After spending the night in the woods, Han Li stowed away the Skyfiend Corpse the next day and headed straight for the Ten Thousand Spirit Mountain.
Before finding Ziling and the others yesterday, he hadn’t spotted any disciples of the Heavenly Extremes Sect in the city. Thus, despite holding the token given by the sect’s elder, he couldn’t use it immediately, let alone locate Marquis Nanlong. It seemed either the Heavenly Extremes Sect had another residence or their members hadn’t arrived yet.
Han Li wasn’t in a hurry. He planned to find a temporary place near Ten Thousand Spirit Mountain to settle down and refine some Core Formation puppets. With the Two Extremes Ring in his possession, even if he didn’t actively seek out Marquis Nanlong, the latter would likely come to him.
By now, Han Li vaguely understood that the so-called Arctic Divine Light mentioned by Marquis Nanlong couldn’t be at the entrance of the outer valley—it was probably in the passage leading to the inner valley. Otherwise, even with their formidable abilities, the Ghost Spirit Sect wouldn’t have been able to guide hundreds of cultivators past the Arctic Divine Light into the valley.
Lost in thought, Han Li transformed into a streak of azure light, advancing unhurriedly. At his speed, the distant Yehua City vanished from sight in moments, and he was already dozens of miles away.
At this pace, reaching the vicinity of Ten Thousand Spirit Mountain would take only half a day.
He had heard that several marketplaces near Ten Thousand Spirit Mountain had already opened in anticipation of the influx of cultivators. Han Li intended to visit these markets first to procure materials for puppet refinement. During the border war, he had acquired rare materials worth nearly ten million spirit stones—equivalent to the entire reserves of a mid-sized sect—through gambling and the ancient lamp inherited from the Mulan people. These materials were enough for him to craft a terrifying number of high-tier puppets. Thus, what he sought in the markets were common materials for puppet-making.
As for the ancient Nascent Soul-level puppets he longed to refine, although he had found two or three of the missing materials in the Far West’s Thousand Bamboo Sect, he was still short of one called “Blood Phoenix Wood.”
This material was a rare, top-tier refinement resource. Though not as hard to obtain as Gold Essence, it was still something that couldn’t be bought easily—its acquisition depended purely on luck.
Fortunately, Han Li had already instructed the Falling Cloud Sect disciples to keep an eye out for it. Once news of its availability surfaced, they were to secure it immediately or notify him. It was only a matter of time before he obtained it, though it would certainly be too late before entering the Fallen Devil Valley.
Suddenly, Han Li’s expression shifted, and his flight slowed. Ahead, spiritual energy surged, and flashes of light indicated a fierce battle between cultivators. Frowning slightly but unfazed—given the chaotic mix of people here and the lack of oversight, clashes between enemies were common—he continued.
With his cultivation, Han Li closed the distance to within a few hundred feet in an instant, unnoticed by the battling cultivators. Four men and one woman were divided into opposing sides.
A quick scan revealed they were all at the Core Formation stage, mostly early to mid-tier. However, their grudge seemed deep—magical treasures clashed in the air, and talismans exploded incessantly.
Surprisingly, the side with two men and one woman was being thoroughly suppressed by the other two. This wasn’t due to superior cultivation but because the latter duo controlled hundreds of giant moths, encircling the trio.
These palm-sized monstrous moths flapped their wings, releasing clouds of multicolored poisonous powder. The three opponents spent most of their energy shielding themselves from the toxins, leaving them vulnerable to the duo’s magical treasures. Naturally, they were at a disadvantage.
Still, Han Li observed that while the trio was struggling, the battle wouldn’t be decided quickly. Aside from the poisonous moths and a silver giant brush and golden scroll wielded by a robed scholar—which caught his interest—the rest of the fight was beneath his notice.
Uninterested in the factions involved, Han Li was about to pass by when he noticed a yellow maple leaf emblem on the scholar’s sleeve.
“Yellow Maple Valley?” Han Li paused, surprised. His gaze lingered on the scholar’s face, and his expression shifted slightly. Just then, the two dominating cultivators noticed Han Li’s presence within a hundred feet.
Startled, they scanned him with their spiritual sense and paled instantly.
“Which esteemed senior has arrived? This junior, a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, pays respects!” The duo hastily withdrew their treasures, leaving only the moths to harass the trio, and bowed respectfully from a distance.
“Beast Taming Sect? You two are demonic cultivators?” Hearing this, Han Li flew directly above them, halting his light and revealing himself.
“You—you’re Senior Han of the Falling Cloud Sect!” The taller cultivator blurted out in shock upon recognizing him.
“You know me?” Han Li glanced at him indifferently. “This junior participated in the border war and witnessed Senior’s prowess,” the Beast Taming Sect disciple replied nervously but respectfully.
“Good. While I’ve no interest in meddling in juniors’ affairs, I have ties to Yellow Maple Valley. Withdraw your spirit insects, and consider this matter settled.” Han Li cut straight to the point, his gaze sharp.
The two exchanged uneasy glances. “Is there a problem?” Han Li’s tone turned cold.
“Of course not, Senior! We obey!” The taller cultivator, realizing their position, quickly complied. Signaling his companion, they summoned the moths back into spirit beast pouches.
Freed from the assault, the trio flew toward Han Li, bewildered but grateful. Meanwhile, the Beast Taming Sect cultivators, unwilling to linger, bowed hastily. “Does Senior have further instructions?”
“None. You may leave.” Han Li waved dismissively. Relieved, the two fled as green streaks.
As the trio approached, the robed scholar stepped forward and bowed deeply. “We owe our lives to Senior’s intervention. May we know your esteemed name?” He studied Han Li’s youthful face, struck by an odd sense of familiarity.
“Are you from Yellow Maple Valley?” Han Li ignored the question, his expression unreadable.
“This junior is Chen Qiaotian of Yellow Maple Valley. These are my sworn siblings from the Saber Transformation Sect. Does Senior know our Ancestor Linghu?” the scholar ventured cautiously, assuming Han Li’s aid stemmed from a connection to their patriarch.
“Chen Qiaotian… of the Chen Clan?” Han Li’s voice held a strange note. “Senior knows of my family?” Chen Qiaotian gaped in surprise.
Han Li fell silent, scrutinizing him until the trio grew uneasy. “The Chen Clan is one of Yellow Maple Valley’s three great cultivation families. How could I not know? What’s your relation to Chen Qiaoxin?”
“Senior knows my sister?” Chen Qiaotian blurted, stunned. “Chen Qiaoxin is your sister?” Though Han Li had guessed, confirmation still surprised him. Chen Qiaotian, equally baffled, wondered what tied this exalted figure to his sister.
“How… is Chen Qiaoxin?” After a long pause, Han Li finally asked. “She never reached Core Formation. Over a century ago, she succumbed to a strange illness,” Chen Qiaotian replied, his expression odd.
“Gone…” Han Li murmured almost inaudibly, his mind flooding with memories of Chen Qiaoxin’s beauty and their final mountain stroll where she bared her heart. He stood frozen, lost in thought.
“Senior knew her well?” Chen Qiaotian pressed after a prolonged silence. “Yes. When I last saw her, she spoke of an impending marriage. After the demonic invasion, I never learned if it happened,” Han Li replied, suppressing a pang of sorrow.
(Note: The translation maintains the original names, cultivation terms, and stylistic nuances while ensuring natural English flow. Key terms like “Core Formation,” “Nascent Soul,” and sect names are preserved as per the context provided.)
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage