Chapter 899: Evil Guests

West of a small city called Xinan under Wei Wuyuan Prefecture in Liao Prefecture, two slender women dressed in green Daoist robes walked side by side on a remote small mountain.

Their feet flashed with white light, and with a light tap of their toes on the ground, their bodies still drifted forward a zhang away without any effort. Because their Daoist robes were long enough and their movements were minimal, from afar, the two women looked as if they were flying low to the ground, their postures extremely graceful.

"Senior Sister Lu, is Master really not going to help this time? Even if we add Junior Sister Cao, I fear we won't be able to deal with that person from the Rhinoceros Spirit Sect. That is a cultivator at the seventh layer of Qi Refining, and it is said he is deeply valued by the Rhinoceros Spirit Sect Master. We are at the sixth and seventh layers respectively; we could fight if we joined forces, but if the other party brings helpers, we won't be their match. And if we lose, Junior Sister Cao won't be able to intervene in that person's rescue attempt. The person he wants to save is a wanted criminal of the government. I fear it will implicate Junior Sister Cao's father," a delicate woman of about seventeen or eighteen years old said to the older woman with some depression.

"There is no help for it. Our cultivation sects originally shouldn't easily meddle in government affairs. Junior Sister Cao is only a registered disciple of our Profound Jade Daoist Sect, and Master only taught her a few shallow spells, so she didn't say much about this. After all, the government itself employs many rogue cultivators to handle events related to cultivators. But this time, the person that the Rhinoceros Spirit Sect member wants to save has deep ties to him, and he found out about Junior Sister Cao's relationship with our sect and came to the door personally. Naturally, it is not good for our Profound Jade Daoist Sect to continue turning a blind eye. But Master also used the excuse of her being a registered disciple to decline punishing Junior Sister Cao, letting that person handle it himself. After that person left, Master immediately called us two over and pointed out that he would most likely use a challenge to force Junior Sister Cao to quit. Master knew that our relationship with Junior Sister Cao is not shallow, so letting us carry this message—isn't it just her intention to let us help Junior Sister Cao? Otherwise, since she had already used a spiritual bird to send this message to Junior Sister Cao, why would she need us two to run another trip? Although Senior Sister Yu and the others have profound cultivation, they do not share the same Master as us, and their relationship with Junior Sister Cao is average, so they won't offend others for this. Master has done her best; after all, the Rhinoceros Spirit Sect and our Profound Jade Daoist Sect have some friendship, and as a senior, it is truly not good for her to directly favor her," the other gentle-looking woman also sighed and said.

"I remember that when County Commandant Cao was serving near our nunnery, he seemed to be a very good person and was very respectful to Master and the others. If he is really implicated because of this, it is truly an undeserved disaster!" the younger woman still looked unbearable.

"If it really comes to that, there is no other way. Fortunately, for the crime of losing a prisoner, he, as a County Commandant, is not the official directly responsible. At most, he will lose his official position; the crime does not warrant death. However, Junior Sister Cao has good taste; knowing this news, she actually arranged to meet us in such a place. Could it be she already has a countermeasure?" the older woman pondered for a moment and became hesitant.

"Why should Senior Sister worry? When we reach the peak in a while and ask, won't it be clear?" the younger woman smiled lightly.

"Junior Sister is right!" the older woman nodded.

Thus, the two women quickened their pace. After the time it takes to eat a meal, they finally reached the peak, and as a result, they both let out a light sound of surprise in unison.

This place was not large, only a hundred zhang or so, but a thatched cottage had appeared on the peak. In front of the cottage, there was a simple stone pavilion, inside which a man and a woman were sitting on stone stools around a bluestone table, talking about something.

The man had an ordinary face and was somewhat pale and bloodless, while the woman had a beautiful appearance and was respectfully listening intently to something.

As soon as the two women appeared on the peak, the man immediately sensed something, stopped speaking, and turned his head to look over.

"Fellow Daoist Cao, it seems the people you arranged to meet have arrived," the man said with a smile and stood up.

"Senior Sisters have arrived, that is truly great!" The woman looked over and immediately stood up to welcome them with joy on her face.

"Junior Sister, your complexion looks good. Oh! Your cultivation seems to have advanced by a layer. This is truly a happy event!" The older woman had a smiling face, but after carefully observing this Junior Sister, she couldn't help but be surprised.

"I just broke through a few days ago. Compared to you two Senior Sisters, I am still far behind!" Junior Sister Cao pursed her lips and smiled, also very happy.

"Junior Sister Cao, which sect does this Fellow Daoist belong to? His cultivation is actually so high, it seems he has reached the tenth layer," the other younger woman curiously observed the man in the Confucian robe and suddenly asked in great surprise.

Upon hearing this, the older woman was shocked. After scanning with her spiritual sense, a look of horror appeared on her face as well.

"I am Han Li, a rogue cultivator, just a guest at Miss Cao's home," Han Li said calmly.

"So that is it. I said why Junior Sister was so calm. It turns out she has an expert like Brother Han sitting here. When that Wu Wu Xiaoyu comes, he will naturally be asking for trouble," the older woman said with joy.

"Senior Sisters, please sit. Let's talk slowly. Although Brother Han is a rogue cultivator, he is very experienced in the path of cultivation. The reason I was able to break through the bottleneck in such a short time is entirely due to Brother Han's guidance," Cao Cao Mengrong said with a smile after inviting the two women into the pavilion.

