With urgent matters at hand, Han Li naturally wouldn’t study the demon core now. With a flip of his palm and a flash of green light, the object vanished without a trace.
Han Li then raised his hand and summoned three empty spirit beast pouches. Pointing at the golden devouring beetles in the air and emitting a long cry, the swarm immediately buzzed loudly, transforming into three golden clouds before flying back into the pouches, which Han Li promptly collected.
As for the Great Geng Sword Formation, with a mere thought from Han Li, it reverted into thirty-six golden flying swords, shrinking and disappearing into his sleeves.
“Let’s go pick the spirit fruits. Be quick. I don’t know how long the illusion array I set up earlier will fool the Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators,” Han Li said, transforming into a green streak of light as he shot toward the lake.
Seeing this, Violet Spirit hurriedly followed. Their auras converged as the two appeared above the spirit herb, hovering about ten feet in the air.
After a quick glance at the herb, Han Li didn’t rush to pick it. Instead, he turned calmly to Violet Spirit beside him and said, “You pick first. Be careful—the Spirit Candle Fruit is quite peculiar. It must be stored in a wooden container, or its medicinal properties will dissipate within days.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Brother Han. I’ll be careful,” Violet Spirit replied, suppressing her excitement and flashing him a charming smile. Without hesitation, she flicked her sleeve, producing a jade-green wooden box in her delicate hand. Extending a slender finger, she made a slicing motion in the air below, and a white streak flashed as a Spirit Candle Fruit fell.
Ready for this, she flipped the wooden box in her hand, releasing a white radiance that enveloped the fruit and drew it inside. With a wave of her hand, the lid closed automatically. After completing this, she let out a long breath and carefully stored the box in her storage pouch.
“What? Miss Violet Spirit, aren’t you taking another one?” Han Li asked, slightly taken aback, his expression turning odd.
“Thank you for your kindness, Brother Han, but one is enough for me. To reach this place, aside from gathering some initial information, I contributed nothing—it was all thanks to your abilities. Though we share some friendship, I wouldn’t be so shameless as to demand an equal share. You should take the rest. Besides its use in refining the Creation Pill, consuming it raw also has unique benefits, slightly boosting cultivation,” Violet Spirit replied with a radiant smile.
Hearing her unexpectedly reasonable words, Han Li was somewhat surprised.
Truth be told, this famous beauty of the Chaotic Star Sea, though enchanting and the most stunning female cultivator he’d ever seen, had always struck him as rather calculating. After losing the Mystic Sound Sect, she’d grown even more obsessive, making Han Li keep his distance. But now, hearing her speak so rationally—whether sincere or merely to curry favor—improved his impression of her. After all, resisting greed in the face of such a heavenly treasure was no easy feat.
“Since Miss Violet Spirit insists, I won’t stand on ceremony,” Han Li nodded, not refusing. He patted his waist, and with a flash of white light, a prepared wooden box appeared in his hand. With a wave of his other hand, a sheet of green light descended.
The three Spirit Candle Fruits trembled and detached, sinking into the green light. With a slight tug, Han Li drew them into the box.
“Let’s go. We shouldn’t linger. Who knows when the Ghost Spirit Sect will catch up. I’m not afraid of them, but I’d rather not fight here—refining the pill takes priority,” Han Li said calmly after storing the box.
“Naturally. The fruits can’t be stored for long. But we shouldn’t return the way we came, or we might run into them. Let’s head in a random direction for a few thousand miles, then find a secluded spot to refine the pills. As for where, I’ll leave it to you, Brother Han,” Violet Spirit suggested, blinking her beautiful eyes and pursing her red lips.
“Where to go…” Han Li frowned, instinctively glancing around.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he pressed a hand to his storage pouch, pulling out a silk-like object—the map of the Fallen Devil Valley he’d obtained from the green silkworm robe.
After studying the map and verifying their surroundings, a hint of surprise crossed his face. This desert wasn’t far from the marked location on the map. Just two days’ flight beyond the desert would take them there.
