Chapter 1288 The Last Teacher's Grace

"Master, you need not worry too much. Recently, the Reincarnation Palace has been making many moves, and with the Gray Realm beginning its invasion, the entire Immortal Domain is in a precarious state. The Heavenly Court should not be able to focus on me for the time being," Han Li said.

"Leaving aside the Reincarnation Palace, the Gray Realm is nothing in the eyes of Gu or Jin. You may not yet know how deep the Heavenly Court's foundations are. Once Gu or Jin notices the threat you pose, with your current cultivation level, it will be difficult for you to protect yourself. You must break through as soon as possible. Only if you become a late-stage Da Luo cultivator will you have the ability to contend with the Heavenly Court," Mi Luo老祖 said with a solemn expression.

Upon hearing this, Han Li's face showed a trace of hesitation, and he said:

"Master, it hasn't been long since my first severance of a corpse. My mid-stage Da Luo cultivation has only just stabilized. It will likely take considerable time before I can sever the second corpse, especially since many immortal apertures remain unopened."

"You are different from ordinary cultivators. You cultivate both body and Dharma, and your profound apertures are almost all opened. With sufficient time-attribute treasures and a large number of immortal essence stones as aids, once the Time-Space Grand Array is activated, opening the immortal apertures will not be difficult. What you truly worry about is something else, isn't it?" Mi Luo老祖 said slowly.

"Your insight is keen, Master. To be honest, my last corpse severance was not the result of diligent cultivation. I was forced to use a Corpse Severance Talisman and had no choice but to take the risk. If I push too hard now, I fear it may be too hasty, like trying to make the seedlings grow by pulling them up. If the foundation of my cultivation is unstable, wouldn't the gain outweigh the loss?" Han Li frowned slightly.

"Hehe, you worry too much. Corpse severance also depends on fate and circumstances. It's not that once all immortal apertures are opened, severance will naturally follow. Otherwise, why would immortals spend so many resources to create Corpse Severance Talismans? Of course, because there are too many unexpected factors in corpse severance, the higher your cultivation and the more prepared you are, the greater the chance of success. I only want you to lay a solid foundation as soon as possible, so that when the time is ripe, you can sever the corpse quickly. Once you reach the late-stage Da Luo realm, as long as a Dao Ancestor does not personally intervene, cultivators below that level will find it difficult to harm you," Mi Luo老祖 said with a chuckle.

"I see. I have learned from your teaching," Han Li nodded.

"Before that, first complete your Five Elements Illusory World, elevating your spirit domain to the true Heavenly Man realm, so that it complements the grand array. Your cultivation speed will increase even more," Mi Luo老祖 said.

"This... I have been troubled by external matters and have not yet found immortal artifacts to complete the Five Elements Illusory World. This matter may have to be postponed," Han Li said with a troubled expression.

"Have you forgotten why I sent you to this Netherworld Mansion back then?" Mi Luo老祖 asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Han Li slapped his forehead, suddenly enlightened.

Back then, Mi Luo老祖 had given him three time-attribute items and a golden jade slip, but after his physical body traveled through time and returned, they had all disappeared.

The老祖 had said at the time that if those items could not be brought back through the travel, he should come to the Netherworld Mansion to find them.

As he pondered, Mi Luo老祖 waved his hand casually. Before Han Li, a brilliant golden light shone, and a section of azure ancient wood, a broken water-blue long halberd, a earthy yellow round stone, and the golden jade slip all appeared.

In addition, there were two storage rings and a golden jade slip floating in the air.

"The storage rings contain some immortal essence stones and time-attribute items of varying grades, but they are sufficient to aid your cultivation. Also, the jade slip for the 'Immortal Golden Cloud' technique—you once stole it from the Scripture Pavilion but couldn't take it away. I'll leave it for you as well," Mi Luo老祖 said.

Han Li was moved and bowed deeply to Mi Luo老祖.

Mi Luo老祖 accepted the bow with a smile.

"Alright, time is limited. First, fully refine the Five Elements Illusory World. Let me, as your master, guard you one last time," Mi Luo老祖 said slowly.

"Thank you, Master," Han Li said respectfully, accepting all the items.

After examining them, Han Li found that the azure ancient wood, the broken water-blue long halberd, and the earthy yellow round stone were all time-attribute immortal artifacts of no low grade, each corresponding to the five elements of wood, water, and earth. They were precisely what Mi Luo老祖 had prepared for him to refine the Five Elements Illusory World.

However, since the Eastern乙 Divine Wood had already merged with the Two-Life Tree and become solid, the azure ancient wood could not be used here. The blue halberd and the yellow round stone, however, could be fused with the Time Vase and the Illusory Time Hourglass.

