“Hehe, Junior Sister, you’ve returned exceptionally quickly this time. It seems your journey went quite smoothly.”
As Bai Guo’er appeared before a cyan stone gate halfway up the mountain, a hearty laugh echoed from within. The gate shimmered with a blue glow and swung open on its own.
Out stepped a scholarly man in a yellow robe, about thirty years old, with strikingly handsome features—none other than Hai Dashao, whom Han Li had sent to Tianyuan City two hundred years prior.
Though two centuries had passed, Hai Dashao’s eyes now gleamed with hidden brilliance, his skin radiant and crystalline. He had clearly advanced to Core Formation, and his physical strength far surpassed his former self.
“Oh? When did Senior Brother return to the cave?” Bai Guo’er was momentarily startled upon seeing Hai Dashao, then quickly brightened with joy.
“Hehe, this young master just completed a grueling task for Tianyuan City not long ago—nearly lost my life in the process. Now I have half a year to rest, so I came back to see if Master has emerged from seclusion,” Hai Dashao replied with a grin.
“Then has Senior Brother seen Master?” Bai Guo’er couldn’t help but ask.
“I haven’t met Master’s true form, but I did receive a few bottles of pills from his second Nascent Soul. If all goes well, in a couple of years, I’ll attempt to break through to mid-Core Formation. Honestly, it’s embarrassing—your Senior Brother’s cultivation is still inferior to yours, Junior Sister. I can hardly hold my head up in front of you.” Hai Dashao chuckled, half-joking.
“Giggle, Senior Brother is too modest. You cultivate both magic and body—your true strength far surpasses mine. Besides, Master also follows the dual cultivation path. It’s likely you, Senior Brother Hai, will inherit his legacy. If anything, I envy you. And in terms of cultivation speed, how could I compare to Senior Brother Qi Lingzi? In just two hundred years, he’s already reached peak Core Formation and is preparing to form his Nascent Soul!” Bai Guo’er replied with a light laugh.
“What’s the use of greater cultivation? In Tianyuan City, I still have to pose as an ordinary body cultivator, even hiding my connection to Master for fear of drawing unwanted attention. Junior Brother Qi Lingzi is the same—whenever we visit Master, we have to sneak around like thieves. Unlike you, Junior Sister, who can openly come and go as Master’s disciple, with all the prestige that entails.” Hai Dashao’s expression turned bitter, his tone thick with envy.
“I only flaunt my identity because Master tasks me with frequent trips to Tianyuan City. It’s entirely different from you two Senior Brothers, who must conceal yourselves to temper your minds. But speaking of which, Senior Brother Qi Lingzi’s inherited techniques and innate talent have even earned Master’s praise. He might surpass us all in the future.” Bai Guo’er blinked, smiling sweetly.
“No doubt about that. But ever since Master returned to the human race with you a century ago and established this new cave, he’s been in seclusion. Our training has been left entirely to his second Nascent Soul and Aunt Frost. I wonder how Master’s own cultivation is progressing!” At the mention of their master, Hai Dashao’s expression turned solemn, tinged with concern.
“Don’t worry. After spending nearly a century searching for someone among humans and demons without success, Master temporarily abandoned the quest and entered seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to mid-Soul Formation. If I’m not mistaken, he won’t emerge until he’s successfully advanced.” Bai Guo’er tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“Breaking through to mid-Soul Formation—even with Master’s immense power, it would likely take a thousand years of arduous cultivation. Does Master plan to remain in seclusion that long?” Hai Dashao’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“I don’t know how other Soul Formation elders cultivate, but our Master once fought a late-Soul Formation cultivator to a standstill. His abilities are already on par with mid-Soul Formation. He must have some method to accelerate his progress. I doubt it’ll take a millennium—he’ll likely emerge before the demon calamity erupts.” Bai Guo’er replied confidently after a moment’s thought.
