Chapter 857: Returning to Falling Cloud

"I have no interest in cultivating into a monster like an Ancient Demon." Han Li said coldly.

"Han boy, you don't really think all Ancient Demons look strange, do you?" Great Expansion Divine Lord was silent for a moment, his tone becoming strange.

"What does Senior mean by this? After becoming an Ancient Demon, don't they just become demons from an alien world? Can they still maintain a human form?" Han Li was stunned and asked back.

"You got this point wrong. According to the books I've seen, demon cultivators who ascend from the mortal world to the Demon Realm, even if they become members of the Ancient Demons, their appearance won't change. Of course, if they use demonic techniques to transform, that's another matter. During the struggle between ancient cultivators and Ancient Demons, a small number of cultivators were enticed by high-tier Ancient Demons and directly became members of the Ancient Demons using the Demon Qi Empowerment method. This made the final struggle even more intense. It is said that these people, after being demonized, still maintained human form and consciousness, but were willing to be used by those high-tier Ancient Demons. I don't know if there's any trick in it. Since then, the rumor has spread that human cultivators who cultivate ancient demonic techniques to the extreme will automatically ascend to the Ancient Demon Realm."

"As for those Ancient Demons that are strange in their original form, they are divided into two types. One is the primitive demons of the Ancient Demon Realm. They are the most top-tier existences in the Ancient Demon Realm, seemingly called Sacred Ancestors or something. These demons are rare, but each one is terrifying. Even some ancient demonic techniques cultivated by demon cultivators today still require constantly summoning the names of these Ancient Demons to borrow demonic energy to succeed in casting spells. The other type is the part of the demon race in our mortal world that self-ascended to the Ancient Demon Realm after cultivating ancient demonic techniques. The demon race's original form was not human, so after becoming Ancient Demons, they were naturally equally ferocious."

"Demon race? This is impossible. How could they..."

"How could they cultivate ancient demonic techniques, right? Don't ask this old man about this; this old man is also confused. That book didn't describe it in detail, it just seems that the demon race's contact with Ancient Demons in the ancient times was much earlier than ours. You might know the answer after you go to Dajin in the future. After all, that place preserves some of the most ancient books in our mortal world." Great Expansion Divine Lord replied lazily.

Han Li's expression flickered uncertainly. He thought of the Sanskrit True Fragments in his storage bag, which were said to be the inheritance treasure of the demon race. This three-headed, six-armed technique on it looked extremely similar to the two-headed, four-armed technique the Ancient Demon had displayed that day. Could there be some unknown connection between the two?

After thinking silently for a while, Han Li suddenly laughed out loud.

Even if there was some unknown secret between the demon race and the Ancient Demons, what did it have to do with him? He wasn't the kind of person who liked to meddle in other people's business and wanted to figure everything out. It was better to be confused about some things.

Moreover, the Sanskrit True Fragments in his hand were only fragments. Even if there was a complete set of demon race techniques, he wouldn't have the leisure to cultivate them. He didn't even know when he would be able to cultivate the Azure Origin Sword Technique to the extreme.

Furthermore, since this technique was involved with Ancient Demons and the demon race, it couldn't be suitable for humans to cultivate.

Han Li shook his head, threw the demon race and Sanskrit True Fragments matter to the back of his mind, and turned to ask about another problem he cared more about.

"I don't need to worry about the puppet matter, I will naturally help you collect the materials whether I go to Dajin or not. But you told me two years ago that you had almost figured out the refining method of the Seven-Flame Fan. It should be completely solved by now, right? If the refining method is already out, why don't you give it to me to refine. My flying swords are missing two, and I can't set up the sword array anymore. I am in urgent need of a treasure to suppress the bottom of the box." Han Li didn't beat around the bush and asked directly.

After getting along for more than twenty years, he and Great Expansion Divine Lord already understood each other quite well, and their relationship had become much more relaxed than before, even sometimes looking like half-teacher and half-friend.

"In the refining method of the Seven-Flame Fan, I have reduced the materials that are now impossible to find and replaced those that could be replaced. I have indeed figured out a method for you. As for whether it can really succeed, this old man doesn't dare to say there is a ten percent certainty. However, the treasure fan refined by this method shouldn't be called the Seven-Flame Fan, but the Three-Flame Fan. Because this treasure originally required eighty-one types of fire-attribute spiritual materials to refine, and I have changed it to thirty-one types. Of course, the power has also decreased by more than half." Great Expansion Divine Lord didn't hide anything and told Han Li the details directly.

"It doesn't matter, even if the power is somewhat reduced, it doesn't matter. If the Heaven-Connecting Spiritual Treasure is really as powerful as the legends say, this Three-Flame Fan imitation is definitely not something ordinary cultivators can resist." Han Li said without thinking.

"I have copied the refining method into a jade slip, you can take a good look at it yourself. However, even if it is an imitation, there are still a few materials in it that are hard to find. I estimate that it will take quite a bit of effort to refine this fan." Great Expansion Divine Lord said indifferently.

Then, the lid of the bamboo tube behind Han Li opened, and a white light shot out. Han Li grabbed it with his backhand as if he had eyes behind his head, and it was exactly a white jade slip.

