As a result, Han Li pondered for a moment before bluntly speaking, “Since Brother Long said this, I will not object to continuing to fight. After all, I do understand this war is for the survival of the Heavenly South. However, there are some things that I will require from the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Therefore, I will bluntly take advantage of this opportunity.”
When Han Li said this, he appeared calm. He knew that these old eccentrics were extremely sharp, and felt that it would be easier to handle such matters directly.
As expected, his honest words left a positive impression on most of the cultivators in the room. The cultivator surnamed Kuang was particularly happy, and he honestly replied, “Fellow Daoist Han’s quick and direct words are very much to my liking. Please tell us of your conditions. I am quite curious about them!”
Long Han’s expression wavered several times before he silently smiled. As for the others, they all glanced at Han Li, wondering what it was that he wanted.
With an indifferent expression, Han Li calmly said, “It is quite simple. I hope to draw support from the alliance to help me find a certain type of tool refinement material. I won’t hide this from you; this item is extremely important to me. If you are able to gather together these items for me before the grand battle, I will have far more confidence in dealing with those black-robed cultivators.”
“Tool refinement material?” Those in the room glanced at each other, none revealing surprise. They all knew of materials that were certainly precious and difficult to find. Why wouldn’t Han Li want to use this opportunity to seek them out?
Chapter 751: A Surprise Meeting
Lu Luo wore a pensive expression upon hearing Han Li and faintly recalled something.
Long Han slowly asked, “What is this material? Please tell us, Fellow Daoist Han.”
“I need Auric Essence to refine my magic treasure. The more, the better. But don't worry, I am willing to trade items of equal value for it. I will not take it for nothing. The alliance only needs to use their resources to help me collect the Auric Essence, or perhaps find its whereabouts.” Having been unable to acquire a large amount of Auric Essence and refine the Aureate Sword Formation, Han Li felt extremely frustrated by the matter. Now that this opportunity had presented itself to him, he wished to use it to its fullest.
“Auric Essence!” Those present all revealed unconcealable shock upon hearing Han Li. This illustrious treasure known as ‘Honed Gold’ was about what they had expected, but they were stunned by hearing such a heaven-defying material, nonetheless.
Old Man Kuang frowned and wore a puzzled expression as he said, “Fellow Daoist Han, the magic treasure you wish to temper requires such a vast amount of Auric Essence? Do you know how much a magic treasure’s power increase after only infusing a small quantity of it? And if you add too much, it won’t have any further effects.”
Han Li calmly said, “Don’t worry. I already know this. I merely wish to ask whether your alliance would be able to gather a certain quantity of this item.”
Long Han shook his head with a sigh and said, “Since Fellow Daoist Han is willing to evenly trade for it, we can certainly be on the lookout for any information to help you gather together the material if we can. However, when such items are acquired, they are normally consumed immediately. From your tone, it seems you require much of it. I fear this will be quite difficult to do. Even if information on Auric Essence exists, their masters may keep quiet on account of wishing to acquire it themselves. It will be difficult to find. That is why only such a small amount was found at the recent trade meet.”
When Han Li heard this, his heart sank. He had already considered the problems, but he had no methods of dealing with them; he was at a complete loss over the matter. If he truly couldn’t acquire a large amount of Auric Essence in the Heavenly South, he may have to travel to the rumored Jin Empire or other great continents in his search.
Since the Jin Empire was about ten times larger than the Heavenly South, perhaps he would be able to find a large amount of Auric Essence there. Not to mention that he still had the bone case he had received in the Umbra Realm that contained the refinement method for the Spirit Subjugation Talisman. If he returned to the Jin Empire, he would naturally want to return it to the Heavenly Talisman Sect.
Han Li felt a wave of gloominess upon hearing this. Seeing Han Li’s hesitant expression, Lu Luo couldn’t help but console him, “Junior Martial Brother Han, let’s change the condition. Auric Essence isn’t something that can be easily sought.”
Han Li unconsciously frowned when he heard him. After a moment of thought, he shook his head and said, “Regardless, Auric Essence is extremely important to me. Even if the chances are slim, I still want the alliance to agree to this matter.” Once this was said, he wore a resolute expression.
