“It’s alright, let’s give it a try. If it really doesn’t work out, we can still leave. With me protecting you, even if I’m under restrictions, I can still get you out safely.” Han Li smiled, his tone brimming with confidence.
“This… alright! Though I don’t know the extent of your abilities, your confidence suggests you must have some tricks up your sleeve. However, there’s no need for you to seek her out directly. My senior sister’s residence, the Falling Cloud Hall, is heavily restricted. It’s better if I lure her here, and then the two of us can use the restrictions to catch her off guard.” Nangong Wan gazed into Han Li’s eyes for a moment, seemingly realizing she couldn’t dissuade him, and bit her red lips before speaking.
“That method is certainly more reliable. But can the restrictions in your cave still be used? I noticed upon entering that they seem somewhat incomplete.” Han Li paused briefly before replying with a smile.
“Don’t worry. Although the surface-level restrictions were destroyed by my senior sister, I still have a very powerful hidden restriction she hasn’t discovered. It’s still functional.” Nangong Wan answered without hesitation.
“Good! In that case, let’s proceed this way. I have a few sets of array tools with me. Though they aren’t particularly formidable, once set up, they can still serve as a distraction.” Han Li stroked his chin as he spoke.
“You even have array flags? That’s even better. There’s no time to waste. Give me half a day to break the remaining restrictions on me and restore my magic power so I can assist you. Meanwhile, you can set up the arrays.” Hearing Han Li’s words, Nangong Wan felt even more confident.
“But if we manage to subdue your senior sister, couldn’t we take control of the Masked Moon Sect as well? That way, we wouldn’t have to flee in disgrace.” Han Li pondered for a moment before voicing his doubt.
“That likely won’t work! Aside from my senior sister, our Masked Moon Sect has another senior brother who is also a Nascent Soul cultivator. Though he’s a decent person, he would never allow me to ascend to the position of Grand Elder without proper justification. And I have no interest in power struggles—all I want is a quiet place where I can cultivate in peace.” Nangong Wan was momentarily stunned before shaking her head in response.
“If that’s the case, then forget it! If everything goes smoothly, you can just come back to the Falling Cloud Sect with me. No matter how powerful the Nine Nations Alliance is, and no matter how much Wei Wuyan favors Wei Lichen, with the invasion of the spell warriors underway, they wouldn’t dare provoke the Heavenly Dao Alliance or two Nascent Soul cultivators like us.” Han Li nodded and spoke with a cold smile.
He then slapped his storage pouch, and with a flip of his hand, a stack of array flags and disks appeared in his palm.
Seeing this, Nangong Wan curled her lips into a faint smile, sat back down in her chair, closed her bright eyes, and formed a series of peculiar hand seals. Moments later, crimson flames several feet high erupted from her snow-white robes, enveloping her completely.
Meanwhile, Han Li wasn’t idle either. With a flicker of his figure, he moved swiftly around the hall, continuously tossing out array flags and disks. Amidst bursts of multicolored light, they all vanished into various parts of the chamber.
Setting up the array flags was naturally quick, but to maximize their effectiveness, Han Li confined the arrays to the hall, making them exceptionally stealthy. Unless someone deliberately scanned with their spiritual sense, they would be nearly impossible to detect.
These array flags and disks were ones Han Li had crafted during his Core Formation stage. They were barely sufficient against Core Formation cultivators, let alone Nascent Soul cultivators. Han Li didn’t place much hope in them. After setting them up, he paused in thought before suddenly flicking his sleeve, sending a streak of white light shooting out. It circled once before landing in front of him—it was Silvermoon in her white fox form.
“Master, aren’t you afraid Lady Nangong will get jealous if you summon me like this?” Silvermoon teased playfully after materializing.
“Hmph! You’re just a tool spirit—what’s there to be jealous about? This time, we’re dealing with a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, and we can’t let her escape. Even with the restrictions aiding us, I’ll still need your assistance. Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators aren’t like early-stage ones—we’ll have to go all out to succeed.” Han Li raised an eyebrow, his expression turning serious as he stared at the little fox.
“Master, how do you want me to help?” Silvermoon asked straightforwardly.
