Chapter 860: Invitation Letter

"Cultivating the Phoenix-Pei Yuan Technique, the female cultivator must always maintain her virgin body. Otherwise, once the body is broken, all previous efforts will be wasted. So before you advance to the late-stage of Core Formation, I won't ask you to serve me in bed. You and I will still maintain this relationship. Of course, if you can really help me advance to the late-stage of Nascent Soul, I can promise you here. In the future, I will definitely do my best to help you condense a Nascent Soul. With the full assistance of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, condensing a Nascent Soul is not out of reach." Han Li stared at Mu Mu Peiling without blinking and said slowly.

These words were not false. If Han Li's cultivation base reached the late-stage of Nascent Soul, he could completely go and collect the eight-level companion demon grass again, and re-refine the Nine-Curved Spirit Ginseng spiritual medicine that was of great help to core formation. After all, at that time, eight-level demon beasts wouldn't pose much of a threat to him.

Mu Mu Peiling was silent for a while, then raised her jade-like face and asked Han Li:

"Young Master, is this Phoenix-Pei Yuan Technique particularly slow to cultivate and does it have any sequelae that are difficult to eradicate?"

"No, this technique, besides its power being inferior to top-tier techniques, is actually three parts faster to cultivate than ordinary techniques. As for sequelae, there are none. It's just that when fighting with others, you might suffer some losses." Han Li answered without hesitation.

"Since it's like this, Mu Peiling will listen to Young Master's arrangements. I know my own aptitude. Without Young Master's help, this core formation would be difficult to succeed. As for the Nascent Soul stage, it is almost impossible." This woman looked at Han Li and said firmly.

"I am very happy that you can answer like this. You have been getting along with me for such a long time. You know what kind of person I am. Although your status is only a concubine, I won't be too harsh on you. You can prepare for core formation with peace of mind. When the time comes, I will naturally send you spiritual medicines." Han Li's expression didn't change, seemingly having expected this woman to agree to this matter long ago.

"Thank you, Young Master, for your great grace! Mu Peiling understands the principle of repaying a drop of kindness with a spring. I entrust my life to Young Master." Mu Mu Peiling bowed again, with a look of determination on her face.

Apparently, at this moment, Mu Mu Peiling truly intended to rely on Han Li and no longer had any wavering thoughts.

After all, it was impossible to find a second person in the entire Tiannan who had divine abilities not inferior to the three Great Cultivators and treated his concubines so kindly like Han Li.

Moreover, this woman was very clear that Han Li's kindness toward her was already quite significant. Without the pills Han Li had provided earlier, let alone her current attempt to reach Core Formation, she would likely still be struggling in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. This made Mu Mu Peiling agree to Han Li's conditions without much hesitation.

After Han Li spoke frankly, the relationship between the two seemed to have taken a step closer instantly. When this woman spoke to Han Li again, her expression revealed a trace of closeness.

Next, Han Li gave this woman some guidance on the problems related to core formation with a kind expression.

Mu Mu Peiling knew that the opportunity was rare, so she listened to Han Li's guidance with full attention, not even blinking her beautiful eyes.

After a full half-day, Mu Mu Peiling felt that she had gained a lot and wanted to take her leave. Regarding Han Li's guidance, she indeed still had many shortcomings and needed to prepare in advance.

Han Li didn't try to keep her, just gave her two more instructions before letting her return to the Child Peak.

Silver Moon sent this woman out of the cave dwelling.

When Silver Moon returned to the main hall, Han Li was still sitting in the main seat, but there was an extra jade slip in his hand, and he was scanning the contents with his spiritual sense.

This was exactly the jade

"Master, do you really intend to help this woman cultivate all the way to the late stage of Core Formation?" Silver Moon walked silently to Han Li's side and asked softly.

"Why, is there something wrong with that?" Han Li withdrew his spiritual sense and asked back with a raised eyebrow.

"That's not it! I'm just a bit curious. With Master's current status, it wouldn't be difficult at all to simply take a female Core Formation cultivator as a concubine. Why must you put so much effort into this woman?" Silver Moon's eyes flickered as she asked with some confusion.

"It's nothing. After observing her for these years, her character isn't bad, and she is worth the great effort to cultivate. Taking her as a concubine this time isn't just about using her to break through a bottleneck; I truly want to cultivate a capable helper. In the future, when I spend long periods in secluded cultivation, I will need someone close to me to handle things outside. I am now an Elder of the Falling Cloud Sect; I can't just ignore everything and focus solely on my own cultivation. Wan'er is not the type to love meddling in sect affairs, and I estimate she wouldn't want to manage such matters either. And I can tell that, unlike me and Wan'er, this woman is not the type of person who is single-mindedly pursuing the Dao. Once her cultivation reaches a certain stage, she will likely no longer be able to endure the loneliness. In this way, it is just right for her to manage the sect's affairs for me."

Han Li said these words calmly, paused for a moment, and then continued:

"Of course, the most important point is that the Phoenix-Nurturing Essence Technique requires the woman's willing cooperation. If I don't bestow great favors, why would an ordinary female Core Formation cultivator be willing to easily abandon the cultivation technique she has practiced for many years and switch to some unknown technique? I have been helping her cultivate and reach Core Formation since she was in the Foundation Establishment stage, and I may even give her the opportunity to condense a Nascent Soul in the future. Only then will she have no complaints. Just as she said, if I hadn't helped her, she would likely only be a Foundation Establishment cultivator for the rest of her life. So, even if I harbor some thoughts of using her, she is only losing some status now, and since I have given her so much, I can say I have a clear conscience."

