Chapter 1787: Old Acquaintance

"Looking at the four fellow daoists, it seems the vitality you lost in the wilderness hasn't fully recovered yet." Han Li's gaze merely swept over them, easily discerning their current state, and he calmly asked the question.

"Senior's insight is truly sharp," the scholar replied honestly, having nothing to hide. "Indeed, we juniors suffered damage to our true essence back then, and our cultivation wasn't high, so we've only barely recovered about half of it now."

"Since that's the case, I have a few bottles of pills here for the four of you to take. After refining the medicinal power and meditating for about a month, you'll be able to recover completely." Han Li pondered for a moment, then with a flip of his hand, four pale green jade bottles appeared in his palm, and he spoke calmly.

"Many thanks to Senior for the pills!" The scholar and the other three rejoiced and bowed in gratitude once more.

They each stepped forward, received the jade bottles with both hands, and opened the caps. A peculiar fragrance immediately permeated the entire hall.

Just a slight whiff made them feel refreshed and greatly invigorated.

The scholar and the others grew even more delighted, knowing that the spiritual medicine in the bottles was extraordinary and its potency might even exceed what Han Li had stated.

"Senior, since you've graced my humble abode this time, is there anything we juniors can do for you?" The scholar, having cultivated to his current realm, was naturally no fool. After putting away the spiritual medicine, he wisely asked.

"Indeed, I do have something I need your help with," Han Li asked calmly. "Although it's a simple matter, it will take a considerable amount of time and requires people who can stay in Tianyuan City for an extended period. I wonder if you fellow daoists have this time. Of course, I, Han, will not let you do this for nothing."

"Senior, rest assured, the four of us juniors have no plans to leave Tianyuan City within the next century," the scholar readily agreed, feeling relieved upon hearing that Han Li's request was not dangerous. "Please feel free to instruct us on anything you need. We will not refuse in the slightest anything we can do."

"Since fellow daoists have said so, then I won't be polite," Han Li said with a faint smile. "Earlier, I mentioned a female cultivator named Nangong Wan. I'd like you to help me search for her in Tianyuan City. She is an ascendant cultivator, and it's possible she might have changed her name. But I will leave you a jade slip containing her portrait for your identification. If she cannot be found in Tianyuan City, please continue to keep an eye out for her over the next century or so. If you truly manage to find her, I will reward you generously."

"No problem. We juniors also have some friends in Tianyuan City," the scholar respectfully agreed. "As long as this fairy truly appears in Tianyuan City, we will definitely help Senior find her."

"Hmm, besides this matter, there's one more thing. I plan to refine a batch of pills, but the required materials are quite numerous and mostly uncommon. Even Tianyuan City cannot acquire all of them in a short time. As I will be traveling to another place soon, I can only ask you fellow daoists to acquire some of them on my behalf. Here is a sum of spirit stones, which should be sufficient for purchasing the spiritual herbs. Also, these few treasures are things I obtained by chance in the past. Please accept them as gifts, fellow daoists."

As soon as Han Li finished speaking, he flicked his long sleeve over the table beside him.

Amidst flashing spiritual lights of various colors, four jade boxes of different sizes and a black leather bag suddenly appeared.

Upon hearing this, the four cultivators, including the scholar, exchanged surprised glances. After a brief telepathic conversation, they respectfully agreed.

The scholar then excused himself for a moment, picked up the leather bag, and swept his divine sense through it. His face immediately changed dramatically, and he gasped, his expression filled with disbelief.

The red-armored man and the other two were instantly startled, their gazes towards Han Li filled with surprise and suspicion.

But Han Li's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't noticed anything.

Fortunately, seeing the situation, the scholar quickly began to explain:

"Senior is truly generous, to bring out so many top-grade spirit stones."

"It seems the spiritual herbs Senior wishes to acquire are indeed extraordinary. However, since Senior trusts us juniors so much, we will certainly do our utmost."

After saying this, the scholar carefully put away the leather bag. After a slight hesitation, he picked up one of the four jade boxes on the table and opened it solemnly.

A misty white glow swirled out, revealing a white jade fan inside the box, its surface emanating spiritual light and covered in numerous runes.

The scholar raised his hand, took out the jade fan, and with a slight flick, fan shadows instantly appeared before him. At the same time, an astonishing spiritual pressure emanated.

"This Mountain River Fan possesses two types of divine abilities, wind and earth. With a single wave, it can invisibly injure enemies over a hundred zhang away with ten thousand catties of force. It can be considered a decent treasure," Han Li said with a light chuckle as he witnessed the scene.

The scholar immediately rejoiced and thanked him profusely.

The other three also each took a jade box and opened them excitedly.

Inside the boxes were a pair of silver rings, a colorful handkerchief, and a Profound Ice Flying Dagger, respectively.

These three treasures were practically useless to Han Li, but to cultivators like the scholar who were at the Nascent Soul stage, they were highly coveted items. They, too, were overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

Of course, by accepting his treasures, the four of them had formally agreed to Han Li's requests.

As for whether the four would renege on their promise afterwards and flee with the spirit stones, Han Li was quite at ease.

