Deep within the towering mountains, in the secluded chamber of a cave abode, a flash of blue-white lightning crackled, and Han Li’s figure emerged, his face brimming with joy.
With the aid of the True Toad Spirit Liquid, after over a century of arduous cultivation, he had finally perfected the late-stage of the Deity Transformation realm. At the same time, the spiritual power within the Roc Relic had been completely refined, granting him the secret techniques to refine the blood of the True Dragon and the Heavenly Phoenix.
Naturally, Han Li wasted no time in integrating these two spiritual bloodlines into his body, mastering the transformation techniques of the True Dragon and Heavenly Phoenix’s Awakening Arts.
At this point, Han Li’s physical body and magical power had reached an unimaginable level—the absolute pinnacle attainable within the Deity Transformation realm.
Concurrently, the Qingluo fruit seed had been nurtured into several Qingluo fruit trees. Using these fruits as the primary ingredient, after several failed attempts, he successfully refined a batch of over a dozen Tianluo Pills.
With all preparations complete, Han Li, aided by three Blackflame Pills and three Tianluo Pills, finally began his breakthrough into the Void Refinement stage.
As it turned out, Han Li’s luck was quite favorable.
Two of the three Tianluo Pills proved effective, unexpectedly enhancing the potency of the Blackflame Pills by twenty to thirty percent.
Under such advantageous conditions, Han Li spent several months mobilizing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from a radius of ten thousand li, infusing it into his body. In one decisive move, he successfully advanced into the Void Refinement stage with remarkable ease.
Both his cultivation and spiritual sense had more than doubled in strength.
Yet now, Han Li hovered lightly in mid-air within the chamber, his eyes closed as he sensed everything around him.
The once faintly perceptible spiritual energy of heaven and earth had now become crystal clear, as if he could gather it into his hands with a mere gesture.
Suddenly, his eyelids twitched, and he truly reached out toward the void nearby.
A sharp tearing sound echoed as five crystalline streaks shot from his fingertips. Nearby, countless specks of spiritual light flickered, and countless multicolored motes the size of rice grains materialized out of thin air, merging into the crystalline streaks.
In an instant, the crystalline light surged, and a translucent, multicolored giant hand eerily emerged from the void.
“Indeed! After entering the Void Refinement stage, the degree of control over the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is worlds apart from the Deity Transformation stage,” Han Li murmured to himself.
During the Deity Transformation stage, he could only vaguely sense and barely utilize the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Now, he could truly command it. With every movement, any technique he employed, amplified by this energy, would be far more formidable than before. As for those divine abilities specifically designed to harness this energy, their power would likely become terrifyingly potent, possibly several times stronger.
Han Li opened his eyes, satisfaction gleaming within them, and waved his hand. The crystalline giant hand before him instantly dispersed and vanished.
Slowly descending, Han Li landed on the ground.
His gaze swept across the chamber and settled on an object in the corner—the Magnetic Divine Mountain, which had remained undisturbed for over a century.
Over the past hundred years, Han Li had gradually incorporated the remaining two stone fragments into the mountain, refining them together.
By his calculations, the refinement should be nearing completion.
With this thought, Han Li decisively raised a hand and beckoned toward the distant mountain.
With a thunderous rumble, the entire chamber trembled before the black mountain soared into the air and shot toward him.
His fingers splayed abruptly, and the black mountain buzzed to a halt mere inches away.
Han Li inspected it closely.
The Magnetic Divine Mountain appeared unchanged from before, still pitch-black in appearance. However, the fact that it responded so effortlessly to his summons, without the slightest resistance, indicated that the stone fragments within had indeed fully merged with the mountain.
Otherwise, even with his vastly enhanced magical power, he would never have been able to manipulate it so effortlessly.
Nodding, Han Li cast a spell toward the mountain. A flash of azure light struck its surface and vanished without a trace.
The mountain’s surface shimmered with silver light as a cluster of silver flames burst forth, swirling briefly before transforming into a silver firebird.
It was the Spirit Devouring Firebird!
The firebird was noticeably smaller than before, its demeanor somewhat listless.
Evidently, the century-long task of refining the stone fragments had drained much of its innate energy.
A pang of regret flickered through Han Li’s heart. With a low chant, he pointed at the firebird, which immediately shot toward him and disappeared into his body in a flash.
Han Li would need to nurture it within himself for some time to restore its vitality.
A faint smile curled his lips as he cast another spell at the black mountain.
The mountain spun rapidly before vanishing in a flash of gray light.
The next moment, Han Li flipped his pitch-black palm upward.
Amidst a flicker of black light, a three-inch-tall miniature mountain materialized above his palm before dropping unceremoniously.
