Chapter 1213: Enduring Love

The Heavenly South Cultivation World was once again in an uproar.

Some Nascent Soul stage elders from various major cultivation sects suddenly received new invitations from the Fallen Cloud Sect. This time, they were invited to attend a grand Dual Cultivation Ceremony for the Fallen Cloud Sect's Grand Elder, renowned as the Heavenly South's foremost cultivator, and Nangong Wan, a relatively unknown female cultivator of the Nascent Soul stage, who would formally become dual cultivation partners.

Upon receiving the invitation, all the Nascent Soul stage "old monsters" were greatly surprised, except for a few cultivators who were already privy to the details. However, considering Han Li's unmatched reputation, no one dared to decline the invitation. Even the other three great cultivators, who could not attend in person due to their seclusion, specially dispatched their disciples with exceptionally rare congratulatory gifts.

It was said that for several days during the ceremony, the skies over the entire Fallen Cloud Mountain Range were largely enveloped in a spectacularly vibrant five-colored light. Within the range, colorful jade towers and pavilions materialized out of thin air. All the spiritual flowers and trees across the mountains simultaneously bloomed and unfurled their green leaves under the influence of special restrictions, making Cloud Dream Mountain appear truly like a celestial paradise.

The Three Sects of Cloud Dream Mountain, along with several smaller nearby sects eager to curry favor with Han Li, spared no effort for the event. Its grandeur even far exceeded the ceremony held when Han Li first became a Great Cultivator.

Those who attended the ceremony included not only the cultivators from major sects invited by the Fallen Cloud Sect, but also cultivators from various small and medium-sized sects, along with some notable rogue cultivators, who all arrived uninvited, bearing gifts.

Consequently, during the days of the ceremony, Cloud Dream Mountain hosted as many as five to six thousand visiting cultivators, predominantly high-level ones. It was hailed as the grandest celebration in the Heavenly South for over a millennium.

However, upon reflection, it wasn't surprising at all.

When Han Li first advanced to the Great Cultivator stage, though many came to offer congratulations, most harbored doubts, especially since three other Great Cultivators of the same rank still existed in Heavenly South. Yet, after the battle at the Great Cultivator ceremony, Han Li's title as the Heavenly South's foremost cultivator was unequivocally cemented.

The news that Han Li could single-handedly face two cultivators of the same rank and still gain a significant advantage sent a chill down the spine of every sect, regardless of their long history or immense power.

This was because it clearly demonstrated that with Han Li's current divine abilities, he alone possessed the power to flatten any cultivation sect, should he choose to disregard their existence.

No sect in the Heavenly South could possibly possess more than two Great Cultivators simultaneously, leaving them with no power whatsoever to contend with Han Li, the Heavenly South's foremost cultivator.

Consequently, all sects, whether or not they previously had ties with the Fallen Cloud Sect, eagerly sent representatives to forge connections. High-level rogue cultivators, on the other hand, primarily hoped to meet the Heavenly South's foremost individual, seeking guidance in their cultivation or simply hoping to meet other cultivators during the ceremony.

Thus, with the multitude of visiting cultivators for the ceremony, combined with those from the three sects themselves, it truly became a Grand Ceremony of Ten Thousand Cultivators.

Han Li and the beautiful Nangong Wan did not stay long at the ceremony. The couple merely smiled, offered words of gratitude to the assembled cultivators, shared a cup of betrothal wine on the spot, and then gracefully departed.

The subsequent proceedings were entirely left to Lu Luo, another elder of the Fallen Cloud Sect, to preside over.

True to his vast experience, Elder Lu managed to keep the remaining activities of the ceremony vibrant and bustling, even in the absence of the two main protagonists.

The Dual Cultivation Ceremony continued for three or four days before finally drawing to a close.

The assembled cultivators, having offered their congratulations, finally began to depart in groups, though a few unexpectedly remained.

Han Li and Nangong Wan, dressed in a white gown, stood side by side atop the mother peak of the Child-Mother Peaks, silently gazing at the wondrous sight of distant white clouds rolling, as if silence spoke louder than words.

After an unknown amount of time, Nangong Wan gracefully swept the hair from her forehead with a delicate wrist and suddenly turned her head, flashing a charming smile at Han Li:

"This time, I truly count myself blessed amidst misfortune. Thanks to the 'Chanyi Tianyue Art', I finally broke through to the Mid Nascent Soul stage while sealed away. However, ultimately, I must thank my husband for your timely assistance; you even provided me with a miraculous item like the Emperor's Dew. This alone saved me at least a decade of arduous cultivation; otherwise, whether I could have broken free by now would still be uncertain. But for my husband to advance to the Late Nascent Soul stage so swiftly, it truly caught me off guard. With your current divine abilities, I fear no one in the Human Realm can be your match, save for those few Soul Transformation stage old monsters who rarely make an appearance."

"Invincible? I wouldn't be so quick to claim that," Han Li replied with a faint, modest smile. "Since I've had such good fortune, who's to say there aren't other Nascent Soul cultivators elsewhere in the Human Realm with opportunities no less than mine?"

"Hehe, I don't believe that for a moment!" Nangong Wan said, her eyes shimmering with a girlish charm like autumn waves. "But what truly surprised me was how insidious that Soul Sealing Charm proved to be. I had thought the power of the Fire Toad's inner core had almost completely purged it, but I never imagined several other restrictions were still dormant within my body. It's a good thing you used the true unsealing method to remove them beforehand; otherwise, the consequences would have been dire indeed."

"I also breathed a huge sigh of relief," Han Li replied with a smile, glancing at the beautiful woman beside him. "My special trip to Great Jin wasn't in vain. Later, Wan'er, take the Cultivating Infant Pill I gave you. With that, advancing to the Late Nascent Soul stage might not be impossible for you."

