amaotonovel Chapter 1416 Marquis of Nanlong
Chapter 1416 Marquis of Nanlong
Inside the main peak cave of Qingxu Sect.
The air was filled with a faint, calming sandalwood scent.
Qin Hao sat upright on the main jade couch, dressed in a simple blue robe, his expression calm and his gaze deep and unfathomable.
Standing beside him was Yuan Yao, with a graceful figure, wearing a light purple palace dress. Her temperament was aloof yet carried an indescribable charm. Her spiritual power was harmonious and restrained, indicating that she had already reached the powerful cultivation level of the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm.
Sitting in the guest seat, Han Li's gaze swept over Yuan Yao, and a bitter feeling involuntarily welled up in his heart. He had gone through countless hardships to finally condense his Nascent Soul, and had only recently stabilized his realm. Yet, his senior brother Qin Hao's concubine had already stepped into the Nascent Soul realm? This made even a self-proclaimed cautious and meticulous cultivator feel somewhat depressed.
"Junior Brother Han, it's been many years. How have you been?" Qin Hao's gentle voice broke the brief silence, his gaze falling on Han Li: "Why have you returned to Tiannan as well? What about the Chaotic Star Sea..."
Faced with Qin Hao's question, Han Li's bitter smile deepened.
"Replying to Senior Brother, this is a long story. Ever since we parted ways in Tianxing City, I have been in seclusion in my cave, cultivating diligently..."
Han Li spoke slowly, recounting the long and arduous process of forming his Nascent Soul. Thirty years! For a full thirty years, he sat in his cave, enduring the tearing pain caused by his magical power breaking through its bottleneck, resisting the various temptations and erosions of the inner demon illusion, and teetering on the brink of failure countless times. Finally, with the help of the Great Evolution Technique to stabilize his consciousness, the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng Pill providing immense medicinal power, and a trace of indispensable luck, he finally shattered his core and formed his Nascent Soul, stepping into the realm that countless cultivators dream of.
"After successfully forming my Nascent Soul, I spent another ten years carefully refining my foundation and stabilizing my cultivation level," Han Li continued. "Once I felt my cultivation was stable, I planned to go to the outer star sea to hunt demonic beasts, firstly to obtain demon core materials, and secondly to hone my newly acquired Nascent Soul stage abilities. Unexpectedly..."
"It is unknown who killed the descendant of the Suanni royal family. The Suanni clan then joined forces with the Jiaolong clan to launch a frenzied revenge against the human cultivators who had entered the outer sea! Large numbers of demonic beasts attacked the human stronghold islands, and the situation was extremely chaotic."
"Relying on my newly formed Nascent Soul cultivation, my initial demon-hunting went fairly smoothly, yielding considerable gains. However..." A hint of lingering fear flashed in Han Li's eyes: "Shortly after venturing into the outer sea, I encountered a transformed dragon demon! This creature possessed immense supernatural powers, especially its formidable physical body and incredibly sharp water-based magic. After a fierce life-or-death battle, using every trick in the book, I ultimately managed to kill it, but this thoroughly enraged the dragon race. The Golden Dragon King personally ordered a relentless pursuit to kill me!"
He paused, his voice growing deeper: "Left with no other choice, I had to abandon my original demon-hunting plan, prepare to pack up the array I had set up, and return to the Inner Star Sea to lay low for the time being. But just as I was about to set off, another unexpected event occurred! A huge crack suddenly appeared in the sky, and the You Tian Kunpeng and Luo Hou actually engaged in an earth-shattering battle in the endless void! The aftershocks of their battle tore through space, and ghostly mist filled the air. I... along with everything in the vicinity, were instantly swallowed up by that terrifying ghostly mist and swept into the Netherworld!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao's eyes flickered slightly, and his gaze naturally fell on the woman standing quietly behind Han Li. This woman had delicate features, a gentle temperament, and a somewhat timid air. This woman should be Mei Ning, whom Han Li had encountered in the Netherworld.
