Chapter 758: Spirit Candle Fruit and Creation Pill

The beautiful woman who appeared before Han Li was none other than Mei Ning, who had accompanied him to Tiannan. Her appearance was even more captivating than it had been years ago.

"My current cultivation is entirely thanks to the senior's generosity in bestowing the pill upon me that day," Mei Ning said, her fleeting expression of resentment quickly replaced by one of reverence.

Now a Nascent Soul cultivator, Han Li's status was far more significant than it had been previously.

"Sister Mei! Is Fellow Daoist Zi Ling inside as well?" the woman named Song asked warmly, emerging from behind Han Li.

Han Li glanced at her, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Senior Song! Sister Zi Ling is cultivating inside, but she will be finished shortly. Please, both of you, come in and take a seat in my room," Mei Ning replied, not daring to be disrespectful, her expression apologetic.

Han Li didn't mind, as his divine sense had already confirmed that someone was indeed cultivating cross-legged in another stone room, with spiritual energy swirling around them. They were clearly in the process of concluding their session.

Thus, at Mei Ning's modest invitation, Han Li and the woman named Song entered the stone room and took their seats.

Mei Ning then dutifully brewed them each a cup of spiritual tea.

"Miss Mei, where have you and Miss Zi Ling been cultivating all these years? Have you not joined a sect?" Han Li asked calmly after taking a sip of the spiritual tea.

"Sister Zi and I discussed it. We decided to observe the major sects in Tiannan first and wait until our cultivation was more stable before considering joining one. So, for the past few years, we've been traveling around and exploring. After all, the situation in Tiannan seems even more chaotic than our homeland," Mei Ning replied softly, standing respectfully beside Han Li with her head bowed.

Noticing Mei Ning made no effort to conceal her identity as an outsider cultivator in front of the woman named Song, Han Li paused briefly before realizing that his junior niece, Song, likely knew about the Scattered Star Seas.

It appeared this woman truly had a good relationship with Zi Ling.

However, seeing Mei Ning's gentle and honest demeanor, Han Li rubbed his nose, finding it difficult to press her further. He simply turned his head, glanced at the woman named Song, who was also standing on the other side, and then asked with a smile:

"This time, you suddenly sought me out on Zi Ling's behalf. You're not just trying to arrange a reunion with an old friend, are you? Otherwise, why would Junior Niece Song be so secretive and hesitant when delivering a message?"

"Uncle-Master, I..." The woman named Song's face flushed slightly, and she began to stammer.

Mei Ning's expression also showed a hint of awkwardness. Just as she was about to speak, a woman's soft laughter suddenly drifted in from outside.

"Brother Han, why trouble these two sisters? In fact, inviting you here was mostly Zi Ling's own idea."

No sooner had the words left her lips than a woman in white, as beautiful as a celestial being, appeared at the doorway.

Her radiant beauty was captivating, her eyes like flowing autumn waters. Every gesture she made was mesmerizing.

"Actually, I should address you as 'Senior Han' now, but I still feel 'Brother Han' is more suitable. After all, you might not even be older than me. You won't mind, will you?" Zi Ling said with an elegant smile as she entered the room.

After experiencing numerous events together, such as the Void Heaven Palace and the Land of the Underworld, and spending time on the Boundless Sea, she and Han Li were no longer strangers. In fact, she now seemed to regard herself as Han Li's confidante.

Hearing this, Han Li regarded her for a few moments.

Even with his current Nascent Soul cultivation and mental fortitude, upon seeing Zi Ling's true appearance, he still felt his mind waver and was involuntarily drawn to her. Perhaps the phrase "a beauty who could bring ruin to a nation," as described in ancient texts, referred to a peerless beauty like her!

In terms of sheer beauty, even Nangong Wan, who was irreplaceable in his heart, seemed slightly less stunning than this woman.

Of course, Nangong Wan's cool, reserved demeanor and this woman's delicate, charming allure were two distinct types of beauty, each incomparable in its own way.

"What you call me doesn't matter. But for Miss Zi Ling to leave this valley openly with her true appearance, I'm afraid it will immediately cause a sensation in Tiannan. Just be careful not to be taken by force by those old monsters who might set their eyes on you," Han Li teased, a rare jest for an old acquaintance from the Scattered Star Seas.

Zi Ling, smiling serenely, showed no sign of annoyance. After a playful glance at Han Li, she turned to the woman named Song:

"Sister Song, you truly went to great trouble this time. Mei Ning and I found it quite inconvenient to enter Tianyi City," Zi Ling said. "It's nothing! I'm also involved in this matter, so it's only natural for me to contribute," the woman replied, her expression a little surprised.

Although she knew Zi Ling and Han Li were old acquaintances, seeing them interact with such casual ease still greatly exceeded her expectations. Nevertheless, this newfound familiarity boosted her confidence in the purpose of their visit.

At this moment, Zi Ling smiled sweetly at Han Li and said softly:

"Almost every time we meet, Brother Han, your cultivation speed utterly astonishes me. I truly wonder how you cultivate. And your current fame has left Mei Ning and me dumbfounded. Rumors are spreading everywhere that your power surpasses even that of a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, that your abilities are truly vast. Is this true?"

After posing the question, Zi Ling stared at Han Li with a half-smile, a faint glimmer of anticipation in her bright eyes.

Han Li's heart stirred, but after a moment's thought, he didn't reply directly. Instead, he looked at the beautiful woman before him and asked:

"Miss Zi Ling, asking about my strength as soon as we meet? Isn't that a bit too eager? Could you first explain the purpose of seeking me out? I prefer to understand the situation clearly before discussing other matters."

