A Wind Rises Beyond the Seas—A Gift of Treasures

Gongsun Xing had already overlooked the first two jade slips, which introduced demon beasts and the formula for a certain pill. But when her spiritual sense probed the contents of the last slip, she could not help but freeze.

Within it was a cultivation technique called the “Golden True Art.” Driven by curiosity, she delved deeper, and was immediately captivated by what she read. She held the slip for nearly half an hour before finally withdrawing her spiritual sense in a daze, her face a mask of shock.

This “Golden True Art” was a rare, top-tier cultivation method. How could such a profound technique be casually placed on a stone table without any protective禁制s?

Though she understood the value of this technique, she hesitated for a moment before reluctantly placing the jade slip back where she found it. Still, her interest piqued, she continued her examination one by one.

Half a day later, Gongsun Xing had read through every jade slip on the table. Most of them dealt with miscellaneous Daoist studies like pill concoction and formation arrays. Only a few were actual cultivation techniques, but every single one was top-grade.

One technique in particular, called “Jade Entwining Art,” stirred her heart the most.

The Green Spirit Sect was a very small sect in the Chaotic Star Sea. Its main technique, the “Green Spirit Art,” was a stable and steady path, but its power could not possibly compare to the “Jade Entwining Art.”

After finishing the jade slips, the young woman sat in a daze for a short while before remembering there were other places she had not yet explored. After a moment’s thought, she left the stone room and returned to the main hall.

Of the other three arched doorways, two were still blocked by the giant ape standing guard. Only one remained passable. She passed through it and arrived at another spacious stone hall.

This time, the moment she entered, she was utterly stunned. She stood frozen in place for a long while.

Before her was a hall over twenty zhang in size. In the center lay a massive formation over ten zhang in diameter, from which a pale red crystalline barrier pulsed and shimmered in dazzling patterns.

Within that barrier, over a dozen swords, short halberds, and other weapons of various designs flickered unsteadily. Some emitted faint humming sounds, while others collided and chased each other, each one incredibly animated.

Outside the barrier, near the walls, stood several crude two-tiered wooden racks. Each shelf was lined with numerous magic tools of different colors. Though not as lively as the items within the barrier, they still glowed faintly with spiritual energy.

Gongsun Xing had never seen such things before, but she knew that items with such spiritual nature could only be legendary magic treasures. Though she had long yearned for such treasures, seeing so many at once was hard to believe. Her large black eyes were filled with astonishment.

It took her a while to recover her composure. She cast another strange look at the items within the barrier, then hesitantly walked toward one of the wooden racks.

She picked up an unremarkable black iron ruler from the shelf and examined it briefly, discovering that such a plain object was actually a high-grade magic tool. Perhaps after all the shocks she had endured, she did not show much surprise. She then inspected each item one by one. The racks held only high-grade and top-grade tools—nothing lower.

If she had obtained any one of these items before, she would have been overjoyed. But now, looking at the many treasures and scores of magic tools, she remembered her status as a furnace, and her expression darkened. She left the room empty-handed.

…

Two days later, Gongsun Xing sat on a round cushion in the stone room that held the jade slips. Holding a slip in her hand, she focused her spiritual sense on it, completely absorbed.

“The ‘Jade Entwining Art’ is indeed suitable for a female cultivator, even though I obtained it from a male cultivator.” A gentle male voice suddenly came from the doorway.

At the sound, Gongsun Xing’s body trembled slightly. She withdrew her spiritual sense and quickly stood up to look behind her.

A young man in a blue robe with ordinary features stood at the door, watching her with a faint smile.

“You… you are the senior?”

Gongsun Xing hesitated. Though the voice was somewhat similar, the calm, peaceful young man before her seemed far too young. He did not match her imagination at all. After all the shocking events, she had naturally pictured the senior as a vastly powerful, profoundly wise old man with a strange temper and unpredictable moods.

“What, I don’t look the part?” The young man was naturally Han Li, who had just emerged from seclusion. He chuckled lightly and stepped into the stone room.