"Thanks to Senior Brother!" Han Li looked at Qin Hao, his tone filled with sincere gratitude: "If it weren't for the jade pendant that you generously gave me after I opened the Void Heaven Cauldron in the Void Heaven Palace back then, which activated the protective spiritual light at the critical moment and resisted the soul-corroding yin wind on Storm Mountain... otherwise, in my state at that time, I would probably have been scattered to the winds and my body would have been gone."
Recalling the dangers on Storm Mountain, Han Li still feels lingering fear.
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao smiled and waved his hand gently, saying, "Junior Brother, you flatter me. We are fellow disciples and should support each other. Besides, you are blessed with good fortune and good luck. Even if you encounter calamities, you will surely turn misfortune into good fortune and avert disaster. This jade pendant is just a coincidence that helped you get through this ordeal."
After exchanging pleasantries and expressing their relief at surviving the ordeal, the atmosphere in the cave eased considerably. Qin Hao picked up his spirit tea, took a sip, looked at Han Li, and asked, "Now that you've escaped and returned to Tiannan, what are your plans next?"
Han Li put down his teacup, his expression returning to its usual cautious and thoughtful demeanor. He frankly stated, "Although Tiannan is not as vast and prosperous as the Chaotic Star Sea, it is still my homeland. I have only recently formed my Nascent Soul, and my foundation still needs to be solidified. My supernatural abilities also need time to be cultivated to perfection. Naturally, I will find a secluded and peaceful cave with sufficient spiritual energy to cultivate in peace and improve my cultivation. As for other things... I have no specific plans for now."
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao's eyes flashed with a knowing smile. He put down his teacup, lightly tapped his finger on the armrest of the jade couch, producing a crisp sound, and suggested, "Junior Brother, if you don't have a better place to go for the time being, why not find a suitable spot near the main peak of my Qingxu Sect and temporarily set up a cave dwelling there? Although the spiritual energy here isn't the best, it's still quite abundant. Firstly, we, as fellow disciples, aren't far apart, so we can visit each other often and exchange cultivation insights; secondly, with me here, and Qingxu Sect being a corner of the Northern Liang Kingdom, ordinary villains wouldn't dare to easily invade, making it relatively safe. It's not too late to make long-term plans after you find a more suitable and spiritually rich place. What do you think, Junior Brother?"
Han Li showed a sincere expression of gratitude and cupped his hands, saying, "Senior Brother, you are so thoughtful and considerate of me in every way. I am deeply grateful! In that case, I will trouble Senior Brother and your sect. Once I find a suitable place, I will definitely seek another cave dwelling."
"There's no need for such formalities between us," Qin Hao laughed heartily, appearing quite cheerful.
Yanli, who had been standing on Qin Hao's other side, immediately understood. With a flick of her wrist, a pale yellow communication talisman appeared in her palm. She whispered a few words into the talisman, then flicked her jade fingers, and the talisman transformed into a streak of light, instantly flying out of the cave.
Before long, a series of slightly hurried but restrained footsteps came from outside the cave. Xuan Chengzi, the current head of the Qingxu Sect, strode in. He first bowed respectfully to Qin Hao and Yuan Yao, who were in the main seats: "Disciple Xuan Chengzi greets Elder Zhang."
Xuan Chengzi adopted an extremely humble posture. When his gaze swept over Han Li, who was seated as a guest, and he felt the unfathomable, abyss-like pressure emanating from the other man, his pupils contracted sharply. He was greatly alarmed, but dared not show the slightest negligence. He quickly turned to Han Li and bowed deeply as well: "Junior Xuan Chengzi, the sect leader of Qingxu Sect, pays respects to Senior! I was unaware of Senior's arrival and have failed to greet you properly. I hope Senior will forgive me!"
