Chapter 1317: Secluded World

"Brother Han, why have we come to this place?" After a long while, seeing Han Li still strolling through the city, Zi Ling couldn't help asking.

It didn't seem like Han Li intended to help others or do good deeds.

"The True Immortal Realm is rich in spiritual energy, and most immortal domains, regardless of size, are generally prosperous. Places as desolate and decaying as this are rare. I want to experience the unique atmosphere here," Han Li said.

"What's there to experience in the atmosphere of such a desolate city?" Zi Ling looked at the barren surroundings, wrinkled her nose, and said with a pout.

Han Li hesitated for a moment but said nothing more, merely shaking his head.

In truth, his purpose in coming here was related to the Spirit Refining Art given by that 'Lord of the Reincarnation Palace,' specifically to cultivate the seventh layer.

The cultivation of the seventh layer of the Spirit Refining Art differed from the first six layers; it was far more complex. It required not only talent and perseverance but also experiencing all facets of life, understanding the countless people of the world—the successful, the failed, the wealthy, the destitute—and their mental states. Only by refining one's mind to achieve a state of inclusiveness could one cultivate smoothly.

Over the years, he had traveled with Zi Ling, partly to accompany her and partly to observe all kinds of people and experience their complex emotions.

After reaching the sixth layer of the Spirit Refining Art, Han Li could, like Ti Hun, sense what others were thinking through their soul fluctuations.

The people of this ruined city were filled with a sense of decline, vastly different from the thriving atmosphere elsewhere, which was quite rare. That was why he came here to experience it thoroughly.

Of course, he couldn't let Zi Ling know about these matters.

Zi Ling's beautiful eyes flickered, but she didn't press further, quietly following behind Han Li.

Han Li strolled through this desolate city for an entire night before opening his eyes, his expression returning to normal.

"Are you done?" Zi Ling asked.

"I'm sorry for making you wait all night," Han Li nodded and said.

"It's nothing. But what do you plan to do next? Continue doing good deeds?" Zi Ling shook her head and asked.

Han Li gave a noncommittal smile and spread his divine sense.

Soon, his brow twitched as he formed a hand seal to activate the lightning array.

Their figures instantly vanished from the spot and reappeared above a small courtyard in the city.

Inside the courtyard, seven or eight sturdy men were besieging an old man, seemingly trying to snatch something.

"Stop!" Han Li shouted coldly, pointing a finger.

A bolt of lightning shot from his hand, striking the ground nearby.

With a loud bang, a large pit was blasted into the ground, and the shockwave sent the sturdy men flying.

Han Li, having severed his good corpse, dared not kill any living being, lest he shake the faint trace of good thoughts that had barely emerged in his heart. Over the years, he hadn't even killed a single beast.

Those men, seeing Han Li and Zi Ling standing in midair, were terrified out of their wits. Someone shouted, and they all fled in panic, covering their heads. After a moment of stunned silence, the old man hurried over to thank them.

Han Li frowned slightly. Although his action had clearly helped the old man, no invisible power of good thoughts appeared.

He merely nodded slightly at the old man, then used lightning teleportation to leave, transporting himself to the next place of conflict.

In the blink of an eye, they had stayed in this desolate city for half a month. Han Li had performed over a hundred good deeds, but the power of good thoughts never reappeared.

Inside a relatively clean teahouse in the desolate city, Han Li and Zi Ling sat facing each other.

A cup of spiritual tea with swirling white mist sat beside Han Li, its fragrance permeating the air, but his expression was gloomy, and he didn't taste it.

Zi Ling wasn't drinking tea either; she was flipping through a thick book.

It was a book on the concepts of good and evil that Han Li had obtained from a trade in the Reincarnation Palace. Zi Ling had picked it up, hoping to find a way to help Han Li resolve his current predicament.

It was afternoon, but there were no customers in the teahouse, only Han Li and Zi Ling, making it very quiet.

"Honored guests, does the tea not suit your taste? Would you like to try another kind?" a middle-aged man with a gaunt face asked with a smile.

Although this man was the teahouse owner, he was actually a Mahayana-stage cultivator. It was unclear why he had chosen to live in seclusion here and engage in mundane business.

His cultivation level was not low for this region; one more step and he could become a True Immortal, but before Han Li, his identity naturally couldn't be hidden.

"No need. The tea tastes acceptable, but we have some troubling matters on our minds and are not in the mood to savor it. It's a waste of your craftsmanship," Han Li shook his head and said with a faint smile.

With that, he picked up the teacup, took a sip, and nodded slightly at the owner.

As for Zi Ling, she ignored the owner and continued reading her book.

"Hehe, so you two have some worries. Drinking this light, floating Mist Tea is indeed unsuitable. I happen to have a kind of Calming Heart Tea; you two might give it a try," the owner said, speaking to himself. Without waiting for Han Li's response, he turned and walked toward the inner room.

After a moment, he came out carrying two cups of green spiritual tea and placed them beside the two.

The green spiritual tea had almost no aroma, like two cups of clear water.

