Everything in the cave abode remained unchanged. Even the Three-Colored Gold Devouring Beetles he had released to guard the place before leaving were still condensed into a three-colored sphere, hanging motionless in the center of the hall. The transplanted Profound Heaven Vine and the Nine-Curve Spirit Ginseng in the herb garden were also intact, as if he had only left yesterday.
The remnants of the Profound Heaven Vine were one thing—Han Li held little hope of reviving it. But the Nine-Curve Spirit Ginseng was extraordinary, a spiritual herb long extinct in the outside world. Moreover, this ginseng had developed sentience long ago and even possessed a semi-humanoid form, making it exceptionally rare. If it weren’t so inconvenient to carry around, Han Li would have transplanted it with him. Unfortunately, none of the ancient pill recipes he had obtained so far required this ginseng, so he could only sigh and leave it be for now.
Aside from the herbs in the garden, the eggs of the Six-Winged Frost Centipede and most of the Gold Devouring Beetles had been taken with him in a spirit beast pouch when he left last time, so there was no need to worry about them. In fact, the twenty-four eggs of the Six-Winged Frost Centipede had hatched shortly after he set out for the Far West.
However, during the twenty-plus years trapped in the spatial rift, the small vial could no longer produce green liquid, leaving these spirit insects stuck in their larval stage, never advancing. Han Li had stored them in a specially made spirit beast pouch, keeping them in a dormant state—a somewhat regrettable situation.
Now, Han Li first returned the batch of Gold Devouring Beetles awaiting evolution to their insect chamber. Then, he took out the extremely cold, specially made spirit beast pouch and entered the adjacent chamber originally used to rear the Six-Winged Frost Centipedes.
He lightly tipped the pouch toward the chamber entrance, and a white mist swept out, revealing over twenty centipede larvae, each several inches long, in the center of the room. These larvae were snow-white and translucent, with no wings yet visible, resembling slightly enlarged white silkworms—far from the fearsome appearance of their adult form.
When Han Li first obtained the Six-Winged Frost Centipedes, he wasn’t sure if they truly evolved by devouring each other under the influence of the Rainbow Skirt Grass. He had merely wanted to test the idea, but to his delight, they indeed possessed this evolutionary trait.
Originally, he had only intended to use their frost energy to cultivate his Violet Heavenly Flame. However, after the battle in the Fallen Demon Valley, he began to consider other possibilities.
While the Gold Devouring Beetles were incredibly lethal, their flight speed was noticeably slow. Even if fully matured, they would likely remain limited against exceptionally fast enemies or in certain situations. The Six-Winged Frost Centipedes, on the other hand, ranked highly among rare insects not only for their terrifying frost breath but also for their unmatched speed.
At the two-winged stage, their speed was already comparable to ordinary spirit insects. But once they grew another pair of wings, reaching the four-winged stage, their speed would far surpass that of ordinary magic treasures. And most terrifyingly, if they evolved a third pair of wings, their speed would rank among the top three of all spirit insects, said to be truly untraceable—capable of traversing a thousand miles in an instant.
Of course, these descriptions were merely legends recorded in ancient texts. Even in antiquity, few Six-Winged Frost Centipedes had ever reached the six-winged stage. Han Li remained only half-convinced. Still, there was no doubt that the Six-Winged Frost Centipede was an ancient spirit insect renowned for its incredible speed.
Having suffered greatly from the ghostly movements of the ancient demon in their battle, Han Li naturally considered cultivating the Six-Winged Frost Centipedes to their peak stage. Moreover, at the six-winged stage, their frost breath would become even more formidable, greatly benefiting his cultivation of the Violet Heavenly Flame.
With this in mind, Han Li now regarded these larvae with special attention. Seeing that they showed no signs of rejecting their new environment, he felt reassured.
Just as he was about to observe them further, his expression suddenly shifted. He glanced toward the cave entrance as if sensing something. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, a streak of white light shot out, and Silvermoon appeared gracefully before him.
“Mu Peiling has arrived outside. Bring her to the main hall. I have some words to share with her,” Han Li instructed calmly.
“As you command, Master,” Silvermoon replied respectfully before vanishing in a silver streak.