Qin Hao pointed to Han Li and instructed Xuan Chengzi, "Xuan Chengzi, this is Fellow Daoist Han Li, an old friend of mine, and also a Nascent Soul cultivator. Fellow Daoist Han wishes to find a secluded place nearby to build a cave dwelling for temporary residence and cultivation. Quickly arrange for your capable disciples to meticulously construct a superior cave dwelling for Fellow Daoist Han in a place near the main peak where spiritual energy is abundant. All necessities should be provided according to the etiquette due to a guest elder of our sect, and there must be no slights!"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Chengzi was first stunned, then an indescribable surge of joy instantly welled up in his heart, making him almost unable to control his expression! Another Nascent Soul cultivator! For the Qingxu Sect, this was like a windfall! This meant that the Qingxu Sect instantly possessed three Nascent Soul stage experts! This strength was enough to make them invincible in the Northern Liang Kingdom, and even elevate them to the top tier among the six sects of the entire Yue Kingdom!
"Yes! I will obey the Supreme Elder's decree!" Xuan Chengzi's voice trembled slightly. He suppressed his inner joy and bowed deeply to Han Li again, his tone extremely respectful and eager: "Senior Han's willingness to temporarily reside in our Qingxu Sect is a great blessing for the entire sect! I will personally take care of it! I will prepare a cave dwelling that satisfies you as soon as possible! Please do not hesitate to give any requests you may have! The entire Qingxu Sect will do its utmost to fulfill them!"
Han Li smiled inwardly at the sect leader's excited and somewhat incoherent manner, but he understood the other party's feelings. He simply nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for your trouble, sect leader. I only need a quiet place. There is no need for anything too luxurious."
"Of course! Of course!" Xuan Chengzi replied repeatedly, then apologized to Qin Hao and Han Li before quickly retreating.
With the commencement of the site selection and construction of Han Li's cave dwelling, an explosive piece of news swept through the entire Qingxu Sect like a hurricane and quickly spread to the other five sects of the Northern Liang Kingdom: On the main peak of the Qingxu Sect, following the mysterious and powerful Elder Zhang Tie and his concubine Yuan Yao, another elder surnamed Han, who was at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, had taken up residence! The Qingxu Sect now had three Nascent Soul cultivators!
When the news reached Huangfeng Valley, Patriarch Linghu was enjoying tea in his cave. When he heard his disciples report that "the newly promoted Nascent Soul Elder of Qingxu Sect is named Han Li," Patriarch Linghu's hand holding the teacup trembled violently, and several drops of scalding spiritual tea splashed onto the back of his hand without him even noticing.
"Han Li?! Are you sure his name is Han Li?!" Ancestor Linghu suddenly stood up, his voice trembling, his eyes filled with shock.
"Reporting to Ancestor, it's absolutely true! The source is reliable; it came from within the Qingxu Sect. That elder did indeed claim to be Han Li!" The disciple who reported was also startled by Ancestor Linghu's reaction and quickly confirmed it.
Linghu Patriarch stood there dumbfounded, his mind flashing back to more than two hundred years ago, when, in the critical moment of the demonic invasion, in order to protect the core strength of Huangfeng Valley, he sacrificed a group of "sacrificial pawns" in order to preserve the sect's true elite forces, among whom was this Han Li... Later, he heard that this person had disappeared and his fate was unknown.
Now, this disciple he once abandoned, with his pseudo-spiritual root, has actually condensed a Nascent Soul?! And he's even become a guest of honor at the Qingxu Sect?! This is even more absurd to him than hearing the news of Zhang Tie's Nascent Soul formation!
What an irony it was for Huangfeng Valley and for Linghu Patriarch personally for an abandoned disciple to become a Nascent Soul cultivator! But then, an uncontrollable surge of joy and immense hope welled up in his heart!
"Heaven hasn't forsaken my Yellow Maple Valley! It's like a pillow being delivered to someone just when you're about to fall asleep!" Patriarch Linghu muttered to himself. Han Li was once a disciple of Yellow Maple Valley! If they could invite him back to acknowledge his ancestry... wouldn't Yellow Maple Valley immediately have two Nascent Soul cultivators? Their status would be instantly reversed!
This thought, like a spell, seized Linghu Patriarch's mind. He could no longer sit still, and immediately ordered the preparation of generous gifts. Under the pretext of "congratulating Fellow Daoist Han on achieving Nascent Soul and exchanging cultivation insights," he personally went to Qingxu Sect to pay a visit. He adopted an extremely humble posture, treating Han as an equal.
