After running his fingers over the yellow mark for a while, Han Li lowered his arm, pondered for a moment, then took out several more pills and swallowed them.
Although he was highly intrigued by the Lieyang Pill and the woman had spoken of its miraculous effects, he would never place all his hopes on it.
Soon after, he closed his eyes again and entered meditation.
Two days later, a white cloud appeared at the horizon, upon which stood the woman and the girl, Zhu’er.
The girl still carried the large yellow bow and three white bone arrows on her back, while the woman now held a fiery-red jade box in her hands.
In a short while, the two arrived above the courtyard and hovered motionlessly.
“Is this where he lives? It seems he’s set up a barrier. Hmph, this man still doesn’t trust us,” Zhu’er blinked her beautiful eyes, curiously examining the wooden huts below before focusing on one enveloped in white light. She snorted disdainfully.
“Senior Han’s spiritual power is damaged, and we are not close acquaintances. It’s hardly surprising he would take such precautions. If there were no barriers at all, I would find it rather odd,” the woman chuckled, unbothered.
With a flick of her hand, the white cloud descended gently, and the two landed softly.
“Senior Han, I have brought the Lieyang Pill as promised. I hope you will grant us an audience!” The woman bowed toward the door and spoke in a clear, melodious voice.
“So it’s Fellow Daoist Huo. Forgive me for not rising to greet you—please, come in,” a calm male voice replied from inside the house.
As soon as the words fell, the white light barrier flickered and dissipated inexplicably, while the door slowly swung open.
Without hesitation, the woman led the girl inside.
“Ah, this is…” The moment the woman stepped in, her expression shifted slightly in surprise.
At one end of the room, two identical “Han Li” figures sat side by side on a wooden bed—one smiling at them, the other expressionless with closed eyes.
Zhu’er was also taken aback, her eyes darting between the two with suspicion, though she couldn’t discern anything unusual.
“Please, have a seat. And who might this be?” The “Han Li” with open eyes gestured to a nearby chair before glancing at the girl with a questioning look.
“This is my daughter, Bai Zhu’er. She has been cultivating outside and only returned to the clan two days ago,” the woman replied respectfully, while secretly scanning both “Han Li” figures with her spiritual sense.
To her astonishment, though one had weaker energy and the other stronger, she couldn’t determine either’s cultivation level. Yet their appearances and attire were identical!
This unsettled her deeply.
Though she had heard of body-doubling techniques, such profound arts were beyond the reach of a minor branch clan’s priestess like herself.
This alone confirmed that this man possessed extraordinary abilities. She hesitated, unsure whether to proceed with the planned test.
At that moment, Zhu’er stepped forward gracefully and bowed deeply to “Han Li,” smiling sweetly.
“Zhu’er heard from Mother that a senior from the upper clan has arrived, so I came to pay my respects. I hope Senior does not take offense!”
“So this is Fellow Daoist Huo’s daughter. To have such cultivation at such a young age is truly commendable!” The open-eyed “Han Li” chuckled, offering casual praise.
“Not at all! My daughter’s meager skills are hardly worth mentioning in Senior’s eyes. By the way, I hope you’ve found your stay comfortable. If there’s anything lacking, please let me know, and I’ll arrange for a different residence immediately,” the woman said, pushing aside her shock with a smile.
“The spiritual energy here is sufficient—no need for trouble. Is that the Lieyang Divine Pill in your hand?” “Han Li” cut to the chase, eyeing the fiery-red jade box with interest.
“Indeed, it is! This pill was refined by our clan’s first high priest after slaying a…” The woman raised the jade box and began recounting the pill’s origins.
Though Han Li found it slightly odd, he listened quietly without showing any reaction.
Meanwhile, Zhu’er’s eyes flashed with cunning. Hidden in her sleeves, one hand now held an emerald-green leaf while the other formed a strange hand seal.
An invisible surge of spiritual sense silently probed toward the two “Han Li” figures.
Their reactions were starkly different.
The “Han Li” with closed eyes remained motionless, as if completely unaware.
