Chapter 711

"After that, there was nothing more to say. I returned to the Moon Conceal Sect and waited until our sect had firmly established itself in Beiliang Country, then sneaked into Yue Country once to find you. But the news I received was grim—I only learned that you had been hunted again by the Ghost Spirit Sect, though the details remained unknown. Soon after, I was discovered by the demonic sects and had no choice but to return to the Nine Kingdoms Alliance. Since then, I've had no word of you, and I assumed you had likely perished. The demonic influence within my heart gradually faded. Later, I was fortunate enough to successfully condense a Nascent Soul and became an Elder of the Moon Conceal Sect, where I've remained until now," said Nangong Wan calmly.

As Han Li listened to Nangong Wan's quiet recounting, his expression shifted several times; he had never known the extent of what this woman had done for him, and now his gaze upon her held a trace of warmth.

"Then what about Wei Wei Lichen?" After a long silence, Han Li couldn't help but ask.

"Wei Wei Lichen! Several years ago, during a journey, I happened to meet an Elder of the Hua Yi Sect. I didn't like him at all—he's practically a classic hypocrite: outwardly refined and elegant, but inwardly corrupt and depraved. I heard he had Qiba female disciples alone. I also heard rumors he secretly practiced the Yin-Stealing Yang-Nourishing Art. His proposal to me? He likely had no good intentions. So when he first proposed, I refused outright," said Nangong Wan with a cold sneer.

"You refused? Then how did it come to this?" Han Li asked, his expression puzzled.

Nangong Wan didn't answer directly but suddenly asked:

"Do you know the Three Nascent Soul Experts of Tiannan?"

"Of course. One each from the orthodox, demonic, and Nine Kingdoms Alliance—all at the late Nascent Soul stage, just one step from Soul Transformation. That's why the major factions have maintained balance until now. As for our Nine Kingdoms Alliance, there's a married couple of mid-Nascent Soul experts who specialize in a linked technique; together, they can barely hold off a late-Nascent Soul expert. Why? Is Wei Wei Lichen connected to one of them?" Han Li asked, his face darkening, a sense of foreboding stirring within.

"Correct. Wei Wei Lichen's paternal great-uncle is Wei Wei Wuyan, one of the Three Experts. Wei Wei Wuyan, as the Supreme Elder of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, cultivates a rare poison Dao art—his mere gesture can kill without a trace. His power far exceeds ordinary cultivators' imagination," said Nangong Wan softly, her ten slender fingers intertwined, a bitter smile on her face.

"So Wei Wei Wuyan personally pressured you!" Han Li's lips twitched, his eyes flashing deadly intent as he spoke coldly.

"Not exactly. But Wei Wei Wuyan did interfere. Do you know that the Grand Elder of the Moon Conceal Sect is no longer the one from before? She's been replaced by a former senior sister of mine. Though her cultivation isn't low, she's extremely ambitious and has always clashed with me. Even with another Elder mediating, our relationship is terrible!" said Nangong Wan, her face flushed with anger.

Han Li's expression darkened—he realized Nangong Wan had reached the crux of the matter.

Indeed, after clenching her teeth, Nangong Wan continued:

"After I repeatedly refused Wei Wei Lichen's proposals, somehow he personally persuaded Wei Wei Wuyan to approach my senior sister. I don't know what they discussed, but only half a year later, during my Cycle Dao's Cycle Phase, she suddenly seized me and forced me to marry Wei Wei Lichen."

"Your senior sister's mind must be broken! To use such tactics against a fellow Nascent Soul cultivator?" Han Li blinked, struggling to believe it.

"You're right! I never imagined she'd go this far. But the condition Wei Wei Wuyan offered was simply too tempting for her to refuse. Later, I learned that if the Moon Conceal Sect agreed to this marriage, not only would it be allowed to expand beyond Beiliang Country—even the Six Sects could join—but Wei Wei Lichen himself would leave the Hua Yi Sect and join ours. With such a two-birds-one-stone opportunity, no wonder she was willing to use any means. Even without my consent, she leaked word that I had agreed to dual-cultivation with Wei Wei Lichen and planned a grand celebration, hoping to make the marriage a fait accompli. By then, even if I wanted to back out, it would be impossible," said Nangong Wan, curling her lips in mockery.

"So you never agreed to the marriage at all—and you deliberately said you'd marry him just to shock me!" Han Li exclaimed, overjoyed.

"I was going to ask you the same thing! If you'd already formed a Nascent Soul years ago, why didn't you come find me sooner? If you'd arrived even a year earlier, none of this would've happened," said Nangong Wan, shooting Han Li a reproachful glance.

"It's not that I didn't want to find you—I…" Han Li paused, opening his mouth to explain, but then realized something strange.

Though he vaguely felt Nangong Wan was the one he truly loved, for some reason he had never dared to confront this emotion directly. Had he not suddenly learned she was to marry, he might still have hesitated, afraid to face it.

