Chapter 39: The Transmitted Edict

The phantom formed by Cold Flame Ancestor waved a hand, and a golden light swept out, rolling up all the crystalline powder before Han Li into a ball of faint golden light suspended before his eyes.

“These are all the secret technique jade slips of our sect. How did they all fall into your hands? Could it be that you sneaked into the inner chamber of our sect’s scripture library and stole them?” Cold Flame Ancestor suddenly raised his head and asked coldly.

Although Han Li had reduced those jade slips to dust, before him, even the slightest trace could allow him to deduce their contents.

“Fellow Daoist Cold Flame, there is no need to be angry. I can give you an explanation for this matter.” Han Li’s mouth twitched a couple of times, then he sighed and said.

“How dare you! You presume to address me as an equal!”

Cold Flame Ancestor was enraged. Without any visible movement, his brow suddenly blazed with golden light, and countless rippling crystalline waves flew out in circles, instantly condensing into a golden flower phantom about ten feet in size.

As the golden flower slowly rotated, the bud at its center flashed, shooting a nearly transparent golden beam toward Han Li’s head at an inconceivable speed.

Where it passed, the void rippled like the surface of still water.

Han Li stood still without dodging, merely raising his head slightly. A crystalline light flashed at his brow, and an invisible ripple shot out from it, meeting the golden beam.

With a soft “puff,” the void trembled violently, sending out a ring of ripples.

The golden beam, as if hitting something, shattered layer by layer from beginning to end, and the invisible ripple also dissipated.

All this happened in the blink of an eye.

Han Li’s robes merely fluttered a few times; aside from that, he was completely unharmed, a faint smile on his face.

“How… how is this possible? Could you be a banished immortal?” Cold Flame Ancestor’s form trembled, and an incredulous voice came from him.

Although he was only a phantom formed from a strand of divine sense, and this attack was not his full power, even a Mahayana cultivator could not have received it so effortlessly, let alone a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

This could only mean one thing: Han Li’s divine sense seemed no less than his own!

“Fellow Daoist Cold Flame, may I speak a few words now?” Han Li asked calmly.

“Then tell me, since you have already achieved immortality, why would you steal the scriptures I transmitted to the lower realm?” Cold Flame Ancestor’s expression shifted between gloom and brightness several times. Though still displeased, his tone had softened considerably.

“For certain reasons, I happened to end up in this Spirit Realm. I have no ill intentions toward your sect. However, I am currently injured and lack suitable pills, so I took some scriptures from your sect to study a bit.” Han Li explained slowly.

“Oh, I see. May I ask where in the immortal realm Fellow Daoist Han originally came from?” Cold Flame Ancestor said this, but his eyes flickered, clearly not fully believing Han Li’s words.

“I am temporarily residing here and will not do anything harmful to your sect. As for my origins, Fellow Daoist need not inquire further.” Han Li said with a faint, ambiguous smile.

Cold Flame Ancestor snorted. How could he not inquire about the background of an immortal who had inexplicably appeared in the Spirit Realm? But if the other party refused to speak, with this avatar formed from a strand of his divine sense, he seemed unable to do anything about it.

“Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. I consider myself indebted to you this time. I can promise here that if the Cold Flame Sect encounters any trouble, I will lend a hand once.” Han Li added unhurriedly.

“Does Fellow Daoist Han mean what you say?” Upon hearing this, Cold Flame Ancestor’s heart stirred greatly.

Although he had already ascended to the immortal realm, he naturally cherished the Cold Flame Sect, which he had founded and brought to prominence. Otherwise, he would not have regularly bestowed elixirs and cultivation techniques over the years.

Yet, despite the Cold Flame Sect's formidable power and boundless prestige in the Spirit寰 Realm, it was not truly free from worries.

But being in the immortal realm, even if he wished to contribute, there was little he could do. However, if Han Li, also a true immortal, were to lend a hand, much more could be accomplished.

…

Two days later, at the Cold Flame Sect, behind the Sacred Flame Peak.

Deep within a mist-shrouded purple bamboo grove stood an elegant and quaint small courtyard with green tiles.

The purple bamboos in the grove were arranged in a seemingly random yet deliberate pattern, appearing ordinary but actually concealing profound mysteries.

The position of each cluster of purple bamboo corresponded to a formation node. Thousands upon thousands of purple bamboos stretched into a sea, forming a unique formation realm.

The purple bamboos planted here were not ordinary either; they were Lungfire Bamboos capable of absorbing the power of earthly fire. Upon close inspection, one could see dark red flame-like patterns beneath the purple bark.

It was precisely this Bamboo Sea Lungfire Grand Formation that made this area the most concentrated in spiritual energy and earthly fire power within the entire Spirit Flame Mountain Range.

That small courtyard with green tiles and white walls was built right on the formation's eye.

At that moment, inside the main room of the small courtyard, a man in a purple robe sat cross-legged on a cushion, eyes closed in cultivation.

This man had long, snow-white hair cascading over his shoulders, a handsome and refined face, and a flame-shaped purple mark on his brow. He appeared to be around thirty, but a faint purple aura swirled around him, exuding a formidable and awe-inspiring presence.

On a rosewood table not far in front of him sat a gilded purple copper incense burner, from which curling wisps of sandalwood smoke slowly rose.

On the wall against which the table rested hung a scroll painting over three feet long, depicting a middle-aged man.

The lines of the painting were not particularly detailed, but they were very expressive. The man in the painting had a square face, bright eyes, a slightly bearded cheek, and stood tall. His robe billowed slightly, and his entire being exuded an air of dignity.

Just then, the white-haired middle-aged man suddenly opened his eyes, looking somewhat surprised at the scroll on the wall.

A strange fluctuation suddenly came from the scroll. Ripples like water spread out from it, and the man in the painting seemed to come to life. With a slight sway, he stepped gracefully out of the paper.

The white-haired middle-aged man quickly stood up, trembling slightly as he knelt and said respectfully, "Welcome, Ancestor."

"Rise. Today I have descended an incarnation because I have something to instruct you," the man said, waving his hand.

Only then did the white-haired middle-aged man stand, standing respectfully with his hands at his sides, awaiting instructions.

"I am already aware of the recent incident where someone sneaked into the Sutra Library," Cold Flame Ancestor said slowly.

Hearing this, the white-haired middle-aged man's heart tightened again, and cold sweat began to seep from his brow. Just as he was about to explain, the other continued, "Let the matter rest. There is no need to investigate further."

"Ancestor, this..." The white-haired middle-aged man was stunned and couldn't help hesitating.

However, Cold Flame Ancestor waved his hand to interrupt him and began to speak in a low voice.

As the white-haired middle-aged man listened, his expression changed repeatedly—first utter astonishment, then surprise, and finally a mix of shock and delight.