Han Li found himself enveloped in a radiant glow, with swirling auras of light coiling around his body. The surroundings farther away were dim and indistinct. Countless white specks of light, each the size of a bean, danced and floated unpredictably in the air.
Suddenly, Han Li formed hand seals, and spiritual light surged continuously around him. A whirlwind of light erupted from the ground, encasing him in a dazzling spectacle.
The wind grew fiercer and broader, and the distant white specks of light were drawn into it like moths to a flame. Before long, the wind transformed into a colossal pillar, towering into the sky like a celestial support. Wherever the gale passed, sand and stones flew as if a demon had descended upon the world.
At that moment, incantations echoed from within the hurricane. The wind pillar trembled violently before dispersing on its own, reverting to strands of multicolored mist that drifted between heaven and earth.
As the incantations grew slightly urgent, the hues of the mist shifted, turning into a bright blue. The sound of surging water erupted from all directions, and boundless waves of emerald green rose around him, each towering hundreds of feet high, crashing and churning relentlessly. Han Li, now standing atop a massive water column, formed hand seals with dazzling blue light, resembling a water deity, his presence so overwhelming that none dared to look directly at him.
Abruptly, Han Li altered his hand seals, and the incantations deepened in tone. The surrounding waves vanished in an instant, replaced by layers of crimson flames. Over a dozen fiery serpents, each dozens of feet long, emerged within the flames, their heads raised as they spewed fiery orbs…
Thus, after the flames came verdant forests, endless deserts, and icy landscapes—each fantastical scene shifting under Han Li’s control. In that moment, he seemed to have become a divine being, omnipotent and all-powerful.
Filled with confidence, Han Li casually summoned a thousand-foot-tall ancient giant, which pounded its chest and roared at the sky. Suddenly, flashes of silver light appeared at the horizons, transforming into rolling silver tides that surged toward him.
In the blink of an eye, blinding silver light filled the sky, and the giant melted away like snow under its radiance. When the light enveloped Han Li, his eyes burned with pain, forcing him to cover them with his hands as a piercing scream escaped his lips.
Everything collapsed instantly under the silver light.
Dizzy and disoriented, Han Li jolted awake, his eyes snapping open. The silver light, the fantastical landscapes—all had vanished without a trace. He found himself seated in a secluded chamber, drenched in sweat.
Taking a deep breath, Han Li calmed himself and recalled that he was in a hidden chamber within the Fallen Demon Valley. Not long ago, he had consumed a newly refined Creation Pill, and the surreal experience had been nothing more than an illusion induced by the pill’s effects.
Sitting motionless, Han Li reflected on the visions he had experienced, his expression shifting between realization and confusion. Suddenly, he reached behind his back and felt his robe soaked through.
A wry smile tugged at his lips. The Creation Pill was truly miraculous—even with his formidable spiritual sense, he had been instantly plunged into an illusion upon consuming it. In that illusion, he had become someone entirely different, undergoing incredible trials and mastering powerful techniques, moving mountains and summoning storms with effortless ease.
Yet, upon closer reflection, the incantations and techniques he had wielded were now hazy and indistinct, impossible to recall. However, his insights into the spiritual energies of heaven and earth remained vivid, as if he had truly experienced them. These revelations would undoubtedly aid him in breaking through to the next realm.
Han Li closed his eyes again, sitting in silence.
He remained like this for nearly half a day. When he finally opened his eyes, they were clear and composed, all traces of confusion gone.
Rising to his feet, he shook out his sleeves and cast a spell toward a stone door. Spiritual light flickered across the door as it slowly opened, and Han Li strode out unhurriedly.
As soon as he stepped outside, a streak of white light shot from the stone wall and vanished into his sleeve—it was Silvermoon, transformed into a small fox.
“How long have I been in seclusion? Did anything happen during that time?” Han Li asked casually as he walked toward the cave entrance.
“Master, you were in seclusion for two days and nights. During that time, Lady Ziling emerged earlier and came to check on you once. Seeing the restrictions still in place, she left,” Silvermoon replied respectfully.
“Ziling’s cultivation is still shallow, so the effects of the Creation Pill were milder for her. It’s not surprising she emerged earlier. What surprises me is that you refused to take the pill, Silvermoon,” Han Li remarked coolly.