As Han Li's expression flickered uncertainly, Nangong Wan rose gracefully, stepped forward, and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Actually, my situation is much like yours. Though our experience and power far surpass ordinary mortals, in matters of emotion, we're both beginners—strange and fearful. Even though we've left deep impressions on each other's hearts, we're not ordinary worldly couples who can burn with passion over a fleeting moment and release all emotion at once. For the best cultivation state, we cultivators must suppress and bury most emotions deep within. After passion fades, what remains is often quiet, enduring respect. So when I learned you were still alive, though I was overjoyed, I carefully considered for two full days and nights before finally deciding to accept you according to my true heart."

After speaking these gentle words, Nangong Wan extended her slender hand and took Han Li's in hers.

Han Li fell silent for a moment, then silently placed his other hand atop hers, feeling the softness and smoothness of her palm, a warm feeling rising within him.

Nangong Wan's face flushed red, and she quickly withdrew both hands, shooting Han Li a playful scowl.

Han Li paid it no mind, but smiled faintly and suddenly said:

"Wan'er, though you're trapped here, your calm demeanor suggests you already have a plan to escape. Otherwise, you wouldn't have shown not a trace of anxiety since we met."

Nangong Wan smiled, her lips pursed, a hint of mischief glinting in her starry eyes. "You're quick to catch on. Indeed, though I'm confined to my cave dwelling, only a handful of high-ranking members know of this. The ordinary disciples are unaware—otherwise, I wouldn't have received that transmission talisman from Tang, my junior disciple. But to prevent my escape, they've placed several seals on me. The others are nothing—I didn't realize that after entering the Nascent Soul stage, my Cycle Dao gained countless extraordinary abilities; these ordinary seals can't hold me. I can restore my magic power anytime with a little time. But the 'Heartbinding Seal' my senior sister personally placed on me? That's hard to break. She created it for the wedding ceremony—if I refused to marry Wei Wei Lichen, she'd use it to temporarily control me, using her own blood to implant the seal. The key lies in a seal token. Unless I destroy that artifact, I'm bound to her control within a hundred li. Fortunately, our cultivation levels are close; she can only control simple movements—she can't command any of my magic power."

"You're quick to react! Indeed, although I'm under house arrest in my cave dwelling, only a handful of high-ranking members know about this—ordinary disciples have no knowledge of it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have received that transmission talisman directly from Tang, my junior disciple. But to prevent my escape, they've imposed several restraints upon me. The other restraints mean nothing; they don't know that once my Reincarnation Art reached the Nascent Soul stage, it gained countless extraordinary abilities—these ordinary restraints can't hold me at all. I can restore my original magic power anytime with a little effort. But the Mindbinding Spell placed on me by that senior sister is truly hard to break. She crafted this technique for use during the grand ceremony; if I persistently refuse the marriage, she intends to temporarily 'control' me with it, having planted this restraint using her own essence blood. The key to this restraint lies in a control token—if I don't destroy this artifact, I'm forced to obey its command whenever I'm within a hundred li. Fortunately, my cultivation base isn't vastly different from hers; this control can only compel simple movements—it cannot manipulate any of my magic power whatsoever."

"Hehe! I planned to wait until just days before the ceremony, when they were most lax, then suddenly restore my power and flee far away. As long as I'm outside the token's range, she can't touch me. But now that you're here, this problem's yours to solve. After all, you're the man who's going to marry me. And I've heard you easily defeated a fellow Nascent Soul cultivator—you must have some tricks," said Nangong Wan, smiling lightly.

"Heartbinding Seal? This seal is indeed troublesome—there's no simple way to break it except destroying the token," Han Li frowned, murmuring thoughtfully.

"If there's no way, then fine—we just leave the Moon Conceal Sect far behind," said Nangong Wan, her eyes glinting, unconcerned.

"No problem! It's just a seal token, right? It should be in your senior sister's hands. I'll go take it—and give her a taste of her own medicine!" Han Li narrowed his eyes, a flash of cold light passing through them as he declared with boldness.

"I was just testing your heart—I never truly meant for you to steal the token! My senior sister has reached mid-Nascent Soul; her arts and powers far surpass what we early-stage cultivators can manage. We should just sneak away quietly. If necessary, I'll spend over a decade slowly refining and dissolving the seal," said Nangong Wan, shaking her head with a soft smile, a hint of mischief on her lovely face.

"I was only testing your resolve—never seriously asking you to steal the token! My senior sister has already reached Nascent Soul mid-stage; her cultivation and abilities far surpass what we initial-stage cultivators can achieve. We should simply slip away quietly. If worst comes to worst, I'll spend over a decade slowly refining and dissolving this restraint." Nangong Wan shook her head, smiling faintly, a hint of mischief glimmering on her lovely face.

Han Li fell silent, instantly recalling the strange, spirited girl he had first met that day.

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