Chapter 1830

Han Li stayed in the secret chamber for more than ten days, and the Wanbao Grand Assembly finally began in earnest.

On that day, Han Li, sitting cross-legged on the futon, seemed to sense something, and with a flick of his sleeve, he put away the Myriad Swords Diagram before him.

Then he rose to his feet and walked out of the secret chamber door.

In the main hall, Hai Dashaó and Qìlíngzi were waiting there respectfully.

Upon seeing Han Li emerge, the two immediately stepped forward to pay their respects. Hai Dashaó then took out a golden glittering invitation from his sleeve and, holding it with both hands, said:

"Han Han Qianbei, this is the invitation sent to you by the Wanbao Grand Assembly! With this invitation, you may freely participate in auctions of all levels and enter and exit all venues of the Wanbao Grand Assembly. Moreover, since today is the first day of the Wanbao Grand Assembly, a major auction will be held on Feixian Peak Mountain. According to past convention, this auction is the most important of the Wanbao Grand Assembly and marks its formal commencement. Many precious treasures produced by major powers and private individuals will appear at this auction." Qìlíngzi also said respectfully from the side.

"Oh, you know quite a bit about this? It seems these past days, you two haven't been wandering outside for nothing." Han Li smiled, casually took the golden 'colored' invitation, and glanced at it.

On the golden glittering invitation, one side bore the ancient seal characters "Wanbao," while the other side depicted a silvery 'colored' pattern of treasure qi soaring to the heavens, drawn with a row of runes, quite profound and ingenious.

"During my seclusion, have all seven demon kings arrived?" Han Li put away the golden 'colored' invitation and asked.

"Reporting to Senior, among the seven demon kings, except for the Tiānkuí Wolf King and the Tiānhú Fox King, the remaining five demon kings have all arrived." Hai Dà respectfully replied.

"The Wolf King and the Fox King are absent? That's strange—normally, the Wanbao Grand Assembly places great importance on the seven demon kings, and they would not easily give up attending." Han Li's expression turned slightly solemn as he asked.

"I have heard some rumors from others! It is said the Tiānkuí Wolf King is in seclusion cultivating a powerful divine ability, so he cannot attend this assembly. As for the Tiānhú Fox King, it seems he has not remained in the Fox King's domain at all, merely sending word that he has pressing matters, with no further news." Qìlíngzi honestly replied, knowing some things.

"In that case, let us set out. Although the Wanbao Grand Assembly features many types of activities, only a few interest me. This first auction, I cannot possibly miss. You may come with me. Though such auctions are not normally accessible to ordinary people, with this golden 'colored' invitation, you should be able to bring several disciples along." Han Li glanced at the two, then suddenly smiled and said.

"Disciples, Senior, you are willing to accept us two as your disciples!" Upon hearing Han Li's words, the two opposite were first stunned, then quickly reacted, and Hai Dashaó, face animated, asked excitedly.

"Your cultivation is too low; directly accepting you as disciples is not feasible. If you are willing, I can take you on as nominal disciples, and only when you reach the Soul Transformation realm will I acknowledge you as my formal disciples. I hope you will not disappoint me!" Han Li shook his head, his face showing several degrees of solemnity as he spoke.

"Nominal disciples are fine! Greetings, Teacher!" Upon hearing Han Li's words, Qìlíngzi hesitated not, immediately prostrating himself and knocking his head three times in earnest.

Hai Dashaó beside him, equally excited, likewise knelt down, calling out "Master" and performing the disciple-bowing ceremony.

Seeing the two indeed showed sincere intent, Han Li immediately nodded, accepted their obeisance, and then moved his sleeve.

An invisible immense force surged forth, instantly lifting the bodies of Hai Dashaó and Qìlíngzi.

Han Li's calm voice then sounded again:

"You two should also know something of my origins and background. Before you, I had taken two disciples in the lower realm. Therefore, you are not my only two disciples; above, there is still a senior martial brother and a senior martial sister. However, my nature is pure-hearted and free of desire, and I do not lightly take on the role of teacher to others, lest it hinder my cultivation. Thus, whether I took on your senior martial brother and sister, or you two, there are other reasons involved. Hence, some matters I need to clarify for you now, to prevent you from later developing doubts and giving rise to suspicion!"

As Han Li spoke his final words, his voice sank, and simultaneously the entire hall's temperature suddenly dropped, as if shrouded by a chill.

With the cultivation of Hai Dashaó and Qìlíngzi, under this strange cold, they also shivered involuntarily, uttering "I dare not."

"Hehe, there's nothing to dare or not dare about. If it were me in the Foundation Establishment realm, and a Body Integration cultivator promised to take me as a disciple, I would be overjoyed and likely have a few misgivings." Han Li hehe laughed, speaking without concern.

Upon hearing Han Li say this much, Hai Dashaó and Qìlíngzi exchanged a glance, feeling greatly embarrassed, and thus found it hard to argue further.

"To speak frankly, if you two were merely ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators and ordinary body refiners, I would not have taken you on as nominal disciples. The reason I absolutely accepted you today is, first, that you two indeed share some affinity with me. Your disposition and conduct, I am quite satisfied with. But most importantly, it is because one of you possesses the legendary hidden spiritual root, and the other harbors an inherited artifact within his body." Han Li gazed at the two, his expression somewhat strange as he spoke.

"Hidden spiritual root!"

"Inherited artifact"

Hai Dashaó and Qìlíngzi, upon hearing this, both looked utterly bewildered.

Given their cultivation, they clearly could not yet access these things even high-level cultivators struggle to understand.

"Qìlíngzi, your 'inherited artifact' is easily explained—it should be a magical artifact containing the secret techniques of the Mist Sea Observatory, sealed within your body. When your cultivation reaches a certain realm, it will automatically undo part of the seal, granting you suitable cultivation methods. Of course, this inherited artifact itself is also a rare treasure; if activated with the corresponding cultivation method, its power is certainly not insignificant." Having said this, Han Li paused.

"I say, sometimes I feel something strange inside my body, and sometimes I still have strange dreams—now I know it's this thing causing trouble!" Qìlíngzi, upon hearing this, stared with mouth agape, and unconsciously muttered a few words to himself.

Han Li chuckled upon hearing this, then continued:

"Actually, your fortune is not small. Although the Mist Sea Observatory is not renowned, I have observed that its divine abilities and secret techniques are not trivial and are quite suitable for your cultivation. Thus, in your primary cultivation method, there is no need to transmit anything further—at most, when you have achieved success in cultivation, I will transmit a few secret techniques. Therefore, the Mist Sea Observatory lineage still needs you to inherit it. When you achieve great accomplishment in cultivation, you may again become the master of the Mist Sea Observatory, develop and expand this lineage, and I will not interfere in the slightest. I took you as a disciple also because you already possess this inheritance; with just a little guidance and nurturing for a year or two, you can cultivate on your own. Otherwise, even if your talent were excellent, I would not lightly seek trouble for myself. Of course, after you join my sect, in various resources I will certainly not be stingy. If you feel unwilling or have complaints about this, then the bowing ceremony just now, I can treat as if it never happened." Han Li stared at the young Daoist, speaking calmly and unusually.

"I dare not, Senior—being able to become your nominal disciple is already a great fortune. As for what cultivation method to practice, naturally it is entirely up to you, Senior, and I will certainly have no complaints." Qìlíngzi, upon hearing Han Li's words, his face 'colored' dramatically changed, and he again prostrated himself, saying.

"Hmm, since you feel you can accept it, then there is no problem. As for Hai Dashaó..." Han Li satisfiedly nodded, his gaze shifted downward, and fell upon the handsome youth.

"Just call me Hai Yuétian, Master—'Hai Dashaó' is merely a joking name among friends, and I truly dare not use it before you, Master." Hai Dashaó promptly said, knowing the proper way.

"It seems Hai Yuétian is indeed your real name. Very well, from now on I will call you Yuétian." Han Li said, the corner of his mouth twitching into a hint of a smile.

"Yes, Master!" Hai Dashaó naturally replied respectfully.

"Your situation and Qìlíngzi's are entirely different. These past days I have thoroughly examined your body and inquired of some fellow cultivators of the same level about certain doubts, and now I can confirm that not only does your body possess the rare Melting Gold Physique, but also that the strange lightning spiritual root within you should be the legendary hidden spiritual root. No, it should be called the Hidden Lightning Spiritual Root for greater accuracy.

"Hidden Lightning Spiritual Root!" Hai Dashaó muttered twice in his mouth, but naturally still wore a look of incomprehension.

"Although the Melting Gold Physique is rare, given the vast numbers of the human race, it does appear with a certain probability. Also based on this, you can cultivate body refinement techniques so swiftly. As for the hidden spiritual root, it is hard to say! From ancient times to the present, rumors of the hidden spiritual root have been exceedingly scarce, nearly drowned in various legends, so I initially did not consider this matter, and only after long analysis and research could I truly confirm it. And although the hidden spiritual root is extremely difficult to detect, the birth rate of those possessing such a spiritual root will never exceed that of those with special constitutions or true spirit bloodline inheritors." Han Li explained.

"Why is that?" Qìlíngzi listened intently and could not help but ask.

"Because such a spiritual root originally belongs only to those with special constitutions or who have inherited special bloodlines. Only they have a certain probability of their spiritual root being concealed and weakened by the power of special constitution or bloodline, giving rise to a hidden spiritual root. However, some hidden spiritual root possessors, even when discovered, indeed have no use. Ordinary cultivation sects would not accept such people. Unless their special constitution or bloodline is truly heaven-defying, or their spiritual root is also a lightning spiritual root, or a dark spiritual root, or one of those few types of spiritual roots. But even then, one must look at the time of disappearance and appearance of their hidden spiritual root to judge whether it is truly worth cultivating. After all, if the hidden spiritual root disappears for too long, the difficulty of cultivation will increase manifold. Those with hidden spiritual roots can only cultivate magic power during the period when the spiritual root manifests." Han Li gave a detailed explanation to the two nominal disciples.

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