"Oh, then we two must also..." Just as she sat down, the older woman was about to say some polite words when a long whistle came from down the mountain, the sound thick and resonant.

"That person is here!"

"How did he know this place? He came so fast!" The two Daoist-robed women were startled and stood up at the same time, turning their heads to look.

"Senior Sisters, do not panic. I arranged for this person to come. This Fellow Daoist Wu found me several days ago. After obtaining Brother Han's consent, I specifically arranged to meet him here," Cao Cao Mengrong said with a calm expression, full of confidence.

"So that is it. Although we traveled day and night, we were still a step late," the older woman was somewhat surprised, but her heart was put at ease.

After all, a cultivator at the tenth layer of Qi Refining was enough to deal with a challenge from an eighth-layer cultivator.

Just then, a group of white light rushed up from the foot of the peak, and two figures could be vaguely seen standing side by side inside.

"Flying magic tool! He actually has this kind of magic tool? Who is the other person?" The younger woman saw this scene and exclaimed.

Cao Cao Mengrong and the other woman looked at each other, and both saw worry in each other's eyes.

Compared to other types of magic tools, flying magic tools were indeed much rarer. Even the price of a low-tier flying magic tool was far above that of an ordinary mid-tier magic tool. For low-tier cultivators like them, where would they get the spirit stones to purchase mid-tier magic tools? Being able to have one low-tier magic tool was mostly a reward from the sect. If they couldn't advance, they would likely only have this one magic tool for their entire lives.

Therefore, low-tier cultivators who could be bestowed with flying magic tools were definitely people with great backgrounds. For small sects like theirs, this was even more so.

The two people appeared on the peak aggressively, but Han Li only glanced at them indifferently, his expression not changing in the slightest.

It had been eight or nine months since he was saved by Cao Cao Mengrong.

Whether it was because his injuries were not that severe or because the medicinal pills he took were far more effective than expected, in just over half a year, Han Li had replenished a portion of his vital energy, allowing his cultivation base to quietly return to the Foundation Establishment stage. Although his vital energy was still severely depleted and his essence blood had not been fully replenished, he finally had the power to protect himself in the cultivation world.

Naturally, with Cao Cao Mengrong's cultivation base, she could not see the astonishing changes under his disguise.

During the time he was staying nearby, she often came to ask him about her doubts and confusion in cultivation.

With Han Li's cultivation experience at the mid-stage of Nascent Soul, guiding the cultivation insights of a Qi Refining cultivator was naturally overkill. Often, a few words would make the woman suddenly enlightened.

This made Cao Cao Mengrong overjoyed, and she became increasingly respectful toward Han Li, especially after she advanced from the third layer of Qi Refining to the fourth layer under Han Li's guidance, she even vaguely began to treat him with the etiquette of a disciple.

Seeing this situation, Han Li showed no abnormality on the surface. But in his heart, he was already prepared to leave this place in another month or so.

After all, in these few months, he had gained a general understanding of the Great Jin cultivation world from this woman. He was finally no longer blind.

As for the medicinal pills for Qi Refining, although he had some, he would not easily give them away while he was so weak.

After all, things like killing for treasure were countless in the Great Jin cultivation world, and it seemed even more chaotic than Tiannan.

But just a few days ago, Cao Cao Mengrong received a warning from her sect. The woman was startled and naturally sought out Han Li.

Hearing that it was only an opponent at the seventh or eighth layer of Qi Refining, and not a life-and-death feud, Han Li agreed to take action for her in a nonchalant manner.

After finishing this matter, he could just take the opportunity to leave.

And the two men rushing up to the peak, although the light of their magic tools was dazzling, Han Li could see clearly that they were just a cultivator at the eighth layer of Qi Refining and one at the eleventh layer, so he naturally wouldn't take them to heart.

Thus, while the other three women were full of suspicion and fear, he walked out of the pavilion slowly, looked up at the sky, and said calmly:

"I am here to help Fellow Daoist Cao. Which of you two intends to spar? Surely you don't want to have a chaotic battle, right?"

"Hmph! It's fortunate that I came. Otherwise, Junior Brother Wu would have really suffered a loss. You are a complete stranger, and your cultivation is not bad. But I, Huang, am enough to deal with you alone. Let's go together. It will save you from finding excuses later." The light group in the air landed on the ground, and with a flash of light, two people appeared. Among them, a middle-aged man with small eyes held a wooden board-like magic tool and said impolitely.

The other big man in his thirties stared coldly at Han Li and the others. It seemed he was that Wu Wu Xiaoyu!

"Ma Ma Yulin! Why is it you? You are a law enforcement disciple of the Rhinoceros Spirit Sect; how can you easily participate in someone else's private fight?" The older woman's face changed drastically, and she questioned him.

"It seems Fairy Lu doesn't know yet. I am not an outsider. Junior Brother Wu and I have some marital ties. There is no problem with me taking action for him," the middle-aged man said stiffly with an expressionless face.

Hearing this, Senior Sister Lu's words stopped abruptly. The younger woman showed anxiety on her face.

Cao Cao Mengrong's beautiful face was uncertain, and she also didn't know what to say.

"Then let's start immediately. After the sparring ends, I am in a hurry and have other things to do!" Looking up at the time and then at the middle-aged man opposite, Han Li revealed a smile that was not quite a smile and took another step forward.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man sneered, raised his hand to put away the wooden board-like magic tool, and took out a pale yellow small fork from his storage bag with his other hand.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 900 =====