A Name That Shakes the Land: The Xuanmu Infant Transformation Grand Art

“Hmph! Nonsense. There’s nothing wrong with that woman. She and I do share a certain connection. But I’ll still have to quietly erase the memories she has of today’s encounter. Otherwise, if any information leaks out inadvertently, not only will I be in trouble, she herself will invite lethal consequences.” Han Li gave a cold snort and spoke with some irritation.

He said no more. A flash of azure light passed over his face, and with one hand he pressed five fingers spread across the woman’s head, beginning to cast a secret technique recorded in the Profound Yin Scripture called the “Dream Guiding Art,” sealing and altering the relevant memories. He made her believe only that she had encountered a generous senior today who had mercifully bestowed Foundation Establishment Pills and some other elixirs upon her. All memories related to Han Li himself were completely sealed.

This secret art of altering another’s divine sense was, of course, far superior to the “Heart Control Art,” the old Unburdening Acupuncture, and the Dust-Forgetting Pill. Unless a cultivator of far higher cultivation than Han Li personally cast a counter-spell, it could never be undone.

However, this technique could only be used when the gap in cultivation between caster and target was enormous; otherwise, the subject’s divine sense would be harmed. Han Li had only felt confident to use it because the woman’s cultivation was so low.

A full quarter-hour later, the procedure was complete. The woman still lay in deep slumber.

After carefully placing her back in her chair, Han Li took the opportunity to ascend to the attic where the spirit tablets of Xin Ruyin and Qi Yunxiao were kept. He paid them a sincere worship, reduced the head of the Fu Family Ancestor to ashes, and then quietly left the premises.

…

“Master, what exactly is inside that jade slip? You seem to value it highly.” Silvermoon, now reverted to her artifact spirit form, asked curiously in Han Li’s mind.

“It’s a formation manual from the primeval era, containing records of several profound and esoteric great formations from ancient times. With my current understanding of formations, I cannot comprehend them in a short time. However, aside from the formations, the final section also records an extremely unusual secret art. I found it quite intriguing.” Han Li flew through the high sky at a relaxed pace, speaking slowly.

“Secret art? With your current knowledge and the complete Profound Yin Scripture, what secret art could still catch your interest?” Silvermoon gave a light laugh, but her curiosity was clearly piqued.

“Have you ever heard of the renowned divine ability known as ‘One Qi Transforms into the Three Purities’?” Han Li smiled faintly and said unhurriedly.

“What?! Are you saying that the jade slip records that supreme technique of the Daoist path?!” Silvermoon’s titter came to an abrupt halt, and her voice trembled with excitement.

“Of course not,” Han Li denied flatly.

“Ah? Then why did you bring it up? Are you teasing me on purpose? I would have said that such a heaven-defying secret art would never be let out of the Daoist sects so easily! At this point, even they probably don’t know if it has been lost or not!” Silvermoon’s enthusiasm deflated.

“The secret art recorded in the jade slip, while not the One Qi Transforms into the Three Purities, is a similar demonic-path divine ability called the ‘Xuanmu Infant Transformation Grand Art’.” Han Li’s previously indifferent expression turned somewhat peculiar, and a light of excitement flickered in his eyes.

“Xuanmu Infant Transformation Grand Art? What kind of technique is that? I’ve never heard of it before,” Silvermoon said with a start, somewhat puzzled.

“I have never heard of it either. But this technique is a genuine secret art for cultivating a second primordial soul; it can even nurture a second Nascent Soul.” Han Li’s voice turned serious as he said this.

“A second Nascent Soul? Is that real? If this technique can truly achieve that, then even if it is not equal to One Qi Transforms into the Three Purities, it is still a great divine ability of a similar level!” Silvermoon’s spirit rose again. The greater Han Li’s power, the closer they would be to her goal.

“Whether it’s real or not remains to be seen. I must return to the Falling Cloud Sect and study it carefully. However, the formations recorded earlier in the jade slip are genuine ancient great formations. Since they were copied onto the same slip, they should be trustworthy.” After a brief stir of emotion, Han Li’s voice regained its cool composure.

“Tsk tsk. For someone to deliver this technique right to your doorstep, Master, your karmic fortune really is quite good. Still, while demonic-path secret arts are no less powerful than Daoist techniques and are somewhat easier to cultivate, they almost always carry a certain expediency, leaving behind many side effects. The greater the divine ability, the more obvious the defects. When you return, you should examine this technique carefully for any hidden flaws,” Silvermoon cautioned, recalling something.

“I am aware of that. I will naturally be cautious. If I find any serious problems, I will not cultivate it.” Han Li replied with perfect clarity.

