Chapter 669: Devouring Gold Spirit Sword

Volumes 4: The Rise of the Overseas LandsVolume 5: Renowned Across the Realm

When Han Li saw that the two had recognized him, an inexpressible, inexplicable emotion stirred within him. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "When I left home to seek the Dao back then, I never imagined the Han family would become a prominent clan. It truly proves that 'the world is unpredictable' is no lie! You two may rise. I haven't returned home in so many years, so to the current Han family, I'm almost like an outsider. There's no need for such excessive courtesy!"

"Uncle Ancestor, how can you say that?" the middle-aged scholar replied, rising respectfully. "It is our filial impiety as descendants that we did not know you were still alive. Otherwise, we would have sent people to show filial piety to you."

"Filial piety? That's not necessary," Han Li said, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm just here for a visit and will leave soon; I won't stay long. I am a person who seeks immortality and the Dao, and it's better to avoid too much entanglement with worldly affairs."

"Uncle Ancestor, you're leaving already?" the scholar exclaimed, surprised. "That's too hasty. Wouldn't it be better to see the other Han descendants in the fortress with Tian Xiao before you go?"

"No need," Han Li sighed, a hint of regret in his voice. "When I came here, I flew over Han Family Fortress. I scanned everyone inside with my spiritual sense. Unfortunately, although there are many Han family members, none possess spiritual roots. There's no destiny for them with me. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind taking one or two family disciples to cultivate."

"It seems our descendants are not blessed enough to seek immortal destiny with you, Uncle Ancestor," the scholar said with a bitter smile, disappointment flickering across his face.

"Possessing spiritual roots, which are necessary for cultivators, is inherently a one-in-ten-thousand occurrence," Han Li said, shaking his head. "It's normal that hundreds of Han family members don't have this aptitude. Moreover, according to my original intention, it's better for the Han and Li family descendants not to enter the cultivation world. After all, the current cultivation world is not peaceful. Entire clans and sects are annihilated frequently. If it implicated the entire Han family, it would be disastrous."

"Everything is as Fourth Uncle Ancestor commands," the scholar replied obediently, after a brief moment of surprise.

Han Li's gaze shifted. He suddenly looked at the burly man and asked, "Which generation descendant of Li Feiyu are you, and what is your name?"

The burly man quickly lowered his head and replied, "Junior Li Feng, eleventh-generation descendant of Ancestor Feiyu. Greetings, Uncle Han."

"Li Feiyu and I were like brothers back then, so calling me Uncle Ancestor is appropriate," Han Li said. "I saw you protecting Tian Xiao quite a lot just now. It seems the Li family has indeed taken good care of our Han family over the years. As the Han family's Uncle Ancestor, I naturally cannot mistreat the Li family. Here are some medicinal pills. They are very beneficial for martial artists and can save your Li family disciples most of the effort of cultivating inner strength. Please accept them." Han Li tapped his storage pouch, and with a flash of white light, seven or eight small bottles of various colors suddenly appeared in his palm, which he handed to the burly man.

The burly man was overjoyed at these words, hastily thanking him as he accepted the small bottles. He knew that while martial artists didn't cultivate inner strength for decades like cultivators, even minor achievements required many years of diligent practice. With these pills, the Li family would naturally produce many more experts.

The middle-aged scholar, seeing this, was happy for his friend, and his gaze towards Han Li unconsciously held a hint of expectation.

Han Li noticed this and smiled faintly. He unhurriedly took a spirit beast bag from his waist and gently tapped it. Immediately, thousands of three-colored gold-devouring beetles surged out of the bag, forming a three-meter-wide cloud of three-colored insects amid a buzzing sound. They shimmered dazzlingly, like myriad stars appearing in broad daylight.

The scholar and the burly man were dumbfounded, secretly marveling.

Han Li said nothing more, merely pointing a finger at the insect cloud above his head. The thousand-plus gold-devouring beetles suddenly gathered in the center, instantly transforming into a three-colored treasure sword that floated motionlessly in mid-air. Han Li reached out and beckoned, and the sword emitted a clear hum before falling into his hand.

This bizarre sight left the two men even more wide-eyed and speechless.

Han Li held the sword in one hand and lightly stroked its blade with the other, his expression shifting. After a long moment, he sighed. A stream of azure spiritual energy emerged from his mouth, spraying directly onto the sword. Immediately, a green light flashed, and an ancient-looking green scabbard appeared on the blade's surface.

