The Ghost Sifting Banner was engulfed by the countless threads of devilish Qi and the azure light surrounding it was cleanly devoured.
When Han Li saw this, he grasped his hands in an incantation gesture and pointed at the green flag below. The lifeless Ghost Sifting Banner suddenly glowed with green light and it violently grew under Han Li’s command. In the blink of an eye, it turned into a torn three-meter-tall banner. It appeared to still be damaged from its battle against the Aureate Sword Formation.
When Han Li sifted through the consciousness of the Yin Sifting Sect Elder, he also acquired the method to control the banner. This and the many other banners of its kind were legacy treasures passed through many generations of the Yin Sifting Sect. Of course, this meant that the banner didn’t require blood to recognize a master. Although it was classified as a magic treasure, it could be used by anyone after some refinement.
Han Li chanted an incantation at that moment, and a meter large hold suddenly appeared in front of the flag, containing gusts of Yin winds within it. Then, the dense devilish Qi that gathered around quickly streamed into the hole at a violent speed.
Han Li rejoiced at the sight. The banner was able to absorb the devilish Qi as he expected.
As the banner absorbed the Qi, it began to restore itself at a speed that could be seen with the naked eye. Not long after, the banner appeared to be in` flawless condition, but its original green color was now tainted black.
Han Li’s eyes wandered across the banner as it consumed the devilish Qi all around it. He was somewhat surprised that it continued to absorb the devilish Qi after restoring itself. He didn’t expect for it to consume the Qi like a bottomless pit. In addition, he discovered that the more devilish Qi it absorbed, the more black light began to cover the green parts of the banner.
When Han Li saw this, a trace of surprise appeared on his face, but he continued to calmly observe this from a distance.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, the Ghost Sifting Banner finally released a series of hums and the hole it summoned in front of it disappeared. The banner was now entirely covered in dazzling black light.
At that moment, Han Li pointed at the black banner and it quickly shrank back to its original size. It then shot up in a black streak of light and entered Han Li’s grasp.
Han Li quickly examined the banner in his hand and nodded with satisfaction before putting it away. In the future, he would have to find an opportunity to test its might.
Because he had tarried for too long, Han Li didn’t dare to delay any further and promptly had his tens of flying swords revolve around him, breaking through the dense spiritual Qi above him, allowing him to ascend to the surface.
...
As the three great cultivators waited above the whirlpool, they appeared calm but their expressions betrayed a slight trace of fear as if worried that Han Li had failed in his task. But then, Han Li shot out from the whirlpool in a streak of azure light and they all felt great relief at the sight.
“Fellow Daoist Han, how did it go? Did you succeed?” Master Sunreach beamingly asked.
“I’ve fulfilled my task. The formation plate is securely placed.” Han Li replied with a smile.
“Good. Allow me to test it.” Wei Wuya summoned a formation plate identical to the one Han Li buried before slapping his storage pouch. He held the formation plate in one hand and formed a hand gesture with the other. Then, he muttered a cryptic incantation and the formation plate in his hand began to shine with white light, releasing threads of rainbow light in a gorgeous display.
“Good,” Wei Wuya said with a friendly grin, “You’ve properly installed the formation plate. We can immediately send invitations to the other cultivators to come and restore the spell formation. With the formation plate set down, we won’t need to worry about the devilish Qi suddenly bursting. We owe much to Fellow Daoist Han’s achievement.”
“Since the matter is settled, I must bid my farewell. I have a few important matters to handle. I’ll return these treasures to you.” After this was said, Han Li returned the four devil warding treasures to the three cultivators.
The three great cultivators received the treasures and couldn’t help but look at each other with dismay at Han Li’s wish to suddenly depart.
“There is no need for Fellow Daoist Han to be so impatient,” Master Sunreach urged, “How about he stays at our Seven Spirit Islands for a few days?”
“Many thanks for Brother Sunreach’s kindness, but I cannot afford to delay these affairs.” Han Li shook his head, his face revealing a trace of regret.