After Han Li finished speaking, he sighed lightly. A flash of spiritual light appeared in his hand, and the jade slip vanished along with it.

"So that is Master's plan. It seems this servant was the one who failed to consider things thoroughly." Silver Moon tilted her head and smiled charmingly.

"You won't be too idle in the future either. I have now advanced to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul and plan to go into secluded cultivation for a period in a few days to thoroughly refine the last trace of the Azure Blue Ice Flame. Then, I will ponder the method to open the Void Heaven Cauldron. Everything in the cave dwelling will still be left for you to handle." Han Li looked at Silver Moon with a half-smile and said leisurely.

"Master has refined the ice flame to the final step; that is truly a joyous and congratulatory matter." Upon hearing this, Silver Moon was startled at first, then overjoyed, her beautiful face full of excitement.

"Indeed, the first step to opening the cauldron is finally complete. I don't know what conditions are needed for the next step to open it. Alright, I am also a bit tired. Let's rest for today, and we can handle any matters tomorrow morning." Han Li said indifferently, stood up from his seat, and walked toward the bedroom.

Silver Moon looked at Han Li's disappearing back, stood blankly in the hall thinking about something for a while, and then walked lightly out of the hall.

The night passed without incident. The next day, just as Han Li woke up from his meditation, Silver Moon came to report that Senior Martial Brother Cheng and Lu Luo had arrived.

Han Li immediately washed up a little, then had Silver Moon open the barrier, and he went to the entrance to welcome them.

Sure enough, the two elders were waiting outside the cave dwelling.

Han Li welcomed them inside with a smile.

In the hall, the three took their seats as host and guests, and the elder spoke first with a hint of apology:

"Junior Martial Brother Han only rested for one day; we originally shouldn't have come to disturb you now. But the matter is somewhat urgent, so we had to come over."

"Two Senior Martial Brothers, why be so polite! We cultivators only need a little rest to recover as before. How can this be called a disturbance?" Han Li smiled and said nonchalantly.

"Since Junior Martial Brother says so, Senior Martial Brother can rest easy. Actually, just after you left yesterday, several fellow Daoists from the Ancient Sword Sect and the Hundred Arts Academy heard that you had returned to the sect, and they jointly sent an invitation. They want to invite us to gather. Although you have joined our Falling Cloud Sect for some time, you haven't met many fellow Daoists from the other two sects, right? It just so happens that we can take this opportunity to meet. After all, in a sense, our three sects share honor and disgrace. Tomorrow, the Hundred Arts Academy is holding a master-recognition ceremony for a newly refined magic treasure, so they set the gathering time for then. They also invited us and the Elders of the Ancient Sword Sect to go and observe the ceremony."

"A master-recognition ceremony? I remember the Hundred Arts Academy seems to have quite a reputation in artifact refining. If they invited us to observe, then this magic treasure must be extraordinary." Han Li was a bit surprised, a hint of interest appearing on his face.

"This wasn't revealed in the invitation, but the one performing the blood-drop master-recognition is a young disciple of the Hundred Arts Academy who just reached Core Formation. I heard his aptitude is excellent. He condensed his Golden Core in less than a hundred years. The old fellows of the Hundred Arts Academy have high hopes for him." Lu Luo also chimed in from the side, flipped his palm, took out a golden invitation, and handed it over.

"Condensing a Golden Core in such a short time is indeed quite astonishing. Alright, I will go with the two Senior Martial Brothers tomorrow. I am also a bit curious." Han Li smiled, took the invitation, glanced at it, and said indifferently.

"Hehe, it is naturally best if Junior Martial Brother is willing to go. I heard that the Great Elder of the Ancient Sword Sect, Jin Wuhuan, has also just come out of a life-or-death seclusion. If I remember correctly, his seclusion lasted for seventy or eighty years, and he was already at the mid-stage of Nascent Soul. I wonder if his cultivation has made a great breakthrough after coming out." Seeing Han Li's willingness to attend the gathering, Senior Martial Brother Cheng felt happy and said with a smile.

"The Great Elder of the Ancient Sword Sect!" Han Li was stunned for a moment, but then the corners of his mouth curled up, and he didn't take it to heart. However, he suddenly scrutinized the elder a few times, his brows furrowing tightly.

"Senior Martial Brother Cheng, I just used my spiritual sense to probe your body, and the situation seems not very good. Did you not find any pills to extend your lifespan in the Fallen Devil Valley?" Han Li asked with some concern.

Hearing this, the elder couldn't help but show a bitter smile on his face.

"Junior Martial Brother, you don't need to say it; I understand. I only have ten or so years left before my limit arrives, and I could pass away at any time. As for the Fallen Devil Valley, although I picked up some treasures, none were spiritual pills to extend life; it is a matter of fate. However, for us cultivators, as long as we haven't truly attained the Great Dao, birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of the cycle of the Heavenly Dao. There is nothing to regret. In the future, the Falling Cloud Sect will have to be entrusted to you two Junior Martial Brothers."

After saying this, the elder's expression was calm, clearly having prepared himself for this day long ago.

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