But when Zhu’er’s spiritual sense touched him, it felt as if she had probed an inanimate object—there was no fluctuation of consciousness at all.
This puzzled her greatly.
Either he possessed an unfathomable technique to completely shield his mind, or this body was merely an empty shell.
Before she could figure it out, her spiritual sense reached the other “Han Li”—and her face instantly paled.
Her spiritual sense was suddenly sucked into a massive vortex, uncontrollably drawn into his body.
Terrified, she frantically retracted her spiritual sense.
Surprisingly, it returned effortlessly, encountering no resistance.
This left her even more bewildered.
At that moment, the “Han Li” speaking to her mother glanced at her with an amused smirk.
Zhu’er’s lips parted in shock, her face flushing with embarrassment.
The woman, oblivious to this exchange, continued explaining the Lieyang Pill’s properties and precautions before finally handing the jade box to “Han Li.”
“Han Li” nodded solemnly, thanked her, and with a wave of his hand, took the box.
The woman, sensing it was time to leave, politely bid farewell and led her still-shaken daughter out of the house.
Once they were gone, the “Han Li” with closed eyes suddenly opened them and spoke lightly, “Tihun, what mischief are you up to, scaring that girl for no reason?”
With a wave of his hand, the white barrier reactivated around the house.
“Master! That girl had quite the audacity—only at Core Formation stage, yet daring to probe your divine sense. She needed to be taught a lesson!” The other “Han Li” laughed before black light flashed around him, shrinking him into a small black monkey.
The monkey leaped onto Han Li’s shoulder and eagerly presented the jade box.
Han Li shook his head with a smile and took it.
Since awakening its intelligence in Tianyuan City and absorbing the knowledge imprinted in its mind, Tihun’s transformations had grown increasingly indistinguishable from the real Han Li.
Gently opening the jade box, a wave of red light and scorching heat rushed out, as if standing before a furnace.
Unfazed, Han Li focused his gaze.
Inside the red glow was a thumb-sized crimson orb pulsing with radiant light.
“So this is the Lieyang Divine Pill. Quite extraordinary,” Han Li murmured, reaching in with two fingers.
A soft *pfft* sounded as flames erupted from the orb, engulfing his hand.
An ordinary cultivator would have been severely burned, but Han Li’s formidable physique rendered the flames harmless. His fingers remained unscathed as he plucked the orb out.
Tihun, perched on his shoulder, stared at the orb with wide, curious eyes.
Han Li studied the pill for a long moment, deep in thought.
According to the woman, the pill’s fiery nature was so potent that consuming it required intricate steps to avoid backlash—even risking self-immolation.
The safest method was to first neutralize its properties with cold-attribute elixirs before ingestion.
Yet Han Li sensed the immense firepower within the pill. Wasting it would be a shame.
Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and exhaled a silver fireball—the Devouring Spirit Heavenly Flame.
With a *pop*, the flame transformed into a silver firebird the size of a fist, circling Han Li before diving toward the crimson orb.
The firebird let out a clear cry as its wings spread, enveloping the Lieyang Pill in silver flames.
—
Meanwhile, dozens of miles away, the woman and Zhu’er sped through the sky on their white cloud.
Suddenly, the cloud slowed.
“Zhu’er, is your spiritual sense unharmed?” the woman asked softly.
“Mother, I’m fine. Just a bit shaken,” the girl replied, still pale.
“Good. It seems this ‘Senior Han’ truly possesses great power. In that case, giving him the Lieyang Pill wasn’t a waste.” The woman didn’t press for details, visibly relieved.
“I didn’t uncover much, but he’s certainly formidable. But Mother, what about your dwindling lifespan?” Zhu’er asked sorrowfully.
“As the clan’s high priest, sacrificing some years to avert disaster is my duty. Our clan survives here thanks to generations of high priests—few of whom died peacefully. Let’s return and prepare. Hopefully, Senior Han will absorb the pill’s power swiftly and aid us.” The woman smiled faintly, unbothered.
“But—” Zhu’er’s eyes reddened.
The woman cut her off with a hand seal, and the white cloud enveloped them before shooting into the distance, vanishing beyond the horizon.
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