The Silent Awe of Core Formation

Chapter 174: Senior Martial Ancestor Li

After listening to the sect leader Zhong Lingdao’s exhortations and words of encouragement, two duty disciples entered the hall, each holding a tray.

On one tray lay a gold-rimmed storage pouch. On the other was a small pile of multicolored mid-grade spirit stones. This was, apparently, the moment for the promised rewards—a sort of pre-battle morale boost. Han Li thought this with a touch of cynicism.

The mid-grade spirit stones were generally taken freely according to each person’s need. Since Han Li already possessed an Earth-attribute stone and a Fire-attribute stone, he took a blue Water-attribute stone from the tray. No one else contested that particular stone.

But when it came time to draw magical tools from the storage pouch, the expressions of the assembled disciples turned serious.

This storage pouch was different from ordinary ones. A normal pouch allowed one to extend their spiritual sense inside, input spiritual power, and retrieve an object. This pouch, however, blocked a cultivator’s spiritual sense. No spiritual power was needed either; one simply reached a hand inside and pulled out a magical tool that had been shrunk dozens of times its normal size. What one would retrieve was entirely uncertain—it all depended on the feel of the hand.

It seemed this storage pouch had been specially refined for the purpose of drawing items by lot. Otherwise, its practical use was far less convenient than an ordinary pouch. Who would ever use it for anything else?

Though all the items inside were uniformly Superior Grade magical tools, defensive tools were clearly rarer than offensive ones. Furthermore, the quality and effectiveness of two Superior Grade tools, even if both were offensive or both defensive, could still vary considerably.

Being able to draw a suitable tool could increase one’s chance of survival in the Blood Forbidden Trial by a small margin. Those who were particularly lacking in magical tools were naturally more invested in this draw.

Han Li did not care much about it.

His last trip to the market town had cleaned out the treasures the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had hoarded for years. He had obtained two top-grade magical tools alone, not to mention the Green Flood Dragon Banner he had acquired later and the several other Superior Grade tools in his possession.

One more Superior Grade tool was hardly cause for excitement.

By the time Han Li stepped forward, most of the others had already drawn their items. As for what they had gotten, everyone tacitly avoided discussing it, much less showing it to others.

Han Li slipped a hand into the pouch and fumbled around blindly. A strangely shaped object came into his grasp. His mind stirred. Without a second thought, he grabbed it and pulled it out, stealing a glance. He paused for a brief moment, then immediately put it away.

By then, the person behind him had already pressed forward impatiently. Seeing this, Han Li tactfully yielded his spot and returned to his original place.

Just as the magical tool drawing ended, a new group of people entered the hall from outside. Among them were many of the supervisors Han Li had seen when he first joined Yellow Maple Valley, as well as the elder surnamed Ye, whom Han Li thoroughly despised, and Wang-shishu.

These people had shed their usual air of authority. They now stood with respectful expressions, surrounding an old man with a square face in their midst. Not one of them dared to whisper casually.

The old man appeared to be in his fifties or sixties. His hair was a little gray, but his spirits were high and his complexion was healthy. A pair of tiger-like eyes radiated authority without any conscious effort at anger. One glance told you he was a man of fierce temperament.

The moment his gaze swept over the assembled disciples, Han Li felt as though his very internal organs had been laid bare. The shock sent a chill through his heart.

As soon as Great Sect Leader Zhong saw the old man enter, he hurried forward, addressing him repeatedly as “Li-shishu” with a tone that bordered on flattery. The disciples were astonished.

The other supervisors, however, showed no sign of disdain. On the contrary, seeing that the old man had responded to Zhong Lingdao with only a casual word or two, they looked on with clear envy and jealousy. It seemed that merely being able to speak to this old man and address him as “shishu” was a rare honor.

Under the bewildered gaze of Han Li and the others who were not in the know, Sect Leader Zhong introduced the old man to the disciples. It turned out that this “Li-shishu,” whom they had heard of for so long but had never met, was one of the sect’s few Core Formation elders—Senior Martial Ancestor Li.

