The Double Revelation

"Great Derivative Art," the technique Senior Brother Lin had dangled before him all day, was now lying open under his gaze after a single casual flip. Han Li felt a surreal sense of absurdity.

That Senior Brother Lin had carried the actual jade slip on his person was unexpected.

Han Li truly didn't know if his senior was incredibly foolish or simply too clever.

He skimmed the Great Derivative Art's contents. As Lin had stated, only four layers of oral formulas remained. At least his senior hadn't lied about that.

But then something even more astonishing appeared.

After the Great Derivative Art ended, a second scripture titled "Puppet Daoist Canon" followed immediately—a meticulous compendium detailing the methods for refining puppets and mechanical beasts of every grade. A complete guide to puppet crafting.

Han Li read for a while, then withdrew his consciousness with visible excitement. But as he looked at the slip in his hand, a thought struck him, and his expression turned peculiar.

The Great Derivative Art and the Puppet Daoist Canon, cultivated together, would complement each other flawlessly. Once both reached a sufficient level, one could presumably overwhelm several Foundation Establishment peers simultaneously, the way Huang Long had done with his puppet swarm—crushing them so thoroughly they couldn't even resist.

The prospect of overpowering other Foundation Establishment cultivators stirred Han Li's heart.

But the drawbacks were just as he had analyzed. The risk of neglecting his own cultivation was severe. It might squander his already slim chance at Core Formation entirely. That would be a loss far outweighing any gain.

As for the claim that the Great Derivative Art could improve the odds of Core Formation, Han Li dismissed it as baseless nonsense.

He lowered his head, weighing the choice. Unable to decide on the spot, he shook his head and tucked the jade slip into his storage pouch. He would revisit the decision later.

Whether to cultivate the technique and the puppet-making methods that had fallen into his lap—it was too soon to decide. Better to settle his mind first.

Still, the day's haul stirred something in him. He suddenly remembered that although Lei Wanhe's lightning swords had annihilated Huang Long and his men—along with their pouches—some puppets had been left outside the formation, unclaimed.

Gifts that would be a shame to leave behind.

With this thought, Han Li stepped out of the formation in good spirits.

As expected, he found palm-sized puppets and mechanical beasts scattered just outside, frozen still without an operator. There weren't as many as he'd hoped—only about two dozen—the rest had been reduced to ash by Lei Wanhe's sword-light.

Still, he gathered them eagerly.

Even after sweeping up so much loot, he felt unsatisfied, half-wishing a hundred more puppets would appear for him to collect. He laughed at himself for being so greedy.

After a low chuckle, he returned to his cave dwelling. First, he would study the two ancient pill formulas. Tomorrow, he would visit his nominal master, Li Huayuan, and see if he could get his hands on a decent cultivation technique.

...

Early the next morning, Han Li stood on the Divine Wind Boat, heading straight for the eastern part of the Taiyue Mountain Range.

He had learned from Lei Wanhe yesterday that his master's cave was built beneath a peak there. Li Huayuan had been busy with something in his cave recently, so this was the perfect time to find him.

At the Divine Wind Boat's speed, Han Li soon located the spot Lei Wanhe had described. It was indeed a secluded place, with verdant hills and clear waters.

He stood before a massive waterfall beneath the peak, pulled out a sound transmission talisman from his robe, and murmured something into it before tossing it outward. The talisman turned into a streak of fire, disappearing into the great curtain of water.

About the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the water curtain parted to reveal a hole. A gaunt, thirty-something scholar in Confucian robes flew out. As soon as he saw Han Li, he hailed him with warm enthusiasm.

"Are you Junior Han Li? I'm Yu Kun, Master's eldest disciple. Call me Senior Brother Yu!"

The scholar landed gracefully beside Han Li, beaming.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Yu," Han Li said, his posture deliberately stiff and obedient.

Yu Kun's smile widened at Han Li's demeanor and prompt courtesy. His tone grew even more familiar.

"No need to stand on ceremony. Just call me Senior Brother Yu. I've heard all about you from Master. To participate in the Blood Forbidden Trial and return victorious—that's no small feat!" Yu Kun praised repeatedly.

Han Li offered a dry chuckle. He couldn't understand why this man was being so courteous to a nominal disciple like him, and it made him uneasy.

"I'd heard your talent wasn't the best, but now I see you've succeeded in Foundation Establishment. Congratulations!"

Yu Kun seemed to have already known about Han Li's breakthrough, so he betrayed no surprise at meeting a Foundation Establishment cultivator. But his repeated congratulations only made Han Li more wary.

"Right, Master is waiting for you in the cave. We shouldn't keep him waiting. Let's go into Green Wave Cave first!" Yu Kun said, as if just remembering, slapping his forehead with a grin.

Han Li's mouth twitched at the display, but he kept his respectful expression. He agreed and flew into the water curtain together with him.

Once past the water, Han Li's eyes widened. A natural valley appeared before him, filled with birdsong and floral fragrance, with clear streams and verdant trees. Exotic little animals hopped about, utterly charming.

"What is this…?" Han Li's mind struggled to process the scene. This was entirely unexpected. Did his master keep pets? The thought was surreal.

"Haha! Surprised, aren't you? Every first-time guest is taken aback. But these little things aren't Master's—they're the mistress's treasures. Don't harm them, or she'll never forgive you!" Yu Kun grinned, wearing an "I knew you'd be shocked" expression.

"Mistress?" Han Li was genuinely dumbfounded.

"That's right. Our mistress may only be at mid Foundation Establishment, but she and Master are very close. And she's kind and easy to get along with." Yu Kun shrugged.

Still bewildered, Han Li followed Yu Kun into a large cave on the valley's side. Inside the main hall, he saw his master, Li Huayuan, and a beautiful young woman who looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight.

His master's face was still as cold as ever, but when he saw Han Li enter, he managed a hint of a smile. As for the woman, Han Li noted her beauty but dared not look closely in Li Huayuan's presence. He merely glanced and then stepped forward to bow respectfully.

"Disciple Han Li pays respect to Master."

"Mmm. Rise. This is your mistress beside me. Pay your respects to her as well." Li Huayuan seemed satisfied with Han Li's deference and gestured toward the woman.

"Greetings, Mistress." Han Li sighed inwardly but bowed again to the woman, who looked hardly older than him.

"Rise. No need for such formality." The woman smiled warmly as she spoke. Her voice was soft and pleasant, carrying the gentle warmth of a water-nurtured girl. She seemed remarkably kind.

"Han Li, I was informed a few days ago that you'd achieved Foundation Establishment. To be honest, I found it hard to believe. It was quite a surprise." Li Huayuan spoke with uncharacteristic warmth, making Han Li feel flattered and uneasy.

"Disciple was merely fortunate. Even I was somewhat surprised," Han Li said, his face reddening slightly as if embarrassed.

"Haha! Fortune is also a reflection of one's talent. Otherwise, wouldn't those born with exceptional talent—which is just a stroke of fortune themselves—be even more undeserving of it?" Li Huayuan shook his head with a light laugh.

"Ah… this…" Han Li had never considered it that way and found himself at a loss for words.