“Brother Han, there’s no need to be so formal. Yao’er is my adopted daughter, and Li’er is my disciple. If they wish to leave this place, they are free to do so at any time. However, my suggestion is that it would be better for them to stay here a while longer before returning to your human race.” After a moment of thought, Qing Yuanzi said.
“Oh? What do you mean by that?” Han Li was somewhat surprised and glanced at Yuan Yao and Yan Li.
The two women exchanged looks, both revealing a trace of bitter smiles.
“It’s better for Yao’er to explain this to you herself, lest I overstep and cause any misunderstandings. If Yao’er and the others wish to leave now, I certainly won’t object.” Qing Yuanzi said seriously.
“Brother Han, we truly cannot return to our race immediately. We need to stay with our adoptive father for another two to three hundred years. As for the reason, you can understand by carefully examining our current physical bodies.” Yuan Yao sighed lightly as Han Li’s gaze turned to her.
“Physical bodies?”
Han Li was puzzled but immediately released an invisible spiritual sense, enveloping Yuan Yao’s delicate form. Moments later, his expression shifted slightly.
“So your bodies are unstable? Could there be lingering effects from the reversal back then?”
“Brother Han is truly perceptive! Although our master refined several special elixirs to reverse our bodies, the fact that my junior sister and I maintained our half-human, half-ghost forms for so long means we still need the nourishment of two unique spiritual materials from the Netherworld River to fully stabilize our bodies. If we leave now, all our previous efforts might be wasted.” Yan Li explained carefully.
“I see. In that case, it’s indeed not suitable to take you two away now.” Han Li nodded, seeming to understand.
“Brother Han, rest assured. Yao’er and Li’er have been of great help to me during this tribulation. I originally planned to teach them several powerful divine abilities once the tribulation passed. Staying here for another century will bring them immense benefits. In the future, it’s not impossible for them to reach the same realm as you and me.” Qing Yuanzi said with a smile.
“Adoptive Father, can my senior sister and I really reach the Mahayana realm?” Yuan Yao’s face lit up with joy.
Yan Li beside her also felt her heart stir.
“Haha, for others it might be uncertain, but you two certainly have a chance. Not only will you have my guidance, but with your connection to Brother Han, his assistance will make your opportunities far greater than those of ordinary cultivators. Brother Han, wouldn’t you agree?” Qing Yuanzi said with a sly smile.
“So Brother Qing is setting his sights on me. But if Yuan Yao and the others ever attempt to break through to the Mahayana realm, I will naturally do my best to assist them.” Han Li chuckled.
Qing Yuanzi stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
Yuan Yao’s beautiful eyes turned to Han Li, her gaze shimmering with a hint of unspoken emotion.
Yan Li also wore a look of joy.
“By the way, during my tribulation, I noticed a small golden figure outside the valley wielding several exceptionally sharp sword auras, effortlessly slaying the Undying Heavenly Lord. That figure’s aura felt familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Could you enlighten me?” Qing Yuanzi suddenly asked, his expression turning serious.
“Ah, you’re asking about Jin’er. It seems Brother Qing has already guessed part of it.” Han Li replied noncommittally.
“Could it truly be the Golden Devouring Beetle King? You actually managed to cultivate it… Indeed, only such a creature could slay a Mahayana cultivator as easily as slaughtering a dog. Its reputation as rivaling a true immortal is well-deserved. But how did you accomplish this?” Despite having some inkling, Qing Yuanzi couldn’t help but exclaim, his face shifting several times.
“Raising the beetle king was an incredible stroke of luck. Even if I tried the same steps again, it’s unlikely I’d succeed. I must also thank you for your earlier guidance, without which I’d have had no chance at all.” Han Li smiled slightly and gave a slight bow of thanks.
“I merely mentioned it in passing back then. I never imagined you’d actually succeed in cultivating such a heaven-defying spirit insect. Truly, you are a man of great fortune. With this beetle king by your side, you can traverse the Spirit Realm without worry. By the way, could you summon it for me to see?” Qing Yuanzi laughed wryly, not hiding his envy.
