Chapter 1784: Coming Visitor

During this period, he also needed to gather auxiliary materials to concoct several Integration-level elixirs, primarily using Corrosive Poison Grass. While other ingredients couldn't compare to the Corrosive Poison Grass in rarity, they were still uncommon in the Spirit Realm. Therefore, gathering all the necessary materials for alchemy would require some effort.

Furthermore, to prepare for the Great Heavenly Tribulation that occurred every three thousand years, he intended to refine the Grand Yi Azure Mountain, which he had obtained from the Guanghan Realm, into one of the Extreme Mountains. Although its power couldn't rival the true Five-Element Extreme Mountains, when combined with the Primordial Magnetic Extreme Mountain, it would offer some defense against the Heavenly Tribulation.

Similarly, he needed to discover the proper use for the Void Spirit Pill he had already acquired. Only then could he take it with confidence, knowing the most opportune time for its consumption.

Additionally, due to his cultivation of the Spirit Refinement Technique and the amplification of his divine sense after advancing to the Integration stage, he was now able to command over a thousand Gold Devouring Beetles at once for a sustained period, even if he couldn't unleash tens of thousands simultaneously. Such a large number of mature Gold Devouring Beetles constituted an extremely formidable weapon. Even ordinary Integration-stage cultivators would be greatly intimidated.

This meant he could now use the Inner Core of the Rainbow Flying Fish in his possession to begin concocting the legendary "Seven-Colored Pill." Combined with these ancient spirit elixirs and the Golden Thunder Bamboo leaves, it was highly probable that the already mature Gold Devouring Beetles could further evolve or undergo another mutation.

He had previously used strange stone pier material to induce a mutation in a small portion of his Gold Devouring Beetles. However, apart from these beetles becoming unusually heavy, this mutation hadn't yielded any other astonishing special effects, which left him quite disappointed. As for the Gold Devouring Beetle King, which Elder Qing Yuan mentioned even True Immortals would avoid, it seemed too elusive for him. Even if he wanted to cultivate one, he wouldn't know where to start; it remained a mere thought.

Nevertheless, whether to command more Gold Devouring Beetles or to prepare for future breakthroughs, cultivating the second layer of the Spirit Refinement Technique was essential. Given his current situation, his divine sense strength met the requirements, but his physical body strength was still lacking. He would only barely meet the conditions when his Brahma Holy True Devil Arts reached great mastery during the late Integration stage. Before that, he could first try to use external items to strengthen his physical body. For instance, the Scarlet Luo Heavenly Wine had the wonderful effect of gradually improving one's constitution and could be prepared for consumption. Naturally, he also needed to spend time gradually deciphering the few Immortal Realm talismans and the mysterious star map.

Han Li pondered silently, falling into deep thought.

For the remainder of the year, Han Li did not leave his cave dwelling on Mount Rising Sun, fully dedicating himself to consolidating his magic power and state of mind. Outside, however, his breakthrough to the Integration stage had caused a stir. Many forces in the surrounding areas began to stir with ambition. Fortunately, these forces understood that a cultivator who had just broken through a bottleneck naturally needed to seclude themselves for the first year. Therefore, they wisely refrained from sending anyone to disturb Han Li's cultivation during this period. However, as soon as the year ended, some could no longer hold back.

On this day, a tall, slender old man with faint golden eyebrows appeared at the edge of the mist sea. Dressed in a green robe with a jade Ruyi scepter hanging from his waist, he stood on a nearby peak, gazing towards the center of the mist sea with an expressionless face. Suddenly, the old man turned his head and looked up at the sky behind him. At the horizon, a spiritual light flashed, and an astonishing silver rainbow, over ten zhang long, appeared. A loud whooshing sound filled the air as the silver rainbow, moving at an incredible speed, shot nearby after just a few blinks, seemingly about to plunge into the mist sea with another flash.

However, at that moment, a soft "Hmm?" echoed from the air. The sound was not loud but clearly reached the old man's ears. Hearing this, the old man's expression changed slightly. Immediately, the silver rainbow circled once and then shot down towards the peak where the old man stood. With a flash of silver light, a slender figure appeared about ten zhang in front of the old man. It was a beautiful young woman, fair-faced and dressed in a blue palace gown. No unusual aura emanated from her; she wore a faint smile, appearing as unassuming as a common maiden from the mortal world.

"Fairy Xiaofeng! I never imagined that you, as the esteemed Family Head of the Gu family, would come here in person," the green-robed old man said, his pupils contracting upon seeing the young woman's face.

"So it's Elder Qi from Tianyuan City. Are you here for the person on Mount Rising Sun?" the young woman asked, her gaze shifting as she bowed slightly.

"Hehe, Tianyuan City is only a few months' journey from here, so news of an Integration-stage fellow Daoist appearing here naturally reached us long ago. The other elders of the council are either in seclusion or away, leaving only an old man like me to make the trip. I presume you, Family Head Gu, are here for the same purpose?" the green-robed old man replied with a slight smile, speaking very courteously to the young woman.

