Chapter 1810: Named Disciples

Upon hearing the old woman's words, the joy that had just appeared on Fairy Yuehua's and Bai Huaji's faces immediately faded.

Few cultivators would be willing to sacrifice hundreds of years of cultivation time, even for their closest kin, let alone for complete strangers.

"What is the second path?" the man asked again, full of hope.

"The second solution involves finding the fabled spirit herbs and refining several supreme Yang elixirs. These would then be used to forcibly alter the Ice Marrow Physique through a method of combining water and fire. This approach is no simpler than the first. Not only are those spirit herbs exceedingly rare, appearing perhaps once in a millennium and impossible for us to acquire, but even if you manage to obtain and refine the elixirs, consuming them carries equally endless repercussions. While the Ice Marrow Physique might be broken, the spiritual root aptitude of the spirit body's owner would be damaged in the process. In severe cases, the spiritual root would be completely destroyed, turning them into a mortal. In milder cases, the spiritual root would become severely degraded, making their path of cultivation fraught with immense hardship from then on," the old woman said with a grave expression.

The middle-aged man's face turned ashen, unable to utter another word.

The young woman, however, froze for a moment before suddenly biting her lip and pleading with Han Li:

"Senior Han, your venerable self possesses immense magical power. Please, senior, could you save Guo'er? Our family would surely repay your great kindness, serving you like oxen and horses for the rest of our lives."

Hearing the young woman's words, the old woman and the others felt a stir in their hearts and couldn't help but look towards Han Li.

Earlier, Han Li had clearly adopted a posture indicating he was there specifically for the girl.

In that case, it wasn't impossible for 'Senior Han' to intervene.

Without a word, the middle-aged man prostrated himself before Han Li!

Upon hearing this, Han Li showed an enigmatic, half-smiling expression. After a long moment, he slowly said:

"You seem to understand. Indeed, since I am here, I do intend to save this girl."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Senior!" The young woman was overjoyed to hear that her guess was correct and was about to kneel before Han Li.

But Han Li shook his head and flicked a sleeve.

Immediately, an immense, invisible force emerged simultaneously beneath the two individuals, lifting them upwards.

One person was unable to prostrate themselves, while the other was forcibly lifted up.

"Don't rush to thank me yet, both of you. Whether I truly intervene depends on whether you're willing to agree to my conditions. Although I have a good impression of this little girl, I can't waste hundreds of years of my own arduous cultivation for nothing," Han Li said indifferently.

"Senior, please state your conditions. As long as it's within our capabilities, we will not hesitate," Fairy Yuehua agreed without a moment's thought.

Although the middle-aged man's heart chilled, he likewise raised no objections.

After all, Han Li was his beloved daughter's only chance for survival.

"The conditions are simple: I can help this little girl cultivate the great divine ability of Ice Marrow Cold Soul, and I can even take her as a nominal disciple. However, when she has mastered this divine ability, she must find something for me, no matter the cost. This item might be among the human and demon races, or perhaps in a remote corner of the wilderness. Only someone who has achieved success in cultivating the Ice Marrow Cold Soul divine ability can sense and find it. Of course, this will naturally be an extremely dangerous undertaking. Are you two fellow cultivators still willing to agree on behalf of the little girl?" Han Li asked, his gaze flickering as he looked at the young woman and the man.

"Deep into the wilderness?" Bai Huaji gasped upon hearing this, a look of hesitation immediately appearing on his face.

Fairy Yuehua's expression also changed slightly, but after a brief thought, she carefully asked in return:

"Might I ask, Senior, what cultivation realm Guo'er would likely reach when her divine ability is fully mastered? If her cultivation is too low, entering the wilderness would be a one-way trip."

"Haha, rest assured about that, both of you. Since I'm taking her as a nominal disciple and expending such great effort to help her cultivate the Ice Marrow Cold Soul, I naturally won't let her go on a one-way trip. The item she seeks would at least require cultivation at the Soul Transformation realm or above to sense. Furthermore, I will bestow upon her some powerful treasures for self-defense. If the item can be found near the human and demon races, there would be no need to risk venturing into the wilderness. Otherwise, even if it's not nearby, I will wait until her cultivation has further advanced before allowing her to venture deep into the wilderness," Han Li said calmly, as if he had already considered all this.

"Soul Transformation realm! That's more than enough. For us juniors, that realm is beyond reach. Moreover, if Senior does not intervene, this child won't even survive the next few years. And reaching the Soul Transformation realm would be at least a thousand years from now," Fairy Yuehua said. Although her own cultivation was not high, she was remarkably decisive and readily agreed.

As for Bai Huaji, though he still had some worries, he knew the young woman's words were extremely reasonable and nodded repeatedly.

The old woman, standing by, had even less reason to object.

"Very well then. I will take this girl, Guo'er, as a nominal disciple, and she will stay by my side for the next century. After a hundred years, I will return her to you. Besides providing guidance in her cultivation, I will not interfere with any other aspects of her life," Han Li said with a kindly smile.

