Chapter 1347: Ten Thousand Years of Tempering

More than ten days later.

Han Li appeared once again in the divine sense space.

"Fellow Daoist Han, here again today? Care for another bout?" The green-robed Han Li, his eyes gleaming with light, had evidently recovered as well, and rose with a smile.

"Indeed, but before that, I have something to ask you." Han Li said slowly.

"Ask whatever you wish, speak freely." The green-robed Han Li said, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Last time you said that to sever the self-avatar, one must slay friends, wife, and parents. What does that mean?" Han Li's eyes were like knives, fixed on the other.

"As for that... you must comprehend it yourself." The green-robed Han Li shook his head with a smile, clearly knowing the answer but not intending to tell Han Li.

Han Li was silent for a moment, then suddenly lunged forward like lightning, throwing a punch without another word.

Boom!

A golden fist shadow as large as a mountain appeared out of thin air, descending with the force to destroy everything.

The green-robed Han Li's expression did not change; a vast expanse of golden light radiated from his body. He crossed his hands, and a sea of palm shadows emerged, surging forward like countless waves.

The golden fist shadow struck the layered palm shadows, breaking through hundreds of them, its momentum greatly diminished, and was shattered by a single palm from the green-robed Han Li.

At that moment, lightning flashed in the void behind him, and Han Li's figure appeared out of nowhere, his fists striking out like the wind.

"Whoosh, whoosh."

Two Great Five Elements Annihilation Fists descended, their casting speed slightly faster than before, instantly reaching the top of the green-robed Han Li's head.

But the green-robed Han Li spun rapidly, countless golden rays shooting from his body, forming a tornado-like light screen around him.

The two Great Five Elements Annihilation Fists struck the wind-column light screen, hitting as if against a soft wall, and were immediately deflected.

The golden light screen trembled violently twice, then faded and disappeared.

"Haha, I understand. You want to hone your control over laws through our battles, don't you? Your cultivation has advanced too quickly, and your control over the vast law power within you is insufficient. To fight Gu or Jin, you must make up for this. Fighting me is indeed a good method." The green-robed Han Li drifted backward, laughing heartily.

Han Li's gaze flickered, but he did not reply.

What the green-robed Han Li said was indeed one of his goals.

But he had another goal: through contact with the green-robed Han Li, to learn information about severing the self-avatar.

As long as they had such close contact, no matter how tight-lipped the other was, he could always glean something.

Thoughts churning in his mind, Han Li charged forward again, fists and palms moving in unison, launching a barrage of attacks.

The green-robed Han Li waved his hands, golden light shifting in myriad ways, blocking all of Han Li's attacks.

"But you must be careful. Once I seize the opportunity and annihilate you here, this physical body will be mine. In fact, for the name 'Han Li,' nothing will change, because I am you, and you are me." The green-robed Han Li said with a smile, but his eyes were like a deep ocean, fearsome to behold.

"Feel free to try." Han Li said as he lunged again.

Thus they fought fiercely for several more days, until both were utterly exhausted, then stopped.

A few days later, Han Li, having recovered once more, entered the divine sense space again and battled his self-avatar.

Thus they fought and rested, and in the blink of an eye, ten thousand years had passed.

In Han Li's divine sense space, two blurry golden figures were intertwined, leaving trails of afterimages, both as fast as lightning, impossible for the naked eye to follow.

Various fist shadows, palm shadows, sword qi, and black light flew and collided everywhere, the sounds of impact as dense as driving rain, the speed of exchange beyond imagination.

Suddenly, a loud explosion burst forth, long and ear-splitting!

The two figures abruptly retreated, revealing Han Li and the green-robed Han Li.

Golden light flashed wildly around Han Li; he threw a punch that seemed slow but was actually fast.

Golden fist shadows shot out from every part of his body—not just from his fists, but from his entire body.

Each fist shadow was a Great Five Elements Annihilation Fist, some thick, some thin, some long like ropes, interweaving to form a gigantic net that covered the sky and earth.

Overwhelming force and law power filled the divine sense space, leaving no escape.

The green-robed Han Li stood still, not dodging. His sleeves fluttered wildly as he extended a finger toward the漫天 fist shadows and uttered two words: "Annihilation!"

A grand sound wave instantly filled the entire divine sense space, turning everything nearby a dull gray.

A peerless force appeared out of nowhere and collided with the漫天 fist shadows.

With a thunderous roar!

All the fist shadows shattered instantly, and the divine sense space returned to its original color.

Han Li and the green-robed Han Li both trembled violently, knocked backward again, still evenly matched.

Han Li looked despondent, as if he had lost interest, and did not continue fighting.

"What, not continuing?" The green-robed Han Li did not attack either.

"Even if we fight on, my chances of defeating you are slim. I'll take my leave for today." Han Li waved his hand, his figure flickered and disappeared.

