Chapter 760: 化焰

There were only two of them left on the journey. Initially, Han Li and the woman surnamed Song naturally didn't speak much to each other.

However, when Tianyi City came into view in the distance, the woman, hesitant within her flight light, suddenly asked a question.

"Uncle Han," she began, "from ancient times until now, countless Nascent Soul cultivators have entered the Devilfall Valley and never returned. Is it truly possible for us Core Formation cultivators to find spirit fruits there and return safely?"

Hearing this, Han Li was slightly surprised. The green light around him flickered as he slowed his flight, and he turned his head to glance at the woman with a surprised expression.

It was somewhat unexpected that the woman surnamed Song would ask such a question at this moment.

However, after a moment of silence, Han Li calmly replied:

"In terms of cultivation level, you are naturally far inferior to the treasure-seeking cultivators who entered the valley before. It's normal that your chances of survival would be much lower than theirs if you encounter danger in the valley. However, the reason those cultivators perished there was most likely due to their greed. Otherwise, with so many Nascent Soul cultivators entering, it's impossible that no one safely obtained one or two treasures. More likely, they were tempted by treasures, wanting to get another after finding one, or solely focusing on finding spirit medicines that could extend their lifespan or help them break through their cultivation realm in a short time. By doing so, traversing more dangerous areas, an accident was bound to happen sooner or later."

"So, according to you, Senior Uncle, we would also face near-certain death if we went in?" the woman surnamed Song murmured, her brows tightly knitted, appearing quite worried.

"If there wasn't a way to enter the valley and a relatively safe route," Han Li explained, "let alone near-certain death, among all the cultivators who entered before, how many besides Revered Cang Kun ever emerged from this valley? On this point, if these two conditions weren't met, I wouldn't even consider entering Devilfall Valley. Otherwise, it wouldn't be treasure hunting; it would be suicide. Although your cultivation is lower, as long as you aren't greedy and you clearly ascertain the specific location of the Spirit Candle Fruit beforehand, head straight for that fruit's location as soon as you enter the valley. If your luck isn't too bad, you naturally stand a chance of obtaining it. Of course, Devilfall Valley is known as the most dangerous place in Tiannan; even with the most thorough preparations, you must be ready to perish inside. If the Spirit Candle Fruit were truly so easy to obtain, Ghost Spirit Sect would know it too and wouldn't have waited until now to make a move. Their current action of going to Devilfall Valley for treasure is most likely because they saw that Marquis Nanlong also obtained a way to enter the valley, fearing that the other party would preemptively snatch away the valley's treasures, which forced them to take this risk. I'm afraid their method of entering the valley is quite dangerous, isn't it?" Han Li hesitated for a moment, then still voiced his conjectures.

"Since you've guessed that Ghost Spirit Sect's method of entering the valley is flawed, Senior Uncle, why didn't you just now—" The woman surnamed Song's beautiful eyes flashed with surprise as she listened to Han Li's words, looking somewhat astonished.

"Why didn't I say it in front of Ziling and the others just now, is that what you mean?" Han Li's lips curved into a slight smile as he spoke. "Do you think I have some other agenda?"

"I wouldn't dare. Your junior doesn't doubt your intentions, Senior Uncle," the woman surnamed Song said, startled, quickly clarifying.

"Don't worry. It's normal to have doubts in your heart," Han Li said. "However, my reason for not saying these things wasn't out of malice. If these words were spoken earlier, they might be useful to you and Mei Ning, but for Ziling, they would likely have no effect. You see, while the Fortune Pill is indeed exceptionally valuable, it's a bit of a waste for Core Formation cultivators. Mei Ning, for instance, would have a great chance to enter the Core Formation stage if she takes this pill, making it worth the effort. After all, entering Core Formation extends one's lifespan by several centuries. However, you and Ziling are only at the early Core Formation stage, and your aptitudes are both extraordinary. Even without taking this pill, you would most likely be able to safely break through your bottleneck and enter the mid-Core Formation stage. Taking this pill would merely save you two a hundred years of time spent comprehending bottlenecks. On one hand, it's saving a hundred years of cultivation time; on the other, it's risking great danger to enter Devilfall Valley, falling into a life-or-death situation. How one chooses is entirely up to the individual. I'm not sure how you, my junior, would choose, but Ziling, for the sake of those hundred years, would most likely risk entering the valley. She doesn't want to remain just a Core Formation cultivator. By saving a hundred years of arduous cultivation, her chances of entering the Nascent Soul stage increase significantly." As Han Li spoke, a look of deep meaning appeared on his face.

"Senior Uncle, do you mean that Fellow Daoist Ziling's resolve is firm, and she's determined to become a Nascent Soul cultivator? So, no matter how great the danger, she'll enter the valley and fight for it?" the woman surnamed Song murmured, a strange expression subtly appearing on her face. "Precisely. That's what I mean. Ziling's experiences are quite different from yours and Mei Ning's. She was coerced by powerful cultivators several times, and even the sect her mother passed down to her was taken over by other forces. Although she later escaped and never mentioned this to others again, I can faintly sense that her current desire for power is probably much stronger than most people's." Han Li looked up at the slightly reddish evening glow in the distance, recalling some past events, and said slowly.

Then, under the astonished gaze of the woman surnamed Song, Han Li seemed to have more to say, and after a pause, he continued.

