Upon hearing Lü Luo’s words, Senior Brother Cheng was also startled and quickly scanned Han Li with his spiritual sense. He discovered that Han Li’s aura was restrained, his energy contained, and his body exuded an inner glow—clear signs of having advanced to mid-Nascent Soul stage. He couldn’t help but freeze in shock.
“I knew both senior brothers would quickly discern the truth with your sharp eyes. Indeed, I encountered a great opportunity in the Fallen Devil Valley. After arduous cultivation, I managed to advance. Even I didn’t expect to reach mid-Nascent Soul stage so quickly. However, if not for knowing that Senior Brothers were safeguarding Wan’er, ensuring her safety, I would have been too anxious to focus on cultivation during these years of entrapment. For this, I must thank you both sincerely.” Han Li sighed, clasping his fists in gratitude.
“Junior Brother, there’s no need for such words! Since Senior Sister Nan Gong recognized me as her elder brother, protecting her was only natural. Moreover, as her senior brother, I’ve done nothing truly useful—she remains trapped in ice. It’s truly shameful!” Senior Brother Cheng finally snapped out of his shock over Han Li’s advancement and hastily replied with humility.
“Junior Brother, advancing to mid-Nascent Soul stage in less than three hundred years would shock the entire South Heaven if word got out. It seems that not only will you reach late-Nascent Soul stage, but even the Divine Transformation stage is within your grasp!” Lü Luo couldn’t help but interject, his tone filled with envy. Such rapid progress was rare even in the history of South Heaven’s cultivation world. At this point, speed had little to do with innate talent—it was mostly a matter of fate and opportunity, something no one could force.
Han Li naturally offered a few modest words before deliberately shifting the topic, asking about the events in the Fallen Devil Valley after his disappearance. Information from those who had personally witnessed the battle would be far more reliable than hearsay.
The old man couldn’t help but smile bitterly at Han Li’s question.
It turned out that after Han Li was swallowed by the spatial rift, the other ancient demon had flown into a rage. Just as the old man thought his life was forfeit, other cultivators arrived in time.
Even with the reinforcements joining forces with Wei Wuyan and the others, they were still no match for the ancient demon, which had transformed into a two-headed, four-armed monstrosity. The situation quickly became dire. At the critical moment, the Mulan people finally arrived.
With their combined efforts, they managed to trap the demon. After a fierce battle, with the assistance of the Mulan Sacred Bird summoned by the Mulan woman surnamed Yue, they severely wounded the demon. The Mulan’s Zhong Divine Master even managed to sever one of its heads. However, the demon ultimately escaped.
Many Nascent Soul cultivators perished in the battle, including Nan Gong Wan’s senior sister, who was struck by a blast of demonic flames, reducing even her Nascent Soul to ashes. Linghu Laozu fared slightly better, but his physical body was destroyed, leaving only his Nascent Soul to escape.
The Ghost Spirit Sect suffered the worst. Elder Zhong had his Nascent Soul ripped out and devoured by the demon. Aside from a few Core Formation cultivators, all high-ranking members of the Ghost Spirit Sect who entered the valley perished—an outcome that shocked everyone.
The rest of the events aligned with what Huang Yuanming had told him. Initially, they believed the demon would not last long in the human realm, as recorded in ancient texts, so they didn’t pursue it after leaving the valley. However, the demon somehow defied expectations, refusing to return to its own realm and instead wreaking havoc across South Heaven, devouring Nascent Souls and inciting widespread fury, leading to a massive hunt.
Hearing this, Han Li frowned and asked, “I’ve heard various rumors about the battle to exterminate the demon, but with the two great cultivators and a Mulan Divine Master joining forces, was it truly not slain on the spot? Given your status, Senior Brothers, you must know the truth.” His expression grew solemn as he recalled the demon’s ferocity, sending a chill down his spine.