Han Li maintained an unhurried, composed demeanor.

Upon hearing Han Li's words, Zi Ling blinked her beautiful eyes and replied with a hint of embarrassment:

"I truly was a bit impatient. But it's understandable. This matter is critically important and requires abilities at or above the mid-Nascent Soul stage to succeed. I was simply a little desperate."

"Critically important? What exactly is this matter that requires my assistance? You might as well speak plainly," Han Li asked calmly, his eyes flickering briefly before his smile faded.

"It seems I don't need to say it, Brother Han, you've already guessed part of it. The few of us are indeed looking to cooperate with Fellow Daoist Han. But before that, I want to ask: Not long ago, did you go to Mulan Grassland with some old Nascent Soul cultivators and obtain Senior Cang Kun's relics?" Zi Ling's expression also became serious.

"How do you know about this? Very few people should be aware of it!" Han Li's expression shifted slightly as he spoke, clearly surprised.

"We learned about this from a cultivator of the Ghost Spirit Sect," Mei Ning interjected with a sudden chuckle. "That person was a direct descendant of a powerful elder in their sect. After accidentally seeing Sister Zi Ling's true appearance, he was immediately infatuated with her and wouldn't keep anything secret."

"You silly girl, what nonsense are you spouting?" Zi Ling retorted with a light scoff, her cheeks flushing.

It seemed the two women had developed a strong bond over the years.

"If it's the Ghost Spirit Sect, then it's normal for them to know," Han Li remarked, nodding. The doubt on his face largely dissipated.

"I didn't expect you'd already advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, Brother Han, yet you're still as cautious as ever," Zi Ling said sweetly, her eyes flickering as she glanced at him. "I've only just formed my Nascent Soul; I'm not immortal. Naturally, I remain prudent where caution is needed. But I did go to Mulan Grassland to seek treasure, and you sought me out here. What's the connection? Did you perhaps obtain some other secret from that Ghost Spirit Sect?" Han Li asked thoughtfully.

"Uncle-Master, your insight is sharp. This matter actually involves a treasure within the Fallen Devil Valley," the woman named Song interjected. She had previously seemed uncomfortable facing Han Li, but after seeing his friendly demeanor with Zi Ling and Mei Ning, her unease had lessened. "That Ghost Spirit Sect disciple inadvertently revealed information in front of the three of us; that's how we learned of this."

"Fallen Devil Valley? I recall only Senior Cang Kun emerged safely from there. How would the Ghost Spirit Sect know what's inside? You weren't deceived, were you?" Han Li paused, then spoke with a strange expression.

"It shouldn't be," Zi Ling said, her eyes shining. "Out of curiosity, the three of us jointly used some illusion techniques. We not only learned the name of the treasure from him but also unknowingly extracted its approximate location. As for how the Ghost Spirit Sect knew about this, that person didn't know, so I'm not sure. However, it's highly likely that this information is true."

"Even if this is true, what kind of treasure is it that has so captivated you? It can't be an ordinary ancient artifact, can it?" Han Li frowned, finally addressing the core of the matter.

"Uncle-Master Han, have you ever heard of the Spirit Candle Fruit?" Upon hearing Han Li's question, the three women exchanged glances, and then the woman named Song spoke with a solemn expression:

"What? The Spirit Candle Fruit! Are you certain? That item has long been extinct in this realm. No, the Fallen Devil Valley has been sealed since ancient times. If such a thing truly exists within the valley, it's not impossible," Han Li exclaimed, his usually composed expression finally showing surprise, even a hint of excitement.

"It seems Brother Han knows quite a bit about this spiritual fruit. Then you should also know about the Creation Pill, which is refined from the Spirit Candle Fruit. Legend has it that while cultivators can only take the Creation Pill once in their lifetime, and it's restricted to those below the Soul Transformation stage, this ancient spiritual pill is incredibly effective at helping cultivators break through bottlenecks. It's said that after consuming it, a cultivator's divine sense will be stimulated by the medicinal power for a period, allowing them to experience the incredible changes of the next realm in advance. Although these sensations cannot be clearly described, and each person's experience differs, most cultivators genuinely break through their stagnant bottlenecks afterward. This is well-documented in many ancient texts; otherwise, this spiritual pill wouldn't have such a renowned reputation and wouldn't have been passed down to this day. Unfortunately, the main ingredient for refining this pill, the Spirit Candle Fruit, was a rare and highly sought-after spiritual medicine even in ancient times. Although the pill recipe exists, no one has successfully refined it since antiquity," Zi Ling explained, striving to maintain her composure.

Although the woman named Song and Mei Ning were already aware of this, excitement still flickered in their eyes at the mention of the spiritual pill.

Mei Ning, in particular, knew that possessing a Creation Pill would significantly increase her chances of forming a core.

At this moment, however, the excitement on Han Li's face gradually faded, and he fell into contemplation.

After a moment of careful thought, Han Li calmly asked:

"If Fallen Devil Valley truly holds this spiritual fruit, then the Ghost Spirit Sect's actions in Mulan Grassland—spending a large sum to recruit other treasure-seeking cultivators and attempting to kill Nangong Hou to seize Senior Cang Kun's relics—would make sense. However, I still have a few points of confusion that you need to clarify. Otherwise, no matter how tempting the spiritual fruit is, I will not risk my life."