Chapter 1785: Invitation and the Ling Emperor's Grand Competition

"How could I dare to harbor such a thought? It is of utmost importance for a senior to break through the Integration bottleneck, and a bit of caution is naturally warranted," the young woman said with a charming smile.

"When I broke through the Integration bottleneck back then, I also found an extremely remote place. My thinking was quite similar to Fellow Daoist Han's," the old man in green robes said, chuckling.

Upon hearing this, Han Li naturally returned a smile.

Following that, the three of them no longer spoke of this matter, but casually chatted about other topics.

Given Han Li's rich experience from adventuring alone across two continents in the past, it was imaginable how extensive his knowledge was.

As for the old man and the young woman, one was the head of a True Spirit family, and the other was a cultivator who had reached the Integration stage many years ago. Their insights were naturally extraordinary as well.

After their conversation, the three of them surprisingly got along very well.

Both the old man and the young woman felt their horizons had been greatly broadened.

"Fellow Daoist Han, listening to your words just now, you seem to know a great deal about foreign races. Much of it isn't even recorded in human historical texts, and some even pertains to other continents. Could it be that you have already traveled to other continents?" The old man finally couldn't suppress the doubt in his heart and asked.

"Fellow Daoist Qi, your insight is truly sharp! I have indeed just returned from adventuring in the Barren Wilds. As for other continents, I was also fortunate enough to visit one," Han Li replied frankly, with no intention of hiding anything.

However, the old man in green robes and the young woman couldn't help but gasp.

Fairy Xiaofeng remained silent for a moment before speaking with some hesitation:

"No wonder, with Senior's cultivation and divine abilities, I had never heard of you before. So Senior has been cultivating outside all this time and only recently returned to our clan. However, I heard from Elder Yun that Fellow Daoist once mentioned the Ye family and the Long family, who are also True Spirit families. This reminds me of something, and I'm not sure if I should mention it."

"Oh, what is it? Fellow Daoist, please speak freely!" Han Li said, his expression unchanged.

"Since Senior says so, I will speak frankly. To be honest, after Elder Gu Yun informed me about Senior, I became quite interested and dispatched some people to investigate individuals with the same name as Senior. Although the time was short and they didn't find much, they did obtain some basic information. Among them, there was a 'Han Li' who served as a Blue-net Guard in Tianyuan City several centuries ago. Is that Senior yourself?" Fairy Xiaofeng spoke softly and slowly.

Upon hearing this, the old man in green robes was somewhat surprised.

Both the fact that Han Li had been a member of Tianyuan City back then, and that a mere Blue-net Guard had become an Integration-stage cultivator in just a few hundred years, left this Tianyuan City elder greatly astonished.

"Heh heh, the name of a True Spirit family truly lives up to its reputation. In just a year or so, you've managed to uncover my origins. I was indeed a Blue-net Guard in Tianyuan City. However, after completing a mission back then, I regained my freedom and left Tianyuan City." Han Li's expression shifted slightly, but he immediately recovered and replied as usual.

"So that means the person being sought by both the Long family and the Ye family at the same time is also Senior Han," the young woman said, her expression somewhat strange.

"The Ye family, the Long family? Have those two families been looking for me?" Han Li narrowed his eyes, his expression somewhat grim.

"The Ye family searched for Senior for over a hundred years back then, but eventually gave up. However, the Long family, known as the foremost True Spirit family, still doesn't seem to have officially rescinded their search order. Over the years, the Ye family and the Long family have become quite hostile towards each other. While it hasn't escalated to full-blown conflict, there are frequent frictions between the two families. This all began precisely after the two families started searching for Senior back then," the young woman said meaningfully.

Han Li's brows furrowed slightly. He didn't immediately reply, but instead fell into contemplation.

"Fellow Daoist, you were once a Blue-net Guard in Tianyuan City back then? That is somewhat unexpected. However, this is good, as I, Qi, can speak frankly now. My true intention for visiting this time, Fellow Daoist Han, I believe you might have already guessed a part of it." The old man in green robes cleared his throat, then spoke at this moment.

"Hmm, what Brother Qi is saying... is perhaps an invitation for me to rejoin Tianyuan City!" Han Li raised an eyebrow and replied indifferently.

"Precisely. I am indeed formally inviting Fellow Daoist to join our city on behalf of the Elder Council. Of course, with Fellow Daoist's Integration-stage cultivation, joining our city means immediately becoming a member of the Elder Council. As for the subsequent treatment, since Fellow Daoist has also spent time in Tianyuan City, you should be quite clear about it. There's no need for me to elaborate further," Qi Xubing said solemnly.

"This…" Han Li's face showed a thoughtful expression, and he did not immediately accept or refuse.

Seeing this, the young woman, her eyes gleaming briefly, parted her cherry lips and softly said:

"Since Senior Qi has spoken, as the head of the Gu family, my intention is naturally quite similar. I also wish to invite Senior to join the Gu family and become our Gu family's Supreme Guest Elder. This position, besides ensuring Fellow Daoist is absolutely satisfied with the remuneration, ordinarily, except for major matters concerning the Gu family's survival, our Gu family will absolutely not impose any restrictions on Fellow Daoist."

As soon as Fairy Xiaofeng spoke, the conditions she offered were even more enticing.

The old man in green robes' expression darkened upon hearing this, but he found it difficult to say anything to the young woman.

After all, although the young woman's cultivation was only at the Void Refinement stage, her status as the head of a mid-tier True Spirit family meant that no Integration-stage cultivator dared to underestimate her.

