A Reputation Shakes the Region, A Guest from Halfway

Han Li was still feeling somewhat speechless toward Silvermoon when she spoke up again.

"One thing has always troubled me. Since the Mingqing Spirit Water has no effect on cultivators above Foundation Establishment, why do you still want it, Brother Han?" Her tone carried genuine curiosity.

"That's because those men from Hidden Sword Peak got one thing wrong. The Mingqing Spirit Water does have an effect on high-grade cultivators, just not a very obvious one. After marrow-washing and meridian-cleansing, a high-grade cultivator's eyes already possess some innate ability to see through simple illusions and mist. So just wiping one's eyes with it naturally shows no effect. But to grant a Core Formation cultivator truly extraordinary vision, even using an entire batch refined from a single drop of the raw liquid wouldn't be enough for one person. Under those circumstances, it makes more sense to let low-grade cultivators benefit." Han Li's lips curled slightly as he spoke.

"Oh? How does Brother Han know this?" Silvermoon's voice carried a hint of surprise.

"Nothing special. I read it in an ancient text back in the Chaotic Star Sea. It shouldn't be false." Han Li replied.

"Could Brother Han mean…?" Silvermoon let out a soft exclamation.

"Exactly. I intend to use this opportunity to get close to the Spirit Eye Tree and see if I can obtain a spirit root from it. Then I'll return and use the vial to accelerate its growth. No matter how much Mingqing Spirit Water or Settling Spirit Pills I need, I should be able to get them. Naturally, I'll also find a way to obtain both formulas." Han Li said unhurriedly.

"Heh, Brother Han's method truly solves the problem at its source. That way, you only need to make it into the top ten. That's still a stretch, but far safer than winning the championship." Silvermoon agreed.

Han Li smiled and was about to say more when his gaze swept to one side, and he let out a soft exclamation.

In the distance, a streak of red flew toward him, faintly revealing a graceful woman within. Her face was as lovely as a peach blossom, but cold as ice. It was the woman named Mu, the one who had placed him in the medicine garden and then ignored him ever since.

When the woman drew near and spotted Han Li hovering in midair, a flicker of surprise crossed her beautiful face.

But her expression quickly returned to normal. She slowed her flying speed and stopped beside Han Li.

"You received the summons to Heavenly Spring Peak as well?" The woman asked, her tone exceptionally cold.

"Yes, Aunt-Master Mu. Do you know what's happening? Why has the Peak Lord summoned all the disciples?" Han Li replied calmly.

"No. But it should be related to the Sword Trial Assembly." The woman named Mu answered curtly, then glanced at the flying sword beneath Han Li's feet and frowned.

"That flying sword of yours is a top-grade magic tool, but it's not a dedicated flying tool. I'll take you with me on my Heavenly Star Sash. No sense wasting time." Without waiting for Han Li to respond, the woman's red sash-like magic tool suddenly expanded, turning into a cloud of red light that enveloped him.

Startled, Han Li quickly decided not to resist. He let the woman pull him onto her magic tool, and wrapped in red light, they flew off together.

"Have you cultivated the Profound Ice Art I gave you?" The woman asked flatly as she flew, glancing sideways at him. "Though cultivating it won't enhance your foundation technique, once you achieve minor success, you'll be able to use several formidable water-attribute spells. Now that you've established your foundation, this art can smoothly become your main cultivation technique. It would do you no harm to practice it more."

Hearing this, what could Han Li say? He replied that he had already cultivated a little. If she wanted to see, with his level of cultivation, imitating a few water-attribute spells would be no problem at all.

Fortunately, the woman seemed to have only asked casually. She said nothing more.

So Han Li, smelling the faint fragrance emanating from her, was carried all the way to Heavenly Spring Peak.

Silvermoon, knowing this was not the time to talk, had fallen silent in Han Li's mind since the woman's arrival.

Just as they were nearing Heavenly Spring Peak, Han Li, standing behind the woman, twitched slightly and looked up.

A moment later, a streak of green light shot down diagonally from the sky, blocking the woman's path.

