Chapter 958: Rumors of Spirit Transformation

"I wonder if I should call you Fellow Daoist Xiang, or perhaps Fellow Daoist Li?" After carefully sizing up the old man, Han Li suddenly said with a smile.

"I don't quite understand what Senior Han is saying. Could it be that I resemble someone Senior knows?" After the old man's eyes darted around a few times, the strange look that had previously been there vanished completely, and he actually replied with a fawning smile.

"At this point, why must Fellow Daoist Xiang continue to hide and cover things up? Don't forget that we cultivators never forget what we have seen. Back in the Blood Forbidden Trial, the only disciples from our Yellow Maple Valley who managed to walk out alive were the few of us. Even after so many years, how could I possibly misremember someone?" Han Li raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes as he spoke.

This old man was actually the same old man named Xiang Xiang Zhili who had tried to form a team with Han Li before the Blood Forbidden Trial. At that time, he had only been at the tenth layer of Qi Refining, yet he had managed to walk out of the Blood Forbidden Trial alive, which had shocked many of the cultivators present. It was only because Han Li's later performance was even more astonishing that everyone had overlooked him.

Although Han Li hadn't had much contact with this Fellow Daoist Xiang back then, he had become highly vigilant after seeing that this person could also walk out of the forbidden area alive, vaguely feeling that this person was hiding some secrets.

Later, once Han Li successfully reached Foundation Establishment and was taken in as a disciple under Li Li Huayuan, he never saw the old man again and gradually forgot about him. After the six sects of the Demonic Dao invaded the Yue Kingdom, he had even less idea whether this person was dead or alive.

Yet, he never expected that after so many years, he would see this face again in a small sect in the Great Jin. How could Han Li not be greatly astonished?

One must know that when the old man appeared in Yellow Maple Valley back then, he already looked this old. After so many years had passed, let alone a Qi Refining cultivator, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator should have long since exhausted their lifespan and turned into a pile of dirt. But looking at it now, this Fellow Daoist Xiang's appearance was almost exactly the same as it had been over two hundred years ago, which made Han Li's heart tremble with fear.

At the very least, this person must have been a character who played the pig to eat the tiger during the Blood Forbidden Trial. He just didn't know what the intention was for him to have infiltrated it.

Han Li stared at the old man without blinking, various thoughts racing through his mind.

"The world is vast and full of wonders. It seems there really is someone in this world who looks exactly like me. However, Senior has definitely mistaken me for someone else. My surname is Li, not Xiang. Otherwise, if I could really form some connection with someone of Senior's status, why would I not admit it?" The old man still denied it completely, without the slightest sign of relenting.

Han Li's expression sank, and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Since Fellow Daoist says so, perhaps I really did mistake you for someone else. Forget it! Fellow Daoist, please point out some talisman-making classics for me first." After being silent for a while, Han Li's expression suddenly softened as he changed his tone.

"Hehe, Senior, please follow me. Since our sect is called the Heaven Talisman Sect, we naturally have quite a few classics on talisman-making. However, the slightly more profound classics are all on the second floor and above. I will point them out for you, Senior." The smile on the old face remained unchanged, and then, just like an ordinary low-tier disciple, he respectfully led Han Li straight toward the second floor.

The second floor was very similar in layout to the first, with bookshelves filling a small area.

While Han Li was scanning the surroundings, the old man's figure flickered repeatedly.

Despite his advanced age, his movements were exceptionally agile. In a short while, he had skillfully rummaged through a small pile of jade slips, and then, panting, he carried these jade slips in front of Han Li, fawning over him with a flattering look:

"Senior, these are the talisman classics collected on this floor. There are some more on the third floor; I will go get them for you, Senior, to save you the trouble of searching."

"No need for such trouble. These jade slips are enough for me to look at for a day or two. As for the classics on the third floor, I can search for them myself. Fellow Daoist, there is no need for you to keep me company here; you can go downstairs and attend to your own business." Han Li rubbed his chin and said in a friendly manner.

"Then I won't disturb Senior's cultivation. If Senior Han has any instructions, just call for me. I will be guarding downstairs the whole time." The old man said with a beaming smile, and then, after placing the jade slips in his hand onto a nearby shelf, he cautiously backed out of the second floor of the pavilion.

Watching the old man's disappearing figure, the smile on Han Li's face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of solemnity.

"How is it? Can Senior Elder Dayan see this person's cultivation? I just used my spiritual sense to forcibly scan this person's body. Although I saw through his surface Qi Refining cultivation as just an illusion, I cannot judge his true magic power realm. Beneath that layer of false cultivation, his entire body seems empty; it is truly too strange."

"It is the same for me. Although my spiritual sense is much stronger than yours, the situation I encountered is the same as yours." Senior Elder Dayan's solemn voice came through.

"How could this situation occur? Could it be that this person's spiritual sense is actually much stronger than Senior's?" Han Li was somewhat shocked.

