“Since Senior has spoken thus, how could this junior have any room for refusal?” Han Li said calmly.
“Haha, Fellow Daoist Han, there’s no need to be so disheartened. Although the Moonlight Realm holds some dangers, for most people, it is a tremendous opportunity. Ordinary individuals wouldn’t have such a chance and would likely envy you greatly,” Qian Jizi said with a laugh.
“Envy? This junior’s cultivation hasn’t yet reached a bottleneck, so entering would yield little gain. Moreover, with nearly a fifty percent chance of perishing, it’s truly a reckless gamble with one’s life. If possible, this junior would rather not enter at all,” Han Li shook his head, appearing extremely frustrated.
Hearing this, Qian Jizi and Elder Ma exchanged glances, seemingly sharing some unspoken understanding.
“Once the Moonlight Token is activated, only the activator can use it to teleport people into the Moonlight Realm. This concerns the survival and prosperity of our thirteen clans, so we truly cannot allow Fellow Daoist to refuse. Originally, since you brought the token here, our Ancient Spirit Clan should have rewarded you generously. However, the token has already been activated, and you’ve gained the qualification to enter the Moonlight Realm. This can be considered a mutual offset. But if you are unwilling to enter the Moonlight Realm yet must now take the risk, it is indeed a significant sacrifice. Very well! Fellow Daoist, feel free to make any requests of us. Depending on the circumstances, we will do our best to accommodate you,” Qian Jizi said slowly to Han Li.
Hearing this, Han Li’s heart skipped a beat. After rapidly considering the matter several times, he spoke without hesitation: “Senior can likely guess this junior’s request. After the Moonlight Realm matter concludes, I wish to borrow the cross-continental teleportation array.”
“Borrow the teleportation array? If it’s just for a single use, that should be possible. However, the exorbitant cost of the top-grade spirit stones required for the teleportation must be borne by you. Our clans cannot cover this expense. Moreover, this teleportation array isn’t solely under our clan’s control—we must discuss it with the other clans. They may have additional conditions you must agree to. Does Fellow Daoist have any objections?” Qian Jizi replied impassively.
“As long as I can use the teleportation array, the cost of the teleportation naturally falls to this junior. As for other conditions, as long as they aren’t utterly impossible, this junior can agree,” Han Li said with great delight.
“Heh, Fellow Daoist Han, there’s no need to agree so hastily. The number of top-grade spirit stones required for a cross-continental teleportation could bankrupt even a Sacred Ancestor. Fellow Daoist may have some wealth, but gathering enough for the teleportation will likely be extremely difficult. With your cultivation, even if you remained in our Ancient Spirit Clan forever, you would surely be highly valued. Why venture to another continent? Why not take this opportunity to request something else, such as rare spiritual medicines? Wouldn’t that be a win-win?” Elder Ma suggested, his eyes glinting.
Han Li paused, lost in thought for a moment, then shook his head repeatedly.
“Thank you for your kind offer, Senior, but this junior’s mind is made up!”
Seeing Han Li outright reject his suggestion, the middle-aged man showed no anger, merely nodding faintly before falling silent.
“By the way, Seniors, I don’t yet know when the Moonlight Realm will open. Knowing this would allow me to prepare in advance,” Han Li asked, rubbing his nose.
“The exact date of the opening is unclear to us as well. But based on past experience, it could be as short as a few years or as long as a century,” Qian Jizi replied with a smile.
“As long as a century!” Han Li was momentarily speechless.
“For cultivators like us, a century is but a fleeting moment. Fellow Daoist Han, there’s no need to be so surprised,” the middle-aged man retorted, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s nothing. This junior was simply caught off guard,” Han Li said with a bitter smile.
“Fellow Daoist was staying at an inn before, correct? But that area has now been sealed off, and you won’t be able to leave Cloud City for some time. In that case, why not relocate to Eight Cloud Mountain? I’ll arrange for a cave abode to be prepared for you, free of charge, where you can cultivate in peace while awaiting the Moonlight Realm’s opening,” Qian Jizi proposed.
Han Li was slightly taken aback by this offer but, after a brief consideration, nodded in agreement.
In the following moments, Qian Jizi and Elder Ma casually inquired about Han Li’s background, but he deftly sidestepped their questions with vague answers. The two elders seemed unbothered by this and didn’t press further when it became clear Han Li wasn’t inclined to share.