When Patriarch Linghu appeared before Han Li's newly built cave dwelling, which still bore the marks of its excavation, with generous gifts and a beaming smile, Han Li was not surprised at all, and was even somewhat indifferent.
After the pleasantries, Elder Linghu quickly revealed his true intentions, speaking earnestly and even with a touch of wistful reminiscence: "Fellow Daoist Han, seeing your achievements today fills me with... a myriad of emotions, and I am immensely gratified! Back then, when the demonic path invaded, the situation was critical, and I had to make some... difficult decisions, all to preserve a sliver of the sect's vitality. This resulted in many disciples being stranded outside, including you, Fellow Daoist Han. Whenever I think of this, I feel deeply ashamed..."
"Now, by the grace of Heaven, Fellow Daoist Han has not only returned safely, but has also condensed his Nascent Soul in one fell swoop, becoming one of us! This is the blessing of our ancestors of Huangfeng Valley! Fellow Daoist Han, Huangfeng Valley is your root! As long as you are willing to come back, I will immediately declare you the Supreme Elder of Huangfeng Valley, with a status equal to mine! All the resources and books in the valley are at your disposal! I will also impart all my cultivation insights to you!"
Linghu Patriarch's words were highly persuasive, and the conditions he offered were undeniably generous. However, Han Li remained unmoved after listening. He understood Linghu Patriarch's choice at the critical moment of the sect's survival, and he understood the helplessness of cutting off one's tail to survive.
However, understanding does not mean acceptance, much less forgetting the feeling of being abandoned, betrayed, and discarded.
He slowly raised his head, looking calmly at Ancestor Linghu. His voice was flat, yet carried an undeniable firmness: "I appreciate Fellow Daoist Linghu's kindness. However, after leaving Huangfeng Valley, I wandered the world, experiencing life and death, and have long been accustomed to being alone. My temporary residence here is for quiet cultivation. As for returning to the sect... I'm afraid I cannot comply."
"Fellow Daoist Han!" Elder Linghu's expression changed, and he said urgently, "I have wronged you in the past! But the sect is ultimately..."
“Fellow Daoist Linghu,” Han Li interrupted him, his tone still calm but with a hint of distance: “My mind is made up, there’s no need to say more. I have no intention of pursuing the past, but please do not mention the word ‘return’ again. This place is perfect for quiet cultivation. If there are no other important matters, I need to meditate, so I will not keep you any longer.”
The smile on Linghu Patriarch's face froze completely. Looking at Han Li's indifferent yet resolute eyes, he knew there was no turning back. A huge sense of loss and regret welled up in his heart. He opened his mouth, but in the end, it turned into a heavy sigh. He left Han Li's cave in a daze.
……
The news of Han Li's return and his status as a Nascent Soul cultivator also reached the ears of Nangong Wan of the Hidden Moon Sect. Initially, when she heard that the Qingxu Sect had gained another Nascent Soul cultivator named Han Li, her surprise was no less than that of Elder Linghu.
"Han Li? The Han Li who robbed me with Zhang Tie back then? He's reached the Nascent Soul stage too?!"
After the initial surprise came anger. Qin Hao was already at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and he could even fight a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator to a draw. She could only swallow her anger and suffer in silence.
"If I can't beat him, can't I beat you?!"
A surge of anger welled up in Nangong Wan's heart.
Several days later, a cold, ethereal light descended upon Han Li's cave. Nangong Wan, dressed in a plain white dress, possessed an exquisite beauty yet her face was veiled in frost.
"Han Li! Come out and see me!" The cold voice, filled with anger, pierced through the cave's protective barriers.
Han Li opened the cave and saw Nangong Wan standing outside, exuding a menacing aura. A hint of embarrassment appeared on his face. The methods he used to rob her back then were indeed less than honorable. He cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist Nangong, it's been many years..."
"Enough nonsense!" Nangong Wan's eyebrows shot up as she interrupted him directly: "The humiliation of that year, the grudge that almost caused my death from the inner demon tribulation, I will settle it all today! Han Li, do you dare to fight me?!"
