Chapter 966

"Senior, you may not know, but these Heavenly Mulberry Divine Trees all grow from the same root and are actually the same divine tree." This was not a secret, so the old man explained without hiding anything.

"So that's how it is. I have long heard that the Heavenly Mulberry Divine Tree is a spiritual tree second only to the three great divine woods; to see it in this form truly opened my eyes." Han Li exclaimed in wonder.

Subsequently, as Han Li followed the cultivators to land in a place that looked like a forest, the spiritual energy nearby suddenly fluctuated, and before his eyes, the scenery changed drastically.

A small mountain several hundred zhang high appeared before his eyes, and with this mountain as the center, many pavilions and terraces of various sizes were built on all sides, and some cultivators could be seen entering and exiting them.

"You all disperse and attend to your own matters. I will take these two Seniors over." At this moment, the old man waved his hand at the other cultivators and instructed.

The other cultivators heard this and immediately left one after another.

Han Li and the puppet followed the old man straight toward the top of the mountain peak, where there was a wooden hall built with huge logs, which looked quite large.

And outside the hall door, four cultivators in green armor stood there, each holding an identical long halberd.

The old man brought Han Li and the other to land directly at the entrance of the wooden hall. The four cultivators were expressionless and motionless, just like puppets.

Han Li raised the corner of his mouth, feeling slightly surprised in his heart.

Although these four people only had Foundation Establishment stage cultivation, the essence of the wood spiritual energy on their bodies was far beyond what cultivators of the same stage could compare to, and Han Li saw at a glance that both their armor and halberds were top-tier wood-attribute spiritual tools, which was truly strange.

Seeming to see Han Li's surprise, the old man smiled and took the initiative to explain:

"These are all Wood Spirit Guards trained by my master himself; they are cultivators who practice a special cultivation technique with the help of the Heavenly Mulberry Divine Tree's power. Although their cultivation is not high, they are skilled in joint-attack techniques. If you have the chance, Senior, you might want to give them some pointers."

"Hmm, they are indeed very different from ordinary cultivators." Han Li nodded.

Seeing Han Li's noncommittal expression, the old man naturally tactfully said nothing more.

The structure of the wooden hall was not complicated; besides a large hall, there was only a side hall. Therefore, when Han Li and the others walked into the large hall, they immediately discovered a tall figure standing in the hall with his back to them, wearing a green robe with hair as white as snow.

As soon as the old man saw this figure, his face changed drastically, he bowed deeply, then stood silently to the side with his hands at his sides.

"Are you Fellow Daoist Old Man Bitter Bamboo?" Han Li stared at the figure's back without blinking.

"That's right, I am Bitter Bamboo. You two are very unfamiliar faces; could it be that you are Fellow Daoists from the mainland? May I ask your names?" The green-robed man laughed heartily before turning around.

Han Li narrowed his eyes and saw that the white-haired man had red lips, white teeth, and delicate features, looking like a teenager of sixteen or seventeen, only his face was covered by a layer of faint green energy.

Seeing the other party's appearance, Han Li was naturally taken aback.

This Old Man Bitter Bamboo actually knew how to maintain his youthful appearance just like him, which was truly beyond his expectations. He had originally thought he would see an old man with a face full of wrinkles.

Although Old Man Bitter Bamboo had a smile on his face, a flash of surprise also crossed his eyes when he saw Han Li's appearance clearly.

"The two of us are indeed not overseas cultivators; my surname is Han, and this is my Senior Brother, surnamed Li. We have come to visit uninvited this time, and I hope you will not take offense." Han Li said politely.

"Not at all! You two Fellow Daoists are not ordinary people; I welcome you to my island. This Fellow Daoist Li's cultivation is even more unfathomable; I am unable to determine your cultivation realm, which truly opens my eyes." After Old Man Bitter Bamboo sized up Han Li and the humanoid puppet separately, he suddenly smiled and said.

Clearly, this island master took Han Li's puppet to be a Nascent Soul stage cultivator practicing some mysterious cultivation technique, and he felt very surprised in his heart.

"You are too modest. We have both long heard of Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo's reputation." Han Li smiled slightly.

"Haha, you two please sit down and taste our island's unique Mulberry Wood Tea first." Old Man Bitter Bamboo smiled lightly and invited Han Li and the other to sit down.

Then, after two crisp claps of "pa pa" sounded, several young female cultivators holding tea trays walked into the hall. They poured a pot of pale green spiritual tea for each of the three, then respectfully exited the wooden hall.

"Mulberry Wood Tea, could this tea be related to the Heavenly Mulberry Divine Tree?" Han Li looked down at the spiritual tea on the table, sensing the abundant wood spiritual energy in the tea, and asked with a change in expression.

"Fellow Daoist has a sharp eye; this is indeed brewed from the spiritual leaves of the Heavenly Mulberry Divine Tree and has the effect of brightening the eyes and calming the mind. I believe there is no second place outside our island that has this tea." Old Man Bitter Bamboo said with a hint of pride.

"In that case, I must truly taste it." As his eyes flashed, Han Li first swept the spiritual tea in the cup with his spiritual sense, and after confirming there was really no problem, he unceremoniously picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

"Fellow Daoist Li, do you not like this tea?"

The humanoid puppet sat on the chair, expressionless, without moving the teacup on the table at all. Old Man Bitter Bamboo asked in surprise.

"Ever since I reached the Grain Grain Grain Grain Grain Bigu stage, I have never eaten or drunk anything outside my own cave dwelling." The humanoid puppet said coldly, without any politeness in his tone.

