Chapter 622: Master, Servant, and Spirit Vessel

**Volume 3, Chapter 5: Renowned in One Region**

"Considering the cultivation technique and divine abilities you displayed today, was it intentional that I, a Core Formation early-stage cultivator, captured you in the Heavenly Void Palace, so that I could acquire the Jade Ruyi?" Han Li asked the young woman, raising an eyebrow, without directly answering her.

Yinyue paused at his words, then a smile flickered in her eyes.

"As the Ruyi's artifact spirit, I cannot sustain flight with my host object for long. To leave the Heavenly Void Palace, a cultivator must carry the Ruyi. When you acquired me that day, on one hand, I truly didn't resist with all my might. On the other hand, breaking through the Heavenly Void Cauldron had significantly depleted my cultivation. Even if I had fought desperately then, I would have eventually fallen into the hands of those Nascent Soul cultivators. If that were the case, it was better to fall into the hands of a Core Formation cultivator." Yinyue explained with a smile.

"I wasn't the only Core Formation cultivator that day; weren't there two others? Why did you choose me?" Han Li pondered for a moment, his voice still solemn and unrelaxed.

"Are you referring to the young man surnamed Wu and the one who practiced ghost cultivation, who both died trying to seize the Heavenly Void Cauldron?" Yinyue asked, her expression shifting slightly.

"Precisely!"

"Oh, them? I simply didn't like them! One was gloomy and reeked of ghostly energy, the other was gaunt and incredibly ugly. While you're not particularly handsome, you're at least presentable. Does that reason suffice?" Yinyue pursed her cherry lips and smiled sweetly, her words both earnest and playful.

Han Li couldn't help but feel a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"Since fellow Daoist is unwilling to speak, I won't press the matter. I will ask one more crucial question. After I brought this Jade Ruyi out of the Heavenly Void Palace, were you observing all my actions from within my storage pouch throughout these years?" As he spoke of this, Han Li's voice grew cold, and even the temperature in the room seemed to drop by several degrees instantly.

"Yes. Every detail of Brother Han's cultivation techniques and magical treasures, big or small, I have observed. Even that mysterious and heaven-defying small bottle, I know clearly." The young woman's smile vanished, replaced by a grave expression.

Although Han Li had vaguely suspected as much, hearing the young woman confirm it still caused his expression to change drastically, instantly turning grim.

He silently stared coldly at the young woman opposite him, seemingly contemplating countermeasures.

"Is fellow Daoist Han considering killing me to silence me? After all, if those major immortal cultivation sects were to discover the existence of such a heaven-defying treasure, Brother Han would likely meet a tragic end with no burial ground." Yinyue remained unfazed by Han Li's cold expression, speaking with a faint smile.

Hearing her words, Han Li's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze becoming as sharp as a blade.

"Since fellow Daoist Yinyue knows this full well and dares to speak so openly, aren't you afraid I'll destroy your host object? If you were to vanish, naturally, you wouldn't be able to reveal anything further. Does fellow Daoist possess some other means, believing I'm incapable of killing you?" Han Li spoke with a murderous aura.

"With Brother Han's current magical treasures and divine abilities, even before I attempted soul possession, I likely wouldn't have been your match. Now, after performing soul吞噬 (soul devour), the artifact spirit's cultivation has been largely lost. If we were to fight, I'd consider three-tenths a good chance of victory. Moreover, the host object is still in your hands. Making me vanish into thin air is merely a thought away for you." Yinyue shook her head, calmly discussing a matter of life and death, appearing composed.

Han Li snorted, saying nothing. The young woman continued, unperturbed:

"The fact that fellow Daoist Han has tolerated me until now and hasn't immediately struck me down already pleases Yinyue greatly. Fellow Daoist may not be a true gentleman, but you clearly distinguish between favors and grievances. If I hadn't intervened just now to block that fox demon's attack, I imagine Brother Han wouldn't have given me the chance to speak so much nonsense." The corner of her mouth curved slightly, revealing a faint smile.

"Even if I give you a chance, if you cannot convince me, I will still act. I will not allow the existence of anything that knows about the small bottle to remain outside my control." Han Li didn't deny her words, instead admitting it bluntly and coldly.

"Good, Brother Han's words are precisely what Yinyue desires. If fellow Daoist were not a decisive person, you wouldn't go far in the cultivation world. I wouldn't have intervened to save you just now. After all, I wouldn't want to just acknowledge someone as my master only for them to die immediately." Yinyue spoke with an appreciative look on her face.

