“Recognize me as your master? Fellow Daoist, are you joking? Your clan has only just met me today, without even knowing Han’s origins or temperament, and you’re already considering recognizing me as your master. Aren’t you afraid I might be a tyrant?” Despite Han Li’s usual composure, he was momentarily stunned by the words but soon chuckled lightly, understanding the situation somewhat.
“A few days ago, those scouts from the Asura Spiders outside—was it you who dealt with them, Senior?” The old man didn’t rise but instead lifted his head to ask.
“Though I didn’t personally act, it was close enough,” Han Li replied ambiguously.
“In that case, Senior must have some understanding of our clan’s current predicament,” the old man said gravely.
“I do know a bit. But such matters are far too common across countless realms. For beings like us, they hardly warrant intervention. Besides, I don’t see any benefit in taking you under my wing. Why would I risk offending peers of my level for this?” Han Li smiled faintly.
“Since Senior acted against those scouts and personally came here, there must be something our clan can assist with. As long as Senior is willing to take in our Skyfish Clan, whatever request you make, our clan will ensure your satisfaction. Our Skyfish Clan has some expertise in manipulating spatial forces. While we may not be of much help against formidable enemies, we can certainly assist in managing your abode or creating small spatial realms,” the old man said with utmost sincerity.
“Heh, you’ve given quite a few reasons, and clever ones at that. I did come here for a purpose. Let’s set aside the matter of recognition for now. First, see if you recognize this.” Han Li spoke calmly, then flipped his palm to reveal a pale blue crystalline pearl.
As soon as the pearl appeared before the old man, it emitted a faint hum, resonating strangely with him.
“The Mountain-Sea Pearl! So our clan’s sacred relic truly fell into your hands, Senior!” Contrary to Han Li’s expectations, the old man didn’t show much surprise. Instead, he exhaled deeply, as if relieved of a great burden.
“The Mountain-Sea Pearl—your clan’s sacred relic? You seem to have already known it was in my possession,” Han Li narrowed his eyes and asked.
“This junior only learned of it recently. Senior, please look.” The old man raised an arm, revealing a peculiar mark on his wrist.
The mark bore the exact shape of the pearl in Han Li’s hand, glowing faintly blue as if activated.
“This sacred mark is exclusive to the successive leaders of our Skyfish Clan. Beyond signifying status, its primary purpose is to sense our sacred relic. With my current cultivation, I can detect the pearl’s precise location within a hundred-mile radius. This is also one reason why I immediately wished to pledge allegiance to you upon meeting you, Senior. I believe this is a sign from the heavens—otherwise, how could our sacred relic fall into an outsider’s hands?” the old man said solemnly.
“Interesting. You may stand and speak. I obtained this item by chance. As your clan’s sacred relic, aside from its inherent law power, it must have other significant uses, no?” Han Li finally showed a hint of interest.
“Senior is astute. The Mountain-Sea Pearl indeed has another astonishing purpose—it is an extremely rare spatial treasure, a pocket realm! However, when our clan began to decline years ago, it was sealed away by our ancestors using a secret technique. To me, it has been little more than a legend,” the old man stood up obediently and replied respectfully.
“A pocket realm? Such a spatial treasure! Did you know it was sealed within that cold pool?” Han Li’s expression flickered with surprise.
“This junior did know. But our ancestors feared that keeping the pearl with us would bring more harm than good. Without sufficient power to protect such a treasure, it would only invite disaster. Thus, our ancestors decreed that the relic must remain sealed until our clan regained its strength. Yet, to our shame, our clan has not only failed to prosper but has nearly reached the point of losing our bloodline altogether. This sacred relic is now useless to us,” the old man explained with a trace of resignation.
“Your ancestors acted wisely. Had this treasure remained with you, the Asura Spiders would have surely seized it long ago. However, I witnessed the Asura Spider Matriarch retrieve another stone imbued with spatial laws from the cold pool. What was that?” Han Li nodded, then recalled something else.
