The jade slips in front contained introductions to demon beasts and some pill recipes, which the young girl quickly skimmed past. But when she used her spiritual sense to read the contents of the final jade slip, she froze in astonishment.
It actually contained a cultivation technique called the “Golden True Art.” Out of curiosity, she delved a little deeper and was immediately captivated by its contents. She held the jade slip for nearly half an hour before finally withdrawing her spiritual sense, her face filled with shock and awe.
This “Golden True Art” was actually a rare, top-tier cultivation technique. But how could such a precious technique be left so casually on the stone table, without any protective restrictions?
Though fully aware of the technique’s value, the girl hesitated for a moment before reluctantly placing the jade slip back in its original position. Still, her interest piqued, she continued examining the other slips one by one.
After most of the day had passed, she had gone through all the jade slips on the stone table. Most of them contained texts related to alchemy, formation arrays, and other miscellaneous studies of immortal cultivation. Only a few were cultivation techniques, yet every single one was a top-tier method. Among them, a technique called the “Coiled Jade Art” captivated her the most.
The Qingling Sect was only a minor faction in the Chaotic Star Sea, and its primary cultivation technique, the “Qingling Art,” was merely a stable and gradual method—its power couldn’t possibly compare to this “Coiled Jade Art.”
After finishing the jade slips, the girl sat dazed in the room for a while longer before remembering there were other places she hadn’t explored. After some thought, she left the stone room and returned to the main hall.
Of the three other arched doors, two were still blocked by the giant apes standing guard, but one remained accessible to her. Passing through it, she arrived before another fairly large stone hall.
This time, as soon as she stepped through the door, the girl was stunned into stillness, rooted to the spot for a long moment.
Before her was a hall spanning over twenty zhang in width, with a massive formation array about ten zhang in diameter at its center. From the formation emerged a faint, crystalline red light shield, shimmering and shifting incessantly, creating an extremely dazzling spectacle.
Within this light shield, over a dozen small swords, short halberds, and other items of varying designs flickered intermittently. Some emitted soft, clear chimes, while others clashed and chased one another, each exhibiting an extraordinary level of sentience.
Outside the light shield, near the walls, stood several simple double-layered wooden racks. Each layer was filled with magical instruments of various colors. Although these artifacts lacked the profound sentience of those within the light shield, each still glowed faintly and radiated palpable spiritual energy.
Though she had never seen one before, the girl knew that objects with such sentience within the light shield could only be the legendary magic treasures.
As much as she had longed for magic treasures, seeing so many at once left her in disbelief. Her large, dark eyes widened in astonishment.
After a long while, she finally regained her composure. With a curious gaze, she took another look at the treasures within the light shield before hesitantly approaching one of the wooden racks. She picked up a dark, iron ruler-like magical instrument and examined it briefly, only to discover that even such an unremarkable object was a top-grade magical instrument.
Perhaps because she had already experienced too many shocks, the girl showed no particular surprise this time.
She proceeded to examine the other artifacts one by one. The wooden racks contained nothing but top-grade and peak-grade magical instruments—there were no lower-tier items among them.
Had she obtained any of these instruments in the past, she would have been overjoyed. But now, faced with the numerous magic treasures and nearly a hundred magical instruments in the room, the thought of her role as a cauldron cast a shadow over her excitement. Empty-handed, she left the room with a somber expression.
Two days later, the girl was seated on a round stool in the stone room containing the jade slips, holding one in her hand and intently reading its contents with her spiritual sense. She seemed completely absorbed by what was written within.
“This ‘Coiled Jade Art’ is indeed well-suited for female cultivation, though I obtained it from a male cultivator.” A gentle male voice suddenly sounded from the doorway.
Hearing this, the girl trembled slightly, withdrew her spiritual sense, and hurriedly stood up to look behind her.
There, standing at the door, was an ordinary-looking young man in a blue robe, smiling at her.
“You… you are the senior?” Gongsun Xing asked hesitantly.
Though the voice sounded somewhat familiar, the calm and youthful man before her looked nothing like what she had imagined.
After the shocking events she had experienced, she had naturally pictured this senior as an elderly man of immense power and profound wisdom. She had even nervously speculated that he might be capricious and eccentric!