After ten thousand years of combat, a subtle change had occurred in their relationship.

In terms of cultivation and strength, the two were almost identical, even in temperament and personality. After so many years of fighting, they had developed a sense of being both enemy and friend.

The green-robed Han Li watched Han Li leave, then turned and flew deeper into the divine sense space.

After Han Li's consciousness returned to his body, he looked slightly fatigued. He closed his eyes and regulated his breathing for a while.

After recovering, he did not enter the divine sense space again. Years of confrontation with his "self" had brought his control over the law of time to a limit; continuing to fight would yield no further progress.

Moreover, during this time, he had indeed gained a deeper understanding of the self-avatar from his "self."

As he pondered, Han Li waved his hand, and a book appeared in it.

The book was entirely black, seemingly made of some kind of animal skin, very old, giving a sense of having weathered countless ages.

This was a text he had obtained from the Reincarnation Palace through a stroke of luck. It was said to be a manuscript of unofficial history written by a descendant of a Dao Ancestor, recording some anecdotes of that Dao Ancestor.

What interested him most was naturally a passage about that Dao Ancestor's experience of severing his self-avatar.

Although it was only two or three thin pages, a few hundred words in total, it had caused him to ponder for a long time and had given him insights into things he had never considered before.

For instance, before severing the avatar, that Dao Ancestor had spent nearly a thousand years seeking what true self was, even going so far as to visit the ruins of the sect where he first entered the immortal cultivation world, sitting there in meditation for a full hundred days.

In Han Li's view, this was perhaps the Dao Ancestor's way of reclaiming his original aspiration for seeking immortality, thereby aiding in the discovery and severance of the self-avatar. It was somewhat similar to the idea of immersing oneself in the mortal world, hiding in the bustling city.

Over these ten thousand years, Gold Boy had also communicated with him, but Gold Boy had not severed an avatar to attain the Dao in this life, so his help was quite limited.

Han Li quickly flipped through the black book, closed it with a snap, and stood up, as if having made a decision. He left the pavilion and went outside.

Outside, Nangong Wan had also built a pavilion, where she sat cross-legged in cultivation.

After ten thousand years of bitter cultivation, along with the abundant resources Han Li provided and the rich world's energy within the Flower Branch Space, Nangong Wan's cultivation had reached the peak of True Immortal, only one step away from Golden Immortal.

Han Li nodded slightly, and with a thought, sent a voice transmission.

Nangong Wan immediately stopped cultivating and came outside.

"Husband, have you finished your cultivation? Any progress?"

"No, I've gained little over the years. I plan to go out for a walk. Would you be willing to accompany me?" Han Li said, taking Nangong Wan's hand.

"Of course. I haven't traveled much since ascending to the True Immortal Realm." Nangong Wan said happily.

"If I leave the Flower Branch Space, the accelerated time here will disappear. Fellow Daoist Gold, would you like to come along?" Han Li asked toward Gold Boy's seclusion spot.

"You two are going on a trip; I won't be a third wheel." Gold Boy's voice came from afar.

Han Li did not insist. He made a hand seal to dispel the spirit domain and brought Nangong Wan to the outer space outside.

Nangong Wan had never seen such a scene and looked amazed.

Han Li waved his hand, sending out a stream of golden light to support Nangong Wan, and flew forward while telling her about the Outer Celestial Realm.

After flying south for half a month, he descended and soon reached the ground.

This was a black sea area with towering waves and little immortal energy.

In the distance, amidst the waves, sat a small island with many residents, quite prosperous. Various spiritual lights shone everywhere, indicating that a sophisticated禁制 covered the entire island, as if sealing it off.

"The scenery here is quite unique. I wonder what place this is?" Nangong Wan asked curiously.

"This is the Black Wind Sea Region. That island is called Wumeng Island. When I ascended to the True Immortal Realm for the second time, I arrived here." Han Li looked at the sea and island below, a nostalgic expression on his face.

Han Li had told Nangong Wan about the Black Wind Island incident before. Hearing this, she carefully observed the scene before her, her eyes shifting as if trying to match what she saw with what she had heard.

Han Li moved, landing on the sea surface near Wumeng Island, walking on the waves, his eyes scanning the surroundings as if searching for something.

Seeing Han Li's actions and expression, Nangong Wan did not disturb him.

Han Li walked around the island for a long time before returning to midair.

"Let's go."

Han Li did not say much. He flicked his sleeve and brought Nangong Wan flying in one direction.

He flew slowly, as if pondering something while flying, occasionally telling Nangong Wan about his experiences at the places they passed.

A few days later, they arrived at a large island, which was Black Wind Island.

Before Han Li could explain, Nangong Wan recognized the place from the landmarks in Black Wind City.

"Is this Black Wind City, the city connected to the outside world where you once stayed?" Nangong Wan blinked her beautiful eyes and asked Han Li with a smile.