Chapter 1313: Where Goodness Does Not Exist

Han Li led Ziling through the outer void for several days before stopping at a meteorite cluster.

This meteorite cluster was different from others; all the meteorites within it were completely stationary, and there were no traces of energy storms around.

At the center of the meteorite cluster, a huge black sphere hung in the air, tens of thousands of miles in diameter, emitting various fluctuations of primal qi and even law fluctuations.

"This is the place. I didn't expect to find it so easily," Han Li said with a long sigh of relief.

"What is this huge black sphere? And why is it so quiet here?" Ziling asked, full of surprise.

"Ziling, along the way, you must have seen those black vortexes that devour everything, right?" Han Li said.

"I did. Is this black sphere related to those black vortexes?" Ziling's beautiful eyes widened slightly.

"Those black vortexes are formed by spatial forces mutating due to various influences. Some call them 'Void Holes.' Void Holes can devour everything, whether meteorites or various types of primal qi. However, Void Holes also have their limits. After devouring enough matter, they disappear and turn into such black spheres," Han Li explained.

He had learned these things through special investigation after his last visit to the outer void.

"So that's how it is," Ziling said, suddenly understanding.

"Every black sphere is a priceless treasure, containing immense energy—a natural top-grade mineral vein. Unfortunately, these spheres are too large to be stored in spatial artifacts, and the Skywind Domain below blocks them from being transported down," Han Li said with a regretful shake of his head.

Ziling looked at the black sphere before her and nodded slightly, also feeling a great sense of regret.

If they could transport this black sphere down to the lower realm, the abundant resources within it alone would be enough to establish a sect.

"I'm getting off track. The area with the black sphere remains very quiet for a long time because a large amount of primal qi has been devoured. Moreover, the sphere contains extremely dense natural energy, making it an ideal place for cultivation. Let's go into seclusion here," Han Li said with a light laugh.

Ziling naturally had no objections. Han Li immediately set to work, digging a cave directly into the black sphere and converting it into a cultivation cave.

He set up restrictions throughout the cave, then opened the Flower Branch Space and led Ziling inside.

Han Li formed hand seals to unfold his domain and activated the Time Astral Cycle Grand Formation, causing the time flow within the Flower Branch Space to change instantly, accelerating by thirty thousand times.

"So this is your time-differential space. Truly miraculous," Ziling said. Although she had long heard about the time-differential space from Han Li, Ti Hun, and others, seeing it with her own eyes still filled her with astonishment.

Han Li smiled faintly without explaining further. After giving Ziling some instructions, he immediately entered the pavilion to go into seclusion.

Ziling, whose cultivation level had dropped at the Six Cycles of Reincarnation Disk, was eager to improve her strength and also began her seclusion cultivation.

Inside the pavilion, Han Li sat cross-legged and took out the white jade slip gifted by the Reincarnation Palace Master, which contained the techniques for the final two layers of the Divine Refining Art.

He remained silent for a while, then finally immersed his divine sense into the jade slip and began to comprehend its contents.

Han Li needed power now, even if it meant sacrificing all future paths of cultivation through reincarnation; he would not hesitate.

With his experience in cultivating the first five layers of the Divine Refining Art, he quickly comprehended the final two layers and then slowly circulated his divine sense power to begin cultivation.

At Han Li's level, multitasking was a common occurrence.

While cultivating the Divine Refining Art, he also took out various materials, spat out a mouthful of golden flame to envelop them, and began to refine them.

Half a month later, Han Li formed hand seals and waved his hand. The golden flame dissipated, revealing two dark-golden puppets, from which threads of time law power emanated.

He smiled slightly, then flipped his hand to produce two small white bottles, placing them beside him. A fluctuation similar to soul power emanated from the two bottles.

As he formed hand seals with both hands, a layer of crystalline light appeared on his brow, flickering rapidly.

"Go!"

After forming seals for a long time, Han Li suddenly opened his eyes and let out a low shout.

Two piercing crystalline lights shot from his eyes, like cold lightning in the dark night.

The crystalline light on his brow intensified, and two points of green light flew out from his brow, transforming into two small green figures—his soul avatars.

Han Li formed a seal and guided them. The two small green figures shot out and each entered one of the golden puppets.

His hands immediately began to form seals like spinning wheels, and countless golden spell seals flew out like a rainstorm, merging into the two golden puppets.

The two golden puppets slowly opened their eyes, and a hint of vitality appeared in their hollow eyes.

Seeing this, Han Li nodded slightly and again formed a seal to guide.

From the two small white bottles beside him, two streams of pale golden liquid flew out and merged into the puppets' brows. The vitality in the two golden puppets' eyes brightened a bit more.

Han Li continued forming seals and casting spells, with countless spell seals flying out and entering the golden puppets' bodies.

Golden light gradually emanated from the golden puppet, engulfing its body.

Time passed bit by bit, and in the blink of an eye, over a year had gone by.

Han Li spread his hands apart and stopped casting the spell.

The golden light on the puppet quickly dissipated, revealing the puppet's true form.

The two golden puppets had clear, lively eyes, almost indistinguishable from ordinary people.

