Chapter 921

For Han Li, suddenly disrupting his plans to go to a sect he knew nothing about was naturally not as suitable as staying at the White Dew Academy.

But the female cultivator before him had offered such good conditions; if he, a rogue cultivator, were to refuse flatly and insist on joining the White Dew Academy, Master Lu here would surely become highly suspicious. Because of this, Han Li naturally rolled his eyes in secret at this Immortal Lady Lady Hualian who had suddenly appeared to stir up trouble, and he cursed her repeatedly in his heart.

"I will not hide it from Senior Lady Hualian, this junior truly does not know much about the Royal Purity Temple. But since your temple is a nunnery, I presume that in terms of cultivation techniques or training methods, it might be somewhat unsuitable for male cultivators like me?" After thinking rapidly in his heart, Han Li finally found a reason that sounded plausible and could barely be justified.

"So Fellow Daoist Han is worried about this! There is no need to worry about that. Our Royal Purity Temple is actually just a branch of the Three Sovereigns Temple; the other Royal Yang Temple and Royal Saint Temple are Daoist temples presided over by male cultivators. There is no lack of cultivation methods for male cultivators. Moreover, there is no innate 'Haoran' energy in your body, Fellow Daoist; joining the White Dew Academy would require you to cultivate this energy from scratch, which is likely three times harder than our cultivation techniques. Of course, if Confucian techniques are mastered, their divine abilities, with the aid of 'Haoran' energy, are far beyond what ordinary Daoist techniques can compare to. However, for Fellow Daoist Han, it is too early to talk about these things. Could it be that Fellow Daoist Han truly looks down upon our temple?" Daoist nun Lady Hualian smiled slightly and said unhurriedly. Her words, however, did not dare to show the slightest disrespect toward the Confucian school!

"Fellow Daoist Lady Hualian is right. Our Confucian techniques do indeed require a bit more time in the early stages compared to the Daoist and Buddhist schools. Little Friend Han, given your conditions, it is more suitable to enter the Royal Purity Temple to cultivate. Since Fellow Daoist Lady Hualian has promised to take care of you, there is not zero hope for you to reach Foundation Establishment under the Royal Purity Temple," Master Lu also spoke calmly.

Hearing these words, Han Li was speechless in his heart.

It seemed that it was truly impossible to avoid changing his original goal. Otherwise, if he continued to insist, it would be strange if this Great Immortal Master Lu did not become suspicious. Fortunately, the Royal Purity Temple was also within the spiritual vein of Mount Yutian; as long as he was extra careful, there should be no accidents.

Thinking this in his heart, Han Li could only grit his teeth and accept his bad luck, while outwardly putting on a look of slight excitement:

"Since both seniors have suggested this, it must be correct. This junior will listen to the arrangements of both seniors!"

Hearing Han Li's sensible words, the young Daoist nun finally nodded with satisfaction, while Master Lu just smiled without a word.

Although the Confucian scholar surnamed Yan hoped more for Han Li to enter the Confucian school, seeing that Han Li himself did not oppose this arrangement, he found it even harder to say anything.

With Han Li's matter settled, Master Lu and the Daoist nun began to chat. However, the content of their conversation was not about the strange tales of the cultivation world, but rather the gains and losses of the current Great Jin dynasty's politics, which left Han Li feeling puzzled for a while.

It was one thing for the Confucian school, as their tenet was to engage with the world, so discussing politics was not strange. But for this Daoist nun from the Royal Purity Temple to discuss these matters with equal composure was truly surprising to Han Li.

Could it be that like the Confucian school, the Royal Purity Temple was also a cultivation sect that engaged with the world? Han Li could not help but ponder this.

The three of them were chatting happily in the hall, but after a while, footsteps came from outside the door, followed by a somewhat childish voice.

"Reporting to Grandmaster, this disciple has followed your orders and brought the Purple Essence Copper from the storeroom."

"Oh, since that is the case, bring the items up," Master Lu said without hesitation upon hearing this.

"Purple Essence Copper?" Han Li's heart stirred. This item was a superior material for refining top-tier magic tools or even magic treasures. To him, it might not be anything special, but to the two people before him, it was definitely a rare and precious item.

As he was pondering, the door was pushed open, and a boy of eleven or twelve, with fair and tender skin, walked in holding a large red tray. The tray was covered with a layer of silver brocade, which was bulging, as if it were filled with something.

Respectfully placing the tray on the table between Immortal Lady Lady Hualian and Master Lu, the boy immediately took a few steps back and stood with his hands at his sides.

"Go down. You are not needed to serve here for now," Master Lu glanced at the boy and ordered calmly.

The boy immediately agreed, bowed deeply, and backed out of the room.

Then Master Lu, without even looking, pushed the tray directly toward Immortal Lady Lady Hualian.

"Fellow Daoist Lady Hualian, this is the Purple Essence Copper you wished to borrow; please keep it safe. Your temple has been searching for materials everywhere; it seems you are truly planning to refine an important treasure. I just don't know if it is a top-tier magic tool or a magic treasure," Master Lu smiled and said as if casually.

"This junior is not very clear about the artifact refinement matters; this junior is also acting on the orders of the Fourth Martial Aunt. If Senior wishes to know some details, why not ask the Fourth Martial Aunt directly? I presume she will tell you truthfully," the Daoist nun hesitated for a moment before saying apologetically.

"No need to go to such trouble; I was just asking casually," Master Lu's expression changed slightly upon hearing the name "Fourth Martial Aunt," and he immediately laughed it off.

