While cautiously facing Han Li, Huang Yuanming and the other cultivators couldn’t help but steal glances toward the pool.
It turned out that the small half-pool of spiritual spring water had been reduced by more than half after Han Li’s accidental plunge, leaving only a pitifully thin layer of residual water.
Seeing this, the three old men felt an extreme pang of heartache. However, facing Han Li, whose cultivation was unfathomable, they could only feign ignorance and force smiles, lest they offend this venerable senior and bring calamity upon their families.
As Han Li evaporated the water from his body, he also caught the peculiar fragrance of the spiritual spring. After a brief moment of contemplation, he instinctively turned his head to glance back at the pool.
This seemingly casual glance from Han Li sent waves of unease through the three elders. They had guarded this spiritual spring for so many years—what if this senior took a liking to it? If so, they would have no choice but to offer it willingly, not daring to refuse.
Han Li’s gaze merely swept over the pool without any trace of greed. Instead, he turned back and said indifferently, “It’s been a long time since I last ventured into the world, and I’m unfamiliar with recent events in Tiannan. Could the three of you enlighten me on major happenings in recent years?”
“Of course, Senior! If you don’t mind, please accompany us to the Huang family’s main hall. We can serve you tea while answering any questions you may have. We will hold nothing back,” Huang Yuanming said respectfully, greatly relieved that Han Li showed no interest in their spiritual spring.
The other two elders also sighed in relief.
“Very well. I do have quite a few questions, so I’ll trouble the three of you,” Han Li replied, glancing at the younger disciples of the three families before nodding in agreement.
“Not at all! Hosting a senior of your stature is an honor for our Huang family!” Huang Yuanming said with delight, his face beaming. He quickly instructed a few disciples to rush back and make preparations, ensuring nothing would be lacking in their hospitality. Then, he personally led Han Li away from the site, heading toward a cluster of pavilions in the middle of the mountain.
The other two elders also gave orders to their clansmen before hurrying after them, following respectfully at a close distance.
“The three of your families living together in one place—that’s quite rare, isn’t it?” Han Li asked casually as they walked, having already learned the general location and background of the three elders.
“You jest, Senior. We had no choice but to settle here, as we couldn’t establish ourselves elsewhere,” Huang Yuanming replied with a bitter smile.
“I noticed some of your younger disciples have decent aptitudes. Why haven’t they been sent to major cultivation sects? Even if they can’t become direct disciples, they might still qualify as outer disciples,” Han Li remarked with a hint of curiosity.
“Senior, you may not know this, but while Dongyu Country has many cultivation sects, most already have established cultivation families supplying disciples or are outright controlled by such families. Small, insignificant clans like ours have no chance of catching their attention. Even if we occasionally produce one or two outstanding disciples, we dare not send them to join these sects—we need them to stay and uphold our family’s reputation,” explained one of the elders, a plump-faced man, his expression tinged with resignation.
Had these family elders joined major sects in their youth, their cultivation might have advanced further. But for the sake of their families’ survival, they had no choice but to stay—a common plight for minor clans.
Han Li’s eyes flickered briefly before he nodded faintly and dropped the subject, as a cluster of pavilions came into view ahead.
The elder led Han Li straight to the tallest of the buildings.
Moments later, they arrived at the pavilion’s entrance, where two rows of young female disciples stood waiting respectfully.
“Senior, please enter! Our Lingling Mountain doesn’t produce spiritual herbs or fruits, but we do have a decent spiritual tea. Please enjoy a few cups,” Huang Yuanming said as he ushered Han Li into the hall.
Han Li strode in without ceremony.
The hall wasn’t particularly large—only about twenty to thirty zhang in area—but it was more than sufficient for a small family.
Under the respectful gazes of the three elders, Han Li calmly took the seat of honor while they remained standing before him, not daring to sit alongside him due to the vast difference in status and cultivation. Han Li made no show of false modesty.
Soon, a strikingly beautiful female disciple approached with a tea tray, carefully brewing a cup of fragrant tea for Han Li before retreating.
Han Li took a sip. The initial bitterness soon gave way to a refreshing, lingering aroma. “Not bad. This is indeed a rare spiritual tea,” he remarked with a faint smile.