“Since Brother Han has urgent matters occupying him, we won’t keep you here any longer. Have a smooth journey!” Wei Wuya sent him off with a salute.
“Then I will take my leave!” Han Li then cupped his fist to the three cultivators and covered his body in blinding azure light before brilliantly streaking across the sky.
...
Half a month later, Han Li returned to the Drifting Cloud Sect. After informing his senior martial brothers about the spirit island that was given to the sect, he prepared to enter seclusion.
This time, Han Li wasn’t cultivating magic power but completing the refinement of his second Nascent Soul. Not only would this greatly expand his abilities, but it would also grand him another life. What was originally the Wood Spirit Nascent had now reached the stage of assimilation and was on the verge of becoming his second Nascent Soul in entirety.
Of course, Han Li first observed Nangong Wan’s condition before entering seclusion for a few years.
After experiencing several grand events recently, the Heavenly South cultivation world had finally entered another period of peace, and the many sects and clans took the opportunity to nurture their disciples and hone their strength.
Chapter 879: Journey
Four years after Han Li entered seclusion, Silvermoon was in her human form respectfully waiting outside the sealed seclusion room. On the day before, she received a voice transmission from Han Li while she was nurturing the spirit medicines with the green liquid, and she was now waiting on Han Li to emerge from the room.
She didn’t have to wait for long. The stone door eventually began to groan and slowly open. However, when she raised her head and gazed inside, she didn’t catch sight of Han Li. Instead, she saw a black Yin wind that suddenly blew out from the room. Then with a muffled chuckle, the three-meter-large black cloud made its way towards Silvermoon.
Silvermoon paled and took several steps back in her alarm as she looked at the black cloud in shock. Then the black cloud came to a sudden stop and softly shined with light as if made from black silk.
“This is...” Silvermoon’s mind began to stir.
The black cloud suddenly condensed into an inch-large, black-green Nascent Soul and it said, “How is it? It should be considered a success for my second Nascent Soul to have reached this stage.”
“Congratulations on Master’s achievement!” Silvermoon sweetly smiled and curtseyed at the Nascent Soul. Apart from the Nascent Soul’s slightly smaller size, it appeared exactly the same as his original.
A familiar voice sounded out, “It has come as a surprise that I was able to complete my second Nascent Soul so quickly. However, it does feel a bit strange now that it’s done.” Han Li then walked out from the secluded room.
At that moment, the black-green Nascent Soul grinned before flying a circle around Han Li and landing on his head.
Silvermoon took a good look at Han Li and smiled, “It is only natural to feel a bit odd after acquiring a second Nascent Soul. But with a bit of time, Master should become accustomed to it.”
“Oh! From your tone of voice, it seems you know something about having a second Nascent Soul. Did you remember something?” Han Li curiously asked.
After a pause, Silvermoon answered, “It isn’t very clear to me. I don’t know why I said it. Perhaps I knew about a similar technique in the past.”
Han Li nodded when he heard her exp
lanation and said nothing else. Then, the Nascent Soul sitting on his head summoned a small flag with a wave of its hand and began to play with it. It was the Ghost Sifting Banner that had absorbed the devilish Qi.
When Silvermoon saw this, she couldn’t help but look at the Nascent Soul in surprise, asking,
“Could it be that your second Nascent Soul cultivates a Devil Dao art?”
“It is only natural that the second Nascent Soul should cultivate something exceptional, but it cannot cultivate a new technique alone since it doesn’t have its own body yet, so I am using my own body and the Ghost Sifting Banner’s devilish Qi to have it cultivate a few of the Profound Yin Art transformation techniques. As for whether or not I will grant it a body, I’ve yet to decide,” Han Li said with a frown, “Once it has its own body, there is a possibility of backlash and betrayal. I must be careful about it.” He then patted his head and in a flash of black light, the Nascent Soul entered his skull without a trace.
Han Li’s spiritual sense allowed him to clearly see within him. Both his main and second Nascent Soul were sitting cross-legged across from one another in his Dantian and were meditating.
