Brother Li’s disciples showed promise and reached the False Core stage, none had the fortune to form a true Golden Core,” Lei Wanhe replied with a sigh.
Han Li fell completely silent. Images of “Yu Kun,” “Song Meng,” and “Zhong Weiniang” flashed through his mind, along with fragments of shared memories.
After a long exhale, he accepted the truth. Without Golden Cores, his martial brothers had likely all passed away by now. The events of Yellow Maple Valley seemed like a distant dream, its current low-level disciples undoubtedly several generations removed from his time.
“Senior Han, do you have any intention of returning to Yellow Maple Valley?” Nie Ying suddenly asked.
“Return? No. I am now an elder of the Falling Cloud Sect under the Heavenly Dao Alliance. I’ve settled there and have no plans to go back,” Han Li replied evenly, though his brows twitched imperceptibly.
Nie Ying’s face fell with disappointment, while Lei Wanhe’s expression darkened with complex emotions. The other three, unfamiliar with Han Li, wisely remained silent.
“Senior, do you know Xiao Cuier?” Nie Ying ventured after a moment’s hesitation.
“Xiao Cuier? Of course. You know that little girl?” Han Li blinked, a hint of amusement in his voice as the image of a clever, spirited child surfaced in his mind.
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