“The time has come, set up the formation, open the cauldron!” Seeing this, the elderly man surnamed Feng immediately shouted without hesitation.
As his voice fell, over a dozen Core Formation cultivators emerged from behind Han Li and the others. Two of them flickered a few times and arrived at either side of the massive crimson cauldron, while the rest flew above it. They then each retrieved glowing blue formation disks from their waists and raised them high.
With a muffled “puff,” a massive blue light barrier appeared over the platform, covering nearly half of it.
The two middle-aged cultivators beside the cauldron, seeing the barrier take shape, immediately formed hand seals and cast several spells onto the cauldron. The trembling lid emitted a resonant hum amidst a shimmer of multicolored light before slowly rising, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds.
The young man surnamed Yu, who had been kneeling before the cauldron, abruptly stood up, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the cauldron.
Suddenly, a ball of white light shot out from the cauldron, transforming into a dazzling streak that soared skyward. Without hesitation, the young man turned into a yellow streak and gave chase.
Moments later, the white light reached the barrier and collided with it, but the blue barrier merely trembled slightly, unaffected. The yellow streak caught up, revealing the young man as he reached out to grab the white light. However, the white light proved agile, swerving downward. The young man’s expression darkened as he pursued relentlessly. Within the massive barrier, the white and yellow streaks chased each other like shooting stars racing the moon.
The hundreds of Foundation Establishment disciples below watched with wide eyes, while the Nascent Soul elders stood composed, occasionally murmuring among themselves.
Han Li observed lazily, his eyes slightly narrowed.
Clearly, this Hundred Crafts Academy disciple had yet to refine a lifebound treasure and was relying solely on a top-tier flying artifact, which put him at a speed disadvantage. However, it didn’t matter—the Qiankun Tower, though fast now, was rapidly losing spiritual energy. In less than half a quarter-hour, its speed would drop drastically, allowing the young man to easily capture it. This was likely all part of the plan orchestrated by the likes of Elder Liehuo. Otherwise, if the disciple had caught the treasure immediately, the ownership ceremony would have seemed farcical.
With this thought, Han Li narrowed his eyes further. Though the white light was blinding, a slight activation of his Brightsight Spirit Eyes allowed him to clearly see the treasure within—a pristine, three-inch-tall miniature pagoda, exquisitely crafted. Beyond that, he couldn’t discern anything particularly special about it.
“Fellow Daoist Han, what do you think of this Hundred Crafts Academy disciple? Does he have the potential to reach Nascent Soul?” A melodious female voice sounded from behind Han Li.
Startled, Han Li turned slowly to find the female cultivator named Mingxin standing behind him, smiling demurely.
“My opinion aligns with Elder Liehuo’s. However, if the Hundred Crafts Academy can procure certain spiritual medicines, this disciple stands a fair chance of forming a Nascent Soul,” Han Li replied, his expression unchanging as his gaze briefly swept over her jade-like face.
“Still, no matter how talented he is, he pales in comparison to you, Brother Han. He could never achieve the earth-shaking prowess you possess. I heard that two ancient demons appeared in the Fallen Devil Valley, and you alone dealt with one. With that feat, your abilities may already rival those of the Three Great Cultivators,” she said with a light laugh, her eyes flashing with intrigue.
Han Li inwardly sighed but outwardly replied, “You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Ming. Without the assistance of others, I would have been no match for that ancient demon. Moreover, I didn’t truly defeat it—it merely perished in a spatial rift, unlike my luck.”
“Brother Han is too modest. Then I shall drop the matter. However, your escape from the Mulan Divine Master and your slaying of a Great Jin Demon Sect elder—surely those aren’t mere rumors? I heard that elder was at the peak of mid-Nascent Soul cultivation. Is that true?” The woman elegantly brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, her smile playful and her demeanor suddenly exuding a hint of allure.
Han Li’s eyes flickered as a floral fragrance, reminiscent of orchids and chrysanthemums, wafted from her sleeves, filling him with an inexplicable sense of ease and familiarity. For a moment, he felt an urge to answer her questions unreservedly.
“Charm technique? No, her eyes are clear—no signs of enchantment. It must be the peculiar scent of her floral perfume.”
Having encountered many charm-specialized female cultivators before forming his Nascent Soul, Han Li instantly recognized his own odd reaction and her subtle movements. Yet her spiritual energy remained undisturbed, suggesting the fragrance alone was the culprit.
“Fellow Daoist Mingxin is well-informed. Those incidents were merely strokes of luck, hardly worth mentioning. On the other hand, I’ve heard from my fellow sect members about your cultivation of the Hundred Flowers Spring Art, said to possess unimaginable power, capable of subduing foes imperceptibly,” Han Li said with a meaningful smile.
“What? Fellow Daoist Cheng knows of the Hundred Flowers Spring Art’s power?” Mingxin’s expression faltered momentarily. To her knowledge, while many were aware of the art’s existence, few understood its true capabilities due to the rarity of those with the required physique to practice it.
Han Li smiled faintly, about to respond, when his expression shifted abruptly. He raised his head sharply, gazing into the distant sky. Puzzled, Mingxin followed his gaze but saw nothing.
Frowning slightly, she glanced at Han Li with a hint of curiosity.
Ignoring her, Han Li remained focused, his expression solemn. Suddenly, he turned to Elder Liehuo nearby and called out, “Fellow Daoist Liehuo, it seems we have esteemed guests arriving. We should greet them.”
“Esteemed guests? Who do you mean?” The others turned in surprise, Elder Liehuo scanning the surroundings warily.
Before Han Li could reply, Elder Jin’s expression changed as he sensed something in the direction Han Li had been looking. “Indeed, someone approaches—such powerful spiritual energy! Could it be… a late-Nascent Soul cultivator?”
As his words faded, a long whistle pierced the sky, followed by a clear, resonant voice: “The Tai Zhen Sect’s Zhiyang pays a visit. Is Fellow Daoist Liehuo present?”
“Zhiyang the Transcendent? Why would someone of his stature come here?” Elder Liehuo and the others exchanged bewildered glances. None of the three sects had invited him.
Han Li stroked his chin, deep in thought.
The Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Righteous Path were far from amicable, yet Zhiyang’s approach bore no hostility—his immense aura remained unconcealed, allowing Han Li to sense him from afar.
“Let us go greet Fellow Daoist Zhiyang,” Elder Liehuo said, quickly regaining composure as the host.
The others agreed, unafraid of any threat. Even a late-Nascent Soul cultivator couldn’t overpower them all.
Abandoning the ownership ceremony for now, they flew through an opening in the barrier toward the distant restriction formation.
En route, Han Li noticed the female cultivator from the Ancient Sword Sect eyeing him with heightened interest. He inwardly scoffed—if she dared provoke him further, he wouldn’t hesitate to teach her a lesson.
At the formation’s edge, Elder Liehuo and his sect brothers activated a passage. A streak of light shot through, materializing into a middle-aged Taoist priest with an immortal’s bearing—Zhiyang the Transcendent himself.
At his appearance, the others moved to greet him, but Zhiyang’s eyes immediately locked onto Han Li, his face lighting up with delight.
“Ha! Fellow Daoist Han, you are indeed here! I rushed from your sect upon learning you’d come to the Hundred Crafts Academy,” Zhiyang said warmly.
“Fellow Daoist was looking for me?” Han Li arched an eyebrow.
“Indeed! I was passing through Xi Country on urgent business when I heard of your return from a market. I came at once to speak with you,” the priest replied cheerfully.
“Ah, I must have been recognized while inquiring at the markets. But surely you didn’t seek me out just for idle talk?” Han Li deduced.
“The matter is lengthy. Fellow Daoists, might I have a private word with Han Li?” Zhiyang asked politely.
“Of course! We’ll wait nearby,” Elder Liehuo acquiesced with a dry chuckle.
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