“To cultivate the Phoenix Reversal and Essence Nurturing Art, a female cultivator must remain a virgin. Otherwise, once her purity is lost, all previous efforts will be wasted. Therefore, until you advance to the late Core Formation stage, I won’t ask you to serve me in bed. We can maintain our current relationship as it is. Of course, if you truly help me reach the late Nascent Soul stage, I promise you here and now that I will spare no effort to assist you in condensing your own Nascent Soul. With the full support of a late Nascent Soul cultivator, achieving your Nascent Soul won’t be an unattainable dream.” Han Li stared unblinkingly at Mu Peiling as he spoke slowly.
These words were not false. If Han Li reached the late Nascent Soul stage, he could easily gather more eighth-grade Demon Companion Grass and refine the Nine-Curve Spirit Ginseng elixir again, which greatly aids in forming a Nascent Soul. After all, by then, even eighth-grade demon beasts would pose little threat to him.
Mu Peiling lowered her head in silent contemplation for a while before raising her jade-like face and asking Han Li, “Young Master, is the Phoenix Reversal and Essence Nurturing Art particularly slow to cultivate, or does it have any lingering side effects?”
“No. Aside from its power being inferior to top-tier techniques, it’s actually about thirty percent faster to cultivate than ordinary methods. As for side effects, there are none, though you might be at a slight disadvantage in combat,” Han Li answered without hesitation.
“In that case, Peiling will follow Young Master’s arrangements. I know my own aptitude well—without your help, my chances of successfully forming a core this time would be slim, let alone reaching the Nascent Soul stage, which would be nearly impossible.” The woman looked at Han Li calmly as she spoke.
“I’m pleased with your answer. After spending so much time together, you know me well enough. Though your status is that of a concubine, I won’t be overly harsh on you. Focus on preparing for your Core Formation. When the time comes, I’ll provide you with the necessary spiritual medicine.” Han Li’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had long anticipated her agreement.
“Thank you, Young Master, for your great kindness! Peiling understands the principle of repaying a drop of kindness with a flood of gratitude. From now on, my life is entrusted to you.” Mu Peiling bowed deeply, her face resolute. It was clear that she had now wholeheartedly decided to attach herself to Han Li, no longer wavering in uncertainty. After all, in all of Tiannan, it would be hard to find another cultivator like Han Li—one whose abilities rivaled the Three Great Venerables and who treated his concubines so well.
Moreover, she was well aware that Han Li had already shown her immense favor. Without the pills he had provided earlier, she might still be struggling at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, let alone attempting Core Formation now. This was why she had agreed to his conditions without hesitation.
After Han Li’s frank words, the relationship between the two seemed to grow closer instantly. When Mu Peiling spoke to him again, there was a subtle warmth in her demeanor.
Next, Han Li patiently guided her on matters related to Core Formation. Mu Peiling, knowing this opportunity was rare, listened intently without blinking.
After nearly half a day, she finally felt she had gained enough and prepared to take her leave. There were still many aspects of Han Li’s guidance she needed to prepare for in advance.
Han Li did not press her to stay, merely offering a few more reminders before allowing her to return to her peak. Yin Yue escorted her out of the cave.
When Yin Yue returned to the hall, Han Li was still seated in his chair, now holding a jade slip in his hand, scanning its contents with his spiritual sense. It was the slip detailing the method to refine the imitation Sevenflame Fan.
“Master, do you truly intend to assist her all the way to the late Core Formation stage?” Yin Yue approached quietly and asked in a soft voice.
“Why? Is there something inappropriate about it?” Han Li withdrew his spiritual sense and raised an eyebrow.
“Not at all! I’m just curious. Given your current status, it wouldn’t be difficult to take a Core Formation female cultivator as a concubine directly. Why go to such lengths for her?” Yin Yue’s eyes flickered with puzzlement.
“It’s nothing. After observing her over the years, I’ve found her character to be decent, worth investing effort in. This time, taking her as a concubine isn’t just about using her to break through my bottleneck—I genuinely want to cultivate a capable assistant. In the future, when I’m in long-term seclusion, I’ll need someone close to handle external matters. As an elder of the Falling Cloud Sect, I can’t just ignore everything and focus solely on my cultivation. Nangong Wan isn’t the type to meddle in sect affairs either, so she likely wouldn’t want to deal with such matters. But Mu Peiling is different from us—she isn’t the type to single-mindedly pursue the Heavenly Dao. Once her cultivation reaches a certain level, she’ll likely grow restless. That makes her the perfect candidate to manage sect affairs on my behalf.”
