Chapter 172: Li Shizu

After listening to Sect Master Zhong Lingdao's address and encouragement, two deacon disciples entered the hall, each carrying a tray.

One tray held a storage pouch with gold embroidery, while the other contained a small pile of colorful mid-grade spirit stones. It seemed it was time to fulfill the earlier promise—a form of pre-battle encouragement, Han Li thought with a touch of malice.

The mid-grade spirit stones were to be taken freely, according to each person's needs. Han Li already possessed an earth-attribute and a fire-attribute spirit stone, so he picked a blue water-attribute stone from the tray, and no one contended with him for it.

However, when it was time to draw spirit tools from the storage pouch, the disciples' expressions grew solemn.

This particular storage pouch differed significantly from ordinary ones. With standard pouches, one simply extended their spiritual sense and infused spiritual energy to retrieve items. This bag, however, prevented spiritual sense probing and required no spiritual energy input. Instead, one merely had to reach inside to pull out spirit tools, which were shrunken dozens of times. The challenge was that identifying the retrieved item relied entirely on tactile sensation.

It appeared this storage pouch was specifically crafted for drawing spirit tools; otherwise, its practical utility was far inferior to a regular storage pouch, making it useless for other purposes.

Although all the items inside were high-grade magical artifacts, defensive artifacts were notably rarer than offensive ones. Even among artifacts of the same type (all offensive or all defensive), their quality and efficacy varied considerably.

Drawing a suitable artifact would significantly increase one's chances of survival in the Blood-Red Trial. This made the disciples, especially those who greatly lacked magical artifacts, pay even closer attention.

Han Li, however, was not particularly concerned.

During his last visit to the market, he had cleared out all the treasures accumulated over many years in the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, acquiring two top-tier artifacts alone. Not to mention he later obtained the Azure Dragon Banner and possessed several other high-grade artifacts.

Adding another high-grade artifact would not excite him unduly.

By the time Han Li stepped forward, most people had already made their draws. What artifact they received remained an unspoken secret among them; no one revealed their item to others.

Han Li reached one hand into the pouch and fumbled around. A strangely shaped object appeared in his grasp. His heart stirred, and without hesitation, he pulled it out of the storage pouch. After a quick, surreptitious glance, he was momentarily stunned before immediately putting it away.

At that moment, someone behind him eagerly stepped forward. Seeing this, Han Li courteously yielded his spot and returned to where he had been standing.

Immediately after the artifact drawing concluded, new individuals entered from outside the hall. Many were stewards Han Li had seen when he first joined Yellow Maple Valley, including Uncle Wang and the elderly man surnamed Ye, whom Han Li deeply disdained.

These individuals, contrary to their usual demeanor, respectfully gathered around a square-faced elderly man in the center. Not a single person dared to whisper.

The elder appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, with partially gray hair. However, he was spirited and had a healthy, ruddy complexion. His tiger-like eyes conveyed authority without needing to express anger, immediately marking him as a strong-willed individual.

When his gaze swept over the disciples, Han Li immediately felt as if his internal organs were laid bare for the elder to see, causing him to feel a profound shock.

Upon seeing the elder enter, Sect Master Zhong hurried to greet him, repeatedly addressing him as "Uncle Li" with an almost fawning deference, which utterly astonished the disciples.

However, the other stewards' expressions remained normal. Far from showing disdain, they seemed to harbor envy and jealousy when the elder casually responded to Zhong Lingdao, as if speaking to him and calling him "Uncle" was a rare privilege.

Under the bewildered gazes of Han Li and others who were unaware, Sect Master Zhong introduced the elder to the disciples. It turned out that the "Uncle Li" he referred to was none other than Grandmaster Li, one of the revered Core Formation stage grandmasters whose name Han Li and the others had long heard but never before seen.

Grandmaster Li would lead this expedition to the forbidden ground. Accompanying him would be five other stewards, including Uncle Wang.

As soon as Sect Master Zhong finished the introductions, Grandmaster Li concisely uttered two words: "Depart," bringing his first meeting with Han Li and the other juniors to an abrupt end. He then promptly led the way out of the main hall.

Han Li and the others exchanged bewildered glances, stunned for a moment, but then hastily followed suit under the urging of the other stewards.

Stepping out of the main hall, the disciples collectively gasped.

Suspended in the air just outside the hall entrance was a colossal, shimmering silver creature, over twenty zhang long. Its immense size and oppressive aura caused everyone to feel a suffocating sensation. Grandmaster Li, meanwhile, stood calmly atop the creature's head, watching them with cool indifference.

Han Li rubbed his eyes, his heart pounding, and took several closer looks. Only then did he clearly discern that it was a rare silver giant python, astonishingly large, with an additional dark, massive horn on its head, making it appear even more fearsome and grotesque.

"This is the power of a Core Formation cultivator! To be able to casually subdue and command such a demonic beast, it's truly unbelievable!" Han Li was utterly awed by the Grandmaster's abilities.

The thought of possessing such immense magical power himself once he reached the Core Formation stage made Han Li feel his blood surge, and his entire body thrummed with excitement.

Before meeting Grandmaster Li, Han Li had always had a vague and unclear understanding of his path in cultivation.

However, after this astonishing encounter, the Grandmaster's unfathomable and immense power became a clear goal for him to pursue on his cultivation journey. His confidence in achieving immortal enlightenment grew as solid as a rock.

"All of you, come up and stand still! My Silver-Scaled Horned Python flies much faster than your spirit tools. We'll reach our destination in just two days!"

Grandmaster Li ignored the commotion among the people below him. After gently stroking the silver python's large horn, he calmly issued his command.

And so, Han Li and the others stood nervously atop the giant python, traveling for two days and two nights straight, finally arriving at an unnamed barren mountain.

The Grandmaster had indeed not lied; the creature's flying speed was astonishingly fast, far surpassing what Han Li and the other disciples could achieve with their spirit tools. Of course, this was also largely due to their lack of high-quality flying artifacts.

Upon arrival, the disciples learned from the stewards that this location was the designated meeting point with other immortal sects. Only when all seven major sects had gathered would they set off together to open the forbidden ground. Otherwise, it would be impossible to enter the forbidden ground with the power of just one sect.

The agreed-upon time was tomorrow morning. However, since the forbidden ground was located within Jianzhou, Yellow Maple Valley was considered a partial host. Therefore, their sect typically arrived a day early to await the other sects on this mountain.

For now, the disciples were free to move about. Tomorrow, they would have to line up together and wait.

Since the stewards had given their permission, Han Li and the others naturally dispersed, each tending to their own preparations for the impending battle.

Thus, among the twenty-odd yellow-robed disciples, some sat cross-legged, conserving their energy; others took out their magical artifacts and polished them continuously; and some stared blankly into space, looking deeply worried.

Yet, a few individuals appeared at ease, chatting and laughing as if on a leisurely outing. Han Li paid closer attention to these people.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind him, and Han Li slightly frowned. He had deliberately chosen an inconspicuous corner to sit alone, trying to avoid drawing attention. Why would anyone come here?

"Junior Brother Han, isn't it? I am Xiang Zhili. I wish to discuss the forbidden ground expedition tomorrow with you, Junior Brother! This concerns your very survival. May we have a word together?"

An old but smooth voice reached him, causing Han Li's brow to furrow even deeper.

Such ostentation, even without seeing the speaker's face, immediately led Han Li to label him as cunning and untrustworthy. He suspected this person's approach would bring no good.

However, Han Li understood the adage: better to offend a gentleman than a villain. Despite his strong reluctance, he reluctantly turned around to face the elder and the young man who had approached him.