In recent days, along a certain stretch of the border between the Yu Kingdom and the Beiliang Kingdom, groups of spell warriors and cultivators descended from the skies on both sides, dozens of miles apart, riding their magical instruments and treasures. They methodically set up large camps using existing strongholds. Overnight, numerous formidable and intricate formations emerged one after another, transforming this once-desolate area into a place of surging momentum and palpable killing intent. Small teams of cultivators and spell warriors took to the skies, patrolling the perimeters of their camps, as if wary of sudden attacks from the opposing side.
As days passed, more cultivators and spell warriors gathered here, with defensive restrictions of all sizes lining both sides of the border. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Occasionally, patrols from both sides would cross paths at the center of the border. Though they exchanged cold stares, they managed to restrain themselves from engaging in combat. After all, fighting now would serve no strategic purpose. Instead, they suppressed their anger, biding their time for the inevitable life-and-death battle to come.
By the sixth day, the formations and restrictions on both the Tiannan and Mulan sides were nearly complete. Everyone began to keep a low profile, conserving their energy within their camps. Even the number of patrols dwindled significantly, though high-ranking cultivators started appearing more frequently among them. The leaders of both the spell warriors and cultivators were busy in their camps, meticulously planning their final strategies.
To the north of the Tiannan cultivators’ camp lay the direction of Tianyi City, where the defensive restrictions were relatively fewer compared to the spell warriors’ side. However, the necessary sentries and patrols were all in place, even slightly increased. Under these circumstances, a team of over ten cultivators was flying leisurely about twenty miles away from the camp.
The leader was a beautiful young woman in her twenties, at the early Core Formation stage, while the others behind her were at the Foundation Establishment stage. With the impending battle, none dared to be careless. Despite it being a routine patrol, the group remained highly vigilant, constantly scanning their surroundings. Only the young woman at the front appeared somewhat composed, though she too had extended her spiritual sense to its limit, probing for any anomalies nearby.
Suddenly, the woman’s expression shifted, and her flight abruptly halted as she looked up in surprise toward the distance. The other cultivators, startled, followed her gaze but saw nothing.
“Senior Xiao, you…?” a blue-robed cultivator asked hesitantly, but before he could finish, a white flash appeared on the distant horizon, followed by a speck of light speeding toward them.
“That’s incredibly fast!” one cultivator exclaimed. In the blink of an eye, the white speck grew larger, and something indistinct could be seen within its glow.
“It must be a senior arriving. However, as per protocol, I must go and inquire. The rest of you, stay here,” the young woman said calmly, her elegant demeanor unwavering. With a flicker of yellow light around her, she flew toward the white light.
The other cultivators exchanged bewildered glances but said nothing. They were not from the same sect as the woman and, given their lower cultivation and status, dared not voice any objections.
The woman had barely flown a short distance when she stopped, as the white light had already reached her. It coalesced into a dazzling orb, revealing a peculiar vehicle-like artifact with shadowy figures inside.
“Junior Xiao Cuier of the Yellow Maple Valley pays respects to the senior. May I inquire about your identity? I am acting under orders and must ask for your understanding,” the beautiful woman said politely, though inwardly startled.
“Oh? Xiao Cuier?” came a surprised voice from within the white light.
“Senior knows me?” Xiao Cuier blinked her clear, bright eyes, her expression one of astonishment. Among the Nascent Soul cultivators she knew, none matched this description, yet the voice sounded vaguely familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
As she stared curiously at the glowing orb, the white light flickered and dimmed, revealing its contents.
A strange white flying vehicle stood before her, carrying two young cultivators—a man in a plain blue robe with an ordinary appearance and a stunningly beautiful woman in a white dress.
“Uncle Han!” Xiao Cuier gasped, covering her mouth with a delicate hand, her eyes wide with disbelief at the sight of the blue-robed man.
“Little girl, you’ve grown up. You’re quite different from before,” Han Li remarked, a faint smile playing on his lips as he studied her familiar, lovely face.
“Uncle Han, it really is you! Senior Sister Nie and Senior Brother Lei mentioned your advancement to Nascent Soul, but I still found it hard to believe,” Xiao Cuier exclaimed, her demeanor suddenly reminiscent of the young girl she had been when they first met.
“Running into them was just a coincidence,” Han Li replied casually. He had personally brought her into the Yellow Maple Valley, and though their interactions had been limited, he felt a certain connection to her. Moreover, as the direct disciple of his late Senior Brother Ma, Han Li held her in higher regard than Nie Ying or Lei Wanhe, not entirely devoid of sentiment.