Hearing this, Silvermoon felt reassured. But then she asked, somewhat curious:

“Master, the direction you are flying now does not seem to be toward Xi Country. Do you not intend to return to the Falling Cloud Sect for now?”

“I won’t be returning to Xi Country for the time being. Since I’m already here, I plan to visit Yue Country. After all, that’s the country of my origin. There are some worldly ties left over from my mortal days that need to be severed completely. Otherwise, a lingering thread of attachment in my state of mind will not be conducive to my future cultivation progress.” Han Li sighed and said frankly.

“That is a wise move. At your current stage, only by thoroughly cutting off worldly attachments can you truly pursue the great Dao without hindrance.” Silvermoon was silent for a moment, then agreed.

“Enough talk. I need to focus on traveling.” Han Li said coldly, and with that, he ceased further conversation. His figure transformed into a streak of azure light, shooting through the air at several times his previous speed, vanishing beyond the horizon in an instant.

Meanwhile, Han Li was unaware that, thousands of li away, several cultivators dressed in green robes were secretly discussing something in a forest, their faces filled with panic.

“What do we do? Several more days have passed, and there is still not a single clue about the Infant. If we cannot recover it within three months, the sect is bound to send Enforcement Envoys.” A fierce-looking man spoke with extreme anxiety to the others.

“Hmph! What the higher-ups said about recovering the Infant within three months was probably a momentary outburst. Everyone knows that once the Ultimate Wood Spirit Infant breaks free of its seal, it is utterly impossible for mere Foundation Establishment cultivators like us to restrain it again. But if we cannot find even a single clue about its whereabouts… we really will be in dire trouble.” Another middle-aged Confucian scholar with a cold, gloomy expression said through gritted teeth.

“But the Infant’s escape had nothing to do with us. That was entirely the fault of Uncle-Master Ning, who was in charge of guarding it. He dismissed all of us juniors, recklessly disobeying orders to try to personally fuse with the Infant, and was killed by the backlash. By the time we arrived, the Infant had already disappeared. We have the artifacts to restrain and track it, but the Infant’s escape speed was too fast for us to catch up! And now the Infant has been isolated by some kind of sealing; we cannot sense it at all.” A plain-looking woman in green robes explained fearfully.

“Save that story for the Enforcement Envoy when they arrive, Junior Sister. However, I heard that Uncle-Master Han and Uncle-Master Liu will be coming to support us. With their wood spiritual roots and cultivation, even if the Infant has been sealed, they should be able to find it. Still, I am rather curious: the Ultimate Wood Spirit Infant is such a ferocious thing; how could someone restrain it without specially made artifact techniques? That is truly incredible.” The Confucian scholar snorted, then expressed genuine puzzlement.

“Enough speculation. Right now, our only concern is finding the person who sealed the Infant, so we can save our own skins. Didn’t you hear that Master Kuang himself will take action?” the last member of the group, an old man with slightly yellow eyebrows, said coldly.

“Second Senior Brother is right. Right now, surviving is our best outcome. However, it’s unfortunate that one of the intermediate teleportation arrays is broken. The two uncles have to fly for two full days just to reach the next sect-controlled array to get here. By my calculations, they should arrive within a day or two. But in the meantime, won’t the cultivator who sealed the Infant have a chance to leave Yuanwu Country for another nation? After all, we still don’t even know which country he is from.” The fierce-looking man frowned, showing worry.

“Heh heh, you juniors don’t know this: Uncle-Master Han and Uncle-Master Liu were selected long ago as the candidates for fusing with the Infant. They have been cultivating a special secret technique specifically for this purpose for many years. Even from a great distance, they can sense the direction of the Infant. That cultivator who sealed the Infant definitely won’t escape their perception.” The old man said darkly, seeming quite confident.

Hearing this, the other three relaxed slightly. But the Confucian scholar’s eyes flickered, and he said doubtfully, “But… could the person who restrained the Ultimate Wood Spirit Infant be the same one who massacred the Fu family? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence? The Infant disappeared near the Fu family grounds, and a few days later, the entire Fu family was exterminated, ruining our plan to use the Fu family’s resources. Could that person also know about our connection to the Fu family and deliberately struck that hard?”

“Ninth Junior Brother, you’re overthinking it. How could that person be so omniscient as to know about our insignificant connection to the Fu family? It is almost certainly a coincidence. However, it is indeed unlikely for two Nascent Soul cultivators to appear in the same place at the same time. Maybe it really was the same person.” The woman shook her head first, but after a bit of analysis, she began to waver.

“Oh? The same person? Could you tell it to the two of us?” A soft, lazy young woman’s voice sounded from behind a large tree. Then, with a flash of white, two graceful female figures in white appeared side by side before the group.