“Master knows I am not a human cultivator but a Silvermoon Wolf Demon. Moreover, I am currently borrowing the body of a fox demon to cultivate, which complicates things further. Unlike human cultivators, I dare not recklessly consume elixirs meant for them, except those that enhance cultivation. I would rather take my time than risk unforeseen consequences,” Silvermoon explained helplessly from within his sleeve.
Han Li frowned slightly, then nodded faintly and said no more.
He had not wasted the remaining Spirit Candle Fruits from refining the pill, consuming them before taking the Creation Pill. Now that their medicinal power had fully integrated, they had indeed boosted his cultivation slightly—truly a rare treasure of heaven and earth!
When Han Li reached the cave entrance, the puppet beasts remained motionless behind the door. He stepped forward, removed a storage pouch from his waist, and tossed it into the air. White mist sprayed from its opening, and the puppet beasts were obediently sucked inside.
With that, Han Li cast a spell to open the cave’s stone door and strode out calmly.
The moment the door opened, a streak of light shot into the sky from a nearby mountain peak, racing toward him.
Glancing at the approaching light, Han Li calmly raised a hand and summoned arrays of green light from the surrounding ground and rocks. The lights transformed into formation flags and disks, neatly landing in his palm.
“Brother Han, you’ve finally emerged! I thought you might remain in seclusion for another half-day,” the streak of light halted above Han Li, revealing Ziling’s figure. Floating in the air, she smiled radiantly, her beauty blooming like a flower, utterly captivating.
“It seems the pill has worked wonders for you, Lady Ziling. Advancing to mid-Core Formation will only require a few years of meditation now. Congratulations,” Han Li offered politely.
“Brother Han jestes. The Creation Pill merely saved me decades of arduous cultivation. For you, however, it holds the promise of advancing to mid-Nascent Soul—that is truly worthy of celebration,” Ziling replied, her bright eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Surely you don’t believe the pill’s effects are the same for Core Formation and Nascent Soul cultivators, do you? While it’s said to benefit all below the Deity Transformation stage, the truth is, the lower one’s cultivation, the greater the effects. Core Formation cultivators are guaranteed to advance, but for Nascent Soul cultivators, it’s far from certain,” Han Li stated calmly.
“Regardless, the pill will undoubtedly aid your advancement, Brother Han. With your talent—reaching Nascent Soul in just over two centuries—mid-Nascent Soul is surely within reach!”
“Talent?” Han Li inwardly scoffed at the notion but merely shook his head slightly without comment.
Ziling pursed her lips, about to say more, when an earth-shattering roar erupted in the distance. The very heavens and earth trembled violently as if struck. Han Li remained steady, but Ziling, still floating in the air, swayed unsteadily, nearly falling.
“What’s happening? What was that?” Ziling exclaimed, her face paling as she stabilized herself.
Equally startled, Han Li ignored her question and coldly gazed toward the source of the noise.
“Hmm, that direction seems to align with the marked location on the map,” he mused, a flicker of suspicion crossing his mind.
At that moment, a white line appeared on the distant horizon, accompanied by a piercing howl like rolling thunder. The line rapidly thickened into an endless expanse of white waves, obliterating every hill and mountain in their path, reducing them to flat land. Countless boulders and yellow earth were swept up in the tide, surging toward Han Li with terrifying speed. Within moments, the waves were mere hundreds of feet away.
“Not good!” Han Li’s expression darkened. Without hesitation, he flicked his sleeve, and a small blue shield flew out, expanding into a massive barrier before him.
Pointing at the shield, he summoned a layer of blue light to encase himself. Still unsatisfied, he opened his mouth and spat out a burst of blue icy flames, which exploded in mid-air a dozen feet ahead.
Brilliant blue light flared, accompanied by a sharp crackling sound as intense cold erupted, rapidly forming a towering iceberg fifty to sixty feet high, now standing between Han Li and the oncoming waves.
Ziling, equally alarmed, hastily summoned an embroidered handkerchief that transformed into a protective mist around her. Seeing Han Li’s iceberg, she quickly descended to his side, relief flashing across her face. Just then, the tidal wave of air crashed upon them with a deafening roar.
The sky darkened abruptly, and the earth shook violently. The iceberg trembled under the impact as dozens of boulders, each the size of millstones, smashed into its opposite side, their cacophony of collisions sending shockwaves through the air, churning one’s blood and inducing profound discomfort.
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