"That Cultivating Infant Pill truly possesses such miraculous effects! It's even significantly effective for breaking through to the Late Nascent Soul stage?" Nangong Wan blinked her beautiful eyes, appearing somewhat skeptical.

"Hehe," Han Li chuckled, saying no more. "For this pill, several Mid Nascent Soul cultivators in Great Jin successively perished. What do you think its effects are?"

"Since my husband says so, I'll consolidate my Mid Nascent Soul stage cultivation first, and then I'll take the pill and try." Nangong Wan's eyes sparkled with brilliance. After tilting her head slightly, she offered a gentle smile that combined the alluring charm of a mature woman with the pristine purity of a young girl.

Han Li gazed at his wife's flawless face, and recalling their intimate time together over the past few days, his heart stirred. Just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly shifted, and he turned his head to look at the distant sky. Nangong Wan was momentarily startled and followed his gaze.

A moment later, a beam of white light pierced through the distant sky's restrictions and shot directly towards Han Li and Nangong Wan.

Han Li's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of surprise appearing as he seemed to recognize the approaching figure.

The white light circled once above them before descending. As the radiance receded, a beautiful woman was revealed: Mu Peiling.

"Greetings, Young Master, Sister Nangong!" Mu Peiling curtsied to both of them, addressing them with a surprisingly calm expression.

"Sister Peiling, the ceremony has already concluded, yet you've rushed here from the sect," Nangong Wan asked gracefully, her eyes shimmering. "Is there something Elder Lu couldn't handle that required you to seek out my husband and me?"

"Sister Nangong," Mu Peiling said in a pleasant voice, "there are two groups of guests who have remained in the mountains. They both claim to be old acquaintances of the Young Master and specifically requested to see him. Elder Lu wasn't sure if the Young Master wished to meet them, so he sent me to inform you. If the Young Master prefers not to see them, Elder Lu will naturally dismiss them."

"My husband's old acquaintances? Could they be beautiful female cultivators?" Nangong Wan asked, her eyes, clear as water, swiveling to glance at Han Li with a half-smile.

"Sister Nangong is indeed discerning; both groups are women," Mu Peiling confirmed, casting a quick glance at Han Li before biting her lip and nodding slightly.

"Oh, it seems my husband's romantic entanglements have come calling," Nangong Wan said, giving Han Li a playful side-eye.

"Romantic entanglements? *Cough*, Wan'er, please don't tease your husband," Han Li said, clearing his throat and asking Mu Peiling with a hint of curiosity, "Peiling, who are these people? Did you get their names?"

"Yes, I asked," Mu Peiling replied without hesitation. "One group is led by a woman surnamed Yan from the Ghost Spirit Sect, accompanied by two of their elders. The other group consists of a female cultivator named Han Yunzhi from the Spirit Controlling Sect, and Dong Xuan'er from the Joyous Union Sect."

"It's them?" Han Li murmured, a trace of surprise in his voice.

Nangong Wan, hearing this, subtly raised her delicate eyebrows, then chuckled softly.

"It seems these individuals truly are old acquaintances of my husband. You might as well go see them, Husband," Nangong Wan said with a smile. "Otherwise, it would be quite impolite."

"I knew these people before my cultivation reached its current height. It's fine to see them," Han Li said, nodding after a brief moment of thought. "Peiling, go back and inform Elder Lu that I'll be there shortly. Arrange for them to be in two separate guest pavilions; I'll meet them individually."

"Understood. Then Peiling will take her leave." Mu Peiling bowed slightly and respectfully transformed into a white beam of light, flying away.

Han Li remained where he was, looking up at the sky with a slight frown.

"What's wrong? Are you dissatisfied with Sister Peiling?" Nangong Wan asked with a faint smile, having noticed Han Li's expression.

"No," Han Li replied, clasping his hands behind his back and shaking his head in slight perplexity. "I just can't quite understand why you recognized her as a sworn sister after you emerged. I had originally intended for you to take her on as an introductory disciple."

"What's wrong with taking Peiling as a sworn sister?" Nangong Wan asked gently. "For one, I simply wish to accompany my husband on our shared path of cultivation and have no desire to take on disciples. Secondly, her background bears some resemblance to my own past, and we found a strong affinity after our conversations. Furthermore, rather than leaving her in an awkward predicament, it's better if I first recognize her as a sister. This way, whether she truly becomes your concubine in the future, or you secretly treat her as a disciple and impart your cultivation methods, others won't gossip."

"This matter is as you wish; I won't say more," Han Li said dismissively. "I'll go see those two groups of guests now."

"Then, Husband, go quickly and return soon," Nangong Wan said with a light chuckle. "I'll go back to my own cultivation cave and wait for you there."

Hearing Nangong Wan's words, Han Li couldn't help but give a wry smile:

"Wan'er, this 'Chanyi Tianyue Art' you cultivate is truly peculiar. During cultivation, you must draw upon the power of the Yin Moon. This necessitates setting up a special formation to gather Yin Moon energy. However, Yin Moon energy is greatly detrimental to the cultivation of other cultivators. Cultivating within the affected area of this formation would likely hinder any progress in one's cultivation. It's a shame that you and I cannot cultivate in the same cave dwelling; we must establish separate ones on different sub-peaks."

"I was too eager for the power of this art back then," Nangong Wan replied with an apologetic expression, "and didn't thoroughly consider such troublesome side effects."

"While it's a bit regrettable, it's fortunate that we only have to separate during cultivation," Han Li said, comforting her. "Our two cave dwellings are close by, and when we're not cultivating, we can certainly share one. It's not truly a significant impact. Well, it's getting late, so I'll be going now." With Nangong Wan watching him, he then transformed into a green rainbow and departed from the mother peak.