Although the girl’s pretty face was full of disbelief, she knew her grandfather wouldn’t speak nonsense. Utterly astonished, she forced herself not to look in Han Li’s direction again.
Han Li was quite satisfied that he had given them a small lesson without actually harming them.
At that moment, he moved his lips slightly and sent a voice transmission.
Instantly, the green-robed elder heard Han Li’s voice in his ear.
“After leaving the Prince’s Mansion later, don’t rush off. Wait for me at the back gate. I have some questions for you!”
Han Li’s tone was filled with an undeniable command, making the elder stiffen and inwardly groan with anxiety.
“Could it be that this expert isn’t willing to let us go? Or does he have some other intentions towards us? Still, he doesn’t seem ruthless, so there shouldn’t be any danger. Moreover, forming a connection with a Foundation Establishment cultivator might be a rare opportunity for our family’s revival.” The green-robed elder could only console himself with these thoughts, though his heart was in turmoil, filled with unbearable anxiety.
Seeing this, Han Li smiled slightly and turned his attention back to the white-haired Taoist.
By now, this Immortal Master Wu had examined more than half of the crowd but had yet to find anyone with the fate of immortality.
Those young people declared to lack this fate returned to their seats dejectedly, and their elders naturally wore displeased expressions.
“What fate of immortality? This is clearly a search for those with spiritual roots. However, this old Taoist isn’t entirely a fraud; it seems he genuinely wants to recruit disciples from among these people. Otherwise, he could have just randomly picked a few,” Han Li thought indifferently, watching the Taoist eagerly checking each young person for spiritual roots.
But Han Li felt that the Taoist had little chance of success in recruiting disciples here. The odds of finding someone with spiritual roots among these fifty or sixty people were truly slim.
Just as Han Li was thinking this, the white-haired Taoist suddenly announced loudly, “This young man possesses the fate of immortality. I can take him as my disciple!”
Hearing this, Han Li was stunned and couldn’t help but look toward the chosen one. He saw a plump, fair-skinned young man standing bewildered before Immortal Master Wu.
Next to him, a portly middle-aged man in purple silk clothes asked incredulously, “Immortal Master, does my son Tong Jing truly have the fate of immortality? There’s no mistake, is there?”
The man, struck by this incredible luck, could hardly believe it. After so many outstanding young talents had been passed over, his own lazy, gluttonous son had been chosen at a glance by the Immortal Master. It felt like a dream.
“Hehe, don’t worry, benefactor! This humble Taoist has checked several times. Your son indeed possesses spiritual roots and can study immortal arts alongside the young prince,” Immortal Master Wu said, stroking his snow-white beard with a smile.
“Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you! Although I’m not immensely wealthy, I do have some modest means. Tomorrow, I will prepare a generous gift for you as a token of respect! Son, quickly… kowtow to the Immortal Master and acknowledge him as your teacher!” The middle-aged man, now convinced, was so overjoyed he nearly danced, his words becoming incoherent.
The other young candidates who had failed were dumbfounded.
The one chosen by Immortal Master Wu was none other than Fat Tong, whom they often regarded as a good-for-nothing! How could such a useless person possess spiritual roots? It was simply unacceptable!
Not only the young people thought this way, but their elders also exchanged glances, finding it hard to accept. After all, this Tong Jing was notoriously useless within their circle.
Han Li’s expression remained unchanged.
Whether someone possessed spiritual roots had nothing to do with their appearance, intelligence, or abilities. There was no pattern to it. Otherwise, before the emergence of cultivation families, immortal sects wouldn’t have had such difficulty finding talented disciples.
Still, Han Li was somewhat surprised that a spiritual root possessor had been found among so few people. It seemed the Taoist had quite some luck!
While Han Li and the grandfather-granddaughter pair understood this principle, the others in the hall did not. They began whispering among themselves, some even starting to doubt the authenticity of Immortal Master Wu. Those who hadn’t been tested yet hesitated, growing wary.
