Light flashed in the distant sky, followed by a streak of azure tearing through the sky like a bolt of lightning, arriving fifty kilometers away from an island covered in mist . The light faded away to reveal a youth wearing Confucian robes and carrying a bamboo tube on his back .
Han Li looked down at the mist, but his vision was completely concealed . He raised his brow and tried once more with blue light flashing from his eyes . A moment later, his expression became sullen .
He muttered, “The grand Myriad Tree Formation is worthy of its reputation . Even with the use of my Brightsight Spirit Eyes, I can’t see through their restrictions . ”
“Of course . This trip will make a great target to test the puppet's strength . Not only is Old Man Bitter Bamboo an optimal opponent, but you also need the tail feathers of their Black Phoenix for the Triflame Fan . ” Monarch Soul Divergence’s weak voice sounded out from the bamboo tube . Ever since he had performed the soul division, his strength had been on the decline .
Han Li worriedly asked, “Exactly, but will you be able to persist?”
Monarch Soul Divergence softly chuckled, “Don’t worry, with the aid of the Soul Concentrating Talisman, I won’t easily pass away from this world before seeing the true might of this puppet . ”
Han Li nodded and looked down once again . He narrowed his eyes and slapped a storage pouch at his waist . Then in the glow of azure light, a pale middle-aged cultivator with a stature similar to Han Li appeared .
The cultivator wore yellow robes and had impeccably smooth skin . Under closer inspection, it had a clear resemblance to the miniature puppet that Monarch Soul Divergence housed himself in, but the eyes glinted with cold light and its expression was void of emotion .
Although Han Li had seen this puppet many times before, he couldn’t help but take another look .
The Flexile Spirit Jade was truly miraculous and created the appearance of a lifelike person . Under Monarch Soul Divergence’s refinement instructions, the grey stone had turned into the color of flesh and was fused with Tailstar Silver to become the puppet’s outer shell .
Because Flexile Spirit Jade could change shape, one could place a thread of spiritual sense inside and control the puppet to speak and change appearance .
However, there was one glaring problem with using the puppet . Full use of its abilities for repeated attacks could only be sustained with high-grade spirit stones for a puppet as grand as this, but they were incredibly rare . Though they are all in high demand in every market, Han Li was able to gather a few of them . He reckoned that if it were to attack in full force, it would consume one high-grade spirit stone in a quarter hour .
“Let’s begin,” Han Li calmly said . Since the puppet had been refined, it needed to be tested .
The puppet raised its hands and spread out its fingers, immediately gathering mists of blue light around each palm . In the blink of an eye, it condensed into huge blinding spheres that carried an astonishing pressure .
With a flick of its wrists, the light spheres shot forward in a line and disappeared deep into the mist .
Han Li expressionlessly glanced down in silence .
Shortly after, a world-shaking eruption burst out and the calm mist now wildly surged . Two broad pillars of wind erupted into the sky and wildly wreaked havoc, scattering three hundred meters of the mist around them like a storm . The surrounding winds howled furiously in rage as they blew .
Han Li took advantage of the chaos and looked again, faintly catching sight of a large island . A barrier of green light appeared above it and seemed to cover most of it .
A dozen streaks of various colored light then flew directly towards them without restraint . It was clear that the attack had alarmed the cultivators on the island .
Han Li examined them and saw that there was a large disparity of power among them . They ranged from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation stage and were being led by a late-Core Formation cultivator .
“Who are you two? Why have you- Yi! May I ask why you two Seniors have paid our island a visit?”
When the old man arrived, he originally thought to rebuke and interrogate them, but when their leader swept his spiritual sense past Han Li, he discovered he possessed mid-Nascent Soul cultivation, much like his master . When he wasn’t able to see through the others cultivation especially, he felt his heart drop and his tone quickly changed .
Han Li blinked and smiled, saying, “I’ve long heard of Fellow Daoist Bamboo’s famous reputation, and decided to pay him a visit . Could you make a report?”
