**Chapter Six: Heavenly Spirit Treasures**
After a flash of spiritual light in the sky, a green rainbow, about two zhang long, streaked across the hundred-mile expanse of misty sea at lightning speed.
As the light faded, a young cultivator appeared, dressed in a scholar's robe. It was Han Li.
With a bamboo tube on his back, he continuously scrutinized the sea mist below.
However, as far as his eyes could see, it was a pure white expanse, making it impossible to discern anything.
Han Li raised an eyebrow, and a blue glow flashed in his pupils. Moments later, his expression suddenly darkened.
“This Bitter Bamboo Island truly has its tricks,” Han Li murmured to himself. “Even with the Clear Sight Spirit Eye, I can’t fully penetrate the restrictions below. The Myriad Wood Array truly lives up to its reputation.”
“That’s natural,” came the faint voice of the Great Divination Exalted from inside the embroidered tube. “However, the Black Wind Long Feathers from Bitter Bamboo Island can further enhance the power of the Seven Flames Fan you are refining, so this trip is unavoidable. Moreover, Old Man Bitter Bamboo also seems to be the best opponent to test the puppet’s power, making it a two-birds-with-one-stone situation.” His voice seemed even weaker than when his soul had just been split.
“I know,” Han Li replied with some concern. “That’s why I came here immediately after the puppet was finished refining. But how much longer can you last?”
“Don’t worry, with your Soul-Stabilizing Talisman aiding me, I won’t easily reincarnate before seeing the puppet’s true power,” the Great Divination Exalted chuckled softly.
Han Li nodded, then looked down at the sea mist beneath his feet. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes, and slapped a storage pouch at his waist with one hand.
Immediately, a burst of green light unfurled. A figure wavered into view: a pale-faced middle-aged cultivator, similar in build to Han Li.
This cultivator was clad in yellow robes, with skin like jade. Upon closer inspection, his face was identical to the miniature puppet that the Great Divination Exalted had possessed. However, his eyes gleamed with a cold light, and his expression was icy, devoid of any trace of a smile.
Although Han Li had seen it many times before, he couldn't help but glance at it the moment the puppet appeared.
The Spirit-Whipping Soft Jade was truly miraculous. Originally gray, it immediately changed color to resemble skin after being refined using the method taught by the Great Divination Exalted. Once all the soft jade was integrated into the puppet’s outer shell, which was primarily crafted from Adamantine Silver, a lifelike figure appeared before his eyes.
And due to the Spirit-Whipping Soft Jade's characteristic of arbitrary deformation, coupled with a trace of his own divided soul infused into the puppet, it could speak and change expressions under his control, making it indistinguishable from a real person.
However, the sole drawback of using this puppet was likely the spirit stone issue. For such a high-tier puppet, ordinary mid-grade spirit stones were naturally insufficient. Under full exertion, they couldn’t sustain the puppet for more than a few attacks. Only high-grade spirit stones could truly power the puppet’s full assault.
The rarity of high-grade spirit stones was self-evident. Since arriving in Dajin, Han Li had specifically sought them out in every market, yet he had only managed to collect a few. If the puppet were to unleash its full power, each high-grade spirit stone would likely only last for about fifteen minutes.
“Begin,” Han Li said indifferently.
Regardless, now that the puppet was refined, it certainly needed to be tested.
Without a word, the puppet raised both hands simultaneously, its five fingers slightly splayed.
Instantly, green spiritual light rapidly gathered in its palms. In the blink of an eye, two enormous, head-sized orbs of light materialized, dazzling and incredibly powerful.
With two soft 'thuds,' the puppet's wrists slightly trembled, and the light orbs transformed into two dazzling beams that shot downwards, vanishing into the sea mist in a flash, as if mud oxen entering the sea.
Han Li watched the sea mist impassively, remaining silent.
Moments later, earth-shattering explosions reverberated. The previously calm misty sea surged and churned violently, followed by two columns of wind, each about a zhang thick, that shot skyward from the sea mist, swirling wildly and wreaking havoc. The surrounding mist cleared for a hundred zhang in circumference, like malevolent dragons emerging from the sea.
Almost the instant the wind columns appeared, several sharp, varying-length shrieks suddenly echoed from below, filled with both shock and anger.
Han Li's gaze swept downwards, and a colossal island flickered in and out of view amidst the now much thinner sea mist. Above the island, a layer of green light curtain shimmered, seemingly enveloping most of the landmass.
Just then, over a dozen rays of light, varying in color, shot out from within the light curtain, heading menacingly straight towards Han Li's location.
Clearly, the previous attack had alarmed the cultivators on the island.
Han Li immediately discerned that the cultivation levels of this group of cultivators varied: there were Foundation Establishment cultivators, Core Formation cultivators, but the leading old man possessed a late Core Formation cultivation.
“Who are you two, and why… wait, it’s two Seniors! May I ask what brings Seniors to our island?”
The moment these individuals flew before Han Li, they had initially intended to demand an explanation with angry expressions. However, after the leading cultivator’s divine sense swept over them, he discovered that Han Li was actually a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, just like Old Man Bitter Bamboo. When he couldn't discern the puppet’s cultivation level, his heart sank, and his tone immediately softened.
“I’ve long heard of Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo’s reputation,” Han Li said with a blinkless smile. “I have a matter to discuss, and have come to pay a visit. Would Fellow Daoist be able to inform him on my behalf?”
