Chapter 375: Small Huan Island

**Third Volume**

Han Li took the album and slowly unfolded it, realizing it was a complete map. Gold and white light interplayed across its surface, shimmering with a mysterious glow. However, all the sparkling areas were concentrated in the large blue region at the center of the map. Only then did Han Li realize that the area occupied by Qingyun Mountain was far larger than he had imagined. The central blue region actually covered more than a quarter of the entire island.

As Han Li looked at the sparkling white dots, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes and examine them closely. Compared to the gold light, the white light was clearly much more abundant. However, the intensity of the white light varied. Some were dazzlingly bright, while others emitted only a faint glow.

The areas marked as mountain peaks were dazzlingly bright, but Han Li didn't consider them at all. This was because the middle-aged cultivator's additional words echoed in his ears: "Cultivators in the Qi Condensation stage are not eligible to select any mountain peaks. There are no such restrictions for other places; any area with white light is acceptable!" This was exactly what the young cultivator surnamed Wen had told him. What remained were areas with much dimmer white light, such as natural valleys and caves.

"Excuse me, may I ask a question? How large a dwelling can I establish in these places, and are there any restrictions?" Han Li looked at the album for a while, then suddenly raised his head and asked the middle-aged man in a deep voice.

"With your dwelling as the center, an area of ten li in all directions will be your private domain. You can freely set up formations and restrictions, as long as you have the ability to encompass such a large area," the middle-aged cultivator said with a hint of surprise, which quickly turned into a sneer.

"Then, may I choose this spot? Since there's also white light here, there should be a spiritual vein as well, right?" Han Li asked calmly after listening. Then, he lightly tapped a spot on the map with his finger, and immediately the white light there turned yellow. Han Li handed the album back to the other person.

"Here!" The middle-aged cultivator's gaze swept over the spot Han Li pointed to, and a look of surprise appeared on his pale face. Han Li had pointed to a location outside Kui Star Island, where a faint white light indeed flickered.

"This is Xiaohuan Island. The island is only sixty to seventy li long, but there is indeed a small spiritual vein, several li long, on it. We've set up a small protective formation and built a small town there, with about a few hundred residents," the middle-aged cultivator said with a half-smile, a hint of mockery in his tone. Han Li remained silent, knowing that since the other party showed such an expression, this island couldn't be so simple.

"This island is somewhat of a white elephant to Kui Star Island. It has a spiritual vein, so discarding it would be a pity. However, its spiritual energy concentration is significantly inferior to other islands, and its area is too small."

"If you truly choose this place, while no other cultivators will disturb your cultivation, the spiritual energy concentration is at least one-third thinner than the areas provided by our Qingyun Mountain. In other words, your cultivation speed will be considerably slower than other cultivators'."

"In the past, a few cultivators like you, who preferred to cultivate alone in one spot, also chose this island. But they didn't stay for more than a few years. One by one, they honestly returned. They preferred to pay a large sum of spirit stones to choose a new cultivation location rather than continue staying on this island. After all, for us immortal cultivators, spiritual energy is the most important thing."

"Furthermore, regulations stipulate that cultivators who choose this island must also bear the responsibility of protecting it. This means you will have to cover the cost of the spirit stones for the island's protective formation yourself. Of course, you can collect a certain amount of spirit stones from the island residents as compensation. And you yourself will not have to pay annual spirit stone tribute to the main island. However, let me remind you first: the small amount of spirit stones collected from the island residents is nowhere near enough to cover the daily consumption of the protective formation. Currently, Kui Star Island has been directly responsible for the spirit stones consumed by this island, which is why it has been sustained until now," the middle-aged cultivator said languidly, rhythmically tapping the edge of the bed beneath him with his index finger.

"So, can I assume that if I go to this small island, I will effectively become its island master?" Han Li pondered for a moment after hearing the other person's explanation, then quietly asked.

"Heh heh. Yes, you could certainly think of it that way," the middle-aged man said, somewhat surprised. He had already explained the drawbacks of this island so clearly, yet this young man still wanted to choose it. Well, it was no longer his concern.