The woman surnamed Song, standing nearby, silently mused over the exchange. She had vaguely heard that her senior uncle had once been a disciple of the Yellow Maple Valley. Now, it seemed he had encountered an old acquaintance. The young woman before them appeared exceptionally intelligent—what was her relationship with her senior uncle?
Regardless of Song’s thoughts, Han Li and Xiao Cuier began reminiscing about the past, including how Xiao Cuier and the old man had narrowly escaped the demonic path’s pursuit and returned to the Yellow Maple Valley, the passing of Senior Brother Ma, and her fortuitous breakthrough to the Core Formation stage. Han Li couldn’t help but marvel at how swiftly things had changed.
After a while, however, Xiao Cuier hesitated before finally asking, “Uncle Han, is it true you’ve become an elder of the Falling Cloud Sect and won’t be returning?” Her voice carried a hint of hope.
The current Yellow Maple Valley was in an awkward position. Despite having the mid-Nascent Soul Elder Fox as its pillar, the sect lacked other Nascent Soul cultivators to succeed him. Once his lifespan ended, the sect’s standing among the six major sects would plummet, leaving it vulnerable. This concern weighed heavily not only on Lei Wanhe and others but also on younger Core Formation disciples like Xiao Cuier. Nie Ying and others aware of her connection to Han Li had urged her to try persuading him, hoping he might reconsider out of old sentiment. Thus, despite knowing Han Li had already refused Lei Wanhe, Xiao Cuier felt compelled to bring it up again.
“Returning is impossible. The Falling Cloud Sect has treated me well, and I won’t leave. Let’s not discuss this further,” Han Li replied, his smile fading as he shook his head.
“But what about the future of our Yellow Maple Valley…” Xiao Cuier’s expression darkened with resignation.
“Don’t worry too much. I once made a deal with Elder Fox. If the Yellow Maple Valley faces a true crisis, I will intervene within certain limits,” Han Li said with a sigh, vaguely disclosing the arrangement.
“Really? Thank you, Uncle Han!” Xiao Cuier’s spirits lifted instantly.
“Enough of that. As Senior Brother Ma’s only disciple and after so many years apart, I can’t help but offer you some assistance. This is a treasure I obtained from slaying another Core Formation cultivator. Though it can’t serve as your primary weapon, it has unique uses in battle. And this pill will greatly aid your cultivation and breakthrough. Take them both.” Han Li retrieved a green ring and a bottle of pills from his storage bag and handed them to her.
“Thank you for your generosity, Uncle Han!” Xiao Cuier bowed deeply before joyfully accepting the gifts.
“Alright, I must head to the camp to meet those old monsters. I won’t delay any longer. Perhaps we’ll meet again someday.” Once she had stored the items, Han Li bid her farewell calmly. Without waiting for her response, he tapped the flying vehicle with his foot, and a brilliant white light enveloped him and Song, their figures blurring once more.
“Farewell, Uncle Han!” Xiao Cuier could only offer a hurried bow as the light streaked away into the sky. She stood motionless, staring blankly at the vanishing speck.
Her subordinates finally caught up, buzzing with curiosity.
“Senior Xiao, who was that? A Nascent Soul cultivator?”
“But he looked so young!” they clamored.
“Enough questions. He is indeed a Nascent Soul senior who once greatly aided me. He’s not someone we should discuss lightly. Let’s continue our patrol,” Xiao Cuier said sternly, her icy gaze silencing them immediately.
After parting with Xiao Cuier, Han Li and Song proceeded toward the camp at a reduced speed. Finding the flying vehicle too conspicuous, Han Li stored it away, and the two continued on their own power. Song tactfully refrained from asking about the earlier encounter, earning Han Li’s silent approval.
Soon, a massive, five-colored light barrier came into view, enveloping the entire camp in its radiant glow.
Before they could descend, another patrol team hurried to meet them. After verifying their identities, the team opened a passage, allowing them to enter respectfully.
Once inside, Han Li and Song went their separate ways. Song headed to report to Lü Luo before joining her assigned team, while Han Li proceeded directly to the camp’s center to meet the three leading figures, including Supreme Yang Sage.
Pleased to see Han Li arrive as promised, they exchanged pleasantries before briefing him on the battle arrangements. Han Li, uninterested in the details, soon excused himself. He retired to a solitary stone hut allocated to him, where he sat cross-legged, meditating to conserve his energy.
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