Silvermoon tilted her head and said, “It is right for Master to be cautious. I’ve never heard of the Profound Nascent Formation Arts before and other cultivation incarnation techniques are generally a division of attention. As for higher grade incarnation techniques such as the Moulan Divine Sage Zhong’s [1], they are grand abilities that are employed through a forceful division of your primal soul.”
“Hehe! Their incarnation techniques don’t make them stronger. They are only either for survival or producing superior numbers, but they can be considered formidable techniques regardless. Alright, enough of that for now. Did anything happen while I was in seclusion?” Once that was said, he beckoned to Silvermoon and walked into the main hall.
Silvermoon closely followed after him with soft steps and said, “A year after Master entered seclusion, Lady Mu succeeded in her Core Formation. As per your instructions, I gave the Copulation Essence Arts to her along with some medicine pills suitable for a Core Formation stage cultivator. As for Lady Nangong, she remains safe within the restricted area while the demon beast core is further weakening the Soul Seal Curse day by day. I reckon that even without the curse’s removal method, it should be dissolved in another hundred years. Of course, that is simply my own speculations. Master should go have a look for himself.”
Han Li rejoiced after hearing the good news, but just as he was about to ask about other matters, Silvermoon added, “There is also one other thing I must report to Master. The Six-winged Frost Centipedes have been continuously fed the Rainbow Skirt Grass over the years. They should’ve grown and laid eggs, but for some unknown reason, their growth had slowed to a standstill, having only molted once and showing no further signs of reproduction.”
“Molted?” When Han Li heard this, he stopped walking and revealed an odd expression.
Silvermoon bit her lip and slowed her steps. “That’s right. After they molted, they became far more powerful. Additionally, they became irritable as if they were about to molt once more.”
“Let me take a look at them.” Han Li frowned and then changed direction, walking towards the passage that led to the insect rooms.
A short moment later, Han Li had arrived. He walked towards one of the insect rooms and looked inside. Before he could clearly see the centipedes, he felt a gust of glacial Qi that blew past him.
All he saw was a thick layer of sparkling ice covering the entire insect room. There were also several various sized mounds of ice with thick holes dug into them. Half-feet-long snow-white streaks were currently roaming around them.
Having already imprinted Han Li as their master with his blood, they immediately recognized him when he appeared. They grew restless and immediately pounced in Han Li’s direction, grabbing onto the walls closest to him.
With a wave of his hand, Han Li opened the restriction to the room with a mental command. Several inch-large masses of white light floated towards him.
He nimbly grabbed one of them with his hand and brought it to his face. It was a larva with a skin completely snow-white. Apart from the two small protrusions from its back, it appeared exactly the same as when he last saw them.
Han Li looked at the larva in his hand and muttered to himself for a moment. Silvermoon stood at his side in silence.
At that moment, Han Li extended his finger and brought it to the larva’s mouth. With a crackle, blue flame appeared on his fingertip.
The centipede larva opened its mouth and spat out a thin thread of glacial Qi towards the blue flame. Suddenly, the blue flame surged several time its size before being completely wrapped by the Qi.
Han Li then slowly closed his eyes as if attempting to sense something.
“It seems your words held true. They have become far more powerful after they molted. There isn’t much difference between reproduction by cannibalism and continuous molting.” Han Li opened his eyes and then vanished the blue flame with a flick of his finger.
“It doesn’t come as a great surprise why they aren’t continuing to devour one another,” Han Li continued, “These ancient insects are all fantastical oddities. Perhaps they are only able to reproduce several times, or if the Rainbow Skirt Grass simply causes changes in their body. In any case, it is no problem as long as we can further mature them with the green liquid.”
“Master’s words come as a relief.” Silvermoon sighed and then sweetly smiled, displaying a bewitching charm.