Han Li calmly immersed his spiritual sense into it, scanned the contents of the jade slip, and frowned unintentionally.

"Other things are fine. As long as I spend some time collecting them and refining them into spiritual materials. But this Hao Yang Bird long feather and Red Fire Flood Dragon scale are things that can be met but not sought. Where can I find them? At the very least, we haven't heard of these two things appearing in Tiannan."

"These two materials are already the easiest replacements I could think of. Other things have even less hope. As for the Hao Yang Bird long feather, I once saw a young female cultivator of the Yueyang Palace raising such a spirit bird when I was traveling in Dajin. Now so many years have passed. Even if the original Hao Yang Bird is gone, I think there must be descendants left, so you can go and ask. As for the Red Fire Flood Dragon, it depends on your opportunity. However, if you go to Dajin, it shouldn't be a problem." Great Expansion Divine Lord said leisurely.

"Hmph! After saying so much, you still want me to go to Dajin." Han Li snorted, feeling somewhat helpless.

"Hehe! This old man letting you go to Dajin is also for your own good. Only after traveling in Dajin once can you truly understand what a cultivation holy land is. Dajin Kingdom is absolutely the center of all known cultivation worlds." Great Expansion Divine Lord said nonchalantly.

"I hope so. But before leaving Eastern Yu Kingdom, there is one more thing to do. I must go to the Fallen Demon Valley again to take a look." Han Li put away the jade slip and said calmly.

"Go to the Fallen Demon Valley, what do you mean by this?" Great Expansion Divine Lord was startled and felt somewhat surprised.

"Don't worry. I don't want to break into the valley. You still remember my Heavenly Absolute Demon Corpse? Just after I came out of the space rift, I immediately sensed through a secret technique that this corpse hadn't been destroyed. Naturally, I have to go and see if it is still trapped in the Fallen Demon Valley and see if I can summon it out."

After saying this, Han Li didn't want to talk anymore, his escape speed suddenly increased, and he turned into a cyan rainbow and flew away.

Once he entered Chang Prefecture, Han Li immediately returned to the Ten Thousand Ridge Mountain and returned to the entrance of the Fallen Demon Valley.

After wandering there for two days, Han Li finally confirmed that the Heavenly Absolute Demon Corpse was indeed still alive in the valley. However, this demon corpse seemed to be trapped somewhere. No matter how Han Li urged it with magic formulas, it couldn't leave the valley to meet him.

Han Li hesitated for a long time, and could only leave there somewhat depressed. It seems that only when the Fallen Demon Valley opens next time, if this corpse is not destroyed, can he save the demon corpse out.

Two months later, Han Li's figure finally appeared near Cloud Dream Mountain. Just as he approached the mountain gate of the Falling Cloud Sect, he ran into several patrolling disciples of the sect. When these disciples saw Han Li, they naturally caused a sensation.

While they were overjoyed to pay their respects to Han Li, they hurriedly sent out sound-transmission talismans to inform the two elders in the sect.

Not long after, all the disciples of the Falling Cloud Sect flew out of the sect to welcome Han Li, this famous ancestor elder.

Leading them were exactly the Cheng-surnamed old man and Lu Luo.

When the two saw Han Li, they were naturally both surprised and happy.

As a result, the two didn't say much, hurriedly welcomed Han Li into the sect first, and then let the other disciples go down first.

"Junior Brother Han, I knew that with your divine abilities, you would definitely be fine. But since you are fine, why didn't you return to the sect earlier! You made me and my Junior Brother worry to death." In the main hall of the Falling Cloud Sect, after the three of them were seated, the Cheng Senior Brother couldn't help but complain with joy.

"Indeed, Junior Brother returning earlier would have saved me and Senior Brother from worrying!" Lu Luo also said with a face full of smiles, his joy coming from the bottom of his heart.

"Senior Brothers have wronged Han. I have been trapped in a space rift and couldn't escape, and I only just came out of it. I rushed back as soon as I escaped." Han Li pursed his lips and could only show a face full of helplessness.

"Regardless, Junior Brother being able to return alive is enough. Speaking of which, I haven't thanked Junior Brother for saving my life. If it weren't for Junior Brother saving me in the valley, I would have long since turned into a pile of white bones." The old man stood up from his chair, bowed deeply to Han Li, and said.

"This is nothing. Since joining the Falling Cloud Sect, Senior Brother Cheng has always taken good care of me. I have always kept it in my heart. Seeing Senior Brother in danger, how could I not take action to save you." Han Li smiled slightly and said quite sincerely.

"Those small matters, how can they compare to the grace of saving a life. Junior Brother is probably still worried about Fellow Daoist Nangong, right? Junior Brother, rest assured, Nangong sister is still safe and sound in the ice." The old man clearly knew what Han Li was most worried about, and revealed this news to Han Li first.

Han Li was greatly relieved when he heard this. At this time, Lu Luo suddenly looked at Han Li carefully, and a look of disbelief appeared on his face.

"Junior Brother, you have actually advanced to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul. When did this happen? It's truly incredible! Could it be that Junior Brother had some opportunity in the Fallen Demon Valley?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 858 =====