Upon hearing this message, Han Li furrowed his brows slightly, then quickly relaxed.
"Yinyue, lift the restriction and allow the two elders from the Falling Cloud Sect to enter. This matter must be addressed sooner or later. However, after lifting the restriction, you should not show yourself. Despite your fox demon body being adept at concealment and illusions, your demonic aura cannot be hidden from Nascent Soul cultivators," Han Li instructed calmly.
"Yes, Master," Yinyue replied respectfully and walked out gracefully.
Moments later, the two elders from the Falling Cloud Sect, waiting outside the stone mountain, noticed a change in the scenery. What appeared to be ordinary stone cliffs suddenly emitted a vast expanse of blue mist, enveloping the entire mountain. The mist was filled with ominous energy, and runes floated within, clearly indicating a formidable restriction.
The silver-haired elder and the cultivator surnamed Lu exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile wryly.
To think that someone had established a cave abode and set up such a powerful formation right within the Falling Cloud Sect without their knowledge was truly embarrassing. At the very least, they would certainly be teased by their close friends.
At this moment, Han Li's calm voice came from within the mist.
"I apologize for using your sect's spiritual land for cultivation without informing you. Please don't take offense. I will now lift the restriction. Please come in for a discussion," Han Li said politely.
"Haha! What are you saying, Daoist Friend! It is our sect's honor that you chose our Falling Cloud Sect to form your Nascent Soul. How could we be displeased! In fact, we feel embarrassed for not preparing a proper congratulatory gift," the silver-haired elder laughed heartily, seemingly unbothered.
"Daoist Friend is too kind. I am already deeply grateful to have successfully formed my Nascent Soul here," Han Li replied calmly.
As he spoke, the blue mist churned violently, parting to form a passage two to three feet wide before the two elders.
Seeing this, the two did not hesitate and swiftly flew through the passage, soon arriving at a large blue stone door.
The door stood wide open, and before it stood a young man in a blue robe, about twenty years old, with an ordinary appearance and a faint smile—Han Li, waiting to greet them.
"Please come in," Han Li smiled and invited them in.
"Sorry to intrude," the two elders replied, cupping their fists briefly before following Han Li inside.
The blue mist outside swirled, the passage vanished, and the restriction was restored to its original state.
Although the two elders sensed this, being within the Falling Cloud Sect, they felt no concern.
After walking through a short passage, they entered a spacious hall.
"Please try some of the spirit tea I brewed," Han Li said as they sat down. With a movement of his mind, a giant ape puppet entered, carrying a tray with three freshly brewed cups of tea, which it placed in front of them. The puppet then left expressionlessly.
"Excellent tea! I didn't expect Daoist Han to practice puppet arts, a rarity indeed," the silver-haired elder praised, sipping the tea and eyeing the departing puppet with surprise.
"It's nothing. I only have a rudimentary understanding of puppetry and made a few to assist me. They aren't worth much," Han Li replied nonchalantly.
"Daoist Friend is too modest. This giant ape puppet, based on its spiritual energy, could certainly contend with a Foundation Establishment cultivator," the middle-aged cultivator surnamed Lu remarked, equally surprised by Han Li's puppetry.
"Indeed, a full-strength strike from this puppet is comparable to a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, its actions and attacks are too simplistic. The materials used to make it are also quite expensive, comparable to a top-tier magic weapon," Han Li noted casually, highlighting the puppet's flaws.
"Even so, your puppets are remarkable. If a low-level disciple had one, it would suffice for protection. But puppet arts typically originate from the Thousand Bamboo Sect in the extreme west. Are you perhaps from that region?" the silver-haired elder inquired, still praising the puppet but shifting the conversation to probe Han Li's origins.
Hearing this, Han Li smiled and half-closed his eyes.
Without much thought, he replied calmly:
"I learned puppetry from an unnamed ancient text. Whether it's related to the extreme west, I do not know. However, I am aware that cultivators there excel in puppetry. I've long planned to visit and exchange techniques with them. As for myself, I am a genuine cultivator from the Heavenly South. I was originally from Yue Country but fled to other lands when the six demonic sects invaded."
"So, Daoist Friend is from Yue Country. That's surprising. Given your youthful appearance, how long have you been cultivating? Does your cultivation method have any special effects?" the cultivator surnamed Lu asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
From the start, he found Han Li's youthful appearance exceedingly unusual. Reaching the Nascent Soul stage typically required at least three to four hundred years of cultivation, as it had for him, who had achieved it close to four hundred years old.
"My cultivation method does not include such effects. However, I once took a Youth Retaining Pill, which has kept my appearance unchanged since that moment. I am just over two hundred years old," Han Li explained.
"What, only two hundred years?" The middle-aged cultivator was initially relieved upon hearing about the Youth Retaining Pill but was shocked when Han Li revealed his age, displaying an expression of astonishment.
"Is it true that you've only cultivated for two hundred years?" The silver-haired elder, equally surprised, asked slowly.
To his knowledge, there had been only a handful of cultivators in the Heavenly South who reached the Nascent Soul stage within two hundred years. These were all extraordinarily talented individuals who often went on to achieve great things, some even rumored to have ascended to another realm.
For Han Li to claim the same, it suggested he might also become a significant figure.
"Is there something wrong with forming a Nascent Soul at two hundred years old?" Han Li asked, noticing their reaction and wondering about its significance.
"No, Daoist Friend's young age at forming a Nascent Soul is simply astonishing. Your potential is boundless," the silver-haired elder sighed with a hint of envy.
At the same time, he decided they must forge a good relationship with Han Li. Ideally, they should persuade him to join the Falling Cloud Sect.
The middle-aged cultivator surnamed Lu also regained his composure and shared a look with the silver-haired elder. After some silent communication, both displayed serious expressions.
Han Li observed this silently, without any sign of dissatisfaction, taking the opportunity to sip his tea.
Finally, the silver-haired elder spoke:
"Since Daoist Friend is a wandering cultivator, may I ask, now that you've formed your Nascent Soul, do you have any plans?"
"Plans? I haven't thought about it. Returning to Yue Country is impossible due to past enmities with the Ghost Spirit Sect. As for other places..." Han Li trailed off, appearing contemplative and uncertain.
"If Daoist Friend does not mind our Falling Cloud Sect being weak, why not consider joining us? Though we are not as powerful as the Ancient Sword Sect or the Hundred Skills Institute, we incorporate various methods and do not adhere strictly to any one tradition. Should you join, you would be on equal standing with us, treated as an elder of the sect," the silver-haired elder proposed sincerely.
"Become an elder of the Falling Cloud Sect?" Han Li furrowed his brows slightly, showing a hint of hesitation.