Han Li's eyes lit up slightly, showing some interest. He picked up the teacup and took a sip. A cool tea flavor emerged between his tongue and lips, then flowed into his body along with the tea, spreading out.

The irritation in his heart dissipated somewhat as the tea flavor spread.

"Owner, you have excellent tea-making skills," Han Li praised.

"You flatter me, fellow Daoist. Judging by your appearance and temperament, you should also be cultivators, and not locals of Xiangyi, right?" The owner seemed fond of making friends and said with a smile.

"You have good eyes, Owner. We are indeed from outside. I am Han Li, and this is Zi Ling," Han Li said, his gaze flickering slightly without hiding anything.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Han and Fellow Daoist Zi Ling. I am Li Hai," the owner said, cupping his fist.

Zi Ling looked up from her book, glanced at the owner, nodded slightly, and soon immersed herself in the book again.

"Manager Li, since there are no customers at the moment, why not sit down and chat?" Han Li invited, raising his hand.

Li Hai didn't refuse and sat down beside them.

"Manager Li, how did you see that we are outsiders?" Han Li asked.

"The aura of you two fellow Daoists is lively, like the rising sun, full of vitality, completely different from the people of Runan Continent where this small city of Xiangyi is located. You should come from a more distant place. Anyone who has lived here for a long time can tell at a glance; it's not surprising," Li Hai said with a smile.

"Manager Li, you have keen eyes. I admire that. But is everywhere now so lifeless?" Han Li asked.

"It's a long story. The spiritual veins across this continent were all excavated clean tens of thousands of years ago, cutting off the foundation. Naturally, the situation has worsened. Those who could leave have left; those who remain are either powerless or attached to their homeland. Naturally, there's no vitality," Li Hai sighed and said.

"I suppose it's not just this continent," Han Li said.

"That's right. It seems Fellow Daoist Han has indeed been to many places," the owner nodded and said.

"Manager Li, you probably aren't a native of this place either, or rather, not from this immortal domain, right?" Han Li slowly nodded, then suddenly put down his teacup and said with a light laugh.

"Oh, what makes you say that?" The owner looked slightly surprised.

"Although I don't know much about tea, I've heard that the Green Water Immortal Domain, adjacent to the Hegang Immortal Domain, is most skilled in preparing spiritual tea. Most of the world's famous teas come from there. It's said that to improve tea-making techniques, some tea masters in the Green Water Immortal Domain created many special techniques to aid in tea preparation, the most widespread being the 'Green Water Blending Art'... Manager Li, your water-attribute technique is very similar to the legendary Green Water Blending Art. Moreover, the overall layout of your teahouse follows local style, but in the details, it still reveals some characteristics of the Green Water Immortal Domain. That's why I ventured to assert this. Am I correct?" Han Li said with a smile.

"You have excellent eyesight too! Indeed, I have traveled thousands of miles from the Green Water Immortal Domain," Li Hai praised, a hint of reverence appearing in his gaze.

Although he hadn't discerned the cultivation levels of Han Li and Zi Ling at first, thinking they might be using some secret technique to conceal their aura, now it seemed that someone who could freely travel between immortal domains and recognize his technique and cultivation at a glance must be at least a True Immortal, or even a Golden Immortal or above. Naturally, he couldn't help but feel respect.

But he also saw that Han Li didn't intend to reveal his identity, so he tactfully didn't ask further.

"Manager, your tea-making skills are excellent. Why would you abandon the resource-rich Green Water Immortal Domain and come to a barren domain like Hegang?" Han Li asked curiously.

"You overestimate me, fellow Daoist. With my meager tea-making skills and my inability to break through cultivation bottlenecks, I was only mediocre in the Green Water Immortal Domain. I worked hard back then, but I always fell short... Ah, I don't want to dwell on the past. Now I only seek to live in peace, without worrying about the future every day, and I'll be content," Li Hai said with a bitter smile.

Han Li looked at the owner, sensing his emotional fluctuations, and nodded silently.

"Enough about me. You two must have come here for some purpose, right? I've been here for many years. Though my cultivation is not high, I'm quite familiar with the local conditions. Perhaps I can help you," Li Hai looked at Han Li and asked.

"Thank you for your kindness, Manager Li. But what I need to do is somewhat special, and outsiders cannot help," Han Li shook his head and said.

"In that case, I can only wish Fellow Daoist Han all the best. If you need my help, just say the word," Li Hai said, patting his chest.

"Thank you." Han Li could feel that Li Hai's words came from the heart, so he cupped his fist in thanks.

"Uncle Li, are you there?" Just then, a voice came from outside the shop. It was a sturdy-looking young boy.

The boy was a mortal, dressed in tattered clothes, standing timidly outside the teahouse without stepping inside.

"Fellow Daoist Han, Fellow Daoist Zi Ling, please make yourselves comfortable. I'll take my leave now," Li Hai glanced outside, bid farewell to Han Li, and walked out.

Han Li picked up the Calming Heart Tea beside him, took a sip, and casually looked outside the teahouse.