Seeing that Han Li had made up his mind, Long Han eventually nodded. “Since Fellow Daoist Han has decided, I will order the alliance’s disciples to spare no effort on this matter. However, please don’t regret this decision if we aren’t able to find even a single piece of Auric Essence.”
Despite how great of a superpower the Heavenly Dao Alliance may be, the most it could do was order its low grade disciples around, and pay particular attention to any news that may surface. Since this matter wouldn’t prove particularly draining, Old Man Kuang and the others raised no objections.
However, they also felt that this alone wasn’t enough compensation. They promptly took out a bag of over a hundred mid-grade spirit stones as well which Han Li took with a smile.
With this resolved, a friendly atmosphere appeared in the hall.
The Heavenly Dao Alliance cultivators then chatted for a time. Eventually, detailed questions about the battle at the Yellow Dragon Mountains were being asked, particularly about the black-robed man and the Moulan Divine Sage.
With no intent to conceal anything, Han Li answered their questions once through. Of course, he brushed past any mention of his techniques and treasures, and Long Han and the others didn’t press him.
However, they were doubtful when they heard that the black-robed men weren’t heretical demon or ghost cultivators. Long Han was particularly surprised to hear that they were merely Devil Dao cultivators.
When a half day had passed, Han Li and Lu Luo eventually took their leave.
Shortly after they departed, a voice transmission talisman suddenly shot towards Lu Luo’s hand.
Lu Luo gave Han Li a helpless smile and said, “I have urgent business to attend to so I’m afraid I can’t continue to keep you company. Junior Martial Brother Han should take a stroll around the city. Let us have a proper chat when night comes.”
Han Li kindly smiled in response, “Senior Martial Brother Lu, please don’t mind me. I also wished to take a look around the city alone!”
Feeling relieved, Lu Luo saluted Han Li and hastily flew off in a streak of light. The sudden matter seemed truly important.
As Han Li watched Lu Luo depart, he shook his head, but after some thought he smiled instead. He pondered for a moment as he looked at the sky before heading towards the city’s central district. But after taking a few steps, he stopped and slowly turned around to face Mountain Lord Song, who stood at the entrance of a nearby alley. She stood there with bit lips and a hesitant expression.
Han Li blinked and waved at the woman. With a moment more of hesitation, she walked over with lithe steps.
The beautiful woman respectfully shouted, “Junior pays her respects to Martial Uncle Han!”
“How long have you been waiting here?” Han Li looked at the woman’s face with his hands behind his back.
The woman lowered her head and softly replied, “It has been about an hour already.”
Han Li glanced around and calmly said, “It seems you have something you wish to say to me. However, this isn’t a good place to talk. Follow me.” Without waiting for her reply, he began walking. The woman’s expression wavered for a moment before she closely followed after him.
Once Han Li brought her to a secluded place, he turned around and said, “What is it that you wish to say?”
The woman kept silent for a moment before taking a jade slip from her robes and handing it over to Han Li, “Someone had this Martial Niece pass on a letter to Martial Uncle. They wish to see you.”
“A letter?” Han Li wore a face of surprise and swept his spiritual sense past the jade slip. However, he didn’t immediately sink his spiritual sense into it. He stared at the woman and asked, “Who gave this to you? You must know.”
With the jade slip no longer in her hands, she managed to regain her calm. “It is a good friend of mine. She says that she knows you and wishes to pass something on to you.”
“She knows me?” Han Li narrowed his eyes and his expression stirred. After pondering with a tilted head, he eventually pressed the jade slip against his head and looked into it. A short moment later, he was wearing an odd expression on his face as he said, “Where is she? Bring me to her.”
The woman blinked and astonishedly said, “Martial Uncle truly recognizes my friend!”
Han Li casually said, “That’s right. There is some friendship between us. I didn’t think that Martial Niece Song would know her.”
Spirits roused, she sweetly smiled and said, “I met her in only the last two years. I originally believed it to be a joke that she knew you and didn’t think that it would be true. I’ve arranged an empty place for her outside of the city. I’ll bring you to her right away.”