Immortal Lady Lady Hualian smiled sweetly, stretched out her fair jade fingers, and lifted the brocade on the tray, revealing a pile of golden stones shining with purple light.

Looking at the tray of purple copper essence before her, a smile appeared on the Daoist nun's face. After thanking him, she unhooked a storage bag from her waist, and with a sweep of rosy light, she packed all the materials into the bag and put it away carefully.

Seeing that her purpose for this trip had been achieved, the young Daoist nun chatted with Master Lu for a while longer before finally rising to take her leave.

Master Lu did not try to keep her, immediately summoning a boy to lead the Daoist nun out of the academy. Han Li naturally also bowed respectfully to the two of them and followed the woman out.

The departure of Han Li and the woman caused the hall to fall into instant silence.

The Confucian scholar surnamed Yan and Master Lu did not speak a word for a time, just sitting quietly in their chairs, silent toward each other.

Especially the Confucian scholar surnamed Yan, whose expression was uncertain, as if he were pondering something.

"How are your preparations coming along? To deal with that demon Niu Tiande, only by helping me cultivate the 'Devouring True Union Technique' will I have a seventy or eighty percent chance of destroying this demon. Now that everything is ready, you wouldn't be regretting it at the last moment and cherishing your own life, would you?" Master Lu finally spoke, but his voice was low and devoid of emotion.

"Hmph! As long as I can avenge the destruction of my clan, what would I, Yan, cherish this remnant body for? My only worry is that once you, Brother Lu, have mastered this divine ability, you will fear the old demon's fierce flames and refuse to provoke him; wouldn't I have thrown my life away for nothing?" The Confucian scholar surnamed Yan's expression darkened, and he said coldly.

"Hehe! Why does Brother Yan have so little confidence in me, Lu? Didn't I say it already? Once you assist me with your body to cultivate this divine ability, your 'Haoran' energy will naturally be inherited by me. It must contain your deep-seated resentment. As long as I do not eliminate that Niu Tiande, I will never be able to truly make this 'Haoran' energy my own. For the sake of this mellow 'Haoran' energy on you, Brother Yan, I will definitely keep my promise and destroy this demon. Besides, Brother Yan, do you think there are any other cultivators besides me who can help you destroy this villain without fearing the retaliation of the Black Sun Sect?" Master Lu did not get angry at all; instead, he said unhurriedly.

"What you say is true. I have indeed intentionally associated with some cultivators over the years, and although you, Brother Lu, are not the one with the greatest divine abilities or the highest cultivation, you are the only one who needs my help and is willing to avenge the destruction of my clan by provoking the Black Sun Sect's demonic cultivators. Others either cannot do it at all or are unwilling to provoke the Ten Great Demonic Sects for the sake of a mortal like me." Speaking of the destruction of his clan, the Confucian scholar surnamed Yan suddenly clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms without him realizing it.

"This is a natural matter. That Niu Tiande is an external law enforcement officer for the Black Sun Sect; there are actually few small sects that dare to provoke him. Our Confucian school is inherently at odds with the demonic path, so we do not have this concern. And to show my sincerity, Brother Lu, I have been almost responsive to every request of yours over these five years; this is enough to show my intentions," Master Lu sighed deeply and said a few more words.

Hearing this, the Confucian scholar surnamed Yan's face was as dark as water, and he stared coldly at Master Lu, no longer speaking.

"Fine. To put your mind at ease, Brother Yan, I can face the image of the sages and swear the 'Lock-Heart Curse'. If I fail to do so in the future, my 'Haoran' energy will not be able to advance even a fraction," after a long while, seeing that the Confucian scholar surnamed Yan still had no intention of relenting, Master Lu could only smile bitterly and say helplessly.

"Good, these words are enough. I, Yan, will not spare this body to help Brother Lu cultivate this divine ability. It is not that I, Yan, do not want to believe your words, Brother Lu, but the entire Yan clan is left with only me alive; I have to be cautious," the Confucian scholar surnamed Yan finally let out a long breath, and after his facial muscles twitched, he said woodenly.

"I can naturally understand your predicament, Brother Yan. The cultivation will be arranged to start in one month. Within this month, it is best for you, Brother Yan, to arrange your affairs and then come to the academy to find me," Master Lu waved his hand and said calmly.

The Confucian scholar surnamed Yan nodded, and the room fell into silence once again.

"By the way. Why did the people from the Royal Purity Temple insist on taking that boy surnamed Han? For an artifact refinement disciple, couldn't you just find one in the academy?" The Confucian scholar surnamed Yan suddenly mentioned Han Li.

"I, Lu, was just going with the flow. The treasure that the Royal Purity Temple is refining this time must be no small matter. Besides their own artifact refiners, they are even short of hands for refining materials. Although the Royal Purity Temple could borrow low-tier artifact refinement disciples from our academy, they would certainly not be at ease and would not know how to be on guard. Now that this Little Friend Han who understands some artifact refinement has suddenly appeared and has not yet joined any academy, they naturally took him directly under their wing to drive him," Master Lu seemed to know something and said with a faint, indifferent smile.

Hearing this, the Confucian scholar surnamed Yan finally felt relieved. Otherwise, if there were truly something inappropriate, it would be hard to face his old friend upon returning.

Meanwhile, Immortal Lady Lady Hualian was using a brocade-shaped magic tool to carry Han Li, flying with the tool directly toward another slightly shorter mountain peak far away from the Illusion Cloud Peak.

Net