“Since you say so, Fellow Daoist, it seems you are confident. It appears I was overthinking things.” Han Li chuckled softly and strode up the stairs without hesitation.
Xianxian pursed her lips in a smile and gracefully followed behind.
At the exit of the fourth-floor staircase, a faint red light barrier indeed blocked the way.
Han Li smiled faintly, his figure flickering as he passed through the barrier effortlessly.
In an instant, his vision brightened, revealing a world of blue. The ceiling and surrounding walls were crystalline and translucent, shimmering with a faint azure glow.
Beneath his feet lay an enormous white formation, covering nearly the entire floor spanning over twenty zhang. At the center of the formation stood a man, silently observing Han Li and his companion.
Han Li’s gaze sharpened, clearly discerning the man’s appearance.
He was a scholarly-looking man with a square face, holding a yellow book in one hand and a pale golden formation disk in the other. His cultivation was at the peak of the Void Refinement stage.
“So, it’s you who has arrived!” The scholar’s face revealed a trace of peculiarity as he spoke.
“Oh? Do you recognize me?” Han Li asked with a faint smile.
“Even if I didn’t before, after your display downstairs, how could I not? To suppress a ninth-tier being—your abilities are truly extraordinary,” the scholar remarked with admiration.
“You flatter me. But how will my qualifications be tested?” Han Li asked indifferently.
“Tested? With your abilities, what need is there for a test? You pass directly!” The scholar laughed heartily.
Hearing this, both Han Li and Xianxian were momentarily stunned.
“What, did you truly think I was inflexible? Since even eighth and ninth-tier beings were exempt from testing, so are you. Here, take this—your Lightning-Resistant Umbrella!” As soon as the scholar finished speaking, a silver flash erupted from the book in his hand, and an object shot toward Han Li.
Han Li reached out and caught the item effortlessly. It felt slightly cool to the touch. Lowering his gaze, he saw a small, exquisitely crafted silver umbrella, no more than a few inches long, densely inscribed with intricate runes.
“A few reminders, Fellow Daoist. The Lightning-Resistant Umbrella must be bound in my presence to prevent theft. Once bound, it will only last a month. After that, it becomes useless. In other words, you must exit the mountain range within a month—or risk being corrupted by demonic energy and turning into a true fiend,” the scholar, now identified as Steward Min, explained meticulously.
“Thank you for the reminder.” Han Li nodded, tossing the small umbrella into the air before opening his mouth.
A small wisp of essence blood sprayed out as a mist, enveloping the silver umbrella.
Han Li then began chanting, his hands forming seals as he flicked his fingers rapidly. Multicolored incantations surged forth, merging into the blood mist.
The silver umbrella expanded violently, growing to three chi in length. A rumbling sound emerged from the mist as it condensed into blood-red runes of varying sizes, swirling around the umbrella before vanishing into it.
In an instant, the umbrella glowed crimson before returning to normal.
Han Li beckoned, and the umbrella shrank, flying into his sleeve and disappearing.
The entire binding process had taken mere moments.
Steward Min’s expression flickered with surprise at the speed of Han Li’s mastery over the umbrella.
But he quickly regained his composure, shifting his gaze to Xianxian with a frown. “This Fairy is of the Crystal Race, and her cultivation is too low. Entering the Demon Gold Mountain Range poses great danger. I advise you to reconsider, lest you perish.”
“Thank you for your concern, Senior, but I must enter the Demon Gold Mountain Range. Please proceed with the test,” Xianxian replied with a respectful bow, her tone resolute.
“Very well. My test has two options. The first is to endure half an hour in an illusion conjured by my formation. The second is to defeat two of my puppet beasts. Either will suffice,” Steward Min explained slowly.
“I choose the first,” Xianxian answered without hesitation, as if she had anticipated this.
“Then step forward three paces,” Steward Min nodded.
The Crystal woman complied, stepping precisely onto a large rune within the formation.
Han Li’s eyes flickered as he noticed this, but before he could ponder further, Steward Min addressed him again. “Fellow Daoist, you may leave now. I prefer no spectators during the test. And please refrain from disclosing the details.”
“Of course. I shall take my leave.” Han Li nodded impassively and strode downstairs.
As he stepped into the stairwell, a ripple of restriction emanated from behind, accompanied by a faint chime.
Glancing back casually, Han Li saw the formation on the floor fully activated, layers of white radiance engulfing Xianxian and Steward Min, obscuring them from view.
His expression flickered briefly, but he continued without pause, descending through the barrier.
Emerging on the third floor, he found many eyes turning toward him.
Han Li smiled but did not linger, proceeding downward.
Soon, he stood outside the pavilion’s main entrance. Pausing briefly, he glanced up at the fifth floor, a strange thought crossing his mind—what lay hidden there?
Shaking his head with a wry smile, he strolled leisurely along the street.
With Yue Zong’s test likely still ongoing, he decided to explore the town. It was small enough to survey quickly.
Moreover, he was curious about the Sacred Race member who had placed a bounty on the Immortal Mushroom. Though he had no intention of interacting with them, a distant glimpse wouldn’t hurt.
With this in mind, he walked on.
The shops lining the street were few, mostly dealing in demon beast materials. They were modest and worn, clearly long-established.
Still, low-level cultivators moved about, entering and exiting the shops, keeping business alive.
As Han Li passed a large estate, his eyes narrowed in focus.
His spiritual sense had been blocked by an unusual restriction—one so formidable that breaching it would take considerable effort.
This must be the Sacred Race member’s residence. Han Li studied the estate discreetly, but its gates were tightly shut, the restrictions impenetrable.
He moved on without lingering, maintaining a casual demeanor.
After nearly an hour, he had traversed the entire town and returned to the pavilion.
There, he found Xianxian and Yue Zong waiting, with no one else in sight.
“So, Brother Yue, you passed without a test?” Han Li guessed, smiling as he approached.
“Exactly, Senior. Steward Min said my reputation sufficed. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have finished so quickly. I must thank you again for your assistance!” Yue Zong bowed deeply, his demeanor even more respectful.
“No need. Your expertise is indispensable for this journey. Fairy Xian, I assume you also obtained your Lightning-Resistant Umbrella?” Han Li waved it off, turning to Xianxian.
“Naturally. Though the illusion formation was formidable, I happen to know a few mind-calming techniques. Enduring it was manageable,” Xianxian replied lightly.
“Then let us depart. Time is not on our side.”
“Agreed.” Xianxian smiled.
Yue Zong nodded solemnly.
Without further delay, the trio summoned their flight lights and left the town, vanishing into the mist once more.
After flying over twenty li, the fog thinned, but the thunder ahead grew deafening.
When their lights burst through the mist, Han Li inhaled sharply at the sight before him.
Hundreds of zhang ahead, the sky writhed with green lightning, thunder roaring endlessly from all directions.
They were entering a world of pure lightning.
“Let’s go,” Yue Zong murmured, summoning his silver umbrella and enveloping himself in its glow before flying forward.
Han Li and Xianxian followed suit, activating their own umbrellas and trailing behind.
…
An hour later, three silver lights emerged from the other side of the lightning world, arriving above a dark, towering mountain.
As the light faded, Han Li and his companions hovered in mid-air.
“So this is the Demon Gold Mountain Range,” Han Li murmured, scanning the surroundings.
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