A Name Shakes the Region; Bright Spirit Cleansing Water

“Elder Wang,” Han Li cut in, a frown creasing his brow, “does this mean that Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment disciples will compete together in this Assembly?”

“Indeed,” Wang nodded. “The Sword Trial Assembly makes no distinction between the two stages; they are all thrown into the same contest.”

Han Li was taken aback, a trace of disbelief in his voice. “Doesn’t that seem rather unfair to the Qi Condensation disciples?”

“The Assembly was originally intended to compare the strengths of Foundation Establishment disciples from the various sects. Qi Condensation participates as an afterthought,” Wang explained with a faint, knowing smile. “However, to avoid dampening the enthusiasm of the lower-ranked disciples, there are no rules against outer-affairs or junior disciples joining. But I should tell you, since the Assembly’s founding, while no Qi Condensation disciple has ever claimed the championship, it is not unheard of for one to defeat a Foundation Establishment opponent and break into the top ten.”

“Qi Condensation, breaking into the top ten?” Han Li’s mind immediately grasped the implication. “Do these people wield unusually powerful magical tools?”

“Heh, you’re a sharp one, Junior Han. You’ve already guessed the key,” Kui Huan chimed in, shaking his head with a knowing air. “Those Core Formation seniors from the three sects all have their own juniors and descendants to look after. When they want their favored ones to secure a good ranking, they naturally loan out their most fearsome magical tools. It’s not strange at all for a Foundation Establishment disciple without a suitable tool to lose against such a person.”

Hearing this, the look of doubt on Han Li’s face only deepened.

“If you’ll permit me, Senior Brothers, is there some other benefit to achieving a high rank in this Assembly? Otherwise, why would these people go to so much trouble for a few magical tools?”

“An excellent question, Junior Han. I was just about to bring it up myself,” Wang said, his tone becoming more serious. “What truly draws us to the Sword Trial Assembly isn’t the dead weight of the prizes for the early rounds. The real prize is the chance for those who break into the top ten to have their eyes washed in Spirit Cleansing Water. Legend has it that by using the first drop of sap from the sacred tree, mixed with a host of other rare materials, one can concoct the fabled Bright Spirit Cleansing Water. Wiping one’s eyes with such a liquid won’t boost one’s cultivation, but it grants the eyes the ability to see through mist and stone, bestowing unimaginable mystical powers. That is the reason they fight tooth and nail for a spot in the top ten. Without this benefit, those one or two top-grade magical tools wouldn’t be enough to lure disciples from powerful families or those with an elder backing them. The Settling Spirit Pill is precious, yes, but there’s only one.”

“Bright Spirit Cleansing Water!” Han Li’s eyebrows shot up as he murmured the name to himself.

He had come across this concoction in countless ancient texts, but he had never imagined that the three sects of the Dream Cloud Mountains were capable of preparing it. It was a complete surprise, and one that stirred his ambition considerably.

“But even setting aside the extreme rarity of the sacred tree’s first drop of sap, the other ingredients are all incredibly hard to find. I’ve heard they used several thousand-year-old spirit herbs just for the base recipe,” Kui Huan added with envy dripping from his voice. “Of course, the vision-clearing effect only works on Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Otherwise, the higher-ups wouldn’t be so generous as to offer it as a prize.”

By now, Han Li had a solid understanding of the Sword Trial Assembly. As for more specific details, he decided he would investigate them himself.

This matter concerned both the Settling Spirit Pill and the Bright Spirit Cleansing Water. There was no way he was going to let this opportunity pass him by.

After exchanging a few more words about the Assembly, Senior Wang and his companion took their leave, flying off on their tools until they became specks in the distance.

Han Li watched them go, his expression growing serious. He did not immediately return to his cave dwelling but stood outside the medicine garden, lost in thought.

“What’s this, Brother Han? Are you tempted?” The white fox’s soft voice suddenly drifted from his sleeve. “Is it the Settling Spirit Pill that has caught your eye, or the Bright Spirit Cleansing Water?”

“What if I want both?” Han Li looked up and asked without any pretense of modesty.

With a flick of his sleeve, the small fox leaped out and rapidly grew back to its original size.

“Hehe, Fellow Daoist Han! That’s a bit greedy of you,” the white fox said, elegantly stretching its slender neck. “Not that I’m complaining. Both the pill and the water are genuinely useful items. If you miss this chance, you might not get another.”

“You don’t need to tell me that. I’m well aware. Now, follow me back to the cave dwelling. Before I start planning for the Assembly, I need to take care of your business first,” Han Li said, his voice turning cold.

He turned and walked toward his cave, the white fox following him with a light chuckle in its eyes, saying nothing more.

Once inside the cave within the stone mountain, Han Li immediately set about the task of consecrating the artifact spirit.

The Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords were about to gain a spirit, which would increase their power considerably. This thought brought a hint of excitement to Han Li’s heart.