As a result, the area in front of the Taoist suddenly fell into an awkward silence.
Seeing this, Prince Xin frowned with displeasure.
However, since everyone in the hall was his long-time friend, he couldn’t directly say anything harsh. Instead, he tactfully suggested to the Taoist, “Immortal Master Wu, everyone here is merely mortal, and few have witnessed true immortal arts. Perhaps you could demonstrate your powers once more to broaden our horizons?”
At Prince Xin’s words, the hall fell silent instantly, everyone waiting to hear the Immortal Master’s response.
The white-haired Taoist pondered for a moment, then agreed readily. He instructed everyone to follow him to the open area in front of the hall.
At his words, the crowd surged out of the hall in an instant. Han Li followed indifferently.
The grandfather-granddaughter pair, however, remained in place, still anxious about Han Li’s request to meet them later.
Outside the hall, the Taoist stood in the center of a large circle formed by the crowd and began his demonstration.
He formed hand seals, stood firmly, and chanted softly. The faint, elusive incantations added an air of mystery to his actions.
The onlookers held their breath, intently watching his every move.
Hearing the incantations, Han Li secretly rolled his eyes.
Just then, the Taoist brought his palms together and then pulled them apart. A fist-sized, blazing fireball materialized between his hands, and the temperature nearby suddenly rose, filling the air with a wave of heat.
This was the “Fireball Technique,” a basic spell every fire spiritual root cultivator practiced.
This common sight among cultivators, however, immediately drew gasps of astonishment from the crowd, who found it utterly incredible!
But what followed next not only left the mortals dumbfounded but also startled Han Li at first.
The Taoist continuously formed hand seals, causing the scorching fireball to gradually transform before everyone’s eyes.
First, it slowly extended wings and a beak, then grew slender claws and a tail, eventually taking the shape of a small, exquisite firebird.
“Could it be the Firebird Technique?” Han Li’s nerves tightened, hardly believing his eyes.
The Firebird Technique was a genuine intermediate low-tier spell, one even Han Li hadn’t mastered. Yet this old Taoist, merely a Qi Refining cultivator, was using it right before his eyes! It was almost too hard to believe! No wonder Han Li thought he might be seeing things.
However, Han Li’s surprise lasted only a moment.
He quickly noticed the vast differences between this firebird and the true Firebird Technique.
Although the fireball-transformed bird closely resembled the spell’s manifestation in appearance, their sizes were vastly different.
The firebird from the Firebird Technique would have a wingspan of nearly ten feet when fully extended. In contrast, the Taoist’s transformed firebird remained the size of a fist, making it incomparable.
But what truly convinced Han Li that this was a “pseudo-Firebird Technique” was the difference in the mana fluctuations.
The destructive power contained within a Firebird Technique’s manifestation was something even a Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn’t dare face head-on. Yet this sparrow-sized firebird’s mana fluctuations remained identical to those of the original fireball, showing no increase whatsoever. It was merely a shape change!
Realizing this, Han Li felt both annoyed and amused. He had almost been fooled by such a simple trick! It was somewhat embarrassing.
Still, the Taoist’s control over flame transformation was truly astonishing! Han Li admitted to himself that he couldn’t achieve such precise manipulation. He wondered how a Qi Refining cultivator could accomplish this.
The Taoist’s subsequent performance confirmed Han Li’s thoughts.
The fiery red bird, which had been soaring, suddenly descended to the ground and transformed into a red pug, happily running circles around the Taoist.
Soon after, the dog transformed into a fire snake, which then evolved into a small human figure…
This series of astounding performances left the mortals, who had never witnessed such magical transformations, utterly stunned and speechless.
It wasn’t until the Taoist pointed a finger, sending the flame-transformed pony charging toward a small cherry tree, that the flames erupted, instantly reducing the tree to ashes.
Only then did the Taoist conclude his performance.
The onlookers, as if waking from a dream, fervently began hailing him as an Immortal Master.
All their earlier doubts were forgotten, replaced by unwavering belief.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage