Longzhou is a large state located at the border between the central and western regions of the Great Jin. The state is filled with towering mountains and deep valleys, shrouded in miasma and teeming with venomous snakes, making it renowned for its abundance of poisonous insects and spiritual beasts.
Unlike other states, the vast territory of Longzhou is solely controlled by two major factions: the Yueyang Palace, a prominent orthodox sect, and the Demonwood Sect, one of the Ten Great Demon Sects. External forces have no influence over Longzhou’s affairs. The other local cultivation sects within the state are insignificant and pose no threat to these two superpowers, forcing them to align with one or the other for protection.
The entire state is firmly under the control of these two factions, forming a dualistic balance of power between the east and west.
The Yueyang Palace is situated in the Tianyue Mountain Range within the Xichuan Prefecture. This mountain range spans over a hundred thousand miles of continuous wilderness, and the Yueyang Palace is perched atop the colossal Nan Tian Peak at its heart. Tens of thousands of Yueyang Palace disciples occupy the surrounding peaks, turning the core of the Tianyue Mountain Range into an impregnable fortress. Not only do no cultivators dare to challenge the Yueyang Palace, but even the most audacious intruders would find it impossible to breach the thirteen layers of formidable defensive formations encircling Nan Tian Peak.
However, on this particular day, as a group of Yueyang Palace disciples flew past a deserted mountaintop at the edge of the mountain range, a sudden flash of cyan light appeared on the previously empty summit. A young man in a green robe emerged, standing atop a boulder with his hands clasped behind his back, silently watching the departing disciples with an expressionless face. It was none other than Han Li.
“Han boy, are you really planning to target the Yueyang Palace? I don’t think this is a wise idea. The Yueyang Palace ranks among the top five of the orthodox sects and isn’t to be trifled with,” the Great Divination Sage transmitted through divine sense.
“I’m well aware of that,” Han Li replied calmly. “But we’ve gathered nearly all the materials for the Three Flames Fan, both openly and covertly. The only remaining items are the long feathers of the Sunfire Bird and the scales of the Crimsonflood Dragon. The Crimsonflood Dragon is manageable—we’ve received word from the market that several powerful dragons have been spotted on the eastern coast of the Great Jin, one of which appears to be red. Even if it’s not the Crimsonflood Dragon, it’s likely another fire-attribute dragon. We can try our luck there. As for the Sunfire Bird, after scouring markets across the southern region, we’ve confirmed that only the Yueyang Palace breeds these spiritual birds. Where else can we go? No matter how formidable the Yueyang Palace is, we have no choice but to proceed.”
“I’m not saying you should avoid the Yueyang Palace entirely. Why not approach them openly and request the materials? With your mid-Nascent Soul cultivation and a few rare treasures, they might be willing to accommodate you,” the Great Divination Sage chuckled.
“Senior, you jest,” Han Li replied with a cold smile. “Exchange is only possible when both parties are of comparable strength. I’m merely a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, while the Yueyang Palace has late-Nascent Soul elders. They wouldn’t even glance at someone of my level. Moreover, the Yueyang Palace clearly treats their two Sunfire Birds as sacred treasures of their sect. They’d never allow outsiders to pluck their feathers, which would severely damage the birds’ cultivation. If I offer treasures of insufficient value, they’d dismiss me outright. If I present something too rare, they might simply kill me and take it by force. As an outsider and a rogue cultivator within their territory, the Yueyang Palace wouldn’t hesitate to act. I have no interest in gambling my safety on their whims. If I were a late-Nascent Soul cultivator, I might consider your suggestion.”
“You make a fair point,” the Great Divination Sage conceded after a moment of silence. “But you’ve been lingering around the mountain range’s edge for over ten days. Are you just waiting for the Sunfire Bird to fly out on its own? And judging by your movements, you seem to be searching for something. What exactly are you planning?”
“Nothing much. I’m just looking for a suitable spot to set a trap,” Han Li replied with a faint smile, his eyes glinting.
“A trap? I knew you wouldn’t dare target the Yueyang Palace without some trick up your sleeve. Tell me more,” the Great Divination Sage chuckled.
