“It seems the four of you have yet to fully recover from the vitality you lost in the wasteland,” Han Li remarked, his gaze sweeping lightly over the four men before him, effortlessly discerning their current condition with an impassive tone.
“Your insight is as sharp as ever, Venerable. Indeed, we suffered damage to our true essence back then, and given our modest cultivation, we’ve only managed to recover about half so far,” the scholar replied honestly, seeing no reason to conceal the truth.
“In that case, I have a few bottles of medicinal pills here. Take them, refine their potency, and meditate for about a month. That should restore you to your former state.” After a brief consideration, Han Li flipped his hand, revealing four pale green jade bottles.
“Many thanks for your generosity, Venerable!” The scholar and his companions bowed deeply, their hearts swelling with joy.
They stepped forward one by one, accepting the bottles with both hands. Upon uncorking them, an extraordinary fragrance instantly filled the hall. A single whiff invigorated their spirits, sharpening their senses.
The scholar and his companions grew even more delighted, realizing that the spiritual medicine inside was no ordinary concoction—its efficacy might even surpass what Han Li had described.
“Venerable, if you’ve come to our humble abode, is there anything we might assist you with?” The scholar, having cultivated to his current level, was no fool. After storing the medicine, he tactfully inquired.
“Indeed, I do have a task for you. It’s simple but time-consuming, and requires someone to remain in Sky Abyss City for an extended period. Do you have the time? Naturally, I won’t ask you to work for nothing,” Han Li replied calmly.
“Rest assured, Venerable. The four of us have no plans to leave Sky Abyss City for the next century. Whatever you need, just give the order. We won’t refuse in the slightest,” the scholar assured him, relieved that the task posed no danger.
“Since you’ve agreed, I’ll be direct. I once mentioned a female cultivator named Nangong Wan. I’d like you to search for her in Sky Abyss City. She’s an ascended cultivator and may have changed her name. I’ll leave you a jade slip with her portrait for identification. If she isn’t found in the city, continue keeping an eye out for her over the next century. If you do locate her, I’ll reward you handsomely,” Han Li said with a faint smile.
“No problem. We have some connections in Sky Abyss City. If this fairy truly appears here, we’ll surely find her for you,” the scholar replied respectfully.
“Good. There’s one more thing. I’m preparing to refine a batch of pills, but the required materials are diverse and mostly uncommon. Even Sky Abyss City won’t be able to gather them quickly. Since I’ll be traveling soon, I’ll need you to procure them for me. Here’s a pouch of spirit stones, which should suffice. Additionally, these treasures are items I obtained by chance in the past. Consider them gifts.”
With a flick of his sleeve, Han Li produced four jade boxes of varying sizes and a black leather pouch on the nearby table.
The scholar and his companions exchanged surprised glances before whispering among themselves. After a brief discussion, they bowed in agreement.
The scholar then picked up the pouch and scanned it with his divine sense. His expression shifted dramatically, and he gasped in disbelief.
The other three men, startled, turned questioning eyes toward Han Li, who remained unfazed.
Realizing his reaction might cause alarm, the scholar quickly explained, “Venerable, your generosity is astounding! Such a vast quantity of top-grade spirit stones! The spiritual medicines you seek must indeed be extraordinary. But since you’ve placed such trust in us, we’ll spare no effort.”
After carefully storing the pouch, the scholar hesitated before selecting one of the jade boxes. He opened it solemnly, revealing a white jade fan wreathed in misty radiance, its surface shimmering with intricate runes.
Lifting the fan, he gave it a gentle wave. Instantly, countless fan-shaped shadows materialized before him, accompanied by a surge of formidable spiritual pressure.
“This Mountain and River Fan possesses dual wind and earth abilities. A single wave can strike enemies invisibly from a hundred yards away with the force of ten thousand pounds. It’s a decent treasure,” Han Li remarked with a light chuckle.
The scholar bowed repeatedly in gratitude. The other three eagerly opened their respective boxes, finding a pair of silver rings, a multicolored silk handkerchief, and an ice-cold flying dagger.
These treasures, though insignificant to Han Li, were priceless to the scholar and his companions, who thanked him profusely.
With the gifts accepted, the four had effectively pledged to fulfill Han Li’s requests.
As for whether they might renege and flee with the spirit stones, Han Li had no concerns. He had already investigated their backgrounds—they were minor figures of some repute in the city, with traceable affiliations to clans or sects. Under such circumstances, they’d be fools to betray him, inviting calamity upon their kin.
Moreover, before leaving, Han Li casually mentioned his recent advancement to the Body Integration stage and demonstrated his newfound control over heaven and earth spiritual energy—a feat only possible for cultivators of his rank.
The scholar and his companions were left dumbstruck, any thoughts of betrayal thoroughly extinguished.
After departing, Han Li transformed into a streak of light, heading straight for the towering stone pagodas where the Sky Abyss Guards resided.
Soon, he arrived near one of the pagodas, watching the steady stream of guards entering and exiting. A flicker of nostalgia crossed his face—this was the very tower he had lived in during his time as an Azure Guard. Though centuries had passed, it seemed unchanged.
Suppressing his emotions, Han Li flew toward the entrance, where a dozen Black Iron Guards and two Azure Guards stood watch. Spotting an unfamiliar cultivator approaching, they cast suspicious glances his way.
Han Li remained composed but deliberately released a wisp of his Body Integration aura as he neared.
The two Azure Guards staggered, their faces paling, while the Black Iron Guards stumbled back several steps.
“A Body Integration cultivator!” one Azure Guard gasped.
“Wait—you’re Fellow Daoist Han!” The other, a short-bearded elder, gaped in shock upon recognizing Han Li.
Han Li was momentarily surprised but soon recalled the man. “Fellow Daoist Yue?”
“Fellow Daoist—no, Venerable Han! You…” The elder stammered as if seeing a ghost.
“Venerable, are you one of Sky Abyss City’s elders? May I ask your esteemed name? How can we serve you? Brother Yue, do you know this Venerable?” The other Azure Guard, though equally stunned, managed a respectful bow.
But Yue was still too dazed to respond.
“Is Fairy Xu currently in the tower?” Han Li asked coolly.
“Ah, Fairy Xu! She led a patrol out of the city a few days ago. She won’t return for several more days,” the guard replied, puzzled by Yue’s reaction but maintaining deference.
“Since she’s absent, I won’t enter. When she returns, deliver a message: I’ll be waiting at the Gathering Immortals Pavilion in the city. Ask her to come without fail. As for my identity, Fellow Daoist Yue knows well enough.” Han Li’s brow furrowed briefly before he turned to leave with a nod to Yue.
In a flash of light, he was gone.
The guards bowed in farewell.
“Brother Yue, who exactly is this Venerable Han? Why were you so shocked?” the Azure Guard demanded once Han Li had vanished.
“If he’s looking for Fairy Xu, it must truly be him. Brother Ding, don’t blame me—three hundred years ago, this ‘Venerable Han’ was just an Azure Guard like us. The last time I saw him, he was only at the mid-Nascent Soul stage!” Yue replied, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“Three hundred years ago? An Azure Guard? Brother Yue, you must be joking!” Ding’s eyes bulged.
“You joined the city only two centuries ago, so you wouldn’t know. Back then, this ‘Venerable Han’ was famous among the Azure Guards for slaying a foreign enemy equivalent to a Void Refinement cultivator—despite being only at the Nascent Soul stage. Later, he vanished after accepting some secret mission into the wasteland. But to leap from Nascent Soul to Body Integration in such a short time… it’s simply inconceivable!” Yue exhaled heavily, unable to mask his astonishment and envy.
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