"Aunt-Master Mu! I haven't seen you in so long, Junior Sister. What have you been busy with lately? I've sent countless transmission talismans, but why haven't you answered a single one?" As Han Li watched in surprise, the light faded to reveal a sharp-faced, monkey-cheeked cultivator in his thirties. It was that fellow named Yan who had once blocked Han Li and other new disciples, trying to recruit a couple of laborers.

The cold and beautiful woman's expression flickered at the sight of him, then darkened.

"Yan, I am returning to the sect on the Peak Lord's orders. Do you dare to stop me?"

"Hehe! Junior Sister, you speak too harshly. How would I dare do such a thing? I only wanted to ask if you've received your father's letter. You see, both our families' elders have already agreed to our union. Shouldn't we discuss a date?" The cultivator named Yan said with a grin.

As he spoke, his greedy gaze roamed over the woman's full figure and lovely face.

But when his eyes fell on Han Li behind her, he paused briefly, and a flicker of coldness passed through his expression.

The woman named Mu seemed to see through his thoughts. Disgust flashed in her beautiful eyes as she reprimanded him coldly:

"What are you thinking? This is Disciple Han, whom my master entrusted to me for guidance. He has nothing to do with our affairs. As for the clan agreeing to your marriage proposal, what can I, a mere junior member of the clan, do to oppose the elders' decision? But when I am willing to enter dual cultivation with you is naturally my own decision. When your cultivation matches mine, then I will consider it. Otherwise, you won't touch a single finger of mine for the rest of your life."

The woman clearly loathed this man to the extreme, giving him not even a shred of courtesy.

The cultivator named Yan turned pale, then red.

He opened his mouth to say something else, but the woman had already lost patience. Her brows knitted sharply, and with a soft snort, she channeled her spiritual power into her magic tool. The red light surged, and she shot past the man's head with Han Li.

Panicking, the man started to chase after them, but after a moment's thought, he stopped, unwilling and resentful.

Han Li glanced back at him and saw a look of venomous hatred on his face.

"Aunt-Master Mu, are you engaged to him?" Han Li asked with some hesitation, a look of curiosity on his face.

The cultivator named Yan was only at early Foundation Establishment, while the woman was at mid-Foundation Establishment. Their appearances were worlds apart. How could her family bear to let her enter dual cultivation with such a man? Han Li was somewhat puzzled.

Although he was curious, Han Li had not intended to ask.

The woman was clearly furious, and asking now would only invite trouble. But pretending not to notice and saying nothing at all also seemed inappropriate.

So, knowing he might face her coldness or even a scolding, he steeled himself and asked anyway.

"Junior, it's best if you don't ask about my affairs!" As expected, the woman swept him with an icy glare and replied without emotion.

Han Li naturally put on an awkward expression and immediately shut his mouth.

But even as he made that face, he faintly heard Silvermoon let out a quiet chuckle in his mind. Then, silence.

Heavenly Spring Peak was already very close. So, after a short while, the woman named Mu flew with Han Li onto a huge platform halfway up the mountain.

On this platform, a moderately sized hall had been built against the mountain. It was antique in style, with a large silver plaque above the door that read "Heart-Washing Hall."

At this moment, the hall's large black wooden doors were tightly shut. This was the meeting place for the disciples of Heavenly Spring Peak.

Outside the Heart-Washing Hall, a dense crowd of male and female disciples had gathered, numbering at least five or six hundred. They stood in small groups, whispering to each other.

But these were all Qi Condensation disciples. No Foundation Establishment cultivators could be seen among them.

The cold and beautiful woman circled once and landed directly in front of the hall doors.

Immediately, all the nearby disciples respectfully bowed and greeted her.

She waved her hand and walked toward the hall without the slightest hesitation.

With some unknown technique, she gently tapped the doors, and they slid open to reveal a narrow gap.

The woman walked in without any change in expression. The doors closed again behind her.

Han Li watched her disappear from sight. He shook his head and was about to blend into the crowd when he noticed that many of the nearby disciples were staring at him with strange looks. Some of those farther away were even pointing at him.