Chapter 873: Qiankun Tower

*A Mortal's Journey to Immortality, Volume 6: Heavenly Spiritual Treasures*

Led by the elder surnamed Fu and his two companions, Han Li and the others passed through a restrictive formation and arrived above the Hundred Craftyard Sect. This time, instead of landing in the central square surrounded by mountains, they were led directly to a massive platform built into the side of a mountain cliff.

In the center of this platform stood a five-story pavilion, approximately a hundred zhang tall. At first glance, it didn't resemble a typical pavilion but rather a colossal stone tower.

Behind the pavilion, on the seemingly endless mountain cliff, there were countless densely packed large and small holes. Hundred Craftyard Sect disciples were constantly moving in and out of them, making the cliff resemble a beehive.

The elder surnamed Fu did not lead the three to the pavilion. Instead, he took them directly towards the uppermost part of the mountain cliff.

"Deep beneath this mountain lies a top-tier Earth Vein Fire Pool," Senior Brother Cheng casually explained to Han Li as they flew. "It not only doubles the efficiency of artifact refining but also offers significant benefits to cultivators practicing fire-attribute techniques. That's why the Hundred Craftyard Sect has built many of its artifact refining rooms on this mountain face, and numerous high-ranking disciples have established their cave dwellings within the mountain itself." Senior Brother Cheng evidently had a deep understanding of the sect.

What was said casually was heard intentionally. Han Li's heart stirred upon hearing this, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

After flying upwards for over a thousand zhang in an instant, they finally stopped at a solitary, massive cave entrance. This was clearly not a place for low-level disciples; unlike the bustling activity below, there were no other cultivators visible here, only two elders standing to greet them.

"Brother Cheng, Fellow Daoist Lu! I've been awaiting your esteemed arrival for quite some time. Please forgive me for not coming out further to greet you. This must be Fellow Daoist Han, correct? Indeed, so young yet with limitless potential! Eh! Fellow Daoist Han has already advanced to the Mid Nascent Soul stage?" As soon as the three landed at the cave entrance, an elder with fiery red hair and dark skin greeted Senior Brother Cheng and Lu Luo with a smile. His gaze then swept over Han Li, and his expression suddenly changed drastically as he exclaimed in surprise. The other elder beside him, with withered skin and stern features, also showed a look of astonishment.

"You flatter us, Brother Feng," Senior Brother Cheng chuckled, smiling broadly. "Junior Brother Han has only just advanced to the Mid Nascent Soul stage. We'll need you two fellow daoists to guide him more in the future."

"Us guide him? Brother Cheng, you must be joking!" The two Hundred Craftyard Sect elders finally recovered from their shock. They exchanged a look and couldn't help but smile bitterly, with the elder surnamed Feng responding speechlessly.

"There's no need for you two fellow daoists to be modest," Han Li said politely, cupping his hands. "My cultivation might be a bit faster, but my foundation is ultimately unstable. If anything goes wrong in my future cultivation, I truly will need your guidance and explanations." He showed no hint of arrogance.

Seeing this, the two Nascent Soul cultivators opposite them repeatedly said they wouldn't dare. Their impression of Han Li was naturally excellent. They then invited the three inside to talk.

The elder surnamed Fu and his companions excused themselves and left.

"Originally, Senior Brother Liehuo intended to come out and greet you three fellow daoists as well," another elder explained. "However, he's currently making the final preparations for his newly refined magic treasure's recognition ceremony, so he can't join us just yet. Please don't take offense."

"Brother Ding, what are you saying?" Lu Luo asked curiously on the way. "Junior Brother Lu and I have been acquainted with you three for several centuries now. There's no need to be so polite. What kind of magic treasure is it, to warrant such a grand recognition ceremony? Can't you two fellow daoists reveal a little about it beforehand?"

"Hehe, it's nothing too extraordinary," the elder surnamed Ding said, though a hint of pride subtly flickered in his eyes. "It's just another Heaven and Earth Pagoda that my senior and junior brothers spent three months refining."

"A Heaven and Earth Pagoda? That treasure!" Senior Brother Cheng's previously smiling face froze in astonishment. "That's one of the Hundred Craftyard Sect's three most vital sect-guarding treasures! I recall that no one in your sect has successfully refined a new one in nearly a millennium."

"That's precisely why we've invited all of you fellow daoists to witness this recognition ceremony," the elder surnamed Feng said with a grin, probing. "While this Heaven and Earth Pagoda is a sect-guarding treasure for us, it might not be much for your two sects. We won't even mention the Ancient Sword Sect. But I heard that Brother Cheng obtained some rare treasures from the Fallen Devil Valley. And for Fellow Daoist Han to advance to the Mid-stage so quickly, he likely had another fortuitous encounter in the Fallen Devil Valley as well."

"Obtained some treasures? Brother Feng, you must be hearing rumors," the silver-haired elder said, shaking his head vigorously. "I'm not entirely clear about Junior Brother Han's situation. The last time I entered the Fallen Devil Valley, although I did acquire two ancient artifacts, their power was quite ordinary. How could they compare to a Heaven and Earth Pagoda?"

"I didn't obtain any powerful ancient artifacts either," Han Li replied. "On the contrary, I destroyed many treasures in the Fallen Devil Valley. If not for a fortunate coincidence that allowed my cultivation to advance by a stage, I would have gone into the valley for nothing." Han Li naturally didn't elaborate on the matters of the Spirit Void Garden, glossing over it with a mix of truth and falsehood.