“Senior, your cultivation is profound, yet your face is unfamiliar. Might you not be from Dongyu Country?” the round-faced elder ventured cautiously.
“I am indeed not a cultivator from Dongyu Country. But rest assured—once I’ve clarified a few matters, I’ll depart immediately and return to my homeland. I won’t overstay my welcome,” Han Li replied, his expression unreadable as he glanced at the elder.
“Senior misunderstands! Merely meeting you is an immense fortune for us. We would never dream of driving you away,” Huang Yuanming hastily interjected, his face paling.
“Enough. I, too, was once a lowly cultivator. I understand your concerns and hopes. If your answers satisfy me, I may even grant you some benefits. After all, our meeting is not without fate,” Han Li said, waving off the elder’s anxious explanations with a calm demeanor.
“Senior, please ask whatever you wish! Though our families are small, we are well-informed and will strive to satisfy you!” Huang Yuanming said eagerly, his reverence deepening.
Han Li smiled faintly. Even without offering rewards, he doubted these men would dare deceive him. But with incentives, they would surely speak more freely—perhaps even divulging things they normally wouldn’t.
“Twenty years ago, the Fallen Devil Valley opened, and many cultivators entered in search of treasures. Given your proximity to Changzhou, you must know something of this. Tell me the general course of events,” Han Li said, his expression unreadable.
“The Fallen Devil Valley? Of course we know of this,” Huang Yuanming replied, surprised by the question but answering without hesitation.
After organizing his thoughts, he continued, “The mass entry into the valley occurred over twenty years ago. The Ghost Spirit Sect had discovered a safe method of entry, allowing hundreds of Core Formation and above cultivators to venture inside in search of ancient relics. However, the valley was perilous beyond measure. Though most stayed in the outer regions, many still perished to its traps and spatial rifts—fewer than half emerged alive.
“Worse yet, the Ghost Spirit Sect’s group accidentally released two ancient demons capable of devouring Nascent Souls in the inner valley. The sect leader and others died on the spot. These demons were terrifyingly powerful. It’s said that the Nascent Soul cultivators who entered the inner valley joined forces against them, with even the three great cultivators—Senior Wei and the Mulan Divine Masters—stepping in. They barely managed to slay one demon, while the other escaped the valley.
“The battle left many dead, including several renowned seniors. Yet the valley lived up to its reputation as a graveyard of ancient cultivators—those who survived emerged with treasures. Some even found pills and techniques to extend lifespan or break through bottlenecks, causing a sensation across Tiannan.
“Later, envious cultivators recklessly re-entered the valley despite the unstable spatial rifts, using the Ghost Spirit Sect’s teleportation formation. None returned, finally deterring others. The valley was once again sealed as a forbidden land.”
“One demon escaped. What became of it?” Han Li’s expression darkened.
“Ah, that demon nearly brought another catastrophe to Tiannan,” Huang Yuanming said, his face grim.
Han Li frowned but remained silent, waiting.
“At first, some seniors claimed such demons couldn’t linger in our world and would eventually return to their realm. But this one rampaged unchecked, ambushing high-level cultivators and devouring their Nascent Souls to recover its strength. Within a year, six or seven Nascent Soul cultivators fell prey to it, with no signs of its departure.
“Realizing the demon had found a way to stay, the three great cultivators assembled a team of over a dozen mid-Nascent Soul seniors to hunt it. Yet the demon was cunning, avoiding direct confrontation and targeting isolated victims. It even attacked the Mulan, prompting them to join the hunt.
“Cornered, the demon grew frenzied, slaughtering not just high-level cultivators but low-level ones as well. In its final months, it massacred over a dozen cultivation families and minor sects. None could resist.
“Finally, a dying elder of a demonic sect cast a secret tracking art on it, allowing the hunters to corner it at Luohun Mountain in Fengdu Country. By then, the demon had nearly regained its peak strength—comparable to a Deity Transformation cultivator. Two great cultivators and a Mulan Divine Master joined forces against it. The battle raged so fiercely that others couldn’t intervene, and the mountain’s peak was leveled.” Huang Yuanming paused, his face still etched with awe.
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