Chapter 1336: Spiritual Land Conflict

Upon hearing the big man's words, the stout man subtly sighed in relief. He thanked him with a smile, then used his jade pendant to mark the light spot displaying the character "four."

Immediately, the original character "four" flickered and changed to "five" after a wisp of green light entered it.

It turned out this person had also set his sights on this prime spiritual land in Cui Long Mountain and intended to claim it.

Seeing that the stout man had chosen this spot, the expressions of the other cultivators sitting nearby drastically changed. Those who had similar intentions immediately abandoned their original plans.

This was because the stout man was a late-stage Soul Transformation cultivator, undeniably superior in cultivation to all other cultivators present.

After making his selection, the stout man leisurely returned to his seat, seemingly still wanting to observe other choices.

However, his choice prompted the remaining cultivators to finally make their decisions. Another two walked out and each selected two spiritual lands in the slightly less desirable Tianyun Mountain. One of these was already occupied, while the other was originally empty.

After making their selections, these two immediately departed and went downstairs.

The remaining cultivators, however, each had furrowed brows, clearly still undecided.

At this moment, Han Li suddenly stood up from his seat and walked towards the man in purple robes.

The other cultivators were momentarily stunned.

After all, Han Li had clearly just arrived, and choosing his target so quickly naturally surprised them somewhat.

Han Li gently swept one hand over his storage bracelet, and a pale white jade box appeared in his hand. Smiling, he handed both it and his jade pendant to the large man in purple robes.

The large man in purple robes did not immediately take the jade box. After his gaze swept over Han Li, he said faintly:

"I hear a new ascended cultivator named Han has recently arrived in the city. Is that you?" "Senior is indeed well-informed," Han Li replied, "it is I." Han Li's heart subtly tightened, but he replied without showing any unusual expression.

"Since that's the case, Fellow Daoist Han must be choosing a cave dwelling for the first time. If so, there's no need to pay any offerings; you can directly select a spiritual land." The large man in purple robes rarely offered Han Li a smile.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior!" Han Li paused in surprise, but immediately smiled casually and put away the jade box.

Hearing that Han Li was a recently ascended cultivator, all the other cultivators looked at Han Li in surprise, with a hint of something unusual in their eyes.

It seemed ascended cultivators were indeed not ordinary presences in Tianyuan City.

The large man in purple robes quickly finished examining Han Li's jade pendant and returned it to him with a nod.

Han Li did not hesitate either. On an unmarked spiritual land on the screen, he gently waved his jade pendant.

Immediately, a wisp of green light shot out, and the character "one" appeared there.

Those who were paying attention to Han Li's actions stirred once they clearly saw his chosen target. This was because the place Han Li chose was surprisingly a spiritual land on Cui Long Mountain, known for having the weakest spiritual energy.

It wouldn't be strange for Han Li, with his early-stage Soul Transformation cultivation, to choose this mountain range. However, other spiritual lands in this mountain range were clearly unoccupied, yet Han Li chose the most inconspicuous spot with the thinnest spiritual energy. This left them somewhat puzzled.

The only advantage of this spiritual land was that to compensate for its spiritual energy deficiency, its designated spiritual scope was truly vast. A region spanning twenty thousand li in circumference, it was more than double the size of other spiritual lands in the same mountain range. However, everyone knew that the quality of a spiritual land was entirely dependent on its spiritual energy. Otherwise, even if the spiritual land was vast, spiritual herbs and spiritual mines would certainly be exceptionally barren. As for cultivation, it would naturally be even more disadvantageous.

"Are you sure you want to choose this place for your cave dwelling? Once chosen, your cave dwelling cannot be changed at will for a hundred years." The man in purple robes was also greatly surprised. He gazed at the spiritual land on the screen for a moment and said with a frown.

"This junior has just arrived in the Spirit Realm and simply needs a place to settle for now. I have no desire to compete with any fellow Daoist. Although this place is a bit inferior, it should be uncontested," Han Li replied calmly.

"Since you think this way, then suit yourself. Anyway, once the mark is made, no one can change it." The large man in purple robes heard Han Li's words; he examined Han Li with a peculiar expression before waving his hand and saying, his voice then returning to its original lazy tone.

Han Li, unconcerned, clasped his fists, then returned to his seat, intending to watch for a while longer.

Another cultivator stood up and was about to walk towards the man in purple robes to select a spiritual land. But at this moment, suddenly, footsteps echoed on the stairs, and a person walked directly up to the second floor without a maid's guidance.

The cultivators on the second floor, upon seeing this person, all showed varied expressions of surprise. Only the stout man, who had the highest cultivation, his eyes lit up as he greeted: "So it's Fellow Daoist Weng! How come you're also interested in contending for a spiritual land this time!"

The person who came upstairs was surprisingly a man in blue robes with a headband. His eyebrows were slanted upwards, his eyes flashed with cold light, giving him an extremely fierce demeanor.

"Hehe, if Brother Jin can come to exchange for a cave dwelling, I, Weng, naturally can too." The man's gaze swept over the stout man, and he said with a faint smile.

This man was a mid-stage Soul Transformation cultivator, but facing the late-stage stout man, he appeared to be interacting as an equal. This made Han Li's heart stir, and he couldn't help but observe this man more closely.