The old man in charge was surprised and then also smiled, “That is unfortunate . The master had entered seclusion several years prior and cannot meet with guests . If you two Seniors have any important requests, can you first mention them to me? The matters of Bitter Bamboo Island have been left in my charge . ”
Han Li calmly said, “Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo is in seclusion? What a pity, but it’ll be fine since you can handle it . I heard that your esteemed island was nurturing a Black Phoenix, is this true?”
The old man felt his heart tremble . “What does Senior mean?”
With an unchanged expression, Han Li calmly said . “It’s nothing much . I just want to refine a treasure that will require three of its tail feathers . I am willing to trade a grade-seven and three grade-six demon cores . Are you willing to agree?” After that, he summoned four jade boxes in front of him with a sweep of his sleeve .
He casually pointed to each of them, and they opened to reveal four various-colored demon cores with one of them slightly larger than the others .
“Exchange these for phoenix feathers?” The old man asked with confusion . As Han Li’s request was beyond his expectations, he couldn’t help but feel at a loss .
Han Li’s smile faded to reveal a solemn expression . “That’s right . Your Black Phoenix should be a grade-seven demon beast . It should be a fair trade with this many demon cores and show that my intentions are sincere . ”
The old man’s expression wavered for a long while before eventually shaking his head . “These demon cores would be more than enough for the trade . However, this isn’t something that I can decide . ”
When Han Li heard this, his face turned cold as he silently glared at the old man .
When he saw that Han Li appeared angered, his heart sank and hastily explained, “Please don’t misunderstand, Senior . I don’t mean you any disrespect, but the Black Phoenix is undergoing a crucial point in its cultivation . We cannot do anything that would harm it . ”
“So it was like that, but I cannot give up on those feathers . How about this? I’ll add another grade-seven demon core to compensate you for your loss . ” Han Li frowned and then took out another jade box .
The Bitter Bamboo Island cultivators then looked at each other in dismay .
“What, are you still unwilling to accept?” Han Li gloomily sighed and then looked at those present with an icy expression .
The old man trembled under Han Li’s frigid gaze . After taking another glance at the unknown cultivator at Han Li’s side, he eventually gritted his teeth and said, “Since this matter is so incredibly important, I truly cannot make the decision . Please wait a moment, I will take upon the risk of offending the master and send him a message . Let us wait for his reply . ” If he handled this improperly or ended up provoking a powerful enemy, he would be punished regardless .
“Good, I’ll wait . ” Han Li nodded and his face relaxed .
As a result, the old man made certain of the details and then released the voice transmission talisman back to the island . Knowing the vast cultivation of the two cultivators, he had no other choice but to disturb his master .
Han Li didn’t wait for long . As he examined the restrictions on the island, he heard an aged voice echo out .
“So it was a Nascent Soul-stage Fellow Daoist that has paid a visit . I hope you’ll forgive me for not coming out personally to greet you . ” With that said, Old Man Bamboo then commanded his disciples, “Bring them to the Phoenix Pavilion . I’ll come shortly . ”
The old man hastily bowed in salute and respectfully replied, “As you command, Master!” Then, he turned and smiled, “Seniors, please follow me . The Master has agreed to meet you . ”
Han Li glanced around and said with an unchanged tone, “Good, I was interested in taking a look at this well-renowned island . ” Afterwards, he descended with the puppet in tow .
With the assistance of the late-Nascent Soul stage puppet, Han Li reckoned they wouldn’t be able to restrain him even if they activated the Myriad Tree Formation .
In the blink of an eye, the party flew into the island through an opening in the barrier .
As soon as Han Li entered, he suddenly felt a wave of spiritual Qi immerse his senses . He looked down below at the large verdant trees, seeing them grow up to heights of over a hundred meters . There were a large variety, including those that were rarely ever seen .
Among them, there were a dozen that were clearly larger than the others, mulberry trees that were a bizarre purple . They were strangely arranged throughout the island, presumably in accordance with Daoist principles .
Han Li frowned and suddenly asked the old man, “These are your islands Divine Mulberry Trees, wasn’t there only said to be one? How can there be a dozen?”
The old man stole a few glances at the unknown cultivator and silently thought, ‘Why has he never spoken or face moved? Could he possess a peculiar character?’
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