In a flash, the mountain disappeared.
Simultaneously, a silver mountain pattern appeared on the back of his hand.
In mere moments, Han Li had resealed the Magnetic Divine Mountain into his palm.
But his expression abruptly darkened as his raised arm suddenly plummeted downward, dragging his body forward in an unsteady stumble.
“Not good!”
Han Li inwardly cursed as he swiftly bent his knees and steadied himself with his other arm, which blurred momentarily to catch the falling hand. After swaying a few times, he finally regained his balance.
The moment the Magnetic Divine Mountain was sealed into his hand, his entire arm had become impossibly heavy. Even with his extraordinary strength, he had nearly been pulled to the ground. Now, he could barely maintain his stance.
Shock and anger surged within Han Li, but a quick analysis clarified the situation.
Although he had previously refined the Magnetic Divine Mountain into his palm using the Hundred Meridians Treasure Refinement Art, the newly integrated stone fragments had not undergone the same process. Thus, when absorbed into his body, this mishap had occurred. It seemed that to wield the mountain as effortlessly as before, he would need to refine it anew with the treasure refinement art.
After careful consideration, Han Li wasted no time. He sat cross-legged, cradling one arm with the other. A golden light flashed above his head as a half-foot-tall golden-green Nascent Soul emerged from his crown.
The Nascent Soul wore a solemn expression, its body shimmering with alternating gold and azure light.
With a single-handed seal, the Nascent Soul opened its tiny mouth and exhaled a wisp of azure flame, which struck the hand sealed with the mountain.
The pitch-black hand was instantly engulfed in azure Nascent Soul flames.
Han Li’s physical body closed its eyes as a golden halo shimmered behind him, manifesting the Sacred Demon Dharma Form once more. The three-headed, six-armed dharma form sat in meditation, its golden radiance and solidity far surpassing what Han Li could achieve during his Deity Transformation stage.
From a distance, the dharma form resembled a golden statue come to life.
Han Li spent another half a year refining the Magnetic Divine Mountain anew with the Hundred Meridians Treasure Refinement Art.
Fortunately, the mountain had already undergone refinement before, so this time, he only needed to refine the newly integrated stone fragments slightly. Otherwise, the process would have taken much longer.
On this day, the Nascent Soul abruptly ceased its flames and vanished in a flash of light.
Han Li relaxed his hand seals, concluding the refinement.
Though the process was far from complete, his hand would no longer be unbearably heavy. The remaining refinement could proceed gradually while the mountain remained sealed in his palm.
This final step would take years, not mere months.
Flexing his arm, Han Li tested the hand sealed with the mountain, finding no abnormalities. A satisfied smile crossed his face.
Just then, his brow furrowed, and he abruptly stood, striding toward the chamber’s entrance.
With a heavy creak, the massive stone door swung open on its own.
Han Li flashed outside, where a small, pitch-black figure hovered mid-air, smiling at him.
It was his Second Nascent Soul!
Without a word, Han Li formed a seal with one hand, and the Second Nascent Soul transformed into a streak of black light, merging into his crown.
Closing his eyes briefly, Han Li absorbed all the events of the past century and recent days.
“Those demon beasts have come again… and they want to see me?” Han Li’s eyes snapped open, a strange glint flashing within them.
Without hesitation, he strode toward the main hall.
After a few turns, he arrived at the hall’s entrance, where faint voices could be heard.
Han Li’s eyebrows rose slightly as he stepped inside without ceremony.
The voices within abruptly ceased as all eyes turned toward him, their owners gaping in shock.
Han Li’s gaze swept across the hall, taking in the four demon beasts standing on either side—the bull-headed creature, the golden ape, the three-headed serpent, and the massive boar—all of whom had once traded Woodbell Flowers with him.
Seated in the hall’s main position was a green-robed figure, none other than another “Han Li,” who smiled amiably.
Upon seeing the real Han Li enter, the seated “Han Li” immediately rose and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Master. Congratulations on your successful advancement!”
“Well done. You’ve worked hard during this time.”
Having already learned everything from the Second Nascent Soul, Han Li showed no surprise. He nodded and waved dismissively.
“These trivial matters are but my duty. However, the current situation is significant and requires your personal attention,” the “Han Li” replied respectfully before glancing at the stunned demon beasts with a grin.
With a flash of black light, the figure shrank into a half-foot-tall monkey, somersaulting toward Han Li.
Han Li flicked his sleeve, and amidst a radiant glow, the monkey vanished into his robes.
“Now, you may state your purpose once more,” Han Li declared, striding forward to take the seat previously occupied by the Tihun Beast. His sharp gaze swept over the four demon beasts below.
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