Han Li held the sheathed sword horizontally in front of him. "This sword is formed by refining spiritual insects. It can kill enemies on its own. I will leave it here in this ancestral hall. If one day the Han family truly faces a calamity of annihilation, family members can hide in this ancestral hall. With this sword, they can temporarily avoid disaster. However, remember this: this sword is not personally controlled by me. Once unsheathed, it will kill all living beings within a ten-li radius, except for those inside the ancestral hall. So, use it with extreme caution. Here is a jade pendant containing a wisp of my essence. Only by wearing this jade can the sword be unsheathed. Otherwise, a mortal cannot draw it. From now on, this jade pendant shall be passed down to the Han family patriarchs of each generation." Han Li then took out a crystal-clear jade pendant and warned the scholar.

"This nephew-grandson will remember Uncle Ancestor's teachings!" the scholar exclaimed, overjoyed and respectful, having witnessed Han Li's previous incredible methods and harboring no doubt about him.

Han Li smiled faintly at this, but did not immediately hand over the sword and jade pendant. Instead, he continued his warning. "One more thing you must remember. Because this sword is sealed by a spiritual energy sheath, this Gold-Devouring Sword can only be used three times. Each time it's used, the spirit sheath will weaken. After three uses, the scabbard will dissipate, and the spirit sword will revert to spiritual insects and vanish. I believe three opportunities to save the Han family from great disaster are enough. I, your Uncle Ancestor, can be considered to have done right by the Han family. After all, there is no eternal wealth or prosperity in this world. But to prevent future generations from exploiting it or using it for evil deeds, this Gold-Devouring Sword cannot leave this ancestral hall before being unsheathed. If it leaves this place, it will also turn into nothingness and cease to exist. Nevertheless, using this sword wisely to ensure the Han family's glory for another few hundred years should be sufficient. After that, allowing the Han family to return to ordinary life might not be a bad thing."

After saying this, Han Li finally handed over the two items.

The scholar repeatedly said "Yes," bowed, and carefully accepted the sword, respectfully placing it on the central spiritual altar before returning to stand before Han Li, awaiting further instructions.

Han Li was pleased with the scholar's respectful attitude. After some thought, he took out two small pale yellow bottles and threw one to the scholar and one to the burly man, smiling at their somewhat surprised expressions. "The items I gave just now were for the Han and Li families. You two are my descendants, after all, and meeting me, your Uncle Ancestor, in person is a bit of destiny. I must give you some benefits. Though the pills in these two bottles are useless to me, for ordinary mortals in the secular world, they can still provide remarkable effects: prolonging life and strengthening the body. Take them. They are enough to ensure you both live past one hundred."

"Thank you, Fourth Uncle Ancestor!"

"Thank you, Uncle Han!"

The scholar and the burly man, holding the small bottles, simultaneously expressed their gratitude, their faces beaming with delight. It seemed this gift was highly appreciated.

Han Li nodded, then glanced around again, suddenly asking with a hint of curiosity, "You two recognized me immediately. It seems my portrait has indeed been preserved. If it's here in the ancestral hall, could you show it to me? I'm quite curious who painted it."

The scholar was momentarily startled but replied at once, "The portrait is indeed in the attic. Please wait, Uncle Ancestor." He walked to a side of the attic and pressed on a seemingly ordinary wall.

A "click" sound was heard. Part of the wall rotated, revealing five or six silk scroll paintings hanging inside.

Han Li took a few steps forward and stopped before one painting. It depicted a smiling youth of seventeen or eighteen, with a hint of childishness on his face, precisely Han Li's former appearance.

"This painting is said to have been passed down to our Han family from Ancestor Li," the middle-aged scholar explained softly, standing behind Han Li. "As for who painted it, that remains unknown."

Han Li seemed not to hear, his gaze flickering before resting on another painting: a portrait of Han Li's father dressed as a wealthy landowner. His face looked much older than when Han Li secretly saw him in the small village, but it was filled with joy.

A somber expression flashed across Han Li's face. Then his gaze swept over the other paintings. The other portraits also depicted old men with graying temples. Han Li struggled to identify the former appearances of a few of his elder brothers among them. A thousand emotions welled up in his heart, leaving him momentarily stunned.

At this moment, the scholar and the burly man were perceptive enough not to disturb Han Li.

But then, Han Li muttered a few words to himself. His voice was too low and indistinct to hear clearly. Just as the two men strained to listen, a dazzling azure light erupted from Han Li's body. Startled, they instinctively closed their eyes. When they opened them again, Han Li was gone. But at the same time, Han Li's voice echoed in their ears:

"Although I possess some abilities of a terrestrial immortal, I also have some powerful enemies. Do not speak to anyone else about our meeting today. As long as no word leaks out, and that Gold-Devouring Spirit Sword is kept from outsiders' sight, cultivators of the immortal world will not pay attention to you ordinary mortals. You can rest easy. From now on, I will focus on pursuing the grand Dao of immortality and will not easily involve myself with the Han family again. Take care of yourselves!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Li's voice abruptly ceased, as if he had already faded far away.

The burly man and the middle-aged scholar exchanged glances, then looked at each other in utter bewilderment.