A flash of light appeared in her hand, and the Vermilion Bird Ring materialized, radiating a scorching and sharp aura.
Han Li was helpless. He knew the other party was angry, and explaining would be useless.
"Since Fellow Daoist Nangong insists, I, Han... will oblige." Han Li's eyes narrowed, and his aura became heavy and profound. Although he was a newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator, he was quite confident in his strength.
The two instantly transformed into two streaks of light, soaring into the sky and engaging in a fierce battle high above the main peak of Qingxu Sect.
In an instant, the sky flashed with light, and spiritual energy surged! Nangong Wan's Vermilion Bird Ring transformed into a sky full of firebirds, scorching mountains and boiling seas; Han Li's Azure Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword Formation formed a formidable sword net, incomparably sharp. Although Nangong Wan's magical power was more profound and her supernatural abilities more formidable, Han Li's magical treasures were sharp, his methods unpredictable and ever-changing, and he was incredibly resilient, resolving crises at crucial moments time after time.
The fierce battle raged for dozens of rounds, and Nangong Wan grew increasingly alarmed. She discovered that Han Li's magical power was not only far superior to that of ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, but his combat experience was also terrifyingly rich. His defense was impeccable, his counterattacks cunning, and his various magical treasures and talismans were used in perfect coordination! She, a peak early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, was unable to defeat him in a short time, and even sensed that as Han Li adapted to her rhythm, his counterattacks were growing stronger!
Finally, after a deafening clash of magical artifacts, Nangong Wan felt a slight stagnation in her magical power. Han Li astutely seized this fleeting opportunity, and several incomparably sharp azure sword energies instantly broke through the firebird's defenses, heading straight for Nangong Wan's face! Nangong Wan was shocked and hastily recalled her Vermilion Bird Ring to block, but the enormous impact caused her blood and qi to churn, forcing her to retreat several steps, and even her protective spiritual light fluctuated violently.
Han Li did not press his advantage. He sheathed his sword, stood still, and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist Nangong, you flatter me."
Nangong Wan steadied herself, her face alternating between pale and flushed, her chest heaving violently.
"Hmph!" Nangong Wan glanced at Han Li with extreme resentment, but in the end, without saying a word, she turned into a white light and left in a huff, filled with resentment and anger.
……
The news of Nangong Wan's defeat by Han Li was like adding fuel to the fire, further solidifying Elder Linghu's determination to welcome Han Li back to Huangfeng Valley! His ability to defeat Nangong Wan demonstrates that Han Li's strength far surpasses that of an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!
Linghu Patriarch was determined. He prepared generous gifts once again. This time, he even gritted his teeth and took out a treasured ancient artifact from Huangfeng Valley and several rare spiritual herbs that were hard to find even after a thousand years. He personally went to Han Li's cave.
However, the result remained the same. Han Li's attitude did not waver in the slightest. No matter how eloquently Linghu Patriarch spoke, Han Li simply shook his head and refused, his words polite but as cold as iron.
Rejected three times in a row, Elder Linghu was losing face and was both anxious and angry. Finally, in desperation, he thought of Qin Hao. Clinging to his last hope, he sent a transmission talisman to Qin Hao's cave, with extremely earnest words and a humble attitude.
Qin Hao scanned the contents with his divine sense, and a sneer appeared on his lips.
"Deserved it."
Upon seeing those two words, Old Ancestor Linghu's face instantly flushed red, then turned deathly pale. His last shred of hope shattered, he dared not linger any longer, and slunk away into the horizon as a streak of light.
……
The commotion and disturbance outside the cave did not affect Qin Hao in the slightest. He ignored Linghu Patriarch's farce, and with a wave of his hand, the heavy gate of the main peak cave slowly closed again, and a powerful protective barrier rose up, isolating the inside from the outside. He was going into seclusion again.
Deep within the cave, in a quiet room.
