Chapter 716: News from Nangong

**Volume 5: Renowned Across the Land**

Han Li had a deep impression of the young girl whom he had personally brought into Yellow Maple Valley years ago. Immediately following, the image of his Elder Martial Brother Ma, the old man, flashed through his mind, instantly giving rise to a sense of desolation.

Given the old man's age, it was impossible for him to have formed a Core. This person, with whom Han Li had the most casual acquaintance in Yellow Maple Valley, had likely already turned to dust.

“That little girl! Junior Martial Sister Xiao is no longer a little girl. She got married long ago and entered the Core Formation stage decades ago,” Nie Ying said, a faint smile playing on her lips, her expression a mix of joy and annoyance.

“Oh, she also reached the Core Formation stage. That truly surprises me,” Han Li said with a soft chuckle after a moment of stunned silence.

“I’ve heard Junior Martial Sister Xiao mention several times how Senior Han guided her into the sect back then. Junior Martial Sister Xiao has always been deeply grateful to you, Senior Han, and thinks of you often,” Nie Ying said gently.

“When I brought her under Elder Martial Brother Ma’s tutelage, it was merely an impulse after seeing her good aptitude. Now, things have changed, and people are different; there’s nothing to see,” Han Li said calmly, his smile fading.

Seeing Han Li’s continued reluctance to return to Yellow Maple Valley despite their persuasion, Nie Ying and Lei Wanhe exchanged a look and could only offer bitter, silent smiles.

Not foolish, the two of them naturally had a good idea why Han Li was unwilling to return.

When the core disciples were evacuated into the Nine Nations Alliance, Han Li was not among them. It was clear that this ‘Senior Han,’ who was then merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had been used as bait and abandoned.

No wonder he was so indifferent to Yellow Maple Valley, showing no desire to return.

Just as the two felt a touch of helplessness, Han Li, after a period of silence, suddenly turned to the middle-aged cultivator from Concealed Moon Sect and slowly asked:

“Does your Concealed Moon Sect have a female cultivator named Nangong Wan? How is she doing now?” Han Li’s voice suddenly became a little subdued.

“Ah! Senior, do you know Martial Aunt Nangong? Martial Aunt Nangong is currently overseeing matters within the sect. Everything is well,” the middle-aged cultivator, Tang Minghua, replied respectfully after a moment of surprise.

“Martial Aunt? She also advanced to the Nascent Soul stage?” Han Li asked, a hint of delight barely concealed in his voice after his initial surprise.

“Martial Aunt Nangong successfully formed her Nascent Soul over a hundred years ago. She is now one of our sect’s elders. Senior, are you an old acquaintance of Martial Aunt Nangong?” the middle-aged cultivator asked in detail, appearing exceedingly eager.

For him, befriending a Nascent Soul cultivator would undoubtedly bring countless benefits in the future.

“An old acquaintance! I suppose you could say that. I once received a great kindness from your Martial Aunt. I’ve always wanted to see her again, but unfortunately, I’ve been preoccupied for all these years and never had the chance,” Han Li murmured, sighing, a trace of daze flashing across his face.

“Haha! Although Martial Aunt Nangong rarely receives guests, it would be easy for you to see her if you truly wish, Senior. In three months, Martial Aunt Nangong will be holding a Dual Cultivation Grand Ceremony with Elder Wei from the Spirit Transformation Gate. They will officially become dual cultivation partners. This celebration was originally only for high-ranking cultivators within the Alliance, but since Senior Han is an old acquaintance of Martial Aunt Nangong, if you come to our sect to attend, our sect will certainly…”

“Dual Cultivation Grand Ceremony?” Han Li’s mind buzzed. Unable to hear anything else, he spun around abruptly and asked in a voice that suddenly turned cold.

“Yes, Elder Wei Lichen of the Spirit Transformation Gate formed his Nascent Soul in just under three hundred years. His divine abilities are unfathomable; he is truly an unparalleled cultivation genius in Tiannan. Our sect and the Spirit Transformation Gate put in great effort to facilitate this auspicious event.” Han Li’s icy expression startled the middle-aged cultivator, who’s mind raced with various strange thoughts. However, under Han Li’s chilling gaze, he involuntarily spilled out the details.

Lei Wanhe and the others wore strange expressions upon witnessing this scene.

At this point, even an idiot could tell that Han Li’s relationship with Nangong Wan of the Concealed Moon Sect was far from simple!

Otherwise, why would Han Li react so strongly upon hearing this news?

However, to everyone’s surprise, the icy expression on Han Li’s face vanished after he stared at the middle-aged cultivator for a moment longer. Instead, his voice softened, and he spoke gently:

“Fellow Daoist Tang, there’s no need to panic. I mean no harm. I was merely a little agitated to hear that someone I once admired is suddenly about to become another’s wife. Since I know about this, I will naturally attend my friend’s grand celebration.”