Han Li breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face.

The spell he had been casting these past days was a technique from the Truthful Word Sect for refining earthly deity avatars. Although the path of earthly immortals was a minor art, it had its unique aspects. As a super sect studying the laws of time, the Truthful Word Sect had naturally also researched the path of earthly immortals.

These two puppets were the earthly deity avatars he had refined, containing the law of time within them. In terms of sophistication, they far surpassed the water-attributed earthly deity avatar he had refined back in the Black Wind Sea region.

Han Li did not refine earthly deity avatars with the intention of specializing in the path of earthly immortals. He also did not plan to deploy these two earthly deity avatars to populated areas to gather faith power; instead, he prepared them for severing the corpse.

The Celestial Fox clan's technique of severing the corpse through avatars was exceptionally exquisite. Having used it once, he had gained more insights. For the next two severances, he intended to continue using this technique.

Using earthly deity avatars for severing the corpse required a long period of磨合 (running-in) and sufficient compatibility with the original body. However, with the time difference space, there was as much time as needed, so it was not a problem at all.

While pondering, Han Li raised his hand and emitted a beam of golden light, sending the two earthly deity avatars downstairs to cultivate on their own, then closed his eyes and sat in meditation.

Having consecutively refined two earthly deity avatars and endured the soul-splitting injury, even with his immensely powerful soul, he felt somewhat exhausted.

Han Li sat like this for half a year before opening his eyes. His gaze was spirited, and the depletion of his soul had fully recovered.

He let out a light breath, his gaze becoming extremely sharp.

At this point, the preparations for severing the corpse were complete; next would be the formal commencement of the severance.

The golden light on Han Li's body suddenly intensified, engulfing his body.

His spiritual domain also immediately brightened severalfold, with liquid-like golden light flowing slowly.

Surges of surging天地灵气 (heaven and earth spiritual energy) were transmitted from afar, merging into the spiritual domain. For a moment, the spiritual energy within the Flower Branch Space became several times denser.

Outside, Zi Ling sensed this situation, a look of surprise and joy appearing on her face.

She turned her head to take a deep look at the attic, then quickly withdrew her gaze and continued to cultivate with her eyes closed.

Time flowed by, and in the blink of an eye, over two hundred thousand years had passed.

Black light flickered on Zi Ling's body; each beam of black light was like a black silk thread, interweaving to wrap her body, forming something akin to a cocoon.

Her aura surged, and she had once again reached the peak of the Taiyi stage.

Although Zi Ling's cultivation had previously plummeted, her foundation remained, and coupled with the extremely dense celestial spiritual energy in the Flower Branch Space, after more than two hundred thousand years of arduous cultivation, she finally returned to her original realm.

Moreover, her cultivation foundation was now stable and would not decline again.

Zi Ling opened her eyes, formed hand seals with both hands, and the black light around her swiftly shot back, all merging into her body.

A contemplative expression appeared on her face. She flipped her hand and took out a purple jade bottle, on which was affixed a black talisman.

Even through the bottle wall, waves of extremely pure primal energy fluctuations could still be felt—it was the Xuanzhen Essence.

Zi Ling hesitated inwardly, wondering whether she should attempt to break through to the Daluo stage now.

Just then, the golden spiritual domain suddenly flickered violently and then faded away, and the time-difference space also vanished.

The attic door burst open, and Han Li's figure flew out from within, his brows tightly furrowed, his expression somewhat gloomy.

Seeing Han Li like this, Zi Ling's beautiful eyes flickered. She put away the jade bottle in her hand and rose to meet him.

"Your cultivation has greatly advanced; at least opening the time-difference space was not in vain." Sensing the surge in Zi Ling's aura, Han Li's gloomy expression dissipated somewhat, and he smiled.

"Trouble with your cultivation?" Zi Ling shook her head and asked softly.

"I never expected severing the good corpse to be so difficult." Han Li smiled bitterly.

"I heard Senior Crab mention the matter of corpse severing, but unfortunately my cultivation is insufficient, and he did not elaborate. However, I heard from Ti Hun that you had already severed the evil corpse without much difficulty. Why is severing the good corpse so hard?" Zi Ling asked curiously.

"Corpse severing, overall, can be divided into two parts. The first step is to sense the existence of the Three Corpses within the body; the second step is to illuminate the mind and see the nature, comprehend the obsessions of the Three Corpses, and sever them. The reason I severed the evil corpse without much effort is twofold: first, in the Nine Yuan Temple, Gui Lingzi used a Corpse Severing Immortal Talisman to draw out the evil corpse within me, sparing me the first step; second, I have killed many in the past and have a deep understanding of 'evil,' so severing the evil corpse was not difficult. Severing the good corpse is different." Han Li sighed and said softly.

"Oh, how is it different?" Zi Ling was startled.

"Since I embarked on the path of immortality, I have been constantly killing. Although I cannot be said to be devoid of emotion or ruthlessness, my nature has long become extremely hardened. I lack insight into the word 'good.' After more than two hundred thousand years of arduous cultivation, I have not even been able to sense the existence of the good corpse within me, let alone sever it." Han Li sighed again.