“That makes sense! Master must be determined to advance before the calamity strikes.” Hai Dashao nodded in agreement.
Both he and Bai Guo’er seemed utterly confident in Han Li’s ability to reach mid-Soul Formation.
This was hardly surprising. Over the years, Han Li had not only imparted profound techniques but also resolved their cultivation bottlenecks with just a few words or rare pills, enabling their rapid progress.
After several such instances, the three disciples held their master in awe, viewing him as nearly omnipotent.
However, Hai Dashao didn’t linger for further conversation. After a few more words, he bid farewell and departed the cave in a streak of blue light.
Meanwhile, Bai Guo’er passed through the cyan stone gate and followed a corridor to the cave’s rear courtyard.
After traversing multiple layers of formidable restrictions, her vision suddenly opened to a vast, flat grassland beneath swirling white clouds, surrounded by spiritual flowers and lush greenery, brimming with vitality.
At the center of the grassland stood two small mountains, each about a hundred zhang tall—one pitch-black, the other emerald-green. Between them rested a translucent three-story white jade pavilion, enveloped in a thick five-colored light barrier.
The rear of the cave had been transformed into a miniature world, indistinguishable from reality.
Atop the two mountains sat two figures in meditation—one towering and green-skinned, wreathed in purple radiance; the other gleaming gold, exhaling streams of black mist. From afar, their faces bore an uncanny resemblance to Han Li, their eyes tightly shut.
Yet the moment Bai Guo’er stepped onto the grassland, the black-mist-emitting “Han Li” stirred, slowly opening his eyes. Two piercing gazes locked onto the silver-robed girl.
“Greetings, Master. Your disciple has returned successfully with the requested items.” Bai Guo’er immediately bowed deeply toward the golden figure, then produced a purple wooden box and presented it with both hands.
“Well done, Guo’er. Let me see if these will suffice.” The golden figure smiled kindly, his voice identical to Han Li’s. With a wave, the box flew into his grasp.
A flick of his hand opened the lid, revealing several black-green demon cores, each the size of an egg, emitting a foul, nauseating stench.
The golden figure nodded in satisfaction, resealed the box, and smiled at Bai Guo’er. “Excellent work. These are precisely what I need. With this, all materials requested from the demon race are finally gathered. Soon, I’ll recall my second Nascent Soul and activate the formation to seal this place completely, severing all external ties. Unless your lives are in peril or the demon calamity erupts prematurely, do not disturb me. The next century or two are critical—I cannot afford distractions. I’ve left your cultivation resources with Aunt Frost; request them from her as needed. Heh, I hope to see all of you advance further by the time I emerge.”
“What? Master is entering life-and-death seclusion? How long will this last?” Bai Guo’er gasped in shock.
“Hard to say. A few decades at least, possibly two or three centuries.” The golden figure frowned slightly, his tone uncertain.
“Then your disciple can only bid you farewell. May Master achieve great progress upon emergence!” Though her face was etched with reluctance, Bai Guo’er knew Han Li’s decisions were unshakable. She bowed deeply once more.
“Haha, may your words prove true!”
This booming laughter didn’t come from the golden figure but resonated from within the five-colored pavilion.
The two mountain-top figures rose simultaneously, forming hand seals before vanishing into thin air.
A resonant hum filled the air as colossal formations materialized beneath the peaks, rapidly expanding across the grassland. Soon, the entire area shimmered with five-colored light, warping and twisting until it dissolved into a sea of mist, swallowing everything within.
Bai Guo’er had already retreated, staring blankly at the fog-shrouded expanse.
After a long silence, she sighed softly and turned away.
Meanwhile, inside the jade pavilion, Han Li sat cross-legged on a pale yellow cushion, gazing at a massive golden cauldron floating before him. Silver flames roared beneath it, and a peculiar odor wafted from within.
Peering inside, one would see a churning, multicolored liquid bubbling with countless five-colored spheres that burst incessantly.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage