Chapter 1164: Double Cultivation Discussion

Chapter 1153: Of Dual Cultivation

"Haha, that works. Brother Lin, what do you think of Elder Ling of our palace?" The old man surnamed Zhao asked with a smile.

"Are you referring to Fellow Daoist Ling Yuling?" Han Li asked, momentarily surprised.

"That's right, she's the beloved daughter of our two Saintly Venerables!" The old man nodded repeatedly.

"For Fellow Daoist Ling to reach the Nascent Soul stage at such a young age, her cultivation talent is naturally exceptional. But what do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist?" Han Li's eyes flickered with doubt.

"While Elder Ling's aptitude is good, it naturally pales in comparison to Brother Han's. However, both of you are undoubtedly extraordinary talents. If the two of you were to join forces and support each other on the path of cultivation, there might even be a slim chance of achieving immortality. Brother Han, would you be willing to form a dual cultivation partnership with Elder Ling?"

"A dual cultivation partner?"

This time, Han Li was truly startled. His mouth hung wide open, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

"That's right, both Brother Han and Elder Ling are so young and possess exceptional talent—this is simply a match made in heaven! How about I, Zhao, act as the grand matchmaker?" The old man surnamed Zhao's face was beaming with smiles.

A look of surprise flashed across Han Li's face and was gone instantly. He frowned.

The old man, who had been observing Han Li's expression, couldn't help but feel a little taken aback, and he muttered to himself.

Such a good offer, could he possibly be unwilling?

One must understand that female Nascent Soul cultivators in the cultivation world are as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns. To find one of similar age is even rarer, almost impossible to come across. Everyone knows that dual cultivation is greatly beneficial for cultivation, but most male Nascent Soul cultivators can only take female cultivators at the Core Formation or even Foundation Establishment stage as concubines. True dual cultivation partners are rare. On the rare occasion a female Nascent Soul cultivator appears, she's likely to be pursued by seven or eight male cultivators of similar cultivation levels.

As the old man originally thought, Ling Yuling is a Nascent Soul cultivator, beautiful as a flower, and the beloved daughter of the renowned Star Palace Master. If this wasn't a pie falling from the sky, what was it?

Yet, the other party was so indifferent, even somewhat unwilling. This greatly exceeded the old man's expectations.

However, the other party was a Grand Cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage, so he naturally dared not show the slightest displeasure. His smile remained unchanged on the surface, and he continued with unusual enthusiasm:

"The two Saintly Venerables said that as long as Fellow Daoist forms a good union with Elder Ling and agrees to reside in our Star City, with Brother Han's cultivation, the position of the next Star Palace Master would naturally be yours, Fellow Daoist. In this way, Brother Han could become the Lord of the Star Seas in the blink of an eye, and..."

The old man spoke endlessly, detailing the many benefits promised by the Heavenly Star Dual Sages, his words subtly tinged with a hint of envy.

Han Li had remained silent. But seeing no sign of the other party stopping anytime soon, he sighed inwardly and finally spoke, interrupting him:

"Many thanks for the kind offer from your Palace Master, but regarding this matter, I, Han, can only politely decline."

"What? Brother Han, have you truly thought this through? Perhaps you should consider it for a few more days; there's no rush to reply." The old man surnamed Zhao saw that after all his talking, the other party remained unusually calm. He knew then that his trip was likely in vain. Now, hearing Han Li flat-out refuse, his heart still sank, and he reluctantly made one last attempt to persuade him.

If he failed to accomplish this, it wouldn't be easy for him to face the Dual Sages upon his return.

"It's not that I look down on Immortal Maiden Yuling or have any prejudice against your esteemed palace," Han Li said slowly, "but rather that I, Han, already have a fixed partner, who is also a Nascent Soul cultivator."

"So that's how it is; in that case, there's nothing that can be done. It seems Elder Ling and Fellow Daoist are fated not to be together. Still, I, Zhao, find it a bit regrettable." Upon hearing the reason Han Li gave, the old man surnamed Zhao's expression relaxed out of helplessness.

Having a reason to report back made things much easier to explain.

However, he still felt a bit strange inwardly, as it seemed no other new female Nascent Soul cultivators had appeared in the Scattered Star Seas in the last century, apart from Ling Yuling.

Could it be that his partner, like him, is also a reclusive cultivator? And thus, their name isn't well-known!

The Heavenly Star Dual Sages hadn't mentioned to the old man surnamed Zhao that Han Li might be an outsider cultivator. He naturally assumed Han Li was one of those reclusive cultivators who always remained in secluded cultivation.

"I can't force the matter concerning Elder Ling," the old man surnamed Zhao sighed, then changed the subject and spoke. "However, the two Saintly Venerables instructed me, Zhao, that if Fellow Daoist wouldn't agree to the dual cultivation proposal, I should convey another message to you. Brother Han, would you be interested in hearing it?"

"Naturally, I'd like to hear it." Han Li's eyes flickered, and he replied without hesitation.

Since the Star Palace couldn't win him over, it was only natural they'd have other tricks up their sleeve; he wasn't surprised by this.

"It's nothing much; the two Saintly Venerables simply wish to formally meet with Fellow Daoist. Of course, the meeting location, as long as it's within the sea area near Star City, can be chosen by Fellow Daoist yourself. The Saintly Venerables asked me to convey that the content of this discussion relates to breaking through the Deity Transformation bottleneck. They hope Brother Han will agree to this." The old man surnamed Zhao's expression turned solemn.