Han Li sealed the insect chamber and leisurely returned to the main hall. Moments later, he sat motionless on the main seat, chin resting on his hand, deep in thought.
Soon, light footsteps echoed at the hall entrance. Silvermoon entered first with a smile, followed by Mu Peiling, whom he hadn’t seen in years.
Her beauty remained unchanged—no, it had grown even more enchanting. The icy demeanor she once carried had lessened, replaced by an ethereal grace akin to an orchid in a secluded valley.
“Greetings, Young Master. Congratulations on your safe return and your advancement to mid-Nascent Soul stage,” Mu Peiling said with a slight smile, performing a respectful bow.
“To congratulate me on reaching mid-Nascent Soul upon seeing me—it seems you’ve heard some news. No need for formalities. You accompanied me to the Far West back then, and though the journey was arduous, your efforts were not in vain. There’s no need for such distance between us.” Han Li smiled faintly and gestured for her to rise.
Their three years together in the Far West had brought them closer. Though not intimate, their relationship had improved significantly.
“Thank you, Young Master,” Mu Peiling replied gracefully as she stood.
“After returning from the Far West, I never expected to be trapped in the Fallen Demon Valley for over twenty years right after parting with you. That you remained here all this time shows your dedication.”
“As your concubine and one deeply indebted to you, where else would I go? Besides, I never believed you had truly perished,” Mu Peiling answered with a soft smile.
“I didn’t expect such faith from you. This time was indeed perilous—I nearly didn’t make it back. As for you, despite some pill assistance, your cultivation progress is remarkable. How confident are you in forming your Golden Core soon?” Han Li chuckled before shifting the topic.
“Confidence? The odds of forming a core are less than one in ten. Whether I succeed depends on fate,” Mu Peiling replied with a trace of resignation.
“Fate? Heh, that’s debatable. I can lend you a hand, increasing your chances by another twenty to thirty percent,” Han Li said with a faint smile.
“What? How is that possible? Surely you jest! I’ve never heard of such a pill in the South Heaven Region.” Mu Peiling’s lips parted in astonishment.
“Most of the herbs I possess aren’t from the South Heaven Region, so it’s natural you haven’t heard of them. But I assure you, with your aptitude and these medicines, your chances of forming a core could approach fifty percent. That’s hardly surprising.” Han Li spoke calmly.
Having known Han Li for years, Mu Peiling knew he never exaggerated. She was seventy to eighty percent convinced, yet still hesitated.
“Young Master, telling me this now—do you have further instructions? If so, please speak plainly,” she said softly.
Han Li paused briefly, then decided to be direct. “Do you recall the terms when I took you as my concubine?”
“Of course. You promised me thirty years to cultivate, during which you wouldn’t take my primordial yin,” Mu Peiling replied, her cheeks flushing.
“The agreed time is nearly up. But don’t worry—I won’t interfere during your critical core formation. However, before then, certain matters must be clarified. I want you to weigh the pros and cons carefully. I’d hate to see a situation where I exhaust resources to help you form a core, only for you to regret it later and resent me.” Han Li spoke unhurriedly, aware of her misunderstanding.
“What do you mean, Young Master?” Mu Peiling looked up, puzzled.
“After forming your core, I want you to abandon your current cultivation method and switch to a technique called the Phoenix Reversal Nurturing Art,” Han Li said with a peculiar expression.
“Phoenix Reversal Nurturing Art?” Mu Peiling was taken aback.
“It’s a rare dual cultivation art exclusively for women. When mastered, the first union between the practitioner and her partner grants significant benefits to both—primarily the man, but also aiding in breaking through bottlenecks. I’ll be frank: the woman cultivates it, but the man reaps greater rewards. That’s why I’m compensating you now, helping you form a core. At my current mid-Nascent Soul stage, for this art to aid my breakthrough to late stage, you’d need to cultivate it to late Core Formation.
“If you agree, I’ll continue providing Core Formation pills to accelerate your progress. At the very least, you’ll save a century of arduous cultivation. Of course, if you refuse, I won’t force you. After your core formation attempt—success or not—I’ll lift the soul restriction and grant you freedom. We’ll part ways thereafter.” Han Li’s tone remained neutral.
Mu Peiling was stunned, her mind in turmoil, her expression flickering between emotions.
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