Chapter 1152: Taking a Master

"In that case, Fellow Daoist Han, why not simply join the Truthful Word Sect? Your Great Five Elements Illusory World Art is cultivated quite well, but it is fraught with hidden dangers. The five strands of time law power within you are still weak, so you feel nothing amiss. But as they grow stronger, various problems will gradually emerge, and you will be torn apart by the chaotic time law power and die." Miro Patriarch looked Han Li up and down and spoke again calmly.

Han Li's expression shifted several times before quickly turning grave.

In truth, after listening to Miro Patriarch's discourse, his understanding of the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art had deepened considerably, and he vaguely sensed something amiss with the five strands of time law power within him.

He could not pinpoint exactly what was wrong, but he was certain that Miro Patriarch's words were true.

"Senior Miro speaks rightly. In that case, I shall join the Truthful Word Sect." Han Li was silent for a moment, then looked up and spoke. He then prepared to perform a formal bow of apprenticeship to Miro Patriarch.

"You and I are friends across ages; such empty formalities are unnecessary." Seeing Han Li agree to join the Truthful Word Sect, Miro Patriarch was overjoyed. He raised his hand and sent out an invisible force, stopping Han Li from bowing.

Han Li looked surprised at this.

"Although I accept you, Fellow Daoist Han, as my disciple, your strength is considerable, and you will likely soon advance to the Da Luo stage. Our relationship may be that of master and disciple in name, but we can interact as friends." Miro Patriarch smiled again.

Hearing this, Han Li was truly astonished.

In the True Immortal Realm, all sects and schools placed great importance on seniority and hierarchy in master-disciple relationships. Moreover, as far as he knew, the Truthful Word Sect was a very ancient sect with strict rites, especially regarding rank and precedence. What did Miro Patriarch mean?

Though he could not fathom it, Miro Patriarch's refusal to let him perform the bowing ceremony suited him just fine.

Han Li had grown accustomed to acting alone over the years; kneeling and bowing to someone, even if that person was his master or elder, would feel awkward.

"I dare not. Since I have taken you as my master, I must observe the rites of master and disciple," he said respectfully.

Miro Patriarch did not dwell on the matter and pulled Han Li to sit down on the spot.

"Han Li, since you come from the future, what is the state of the Truthful Word Sect in your era?" Miro Patriarch asked solemnly.

"In my era, the Truthful Word Sect had long been destroyed by the Heavenly Court. According to my investigations, the Time Dao Ancestor of the Heavenly Court personally acted." Han Li hesitated, then said.

"So that's how it is..." Miro Patriarch showed no surprise upon hearing this, as if he had long expected it.

"There is another matter, Master. Qimozi is not trustworthy; he had already defected to the Heavenly Court by then. Moreover, the destruction of the Truthful Word Sect is likely connected to him. I beg you to take precautions early." Han Li hesitated again, then added.

"If it is Heaven's will, there is no need to try to change it. Otherwise, who knows what might be triggered." Upon hearing this, Miro Patriarch's expression remained unchanged. After a moment of silence, he said calmly.

Han Li was about to speak further.

"Who can guarantee that stopping him would prevent the Truthful Word Sect's destruction or improve its situation? Enough, do not worry about the Truthful Word Sect. You said you have little time left here, so quickly display the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art and let me carefully examine its problems." Miro Patriarch raised his hand to stop Han Li and said.

Han Li said no more and activated the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art.

The five manifestations—Truthful Word Wheel, Time Severing Torch, Time Vase, Illusory Hourglass, and Eastern乙 Divine Tree—emerged and slowly revolved around his body.

Since he was seeking guidance from Miro Patriarch, he operated the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art at full power. Not only did the time dao patterns on the Truthful Word Wheel and other items shine brightly, but the time law crystalline threads also emerged.

The fifty time law crystalline threads consumed during the earlier traversal had mostly come from the Time Severing Torch, which now had only a little over a hundred threads.

The Truthful Word Wheel was entwined with over thirty time law crystalline threads, while the Illusory Hourglass, Time Vase, and Eastern乙 Divine Tree had even fewer, only a handful each.

Miro Patriarch looked at the Truthful Word Wheel and the other items, first nodding, then shaking his head.

Seeing Miro Patriarch's expression change, Han Li recounted some problems he had encountered in his daily cultivation and his previous failure to advance to the Da Luo stage, then cupped his hands and said, "I beg you for your guidance, Master."

"The time law is one of the three supreme laws, surpassing the other three thousand great daos. Nothing can exist apart from it. And the five elements are the foundation of all things in the world. The Great Five Elements Illusory World Art uses the most ordinary principles of the five elements to expound the supreme time law—this is the principle that the greatest truths are the simplest." Miro Patriarch was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.

Han Li listened intently, not blinking.

