“Brother Qian, your words are somewhat exaggerated. Although this Senior Han has reached the Nascent Soul stage in a short time, breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage is a distant and nearly impossible feat. Even reaching the late Nascent Soul stage would be enough for his sect to dominate a region—that does hold a sliver of possibility.” Nie Ying pondered for a moment before smiling gracefully.
“Haha! I may have overthought it. But barring any accidents, this Senior Han will undoubtedly become a figure who influences the entire Tiannan region within the next millennium. Given his deep ties with your valley, if we could draw him into our six sects, we might soon return to Yue Country.” The Qian-named cultivator’s eyes gleamed as he spoke slowly.
“Ties? As you just witnessed, although Senior Han once hailed from our Yellow Maple Valley, he is now an elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s Falling Cloud Sect. Given his status and sect influence, what could our valley possibly offer to entice him? Moreover, as you saw, he showed no intention of returning.” Lei Wanhe sighed after a moment of silence.
Hearing this, the others fell speechless.
“Why would Senior Han treat your valley this way? After all, he originated from there. Is there truly no room for reconciliation?” The burly man from the Giant Sword Sect asked skeptically.
“The specifics are not for me to disclose, but I doubt there’s much hope. However, I noticed he seems quite close to Senior Nan Gong of the Masked Moon Sect. Perhaps she could persuade him. Even if he doesn’t rejoin our six sects, fostering goodwill might still be possible.” Lei Wanhe shook his head before turning to the middle-aged cultivator from the Masked Moon Sect.
“Well… perhaps. I’d need to inquire further about Senior Han’s relationship with Elder Nan Gong upon returning to the sect.” Tang Minghua replied uncertainly.
“Enough. Matters of recruiting Nascent Soul cultivators aren’t for us to decide. Let the elders handle it. Senior Han will likely appear at the grand ceremony in three months. For now, let’s return to the alliance. This place isn’t entirely safe.” Lei Wanhe suddenly glanced around, frowning.
Startled, the others abandoned further discussion and swiftly departed as five streaks of light.
Though Lei Wanhe spoke lightly, he brooded inwardly during the journey.
How could he explain this to the sect’s Elder Linghu? Should he bluntly state that a disciple once abandoned by him had now become a figure no weaker than himself, harboring resentment toward Yellow Maple Valley? Wouldn’t that be indirectly accusing his elder?
Sighing helplessly, Lei Wanhe pressed on in silence.
The Wind-Riding Carriage was too conspicuous. After flying a distance and losing sight of Lei Wanhe’s group, Han Li calmly stored it away, continuing with ordinary flight.
Now, with news of Nan Gongwan—and the worst kind at that—he needed to coolly strategize.
Their past encounters had been fleeting, marked by vast differences in cultivation and status, devoid of tenderness. Yet, over time, Han Li had subconsciously come to regard Nan Gongwan as his woman.
Especially after forming his Golden Core and later his Nascent Soul, he deemed himself worthy of her. Thus, hearing she was to become another’s cultivation partner nearly shattered his composure.
Standing idly by as Nan Gongwan married another was unthinkable. The only man who could wed her was Han Li himself.
Moreover, as the man who had taken her purity, he believed she couldn’t be entirely indifferent to him. The upcoming ceremony three months hence must not proceed smoothly.
Now, he weighed two options: storming the Masked Moon Sect to spirit her away or waiting for the ceremony to confront the matter openly.
Each approach had pros and cons.
The first was simpler, but he couldn’t guarantee Nan Gongwan would leave without hesitation. After years in the Masked Moon Sect and now as an elder, she wouldn’t abandon her post lightly.
The second, confronting the matter at the ceremony, would pit him against the Masked Moon Sect, the six sects, and even the Nine Nations Alliance. Yet, overcoming these hurdles would allow them to be together openly, free of future concerns.
A third, simpler method existed: eliminating Wei Lichen, the intended groom, discreetly. Without him, all obstacles would vanish.
But this was also the riskiest. The Hua Yi Sect was no minor faction—it was one of the Nine Nations Alliance’s two largest sects, boasting four or five Nascent Soul elders, far surpassing the Falling Cloud Sect.
If Wei Lichen remained within the sect, Han Li couldn’t assassinate him undetected. Even if successful, exposure would bring dire consequences, regardless of his status as a Falling Cloud elder.
As Han Li flew, he deliberated carefully.
For safety, he decided on a balanced approach. First, he’d visit the Masked Moon Sect to ascertain Nan Gongwan’s feelings. If she hesitated or had reservations, he’d attempt to eliminate Wei Lichen before the ceremony. Failing that, he’d publicly propose to her during the event.
Regardless of her response, he’d take her away. Rarely had he been so emotionally driven, but this time, he wouldn’t yield Nan Gongwan to another.
With his current abilities, short of a late Nascent Soul cultivator’s intervention, none could stop him.
Resolved, Han Li accelerated toward his destination.
After their retreat from Yue Country, the six sects settled in the resource-scarce North Liang Country of the Nine Nations Alliance. Despite struggles with local sects, they gradually regained footing, though their influence paled compared to their former dominance in Yue.
The Masked Moon Sect, the strongest among them, occupied the Linglong Mountain’s fertile spiritual veins.
The mountain was tiered: low-tier disciples at the base, Foundation Establishment cultivators mid-slope, and Core Formation and above at the summit.
Foundation Establishment cultivators, though insignificant in higher realms, were pillars to Qi Condensation disciples. Sect affairs were managed by capable Foundation Establishment cultivators—except for Yuan Kun, the only Qi Condensation steward, a privilege granted due to his family’s early support for the relocation of the six sects.
Yuan Kun, though lacking in cultivation, excelled in mundane affairs, securing his position despite peers’ disdain. Unbothered, he thrived through cunning and adaptability.
One day, while procuring supplies in a nearby town, Yuan Kun unknowingly attracted the attention of a powerful divine sense from a nearby tavern, marking him for surveillance by a figure far beyond his station.
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