“Heh, you’ll see the details once I find the right location. By the way, the Yueyang Palace has two Sunfire Birds—one large and one small. Which one should we target?” Han Li murmured, glancing toward the heart of the mountain range.
“Isn’t it obvious? The larger one is said to be at the eighth rank of demonic beasts. Do you think you can subdue it quickly?” the Great Divination Sage retorted dismissively.
“True. If not for the fact that these ancient spiritual birds struggle to develop intelligence and can’t take human form in this realm, they’d never submit to the Yueyang Palace’s control. I have no confidence in facing such a powerful creature. The smaller one is reportedly at the seventh rank, which should be manageable,” Han Li mused, nodding in agreement.
“Though using the feathers of an eighth-rank Sunfire Bird would undoubtedly make the Three Flames Fan more potent,” the Great Divination Sage lamented.
“Let it go. Nothing in this world is perfect. Targeting the eighth-rank bird isn’t impossible, but the risk is too great. The slightest delay could alert the Yueyang Palace’s cultivators. I’d rather not relive the ordeal of being hunted down and severely injured like in the Tianlan Grasslands. The smaller bird is the safer choice,” Han Li said, shaking his head.
“Fair enough. But both birds spend most of their time within the Yueyang Palace, only occasionally venturing out within a hundred-mile radius. They rarely leave the mountain range’s core. Success will depend entirely on your methods,” the Great Divination Sage remarked with a low chuckle, sounding intrigued.
“No need to worry. Using the Dream Inducement Technique, I’ve already extracted the Sunfire Birds’ activity patterns from a Yueyang Palace disciple. To prevent the two birds from causing trouble together, the palace releases them on alternating schedules each month. That’s our opportunity,” Han Li said confidently, a cold smile playing on his lips.
“If you understand the stakes, I won’t interfere further. Just don’t miss the Jin Capital’s auction. My puppet still lacks a few materials, and they might be available there,” the Great Divination Sage reminded him.
“The Jin Capital Auction, one of the Great Jin’s three major auctions, occurs only once every decade. I won’t miss it. Once we’re done here, we’ll head straight to the capital, then proceed to the eastern coast to hunt those dragons,” Han Li replied calmly, his plans already laid out.
“Good. By the way, your recent actions have truly impressed me. I initially thought gathering all these materials would take at least three to four years. Yet you’ve employed both overt and covert methods—even outright theft—to collect nearly everything in just a year. Such decisiveness is unexpected,” the Great Divination Sage remarked with admiration, his tone laced with amusement and approval.
“I would’ve preferred a slower, safer approach, but time is of the essence. Though your soul is nourished by the Soul Nurturing Wood, it’s clearly weakening. If I want to see your Nascent Soul-level puppet completed, I must act swiftly,” Han Li said after a brief pause, his voice steady.
“You’re considerate. I knew I couldn’t hide it from you. My soul will likely dissipate within three or four years. But given your progress, there’s hope you’ll complete the puppet before then,” the Great Divination Sage admitted with a bitter laugh.
“Since we met, you’ve aided me countless times. I’m not ungrateful—I’ve remembered every act of kindness. I’ll do everything in my power to fulfill your wish,” Han Li vowed solemnly, exhaling deeply.
“Truth be told, helping you was also self-preservation. Had I fallen into the wrong hands, my fate would’ve been grim,” the Great Divination Sage confessed candidly.
Han Li smiled faintly before his figure blurred into a streak of cyan light, vanishing once more into concealment.
Two days later, Han Li appeared in a small valley blanketed by peach blossoms. The serene landscape, painted in hues of pink, was breathtakingly beautiful.
Floating above the valley, Han Li surveyed the area and scanned the surroundings with his divine sense, finally nodding in satisfaction.
“Perfect. This place is remote, free of Yueyang Palace disciples, and ideal for setting up formations. This will do,” he murmured before descending into the heart of the peach grove.
Without delay, Han Li began his preparations. He deployed seven or eight different formations using array flags and plates, most designed to block spiritual energy and conceal auras. Only two or three were actual trapping formations. Over these, he layered an illusion array to obscure the grove’s true appearance.
The Great Divination Sage watched curiously but refrained from questioning, opting to observe silently.
Once everything was in place, Han Li didn’t act immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged at the grove’s center, entering deep meditation.
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