Afterwards, Han Li and the woman walked towards the city gate together. After they left Skyfirst City, the woman took to the skies and led Han Li south. They traveled tens of kilometers before arriving at a small, uninhabited valley.
The entrance of the valley was enveloped in a pure white mist, concealing its interior from sight. The woman surnamed Song silently waved her hand as she grabbed onto a command talisman. A streak of red light then shot into the mist and caused it to roil away and reveal a narrow green path.
The woman respectfully stood to the side and said, “Martial Uncle, please go first!”
With Han Li’s current spiritual sense, he clearly saw everything within the valley. He wore a slight smile and walked down the path.
The exquisite valley wasn’t large. It was a mere three hundred meters in area with nothing aside from several small buildings at its center, making it appear as a temporary residence. Yet, it was completely clean near the buildings with not a single weed to be found.
However, someone in the room was alarmed by the formation being broken. In a blur, a gorgeous, yellow-robed woman emerged from the building.
Chapter 752: Spirit Kindle Fruit and Nature Origin Pill
As the woman appeared before Han Li, her name appeared in his mind. She was Mei Ning, who had traveled with him from the Umbra Realm to the Heavenly South. Her beauty had become even more captivating over the few years since he had last seen her.
When Mei Ning spotted Han Li, a trace of resentment appeared on her face, but it was soon replaced with solemn respect. As Han LI was now a Nascent Soul cultivator, she couldn’t speak as freely as she once could. “This Junior was only able to reach her current cultivation because of the pills that Senior gave me in the past. Thank you for your kindness.”
At that moment, Cultivator Song walked up from behind Han Li and spoke in a familiar manner, “Little Sister Mei, is Fellow Daoist Violet Spirit inside?” This caused Han Li to look at her with slight surprise.
Not daring to neglect the two, Mei Ning wore an apologetic expression and said, “Senior Song! Elder Sister Violet Spirit is currently cultivating inside her room, but her cycle should be done soon. How about you two wait in my room for now?”
Han Li raised no objections. With his spiritual sense, he was able to see from Violet Spirit’s spiritual Qi fluctuations that she was on the verge of finishing a cultivation cycle. The two then entered one of the stone buildings under Mei Ning’s modest invitation and they both took a seat. Afterwards, Mei Ning quickly steeped a cup of tea for each of them.
Han Li took a sip of the tea and calmly asked, “Lady Mei, where have you and Violet Spirit been cultivating these past few years? Could it be that the two of you haven’t entered a sect yet?”
Standing at Han Li’s side, Mei Ning lowered her head and replied, “Big Sister Violet Spirit and I had a discussion about this. We will first observe the great sects of the Heavenly South and consolidate our cultivation before deciding on a sect. As such, we’ve been travelling over the last few years. After all, the circumstances in the Heavenly South are quite a bit different from our original home.”
Seeing that Mei Ning didn’t conceal that she was a foreign cultivator, Han Li came to the realization that his Martial Niece Song most likely knew that they came from the Scattered Star Seas. It seems her relationship with Violet Spirit was quite close.
But upon seeing Mei Ning’s gentle and sincere behavior, Han Li stroked his nose and felt it awkward to continue his questions. He simply turned to look at Cultivator Song at the side and smiled. “You didn’t bring me here on behalf of Violet Spirit just so that we could reminisce about old times, right? Otherwise, there should be no need to be so secretive and hesitant about delivering the letter.”
“Martial Uncle, I...” Cultivator Song’s complexion grew slightly red and she swallowed.
Mei Ning revealed a trace of embarrassment. Just as she thought to say something, a woman suddenly laughed from outside the room. “Brother Han, there is no need to make it so difficult for these two little sisters. In truth, it was mostly my idea to invite you here.” Just after she finished speaking, Fairy Violet Spirit walked in. Her appearance was more captivating and her eyes were more luminous than ever before.