Han Li spoke calmly, then paused before adding, “Of course, the most important point is that the Phoenix Reversal and Essence Nurturing Art requires the woman’s willing cooperation. Without significant favor, why would an ordinary Core Formation female cultivator abandon her long-practiced techniques to cultivate an unknown one? By helping her from the Foundation Establishment stage, aiding her Core Formation, and even offering her a chance at the Nascent Soul stage in the future, she won’t resent me. As she said, without my help, she might have remained a Foundation Establishment cultivator for life. So even if I have some ulterior motives, all she’s lost is a nominal status. Given how much I’ve given her, my conscience is clear.”
With a light sigh, Han Li flicked his wrist, and the jade slip vanished in a flash of spiritual light.
“So that’s your plan, Master. It seems I underestimated your foresight.” Yin Yue tilted her head and smiled sweetly.
“You won’t have much leisure either. Now that I’ve reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage, I plan to enter seclusion in a few days to fully refine the last traces of the Dry Blue Iceflame and study the method to open the Void Heaven Cauldron. You’ll continue managing affairs in the cave.” Han Li glanced at her with a faint smile.
“Master has refined the Iceflame to its final stage? Congratulations!” Yin Yue was first startled, then overjoyed, her delicate face alight with excitement.
“Yes, the first step to opening the cauldron is finally complete. I wonder what conditions are needed for the next step. Well, I’m a bit tired now. I’ll rest today and handle any matters tomorrow morning.” Han Li stood and walked toward his bedroom.
Yin Yue stared at his retreating figure, lost in thought for a moment, before gracefully exiting the hall.
The night passed without incident. The next morning, as soon as Han Li awoke from meditation, Yin Yue came to report that Senior Brother Cheng and Lü Luo had arrived. Han Li freshened up briefly, then had Yin Yue lift the restrictions and went to greet them at the entrance.
Sure enough, the two elders stood waiting outside. Han Li welcomed them in with a smile.
In the hall, the three took their seats as guests and host. The elder spoke first, apologetically, “Junior Brother Han, we shouldn’t have disturbed you so soon after your return, but the matter is urgent, so we had no choice.”
“Senior Brothers, there’s no need for such courtesy. For us cultivators, a little rest is enough to recover fully. It’s no disturbance at all.” Han Li waved it off with a smile.
“Since you say so, I’ll rest easy. Actually, shortly after you left yesterday, several fellow Daoists from the Ancient Sword Sect and Hundred Crafts Academy heard of your return and jointly sent an invitation for us to gather. Though you’ve been with our sect for some time, you’ve yet to meet many from the other two sects. This is a good opportunity, as our three sects share a common destiny in many ways. Tomorrow, the Hundred Crafts Academy is holding a ceremony for a newly refined treasure to recognize its master. They’ve scheduled the gathering for then, inviting us and the elders of the Ancient Sword Sect to attend.”
“A recognition ceremony? I recall the Hundred Crafts Academy has quite a reputation in artifact refinement. If they’re inviting us, this treasure must be extraordinary.” Han Li looked intrigued.
“The invitation doesn’t specify, but the one performing the blood recognition is a newly Core Formation disciple of the Hundred Crafts Academy, said to have exceptional talent—he formed his golden core in less than a hundred years. The academy’s elders have high hopes for him.” Lü Luo added, producing a golden invitation and handing it over.
“Forming a core in such a short time is indeed remarkable. Very well, I’ll accompany you two tomorrow. I’m curious to see this.” Han Li accepted the invitation with a smile.
“Excellent! With you joining us, it’ll be even better. I heard the Ancient Sword Sect’s Grand Elder Jin Wuhuan has just emerged from life-and-death seclusion. If I recall correctly, he’s been in seclusion for seventy or eighty years and was already at the mid-Nascent Soul stage. I wonder if he’s made further progress.” Elder Cheng was visibly pleased by Han Li’s agreement.
“Grand Elder of the Ancient Sword Sect?” Han Li blinked but quickly dismissed it. Then, he scrutinized the elder closely, his brow furrowing.
“Senior Brother Cheng, I just probed your condition with my spiritual sense. It doesn’t look good. Did you not find any life-extending pills in the Fallen Devil Valley?” Han Li asked with concern.
The elder sighed bitterly. “No need to mention it, Junior Brother. I know my time is near—I have perhaps a decade left at most, and I could pass at any moment. As for the valley, though I found some treasures, none were life-extending elixirs. It seems fate has decreed it so. But for us cultivators, unless we truly attain the Great Dao, birth, aging, sickness, and death are part of the natural cycle. There’s no regret. The Falling Cloud Sect will soon be in your and Junior Brother Lü’s hands.”
The elder spoke calmly, having long prepared himself for this outcome.
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