Staring at the crude markings, Han Li fell into thought.
Violet Spirit, seeing him absorbed in the map instead of answering, grew curious but wisely remained silent, waiting patiently for his decision.
“Follow me. Let’s refine the pills first,” Han Li finally said, tucking away the map. However, glancing at the spirit herb, he frowned and slashed his arm through the air. A green streak flashed, severing a small branch. But the moment it touched the ground, the branch withered and turned to ash.
Han Li looked down, a flicker of regret in his eyes.
It seemed the records were true—the Spirit Candle Fruit’s roots were unlike other spirit plants. It was one of the few in this world that couldn’t be transplanted. Once moved, it would instantly wither and vanish, making cultivation impossible.
Without further delay, Han Li raised his hand, releasing a white light that summoned the Wind Riding Chariot. He flashed onto it, and Violet Spirit followed without a word.
With another flash, the chariot shot into the sky as a ball of light, soon shrinking to a white speck in the distance.
Han Li had already decided: he’d find a spot along the way to refine the Creation Pill, consume it, and test its effects. If all went well, he’d then visit the marked location on the map to see what treasures lay there.
Given the map’s mysterious nature, any treasures hidden there were likely extraordinary. As long as no great dangers lurked, Han Li wouldn’t pass up the opportunity.
About an hour later, the Ghost Spirit Sect group arrived at the oasis. Standing by the lake, they stared at the still-frozen waters and the barren spirit herb, exchanging bewildered glances. Elder Zhong’s face darkened with fury.
By then, Han Li was already thousands of miles away, heading toward the marked location. Soon, they left the desert behind, entering a rugged, yellow-green plateau.
Seeing this terrain, Han Li couldn’t help but sigh.
The Fallen Devil Valley’s corner seemed to encompass every imaginable landscape, as if mastering the world’s geography in miniature. Whether this was natural or the work of ancient cultivators’ immense powers was a mystery.
Half a day later, Han Li guided the Wind Riding Chariot into a range of rolling hills.
Spotting a modest peak deep within the mountains, he halted the chariot.
“Miss Violet Spirit, we’ll stop here. Let’s refine the pills separately. I’ve scanned the area—there are no ancient restrictions or spatial rifts nearby. It’s safe,” Han Li said calmly, floating near the mountain’s base.
“Thank you, Brother Han. I’ll take my leave then,” Violet Spirit replied with a smile after a quick glance around. Transforming into a streak of light, she shot toward another nearby peak, likely to carve out her own chamber for pill refinement.
Watching her disappear into the mountain, Han Li retracted his gaze and stepped off the chariot. With a wave, he shrank the vehicle and stored it in his sleeve before flying toward the middle of the hill.
Soon, with dozens of flying swords carving through rock, a simple cave dwelling took shape. After setting up a small formation at the entrance, Han Li stepped inside expressionlessly.
For caution, he stationed seven or eight Core Formation-stage puppets at the cave’s mouth as guards.
Satisfied, he entered a chamber and tossed his storage pouch into the air. Guided by his spiritual sense, the prepared auxiliary ingredients for the Creation Pill spilled out in a white glow.
Finally, he retrieved the wooden box containing the Spirit Candle Fruit and an ancient-looking green cauldron, letting them float before him.
After a sweeping glance, Han Li took a deep breath and sat cross-legged.
Though this was his first time refining the Creation Pill, his near-master-level alchemy skills left him confident. Moreover, he’d prepared extensively for this trip, stocking multiple sets of ingredients. Even if he failed a few times, it wouldn’t matter.
As for whether Violet Spirit could refine a pill with just one fruit, Han Li wasn’t sure—she’d never displayed her alchemy skills before him. But since she’d taken only one, she likely had some confidence.
With these thoughts, Han Li fixed his gaze on the spinning cauldron.
Suddenly, he opened his mouth and exhaled a stream of green infant flame. It circled the cauldron once before engulfing it in roaring flames.
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