“Brother Qing jests! The Spirit Realm is vast, with countless races and hidden experts. Even a beetle king, as formidable as it is, cannot be relied upon entirely. As for the beetle king, I sent it out earlier. I’ll call it back for you to see when it returns.” Han Li shook his head dismissively.
“Brother Han is too modest.” Qing Yuanzi was delighted.
“Rest assured, I’ll arrange it. By the way, Brother Qing, are you familiar with the Helian Commerce Alliance?” Han Li casually brought up another matter.
“The Helian Commerce Alliance? That’s a superpower spanning several continents. I know a bit about them, but not much. Has Brother Han had dealings with them?” Qing Yuanzi was slightly surprised.
“No entanglements, but I may need to interact with them in the future. I was hoping to gather some information from you in advance.” Han Li said lightly.
“That’s simple. I’ll compile all the relevant information into a jade slip and send it to you.” Qing Yuanzi readily agreed.
“Then I thank you in advance.” Han Li was naturally pleased.
In the following days, Han Li and Qing Yuanzi exchanged more insights about tribulation cultivation before Han Li and his companions temporarily settled in Qing Yuanzi’s cave abode.
Early the next morning, as Han Li stepped out of his stone dwelling, he found a stunningly beautiful woman in white standing quietly outside. Seeing him emerge, she smiled radiantly and said, “Brother Han, how about I accompany you alone today?”
…
Seven days later, over a desolate area in the Netherworld River, a deafening roar echoed through the sky!
A towering emerald sword light swept across the gray void, splitting it open to reveal an impossibly long black rift.
Below, the massive black ship that had been hovering silently began to hum as it slowly ascended toward the rift. After a few flashes, it vanished into the darkness.
Moments later, the sky trembled as the black rift gradually sealed itself.
Not far away, atop a pile of rubble, Yuan Yao and Yan Li watched the scene unfold in silence.
“Let’s go. Your beloved has left this space. No need to linger, little sister. In just another two hundred years, once our bodies are fully stabilized, we can return to the human race and see him again. Hehe, surely you can wait that long?” Yan Li suddenly giggled.
“Pah! What ‘beloved’? My relationship with Brother Han has always been pure. But these past few days, I’ve noticed you stealing glances at him. Could it be your heart is stirring with other thoughts?” Yuan Yao’s face flushed as she retorted.
“I may have looked at Brother Han, but my reasons are very different from yours. I’m merely curious how someone as unremarkable as him could cultivate so incredibly fast, reaching the same realm as our master.” Yan Li said nonchalantly.
“Hmph, who knows if you’re being truthful?”
“Hehe, should I cut out my heart for you to see? But if you do, you’ll have to take responsibility for me from now on!” The two women dissolved into playful banter, their laughter ringing through the air.
…
The Crimson Blaze Mountains were a renowned spiritual land on the Wind Yuan Continent.
Spanning millions of miles, this mountain range was unique in that nearly half of its ten peaks were active volcanoes. Some spewed crimson lava or pale black ash year-round, rendering much of the region barren and unbearably hot.
Yet, the Crimson Blaze Mountains were rich in fire-attribute spirit stones, ores, and rare yang-attribute spiritual herbs. Despite the constant danger of eruptions, the area attracted countless outsiders annually.
One day, near the edge of the range, a group of diverse-looking foreigners took advantage of a lull in volcanic activity to scour a recently erupted small volcano’s basin for fire-attribute materials.
These individuals, mostly at the Qi Refining stage with a few barely at Foundation Establishment, were clearly low-level cultivators, daring only to operate on the periphery.
Suddenly, a four-eared, sallow-skinned foreigner sensed the sunlight dimming and looked up. His face turned deathly pale as he let out a strangled cry.
Others followed his gaze, their expressions freezing in shock.
High above, at an altitude of ten thousand zhang, an enormous black ship over a thousand zhang long loomed silently like a floating island.
On its deck, countless towering armored puppets marched in disciplined ranks, their numbers staggering and their presence awe-inspiring.
For these low-level cultivators, who had never witnessed such a colossal flying artifact or so many constructs, the sight was both terrifying and mesmerizing.
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