“Senior, that must have been our other sacred relic—the Hollow Spirit Stone. Aside from aiding powerful beings in comprehending spatial laws, it has no other use.”
“I see.”
Han Li lowered his gaze to the pearl in his hand, falling into thought.
“Senior, if you are willing to take in our clan, we are prepared to offer our essence blood to help you erase the ancestral imprints on the Mountain-Sea Pearl, allowing you to truly refine it. Due to its successive refinement by our ancestors, ordinary methods won’t suffice for an outsider. I also know a specialized incantation to refine this treasure, enabling you to control it with ease. Of course, this requires you to be a powerful late-stage cultivator yourself, lest the pearl’s backlash overwhelm you. As for the Asura Spiders, due to certain reasons, they cannot easily leave this realm. You need not worry about offending them,” the old man, seeing Han Li’s hesitation, gritted his teeth and laid out his plan.
“Hmm, I am indeed intrigued by this pocket realm. But taking in your clan as a condition complicates matters. My method of entering this realm is unique, and leaving with so many people would be difficult. I can’t exactly treat you all as spirit beasts and store you in spirit rings. As for the Asura Spiders, I don’t fear them. If they seek trouble, I’ll deal with them,” Han Li sighed, though his expression shifted slightly.
“Senior is troubled by this? If so, the solution is simple. Once you refine this pocket realm, we can all take refuge inside it and leave with you effortlessly,” the old man said joyfully.
“That is a viable method. But can the Mountain-Sea Pearl’s pocket realm accommodate all your clansmen? How long will refinement take? I can only remain in this realm for a few more days,” Han Li mused, finding the idea feasible.
“Rest assured, Senior. As its name suggests, this treasure can supposedly hold mountains and seas. Its spatial capacity ranks among the finest of pocket realms. As for time—if I mobilize our entire clan, refinement can be completed in two to three days,” the old man replied without hesitation.
“Such vast space is an unexpected boon. Two or three days is manageable… Very well, it’s settled. If I can refine this pocket realm, I will protect your Skyfish Clan for as long as I live,” Han Li smiled and nodded after careful consideration.
For him, bringing such a weak foreign clan into the human realm was no great burden.
“Thank you, Senior, for your great kindness! There’s no time to waste—this junior will immediately mobilize the clan to prepare everything. Please wait a moment.” Overjoyed, the old man knelt once more in gratitude.
For the Skyfish Clan’s leader, though he didn’t know how Han Li would treat them outside, it was infinitely better than living under the constant threat of the Asura Spiders’ slaughter, with the clan teetering on the brink of extinction.
“Prepare first. I’ll study this treasure further here,” Han Li waved his hand dismissively.
“Yes, this junior takes his leave.” The old man rose and respectfully retreated from the hall.
Hours later, in a clearing surrounded by a dozen triangular structures, a shimmering silver formation slowly took shape under the busy hands of countless Skyfish clansmen.
Nearby, on a newly erected platform at the formation’s edge, Skyfish clansmen lined up to ascend. Each cut their wrists with a blade, squeezing out globs of essence blood into a half-human-sized bronze cauldron.
The cauldron reeked of blood, its contents already filling a third of its space.
Amid the crimson liquid, the pale blue pearl floated, emitting a faint spiritual glow.
Han Li hovered above the massive formation, arms crossed, observing the proceedings below.
The Skyfish Clan worked swiftly, completing most of the complex preparations in no time.
It seemed refining the Mountain-Sea Pearl wouldn’t take three days after all.
In his heart, Han Li eagerly anticipated his first pocket realm, curious about the spatial wonders it held.
…
In the Spirit Realm, on the Blood Sky Continent, an ancient altar buried underground suddenly trembled with a thunderous boom. A bizarre ripple erupted, forcibly pushing aside all earth and debris.
Then, with a flash of five-colored light, a radiant formation materialized in the air, revealing a translucent figure.
“Finally, I’ve descended. The spiritual energy here is so thin—truly incomparable to the Immortal Realm,” the figure sighed, surveying its surroundings.
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