Han Li had an extremely vivid impression of the young girl he had once brought into the Yellow Maple Valley. But immediately after, the image of the elderly Brother Ma flashed through his mind, bringing with it a wave of desolation.
Given Brother Ma’s age, there was no way he could have formed a Golden Core. The person in Yellow Maple Valley he had gotten along with best had likely long since turned to dust.
“Little girl? Your Junior Sister Xiao is no longer a little girl—she married long ago and even reached the Core Formation stage decades ago,” Nie Ying said with a mix of amusement and reproach, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.
“Oh? She reached Core Formation too? That’s truly unexpected,” Han Li murmured in surprise before letting out a light chuckle.
“I’ve heard Junior Sister Xiao mention several times how you brought her into the sect back then. She has always been deeply grateful to you, Senior Han, and often speaks of you,” Nie Ying said gently.
“I only introduced her to Brother Ma back then because I thought she had decent talent—it was just a passing whim. Now, everything has changed. There’s nothing left to see,” Han Li replied calmly, his smile fading.
Seeing that their persuasion had no effect and Han Li still showed no intention of returning to Yellow Maple Valley, Nie Ying and Lei Wanhe exchanged a helpless glance, their expressions bitter.
Neither of them was foolish—they could guess most of the reason why Han Li refused to return. Back when the core disciples had fled to the Nine Nations Alliance, Han Li had not been among them. This “Senior Han,” who had once been just a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator, had clearly been abandoned as bait. No wonder he was so indifferent toward Yellow Maple Valley, with no desire to return.
Just as the two were feeling at a loss, Han Li, after a moment of silence, suddenly turned to the middle-aged cultivator from the Masked Moon Sect and asked slowly, “Does your sect have a female cultivator named Nangong Wan? How is she now?” His voice carried a hint of melancholy.
“Ah! Senior knows Martial Aunt Nangong? She is currently overseeing affairs within the sect and is doing well,” the middle-aged cultivator, Tang Minghua, replied respectfully after a brief moment of surprise.
“Martial Aunt? She advanced to Nascent Soul as well?” Han Li couldn’t hide the trace of joy in his voice.
“Martial Aunt Nangong successfully formed her Nascent Soul over a century ago and is now one of our sect’s elders. Are you an old acquaintance of hers?” Tang Minghua answered eagerly, sensing an opportunity to curry favor with a Nascent Soul cultivator.
“An old acquaintance? You could say that. I once received great kindness from her and have always wanted to see her again. Unfortunately, circumstances kept me away all these years,” Han Li sighed, a distant look flashing across his face.
“Haha! Although Martial Aunt Nangong rarely receives guests, it would be easy for you to meet her, Senior. In three months, she will be holding a Dual Cultivation Ceremony with Elder Wei of the Huayi Sect, officially becoming his cultivation partner. The celebration was originally only for high-ranking members of the alliance, but since you are an old acquaintance of Martial Aunt Nangong, our sect would certainly welcome your attendance—”
“Dual Cultivation Ceremony?” Han Li’s mind buzzed, drowning out the rest of the words. He spun around sharply, his voice turning icy. “What did you say?”
“Indeed, Elder Wei Lichen of the Huayi Sect formed his Nascent Soul in just three hundred years. His abilities are unfathomable—he is a rare genius in the South Sky. Our sect and the Huayi Sect went to great lengths to arrange this auspicious union,” Tang Minghua explained nervously, unsettled by Han Li’s sudden coldness.
Lei Wanhe and the others exchanged odd glances. Even a fool could tell that Han Li’s relationship with Nangong Wan was far from simple. Otherwise, why would he react so strongly to this news?
But to everyone’s surprise, Han Li’s expression quickly smoothed over. After staring at Tang Minghua for a moment, he relaxed and said calmly, “Brother Tang, don’t be alarmed. I mean no harm. It’s just that hearing the woman I once admired is about to marry another stirred some emotions. Now that I know, I will naturally attend the joyous occasion.”
Relieved by Han Li’s frankness, Tang Minghua quickly expressed his welcome.