After all, at their level of cultivation, each stage of advancement represented a significant disparity in power. Of course, individuals like him, possessing spirit treasures and cultivating heaven-defying divine abilities like the Soul Devouring Heavenly Fire and Primordial Magnetic Divine Light, were naturally exceptional exceptions.

Given the blue-robed man's attitude towards a late-stage cultivator, it seemed he must have some backing.

"Brother Weng, you're joking," the stout man said, stroking his fleshy chin, a hint of doubt appearing in his eyes. "Your current cave dwelling occupies a top-tier spiritual land. Why would you need to change it?"

"Hehe, I recently plan to cultivate a new secret technique," the blue-robed man chuckled, replying vaguely. "It doesn't place much importance on spiritual energy, but the required spiritual land area must be expansive. Otherwise, cultivation would be troublesome. I'm only temporarily exchanging it for now." "So that's how it is!" The stout man surnamed Jin had a look of sudden understanding, but whether he truly believed it, only Heaven knew.

Han Li heard the man's words within their conversation and frowned, but then acted as if nothing had happened.

The blue-robed man took a few steps towards the large man in purple robes, and upon reaching him, he stood with clasped hands before respectfully greeting:

"Greetings, Senior Uncle Jiao. My master entrusted this junior to convey his regards to you."

"Convey regards? With Old Freak Ming's foul temper, how could he speak like that?" the large man in purple robes said with a sneer. "However, your master has already avoided six major heavenly tribulations; I'm afraid the seventh heavenly tribulation will be difficult to bypass."

Upon hearing the large man in purple robes' words, a trace of embarrassment flashed across the man's face, but he immediately replied honestly: "My master has indeed been in seclusion in his cave dwelling for two hundred years, not leaving, preparing to refine a spirit treasure to resist the next heavenly tribulation."

"A spirit treasure! It seems your master is quite lucky. His last spirit treasure was destroyed resisting a heavenly tribulation, and he's already managed to gather the materials and refine another so quickly. So, it seems your master isn't without a chance to pass the next heavenly tribulation. Alright, this time, I am on duty overseeing these affairs, and it's not appropriate to say too much. Now, quickly choose your spiritual land." The large man in purple robes suddenly darkened his expression, clearly unwilling to say more.

"As you command!" The man with slanted eyebrows affirmed, his gaze then swept over the map on the screen. When his gaze fell upon a certain number that had already appeared, his face suddenly darkened.

"Cui Long Mountain is such a remote spiritual land; how could anyone choose it?" The man surnamed Weng did not dare to ask the large man in purple robes, but suddenly turned to ask the stout man surnamed Jin, "Brother Jin, you were here just now; do you know who chose this spiritual land?" Simultaneously, he pointed at the screen in the air with one hand, and a white light spot immediately appeared on a specific area.

The stout man, upon seeing where the light spot landed, immediately showed an odd expression and subconsciously glanced towards Han Li.

Upon seeing the stout man surnamed Jin's expression, the blue-robed man immediately understood what was happening. He immediately turned slowly and began to carefully size up Han Li.

"You chose this spiritual land!" As soon as this person saw that Han Li's cultivation was only at the early stage, a hint of arrogance couldn't help but appear on his face. His voice was cold.

"Fellow Daoist has also taken a fancy to this place." Han Li pondered for a moment before replying faintly.

"Hmph, for the secret technique I cultivate, only that spiritual land is most suitable for me. If you are sensible, you will voluntarily give up this place. Otherwise, if it comes to a fight, don't blame me, Weng, for showing no mercy." The man with slanted eyebrows said grimly, his threat clear for all to hear.

Han Li was somewhat speechless. To avoid disputes with others, he had specifically chosen a place with thin spiritual energy to avoid stirring up any trouble in Tianyuan City. After all, his mind was entirely focused on cultivation, and he truly didn't want to form any enmity with anyone which might interfere with his pursuit of the Great Dao.

But what Han Li never expected was that despite such a low profile, someone would still actively seek him out. For Han Li, this was truly ironic.

A blue light flashed deep in his pupils, and his gaze quickly swept over the others.

He saw the large man in purple robes sitting leisurely on his chair, without even batting an eyelid, showing no intention of intervening. As for the rest of the cultivators, their gazes towards Han Li held a hint of schadenfreude.

"Senior, if I give up this selection, can I still choose another spiritual land?" Han Li calmly asked the large man in purple robes.

"No," the large man in purple robes said expressionlessly, without the slightest hint of compromise. "The number of spiritual lands is already insufficient, and each person only gets one chance to contend for a spiritual land. If you fail, you can only contend for an empty spiritual land a century from now!"

Hearing these words, Han Li sighed softly.

Waiting a hundred years to establish a cave dwelling was simply unbearable for him, who urgently needed to ripen spiritual herbs and refine large quantities of pills.

And precisely at this moment, the man with slanted eyebrows sneered and added: "Even if you wait a hundred years, it's better than being forcefully knocked down a realm. If Fellow Daoist doesn't heed my words, hehe..."

Han Li heard the other party's words, his eyebrow twitched, and instead of getting angry, he began to laugh.

"This junior cannot agree to your request. In my opinion, it would be better for Fellow Daoist to find another place to cultivate. I, Han, also do not wish to harm any harmony with Brother Weng; what if I accidentally made a mistake..."

Han Li actually spoke such words lightly. Although the latter half of the sentence was left unsaid, anyone could understand the sharp, impolite implication of his retort.

Everyone was stunned.