"Water moistens downward, fire blazes upward, metal is sharp, wood transforms and generates, earth is thick and heavy. These principles of the five elements are not limited to the five elements law; they are also reflected in other laws, including the time law. And the five elements cycle, generating and overcoming each other, repeating endlessly yet eternally indestructible. The Great Five Elements Illusory World Art pursues this great dao principle: no matter how time flies, I remain in my cycle, standing firm in the river of time, eternal and indestructible." Miro Patriarch continued.

Hearing this, Han Li felt as if a lamp had been lit in his heart, awakening as from a dream.

He had always wondered why the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art, a time cultivation art, produced five clearly five-element-colored divine abilities like the Truthful Word Wheel. Now he understood: it was to use the principles of the five elements to expound the time dao.

"Thus, the most important thing in cultivating the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art is balance. The five elements generate and overcome each other; if balance is not maintained, harm will follow. Your cultivation is now uneven: the Time Severing Torch has many time law crystalline threads, but the Time Vase, Illusory Hourglass, and Eastern乙 Divine Tree have very few. With such imbalance, how could you succeed in breaking through to the Da Luo stage?" Miro Patriarch said.

"I see. But increasing the crystalline threads on the Time Vase, Illusory Hourglass, and Eastern乙 Divine Tree is not easy. Treasures containing time law power are hard to find, let alone those similar to the Time Vase, Illusory Hourglass, and Eastern乙 Divine Tree. May I ask, Master, if you know of other ways to increase time law crystalline threads?" Han Li nodded, then frowned and asked.

"The Great Five Elements Illusory World Art can refine the time law power within external objects into time law crystalline threads—this is an extraordinary ability. Others who cultivate time arts can only honestly comprehend the time law and slowly increase their crystalline threads by raising their realm. You are already countless times faster than others, yet you are still unsatisfied." Miro Patriarch glared at Han Li and scolded.

"Yes, disciple knows his fault. But in my time, the Heavenly Court is hunting me relentlessly, and I need to quickly improve my strength. The Truthful Word Sect has such deep foundations, even possessing supreme treasures like the Sumeru Golden Mountain. Could Master bestow upon disciple a few materials containing time law power for me to refine and enhance my strength?" Han Li smiled.

"You rascal, you've set your sights on your master. I naturally have materials, but the restrictions of traversing time and space are considerable; you may not be able to bring them back to your own time." Miro Patriarch said slowly.

Han Li was taken aback; he had not considered this.

"But it's worth a try." After a moment's deliberation, Miro Patriarch spoke again, then waved his hand.

Light flashed beside him, and three items appeared: a section of pale green ancient wood, a broken water-blue long halberd, and a round yellow stone.

All three items emitted strong fluctuations of time law power, no weaker than the Fire-Year Firefly Nest from before.

"Thank you, Master, for the gifts." Though Han Li's mind still lingered on Miro Patriarch's earlier words, he was delighted at the sight of the three treasures and waved his hand to collect them.

"On the path of cultivation, remember not to be impatient. Proceed step by step, gradually. The time law power within you is quite restless precisely because you advanced too quickly. In the future, you must spend more time in quiet cultivation to remedy this problem." Miro Patriarch said.

"Yes." Han Li replied solemnly.

"Disciple has another question regarding the cultivation of the spiritual domain. I have cultivated my spiritual domain for many years, but it remains at the most basic level, unable to enter the Creation Realm or the Spirit Transformation Realm. What is the reason?" He shook his head, putting aside other matters, and asked again about cultivation.

"The time law is the supreme law, powerful enough to overwhelm all laws except the other supreme laws. But the Heavenly Dao maintains balance; advancing the realm of the time law is much more difficult than other laws, and the same applies to spiritual domain cultivation. This problem you must solve on your own—comprehend the time law more deeply. I have no special method to help you." Miro Patriarch shook his head and said.

Han Li nodded slowly, then continued to raise other questions, some about the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art, some about immortal artifacts, and others about various topics.

Miro Patriarch's cultivation was unfathomably profound, and his insights into laws, divine abilities, immortal artifacts, and all other aspects were equally deep. No matter what difficulty Han Li raised, he could provide answers, hitting the crux of cultivation and often giving Han Li a sense of clarity.

In the blink of an eye, the time dao patterns on the golden round wheel were nearly exhausted.

Though only a short time had passed, Han Li's grasp of the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art, the time law, and the entire cultivation system was now incomparable to before.

Han Li and Miro Patriarch still sat cross-legged facing each other in the great hall.

Han Li asked no more cultivation questions, and Miro Patriarch, seeming to sense that Han Li was about to leave, also remained silent.

"Thank you, Master, for your patient guidance. Disciple has benefited greatly." Han Li bowed respectfully.

"Since you have taken me as your master, it is only natural that I guide your cultivation. It is a pity that time is limited; I feel quite sorry. But since you have the ability to traverse time and space, you may have the chance to return. There is still much I have not taught you about the cultivation of the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art." Miro Patriarch sighed and said.