"How is it impossible for such a thing to happen? Even if there really are cultivators in this realm whose spiritual sense is stronger than mine, they would never be strong enough to block my probing with just their spiritual intent. For this situation to occur, it is either that this person is cultivating some special secret technique, or they have some supreme treasure on them that can transform their body into this appearance. There is also another possibility, which is..." Senior Elder Dayan hesitated as he spoke.

"What possibility?" Han Li couldn't help but ask.

"Another possibility is that this person has already advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage. Their entire body's spiritual power can be completely dispersed from their meridians into their flesh, and even their Nascent Soul can be transformed into nothingness for a short time. Naturally, you wouldn't be able to discover anything." Senior Elder Dayan said slowly.

"A Spirit Transformation stage cultivator? Senior, are you joking?" Even though Han Li was exceptionally calm, he was greatly shocked upon hearing this.

"Although I have never advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage, I have studied some things related to this realm. This ability is the most basic for a Spirit Transformation stage cultivator." Senior Elder Dayan said calmly.

"I am not saying that Spirit Transformation stage cultivators don't have this ability, but how could a Spirit Transformation stage cultivator still be lingering in this realm? Isn't it said that after advancing to the Spirit Transformation stage, one has the ability to ascend to the Spirit Realm?" After taking a deep breath, Han Li finally calmed down.

"Although I traveled all over the world back then and never saw any Spirit Transformation stage cultivators, I can be certain that there are indeed Spirit Transformation stage cultivators lingering in this realm, and it is not just one or two of them. Having the ability to ascend to the Spirit Realm and whether one can truly ascend are two different things. I don't know the specific situation, but it seems that after advancing to the Spirit Transformation stage, these people cannot appear in front of others as often as ordinary cultivators. Otherwise, they would surely suffer a strange disaster." Senior Elder Dayan also said with some confusion.

"There is such a thing! Senior, you have never mentioned this to me before." Han Li was stunned.

"Hmph, you haven't even cultivated to the late Nascent Soul stage; what is the use of telling you these things? As for the specific reason, I imagine that if you can advance to the Spirit Transformation stage, you will understand it yourself. Otherwise, all Spirit Transformation stage cultivators from ancient times to the present wouldn't have all disappeared from the cultivation world as if they had agreed upon it." Senior Elder Dayan said unhappily.

"That is also true. In that case, although the possibility is not high, there is indeed a certain chance that the person downstairs is a Spirit Transformation stage cultivator." Han Li gave a bitter smile.

"There is indeed such a possibility. Even if he is not in the Spirit Transformation stage, this person gives me a terrifying feeling. I think it is better for you not to provoke this person."

"Senior also feels the danger of this person; I thought it was just my own illusion. That is why I suddenly changed my tone while on the first floor. Since this person runs to the Heaven South one moment and appears in the Great Jin the next, and always appears as a low-tier disciple, it seems he definitely has his own purpose. Let us just pretend we don't know all of this." After thinking for a while, Han Li said.

"That is all we can do. However, if possible, it is better to leave the Heaven Talisman Sect as soon as possible. In case this person is really a Spirit Transformation stage cultivator and harbors the intention of killing to silence you, your little life will be in jeopardy." Senior Elder Dayan reminded him.

"I naturally know the stakes involved. However, if I rush to leave now, I fear it will provoke the other party's hostility and be counterproductive. Let us stay in the Heaven Talisman Sect for a few days according to the original plan. Since he is willing to hide his name and surname here, even if he is really a Spirit Transformation stage cultivator, he must be subject to some restrictions, just as Senior said. Otherwise, why would he be so sneaky? With Spirit Transformation stage cultivation, where in the world can he not go openly?" Han Li shook his head calmly.

"What you say also makes sense. It is I who was not thoughtful enough." Senior Elder Dayan gave a dry laugh and rarely offered a word of praise.

"However, during these days, the loss of essence caused by your Blood Shadow Escape has been compensated for quite a bit. Shall we start refining my puppet?" Senior Elder Dayan changed the subject, saying with some anticipation.

"Hmm, if you hadn't mentioned it, Senior, I was already planning to begin refining the puppet immediately after killing those few evil flood dragons. After all, the scales of the Red Fire Flood Dragon must be obtained first. As for the Black Phoenix Feathers, there is no rush; I will attend to that after the puppet is refined." Han Li seemed to have a plan in mind already and spoke without hesitation.

"Haha! That will do. To be able to see this puppet before my time comes, I have no regrets." Elder Dayan laughed heartily in satisfaction upon hearing this.

Han Li smiled slightly at these words, said nothing more, and flicked his sleeve.

Several formation flags shot out from his sleeve, circled once, and scattered in all directions. After a flash of light, all the formation flags vanished, and a pale green barrier appeared out of thin air, shrouding the entire floor within it.

Although he felt in his heart that the other party was unlikely to suddenly attack him, for the sake of caution, he decided to set up a defensive barrier first.

After finishing all this, Han Li walked forward two steps with peace of mind, casually picked up a jade slip that Xiang Xiang Zhili had left on the wooden shelf, and immersed his spiritual sense into it to examine it.

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