Chapter 804: Dayan Divine Monarch

Chapter Six: Spirit Treasure

Han Li nodded after listening to the cautious words of the woman surnamed Song, without pressing for more details.

"It's probably for the best that Junior Niece Song and Miss Mei don't go. Mount Wanling is a chaotic place right now, full of all sorts of people. Even if I enter Demonfall Valley, I'm not entirely confident I'll come out unscathed. Miss Ziling, it seems you haven't changed your mind; are you still determined to enter?" Han Li said to Ziling, his tone light.

"As long as Brother Han is willing to enter the valley, I'm willing to take the risk. I have complete confidence in Fellow Daoist Han," Ziling replied with a charming smile, her demeanor composed.

"Since Fellow Daoist Ziling puts it that way, I won't try to dissuade you further. However, before entering the valley, there are a few matters I need to clarify," Han Li said, gazing at Ziling without blinking.

"Of course. If Brother Han has any questions, please feel free to ask," Ziling readily agreed, showing no surprise.

"First, regarding the Spirit Candle Fruit, I need to reconfirm its authenticity. I wouldn't want to rush into Demonfall Valley only to find out it was all for nothing. Can Miss Ziling confirm this?" Han Li's expression grew serious.

"The Spirit Candle Fruit is absolutely real. This was personally stated by a Nascent Soul elder of the Ghost Spirit Sect who fortunately escaped Demonfall Valley back then. Otherwise, the Nascent Soul old monsters of the Ghost Spirit Sect wouldn't be dedicating so much effort to the valley's affairs. I also have a jade slip here. It contains that Nascent Soul's personal description of the Spirit Candle Fruit's location. This should prove the truth of the matter." Ziling had clearly anticipated Han Li's question; as soon as he asked, she immediately took out an emerald-green jade slip from her storage pouch and handed it to him.

Han Li took the jade slip, immersed his consciousness in it, and read silently for a moment.

After a while, he withdrew his consciousness and, without changing his expression, returned the jade slip.

"According to what's written, the Spirit Candle Fruit does exist. However, the described location is deep within Demonfall Valley and quite vague. It's uncertain if we can find it based solely on this description," Han Li said with a slight frown, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"That Ghost Spirit Sect elder only stumbled upon the Spirit Candle Fruit's location after his Nascent Soul escaped its body. So, it's normal that his memory of the exact position is a bit blurry. However, it also mentions several very distinct landmarks. Finding the Spirit Candle Fruit shouldn't be a big problem," Ziling explained, seemingly worried that Han Li might back out.

Han Li pondered the content of the jade slip, deep in thought. He was clearly weighing the pros and cons.

"Even if we find this spirit fruit, we must refine the Fortune Pill and consume it while still inside the valley. Otherwise, the fruit's potency will be significantly reduced. Regarding the auxiliary materials for refining the pill, has Miss Ziling prepared them as well?" After a moment, Han Li looked up and asked calmly.

Ziling was overjoyed at his words. She immediately suppressed her excitement, her face radiant as she replied:

"The auxiliary materials for the Fortune Pill are quite rare, but over the past few years, I've managed to gather more than a dozen sets. As long as we have the Spirit Candle Fruit, and our luck isn't terrible, refining the Fortune Pill will definitely not be a problem."

"Since these issues aren't significant, I will venture into Demonfall Valley. However, Miss Ziling, I don't need to elaborate on the dangers within the valley. After entering, I will naturally offer you some protection within my capabilities. But if we encounter dangers even I cannot resist, you must also be prepared to fend for yourself." Han Li's expression suddenly turned stern, his voice calm.

"Of course. If such a situation truly arises, it would simply mean my own fortune is shallow. I would never resent Brother Han. Besides, I have some confidence in my ability to protect myself," Ziling said without hesitation. The delicate aura she usually carried vanished, revealing a hint of resolute spirit.

Han Li paused, then seemed satisfied with Ziling's words, his expression softening.

"How does the Ghost Spirit Sect enter the valley? Have the three of you inquired about it? When I arrived, I heard that the Ghost Spirit Sect is issuing 'Demonfall Tokens' to limit the number of entrants. This is quite peculiar. Given the current situation, there's little difference between a few hundred cultivators entering at once or over a thousand. It seems there's some restriction on the method of entry. Otherwise, with each token costing tens of thousands of spirit stones, why wouldn't the Ghost Spirit Sect capitalize on such a profitable venture?"

"Brother Han is truly extraordinary; you've guessed almost correctly." Ziling's face flashed with surprise, and she smiled sweetly.

"Although because of the leaked information, Sister Mei Ning and I didn't bother to extract the specific entry method. However, we did faintly learn from that disciple that this entry seems to require the combined strength of many Ghost Spirit Sect disciples and a significant amount of spirit stones to enter the valley at a specific time. The limited number of entrants is indeed due to this."

"Regardless of the Ghost Spirit Sect's entry method, our Falling Cloud Sect has been allocated three Demonfall Tokens this time. I also received one when I returned to the sect. Entering the outer valley shouldn't be a problem. As for the inner valley, it will be extremely difficult; no one can guarantee safe passage through it. However, I believe most cultivators will only stay in the outer valley to search for treasures. Those daring enough to enter the inner valley should be Nascent Soul cultivators. Of course, there will definitely be some Core Formation cultivators who want to try their luck, but not many. While in the outer valley, Fellow Daoist Ziling, your danger won't be great, and you can manage on your own for a while. When we enter the inner valley..."