"Related to breaking through Deity Transformation?" Han Li stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

If the other party hadn't suddenly added that last sentence at the end, he would have flat-out refused without a second thought. But now that the matter was significant, he couldn't help but ponder it carefully.

After all, he had absolutely no clue how to break through to the Deity Transformation stage. Even if he had to take this risk, he didn't want to truly miss out on a potential opportunity.

"If your esteemed palace's Dual Sages don't mind," Han Li finally said slowly after pondering for a while, "three days from now, I will await their esteemed presence on a small island three thousand li north of Star City." With his current divine abilities, as long as he wasn't trapped in a desperate situation or simultaneously besieged by too many Nascent Soul cultivators, he had absolutely nothing to fear from any ambush. Thus, meeting in a place where everything was clearly visible would actually be safer.

"Good, I, Zhao, will report this truthfully to the Saintly Venerables." The old man surnamed Zhao's face lit up with joy, seeing Han Li agree so readily this time.

Han Li chatted with the man for a few more sentences, then immediately took his leave.

The old man seemed to sense that Han Li had no intention of lingering, and thus didn't try to persuade him to stay.

Han Li didn't require the other party to accompany him, and headed directly towards the teleportation array on the island.

With Han Li's flying speed, it wasn't long before he flew to the mountain peak where the teleportation array was located, just as he saw the disheveled-haired cultivator guarding the formation standing in front of the stone house, talking to several cultivators with a stern face, and shaking his head repeatedly, seemingly refusing something.

A dazzling blue light flashed, and Han Li strangely appeared before the group.

"Greetings, Senior!" The disheveled-haired cultivator immediately recognized Han Li from that day, and hastily took a few steps forward, bowing with a fawning smile.

"I wish to return to the Inner Sea. Is the teleportation array working correctly?" Han Li asked directly, his tone cold.

"Of course, there's no problem, Senior, please enter!" The Star Palace cultivator replied quickly, and without Han Li having to say anything, he cleverly handed over a teleportation talisman.

Although he had a Great Teleportation Command Token, Han Li still unceremoniously took the talisman, and with a flicker of his figure, he stepped inside.

A moment later, a white light of teleportation illuminated the stone house, and Han Li's trace vanished completely.

Because of Han Li's arrival, the other cultivators, whose faces showed awe, finally relaxed their expressions, their demeanors returning to normal.

One of the Core Formation cultivators, who was acquainted with the disheveled-haired cultivator, couldn't help but ask directly:

"Brother Yu, is that senior an elder of your esteemed palace? He seems quite unfamiliar."

"Not exactly. I've only seen this senior once, but he holds an honorary elder token from our Star Palace. Although it hasn't been officially announced, he should be a new elder about to join our Star Palace, right?" The disheveled-haired cultivator chuckled, saying with a hint of pride.

"So that's it. Doesn't this mean your Star Palace's influence is about to greatly increase? This elder seems to possess techniques for retaining youth; I wonder if he's an early Nascent Soul cultivator or a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator." The Core Formation cultivator clicked his tongue in wonder, speaking with envy.

"I'm not really sure about that," the disheveled-haired cultivator hesitated for a moment, speaking with uncertainty. "This senior seems to have some protective treasure, making it impossible to clearly ascertain his exact cultivation stage. However, I'd estimate he's the former. If he were a mid-Nascent Soul senior, even a reclusive cultivator shouldn't be completely unknown by now, right?"

"I think so too!" another cultivator, who carried a sword on his back, sighed. "But even so, it's not something we can compare to. Tsk, tsk, a lifespan of over a thousand years... I truly wonder if we'll ever have the chance to form a Nascent Soul?"

Three days later, three thousand li north of Star City, on a nameless coral island only a few li in size, a young man sat cross-legged on a red reef, his body shimmering with green light, his eyes tightly closed.

This young man was naturally Han Li.

A few days earlier, after he had used the teleportation array to return to Star City in the Inner Sea, he immediately left the large island without the slightest hesitation, not even lingering for a moment.

Originally, he had been wary that the Heavenly Star Dual Sages might use this opportunity to act against him, but it seemed his worries were a bit excessive.

He left the Star Palace's sphere of influence without any difficulties.

With that, Han Li's heart relaxed. He stayed in the nearby sea area for several days, and arrived at this location on time to meet the Heavenly Star Dual Sages.

But to be cautious, at this moment, he fully released his powerful spiritual sense, encompassing the entire area within several hundred li around him.

Whether it was the pitch-black seabed thousands of zhang deep, or the sky reaching ten thousand feet high, everything was under his surveillance.

Facing Grand Cultivators like the Heavenly Star Dual Sages, who shook the Star Seas with their might, Han Li naturally wouldn't underestimate them.

They were a couple and cultivated the same cultivation method, so when they joined forces, they were likely much stronger than two ordinary late-stage cultivators combined.

Moreover, the fame of the Primordial Magnetic Divine Light was simply too resounding. It was said to be able to overcome all Five Elements in the world. Although it was certainly an exaggeration, one could imagine how terrifying this cultivation method was.

Han Li didn't want to carelessly lose his life due to temporary arrogance.

Therefore, before the Dual Sages arrived, he first took control of everything in the nearby sea area, to prevent any malicious schemes from the other party!

As midday approached and the bright sun in the sky was dazzling, Han Li, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly stirred, and opened his clear eyes.

At the edge of the sky he was facing, a white light flickered, followed by two streaks of escape light appearing side-by-side, and shooting through the air towards the small island.