A bizarre scene unfolded. The transparent liquid began to split and reshape on its own, eventually forming six silver beads the size of a thumbnail, spinning slowly in midair.
Han Li took a deep breath, bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, and spat out a mouthful of essence blood.
As soon as the essence blood touched the surface of the beads, they absorbed every last drop. The beads immediately changed color, turning a bright golden yellow, as though forged from pure gold.
Seeing this, Han Li felt a surge of excitement. He opened his mouth again, and a streak of azure light shot out, circling once before coming to a stop in front of him.
It was a small, misty-green miniature sword, roughly an inch long, shimmering with spiritual light.
Han Li pointed a finger at one of the golden beads transformed from the Geng Metal Essence. The bead instantly turned into a beam of golden light that shot straight into the miniature sword, melting and wrapping around it, coating the flying sword's surface in a perfectly even layer.
The miniature sword immediately blazed with golden light, dazzling to behold.
Han Li raised both eyebrows, then pointed at the ground several times. One by one, various auxiliary materials flew up and landed on the flying sword, bizarrely melting into it.
Then Han Li beckoned to the flying sword, and it flew into his palm in an instant. With a soft pop, a wisp of green Nascent Fire materialized out of thin air, enveloping the sword within.
Han Li slowly closed his eyes and used his spiritual sense to manipulate the Nascent Fire, beginning the refinement.
Only when the Geng Metal Essence, infused with his essence blood, had completely fused with the flying sword—becoming one and the same—could the refinement be considered complete.
Days passed one after another. Han Li remained in his secret chamber, refining the Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords one after another without a single moment's rest.
If not for Han Li's Ten-Thousand-Year Spiritual Liquid, which allowed him to replenish his depleted magical power in time, he could never have kept up the pace in such a short period.
Meanwhile, outside the cave dwelling, the deadline set by that black-robed man was fast approaching, yet Han Li still had not emerged. Those who knew about the matter were growing anxious.
Among them, the silver-haired elder was naturally the most anxious, for just the day before, someone had used a flying-sword message to launch a jade slip into the Luoyun Sect, containing the exact location for the meeting with Han Li.
The location was not only treacherous in terrain but also extremely far from Yunmeng Mountain. If Han Li did not come out of seclusion soon, it would be too late.
Just as the silver-haired elder was fidgeting restlessly in the side hall of the council chamber, Han Li's figure appeared soundlessly at the entrance.
"Junior Brother, you've come out of seclusion! Are the magical treasures finished?" The elder turned around upon sensing something, caught sight of Han Li in the doorway, and cried out in delighted surprise.
"They're finally barely all done. Senior Brother, I heard that person sent another jade slip with a meeting location. Is that true?" Han Li's expression carried a touch more composure than it had a month ago. His voice was calm and measured.
"That's right. He wants to meet you at the summit of Tianzhu Mountain. Here's the jade slip he sent—take a look." The silver-haired elder nodded and tossed a green jade slip over.
Han Li caught the jade slip and immediately immersed his spiritual sense within, scanning through it quickly.
"Hmph! He wants me to come alone and insists I bring the Gold Lightning Bamboo treasure. It seems he's really done his homework on me—he knows something about me and Wan'er. Otherwise, he wouldn't be this confident." Han Li snorted coldly, a sharp glint flickering across his face.
"With abilities like his, it would be child's play for him to investigate you and Nangong Wan without anyone noticing. After all, low-level cultivators simply cannot keep any secrets in front of such a powerful demonic cultivator. But Junior Brother, I can't let you go alone. I've already contacted Fire Dragon Boy and five or six other friendly fellow cultivators. When the time comes, you go first, and we'll follow behind. Once that person shows himself, we'll attack together. We have to take him down and teach him that our Xi Kingdom isn't a place where he can just waltz in and out." The silver-haired elder spoke with sudden bitterness.
"Senior Brother's plan isn't bad. But this person will most likely have precautions in place. Still, having you and the others follow along is good too. If the opponent happens to be careless or too arrogant, it would be heaven's will to destroy him." Han Li considered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Having some extra help was something he naturally welcomed.
"Good, it's settled then. Tianzhu Peak is tremendously tall, but for cultivators like us, it might as well be flat ground. I'll place a tracking mark on you, Junior Brother. If the opponent turns out to be truly too powerful to handle, all you need to do is stall for time. My friends and I will arrive in time." The silver-haired elder added these words of caution.
"I'll have to trouble Senior Brother with this. I, Han Li, will remember this favor." It was rare for Han Li, who was reluctant to owe anyone, to say something like this.
"Haha, Junior Brother is also a part of our Luoyun Sect. No need for such formal words. It's getting late. You should hurry and make your preparations, Junior Brother—you'll need to set out tonight if you want to reach Tianzhu Mountain on time." The silver-haired elder laughed and said it as though it were of no great consequence.
Han Li nodded, then took his leave and headed back.
Watching Han Li's retreating figure, the silver-haired elder let out a soft sigh, and a knowing smile appeared on his face.
Getting Han Li to say those words—his efforts had not been in vain after all.
He was certain that after his lifespan came to an end and he passed on, this Junior Brother Han would, in gratitude for this favor, do his utmost to support the Luoyun Sect.
The silver-haired elder felt a wave of relief wash over him. But after a moment's thought, he patted his storage pouch with one hand, and several talismans appeared in his grasp. He tossed them into the air, and they immediately transformed into streaks of red light that shot out of the side hall.
With these voice-transmission talismans sent out, his friends—who had been staying at the Guest Reception Pavilion for several days now—should be able to gather here shortly.
The elder sat in his chair with a contemplative expression, perfectly still.
……