Han Li's eyes flickered, and his lips moved slightly, but no sound came out. He was using a sound transmission spell.

Seeing this, the woman surnamed Song and Mei Ning showed no displeasure. After all, given the extreme dangers of this trip, it was perfectly understandable for him to act cautiously.

"Everything will be as Brother Han says." After listening, Ziling hesitated for a moment, then immediately nodded in agreement.

"Then, Fellow Daoist Ziling, I'll see you again in Demonfall Valley. Oh, and Junior Niece Song, I heard from some sect disciples that Senior Brother Cheng has also arrived here. Do you know where he is?" Han Li's gaze shifted as he asked the woman surnamed Song about the silver-haired elder.

"This, I don't know, Junior Uncle. Senior Martial Brother Cheng is traveling with a few old friends. He hasn't contacted me at all since arriving here," the woman surnamed Song replied quickly after a moment of surprise.

"Is that so! It seems Senior Brother Cheng intends to make one last attempt in the valley before his time runs out," Han Li murmured, as if deep in thought.

"I heard that Mulan spellcasters might also participate in this trip to Demonfall Valley. Is this true or false? Do you have any news on this?" After a moment of silence, Han Li asked again, his brows slightly furrowed.

"The three of us have also heard this rumor. However, there are so many conflicting reports that we don't know if it's true or false," Ziling replied, looking rather troubled and helpless.

Han Li stroked his chin, remaining silent. But after a moment, his expression suddenly changed slightly. He abruptly stood up, uttered a brief farewell, and drifted away.

Only the three female cultivators remained in the room, exchanging puzzled glances for a while.

"What happened? Why did Brother Han leave so abruptly?" Ziling's bright eyes scanned the room, a look of confusion on her face.

"I don't know. Perhaps Senior Han had another urgent matter," Mei Ning said, her delicate brows furrowed, a hint of disappointment visible.

The woman surnamed Song, however, gazed towards the doorway, lost in thought. "Do you want your soul to scatter?" At that moment, Han Li was walking down a secluded street, his steps orderly and seemingly unhurried. In reality, he was furiously scolding someone in his mind.

"Hehe! This old man merely found that girl Ziling incredibly beautiful. It's only natural for me to have some thoughts," an aged voice responded nonchalantly in Han Li's mind.

"Hmph! Don't you know that the Seven Emotions Art you previously used linked your emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure—to my second Nascent Soul? It's fine if you get aroused, but don't implicate me! After all, my second Nascent Soul and I are connected by consciousness. Besides, that girl Ziling's current appearance isn't particularly striking. How did you discern her true face? You once claimed to have concubines like clouds and to have seen all the peerless beauties in the world! Yet one female cultivator makes you act so disgracefully. You weren't lying to me before, were you?" Han Li, still fuming, asked coldly.

"This old man originally used the Seven Emotions Art to deal with your primary spirit. Who would have thought that a mere early Nascent Soul cultivator would have cultivated a second Nascent Soul, blocking the calamity? Otherwise, how could I have fallen to my current state? Although the Seven Emotions Art cannot control a cultivator's divine sense, if their joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are controlled, it can still make an opponent unable to live or die. As for that girl, even though she used a secret technique to conceal her true face, how could she hide from my divine sense perception?" The old man's voice faltered, still sounding somewhat unconvinced.

"Even if your Seven Emotions Art is powerful, choosing the wrong target makes it pointless. Although my second Nascent Soul has some connection to me, being affected by the Seven Emotions Art is only a minor inconvenience for me. But you, I never imagined that the founding ancestor of the Thousand Bamboo Sect, the creator of the Great Evolution Art, the Great Evolution Divine Lord himself, would possess a puppet and survive to this day. If your divine sense weren't truly incredibly powerful, and you didn't have such a thorough understanding of the Great Evolution Art, I wouldn't believe this at all. But even so, if you keep randomly fixating on female cultivators and disturbing my state of mind, don't blame me for being impolite." Han Li's voice turned grim.

"Han brat, you know perfectly well that even with the help of the soul-attracting wood bead you provided, my spirit essence will dissipate in a few decades at most. If it weren't for the fact that the last type of puppet I've been researching is mostly complete, I'd be eager to reincarnate already. Living as a puppet for tens of thousands of years without any sensation—I've had enough of it. If you hadn't seen a woman for ten thousand years, you'd be worse than me!" The old man grunted, sounding dismissive.

Hearing this, Han Li rubbed his nose, feeling a massive headache coming on.

This old monster, whose true body was hidden within the Bamboo-Revered Tube, was truly difficult to deal with. If it weren't for his promise to impart the final three layers of the Great Evolution Art and the never-before-seen methods for refining several powerful puppets to Han Li, he would have already eliminated him using numerous means.

What was even more frustrating was that the other party's divine sense was incredibly powerful. Even performing soul-searching on him, despite his lack of resistance, yielded no effect. Instead, Han Li was nearly manipulated by the opponent's divine sense. This scared Han Li so much that he no longer dared to use such a method.

Facing the "Great Evolution Divine Lord," an old monster who had lived for tens of thousands of years, Han Li felt utterly at a loss.