Chapter 219

"Master, I was fortunate enough to achieve Foundation Establishment a few days ago, and have come specifically to report this to you and request permission to establish a cave dwelling." Han Li did not beat around the bush, stating his purpose outright.

"Just achieved Foundation Establishment?" Zhong Lingdao first blinked in surprise, then suddenly understood.

It was not uncommon for cultivators who received a Foundation Establishment Pill to delay taking it until they felt the timing was right—this Master Zhong assumed Han Li was one such case.

"Hehe, congratulations, Brother Han, on entering the Foundation Establishment realm! Our sect now has one more high-level disciple—truly a cause for celebration!" Zhong Lingdao stroked his three-stranded long beard and smiled.

"I was merely fortunate, and this success is entirely due to the Foundation Establishment Pill granted by our sect!" Han Li replied with a beaming expression.

After hearing Han Li's polite words, Zhong Lingdao gave a faint smile and studied him again. Now, the more he looked, the more familiar Han Li seemed—he was certain he had seen him before, but could not recall when or where.

Thus, Zhong Lingdao nodded slowly, sinking into deep thought.

Seeing this, Han Li smiled inwardly and did not disturb him; instead, he picked up his teacup and savored the tea slowly.

After a moment, a flash of insight struck Zhong Lingdao—he suddenly remembered the Ascension Token incident. The young man standing in the Council Hall back then had merged with the composed disciple before him!

Recalling Han Li's background, Zhong Lingdao suddenly looked up, his face filled with shock.

"It's you—the disciple who entered the valley with the Ascension Token! You actually achieved Foundation Establishment?"

"Master still remembers me! I truly owe you my gratitude for allowing me to join Huang Feng Valley!" Han Li, now that he was recognized, showed no alarm, merely smiling as he thanked Zhong Lingdao.

Hearing Han Li address him repeatedly as "Master," Zhong Lingdao realized this was no longer the wandering cultivator who had once sought entry—he was now a peer, a Foundation Establishment cultivator equal in rank. His expression of surprise vanished instantly, replaced by calm composure, and he spoke gently.

"It was nothing—I merely followed the rules years ago. But for you, Brother Han, to achieve Foundation Establishment with a pseudo-elemental affinity—that is truly astonishing! If word spreads, you will become famous throughout the cultivation world!"

Even though Zhong Lingdao appeared composed on the surface, his words betrayed his deep astonishment.

This was hardly surprising—Zhong Lingdao had known Han Li's condition clearly back then. That someone with a four-element pseudo-affinity could achieve Foundation Establishment was simply too hard to accept.

Seeing this, Han Li smiled and said in a half-joking tone:

"I never expected that swallowing one Foundation Establishment Pill would actually work. I suppose heaven was helping me—I guess even a fool can have foolish luck!"

Han Li's words made Zhong Lingdao laugh.

"But, Brother Han! Didn't you give that Foundation Establishment Pill to Ye's nephew's grandson? Where did you get another one?" Zhong Lingdao had barely finished laughing when he remembered this puzzling detail and asked.

"Hehe! Master, this Foundation Establishment Pill was actually given to me by you!" Han Li grinned broadly.

"Me?" Zhong Lingdao was utterly baffled—he had no memory of this.

"Master, have you forgotten? Among those who survived the Forbidden Zone, three were awarded Foundation Establishment Pills—and I was one of them!" Han Li finally dropped his smile and spoke seriously.

"You're the disciple that Master Li took on as an informal student?" Zhong Lingdao could no longer maintain his composure—he was visibly startled.

"Correct. I am indeed the disciple Master Li Li Huayuan took during that Forbidden Zone expedition!" Han Li did not deny it—he admitted it outright.

"So that's it! Now I understand why the name Han Li sounded so familiar—you're the disciple who caused such a stir in the valley two years ago!" Zhong Lingdao's astonishment deepened, but his tone grew even warmer.

Zhong Lingdao's meaning was clear: since Han Li had now achieved Foundation Establishment, becoming Li Li Huayuan's formal disciple was virtually certain—he had no desire to make an enemy of him. He also thought to himself:

"It seems this Brother Han succeeded in Foundation Establishment purely by luck—otherwise, with his affinity, his chances of success would have been one in a hundred!"