Han Li merely smiled faintly and said nothing more.
Lei Wanhe and the others also relaxed. After all, the six sects of Yue Country were now closely allied, and they had no desire to stir up unnecessary trouble.
Han Li then casually inquired about various matters concerning the six sects, none of which were particularly sensitive, and the five answered readily. When he heard that the Yellow Maple Valley’s Venerable Linghu was nearing the end of his lifespan, Han Li frowned briefly before smoothing his expression as if he hadn’t heard.
“By the way, does your Martial Aunt Nangong have a cousin named Nangong Ping? She should also be a cultivator of the Masked Moon Sect,” Han Li asked offhandedly, as if suddenly remembering something.
“Nangong Ping? I’ve never heard of her! Martial Aunt Nangong has always cultivated alone—no one has ever mentioned a cousin. Senior, could you be mistaken?” Tang Minghua replied, puzzled.
Han Li froze for a moment before taking a deep breath and pressing, “This Nangong Ping should be a Core Formation cultivator in your sect. Are you sure you haven’t overlooked her?” His voice grew urgent.
“If such a person existed in our sect, how could I not know? I can assure you, Senior, there is no such woman,” Tang Minghua said with a helpless smile, nearly swearing an oath.
“Brother Tang is right. If the Masked Moon Sect had such a Core Formation cultivator, we would know as well. There truly is no such person. May I ask where Senior heard of her?” Lei Wanhe interjected, looking equally baffled.
“It’s nothing. Perhaps I was mistaken,” Han Li said, though his expression remained strange, tinged with confusion.
With his sharp mind, Han Li now realized that “Nangong Ping” had never been Nangong Wan’s cousin—she had been Nangong Wan herself in disguise. No wonder she hadn’t struck him down back then, and why her parting words and expression had been so peculiar.
From then on, Han Li seemed to lose all interest in conversation. He remained silent, his face dark as he steered the Wind Riding Chariot forward. The others, sensing his foul mood, dared not speak loudly either.
For a time, the chariot was utterly silent.
After half a day, they reached a deserted hill, where Han Li brought the chariot to a stop.
“I will part ways with you all here. The border of Fengyuan Country is only a day’s journey away—you should be safe now. I have other matters to attend to and will not accompany you further,” Han Li announced calmly from the chariot, effectively dismissing them.
Lei Wanhe and the others could only bow in gratitude once more for saving their lives before disembarking.
Without another word, Han Li turned the chariot and soared into the sky, vanishing in an instant.
“Brother Lei, was that Senior Han truly once a disciple of your Yellow Maple Valley? And even your junior at one point?” an older cultivator from the Heavenly Fortress Sect asked once the chariot was out of sight, unable to resist confirming once more.
“What, do I look like a liar to you?” Lei Wanhe snapped irritably.
Though Han Li had saved them today, the fact that a former junior had surpassed him in cultivation and was now a genuine senior—forcing him to tread carefully—left him in a foul mood.
“Haha, no need for anger, Brother Lei. I was just surprised. If what you say is true, Senior Han should be around the same age as Fellow Daoist Nie. Nie, how many years have you cultivated to reach your current realm?” The Heavenly Fortress cultivator, surnamed Qian, turned to Nie Ying with a serious expression.
“I’ve cultivated for over two hundred years to reach early Core Formation,” Nie Ying replied, her expression shifting slightly as if she understood his implication.
“In that case, Senior Han formed his Nascent Soul in just over two hundred years. Do you realize what that means?” Qian said gravely, stroking his sparse beard.
“Brother Qian, are you suggesting…?” the burly swordsman from the Giant Sword Sect blurted out.
“Indeed. He may very well have the potential to reach the Divine Transformation stage. The last time a Divine Transformation cultivator appeared in the South Sky was tens of thousands of years ago. Though he vanished from the cultivation world shortly after reaching that realm, in the brief time he was present, he swept through the South Sky unchallenged. The entire region—whether orthodox, demonic, or neutral sects—was unified under him. No one could oppose a Divine Transformation cultivator, even one at the initial stage,” Qian said solemnly.
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