“Senior, these techniques, I…” For some reason, hearing that Han Li was indeed the voice-transmitting expert made her feel slightly relieved, but she still stammered, trying to explain the situation.

“It’s fine. Since I didn’t forbid you from entering here, I’ll allow you to choose any technique you like,” Han Li said gently.

“Thank you, Senior!” Hearing this, Gongsun Xing could not hide her joy, her pretty face brightening with happiness.

Seeing the young woman’s delight, a trace of unintended tenderness flickered in Han Li’s eyes.

“I haven’t been out for a long time. Miss Gongsun, do you know of any place in these waters where one can trade or buy goods?” Han Li asked casually after a faint smile.

“For trading, there’s a small desolate island half a month south of here with a market. The nearby cultivators go there to exchange goods. I’ve heard it was jointly established by several Core Formation seniors, so it’s relatively safe. Does Senior need the nautical chart there?” The young woman seemed to remember something, her smile fading. She quickly stole a glance at Han Li, then lowered her head and spoke softly.

“I do need to go there. A chart would be even better.” Han Li did not stand on ceremony.

At this, Gongsun Xing fumbled briefly before pulling a jade slip from her storage pouch. Her face slightly reddened as she handed it to Han Li.

Han Li chuckled softly as he took the slip. Watching the young woman’s ears turn red, a peculiar expression crossed his face. Suddenly, he reached out a hand and gently touched her soft hair.

Gongsun Xing’s body trembled slightly. She was a little frightened but did not flinch. She only instinctively shrank her white neck.

Then, his warm voice sounded in her ear.

“Don’t be afraid. Come to my room tonight. Don’t forget.”

Having said this, Han Li left the stone room without hesitation. Gongsun Xing, hearing such suggestive words, felt her heart pound and her face flush crimson. She stood there with a bewildered, adorable expression.

…

When night fell, the young woman approached Han Li’s quarters with a troubled heart. Biting her red lip, she pushed open the stone door.

But what she saw inside was completely unexpected.

The room was empty—not a single person. On the stone table lay a single open silk handkerchief.

Gongsun Xing hesitated for a moment, then walked forward suspiciously and looked down to read.

“Your filial piety is commendable. I leave the remaining treasures of my cave-dwelling to you as a gift. Do not show them to others lightly, lest they bring fatal disaster. Take care.”

This short, abrupt message left the young woman completely stunned. All that remained in her heart was a dazed blankness and an indescribable, strange feeling.

…

By this time, Han Li had already traveled a thousand li from the island, transformed into a streak of green light as he flew high in the sky.

“I imagine the lass is completely bewildered now. Anyone who experiences such a thing without reason would likely be stunned for a while,” Han Li mused with a faint smile within his light.

Before leaving the Fog Sea, besides leaving behind the Jade Entwining Art jade slip and many magic tools he no longer needed, he had also deliberately left several bottles of pills and two magic treasures he had seized in the past for her. These things, he thought, would help the young woman walk a smoother path in her cultivation journey.

What had moved Han Li to such rare generosity was not a sudden surge of tenderness for her beauty, but the fact that this girl named Xing’er had risked herself to save her father. That earned his genuine respect.

If Han Li had any regrets before stepping onto the path of immortality, it was that he had not been able to serve his aging parents more after reaching adulthood. Though he had secretly arranged everything in his hometown before leaving, it could never erase the deep, hidden void in his heart.

Moreover, the young woman’s delicate figure reminded him of his younger sister before her marriage. It was for this reason that he had intentionally kept her with the jest of her being a furnace, so he could give her some benefits.

Of course, the magic tools and treasures he left for her were, to Han Li himself, a chicken rib—too valuable to discard, yet useless to keep. Rather than carry them as dead weight, it was better to give them to her, helping her walk further on the path of cultivation.

As for her spiritual roots, they were not particularly good either.

And as for this island cave-dwelling, Han Li had already decided long before these people arrived that he would abandon it immediately after coming out of seclusion. Otherwise, he would not have let the middle-aged cultivator and his companions leave so easily.