Chapter 291: Immortal Arts

Even though the girl's pretty face showed disbelief, she knew her grandfather wouldn't be talking nonsense. She was utterly astonished and forced herself to look away from Han Li.

Han Li was satisfied that he had given the other party a small lesson without actually hurting them.

At this moment, his lips moved slightly as he transmitted a message.

Instantly, Han Li's voice echoed in the ear of the old man in green robes.

"After you leave Prince Xin's residence, don't rush off. Wait for me at the back gate of the manor. I have something to ask you!"

Han Li's voice, filled with an unquestionable tone of command, made the old man freeze, and he inwardly groaned with bitterness.

"Is this esteemed individual still not letting them go? Or does he have other designs on them? Thankfully, he doesn't seem ruthless, so there should be no real danger, right? Moreover, forging a connection with a Foundation Establishment cultivator could be a rare opportunity for their family's revitalization." The old man in robes could only try to comfort himself with these thoughts, his heart filled with an unbearable mix of anxiety and apprehension.

Seeing this, Han Li smiled faintly and turned his attention back to the white-haired Taoist.

By this time, Immortal Master Wu had already examined most of the crowd but had yet to find anyone with an "immortal destiny."

Those young people declared to have no affinity could only return to their seats dejectedly. Their elders, naturally, also looked displeased.

"What immortal destiny? This is clearly about finding people with spiritual roots. However, this old Taoist isn't simply going through the motions; it seems he genuinely wants to take disciples from these people. Otherwise, he could just randomly point to a few." Han Li thought impassively as he watched the old Taoist cheerfully examine the spiritual roots of every young person.

However, Han Li felt that the old Taoist probably wouldn't have much luck finding disciples here. With only fifty or sixty people, the chances of picking out someone with spiritual roots were slim.

Just as Han Li thought this, the white-haired Taoist suddenly announced loudly:

"This young man possesses an immortal destiny! I can take him as my disciple!"

Han Li was stunned by these words. He couldn't help but look towards the young man who supposedly had an immortal destiny.

He saw a plump young man standing blankly in front of Immortal Master Wu, looking utterly bewildered.

Beside him was a pot-bellied middle-aged man dressed in purple silk, who was asking in disbelief:

"Immortal Master, does my Tong Jing truly have an immortal destiny? There's no mistake, is there?"

The man, truly hit by this huge stroke of luck, still couldn't quite believe it. So many talented young men had been passed over, yet his own lazy, gluttonous son was chosen by the Immortal Master at first glance. It truly felt like a dream.

"Haha, don't worry, benefactor! This humble Taoist has checked several times; your esteemed son indeed possesses spiritual roots. He can study immortal techniques alongside the young prince." Immortal Master Wu twirled his snowy white beard and said with a smile.

"Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you, Immortal Master! Although I am not immensely wealthy or noble, my family does possess some modest land. Tomorrow, I will surely prepare a substantial apprenticeship gift for the Immortal Master! Son, quick... quick, bow and apprentice yourself to the Immortal Master!" Once the middle-aged man confirmed the news, he was so overjoyed that he nearly danced with excitement, his words becoming incoherent.

Meanwhile, the rejected young men all looked utterly dumbfounded.

The person chosen by Immortal Master Wu... wasn't that the plump Tong, whom they often regarded as a useless glutton?!

That such a good-for-nothing possessed spiritual roots was truly difficult to accept!

It wasn't just the young people who thought this way. Their elders also exchanged bewildered glances, finding it somewhat hard to believe.

After all, this young man named Tong Jing was famously useless within their circle.

Han Li, however, showed no unusual expression.

Whether a person possesses spiritual roots has nothing to do with their gender, appearance (handsome or pretty), or even their intelligence and abilities. There's simply no discernible pattern to it.

Otherwise, before the advent of immortal cultivation families, immortal sects wouldn't have found it so difficult to find talented disciples.

Still, Han Li was somewhat surprised that a person with spiritual roots could actually be found among such a small group. It seemed this Taoist had good luck!

Han Li and the grandfather-granddaughter pair understood this principle, but the other people in the hall did not.

They began to whisper amongst themselves.

Some of the more astute individuals even began to doubt the authenticity of Immortal Master Wu. This made those who had yet to be tested hesitate.

As a result, an awkward silence momentarily fell before the old Taoist.