This trip to the forbidden land would be led by Senior Martial Ancestor Li himself, accompanied by five supervisors, including Wang-shishu.

As soon as the introduction was finished, Senior Martial Ancestor Li, in a crisp, no-nonsense tone, said two words: “Let’s go.” That was the end of his first meeting with his juniors. He then turned and strode out of the hall.

Han Li and the others stared at each other, dumbfounded. But under the urging of the other supervisors, they scrambled to follow.

The moment they stepped out of the hall, the disciples gasped.

Hovering in the mid-air before the hall was a massive, dazzling silver monster over twenty zhang long. Its sheer size and oppressive presence left everyone feeling suffocated. And there stood Senior Martial Ancestor Li, on top of the monster’s head, calmly observing them.

Han Li rubbed his eyes. His heart pounded as he took a closer look. It was a rare silver serpent—a giant python of shocking proportions. On its head grew an additional jet-black horn, making it appear all the more ferocious.

“So this is the power of a Core Formation cultivator… Even a demon beast like this can be subdued and commanded so easily? Unbelievable.” Han Li was awed by the old man’s means.

The thought that he too would one day possess such immense magical power when he reached Core Formation sent a thrill through his entire body. It felt as though his blood was racing backward.

Before seeing Senior Martial Ancestor Li, Han Li’s path of cultivation had always seemed vague and unclear.

But after this awe-inspiring display, the profound, unfathomable might of this senior ancestor became a clear target for him to chase on his road to immortality. His confidence in achieving the Dao had grown as solid as rock.

“All of you, get on. Stand still! My Silver-Armored Horned Python flies much faster than your magic tools. Two days, and we’ll reach the place.”

Senior Martial Ancestor Li ignored the chaotic state of the disciples below. He gave the python’s giant horn a light stroke and issued his orders in a calm voice.

And so, with their hearts in their throats, Han Li and the others stood atop the giant python for two straight days and nights of travel. Finally, they arrived at this nameless desolate mountain.

The senior ancestor had not been lying. The monster’s speed was indeed astonishing—far beyond what Han Li and the others could achieve with their tools. Of course, that was also partly because they lacked good flying tools.

Once they arrived, the disciples learned from the supervisors that this was the agreed meeting place for the other immortal sects. Only when all seven great sects had gathered would they set out together to open the forbidden land. No single sect could enter it alone.

The appointed time was the next morning. Since the forbidden land was within the borders of Jian Province, Yellow Maple Valley could be considered a partial host. As such, they had arrived a day early to wait for the other sects here on this mountain.

The disciples were now free to do as they pleased. Tomorrow, they would line up together and await.

Since the supervisors said so, Han Li and the others scattered. Everyone went about their own business, making final preparations for the coming battle.

So, more than twenty yellow-robed disciples occupied the mountain. Some sat cross-legged, conserving their strength. Others took out their tools and wiped them incessantly. A few stared blankly into space, looking deeply worried.

But there were also a handful who remained as relaxed as if they were on an outing, chatting and laughing as usual. Han Li noted them with extra attention.

Just then, he heard footsteps behind him. He frowned slightly. He had deliberately chosen an inconspicuous corner to sit alone, so as not to attract attention. Why would anyone come here?

“Junior Han, I presume? I am Xiang Zhili. I wished to discuss tomorrow’s trip to the forbidden land with you. It concerns life and death, you know. Would you care to have a word?”

An old voice, smooth and full of worldly cunning, reached his ears. Han Li’s frown deepened.

This man was already making empty boasts before even showing his face. Without seeing the speaker, Han Li had already mentally labeled him a slick, untrustworthy character. He guessed that nothing good could come from this.

But Han Li knew it was better to offend a gentleman than a petty man. Despite his reluctance, he forced himself to turn around and take a look at the pair—one old, one young—who had come up behind him.

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