"Acknowledge me as master? What do you mean by that? Do you think I'll let you go just by verbally acknowledging me as master?" Han Li was momentarily stunned, then scoffed.

"Of course, it's not that simple. As far as I know, your Green Bamboo Cloud Swallowing Swords don't have an artifact spirit yet, do they? Yinyue can transfer my main primordial spirit from this ancient Ruyi treasure and temporarily serve as the artifact spirit for your flying swords. This way, Brother Han's natal magical treasure will not only greatly increase in power, but my life and death will truly be in your hands. Surely, then you will feel at ease with me? After all, as your artifact spirit, if I harbor even the slightest thought against you, you would sense it. And even if I did, I couldn't possibly leave you very far. You also needn't fear that I would suddenly abscond without a word." The young woman's bright eyes shimmered with light as she uttered words that stunned Han Li.

Han Li frowned deeply upon hearing this, pondering for a long while before asking, noncommittally:

"Can an artifact spirit detach from its host object? Even if it can, why are you willing to be my artifact spirit? Don't tell me you're doing this out of gratitude for me bringing you out of the Heavenly Void Palace."

"Other artifact spirits, being muddle-headed, naturally cannot detach from their host objects. But I am different. With my willing cooperation, plus fellow Daoist's assistance, it's entirely possible. Of course, separating my artifact spirit would certainly cause me great pain. But I can't worry about that. As for my purpose, it's naturally because after soul possession, I don't wish to remain an artifact spirit forever. Don't think my words contradict themselves. I am willing to be your artifact spirit now only to gain true freedom in the future." The young woman sighed softly before speaking.

"What do you mean? Can you explain in more detail?" Han Li's heart stirred, his expression softening slightly.

"I'm not entirely clear on the specifics, but residual memories vaguely tell me that if I regain a physical body and cultivate a certain secret art, then at the moment my host object's master cultivates to the legendary God Transformation stage and enters another realm, it seems I can gain my freedom. Until then, I will be at your command. Of course, if you die midway or your lifespan is nearing its end, I will naturally find another cultivator. However, in my opinion, Brother Han, possessing a supreme treasure like the small bottle, is the most likely cultivator to fulfill this wish of mine. So, even if fellow Daoist didn't suggest it, I would actively request to be your magical treasure's artifact spirit."

Han Li's face showed fluctuating emotions as he listened to these words. After a long pause, he finally let out a long breath and said:

"Regardless of whether what you say is true or false, besides this method, I truly don't have a better way to control you. Since you are actively willing to serve as my artifact spirit, I naturally won't refuse. But now, I must first place a temporary restriction on you. After all, empowering an artifact spirit is not something that can be done in a hurry. I need to prepare first. Oh, and after your soul possession, how far can you move from your host object without incident?"

Han Li seemed to have thought of something else.

"I can currently only move within a hundred li of you, but as this fox demon body's cultivation gradually increases in the future, this range should be able to expand," Yinyue replied obediently, her eyes lighting up with joy upon seeing Han Li agree to her request.

"What happens if you exceed that range?" Han Li asked meticulously, his expression serious.

"If I exceed that range, my primordial spirit will be summoned by the host object and will automatically fly back to the magical treasure. However, fellow Daoist needn't worry about me being inconvenient to carry. I know a secret art that allows me to be temporarily sealed into a spirit beast pouch without harm. You only need to release me when cultivating or giving me instructions. As for battling enemies, I can appear as an artifact spirit, or I can directly use this fox demon to help you fight; it all depends on the situation."

Han Li showed a satisfied expression after hearing Yinyue's reply. He then nodded and said:

"Good, in that case. I shall first..."

"Oh no. My spiritual power is exhausted; I can't maintain my human form." Yinyue's face suddenly changed as she interrupted Han Li's words.

Then, silver light shimmered around her body, her form rapidly shrinking before Han Li's eyes. In an instant, she transformed back into the small white fox. She was still wrapped in Han Li's clothes, which now appeared abnormally large on her.

Seeing this, Han Li felt a wry smile spread across his face.

Yet, without the slightest hesitation, he suddenly performed a hand seal. Several streaks of green light flashed and instantly flew into the white fox's body, temporarily placing a restriction on her.

"In a moment, I will carry you out and temporarily hand you over to those disciples of the Falling Cloud Sect. But as soon as we separate, you should slip away on your own. After all, escaping from a few Qi Condensation disciples will require no effort from you. I will wait for you along the way." Han Li picked up the white fox by its scruff and spoke unhurriedly.

That's all for today's chapter. I need to rest now, haha! These past few days have been quite exhausting with various things piling up!