Upon seeing this, Prince Xin showed an expression of displeasure.

However, since everyone in the hall were friends he had known for many years, he couldn't directly say anything unpleasant. Instead, he subtly said to the old Taoist: "Master, we are all mere mortals, and few of us have ever witnessed a true Immortal Master. Please show us another demonstration to broaden our horizons!"

Hearing Prince Xin's words, the entire gathering immediately fell silent, all eyes on the Immortal Master, waiting to hear his response.

The white-haired Taoist pondered for a moment, then agreed readily, instructing everyone to follow him to the open space in front of the main hall.

With the old Taoist's instruction, the people in the hall instantly surged out into the open. Han Li also followed indifferently.

However, the grandfather and granddaughter showed no intention of moving, still appearing troubled by Han Li's request for a meeting.

Outside the living room, the old Taoist stood in the center of the large space formed by the crowd and began to cast a spell.

He stood with his feet flat, forming hand seals, and chanted softly. The faint, ethereal incantations added a touch of mystery to his presence.

This made the onlookers hold their breath, staring intently at the old Taoist's every move.

After hearing these incantations, Han Li secretly rolled his eyes.

Just then, the old Taoist brought his two palms together, then separated them, and a fierce, fist-sized fireball floated between his hands. Simultaneously, the surrounding temperature suddenly rose, and a hot aura spread through the air.

This was precisely the "Fireball Art," a spell that all cultivators with fire spiritual roots were required to learn.

While this was a common sight among cultivators, it immediately drew gasps of astonishment and exclamations of "Incredible!" from those nearby.

But the next scene not only left these mortals wide-eyed, it even startled Han Li himself at first.

This was because the old Taoist continuously changed his hand seals, causing the scorching fireball to gradually transform before everyone's eyes.

First, it slowly sprouted wings, then grew a pointed beak, and immediately after, it formed a pair of slender claws and a tail, astonishingly turning into a tiny, exquisite little flame bird.

"Could it be the Firebird Art?!"

Seeing this, Han Li's nerves tensed, and he almost couldn't believe his eyes.

The "Firebird Art" was a genuine, mid-tier, basic spell that even Han Li himself hadn't mastered. For this old Taoist, who was merely a Qi Condensation cultivator, to display it on the spot was incredibly hard for Han Li to believe! No wonder he initially wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

But Han Li's astonishment lasted only a brief moment.

He immediately noticed the significant difference between this flame bird and the true "Firebird Art."

Although the small bird formed from the fireball closely resembled the visual manifestation of the Firebird Art, their sizes were far too disparate.

The firebird from the "Firebird Art" would span nearly ten feet when its wings were spread. In contrast, the firebird transformed by the old Taoist remained fist-sized throughout, making them incomparable.

What truly confirmed for Han Li that this was merely a "fake Firebird Art" was the difference in the spiritual power fluctuations they contained.

The destructive power contained within a firebird conjured by the Firebird Art was something even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would never dare to directly confront. However, this tiny, sparrow-like flame bird's spiritual power fluctuations remained exactly the same as when it was a fireball; it hadn't increased by a single jot.

It appeared to be merely a pure transformation.

Realizing this, Han Li felt both annoyed and amused!

He had almost been fooled by such a small trick; it was quite embarrassing!

Nevertheless, this person's art of manipulating flame transformations was truly astonishing! Han Li himself wondered how a mere Qi Condensation cultivator could achieve such precise control, a level he couldn't replicate.

The old Taoist's subsequent performance fully confirmed Han Li's thoughts.

The fiery red bird, soaring with outstretched wings, suddenly landed on the ground and transformed into a red pug, which then happily ran around the old Taoist.

Shortly after, the little dog transformed into a fire snake, and the fire snake then evolved into a tiny human figure...

This series of astonishing performances left the mortals, who had never witnessed magical transformations before, utterly wide-eyed and speechless!

It wasn't until the old Taoist suddenly pointed his finger, and the final transformation, a small flame horse, charged towards a nearby cherry sapling. Flames erupted, instantly reducing the tree to ashes.

Only then did the old Taoist conclude his performance.

It was as if the onlookers had just woken from a dream; they began fervently calling out "Immortal Master" to the old Taoist.

Any previous doubts they had harbored were long forgotten; not a shred of disbelief remained!