The moment Han Li stepped onto the third floor, several strands of spiritual sense swept over him, making his heart skip a beat.
All of these individuals possessed magical power at the mid Foundation Establishment stage — far stronger than a cultivator like himself at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Four years of secluded cultivation in his cave dwelling had only brought his magical power close to the mid Foundation Establishment stage, but there remained a thin layer of membrane he had yet to pierce through, which left Han Li feeling somewhat regretful.
Still, this was perfectly normal. After all, reaching close to the mid Foundation Establishment stage in just four years was already far faster than most cultivators managed. That final layer of membrane was the first bottleneck after Foundation Establishment, and it couldn't be broken through with mere pills and elixirs alone. More likely, it required a certain amount of opportunity or fortune.
Otherwise, no matter how many medicines he consumed, he could only deepen his magical power — but that realm itself could not be easily crossed.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Han Li casually surveyed everything on the floor.
Everyone on the third floor was a post-Foundation Establishment cultivator. But it was immediately clear that they had split into two groups. One group wore the attire of the Seven Mysteries Sect and its allied factions, which Han Li found very familiar. The other group wore a chaotic mix of clothing from various foreign kingdoms.
There were only five cultivators from the Seven Mysteries Sect, but they all sat at the same table, whispering among themselves in a rather intimate manner. The foreign cultivators, though numbering seven or eight in total, mostly sat one or two per table, sipping tea with cold expressions and showing no inclination to chat or exchange words with each other.
This contrast between movement and stillness gave Han Li the distinct impression of a standoffish, hostile atmosphere.
Han Li's arrival naturally drew the attention of the other cultivators. Aside from the few who had scanned him at the start, everyone else now turned to look at him. Without hesitation, Han Li walked toward the table where the Seven Mysteries Sect cultivators sat — after all, he was one of them.
His approach caused the other cultivators to avert their gazes and pretend he didn't exist. The seven sect cultivators, however, smiled warmly and rose to greet him.
The Yellow Maple Valley robes Han Li wore needed no introduction — these people were just as familiar with them.
"I am Han Li of Yellow Maple Valley! Greetings to you, fellow senior brothers and senior sisters!" Han Li kept his posture low and respectful. Among the five people before him, three appeared to be at the mid Foundation Establishment stage, while the other two were at the same early Foundation Establishment level as himself.
"Junior Brother Han! I am Wufa Zi of the Pure Void Temple, and this is my junior brother Wu You Zi. These three are Junior Brother Wu of the Spirit Beast Mountain, Senior Brother Ba of the Giant Sword Gate, and Junior Sister Fang of the Sky Fortress." The older of the two Daoist priests at the table courteously returned Han Li's bow and briefly introduced everyone present.
"Now that Junior Brother has arrived, why not sample the famous Snow Bell Tea of the Yan family? This tea house provides it exclusively to visiting cultivators — it's truly a rare treat!" The Spirit Beast cultivator surnamed Wu was a cheerful, smiling middle-aged man. The moment Han Li sat down, he immediately picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup of spirit tea wreathed in white mist.
Han Li nodded and smiled back, then took a small sip.
Whether or not the man genuinely wanted to pour him tea, one still had to play along with the social pleasantries.
"Excellent tea!" Han Li, who was not particularly particular about tea, couldn't help but offer a word of praise.
The moment the tea entered his stomach, a cool, icy sensation rose from his belly, followed by an incredibly fragrant flavor on his lips and tongue — truly a lingering taste that was hard to forget!
Hearing this, the smile on Cultivator Wu's face grew even wider.
"Junior Brother Han, you look quite unfamiliar. May I ask which of the Yellow Maple Valley elders has taken you in as a new disciple?" asked Fang, the senior sister in her twenties with an ordinary-looking face, in a straightforward manner.
"My master is Li Huayuan. I was only formally accepted into his service a few years ago after Foundation Establishment. I humbly hope you senior brothers and sisters will offer me your guidance!" Han Li said with what appeared to be a very earnest expression.
"How could we presume to offer guidance? We should simply exchange ideas with one another. Since Junior Brother Han has been accepted by Uncle-Master Li and sent out at such a young age to represent our sect on his own, you must have remarkable abilities. There's no need to be so modest!" This time it was the middle-aged brawny man from the Giant Sword Gate who spoke. Though he looked honest and straightforward, his words were watertight, which surprised Han Li somewhat.
Han Li naturally returned a few modest remarks. Before long, aside from the silent, short and thin Wu You Zi, he had struck up a lively rapport with the other cultivators.
"What were you all discussing just now?" After exchanging a few pleasantries, Han Li finally steered the conversation toward the real topic with a casual question.
"Nothing much. We were all speculating about the reason so many foreign cultivators have suddenly shown up at Yan Ling Castle. It really is quite unusual! Although the Qiankun Tower talisman treasure is valuable, it couldn't possibly be that attractive." Wufa Zi's expression turned solemn as he answered Han Li's question.