"If Brother Han has any questions, please feel free to ask. This matter is of great importance, and it's quite possible that we've overlooked something or failed to consider every angle." Zi Ling watched Han Li remain so calm even after hearing about the Spirit Illuminating Fruit and the Creation Pill, and felt a trace of admiration in her heart.
"Although I did make a trip to the Mulan Grasslands, why did you seek me out? The person most likely to know the method of entering the Fallen Devil Valley should be Marquis Nanlong. Or have you learned of another way in?" Han Li stroked his chin and asked in a measured voice.
"We're well aware that Marquis Nanlong may possess a method of entry. But given his temperament and the rumors surrounding him, how could we dare entrust him with this secret? As for Brother Han, Sister Mei and I both feel at ease. We know you're not the type to abandon righteousness at the first sign of profit. As for the entry method, we learned about it from a disciple of the Ghost Spirit Sect. The sect appears to be researching a way into the valley, and they're reportedly close to perfecting it. However, that particular individual didn't know the specifics. But when the spatial rift of the Fallen Devil Valley stabilizes next time, the Ghost Spirit Sect will certainly make their move. At that point, once we've gathered all the details, slipping in among them shouldn't be difficult. However, the location where the Spirit Illuminating Fruit grows is said to be extraordinarily hostile — without extraordinary powers, there's simply no way to approach the fruit. If Brother Han feels his cultivation is insufficient, then forget it. After all, even if one enters the valley safely, the Fallen Devil Valley itself is fraught with danger at every turn. This trip is truly a gamble between fortune and disaster." By the time Zi Ling reached the end of her explanation, her expression had actually grown hesitant.
"The Ghost Spirit Sect has a method of entry too? That's something I've never heard before. But from the way you're talking, everything is still vague — you don't have any solid information yet. How about this: there are still several years before the spatial rift stabilizes. We'll use that time to investigate everything thoroughly. Once we've confirmed that the Spirit Illuminating Fruit truly exists in the valley and that this isn't mere fantasy, then for the sake of the Creation Pill, I'll naturally take the risk. As for cultivation level, don't worry about that. If I'm not capable, then most other mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators wouldn't stand a chance either." Han Li pondered for a long while before letting out a long breath and giving his answer.
Han Li made no mention of Marquis Nanlong's earlier contact. Faced with the Fallen Devil Valley — the most dangerous place in all of Tian-Nan — even with the lure of a treasure like the Spirit Illuminating Fruit, he needed to weigh his options carefully. Perhaps the Ghost Spirit Sect's method of entry was safer. If that turned out to be the case, there was no need to bring up the matter of Marquis Nanlong to these three women.
Seeing that Han Li hadn't agreed on the spot, Zi Ling was not discouraged in the least. In fact, she was delighted.
She knew that with Han Li's cautious nature, the words he'd just spoken were essentially a promise. Moreover, from his tone, it seemed the rumors were true — his abilities really were extraordinary now. The hope of obtaining the Spirit Illuminating Fruit had grown another shade brighter.
With that, she smiled and said: "The truth is, the reason we were so anxious to find Brother Han was precisely because we believed that without a truly capable ally, all our efforts would be in vain. We wouldn't have continued pursuing a fruitless endeavor. But now, with Brother Han's promise, we can all rest easy. We'll make sure to investigate all the details in the coming years. After all, we sisters will be entering the valley too — we wouldn't joke with our own lives."
"What — you three are planning to enter the valley as well?" Hearing this, Han Li was startled, his face full of surprise.
"Did you really think we wanted to go into the Fallen Devil Valley? We've been forced into this. Most ancient texts only mention the miraculous properties of the Spirit Illuminating Fruit, but very few records point out that once the fruit is picked, it simply cannot be preserved. Within half a day of harvesting, it must immediately be placed in a cauldron to refine the pill. If more than half a day passes, its potency drops drastically, and after three days, it's completely useless. What's worse, the Creation Pill refined from this fruit carries the same restriction — if it's not consumed within a certain time after the pill emerges from the cauldron, it loses all effectiveness as well. So even knowing full well that the Fallen Devil Valley is no place for the likes of us, we have no choice but to bite the bullet and take the gamble. After all, it's still better than spending the next hundred or even several hundred years unable to break through a bottleneck." Zi Ling let out a bitter laugh, her voice tinged with helplessness.
"The Spirit Illuminating Fruit has such restrictions? I've read quite a few ancient texts myself — how have I never come across this?" Han Li furrowed his brow.
"Uncle-Master Han, this is an ancient secret text passed down through my Song family. I had a copy made. Please take a look, Uncle-Master, and you'll understand."
To Han Li's surprise, it was the Song-surnamed woman who suddenly produced a jade slip from her storage pouch and offered it to him with respectful hands.
A flicker of surprise crossed Han Li's face. He studied the woman carefully for a moment, then nodded and accepted the jade slip, immersing his spiritual sense within.
It was an ancient book dedicated specifically to legendary elixirs and spiritual herbs. Inside were many medicinal ingredients and pill recipes that Han Li had either heard of or never encountered in his life. It even contained detailed references to the Nine Curve Spirit Ginseng and the related pill recipe he had obtained from the old devil Xuan Gu. His heart surged with excitement.
With his current level of expertise, many of the pills recorded here would be enormously useful for a Nascent Soul cultivator like himself. Although nearly every refinement ingredient listed was a once-in-a-civilization spiritual herb, it was always better to be prepared. Otherwise, if he ever obtained some rare herb in the future, he'd have no idea what to do with it.
It seemed that cultivation families possessed certain treasures that even major cultivation sects lacked.
With his formidable spiritual sense, despite the considerable contents within the jade slip, Han Li quickly located the passage about the Spirit Illuminating Fruit.
It indeed detailed the various restrictions on both the Spirit Illuminating Fruit and the Creation Pill.
After reading for a while, Han Li's brow was deeply furrowed.
A moment later, he withdrew his spiritual sense but said nothing right away. Instead, he ran his fingers over the smooth surface of the jade slip, lost in thought.
"I've heard from Sister Zi Ling that Uncle-Master Han has achieved great accomplishment in alchemy as well. For our Song family, this ancient text is essentially useless — although it contains many ancient pill recipes, every key ingredient is far beyond what the Song family could ever obtain. If Uncle-Master doesn't find it beneath him, please take this jade slip. Consider it payment for Uncle-Master's assistance this time!" The Song-surnamed woman said with great tactfulness.