Famous Far and Wide: The Clouddew Old Demon

As the unexpected voice faded, Han Li’s figure appeared at the hall entrance. He walked in with a calm expression.

“Junior Han, you’ve finally come out of seclusion—excellent!” While the other cultivators bowed to Han Li in greeting, Lu Luo rose with a beaming smile and came forward to welcome him.

“I didn’t finish everything. I planned to continue in seclusion, but I was a bit worried about the Moulan situation, so I decided to take a look first. It seems my timing was just right.” Han Li chuckled lightly.

“Heh! I suppose you heard what those junior disciples were just saying. Lately, many people have been wanting to see you, Brother Han. The rest can be set aside, but you absolutely must attend the high-level meeting tomorrow, convened personally by the Three Grand Cultivators. Our Falling Cloud Sect has committed the bulk of its strength this time, and I don’t want our disciples to suffer too much damage. Hearing the decisions of those in charge about how this war will be arranged will help this old brother feel a bit more at ease.” Lu Luo’s expression turned serious.

“Mm. Since I know about it now, I’ll certainly come take a look tomorrow. I’ve long admired the Three Grand Cultivators. I’m looking forward to the meeting.” Han Li agreed readily.

His answer pleased Lu Luo, who immediately went on to chat with Han Li about some events of the past two months.

“The Dharma Warriors have begun sending people to assault the grand formations along the border!” Hearing that, Han Li’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Yes, it only started three or four days ago. Though there were no casualties, it’s a sign that the Moulan are ready.” Lu Luo’s smile faded as he spoke gravely.

“The Moulan are nearly ready. How is our manpower arrangement? It should be about done too, shouldn’t it?” Han Li’s eyes flickered as he asked slowly.

“We’re not quite the same as the Moulan. Though their Dharma Warriors come from various tribes and are quite mixed, our Heavenly South has just as many large and small sects. Organizing based on technique characteristics, magic treasure power, and even cultivation level is far more troublesome. What’s more, the Moulan have been preparing this invasion for a long time. We only started mobilizing now—it’s indeed a little late… Still, the four major powers are cooperating this time, so we’re about seventy or eighty percent ready. If battle begins now, we still have a fighting chance.” Lu Luo explained.

“So war really could break out at any moment.” Han Li rubbed his nose, his expression turning somewhat dark.

“That seems likely. Otherwise, the Three Grand Cultivators wouldn’t have gathered so quickly or hastily called tomorrow’s meeting. Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators are the peak powers of Heavenly South.” Lu Luo sighed helplessly.

Listening to the exchange between Han Li and Lu Luo, the other cultivators in the hall unconsciously grew solemn.

But then Han Li abruptly changed the subject, asking about the recent arrangements of Falling Cloud Sect disciples. Lu Luo and the others reported everything in detail.

When he heard that most of the sect’s disciples had been split up and assigned to several teams, training daily in group combat, Han Li nodded without comment.

This arrangement was perfectly normal. This was no fight among individual cultivators. Even a cultivator with extraordinary supernatural powers would be doomed if caught in a coordinated assault by thousands of well-trained cultivators at once.

Of course, high-level cultivators generally wouldn’t put themselves in such a dangerous position. As long as they weren’t surrounded by squads, they could use wide-area abilities to slaughter low-level cultivators in droves.

Thus, having forces to check the enemy’s high-level cultivators was equally crucial.

The situation in this war between cultivators and Dharma Warriors was similar: if either side lacked the means to restrain the other’s high-level existence, the battle was half-lost before it began. So while his mouth asked about the sect’s affairs, Han Li’s mind was already mulling over the Three Grand Cultivators’ true intentions in summoning Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators.

This meeting would probably not only arrange the movements of the cultivator army but also lay out specific tactics against the Moulan Grand Dharma Warriors.

Thinking so, Han Li let out a cold laugh inwardly.

During these two months, he had not only completely purged the azure flames from his Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords, but had also used the Evil-Repelling Divine Lightning to refine seven or eight Thunder Beads from the azure flame mixed with Azure Origin Sword Qi. The rest had failed and dissipated on their own.

Seeing that, Han Li could only smile wryly. It was a clever way to eliminate those blue lamp flames.

After chatting a bit longer with the group, Han Li took his leave and returned to the tower prepared for him, conserving his strength.

The two months of continuous work to purge the sword flames and then immediately refine the Thunder Beads had truly exhausted him.

…

Early the next morning, Han Li set out from his quarters and calmly walked toward the central area, soon seeing a massive stone hall in the distance.

Since the entire Heavenly One City was built as a temporary construction, even the hall used for high-level gatherings of the four major powers was ordinary and somewhat rough. Apart from being slightly larger than the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s council hall, it looked nearly identical.