Hearing Han Li speak so frankly, the middle-aged cultivator breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly uttered words of welcome.

But Han Li merely smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Lei Wanhe and the others also relaxed their expressions. After all, the Six Sects of Yue State were practically a unified entity now, and they naturally didn't want to cause any further trouble.

Next, Han Li casually asked about various matters concerning the Six Sects of Yue State. None of them were urgent, and the five cultivators naturally answered each question.

Upon hearing that Old Ancestor Linghu of Yellow Maple Valley did not have long left, Han Li frowned, but then nonchalantly relaxed his expression, as if he hadn't heard anything.

“By the way, does your Martial Aunt Nangong have a cousin named Nangong Ping, who should also be a cultivator of the Concealed Moon Sect?” Han Li asked casually, as if something had just occurred to him.

“Nangong Ping? I’ve never heard of her! Martial Aunt Nangong has always cultivated alone; I’ve never heard anyone mention her having a cousin. Senior, are you mistaken?” the middle-aged cultivator asked, puzzled after a moment of surprise.

Upon hearing this, Han Li was momentarily stunned. But after taking a deep breath, he immediately pressed on:

“This female cultivator, Nangong Ping, should be a Core Formation cultivator of your esteemed sect! Could you have forgotten her?” Han Li’s voice grew urgent.

“If such a person truly existed in our sect, how could I not know? I can assure Senior, our sect truly does not have this person,” Tang Minghua said with a bitter smile, almost swearing an oath.

“Fellow Daoist Tang is correct. If the Concealed Moon Sect truly had such a Core Formation female cultivator, we would have known. There is indeed no such person. Senior, where did you hear about her?” Lei Wanhe couldn’t help but interject to assist, a look of surprise on his face.

“It’s nothing! Perhaps I was mistaken,” Han Li said, but his face was filled with a strange expression, mixed with a hint of bewilderment.

With Han Li’s keen intellect, he naturally realized at this moment that Nangong Ping from that day was no cousin of Nangong Wan; it was clearly Nangong Wan herself, disguised with altered features. No wonder she hadn’t been ruthless towards him that day, and her expression and words at their parting were so peculiar.

For the rest of the time, Han Li seemed to have completely lost interest in speaking, silently piloting the Wind Chariot forward with a gloomy expression.

The others also noticed that ‘Senior Han’ was not in a good mood, and naturally, no one dared to chat loudly in the chariot.

For a time, the Wind Chariot was silent.

After a short half-day, upon reaching an uninhabited small hill, Han Li stopped the Wind Chariot.

“I shall part ways with you all here. This spot is only a day’s journey from the border of Fengyuan State and can be considered safe ground. I have other urgent matters to attend to, so I won’t escort you any further,” Han Li said calmly from the chariot, subtly urging them to leave.

Lei Wanhe and the others naturally dared not say more. After bowing again to thank Han Li for saving their lives, they all flew out of the Wind Chariot.

Han Li said nothing further. He immediately changed direction, steering the chariot through the air, and instantly vanished without a trace.

“Fellow Daoist Lei, was this Senior Han truly a disciple of your Yellow Maple Valley back then, and even your junior martial nephew?” another elder cultivator from Heavenly Citadel asked, unable to resist confirming with Lei Wanhe once the Wind Chariot had disappeared.

“What, do I look like someone who would lie?” Lei Wanhe said with a frown, in a less-than-pleasant tone.

Although he had been saved by Han Li today, having a junior from years ago now surpass him in cultivation and suddenly become a genuine senior, whom he had to cautiously accompany and apologize to, wouldn’t put anyone in a good mood.

“Haha! Brother Lei, there’s no need to get angry. I just find it a bit strange. If what you said is true, then Senior Han should be around the same age as Fellow Daoist Nie. Fellow Daoist Nie, may I ask how many years you’ve cultivated to reach your current realm?” the cultivator from Heavenly Citadel, surnamed Qian, asked Nie Ying seriously, turning his head without anger.

“I cultivated for over two hundred years to reach my current early Core Formation cultivation,” Nie Ying replied, her expression slightly changing as if she understood what the other person was implying.

“So, this Senior Han also formed his Nascent Soul when he was just over two hundred years old. Do you know what this implies?” the cultivator surnamed Qian said with a serious expression, stroking the sparse beard on his chin.

“Does Brother Qian mean…?” the brawny cultivator surnamed Shi from Giant Sword Sect couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Precisely. This person very likely has a chance to assault the Spirit Transformation stage. The last time a Spirit Transformation cultivator appeared in Tiannan was tens of thousands of years ago. Although that person vanished from the cultivation world shortly after entering the Spirit Transformation stage, in that brief period of existence, they swept through Tiannan unmatched. The entire Tiannan, including both righteous and demonic paths, and even neutral sects, were practically integrated under them. No one could resist a Spirit Transformation cultivator, even if they were only at the early Spirit Transformation stage,” the cultivator surnamed Qian said gravely.