The First Step to a Heavenly Spiritual Treasure

Seeing that Han Li had not outright refused, the silver-haired elder hid his delight and put on an even more sincere expression as he spoke:

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. Though we bear the title of Supreme Elder within the sect, we are not required to involve ourselves in any affairs. There are no mundane tasks to burden us; our existence is merely a deterrent. We can devote ourselves entirely to our own cultivation. Each year, the sect’s disciples present us with over a thousand spirit stones for our cultivation expenses. Should we have a particular need for medicinal herbs, materials, or other special items, we can simply instruct the disciples to handle it, sparing us the effort of searching for them ourselves. In short, Fellow Daoist, your treatment as a Longevity Sect Elder will not be a single point less than what any other sect would offer."

"Senior Brother speaks truly. Moreover, Brother Han, although you have successfully condensed your Nascent Soul and entered the Nascent Soul stage, I imagine you are still quite unfamiliar with the process of refining it, are you not? I do not mean to boast, but while my brother and I have been trapped at the early Nascent Soul stage for several hundred years without further progress, we do have some unique insights into cultivation. Should you agree to join our sect, we will naturally share these with you, allowing Brother Han to avoid many detours," the man surnamed Lü added in a calm, persuasive tone.

After all, adding a single Nascent Soul cultivator to the sect would immediately give its strength a massive boost. Though it would still fall short of the Ancient Sword Sect, it would instantly draw level with the Hundred Artifacts Institute, and the Longevity Sect’s position within the Azure Dream Mountain Range would become as stable as a mountain.

Han Li listened to their invitations, his heart stirred by the conditions the man surnamed Lü had mentioned.

He knew perfectly well that having just become a Nascent Soul cultivator, receiving guidance from someone who had spent centuries refining their own Nascent Soul could mean saving decades or even a hundred years of bitter cultivation.

As for remaining in the Longevity Sect, the thought had crossed his mind before, but he had never seriously weighed the pros and cons. Now that the other party had brought it up on their own, he had to give it careful consideration.

Should he continue as a rogue cultivator? Accept the position of Longevity Sect Elder? Or simply find another, more suitable sect?

After lowering his head in deep thought for a long moment, Han Li raised it and said with a serious expression:

"I appreciate your good intentions, Fellow Daoists. However, this matter is of great importance, and I have only just succeeded in forming my Nascent Soul; my mind is still somewhat unsettled. I hope you will allow me a few days to consider. How about I give you my answer in three days?"

Hearing Han Li’s words, the silver-haired elder and his companion exchanged a glance. The elder thought it over for only a moment before replying with a hint of embarrassment:

"Forgive us! It seems my brother and I were too hasty. This matter naturally deserves a few days of your serious consideration. Very well, I will designate this area as a restricted zone for the next few days, so that no sect disciples will disturb your peaceful cultivation. In three days, we will visit you together."

Having said this, the silver-haired elder and his companion exchanged a few more pleasantries with Han Li before tactfully taking their leave.

Han Li courteously saw them out of his cave dwelling, then returned to the main hall and sat down. His brows were deeply furrowed as he pondered something.

A white flash appeared at the hall’s entrance. Silvermoon had reverted to her white fox form and was walking in with an elegant gait.

"Has your spiritual power run out for transformation already?" Han Li glanced at the little fox, showing no surprise.

"Yes, Master. With my artifact spirit body and the small amount of demonic fox’s innate spiritual power, I can only maintain my human form for this short a time. I will have to wait another month before I can transform again," the little fox raised her delicate head and said with some frustration, speaking in human tongue.

"When you truly advance to an eighth-grade demon beast, you can maintain a human form permanently. There is no need to be impatient now," Han Li said calmly.

"That is true. I have endured these many years inside the cauldron; I can handle a few hundred more. Besides, with Master’s spirit pills to assist me, it may be much sooner than I anticipated!" Silvermoon said earnestly.

Han Li nodded at this. Then, his expression suddenly turned serious as he asked:

"Speaking of the Void Heaven Cauldron, I never asked you about it before, believing my cultivation was insufficient. But now that my Nascent Soul is formed, you should be able to speak of it. You spent so long inside the cauldron; it is impossible that you know nothing of how to open it. Furthermore, I am very curious what other treasures remain inside besides the Heaven-Mending Pills."

"I do know how to open the cauldron, Master. But I am afraid you will be somewhat disappointed." Silvermoon was taken aback for a moment, then let out a sigh.

"Oh? You mean to say that even with my current cultivation, I cannot open it?" Han Li rubbed his chin, a hint of disbelief in his tone.