Shortly after, the third elder of the Ancient Spirit Clan—a tall, burly man with a thick beard—finally arrived at the Spirit Hall. After giving Han Li a brief once-over and uttering a single “Good,” he excused himself, citing an unfinished alchemy batch, and swiftly departed.
Qian Jizi and Elder Ma could only smile wryly at this, as if such behavior from the man was entirely expected.
Before long, Han Li accepted a Ten-Thousand Mile Talisman from Elder Ma and took his leave. As he departed, Qian Jizi mentioned that within three days, discussions with the other clans regarding the teleportation array would conclude, and the cave abode would be ready for Han Li’s relocation to Eight Cloud Mountain.
Expressing his gratitude, Han Li exited the grand hall, boarded a beast-drawn carriage at the entrance, and flew away from the Ancient Spirit Clan’s fortress.
Meanwhile, Qian Jizi and the middle-aged man sat in silence within the hall, each lost in thought.
“What do you think? Could this man be a spy sent by the Horned Race?” Qian Jizi asked slowly.
“A spy? Impossible! Using a Moonlight Token as a means to infiltrate our clan would be far too extravagant. Moreover, he saved Master Jia and killed several Horned Race cultivators of similar rank on the spot. If this were merely a ruse, the cost would far outweigh the gain. Even if he became a guest elder, he wouldn’t have access to our clan’s true secrets. Such an elaborate scheme would serve no purpose,” the middle-aged man replied without hesitation.
“I thought the same. In that case, we needn’t resort to soul-searching techniques to investigate his background. It would only breed resentment, and that would be troublesome,” Qian Jizi nodded in agreement.
“Given his formidable combat prowess—nearly rivaling a peak late-stage Void Refinement cultivator—having him as a guest elder would benefit our clan. We should focus on winning him over,” the middle-aged man suggested.
“But he wants to use the teleportation array to leave Thunderstorm Continent,” Qian Jizi frowned.
“Heh, gathering the spirit stones needed for the teleportation won’t be easy. By the time he amasses enough, who knows how many years will have passed? In the meantime, with a bit of effort, we can persuade him to stay. Of course, if he remains determined to leave, there’s no need to play the villain—letting him go is inconsequential. A peak Void Refinement cultivator is neither here nor there; it’s not worth tarnishing our clan’s reputation over him,” Qian Jizi concluded impassively.
“Since Fellow Daoist Qian Jizi has decided, I have no objections,” the middle-aged man agreed after some thought.
“Now, let’s discuss the Horned Race’s movements. Their current actions seem far more extensive than before. Just the number of Sacred Ancestors they’ve mobilized…” Qian Jizi shifted the topic to the Horned Race’s invasion.
Meanwhile, Han Li’s carriage hadn’t traveled far from Eight Cloud Mountain. He disembarked on a quiet street and checked into an unremarkable inn resembling human architecture.
After setting up protective formations in his room, Han Li sat cross-legged on the bed, carefully reviewing his earlier conversation with Qian Jizi and the others for any missteps.
After a long moment of contemplation, he exhaled deeply, his expression finally relaxing.
From their demeanor, it seemed they bore him no ill will. The only concern was the inherent danger of the Moonlight Realm. However, since no cultivators above the Body Integration stage would enter, there was little to fear. As long as he avoided greed and reckless exploration for treasures, hiding in a secluded spot would likely keep him safe.
This realization had allowed him to agree to Qian Jizi’s request without hesitation in the Spirit Hall.
Still, the possibility of the Moonlight Realm’s opening being delayed by a century was unexpected. If it truly took that long, he could use the time and his supply of spirit pills to reach the peak of early-stage Void Refinement, then leverage the realm’s dense spiritual energy to break through to mid-stage.
This plan relied on his ability to infinitely refine the exceedingly rare Soaring Dragon Pills using the mysterious green liquid. Ordinary cultivators would need five or six centuries of arduous cultivation to achieve the same progress.
Advancing in the Void Refinement stage required accumulating vastly more spiritual energy than the Nascent Soul stage. And Han Li’s dual cultivation of body and magic made his path even more arduous than most.
As Han Li pondered, his expression suddenly shifted. He flipped his hand, revealing a white jade box sealed with a crimson talisman—the second Moonlight Token.
He knew presenting this item could secure greater rewards from Qian Jizi, including another sentient puppet. Yet he’d kept it hidden, driven by caution.
Regardless of its potential uses before or after entering the Moonlight Realm, he preferred this hidden advantage over immediate benefits.
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