Normally, the chance of successfully consecrating an artifact spirit was pitifully small, mainly due to the violent resistance of the demon beast’s soul. But this time, the spirit of the silver giant wolf, Silvermoon, was willing to enter his artifact. This made the process far less difficult.

However, extracting her main soul from the jade ruyi was still a delicate matter. Fortunately, the white fox seemed quite confident in her ability to handle it, insisting that she could manage it on her own.

Han Li was more than happy to let her do so.

Following the white fox’s instructions, he drew a strange formation in a meditation room, placed the jade ruyi and the white fox within it, and then unhurriedly left the room.

The room was sealed with a soundproofing barrier. Han Li had no idea how Silvermoon was separating herself from the jade ruyi or what sounds were coming from within, nor did he wish to snoop.

After all, she should be well aware of the consequences if she failed to extract her main soul.

Not one to waste time, Han Li moved to the adjoining meditation room to prepare the other elements needed for the consecration.

Half a day later, with everything ready and deeming the time to be right, he wasted no more time and pushed open the stone door to the adjoining room.

He swept his gaze across the room, and his expression flickered.

The jade ruyi and the white fox were still exactly where they had been, in the center of the formation. However, the glow of the ruyi had dimmed considerably, and the white fox beside it was soaking wet, its fur dirty and disheveled, as if it had been rolling on the ground. Its fox-eyes were brimming with exhaustion.

Seeing Han Li enter, Silvermoon didn’t move a muscle or say a word, as if she had no energy left even to speak.

“How did it go?” Han Li asked, his tone softening with concern. “Smoothly?”

“It was a living hell, but I made it through,” Silvermoon’s voice was incredibly weak, but she forced herself to stay alert. “Are your preparations complete? I can’t stay in this fox’s body much longer without a vessel to dwell in. I must merge with your artifact immediately, or my soul will disperse.”

Hearing this, Han Li nodded without hesitation. He bent down, scooped up the white fox in both hands, gently carried her out of the room, and into the adjoining one.

The moment he entered, the stone door slid shut, plunging the room into absolute silence.

……

Three days later, a beam of red light, a sound transmission talisman, flew toward the barrier of the medicine garden. It plunged into the thick fog and vanished from sight.

A full hour later, a flash of azure light appeared from within the fog, revealing Han Li’s figure.

He looked up at the sky, rubbed his chin, and then raised a hand to release a flying sword. Stepping onto it, he shot off in the direction of Heavenly Spring Peak.

“Brother Han, judging by that transmission talisman, it seems like all the disciples of Heavenly Spring Peak are being summoned. Is this about the Sword Trial Assembly?” Silvermoon’s crisp voice suddenly resounded in Han Li’s mind.

“Hard to say. But even a forgotten man like me received a personal talisman from the Peak Master. Even if it’s not about the Assembly, it must be something important,” Han Li replied mentally, his tone calm.

“Are you truly considering joining a competition for juniors, Brother Han? Even if you suppress your cultivation, winning the championship would be as easy as flipping your hand. But it would certainly arouse the suspicion of the higher-ranking cultivators. If you’re not careful, you might even attract the attention of the three sects’ Nascent Soul cultivators. The gain might not be worth the loss,” Silvermoon gently warned.

“I’m well aware of that. Who said I was definitely going to participate in this so-called Assembly? Even if I do, I have no intention of winning the championship. Rest easy. I will not draw anyone’s attention before I form my Nascent Soul,” Han Li replied, his expression unchanging.

“Ah, it seems this one was being presumptuous. A trifling matter like this, with Brother Han’s wealth of experience, naturally needs no prompting from this little woman,” Silvermoon chuckled lightly. Even through the voice alone, a hint of alluring charm leaked through.

Han Li could only sigh to himself.

Despite her claims of being from the Silver Moon Wolf Clan, he felt she had even more of a seductive charm than the spirit foxes she was so wary of.

Moreover, now that she had become his artifact spirit, she seemed to know he wouldn’t harm her. When she was inhabiting the white fox, she would cultivate obediently. But when she turned into the artifact spirit and resided within his flying swords, she would chatter with him incessantly. It was as if all the loneliness she had endured while trapped in the jade ruyi was being vented over these past few days.

This gave Han Li a considerable headache. He had once thought this woman to be even more gentle and demure than a noble lady!

He could only hope that her personality would gradually return to what it once was.

(Hehe, finally finished. Yesterday, I also wrapped up the last bit of work I had on my plate. Now I can finally return to a normal writing schedule. These past few days, I’ve only had time to write from eleven or twelve at night. I’ve done my best. It’s late again tonight, so this will be the only chapter. Tomorrow night, I should be able to update on schedule. Oh, about the previous chapter, I had a time crunch and introduced a small bug; it’s already been slightly revised. You can go back and take a look if you want. It doesn’t affect the following plot either way. I’m off to sleep now!)