Han Li’s sudden exclamation startled Wen Siyue and her husband. Before they could inquire further, they saw Han Li swiftly extend a finger, glowing with spiritual light, and gently tap the red mole on the girl’s palm.
A small ball of azure light flashed and vanished into her palm.
Wen Siyue and her husband were bewildered but dared not interrupt Han Li’s spellcasting.
Then, an astonishing scene unfolded!
After the azure light disappeared, the red mole grew even more vivid, then began to stretch and transform, gradually taking the shape of a blood-red dragon pattern that surfaced on her palm—lifelike, as if it had truly come alive.
“So it is indeed!” Han Li murmured, his gaze toward Tian Qin’er growing increasingly peculiar.
“Senior Han, my daughter—” Wen Siyue’s heart clenched at the sight, her face betraying deep concern.
“It’s nothing. I’ve merely discovered the reason behind the peculiar toxicity in your daughter’s body. Earlier, you mentioned she was bitten by an unknown venomous insect, which led to her current condition,” Han Li said after exhaling lightly.
“Indeed, that’s what caused her poisoning. But we tested the insect ourselves—while its venom is difficult to dispel, it shouldn’t have rendered us so helpless as it has with our daughter,” Wen Siyue replied anxiously.
“Heh, naturally. The insect’s venom was merely a catalyst. The true cause of her life-threatening condition is her Dragon’s Cry Physique! A female cultivator possessing a male-exclusive constitution, combined with the insect’s highly yang-aligned venom, led to this state. Even without the poisoning, her vitality would have gradually withered, and she wouldn’t have lived past forty,” Han Li remarked coolly, gesturing at the crimson dragon mark on the girl’s palm.
“Dragon’s Cry Physique? Impossible! When our daughter was born, we personally examined her and found no abnormalities,” Wen Siyue paled instantly.
“Your daughter’s Dragon’s Cry Physique is exceptionally rare—a latent constitution undetectable unless triggered by external forces or manifesting naturally. Those with this physique cultivate swiftly, but as their progress accelerates, the imbalance of yin and yang within their bodies worsens, leading to death before even reaching Foundation Establishment,” Han Li explained calmly.
“So even if the poison is fully purged, she can no longer cultivate?”
Wen Siyue panicked, and the Tian man’s expression darkened.
“Other matters can wait. First, I’ll cleanse her of the poison. Both of you, leave the room for now. Return when I call you,” Han Li commanded without further discussion.
“Yes!” The couple dared not object and withdrew at once.
The girl, witnessing this, showed unease for the first time. But before she could react, Han Li flicked his sleeve.
A flash of azure radiance enveloped her, and Tian Qin’er collapsed onto the bed, unconscious.
Only then did Han Li turn back, scrutinizing the girl as if searching for something.
“The same aura, the same female body with a Dragon’s Cry Physique, and even knowledge of formations… Is this mere coincidence? Or does the soul truly reincarnate, retaining its past wisdom?” After a long silence, Han Li sighed softly, murmuring to himself.
He then clasped his hands together before parting them, revealing a dozen silver needles as fine as silk, gleaming coldly.
With a flick of his wrist, the needles shot forth, embedding themselves precisely into various points on the girl’s body before vanishing without a trace.
Han Li then formed hand seals, his fingers dancing in an intricate rhythm as multicolored incantations streamed from his fingertips, weaving into a five-colored net of light that enveloped the girl…
Outside the wooden hut, in a small courtyard, Wen Siyue and the Tian man stood anxiously, their eyes frequently darting toward the closed door.
Their worry for their only daughter was palpable.
The four Foundation Establishment disciples waiting nearby scarcely dared to breathe.
The hut remained eerily silent.
The refined man’s anxiety deepened, yet he refrained from whispering to Wen Siyue, knowing full well that an early Nascent Soul cultivator like Han Li could easily detect any covert communication. Provoking him further was the last thing they wanted.
Just as the Tian man’s agitation peaked, Han Li’s voice echoed in his ears: “You may enter now.”
Relieved, the man hurried toward the door, exchanging a glance with Wen Siyue, who wore a similar expression of relief.
They pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Han Li sat in a chair, examining a fist-sized azure flame in his palm, within which writhed several black tendrils, as if alive.
The girl lay motionless on the bed, deep in peaceful slumber. A faint, peculiar fragrance lingered in the air.
“Senior Han, my daughter—”
“I gave her a Returning Dream Pill. Inspect her yourselves,” Han Li interrupted, rising and stepping away from the bed.
Wen Siyue, reassured, thanked him profusely before she and the Tian man rushed to the bedside to examine their daughter.
Han Li, meanwhile, strolled out into the courtyard, idly toying with the azure flame in his hand.
The four Foundation Establishment disciples outside started at his sudden appearance, scrambling to bow in reverence.
Han Li waved them off dismissively before walking to a corner of the yard. He studied the azure orb in his hand, then abruptly crushed it between his palms.
A golden radiance burst forth, accompanied by a thunderous crackle.
The azure orb flickered briefly before dissolving into smoke along with the black tendrils, dissipating into the air.
A foul stench filled the courtyard, nauseating to the extreme.
Han Li frowned and swept his sleeve, summoning a gust of wind that instantly dispersed the odor.
He then clasped his hands behind his back, gazing skyward with an inscrutable expression.
Some time later, footsteps approached from behind.
Without turning, Han Li spoke coolly:
“Though I’ve purged most of the poison from her body, you should still seek the inner core of a white heron fish demon. Have her consume it raw—that will eliminate any lingering toxins.”
“Senior, your kindness is beyond repayment. In my next life, I shall serve you as your humble servant!” Wen Siyue’s melodious voice rang out as she approached.
“Next life? Do you truly believe in reincarnation for us cultivators?” Han Li’s tone carried a strange mix of irony and self-mockery.
“Senior, what do you mean?” Wen Siyue faltered, puzzled by his words.
“Never mind. Just an idle thought. Let me remind you—while your daughter is safe for now, and I’ve temporarily suppressed the backlash of her Dragon’s Cry Physique with a surge of Profound Yin spiritual power, it’s only a temporary measure. If she refrains from further cultivation and relies on medicinal aids, she can live as long as any mortal without danger. But should she resume cultivation, the moment her yang energy strengthens even slightly, the balance will break, and the backlash will resume. Understood?” Han Li turned to face her, his expression solemn.
“Is there truly no way to nullify the Dragon’s Cry Physique? Please, Senior, enlighten me! I cannot bear to see my daughter confined to a mere century of life!” Wen Siyue paled, kowtowing deeply.
“There is a way, but it may be beyond your reach,” Han Li said evenly, this time not stopping her obeisance.
“Whatever it takes to set my daughter on the path of cultivation, I will do it—even at the cost of my life!” Wen Siyue declared, lifting her beautiful face with determination.
“This isn’t something a mere Core Formation cultivator can accomplish—it requires a Nascent Soul cultivator. The solution is simple: have a Nascent Soul cultivator periodically infuse her with yin energy to balance the yang eruptions, allowing her to continue cultivation. But this requires a Nascent Soul cultivator to be at her constant beck and call, or for her to remain by their side at all times. Additionally, she must consume vast quantities of supporting elixirs, which grow increasingly rare as her cultivation advances. Once she reaches Foundation Establishment, even Core Formation cultivators like yourselves would struggle to sustain the costs.” Moved by her devotion, Han Li’s expression softened as he laid out the truth.
“A Nascent Soul cultivator on constant call?” Wen Siyue’s face drained of color.
The moment Han Li spoke, her heart sank. No matter how much she loved her daughter, she knew this was impossible.
Even if they could somehow persuade a Nascent Soul cultivator to assist a few times, who would submit to the whims of two Core Formation cultivators indefinitely? As for the alternative—having Tian Qin’er accompany a Nascent Soul cultivator—it was equally unattainable.
Nascent Soul cultivators typically only accepted Core Formation disciples. Unless Tian Qin’er possessed unparalleled beauty or once-in-a-millennium spiritual roots, there was no hope of her being taken in. Given her current state and constitution, what Nascent Soul cultivator would even consider her?
After a brief contemplation, Wen Siyue was utterly despaired.
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