“It’s simple. At the right moment, use this treasure to ensure she doesn’t break free.” Han Li retrieved another item from his storage pouch and handed it to Silvermoon.
“This thing… for me to use?” Silvermoon cradled the object in her paws, looking somewhat incredulous.
“Yes. You can likely wield it more effectively than I can. It’s better for you to use it than for me to expend my magic power. Of course, it’s only a temporary loan—your tool spirit form can’t sustain prolonged use of other treasures.” Han Li explained calmly.
“Understood.” The little fox drooped her head slightly, sounding a bit dejected, but she couldn’t resist stroking the object a few times, clearly fond of it. Han Li noticed this and felt a flicker of thought.
Silvermoon then clutched the object, her body shimmering with silver light before she burrowed into the ground and vanished.
Next, Han Li circled the hall a few more times before suddenly looking up as if struck by inspiration. After a moment’s consideration, he tossed out a spirit beast pouch, releasing a swarm of tri-colored Gold Devouring Beetles. They formed a cloud about ten feet wide, swirling and darting through the air.
Taking a deep breath, Han Li opened his mouth and exhaled a stream of azure mist, which struck the insect cloud. As he formed hand seals and muttered an incantation, the cloud emitted a buzzing sound and instantly dispersed into countless specks of light, shooting upward. Amidst flashes of azure light, they vanished into the ceiling, their presence completely concealed.
Han Li narrowed his eyes, carefully examining the ceiling for any flaws. Finding none, he nodded in satisfaction.
With everything set up, Han Li glanced at Nangong Wan, who remained seated with her eyes closed, deep in her spellcasting. The flames around her had now formed a large crimson disk, pulsing eerily between brightness and dimness.
As the flames fluctuated, the spiritual energy in the hall began to ripple and grow increasingly turbulent.
Frowning slightly, Han Li formed a hand seal and directed it at a nearby stone pillar. A layer of azure light instantly enveloped Nangong Wan’s vicinity, stabilizing the spiritual energy inside and outside the hall.
Seeing this, Han Li smiled. With a wave of his hand, a wicker chair flew over, which he placed beneath him before sitting down opposite Nangong Wan, silently watching her.
Given such a rare opportunity, he intended to feast his eyes on her captivating beauty, easing the longing he had endured for years.
Before long, just as Han Li was lost in his thoughts, his dazed expression abruptly vanished, replaced by a dark frown. In the next instant, his figure blurred without warning, and he disappeared from the chair.
Meanwhile, someone lurking outside the hall, peering in, gasped in alarm upon seeing this and immediately tried to retreat. But it was too late—Han Li’s voice sounded calmly behind her: “Why are you spying? Aren’t you afraid your grandmaster will punish you?”
“I wasn’t spying! I just got worried since Grandmaster and you have been inside for so long without coming out.” The person stammered nervously, not daring to turn around. Her voice was clear and delicate—it was the yellow-robed maiden who had guided Han Li earlier.
Now feeling the immense spiritual pressure behind her, she trembled as she explained.
“Oh? Is that so? Then why were you sneaking around with a concealment technique? And this ‘Spirit Veil Talisman’ on you is a rare high-grade item. How did a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like you obtain it?” Han Li stood with his hands behind his back, his expression cold as he stared at the girl’s slender figure.
“I—”
“No more excuses. Come with me quietly. Your grandmaster will decide how to deal with you once she’s finished.” The girl panicked and tried to protest, but Han Li had no patience left, cutting her off with a frosty tone.
Hearing this, the yellow-robed maiden finally grew terrified. She crushed another talisman in her hand, and with a flash of yellow light, she transformed into a streak of light, shooting down the corridor in an attempt to escape.
Han Li watched coldly, making no move to pursue. But just as the yellow streak had traveled about thirty feet, nearing a corner, a section of the wall suddenly released a cloud of pink mist, enveloping the fleeing figure.
The girl’s light dissipated, and her body swayed in the mist before collapsing.
With a flicker of yellow light, Silvermoon leaped out from the wall where the mist had emerged. Swishing her elegant fox tail, she sauntered over to the unconscious girl with a playful grin.
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