“In truth, I should actually be calling Brother Han as Senior now. However, I feel that Brother Han is a more appropriate title as your age isn’t necessarily greater than mine. Brother Han certainly won’t mind.” Violet Spirit spoke with a smile. Having met her in Heavenvoid Hall and the Umbra Realm as well as the days he spent with her in the Endless Seas, Han Li felt her to be a close friend.
Han Li shot the woman an appraising glance. Despite his current cultivation at Nascent Soul stage, he felt his spirit shake upon seeing Violet Spirit’s true appearance. She was no doubt a country shattering beauty from legends.
Solely with regards to beauty, even his beloved was an entire level lower. Of course, Nangong Wan’s calm temperament and charm belonged to a completely different category. The two couldn’t be compared.
“It makes no difference to me. However, if Lady Violet Spirit were to walk out of this valley with her true appearance, she will bring about chaos in the Heavenly South. If any of those old eccentrics were to see you, I fear they would attempt to take you by force.” It was only in the presence of this old friend that Han Li was able to say a seldom heard joke.
Violet Spirit smiled and gave Han Li a glance before calling out towards Cultivator Song, “I’ve troubled you quite a bit Big Sister Song. Mei Ning and I found it difficult to travel into Skyfirst City.”
“It’s nothing! Since I am also involved in this matter, exerting a bit of effort is only natural.” The woman still appeared somewhat astonished. Although she knew Violet Spirit and Han Li were truly old friends, she was quite astonished to see them acting so casually with one another, and it greatly bolstered her confidence in the matter to come.
At that moment, Violet Spirit sweetly smiled at Han Li and casually said, “Every time I see Brother Han, it seems his cultivation has vastly increased. This unknown cultivation art of yours is truly astonishing and now, Brother Han’s resounding fame has left us at a loss for words. Rumors have spread everywhere that Brother Han’s strength is greater than even a mid Nascent Soul stage cultivator. Is this matter true?” Once that was said, Violet Spirit mysteriously smiled at Han Li, her eyes faintly revealing a trace of anticipation.
Han Li’s heart stirred, and he pondered for a moment.
Rather than offering a direct response, he calmly asked, “Lady Violet Spirit, why is the first thing you ask me about is my strength? Isn’t that too impatient? Can you tell me why you sought me out first? I hope to understand this before we move onto other matters.”
When she heard Han Li, she blinked and wore an embarrassed expression. “You’re right, I was impatient. However, it should come as no surprise. This matter is truly important. If you have the abilities of a mid Nascent Soul stage cultivator or greater, our plan will have a chance to succeed.”
Han Li expression flickered and his smiled disappeared. He calmly asked, “What is so important? If you need my help, you may as well ask me clearly.”
Violet Spirit’s expression grew solemn. “It seems there is no need for me to say. Brother Han has already guessed. We truly sought Fellow Daoist Han for help. But before this, I want to ask you a question. Not longer before, did Fellow Daoist Han accompany a few Nascent Soul eccentrics to the Moulan Plains and acquire Master Cang Kun’s remains?”
With slight surprise, Han Li asked, “How do you know about that? This matter should only be known to a few people.”
Mei Ning sweetly smiled and said, “It was something we found out from a Ghost Spirit Sect cultivator. They are of direct lineage with a Ghost Spirit Sect Elder. He accidentally saw Big Sister Violet Spirit’s true appearance and became entirely captivated her. There is nothing he won’t tell her.”
“Stupid girl, what nonsense are you saying?” Violet Spirit snorted and her cheeks blushed. It seemed the two had grown quite close over the years.
Han Li nodded and suspicion appeared on his face. “If the Ghost Spirit Sect is involved, this matter can’t be ordinary.”
Violet Spirit’s bright eyes flickered and she said with a sweet voice, “I didn’t expect Brother to still be so cautious after entering the Nascent Soul stage.”
“I’ve only recently entered Nascent Soul stage. If I don’t want to die, I must be careful. Being careful is only natural. However, why does it matter that I headed to the Moulan Plains in search of treasures? Could it be that you acquired another connected secret from the Ghost Spirit Sect?” Han Li asked curiously.
A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality c1-2248 Page 403