“What, do I not look the part?” The young man was none other than Han Li, who had just emerged from seclusion. He chuckled lightly as he stepped into the stone room. “Senior, these techniques, I…” For some reason, hearing Han Li confirm that he was indeed the voice she had heard eased her mind slightly, but she still stammered, trying to explain the situation.
“It’s fine. Since there was no restriction barring you from entering, I permit you to freely choose any technique,” Han Li said gently.
“Thank you, Senior!” Upon hearing this, the girl didn’t hide her joy, her face lighting up with happiness.
Watching her delighted expression, a faint, unconscious softness flickered in Han Li’s eyes.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been out. Miss Gongsun, do you know if there’s a place in this sea area where one can trade or purchase items?” Han Li asked casually after a slight smile.
“For trading… about half a month’s journey south, there’s a small deserted island with a market. Cultivators from nearby all go there to exchange goods. I heard it was established by several Core Formation seniors and is relatively safe. Would you like a sea chart of the area, Senior?” As if remembering something, the girl reined in her smile, stole a quick glance at Han Li, then lowered her head and spoke softly.
“I do need to go there. A sea chart would be very helpful,” Han Li said frankly without hesitation.
Hearing this, the girl flustered for a moment before finally pulling a jade slip from her storage pouch. Her face slightly flushed, she handed it to Han Li.
Han Li chuckled lightly as he accepted the jade slip. Gazing at her youthful face, now red to the tips of her ears, a strange expression flickered across his face. Suddenly, he reached out and gently patted her soft hair.
Gongsun Xing trembled slightly, a little afraid, but she didn’t pull away, only instinctively shrinking her fair neck.
Then, Han Li’s gentle voice sounded in her ear: “Don’t be afraid. Come to my bedroom tonight, and don’t forget.”
Having said this, Han Li turned and left the stone room without further delay.
Gongsun Xing, hearing these ambiguous words, felt her heart race and her face flush crimson, leaving her in a flustered and utterly bewildered state.
That night, with mixed emotions, the girl arrived outside Han Li’s quarters. Gently biting her red lips, she pushed open the stone door, only to be greatly surprised by what she found inside.
The bedroom was empty, with no one in sight. Only an open silk handkerchief lay on the stone table.
Gongsun Xing hesitated for a moment before stepping forward puzzledly and lowering her head to take a closer look: “Your filial piety is commendable. I leave the remaining treasures of the cave dwelling to you. Do not show them lightly to others, lest you invite disaster. Take care.”
This short, enigmatic message left the girl utterly stunned, filling her heart with confusion and an indescribable peculiar emotion.
By then, Han Li was already thousands of miles away from the island, soaring through the sky as a blue streak of light.
“That girl must be completely bewildered right now. Anyone who went through such an experience for no reason would be stunned for a long time,” Han Li thought with an amused smile as he flew.
Before leaving the Misty Sea, aside from the jade slip for the Coiled Jade Art and the many unused magical instruments, he had specifically left several bottles of pills and two magic treasures he had previously acquired for her. These items would likely help her avoid some detours on her cultivation path.
Han Li’s rare generosity wasn’t due to a sudden soft spot for her. Rather, the girl named Xing’er, who was willing to sacrifice herself for her father, had earned his genuine respect.
If there was any regret Han Li had before embarking on the path of immortal cultivation, it was that he hadn’t been able to fulfill his filial duties to his parents in their later years. Though he had secretly arranged everything for his family before leaving his hometown, it couldn’t erase the deep sense of loss he still carried within.
Moreover, the girl’s youthful figure reminded Han Li of his younger sister before she was married.
That was why he had deliberately teased her with the cauldron remark, intending to give her some benefits. Of course, the magical instruments and treasures he left for her were, to Han Li, like chicken ribs—tasteless to eat yet a pity to discard.
Rather than carrying them around uselessly, it was better to seize the opportunity to give them to her, helping her advance further on her cultivation path.
Her spiritual roots weren’t particularly exceptional either.
As for this island cave dwelling, Han Li had long decided, even before these people arrived, to abandon it immediately after emerging from seclusion.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage