Five thin streams of spiritual energy slowly emerged from the spirit stone, cool and exceptionally dense, like five tiny snakes slithering directly into Han Li’s palm.
Caught off guard, Han Li was startled and instinctively jerked his fingers, cutting off the absorption of the spirit stone.
Yet, even in that brief moment, the five “snakes” had already darted into the meridians of his arm before dispersing on their own.
Instantly, a surge of vibrant spiritual energy spread throughout his body.
Han Li felt a wave of warmth and coolness envelop him, followed by a soothing, blissful sensation that made him feel as if he were floating—an almost surreal experience.
*So this is a top-grade spirit stone? The spiritual energy it provides is indeed incomparable to high-grade spirit stones.*
Han Li quickly refined the absorbed energy, his heart swelling with joy.
Just that brief absorption had saved him half a month of arduous meditation. If he were to fully absorb the entire spirit stone, he could potentially shave off a decade of cultivation time.
A greedy thought flickered through his mind.
Of course, such reckless waste was unthinkable. A spirit stone capable of providing such vast, pure energy at once was best reserved for critical breakthroughs.
With a flip of his hand, a small cyan box appeared.
He carefully placed the top-grade spirit stone inside, affixed several talismans of varying colors to the box, and then stored it in his storage pouch.
With a long, exhilarated cry, Han Li transformed into a dazzling streak of cyan light, vanishing into the distance.
—
Several months later, Han Li returned uneventfully to the vicinity of Silver Shark Island.
However, as soon as he entered the surrounding waters, he noticed something amiss. The entire journey, right up to the island, not a single cultivator was in sight—an unusual occurrence.
When he finally caught sight of Silver Shark Island in the distance, he froze in astonishment.
The island was now enveloped in a thick blue barrier, its defensive formations radiating intense fluctuations as if fully activated. Scanning the area with his spiritual sense, he found the surrounding sea eerily empty, as though all cultivators had retreated into the island’s protective formations.
Frowning, Han Li extended his spiritual sense into the seabed below, confirming no anomalies before cautiously flying toward the island’s entrance.
The barrier’s fluctuations were milder there, likely the designated entry point.
In a few flashes of cyan light, he arrived before the glowing curtain. As the radiance faded, Han Li materialized in midair.
Glancing at the blue barrier, he flicked a transmission talisman into it, then hovered silently, expressionless.
“Which fellow Daoist has returned to the island? May I ask for your name?” A cautious male voice echoed from behind the barrier, accompanied by a probing spiritual sense sweep.
Han Li’s expression darkened. Cyan light flared around him, forcefully repelling the intruding spiritual sense and delivering a counterstrike.
A muffled groan sounded from behind the barrier as the owner of the spiritual sense suffered a minor backlash.
“Hmph! Since when do juniors dare to question my name? Open the barrier immediately. I have urgent business on the island,” Han Li said coldly.
“Ah! A Nascent Soul senior! Forgive my rudeness. Under normal circumstances, I would comply at once, but recently, a horde of demon beasts has appeared near our waters. They attacked the island just days ago. By orders, all returning cultivators must verify their identities before entering,” the man hastily explained, suppressing the pain from the spiritual backlash.
“Demon beasts? How do you propose I prove my identity?” Han Li’s mind flashed back to the demon beast ambush on Biling Island. After a brief pause, his tone softened slightly.
“Could the senior disclose your name and origin? Or perhaps present a token of identity?” the man replied with a nervous chuckle.
“A token? Then take a look at this.” Han Li flicked his wrist, sending a streak of gold into the barrier—the guest token given by the Twin Saints of Heavenly Star.
“So it’s Senior Han! Please forgive my offense. I’ll open the barrier at once!” The man’s voice was laced with surprise.
Han Li’s eyes flickered with suspicion, but his expression remained neutral as he waited.
Moments later, the blue barrier trembled, parting to reveal a narrow gap.
Han Li transformed into a streak of light and shot inside. The gap closed seamlessly behind him.
Inside, he found over a dozen white-robed Heavenly Star Palace disciples standing in two rows.
A middle-aged man stepped forward, bowing deeply. “Greetings, Senior Han.”
His voice matched the one from earlier—a Core Formation mid-stage cultivator, still pale from the spiritual backlash.
“Are you the only ones guarding this place?” Han Li raised an eyebrow. The rest were merely Foundation Establishment cultivators—an unusually weak defense.
“After the recent demon beast attack, most of our forces have retreated to rest in the island’s town. We’re merely on rotation. But rest assured, Senior, a town just a hundred miles away houses over a hundred of our disciples, ready to reinforce us at any moment,” the man explained.
“You called me ‘Senior Han.’ How do you know me?” Han Li’s aura suddenly surged, forcing the man back several steps.
“Senior, months ago, the palace circulated your likeness and description to all island guards, instructing us to await your orders at all times,” the man stammered, his face pale.
“I see. So the Twin Saints have taken such an interest in me.” Han Li’s eyes gleamed before he chuckled, his oppressive aura vanishing instantly.
The man exhaled in relief, forcing a smile.
At that moment, Han Li glanced toward the island’s interior, his gaze sharpening.
“You alerted others?”
“Yes, Senior. As soon as I confirmed your identity, I notified the island’s elders to welcome you,” the man admitted honestly.
“Is that so?” Han Li’s face remained unreadable, but the man shivered under his gaze.
Just then, a streak of white light shot across the sky, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind.
“It’s Elder Zhao, coming to greet you personally,” the man said obsequiously.
Han Li merely hummed in acknowledgment, arms crossed, unmoving.
The man blinked at Han Li’s nonchalance, unaware that he was facing a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
The white light descended, revealing an elderly man in embroidered robes, his hair streaked with white and his long, slender eyebrows lending him an austere air.
An early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
Spotting Han Li, the elder brightened and strode forward with a cupped fist. “Brother Han! Forgive my belated welcome.”
His tone was warm, as if addressing an old friend.
Han Li remained impassive. “No need for courtesy, Elder Zhao. I heard Silver Shark Island faced unrest recently. How fares the situation now? Are you in charge here?”
“The demon beasts were merely a nuisance—no transformed ones among them. Elder Ning oversees the island, but he’s currently investigating the attack’s cause. I’ve actually been awaiting your return, Brother Han,” the elder said with a smile.
“Awaiting me?” Han Li’s brows twitched in surprise.
“Indeed. The Twin Saints personally decreed that you must meet with them upon your return to the inner sea. To be frank, I’ve been stationed here for months just for this,” the elder admitted.
“And the reason for such effort?” Han Li frowned, sensing trouble.
The elder chuckled. “This matter requires a private discussion. Shall we relocate?”
Han Li scanned the area before pointing to a distant hill. “There.”
“Agreed.”
After instructing the guards, the two soared toward the hill in streaks of light.
Landing atop it, Han Li cut straight to the point. “What message do you bear?”
The elder stroked his beard, grinning. “Brother Han, a grand opportunity awaits you.”
“Grand opportunity?” Han Li was taken aback.
“You’re under four hundred years of age, correct?”
“What of it?” Han Li’s guard rose, though his expression betrayed nothing.
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