He had already inquired about the backgrounds of these four in the city.

These individuals had a small reputation in the city and were not rogue cultivators; their families or sects could be easily traced.

Under such circumstances, if these four had even a shred of sense, they wouldn't do such a foolish thing. Otherwise, they would bring immense disaster upon their own relatives.

Moreover, before leaving the pavilion, just in case, Han Li casually informed the four that he had just advanced to the Integration stage and subtly demonstrated his ability to easily control the world's spiritual energy, an ability only Integration cultivators possessed.

The four cultivators, including the scholar, were left dumbfounded, naturally making it impossible for them to harbor any other thoughts.

After Han Li left the pavilion, he transformed into a streak of light and headed straight for the cluster of huge stone towers where the Tianyuan Guards used to reside.

Not long after, Han Li appeared near one of the stone towers, gazing at the constant stream of various guards entering and exiting the entrance, a hint of wistfulness on his face.

This stone tower was precisely the one he had resided in when he served as an Azure Abyss Guard.

Yet, after merely a few hundred years, returning to this place felt as if everything was still exactly as it had been back then.

After his eyes flickered a few times, Han Li reined in his emotions and, with a flash of light, flew over.

At the entrance of the stone tower, over a dozen Black Iron Guards and two Azure Abyss Guards were stationed.

Upon seeing Han Li, a cultivator clearly not a Tianyuan Guard, flying towards them, they immediately cast suspicious glances.

Han Li's expression was calm, but as he approached the guards, he unreservedly released his Integration stage aura.

Although he only released a faint trace, the enormous disparity in cultivation realms still caused the two unprepared Azure Abyss Guards to blanch and stumble repeatedly.

The Black Iron Guards fared even worse, stumbling back several steps with a clatter.

"An Integration cultivator!" a burly Azure Abyss Guard gasped, sucking in a cold breath.

"Eh, aren't you Fellow Daoist Han!" Another Azure Abyss Guard, an elderly man with a short beard, swept his gaze over Han Li's face and was instantly dumbfounded.

This person actually knew Han Li.

Han Li was also somewhat surprised to hear this, and upon scrutinizing the short-bearded elder, found him somewhat familiar.

"You are Fellow Daoist Yue!" After a brief thought, Han Li indeed recognized the old man.

"Fellow Daoist Han... no, Senior Han, you..." The short-bearded elder looked as if he had seen a ghost, his expression utterly disbelieving, and he mumbled as if sleepwalking.

"Senior, you're not an elder of Tianyuan City, are you? May I ask for your esteemed name, Senior? Is there anything we juniors can do for you? Brother Yue, do you know this Senior?" Although the burly Azure Abyss Guard was equally astonished, he didn't dare to be negligent and quickly bowed, then couldn't help but ask the elder surnamed Yue in a low voice.

However, the short-bearded elder was clearly still in a daze at this moment, opening his mouth but unable to utter a word.

"Is Fairy Xu of the Azure Abyss Guards currently in the tower?" Han Li asked calmly.

"Ah, Fairy Xu! Fellow Daoist Xu just led a patrol out of the city a few days ago," the burly Azure Abyss Guard replied respectfully, though he found the elder's behavior strange. "She will probably return in a few days."

"Since she's not here, I won't go in," Han Li said, frowning slightly but quickly regaining his composure. "When Fairy Xu returns, please deliver a message for me, Han, that I will be waiting at Juxian Pavilion in the city. Please ask Fellow Daoist Xu to come by. As for my identity, Fellow Daoist Yue knows it very well, so I won't say more."

Then he gave a slight bow to the short-bearded elder, transformed into a dazzling rainbow, and flew away.

The burly man, along with the Black Armored Guards, naturally adopted a posture of respectful farewell.

"Brother Yue, who exactly is this Senior Han, and why are you so flustered?" Seeing that the azure rainbow had disappeared, the burly man turned around and, noticing the elder surnamed Yue still in a daze, expressed some dissatisfaction.

"Since he was looking for Fairy Xu, it seems it truly was him. Brother Ding, please don't be offended, but Senior Han was merely an Azure Abyss Guard like us some three hundred years ago. The last time I saw him, Senior Han was only at the Mid-Nascent Soul stage," the short-bearded elder replied in an unusually strange voice, seemingly having finally come to his senses.

"Three hundred years ago, an Azure Abyss Guard! Brother Yue, are you joking!" The burly man was startled by this, and his eyes instantly widened in shock.

"Brother Ding, you only joined Tianyuan City recently, within the last two hundred years, which is why you don't know. Senior Han and I were both Azure Abyss Guards back then. Although we weren't close friends, he once lent me a hand. Previously, Senior Han was quite famous among us Azure Abyss Guards for being able to kill a Void Refinement stage outsider with his Nascent Soul cultivation. Later, he seemed to have taken on some secret mission and entered the wilderness, disappearing ever since. But even so, to go from the Nascent Soul stage to the Integration stage after only these few years of not seeing him, isn't that simply too incredible?" The elder surnamed Yue let out a long breath, finding it truly difficult to conceal the shock and envy in his voice.