"Master, you do not understand. When the other ancient treasures and I escaped the cauldron back then, it was not because we were strong enough to overcome the restraint of a Heavenly Spiritual Treasure like the Void Heaven Cauldron. It was because the Azure Ice Flame on the cauldron was disturbed by you cultivators entering the palace, allowing us an opportunity," Silvermoon said slowly.

"Heavenly Spiritual Treasure? What is that? Is the Void Heaven Cauldron not an ancient treasure? From your tone, it seems that opening it and the Azure Ice Flame are closely connected." A look of doubt flickered across Han Li’s face as he asked with some surprise.

"A Heavenly Spiritual Treasure is still an ancient treasure; that is the term used by ancient cultivators. However, only those ancient treasures with extraordinary divine powers are honored with this title. The Void Heaven Cauldron is one such Heavenly Spiritual Treasure. I do not know exactly what ability it possesses, but its power is far beyond that of an ordinary ancient treasure. As for the Azure Ice Flame, it is the key to opening the cauldron. No, more accurately, it is the first step to controlling it. Only after you have refined this flame can you have a chance to master this spiritual treasure." Silvermoon’s tone grew grave.

"A Heavenly Spiritual Treasure! For the ancient cultivators to give it such a title, it must truly be extraordinary. But if refining the ice flame is only the first step, what must be done next? You may as well tell me everything," Han Li said, revealing a hint of delight instead of disappointment.

He understood clearly that a treasure requiring so many conditions to use only signified that its power far exceeded his expectations. This was naturally a cause for pleasant surprise. As long as the Void Heaven Cauldron was in his hands, no matter how demanding the conditions, he could one day bend it to his will. Han Li had considerable confidence in this.

"What must be done next, I do not know. Once you refine the Azure Ice Flame, Master, you will naturally receive the next hint. That is all I know," Silvermoon shook her head slightly, speaking honestly.

"Is that so? That does make things a bit tricky. But no matter! I will refine the Azure Ice Flame first, and then we will talk about the rest. By the way, you still haven’t told me what treasures are left inside the cauldron." Han Li was a little disappointed at first, but then he gave the little fox a deep look before asking slowly.

"I did not mean to hide anything, Master. Aside from two Heaven-Mending Pills, there are no other ancient treasures left in the cauldron. It is just an empty vessel now. Over the years that the cauldron was stored in the Void Heaven Palace, powerful cultivators would occasionally use special methods to disturb the Azure Ice Flame atop it. Whenever this happened, one or two treasures would seize the chance to fly out. In this way, the treasures inside gradually emptied. The ones you saw in the Void Heaven Palace last time were the last few remaining ancient treasures," Silvermoon explained, somewhat uneasy, fearing Han Li might be displeased.

"I see. It is of no consequence. At my current cultivation level, ordinary ancient treasures do not interest me much anyway. Claiming the Void Heaven Cauldron for myself is the best outcome." Han Li did not show any disappointment but instead spoke calmly, as if he had anticipated this.

"Master, your magnanimity is admirable. What you say is true. To my knowledge, even in the ancient era, no more than fifty or sixty ancient treasures could be honored with the title of 'Spiritual Treasure.' Each one possessed a divine power nearing that of overturning rivers and seas, or moving mountains and shifting stars. To be honest, when I first saw your little bottle’s ability to ripen medicinal herbs, I almost thought it might be a Heavenly Spiritual Treasure as well. But upon further reflection, I felt it unlikely," Silvermoon suddenly let out a light laugh.

"Oh, and why is that? Does my little bottle’s power fall short of such spiritual treasures?" Han Li was momentarily stunned and asked in disbelief.

"That is not it at all. Whether or not your little bottle possesses other powers, its single ability to ripen herbs would be enough to overshadow all Heavenly Spiritual Treasures. Other spiritual treasures, no matter how great their powers, must still obey the laws of heaven and earth within this realm. They merely amplify and exploit those laws. But the small bottle’s ability to ripen herbs is a true defiance of heaven. I suspect that only the Spirit Realm, or even the higher Immortal Realm, could produce such a treasure." The little fox licked her pink lips with her tongue before speaking solemnly.

"So you mean to say that my treasure might have been forged by a Spirit Realm cultivator or an Immortal Realm immortal?" This time, Han Li could not help but draw in a sharp breath, visibly moved.

"Yes, it is possible." Silvermoon gave a slight nod.

Hearing this, Han Li fell silent. He suddenly retrieved the mysterious small bottle from his storage pouch and, for a rare moment, held it in his hand, examining it carefully. His expression shifted between thoughtfulness and uncertainty.

After a long while, he slowly put the bottle away. Then, he abruptly turned to Silvermoon and asked:

"Silvermoon, you were in the next room and must have heard what those two Longevity Sect elders said. Do you think I should stay, or find a better opportunity?"