Qin Hao sat cross-legged, with a piece of Soul-Nourishing Wood, as black as ink and radiating a warm, soul-giving light, floating before him. An ancient, phantom-like primordial spirit slowly emerged from the Soul-Nourishing Wood; it was none other than the Great Evolution Divine Lord.
"Young man, the quality of your Soul-Nourishing Wood is excellent. My primordial spirit has recovered quite well." The voice of the Great Evolution Divine Lord was filled with satisfaction: "Since I have promised, I will not go back on my word. This is the complete incantation for the fourth to sixth levels of the Great Evolution Technique, as well as the essence of my lifelong research on puppetry. Keep it safe."
A point of light condensed from pure divine thought slowly flew toward Qin Hao's brow.
Qin Hao solemnly accepted it, immersing his divine sense into it, and a massive amount of information instantly flooded his sea of consciousness. He closed his eyes and concentrated, beginning to comprehend the follow-up techniques of this supreme secret method for enhancing divine sense—the "Great Evolution Technique."
Time slips away silently in quiet contemplation.
Five years have passed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to the powerful deductive abilities of his AI, Qin Hao successfully cultivated the Great Evolution Technique to the fourth level. His spiritual sense surged once again, its coverage far exceeding that of others at the same level, granting him keen insight and making him even more adept at controlling magical artifacts and talismans.
He didn't stop, continuing his assault on higher levels. The fifth level of cultivation was even more difficult and obscure, requiring a more refined compression, condensation, and differentiation of his vast divine consciousness. Qin Hao remained focused, completely absorbed in it.
Another twenty years passed. In the quiet room, Qin Hao suddenly opened his eyes. In his eyes, it seemed as if billions of stars were being born and dying. A vast and condensed divine sense pressure spread out instantly, and then he perfectly subdued it.
"The fifth level... is complete!" Qin Hao felt the earth-shattering changes in his sea of consciousness. At this moment, his divine sense was strong enough to rival that of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator! This feeling of controlling everything and seeing through everything made a smile appear on Qin Hao's lips.
The leap in his spiritual sense was like breaking free from some kind of shackle, and his cultivation level in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm also rose accordingly, naturally reaching the critical point of the peak of the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm! He seemed to be only one step away from the "great cultivator" realm of the late-stage Nascent Soul realm.
However, Qin Hao was not in a hurry to immediately attempt to break through to the sixth level of the Great Evolution Technique or try to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage. Without the assistance of additional pills, it would be difficult for him to successfully break through the bottleneck of the late Nascent Soul stage with his spiritual root aptitude, so there was no need to waste this time.
With a thought, a corpse demon's body, radiating a dense aura of death, and several auxiliary spiritual materials appeared before him. Qin Hao began to carefully refine this corpse demon's body. Imprinting with his essence blood, channeling his spirit, imprinting talismans, integrating spiritual materials... each step required complete concentration and consumed enormous mental energy.
Ten years! Another full ten years have passed in the refining process. When the last blood-red rune that had been injected into the brow of the Corpse Demon lit up and slowly disappeared in the quiet room, the Corpse Demon's body, which was originally full of ferocity, suddenly changed its aura, becoming restrained and profound. A powerful fluctuation, which was of the same origin as Qin Hao's main body but also carried the cold power of the Corpse Dao, was released.
Qin Hao's face was slightly pale, but his eyes were filled with joy. With a slight thought, the corpse demon avatar suddenly opened its eyes, its pupils flashing with the same cold divine light as Qin Hao's. It slowly raised its arm, clenched its fist, and a terrifying power capable of tearing mountains together condensed in its fist.
"It's done!" Qin Hao nodded in satisfaction, feeling the incredibly clear connection between himself and his avatar, as well as the powerful sense of strength that the avatar was feeding back.
This avatar is even stronger than his original body, which has cultivated the Heavenly Demon Art to the third level! Moreover, it retains some of the Corpse Demon's innate supernatural abilities, making it an absolute weapon in battle!
……
In the 36th year of Qin Hao's seclusion, a communication talisman from Wei Wuyai allowed Qin Hao to step out of the stone chamber that had been closed for many years.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Zhang, on your further progress in cultivation. This is truly a cause for celebration."