"So that's how it is. That was my oversight." A flash of displeasure crossed Old Man Bitter Bamboo's eyes, but he hid it well, and it disappeared immediately.

A cultivator who dares to say such things in front of the host naturally has some reliance. Could it be that the person in front of him is truly a late Nascent Soul stage cultivator?

Old Man Bitter Bamboo, with such thoughts turning in his mind, felt even more wary of the humanoid puppet.

"Our purpose for coming, Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo should already know some of it. I wonder what you think of the trade I proposed?" Han Li also only took two or three sips before putting down the teacup and asking slowly.

"To be honest with you two Fellow Daoists, this trade puts me in a very difficult position. That Black Phoenix is at a critical juncture of advancement; even if you two Fellow Daoists offered more demon cores, I would not be willing to exchange the Black Phoenix feathers. Otherwise, who knows when this spiritual bird will next break through its bottleneck." Old Man Bitter Bamboo frowned, showing a difficult expression.

"So, Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo does not agree to this matter." Han licked his lips, but no look of surprise appeared on his face.

"Hehe, if I were to really say the word 'refuse', I'm afraid you two Fellow Daoists would not be willing to return empty-handed. How about this. We cultivators believe that the capable are the masters. I can spar with you two Fellow Daoists in some spells and divine abilities; if either of you can defeat me in a battle, I would not be opposed to agreeing to this trade. If you two cannot do this..."

"If we cannot, I and Senior Brother Li will turn around and leave immediately, and will never mention this matter again." Han Li said without hesitation.

"Good, it's a deal. I haven't sparred with anyone for nearly a hundred years. Which one of you two Fellow Daoists is prepared to try?" Old Man Bitter Bamboo swept his gaze back and forth between Han Li and the other, saying with a smile that was not a smile.

"If you don't mind, how about sparring with Li?" Han Li's expression remained unchanged, and the puppet beside him, under Han Li's split-soul control, spoke indifferently.

"Good, I am also very curious about Fellow Daoist Li's cultivation technique. Let us spar above the mountain peak. Please, Fellow Daoist!" Seeing that it was the person whose cultivation he couldn't see who was stepping forward, Old Man Bitter Bamboo couldn't help but show a hint of solemnity as he stood up from his chair.

Han Li and the humanoid puppet also stood up.

The old man standing to the side couldn't help but show an excited expression. A battle between Nascent Soul stage cultivators is not something just anyone can see.

A moment later, Han Li was already more than a hundred zhang above the mountain peak, floating motionlessly with a calm expression. And several dozen zhang away in front of him, the humanoid puppet and Old Man Bitter Bamboo stood far apart.

In other nearby places, seven or eight Core Formation stage cultivators who had heard the news also arrived, each staring at the situation in the sky with wide eyes.

"Go!"

Old Man Bitter Bamboo gave a low shout, pinched a spell with both hands, and suddenly more than a hundred green rays shot out from all over his body. As soon as these green rays appeared, they grew in the wind, and in the blink of an eye, more than a hundred pale green flying swords appeared with astonishing momentum.

After a flash of sword light, all the flying swords automatically arranged themselves into a strange formation, circling above Old Man Bitter Bamboo's head, hiding a cold killing intent.

Seeing this, Han Li's originally indifferent expression suddenly stalled.

"A sword formation; this Old Man Bitter Bamboo practices so many flying swords, he really does understand sword formation divine abilities." Although Han Li had some guesses, he was still secretly surprised to see it in person.

"Tsk tsk, Han kid, this person seems to really have some ability; this way, he should be able to let the puppet reveal a few more of its divine abilities. To start, let's test the puppet's defensive capabilities first." The Great Expansion Divine Monarch's voice came through with some excitement. It seemed he was truly full of confidence in this puppet's divine abilities.

"Hmm! Understood."

Having used so many rare materials on this puppet, Han Li was equally expectant. With a movement of his divine sense, the humanoid puppet also began to act.

Looking from afar, the puppet opened its mouth, and a shield the size of a palm sprayed out. With a flash of spiritual light, it turned into a huge silver shield and blocked in front of it. Subsequently, the puppet pinched a spell with both hands, and suddenly colorful runes appeared on its face. Then, a five-colored protective barrier emerged from the sound of these symbols, instantly shielding its entire body within it.

"Eh! Fellow Daoist, could it be that you are from the Poison Saint Sect of the Southern Border? This cultivation technique seems to be the famous Spirit Pattern Technique of the Poison Saint Sect?" Old Man Bitter Bamboo was stunned when he saw the puppet's strange appearance and asked.

"No." Although Han Li felt a stir in his heart upon hearing this, he controlled the puppet to reply expressionlessly.

"Oh, so I was mistaken. But your divine ability truly looks very similar to the Spirit Pattern Technique." A flash of surprise crossed Old Man Bitter Bamboo's eyes, and his voice turned indifferent as he replied, clearly not believing the humanoid puppet's words.

But he didn't pursue the matter further. However, seeing the puppet take a defensive stance and not make any moves, as if it didn't intend to attack at all, he couldn't help but feel annoyed, with a faint feeling of being looked down upon. His face sank, and several low incantations came from his mouth.

The flying swords above his head responded with a buzzing sound. Then, all the flying swords shook simultaneously, and more than a hundred sword qi, each a zhang long, sprayed out from the sword formation, turning into a dense shadow of swords that shot toward the opposite side. In mid-air, they connected into one, turning into a piece of chilling cold light, dazzling and blinding.

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