Though Zhong Lingdao muttered inwardly, he still spoke politely to Han Li for a few moments, then asked him to wait a moment while he fetched the register.

Han Li readily agreed and waited quietly.

After a cup of tea, Zhong Lingdao finally entered, holding a white jade tablet. In front of Han Li, he used a golden-ink brush to write Han Li's name at the very bottom of the tablet's dense list of names—finally registering him.

Seeing this, Han Li felt a surge of joy—he now had legitimate claim to a cave dwelling.

Zhong Lingdao often handled such matters for newly established Foundation Establishment disciples; seeing Han Li's expression, he guessed his thoughts. He smiled slightly, then took from his storage pouch three mid-grade spirit stones and five small flags shrouded in faint white mist, handing them to Han Li.

"What are these?"

Han Li understood the mid-grade spirit stones—likely a one-time reward for new Foundation Establishment disciples. But what were these five palm-sized flags? Their strange appearance and spiritual energy suggested they were no ordinary magic treasure—they were peculiar indeed!

Before Han Li could ask, Zhong Lingdao flipped his hand and handed him a jade slip, explaining:

"These spirit stones are a one-time reward given to every newly established Foundation Establishment disciple. From now on, you will receive one mid-grade spirit stone annually, free of charge, with no duties required!"

"As for these Mist-Shadow Flags—they are essential for establishing a cave dwelling. Though the Mist-Shadow Array they form is merely the simplest small array, it is sufficient to repel ordinary mortals or beasts. Of course, if you yourself are skilled in arrays, you need not use them. This jade slip contains the array formation techniques and control methods—and I've also copied into it some important notes on what to watch for after Foundation Establishment. Review it carefully when you return."

"Thank you, Master!" Han Li accepted them with both hands, bowing repeatedly in gratitude.

These were precisely what Han Li needed most—he could hardly contain his joy!

After completing all matters, Han Li chatted with Master Zhong for another incense stick's time before taking his leave from the Council Hall.

After leaving the stone hall, Han Li had intended to immediately fly out of Huang Feng Valley to personally search for a site to establish his cave dwelling.

But halfway there, after reviewing the jade slip Zhong Lingdao had given him, Han Li changed his mind, turned his flying artifact, and flew elsewhere.

"Qilin Pavilion"—the name was grand and resonant. It was also one of Huang Feng Valley's most important locations.

For it was the valley's designated place for raising and taming spirit beasts.

"Spirit beasts" were simply tamed demonic beasts. Once subdued by cultivators, they became known as spirit beasts.

The spirit beasts within Qilin Pavilion were mostly Level One; even the rare Level Two demonic spirit beasts were merely entrusted there by others and could not be freely controlled.

Yet even Level One spirit beasts provided great convenience to the sect's disciples—transportation, gate guarding, spirit herb foraging, battlefield support, and more. Han Li had come here specifically for one type: the "Twin-Eyed Rat."

This spirit beast, resembling an ordinary rat but born with divine eyes, was precisely the one Zhong Lingdao had recommended in the jade slip—it was the ideal helper for locating a cave dwelling site.

This mid-level Level One demonic beast possessed twin eyes that could easily pierce through mist, rivers, trees, and other obstacles blocking ordinary cultivators' vision, and it had a natural instinct to burrow into the most spiritually dense areas to make its nest.

Thus, with minimal training, the Twin-Eyed Rat became the perfect scout for locating spirit veins—highly favored by valley disciples.

Han Li was not new to Qilin Pavilion; he had passed its entrance several times before on errands, so he was not entirely unfamiliar.

When he descended from the sky and landed on the Reception Terrace of Qishan Mountain—the entire verdant hill belonging to Qilin Pavilion—a young female disciple immediately approached and bowed to him.

"Esteemed Master, have you come to rent a spirit beast?" The sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl spoke clearly, her eyes filled with hopeful anticipation.

Seeing this, Han Li smiled faintly and said:

"Are there any available Twin-Eyed Rats on the mountain? I wish to rent one for two days."

"Yes, of course! I'll go get one for you right away!" The girl's face lit up with delight.

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