"Senior's insight is truly sharp! Actually, a year ago, an elder from our Gu family already made contact with the senior on Mount Rising Sun. We never anticipated that within just a year or so, this senior would unexpectedly advance to the Integration stage. Naturally, I had to come in person this time," the young woman said with a smile.

"If I'm not mistaken, your True Spirit Family will be holding its triennial True Spirit Grand Ceremony in a few years, won't it? No wonder you're so eager to bolster the Gu family's strength. However, if this fellow Daoist from Mount Rising Sun truly is at the Integration stage, I cannot yield. During the last alien invasion, Tianyuan City lost two elders. Additionally, two more elders will likely struggle to survive the next Great Heavenly Tribulation, so we urgently need new Integration-stage fellow Daoists to replenish our ranks," the green-robed old man shook his head, showing no intention of giving way.

"I see. However, as this concerns the honor and standing of our Gu family in the True Spirit Grand Ceremony, I similarly cannot easily yield," the young woman said, her delicate brows furrowing as she gave a wry smile.

"Heh, heh, an Integration-stage cultivator isn't so easily persuaded to join a particular family. Perhaps both of us will return empty-handed from this trip. Let's first meet this fellow Daoist before discussing anything else," the old man chuckled softly, speaking indifferently.

"Indeed. In that case, Elder Qi and I shall pay our respects to this senior together," the young woman nodded in agreement.

The green-robed old man had no objection. With a flash of their escape lights, the two instantly arrived in mid-air at the edge of the mist sea. The green-robed old man took a breath and then announced loudly:

"Qi Xubing from Tianyuan City and Fairy Xiaofeng from the Gu family specifically request an audience!"

The old man's voice transformed into a mysterious spiritual force, spreading slowly over the mist sea and echoing for hundreds of miles above it.

Inside his cave dwelling, Han Li, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, a grave expression appearing on his face. However, he immediately made a grasping motion in the air with one hand, and a hazy white formation plate materialized in his palm. He swiftly performed hand seals with one hand and pointed at the formation plate several times, his lips moving slightly. At the same time, Han Li's faint voice echoed from the edge of the mist sea where the green-robed old man and the young woman stood:

"Ah, it's fellow Daoists who have graced us with your presence. Han is still in seclusion and cannot immediately come out to greet you. Please, both of you, take a seat in my humble abode for a moment; I will personally emerge from seclusion to meet you shortly."

No sooner had his voice faded than the mist sea below began to churn, revealing a passage several zhang wide. The green-robed old man and Fairy Xiaofeng exchanged a glance before immediately flying in, one after the other. A short while later, they arrived above the peak and descended their escape lights in front of the cave dwelling on the mountainside. Han Li's cave dwelling door was already wide open. The old man and the young woman immediately walked inside.

A moment later, they were seated separately in a simple hall. Then, an emotionless woman in white, carrying a tea tray, served each of them a cup of fragrant spiritual tea before quietly standing by with her hands folded. Initially, the green-robed old man and the young woman paid little attention, but when their divine senses casually swept over the woman in white, both were greatly astonished.

"Senior Qi, I hope I'm not mistaken. This woman appears to be a puppet," the young woman asked, sending a telepathic message filled with surprise and doubt.

"Indeed, she is a puppet, and judging by her aura, she seems to be a Void Refinement-level puppet. What's strange, however, is that she doesn't appear to be controlled by anyone; she moves completely on her own," the green-robed old man's gaze was even sharper, discerning details the young woman had missed.

The young woman's shock upon hearing this was considerable. However, before she could observe the woman in white more closely, soft footsteps sounded from outside the hall, and a composed young man, appearing to be in his twenties, walked in. The young woman's gaze immediately shifted, fixing intently on him. The next moment, her expression became solemn, and she immediately stood up, bowing slightly to the young man.

"Senior has indeed advanced to the Integration stage. On behalf of the Gu family, I congratulate senior on achieving great divine powers."

On the other side, the green-robed old man also rose with a smile in his eyes and clasped his fist, saying:

"I am Qi Xubing, an elder of Tianyuan City. It is a pleasure to meet you, fellow Daoist."

"Both of you are too kind! You've come a long way, and Han couldn't come out to greet you properly; I hope you don't take offense," Han Li replied with a faint smile, returning the bow.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Han has just advanced to the Integration stage; it's natural that you need time to consolidate your cultivation. How could Qi not understand?" the old man replied, stroking his beard.

After a few more courteous exchanges, the three of them took their respective seats as host and guests.

"To be frank, Senior Han, when I received news of your advancement to the Integration stage, I almost couldn't believe it. After all, it wasn't long ago that Elder Gu Yun of our clan returned and clearly stated that you were still at the Void Refinement stage. To think that in just a year, you've reached such a realm," the young woman from the Gu family said with a touch of emotion.

"Heh, heh, actually, at that time, I was indeed preparing to attempt a breakthrough. However, as both of you know, the chances of advancing to the Integration stage are exceedingly low, and I hadn't expected to succeed this time. It wasn't my intention to conceal anything from Fellow Daoist Gu Yun back then," Han Li said, a hint of apology on his face.