However, the gate guards were several Core Formation cultivators. As soon as they saw Han Li approaching, they scanned him with divine sense and immediately came forward.

One of the Core Formation cultivators gave a respectful salute before speaking deferentially:

“Senior, today’s meeting is only open to cultivators above Mid-Nascent Soul. Senior, you…”

“Here.” Before the man could finish, Han Li raised his hand and tossed over a white jade slip.

It was the invitation that had been delivered yesterday.

“So it’s Senior Han. This junior is rude. Please, come in!” The guard examined the jade slip with his divine sense and immediately said apologetically, then stepped aside to open the door.

Han Li smiled faintly, took a few steps forward, then suddenly paused. He turned his head to look.

On a side street, two figures were walking unhurriedly—one ahead, one behind—a man and a woman.

The man appeared only twenty-something years old, dressed in a gorgeous brocade robe with fair, glowing skin and exceptionally handsome features. Every gesture was elegant and at ease, almost dashing.

But upon closer look, traces of world-weariness occasionally flickered in his gaze. Subtle crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes, inconsistent with his youthful appearance, emerged faintly. This made him seem a dozen years older.

Yet the strange thing was that upon first glance, the man exuded an indescribably feminine, powder-and-rouge aura, as if he were a woman in disguise—utterly bizarre.

The instant Han Li saw this man, his heart tightened and his face turned serious.

This person was a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, likely attending today’s meeting. From his eerie appearance, he was probably a demonic cultivator. Which sect did he belong to?

Han Li speculated rapidly, then shifted his gaze slightly to the woman half a step behind him.

“Eh!” He let out a soft exclamation of surprise.

The young woman was beautiful, wearing a dazzling red dress. As she walked with delicate steps, her figure swayed gracefully, exuding boundless charm and allure.

But when Han Li clearly saw her face, he first wore a look of bewilderment. Then the surprise faded, replaced by a faint, wry smile.

Dong Xuan’er! It was actually her.

Now Han Li didn’t need to guess. The man before her, who seemed young, had to be a cultivator from the Blissful Union Sect, the leading demonic sect of the Heavenly South.

Years had passed, and Dong Xuan’er had already reached Mid-Core Formation—somewhat unexpected given her mediocre spiritual root aptitude.

Standing motionless before the hall gate, staring intently, naturally drew the attention of the Core Formation guards, who also looked at the arriving pair.

Upon recognizing the man, most of the guards turned pale. One murmured uneasily:

“I didn’t expect that old demon Gu of the Blissful Union Sect to come as well.”

“Old demon Gu?” Hearing this, Han Li immediately recalled someone.

It seemed that apart from the late Nascent Soul Blissful Union Old Demon, the sect also boasted a notorious old monster surnamed Gu.

This man was naturally endowed with both yin and yang, cultivating the most top-tier demonic techniques of the Blissful Union Sect, skilled in the art of dual cultivation. He called himself “Clouddew True Person,” while others referred to him as the “Clouddew Old Demon.”

Whether due to his cultivation technique or his innate lecherous nature, he frequently engaged in kidnapping and dual cultivation.

Whether man or woman, once caught his fancy, he rarely let them go.

Naturally, this had offended many major sects.

But his cultivation was unfathomably deep, he generally kept a low profile, and he had the Blissful Union Sect as his backing, so no one could do anything about him. Moreover, he wasn’t a bloodthirsty killer — once he finished taking what he wanted from his captives, he would release them. Their sects and masters could only hide the truth and swallow the humiliation.

Nevertheless, his reputation in the Heavenly South cultivation world struck terror into all who heard it.

Young cultivators fled at the mere mention of his name; those caught in his path trembled with fear, terrified of catching his eye and falling victim to his depravity.

Could this young man be that old demon?

Though Han Li was not afraid of him, he still muttered to himself inwardly, feeling quite uncomfortable.

As luck would have it, the handsome young man also noticed Han Li standing before the hall. He squinted, sized Han Li up from a distance, then suddenly smiled at him, a hint of seductive charm in his expression.

Seeing that, a chill ran down Han Li’s spine. He forced a smile back, then, ignoring the stunned look on Dong Xuan’er’s face as she recognized him, turned and strode into the great hall.

He had absolutely no intention of dealing with such an old monster.

“What, do you know that man? Your heartbeat suddenly quickened.” The young man had slowed his pace, gazing unhurriedly toward the hall. Once Han Li disappeared from view, his smile abruptly vanished, and he asked Dong Xuan’er flatly behind him.

(Whew, finally finished writing this chapter. Exhausting. End of the month approaching—everyone, don’t forget to cast your votes. Heh heh, wasting them would be such a shame!)