"Fellow Daoist Han, your cultivation advancing by a stage—what other treasures could you possibly need?" The elder surnamed Feng said with a bitter smile, his tone a mix of self-deprecation and envy. "If my cultivation could advance by another stage, I'd willingly exchange all my treasures for it."

Han Li merely smiled faintly upon hearing this, not offering a reply.

Passing through a vast garden filled with blooming flowers, they were led into an uncommonly large hall. It was over a hundred zhang wide, and its four walls were inlaid with shimmering, unknown crystal blocks, each about the size of a fist. This not only prevented the hall from feeling dark but also gave it a magnificent and opulent atmosphere.

"Please, fellow daoists, take a seat," the elder surnamed Feng said politely, inviting Han Li and the others to sit. "Senior Brother Liehuo will join us once he's finished, and the fellow daoists from the Ancient Sword Sect should also arrive shortly."

"I heard that Old Monster Jin of the Ancient Sword Sect has concluded his death-seclusion and will be attending this time," Lu Luo inquired as soon as he sat down. "Is this true?"

"It is indeed true," the elder surnamed Feng confirmed, then paused. "Fellow Daoist Jin even personally sent Senior Brother Liehuo a transmission talisman, saying he'd come to observe the ceremony. However..."

"However, what?" Lu Luo asked, slightly puzzled. The silver-haired elder also turned his head, intrigued. Han Li, however, casually surveyed the hall, appearing entirely unconcerned.

"However, Fellow Daoist Jin's visit is likely still with the intention of meeting Fellow Daoist Han," the elder surnamed Ding said with a mysterious smile after glancing at Han Li. "After all, Brother Han's reputation is so illustrious; he's now considered one of the foremost figures beneath the Three Grand Cultivators. In terms of one-on-one combat, it's no exaggeration to call him the strongest cultivator in our Heavenly Dao Alliance. And what's more, he's now advanced to the Mid Nascent Soul stage."

"What, Old Monster Jin wants to test Junior Brother Han's abilities?" Senior Brother Cheng frowned, speaking with some displeasure. "Has that old monster not changed his temperament at all after so many years in seclusion?"

"That, Senior Brother Feng and I aren't sure about," the elder surnamed Ding said candidly, without reservation. "However, given Fellow Daoist Han's divine abilities, he surely wouldn't fear anyone. And truthfully, we junior and senior brothers also wish to witness Brother Han's prowess."

"So, this gathering is likely about the re-evaluation of rankings within Yunmeng Mountain," Lu Luo said slowly, his eyes flickering as he tapped the tabletop a few times with his fingers.

"If you two fellow daoists think that way, it's not wrong," the elder surnamed Feng said with a smile from the other side. "However, when it comes to re-evaluating rankings, our Hundred Craftyard Sect, with us old immortals remaining unchanged, will naturally be at the bottom this time, without a doubt. We won't contend with your two sects for anything. But since Fellow Daoist Jin of the Ancient Sword Sect has come personally, it's likely he intends to test Fellow Daoist Han's abilities. Otherwise, how could he willingly give up the title of the Stream Nation's foremost sect?"

"You two fellow daoists knew about this, yet didn't reveal a hint of it in your invitations. That's a bit unreasonable," Lu Luo said, his face slightly sinking and his voice turning cold, before Senior Brother Cheng could even speak.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, please don't misunderstand," Senior Brother Feng said, waving his hand, not showing any anger. "These are just our conjectures. Fellow Daoist Jin never explicitly said he *must* meet Fellow Daoist Han. For our Hundred Craftyard Sect, this gathering is still primarily focused on cooperation and exchange among the three sects. After all, the last such gathering was over a hundred years ago. There are also new faces, like Fellow Daoist Han and Fellow Daoist Ming Xin from the Ancient Sword Sect. For everyone to meet will naturally bring many benefits."

Hearing this explanation, Lu Luo's expression softened slightly. Han Li's demeanor, however, remained unchanged; he simply maintained a faint smile throughout.

This only deepened the two Hundred Craftyard Sect elders' sense of Han Li's inscrutability, as they had been observing him closely.

After hearing the explanation, Senior Brother Cheng quickly regained his usual composure. Just as he was about to inquire further about the Ancient Sword Sect, a red light, formed by a transmission talisman, suddenly shot in from outside the doorway, circled once, and landed in the elder surnamed Feng's hand.

At once, everyone in the hall instinctively looked over. The elder surnamed Feng quickly scanned the transmission talisman and immediately stood up.

"What a coincidence!" the elder said with some apology. "Fellow daoists, please wait here for a moment. The fellow daoists from the Ancient Sword Sect have arrived right after you, so I'll go greet them first. Junior Brother Ding, please keep our three guests company." He then hurried outside.

Hearing this, Senior Brother Cheng and Lu Luo exchanged a glance, a hint of solemnity on their faces.

Han Li remained unhurried. If he recalled correctly, he seemed to remember Lu Luo mentioning that, aside from the Fire Dragon Child, the Ancient Sword Sect's other elders didn't have a very good relationship with the Falling Cloud Sect.

A moment later, footsteps sounded at the hall's entrance, and the elder surnamed Feng entered with three cultivators: two men and one woman.

Leading the group was a brawny elder with a head full of tangled hair. Although his hair was white, his complexion was ruddy, and his skin was lustrous. His round eyes gleamed brightly, giving him a beast-like ferocity. Even more striking were his unusually large hands, hanging down by his sides, nearly half again the size of an ordinary person's.

Following the elder were an ordinary-looking middle-aged cultivator and a dignified and graceful young woman.