“That’s truly unfortunate,” the leading cultivator said with a forced smile after a moment of surprise. “My master entered seclusion several years ago and no longer receives guests. If Seniors truly have an important matter, perhaps you could first explain it to this junior. I can also handle some matters on Bitter Bamboo Island.”
“Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo is in seclusion? What a pity,” Han Li said, blinking, his expression normal. “But since you can make decisions, that works too. I’ve heard that your island rears an ancient spirit bird called the Black Wind Phoenix. Is that true?”
“Black Wind Phoenix? What does Senior mean?” The leading cultivator’s heart tightened.
“Nothing much,” Han Li said impassively. “I’m refining a treasure and require three phoenix feathers from the Black Wind Phoenix’s tail. I’m willing to exchange one Grade Seven demon core and three Grade Six demonic beast inner cores for them. I wonder if Fellow Daoist would agree?” As soon as he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeve, and four jade boxes flew out, hovering before him.
He casually pointed a finger at the jade boxes in the air a few times, and their lids opened one by one, revealing four demon cores of varying colors inside: one slightly larger in size, and three smaller ones.
“Exchange for phoenix feathers?” Han Li’s request greatly exceeded the leading cultivator’s expectations, leaving him somewhat bewildered.
“Indeed. The Black Wind Phoenix on your island should be a Grade Seven spirit bird. My offer of so many demon cores is proof of my sincerity in this transaction,” Han Li said, his smile fading as a serious expression appeared on his face.
“Although the Black Wind Phoenix is an ancient spirit bird, these demon cores are certainly more than enough to exchange for its feathers,” the old man said, his expression fluctuating for a long time before he finally shook his head hesitantly. “However, this junior fears he cannot agree to this matter.”
Upon hearing the reply, Han Li’s gaze turned icy, and he stared coldly at the man, saying nothing.
Seeing Han Li’s displeasure, the old man’s heart sank, and he hastily began to explain:
“Senior, please don’t misunderstand. It’s not that this junior doesn’t wish to grant Senior face, but rather that our island’s Black Wind Phoenix is currently at a critical juncture in its advancement, and absolutely cannot sustain any loss of cultivation.”
“So that’s it,” Han Li said, frowning after a brief moment of surprise. “But I must have these Black Wind Phoenix feathers. How about this? I’ll add another Grade Seven demon core. That should surely compensate your island for any loss.” With a flip of his hand, he produced another jade box.
At this, the cultivators of Bitter Bamboo Island couldn’t help but exchange bewildered glances!
“What, your island still won’t agree?” Han Li’s tone suddenly turned grim, and he fixed his icy gaze on the cultivators before him.
“This matter is too significant. This junior truly cannot make the decision,” the leading cultivator said, finally gritting his teeth after a shiver ran down his spine from Han Li’s gaze, and then glancing at the humanoid puppet beside him. “How about this? Senior, please wait a moment. I will risk my master’s wrath and send a sound transmission talisman to his seclusion chamber to see how he replies.”
If his improper handling were to needlessly provoke a powerful enemy for Bitter Bamboo Island, he would likely face severe punishment upon returning.
“Very well. I’ll wait for a moment,” Han Li said, nodding, his expression softening slightly.
Sure enough, the old man then released a sound transmission talisman, clearly stating the situation and Han Li’s proposed terms before sending it back. Naturally, he must have emphasized the terrifying cultivation of Han Li and the humanoid puppet, making it appear as if he had no other choice.
Han Li did not wait long. Just as he was meticulously observing the restrictions above Bitter Bamboo Island with his hands clasped behind his back, a long, ancient voice suddenly drifted from within the island.
“So, Fellow Daoists of the Nascent Soul stage have arrived,” the voice said. “This old man was unable to come out to greet you personally, and I hope both Fellow Daoists will forgive me. Please invite the two Fellow Daoists to the Welcoming Phoenix Pavilion on the island for hospitality. This old man will emerge from seclusion to meet you shortly.”
From the sound of the voice, it was clearly Old Man Bitter Bamboo. The first part of the message was addressed to Han Li, while the latter two sentences were instructions to his disciples.
“As you command, Master!” the old man immediately responded, cupping his hands and respectfully acknowledging the command in the air. He then turned to Han Li, a smile gracing his face. “Seniors, please follow this junior. Master has decided to personally meet with both of you.”
“Very well. I, Han, have also long admired your island’s reputation, and indeed wished to see it for myself,” Han Li replied, his expression unchanged after a glance at the puppet beside him. He then, along with the puppet, descended towards the island, following the cultivators.
With the aid of a puppet comparable to a late Nascent Soul cultivator, Han Li was confident that even if the opponent activated the so-called Myriad Wood Array, it would be absolutely impossible to trap him. Thus, he had no fear of the other party suddenly turning hostile and relying on their geographical advantage.
In the blink of an eye, the group flew into the island through a self-opening rift in the light curtain.
The moment Han Li flew inside, he immediately felt a surge of spiritual energy wash over him. Below, all he could see were lush, gigantic trees, often thirty to forty zhang tall. They were clearly of numerous varieties, many of them rare species not easily found in the outside world.
Within the forest, over a dozen trees stood significantly taller than the rest; these were strange purple mulberry trees, scattered throughout, their arrangement subtly embodying profound cosmic principles.
“Are these your island’s Heavenly Mulberry Divine Trees? Wasn’t it said that your island only had one? Yet there are at least ten here!” Han Li frowned, suddenly asking the old man beside him.