"If there truly is a Spirit Candle Fruit in the valley, I would most likely also give it a try. After all, advancing even one more level once one reaches the Nascent Soul stage is incredibly difficult. If I don't seize this opportunity, I might be stuck at the early Nascent Soul stage for the rest of my life. However, before the Devilfall Valley expedition becomes absolutely necessary, I don't want to ramble on with useless words. When the time truly comes to go to Devilfall Valley, I will naturally re-emphasize the dangers of this trip and point out the potential flaws in Ghost Spirit Sect's method of entering the valley. However, everything I've said so far is just my conjecture. It's possible that Ghost Spirit Sect has already researched and perfected their entry method even more than Revered Cang Kun. This isn't impossible, and it's also one of the reasons why I didn't immediately voice my conjectures."

Hearing this, the woman surnamed Song remained silent, but a look of understanding appeared in her bright eyes.

"Alright, I originally didn't intend to tell you these things now," Han Li said. "But since you asked, I've told you a thing or two. Now that you've arrived at Tianyi City, the most important thing is to ensure you don't perish in the upcoming battle; that is the immediate priority. If you're unlucky and something happens in the battle, then there's naturally no need to worry about Devilfall Valley. The same goes for me. Once we return to Tianyi City, this matter will be put aside and not brought up again." After saying these words, a hint of self-mockery appeared at the corner of Han Li's mouth.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Uncle!" The woman surnamed Song's heart trembled at Han Li's words, and she curtsied in thanks.

"It's not really guidance," Han Li said, waving his hand with a calm expression. "You would understand these things yourself with a little thought, even without me saying them. Alright, let's enter the city. It's getting late."

"Yes, Senior Uncle!"

The green flight light once again moved forward at full speed, shooting straight towards the city gate. Later, in a secret chamber surrounded by layers of restrictions, Han Li sat cross-legged in the center, holding a five-to-six-foot-long giant sword in his hands, his brows tightly furrowed in thought.

Strange purple and azure flames burned on the sword. These were Han Li's Violet Zenith Fire and the peculiar azure lamp flame.

After returning from Ziling that day, in the following few days, Lu Luo brought Han Li to meet numerous Nascent Soul cultivators who were on good terms with the Falling Cloud Sect.

In the past, it would have been difficult to meet even one cultivator of this caliber. But now, within just a few days, Han Li had met over a dozen, which could be considered a rare experience.

These cultivators naturally knew of Han Li's reputation and none dared to slight him; they got along quite well. He even found himself having quite congenial conversations with a few of them.

However, once these few days passed, Han Li immediately sought out a secluded chamber to deal with the lingering problems from his battle at Huanglong Mountain that day. This was the azure flame that had continually burned on his Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword.

The reason this flame remained harmless on the sword now was entirely due to the balancing and suppressing power of his Violet Skyfire.

It was unknown what kind of demonic flame this azure lamp flame was; its power was astonishingly not inferior to Han Li's Violet Skyfire. Although Han Li had managed to barely restrain it by relying on sheer quantity, how to refine it was truly a headache.

If this flame wasn't removed, not only would the Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword be unusable, but even his Dry Blue Ice Flame and Violet Skyfire could not be easily used to attack enemies.

Han Li naturally could not tolerate this.

Now, Han Li stared at the sword, his eyes flickering, pondering for quite a while.

A moment later, he tossed the giant sword in his hand into the air. With a flick of his hand, a streak of azure magic struck its surface.

Immediately, after the giant sword spun once in the air above his secluded chamber, it emitted a hum and transformed into dozens of small flying swords.

With a thought from Han Li's spiritual sense, most of the flying swords transformed into dozens of azure streaks and shot directly into his body. Only one flying sword slowly descended horizontally, stopping before Han Li's eyes. Han Li gazed at the azure and purple flames on the sword, his eyes narrowing. Suddenly, he opened his mouth, and a stream of purple flame shot out, directly spraying onto the flying sword's surface.

Immediately, the purple flame on the sword flared powerfully, instantly suppressing the small amount of azure flame.

Then, as Han Li activated a magic incantation in his hand, a surging purple light forced the azure flame towards one end of the sword, and before long, it slowly pushed it to a single point at the sword's tip, where it transformed into a tiny cluster of azure light the size of a soybean.

Seeing this, the expression on Han Li's face instead became solemn.

He took a deep breath. His ten fingers moved ceaselessly, and streaks of magic of various colors rapidly struck the sword.

Immediately, under the activation of the magic incantations, the purple flame on the sword grew even mightier, forming wave after wave of purple fiery surges that fiercely pressed down on that tiny point of azure light.

The azure flame trembled incessantly at its tiny foothold on the sword's tip, as if it could flicker out at any moment.

However, under the suppression of the purple flame, after a while, that point of azure light gradually began to glow brilliantly.

No matter how the purple flame surged, the azure flame, as if born right on the sword's tip, refused to extinguish.

A hint of anxiety flashed in Han Li's eyes, and the magic incantations in his hand accelerated even further.

After another long while, seeing that the situation hadn't improved in the slightest, Han Li's expression turned grim.

After a brief deliberation, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He raised one hand and gently swayed it.

Immediately, his five fingers and palm were all covered in a layer of dazzling purple flame.

Then, without hesitation, Han Li closed his five fingers and directly squeezed the point of azure flame on the flying sword.