Qin Hao cupped his hands in greeting to Wei Wuyai: "It's just a slight improvement. To advance to the late Nascent Soul stage, who knows how many years and opportunities it will take."
Wei Wuyai thought to himself, "It's one thing for others to say such things, but you, someone who's not even three hundred years old and has already touched the threshold of a great cultivator, have the nerve to say that? How are others supposed to live?"
After exchanging pleasantries, Wei Wuyai explained his purpose: to invite Qin Hao to the Tiannan Trade Fair, which is held only once every century.
In fact, intelligence had come in that the Mulan people were gathering and seemed to be showing signs of invasion. Therefore, Wei Wuyai invited the Heavenly Alliance, the Righteous Alliance, and the six sects of the Demonic Path to gather in Tiantian City to discuss how to deal with them.
Three days later.
From the main peak of Qingxu Sect, a streak of dark light shot into the sky. At the bow of the ship, Qin Hao stood with his hands behind his back, his green robe fluttering in the wind. Beside him stood Yuan Yao and Yan Li. A step behind Qin Hao, Han Li also followed, riding on his escape light.
"Senior brother, are we heading directly to Tiantian City?" Han Li asked. He had heard about the Tiannan Trade Fair and was somewhat interested; he thought it would be a good opportunity to see it and perhaps find what he needed.
"Mm." Qin Hao nodded, maneuvering the Ink Dragon Boat into a black streak, tearing through the clouds and speeding toward the northern horizon.
Tiantian City is located in the Yu Kingdom at the northernmost tip of the Tiannan Continent. It is the headquarters of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance and the only giant city in the entire Tiannan region that is purely inhabited by cultivators and has no mortals.
Its city walls, hundreds of feet high, were constructed entirely of massive stones imbued with spiritual energy, and were inscribed with countless complex and profound runes, faintly forming a huge light shield that enveloped the entire city. Nine towering towers in the city center emanated chilling energy fluctuations.
This city was specifically built to defend against the Mulan people from the north. It is formidable, equipped with the "Shangyuan Annihilation Array," which is extremely powerful. Even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator would find it extremely difficult to escape once trapped within it. Six or seven Nascent Soul cultivators are stationed here year-round, making it the most formidable pass in the southern region.
The ink-black dragon boat moved with incredible speed, speeding along the way. Several days later, they were less than a hundred miles from Tiancheng. Below them stretched continuous mountain ranges and sparse woodlands.
Just then, the high-speed flying Molong Boat suddenly stopped, bringing it to a steady stop in mid-air.
Han Li was slightly taken aback, thinking that something had happened ahead. He cautiously released his divine sense to scan ahead, but found nothing unusual. "Senior brother, has something happened ahead?" he asked in confusion.
Qin Hao didn't look ahead, but instead raised the corners of his mouth slightly and cast a deep gaze at the sky behind him, his tone tinged with amusement: "It's not ahead, it's behind where 'guests' are coming."
Upon hearing this, Han Li immediately extended his divine sense backward with all his might. His divine sense range was already among the best of his level, but it wasn't until several breaths later that he finally caught a faint, yet rapidly approaching, fluctuation of spiritual energy at the very edge of the distant horizon! This distance… far exceeded the limits of his divine sense's detection!
"Hiss..." Han Li gasped, his eyes filled with shock: "Senior Brother's spiritual sense range... is already so vast?!"
Qin Hao didn't turn around, but simply said casually, "The follow-up techniques of the Great Evolution Technique do indeed possess the wonder of seizing the creation of heaven and earth. If Junior Brother Han wants them... you'd better think carefully about what you can offer in exchange."
A tremendous surprise overwhelmed Han Li! The follow-up cultivation technique of the Great Evolution Technique! This was something he had always dreamed of! But following the surprise came deep distress. With his senior brother Qin Hao's current strength and wealth—a peak mid-Nascent Soul cultivator with divine sense comparable to a great cultivator—ordinary thousand-year-old spiritual herbs and ancient treasures would probably be beneath his notice.