However, after a moment of contemplation, the old man still slowly said to Han Li:

"Integration-stage beings are extremely rare among our human and demonic races. Aside from our city, I believe it's impossible for so many Integration-stage beings to reside in one place anywhere else in the Three Emperors and Seven Lands. The members of our city's Elder Council can frequently exchange insights gained from their daily cultivation. If Fellow Daoist is willing to join our city, you will certainly benefit immensely in your future cultivation. Furthermore, our Elder Council often teams up to venture into the Barren World to hunt powerful ancient beasts. These are things no other place can compare to. Fellow Daoist Han, please consider this carefully. I am indeed sincerely inviting you to join our city."

Han Li's expression stirred, and he seemed genuinely somewhat moved.

"Although our Gu family only has one Integration-stage Supreme Elder guarding it, as a True Spirit family, we naturally possess unique secret arts for refining and controlling True Spirit blood. I heard that when Senior Han was breaking through the Integration bottleneck, he manifested the Dharma Aspect of a Mountain Ape. And to my knowledge, among the human True Spirit families, none has inherited the bloodline of the Mountain Ape. It appears Senior obtained this True Spirit's bloodline from outside the human race. If Senior is willing to join our Gu family, I will impart the art of refining and controlling True Spirit bloodline to you. Furthermore, I guarantee that if Senior has the idea of establishing a new True Spirit family ten thousand years from now, our Gu family will absolutely not obstruct you and will fully support you." The young woman also revealed her greatest trump card for this visit.

The old man in green robes was greatly astonished when he heard that Han Li actually possessed a True Spirit bloodline. Upon hearing the conditions offered by the young woman, his expression changed completely.

"A new True Spirit family!" Han Li's eyes flashed, and he was equally surprised in his heart.

"Exactly. With Senior's divine abilities and inherited True Spirit bloodline, how could our Gu family truly let Senior merely hold the nominal title of Supreme Elder indefinitely? As long as Senior is willing to serve as our Gu family's Supreme Elder for ten thousand years, after ten thousand years, our Gu family will definitely help Senior establish a new True Spirit family. Otherwise, even if Senior could establish a family solely with your cultivation and divine abilities, the resistance would be considerable. After all, the major families have already divided up most of the benefits. The emergence of an additional family would certainly dilute their shares significantly. The other families would likely be unwilling," the young woman said with a smile.

Han Li stroked his chin and remained silent.

Seeing this, Elder Qi couldn't help but wear a bitter smile.

Han Li had yet to respond, but it was clear that even if he were to join any force, it would certainly not be their Tianyuan City.

Although the young woman of the Gu family appeared unusually calm, she was equally anxious inside, unsure if the other party would truly value the generous conditions she offered.

After all, many high-level cultivators are not necessarily interested in establishing their own families or forces.

Many ascetic cultivators simply devote themselves wholeheartedly to cultivation, and fundamentally do not wish for any nominal constraints or attachments.

Otherwise, Tianyuan City would not find it so difficult to replenish its Integration-stage cultivators from the Three Emperors and Seven Realms after suffering losses.

"I heard that the Heavenly Myriad Spirit Sovereign, one of the Three Emperors, recently fell. A new Spirit Sovereign is to be selected within the next hundred years or so. Is this true?" Han Li pondered for a long while before speaking, uttering words that stunned both Qi Xubing and Fairy Xiaofeng.

"That is indeed true. A new Spirit Sovereign will be chosen from an Integration-stage Fellow Daoist during the Grand Cultivation Competition held a hundred years from now. Fellow Daoist Han, by asking about this, could it be that you are also interested in the position of Spirit Sovereign?" After a long moment of stunned silence, the old man in green robes replied with a strange expression.

"What, am I not qualified to participate in the selection for the Spirit Sovereign position?" Han Li lightly chuckled and replied nonchalantly.

"Any human Fellow Daoist at the Integration stage or above is qualified to contend for the Spirit Sovereign position. However, historically, the positions of the Three Emperors have almost always fallen into the hands of cultivators at the late-Integration Great Perfection stage. On rare occasions, exceptions were mid-stage cultivators possessing heaven-defying divine abilities. As for early-stage cultivators becoming Saint Sovereigns, to my knowledge, it has truly never happened since the human race established itself in the Spirit Realm," the old man replied with a bitter smile, his strange expression receding.

"Senior Han possesses True Spirit blood, so your divine abilities are naturally extraordinary. However, if you wish to contend for the Spirit Sovereign position, I fear it might be a bit premature. A mere hundred years is barely enough for Senior to become familiar with the realm and divine abilities gained after your breakthrough. I'm afraid you won't be able to compete with those at the mid or late stages," the young woman said, taking a slight breath, and advising him in an extremely tactful tone.

"Heh heh, I am certainly not so arrogant as to think I can seize the Spirit Sovereign position immediately after just breaking through to the Integration stage. The Grand Spirit Sovereign Competition will surely gather many cultivators of the same stage. I intend to participate in this competition simply to take the opportunity to meet and exchange insights with more fellow Daoists. As for the kind invitations from both of you, I, Han, have never liked staying in one place for too long, nor do I wish to be entangled in too many karmic ties with others, so I can only respectfully decline. However, I am indeed somewhat interested in the True Spirit bloodline refining and control techniques of the True Spirit families. If Fairy Xiaofeng is willing, I am prepared to exchange other treasures or cultivation methods for these secret arts. What do you think, Fairy?" After a flash of brilliance in Han Li's eyes, he uttered these words.