Han Li ignored this and instead made his way to the main hall as he sullenly said, “During my seclusion, I’ve become well rested. Let’s make the trip to the Great Jin Empire. Whether it be to dispel the baleful Qi present on my body or find rare materials, the journey is absolutely necessary. And regardless of how effective the Ancient Flame Toad’s demon core is at dissolving the Soul Seal Curse, I am still worried of something unexpected happening to Wan’er. It is best that I pay a visit to the Yin Sifting Sect and find the incantation to dissolve the curse. I’ve also already cultivated a second Nascent Soul to brave any dangers that I may find in the Great Jin.”
“So it was like that. But with Master’s abilities, there should be seldom few cultivators capable to matching him.” Silvermoon said with a smile.
“Hehe, there are many miraculous and fantastical treasures in the cultivation world. There is nothing that is certain. Also, I am already at odds with the Devil Dao cultivators of the Yin Sifting Sects. If they discover that I’ve arrived, there is be certain to be trouble; it is better to tread on the side of caution. I’m going to first take a look at how Wan’er is doing before going to see Senior Martial Brother Cheng. Then I will see if I can gather any more of the missing materials for the puppets and Sevenflame Fan. If everything goes smoothly, we can set a departure date after half a month.”
“Yes, Master! I also wish to see what the Great Jin is like as it’s renown to be the holy land of cultivators.”
Once that was said, the room became quiet once more.
...
Half a month later, an azure streak shot out from the Dreamcloud Mountains and flew south. Not long after, a few well-informed cultivators received information that the Drifting Cloud Sect’s renown Elder Han had left the Dreamcloud Mountains to go on a distant journey. The specifics were unknown. It was possible he was roaming the Heavenly South or had left it entirely.
After the news was spread around, the Heavenly South grew restless before growing calm once more. Han Li’s departure hadn’t been followed by any further events.
The Dreamcloud Mountain’s Ancient Sword Sect and Hundred Possibilities Pavilion still treated the Drifting Cloud Sect sincerely and didn’t make any moves against them, allowing them to hold the position as the top sect in the State of Xi.
As years slowly passed by, cultivators passed away from reaching the end of their lifespan and new characters emerged from the gaps left behind. The c
ycle of the Heavenly South cultivators began one more.
As for Han Li, any trace of him had disappeared from the Heavenly South. For over a hundred years, there had been no word of him.
Chapter 880: The Grey Heron Tribe
A caravan of about thirty men were travelling down wilderness with grassland as far as the eye could see. There were eight carriages among them accompanied by young leather-clothed horsemen with a few of them only reaching the ages of twelve, but they all were in high spirits regardless.
At the very front of the caravan was an old man riding a fine yellow horse. He had sharp creases in his brow and dark-red skin. He also wore a fire-red fox hide cap, gorgeous robes, and a tri-colored embroidered belt that symbolized his position as the master of the group.
They were travelling through the north of the Endless Sky Plains, on their way to pay tribute to a temple belonging to the Soaring Tribes.
The Endless Sky Plains were what the Soaring Tribes called the Moulan Plains. This was due to Soaring Tribe’s belief that their patron god, the Endless Sky Beast, had protected them for generations.
Originally, the Soaring Tribes occupied the southern portion of the Endless Sky Plains, but ever since their victory in the war against the Moulan thirty years ago, they occupied the entirety of the plains, and their strength massively surged, leaving them without match in the area.
Of course, given the huge size of the Soaring Tribes, they consisted of countless smaller tribe divisions. Smaller tribes consisted of a hundred thousand men with the largest tribes reaching around a hundred million men. Because there were many men who won merits in the last war, many new tribes had emerged with a majority of them being quite insignificant, only numbering tens of thousand of men.
The master of the escort was named Ying Lu. He was the leader of a small tribe that had split off from a larger one. Although they were considered a tribe, they only consisted of about eighty thousand men. When he was young, he was a formidable warrior and struck down several small Moulan Tribes in the war, capturing many of their nobles in the process and earning his current rank. However, he was unable to withstand the ravages of time. With the addition of the toil he put his body through over the years, he now appeared elderly despite only being fifty years old.
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