His most precious possessions… Han Li subconsciously thought of the Golden Thunder Bamboo Flying Sword within his body and the mysterious Palm Heaven Bottle… These things were absolutely impossible to give up. So what should he use to exchange them?
……
Just as Han Li was racking his brains for a bargaining chip, a melodious and pleasant sound of drums, accompanied by the clear ringing of bells, came rapidly from behind, growing louder as it approached. A huge, gleaming golden chariot was speeding towards them in a grand display.
The beast-drawn carriage quickly caught up with the Ink Dragon Boat and slowed down. The curtain was lifted by a hand wearing a jade thumb ring, revealing the face of a middle-aged man.
This man had a fair complexion, long, narrow eyes, a high nose, and slightly thin lips. He wore a purple-gold crown and a purple python robe, exuding an air of dignified nobility and authority. Two beautiful, graceful, and alluring late-stage Foundation Establishment female cultivators nestled in his arms. His gaze first swept over the Ink Dragon Boat, and when he saw Qin Hao standing with his hands behind his back at the bow, a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes:
"Huh? Could that be Fellow Daoist Zhang from the Qingxu Sect right in front of me?"
Qin Hao calmly looked at the other person, already guessing their identity. Who else but the Marquis of Nanlong could afford such a grand display in Tiannan and possess a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation? He nodded slightly: "It is indeed I. You must be Fellow Daoist Marquis Nanlong?"
"Haha, it is indeed me, Nan!" Marquis Nanlong laughed heartily, appearing quite generous: "Fellow Daoist Zhang's name is now widely known throughout Tiannan! I have long wished to befriend you, and I never expected to meet you here today. It is truly a pleasure to meet you!"
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two sides declined Qin Hao's offer to travel to Tiancheng with him. Nanlong Hou then gave up, ordering his men to drive the magnificent golden chariot away amidst the sounds of drums and music.
However, before the beast-drawn carriage departed, the Marquis of Nanlong's gaze lingered on Han Li beside Qin Hao for a moment, seemingly unintentionally, a subtle hint of contemplation flashing in the depths of his eyes.
Watching the departing carriage of Marquis Nanlong, Qin Hao chuckled inwardly. Was he being burdened by his reputation? Marquis Nanlong hadn't invited him to explore the cave ruins of the Cangkun Master, presumably because he worried that Qin Hao's strength was too great, and that he would dominate the distribution of treasures, perhaps even resorting to murder and robbery at the slightest disagreement.
Thinking of this, Qin Hao turned to Han Li, who was still pondering the matter of the "Great Evolution Technique," and transmitted his voice, "Junior Brother Han, if the Marquis of Nanlong privately invites you to participate in any treasure hunting expeditions later, just accept his invitation. There might be another opportunity involved."
Han Li was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, a look of confusion on his face. He had never met this Marquis of Nanlong before, so why would the other party invite him? And why was his senior brother so certain?
He was about to ask for details when Qin Hao stopped talking, suddenly accelerating as he steered the Black Dragon Boat, transforming into a streak of dark green light, heading straight for the majestic city of Tiantian, whose outline was already faintly visible in the distance.
Seeing this, Han Li had no choice but to suppress his doubts, activate his escape light, and follow closely.
Upon arriving in Tiancheng, Qin Hao and Han Li temporarily separated. On one hand, he needed to meet with Wei Wuyai and other high-ranking members of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance to participate in a meeting to deal with the Mulan invasion; on the other hand, he deliberately created an opportunity for Marquis Nanlong to have a private encounter with Han Li.
After all, the cave dwelling of the Venerable Cangkun contains many treasures. For one thing, the map detailing a portion of the safe route into the most dangerous place in the south, "Fallen Demon Valley," and the Yin-Yang Ring capable of circumventing the valley's terrifying restriction, "Northern Primordial Light," are essential items for anyone wishing to enter Fallen Demon Valley in the future!
Such an opportunity should not be easily missed. Sending Han Li to scout ahead while he controls things from behind the scenes is undoubtedly the best choice. (End of Chapter)