Han Li put away the other items, then sat cross-legged under the jujube tree. He formed hand seals and brought his hands together before him. The surrounding Five Elements Illusory World immediately became filled with strange phenomena.

The forest formed by the Eastern乙 Divine Wood swayed and contracted, layers of tree shadows merging into one, transforming into a Two-Life Tree. The full moon formed by the True Word Wheel also descended, revealing its original form and hovering behind Han Li.

The countless flowing flames in the void above also converged toward the center, eventually forming a golden flame torch that landed before Han Li.

Only the winding River of Time and the undulating mountain range remained in their illusory forms, the mountains and rivers appearing side by side before Han Li.

Han Li waved his hands, and the blue halberd and the yellow round stone flew up, falling toward the mountains and rivers.

The halberd entered the water, splashing droplets; the stone entered the mountain, causing the earth to rumble.

The power of time law surged within Han Li, and his hands moved swiftly, continuously striking hand seals into the mountains and rivers.

In an instant, waves rose in the long river, dust stirred on the peaks, and a dense golden radiance enveloped the entire space.

Seeing this, Mi Luo老祖's eyes were full of relief. He slowly walked to the door of the thatched hut, leaned against the wall, and sat down cross-legged.

He brought his hands together before him, then suddenly separated them, drawing two half-arcs in the void. After circling left and right, they met again before him. Golden light burst from his palms, turning into golden halos that filled the entire space.

Bathed in this golden light, Han Li felt an indescribable comfort throughout his body. His originally somewhat unsettled mind instantly calmed.

The water-blue long halberd, immersed in the River of Time, gradually lit up with specks of light and eventually dissolved and dispersed. As it merged, the entire River of Time gradually turned from gold to blue, and its surface began to shimmer with ripples.

Beneath the mountains adjacent to the river, the earthy yellow round stone took root and merged with the mountain range.

The entire mountain range trembled slightly, gaining a true mountain root and earth vein, and completely transformed from virtual to real.

Then, the True Word Wheel and the Time-Stopping Flowing Fire flew back into the sky, turning into the full moon and stars. The Two-Life Tree also landed on the mountain range, its roots connecting with the mountain veins, instantly dyeing the mountains green.

With a powerful wave of time law fluctuation, the Five Elements Illusory World was fully refined, merging with Han Li's time spirit domain, truly achieving the highest state of unity between heaven and man.

Overjoyed, Han Li was about to withdraw his technique when Mi Luo老祖's voice sounded in his sea of consciousness:

"In the path of time law cultivation, your talent is not as good as mine, but your circumstances are better. I look forward to seeing how far you can go. Unfortunately, my time is running out..."

"Master..." Han Li responded.

"As your final disciple, the time I have taught you is truly too little. Now, there is not much I can do. Let me guard you one more time. Accept this gift from me well and do not waste it..." Mi Luo老祖's voice gradually became ethereal.

Han Li looked at him and saw that he still wore his usual kind smile, but his face gradually blurred. Like a dandelion, he emitted countless golden starlight, dispersing into the surrounding spirit domain.

"Master..." Han Li called out.

The next moment, the entire secret realm shook. A highly precise grand array slowly rose from the ground and began to operate on its own without Han Li's activation.

Looking around, Han Li was astonished to find that what had appeared around him was none other than the "Time-Space Grand Array."

The老祖 wanted him to go into seclusion here, using the power of this place to quickly improve his cultivation.

The Time Grand Array merged with Han Li's Heavenly Man realm spirit domain, and the array configuration suddenly changed, creating an unprecedented time-difference space.

With a thought, Han Li immediately formed hand seals and frantically activated the "Great Five Elements Illusory World Art."

With a whistling sound, a golden vortex descended from the sky, engulfing Han Li entirely. Countless streams of pure time law power surged from all directions, continuously pouring into Han Li's body.

"Ah..."

Han Li roared, looking up to the sky. Golden light shot out from his seven orifices—eyes, ears, nose, mouth—and every pore on his body was pierced by the power of time law.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

A series of banging sounds echoed within Han Li's body. He, who had just broken through, now had his immortal apertures opening again.

One, two, three...

At this moment, Han Li had no time to rejoice. This crude and direct infusion of time law power was something even a true late-stage Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand.

The reason he could still maintain some sanity was not only because his profound apertures were nearly all open and his physical body had reached its peak, but more because this power contained Mi Luo老祖's own time law power.

This power was close to Han Li's own nature, so it did not rampage wildly within his body like a flood or a fierce beast.

Yet even so, the pain Han Li endured at that moment was beyond anyone's imagination.