At this moment, the middle-aged cultivator re-examined Han Li with a thoughtful expression and secretly snickered a few times. When the massive consumption of spirit stones eventually occurs, he'll likely be complaining endlessly! He believed that in at most one or two years, this young cultivator would return dejectedly to choose a new cultivation spot. Otherwise, a true island master position would have been fiercely contested by other cultivators long ago; it wouldn't still be available!

"Very well, I choose this island!" Han Li considered it for a moment longer, then said without hesitation. Hearing Han Li's firm decision, the middle-aged cultivator showed no hesitation. He took out a golden brush from his robe and lightly touched the island on the map with it; the white light there instantly turned gold. Then he took out a jade slip from his person, wrote a few characters on it with the golden brush, and tossed it to Han Li. Han Li took the jade slip and glanced down at it. There were two golden symbols on it, which looked familiar, seemingly his name written in the local script.

"This jade slip is proof that Xiaohuan Island is your cultivation ground! It also contains a roster of the island's residents; keep it safe!" the middle-aged cultivator said indifferently. Then he put away the album, reclined on the bed again, and waved his hand at Han Li. His intention to dismiss Han Li was unmistakable! Han Li bowed slightly and wisely withdrew.

After leaving the Immortal Ascension Pavilion, Han Li had no intention of lingering in Qingyun Mountain to enjoy the scenery or meet fellow cultivators. Instead, he directly flew away from Qingyun Mountain on his artifact and returned to Gu Family Village.

Early the next morning, Han Li left a letter for Proprietor Gu on the wooden table in the room. He then took Qu Hun and flew towards the nearest small town. There, after buying a map of Kui Star Island and the surrounding sea area, he headed directly to the port. Wang Changqing had mentioned that Kui Star City, the largest city on the island, was located in the western part of Kui Star Island. It had a 'Tiandu Street' specifically for immortal masters to buy and sell goods.

Although Han Li really wanted to visit and see what kind of items overseas cultivators traded and what cultivation techniques they practiced, his current cultivation level was pitiably low. Going to places where many cultivators gathered made him feel uneasy and unsettled, so he reluctantly gave up the idea. "It seems my strength isn't enough; my courage has also shrunk considerably," Han Li muttered to himself with a touch of self-mockery on his way to the port.

Not choosing a cultivation spot in Qingyun Mountain but instead going to the spiritual energy-sparse 'Xiaohuan Island' was a painstaking decision he made to safeguard the secret of his small bottle. Only on such a secluded island, far from other cultivators, could he freely cultivate the spiritual herbs he needed, and his rapid advancement in cultivation wouldn't attract the attention of other cultivators! Although this might slightly slow down his cultivation speed, as long as the spiritual energy was sufficient for him to cultivate the necessary spiritual herbs, it was acceptable. After all, he primarily relied on consuming and refining elixirs for his cultivation; a slightly thinner spiritual energy wouldn't significantly affect him.

Han Li flew out of the massive restriction covering the entire Kui Star Island from the port and then, following the map's description, headed directly towards Xiaohuan Island. Although the island appeared right next to Kui Star Island on the map, Han Li flew on his Divine Wind Skiff for an entire day and night before finally seeing it from the sky.

After circling the island, Han Li finally spotted a small pier that appeared to be the entrance to a formation. Thus, Han Li slowly descended onto the pier. There were few people on the pier, only about a dozen individuals who looked like fishermen, resting in small boats by the side of the pier. As soon as they saw Han Li and Qu Hun descend from the sky, they all got out of their boats and gathered towards Han Li.

"I am Hei Gui, greetings, Immortal Master!" Upon reaching Han Li, the group all bowed. A burly, dark-faced man among them, who seemed to be the leader of the fishermen, greeted him with particular respect.

"This is Xiaohuan Island, isn't it?" Although Han Li felt sure he wasn't mistaken, he cautiously asked first.

"Yes, Immortal Master! Are you here to replace the spirit stones? But it hasn't been long since they were last replaced!" Hei Gui asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

"I'm not here to replace spirit stones. But from today onwards, I will cover the spirit stone consumption of this small island. Because this island is now my cultivation ground, you can simply call me Immortal Master Han from now on!" Hearing that this was indeed Xiaohuan Island, Han Li let out a sigh of relief and said to the people before him with a smile. Then, under the astonished gazes of the fishermen, he signaled Qu Hun and once again flew on his artifact towards the center of the island.