"My daughter will be in your care from now on, Senior," the middle-aged man said, finally feeling truly relieved. He bowed deeply again, his face filled with gratitude.

Han Li did not use any magic to prevent the bow, accepting it calmly. Fairy Yuehua also thanked Han Li profusely, her face beaming with joy.

Meanwhile, the old woman also let out a sigh of relief, her heart soaring with delight.

Although Han Li was only taking Guo'er as a nominal disciple and not intending to pass on his entire legacy, this connection to a Senior of the Body Integration stage still established a significant tie with their Jin Guang Sect. Setting aside other benefits, they could at least leverage his prestige and no longer worry about others easily bullying them.

But just as the old woman was about to say something more to strengthen their connection with Han Li, a timid voice suddenly rang out from the side:

"Senior Han, can we two juniors also become your disciples?"

Hearing this voice, the old woman and the others all turned their heads in surprise.

They saw that the speaker was none other than 'Young Master Hai,' who was standing below.

At this moment, he was gazing eagerly at Han Li, a mix of nervousness and anticipation on his face.

"Heh heh, become my disciples?" Han Li looked at Young Master Hai and chuckled, neither immediately refusing nor agreeing.

"Hehe, does that mean Senior has agreed?" Qi Lingzi, emboldened, also asked with a chuckle from the side.

Clearly, the young Daoist priest knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him and Young Master Hai.

Becoming a disciple of a Body Integration stage cultivator was something countless lower-level cultivators could only dream of.

Therefore, as soon as they saw Han Li taking Guo'er as a nominal disciple, the two of them immediately exchanged a whispered spiritual message. Then, relying on their previous familiarity with Han Li, they shamelessly asked to be taken as disciples.

"Both of you, rise first. There's no rush about becoming disciples; we can discuss it in a few days. For now, during the Myriad Treasures Convention, just stay by my side for a while," Han Li said, his smile fading as he spoke gravely.

"I understand, Senior. You need to test us juniors for a while longer. Don't worry, though I may lack other abilities, my filial piety towards my seniors and teachers is absolutely unparalleled in this world," Young Master Hai said, blinking his eyes. Instead of showing disappointment, he immediately spoke with delight.

"This junior will also surely satisfy Senior!" Qi Lingzi, on the other hand, first kowtowed three times to Han Li before standing up with a grin.

Han Li showed a wry, helpless smile. He nodded, then shook his head, his thoughts unknown.

"Guo'er's internal cold poison has already been dispersed by me once; it will not recur within a year. After the Myriad Treasures Convention, I will come here to take the girl with me. In the meantime, you should both prepare yourselves. Oh, and give this Flaming Sun Jade to the little girl to wear close to her body. While it cannot expel the cold poison, it will certainly benefit her health. This jade is also a considerable defensive magic tool; it will protect its owner once in times of danger. Additionally, I have a bottle of 'Essence Nourishing Pills' here; have Guo'er take one every two days." After saying this, Han Li suddenly flicked his sleeve towards a nearby table, and immediately, a square jade pendant glowing with red light and a small emerald-green bottle appeared simultaneously on its surface.

Clearly sensing the astonishing spiritual energy emanating from the jade pendant, one could tell it was no ordinary item. As for the Essence Nourishing Pills, they were renowned restorative elixirs in the Spirit Realm, perfectly suited for the little girl whose vital energy was currently depleted. The young woman was immediately overjoyed, quickly thanked him, and carefully put away both items.

Young Master Hai and Qi Lingzi, standing nearby, saw the immediate benefits of being Han Li's newly accepted nominal disciple and made no effort to hide their expressions of envy.

Han Li found this slightly amusing. After a brief thought, he flipped his palm and took out two more bottles of pills, tossing them to the two individuals, and said with a smile:

"Regardless of whether I take you in as official disciples later, we've shared this journey, which indicates some karma between us. These two bottles of pills—one can strengthen your meridians and bones, and the other can enhance your magical power. Take them both."

"Thank you, Senior Han!"

Young Master Hai and Qi Lingzi were naturally overjoyed. After taking the pill bottles, they immediately thanked him in unison, feeling that they had truly found the right future master in Han Li. They then carefully put away the bottles as if they had found treasures.

Han Li had no intention of lingering longer. After a few more words, he calmly departed with Young Master Hai and Qi Lingzi.

A moment later, all three of them were aboard a flying carriage, slowly heading towards Nine Immortal Mountain.

"Senior Han, where are we heading next? Do we need to find a temporary cave abode?" Qi Lingzi couldn't help but ask from inside the flying carriage, seeing that they were getting closer to Nine Immortal Mountain.

"There's no need for such trouble. While Nine Immortal Mountain currently prohibits outsiders, that only applies to ordinary cultivators. When we arrive, there will naturally be special arrangements for our reception," Han Li replied nonchalantly.