“Neither of us participated in the hunt, but according to alliance reports, the demon was indeed mortally wounded. Yet, it managed to escape using some bizarre secret technique. The Supreme Yang Sage and others pursued relentlessly, determined to eradicate it, chasing it all the way to the edge of the Mulan Grassland. Only their wariness of the Uptala cultivators forced them to abandon the chase. However, the demon hasn’t reappeared in South Heaven since, and the Uptala region has remained peaceful. It’s likely the demon either succumbed to its injuries or crossed the Mulan Grassland to the Great Jin Empire,” the old man explained in detail.
“The Great Jin?” Han Li’s expression flickered briefly before returning to normal.
Senior Brother Cheng and Lü Luo noticed Han Li’s hesitation but tactfully refrained from pressing further. After all, Han Li’s current power and cultivation far surpassed theirs, and they couldn’t help but feel a trace of awe in his presence.
After discussing a few more matters, Han Li finally revealed that he had found a cure in the Fallen Devil Valley and intended to attempt breaking Nan Gong Wan’s curse.
Overjoyed, the two senior brothers immediately abandoned further conversation and escorted Han Li to the restricted area.
At the entrance, they stopped, vowing to guard the place while Han Li worked on the curse. Han Li thanked them and soon stood before the stone door of the chamber.
The restrictions outside the door showed no signs of tampering since his last visit, indicating the two had only probed Nan Gong Wan’s condition with their spiritual senses without entering. This further pleased Han Li.
With a series of hand seals, the door glowed and opened with a muffled thud. Han Li stepped inside silently.
The door closed behind him.
The chamber remained unchanged, illuminated by moonstones embedded in the ceiling. The ice wall shimmered faintly, encasing Nan Gong Wan in her childlike form, her eyes closed and face pale.
A flicker of sorrow crossed Han Li’s face as he approached the ice wall. He gazed at her pale visage, his expression complex.
After a long silence, he exhaled deeply and retrieved a jade box from his storage pouch. Inside lay a thumb-sized crimson orb—a demon core—pulsing with a mysterious red glow.
Han Li examined it closely before exhaling a wisp of azure energy, lifting the core toward the ice wall. A murmured incantation later, the core passed effortlessly through the ice, stopping before Nan Gong Wan’s lips.
With a gesture, her lips parted slightly, and the core slipped inside. A faint red glow suffused her pale face, though her eyes remained shut.
Han Li sighed, knowing patience was key—even if the core worked, the curse wouldn’t lift overnight. Yet he lingered, silently watching her, his mind drifting to their first meeting.
Time passed unnoticed as he stood motionless before the ice wall.
Much later, Han Li finally left the chamber, reset the restrictions, and retraced his steps.
Senior Brother Cheng and Lü Luo were still waiting, concerned. Han Li offered a tired smile, explaining that it would take days to know if the curse could be broken. Exhausted from his journey, he bid them farewell and returned to his cave.
There would be time for further discussions later. For now, Han Li transformed into a streak of azure light, heading toward the Twin Peaks.
From their earlier conversation, he knew his cave had been maintained in his absence under the two’s orders. His concubine, Mu Peiling, still resided in the subsidiary peak, now at the False Core stage, nearing Core Formation.
This unexpected news reminded Han Li of the Phoenix Nurturing Art. With his ample supply of Core Formation aids and her excellent aptitude, she had over a seventy percent chance of success.
However, his own breakthrough had altered his plans. The Phoenix Nurturing Art could also aid in advancing to late-Nascent Soul stage, but required deeper mastery and her reaching late-Core Formation stage.
Originally, he had intended to let her cultivate the art for decades before taking her primal yin and leaving her fate to her own. Now, given the centuries he might need to reach mid-Nascent Soul’s peak, nurturing her properly became essential—especially since the art wasn’t top-tier and required elixirs to accelerate her progress.
Lost in thought, Han Li soon arrived at the Twin Peaks. With a wave of his sleeve, the sea of clouds parted, revealing a path. He flew leisurely toward the main peak.
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