Chapter 832: Emerging from Seclusion

"You misunderstand, Fellow Daoist. The person I seek is that Master Kang, not just any Celestial Alchemist." Han Li rubbed his nose and said calmly.

"This Master Kang is not only skilled in alchemy but also well-versed in healing formation arrays, specializing in treating various difficult ailments caused by soul damage. I'm just afraid it might not match what you seek, Fellow Daoist Li, and would be in vain." The young man who called himself Gao Feng smiled and spoke slowly.

"You know me?" Han Li's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this.

"Perhaps I, Gao, can help with what you seek, Fellow Daoist Li. How about moving to my humble abode for a chat?" Gao Feng said with a sincere smile.

Han Li listened, his expression unchanged on the surface, but inwardly he was engaged in a fierce mental struggle.

This purple-clad young man clearly had ulterior motives, no doubt related to one of Shi Chuankong's siblings, though his true purpose was unknown.

But for now, the Soul-Devouring Beast remained unconscious, which was unsustainable in the long run. Delaying would only invite more trouble.

Thus, after much hesitation, Han Li decided to follow him.

Since they were in the Night Sun City, he believed they wouldn't dare act recklessly. Moreover, even against a Da Luo cultivator, he couldn't claim to have the means to protect himself, but at least he had some experience in escape.

"Alright, then I..."

Before Han Li could finish, another voice interrupted him from the side.

"Oh, isn't this Brother Gao? What, have you hunted another 'Tai Fei' exotic beast?" A beautiful white-haired woman with a delicate figure squeezed past Han Li and spoke.

This woman was none other than the one who had appeared at the Scripture Artifact Shop after Han Li left that day. Today, however, she had changed out of her armor into a snow-white long dress, adding a touch of soft charm.

"What nonsense are you talking? I have no time for you now. Fellow Daoist Li, let's go." Gao Feng frowned, displeased by the woman's appearance, and said to Han Li.

Upon hearing the words "Tai Fei," Han Li's heart stirred. He understood the white-haired woman's intention, and his wariness outweighed his urgency to heal the Soul-Devouring Beast.

"Sorry, I suddenly remembered I have some important matters to attend to. I won't impose on you." He cupped his hands slightly and said.

With that, he turned and left, directly departing from the Heavenly Street and heading back to the Luojia District.

...

By nightfall, Han Li had returned to the Third Prince's residence.

As he passed through a central garden, he happened to run into Shi Pokong, who was sitting alone in a stone pavilion, drinking under the moon.

"Fellow Daoist Li, long time no see. Care for a drink?" Shi Pokong greeted him with a smile.

Han Li hesitated briefly, then entered the stone pavilion and walked to the table.

Seeing that a cup had already been placed at the seat opposite Shi Pokong, he bowed and sat down.

"Your Highness, what brings you such leisure today, drinking under the moonlight?" Han Li laughed.

Shi Pokong first poured a cup of wine for Han Li, then said:

"I've been tied up with affairs these days and couldn't find time to visit you, Fellow Daoist Li. It's a breach of etiquette. Today, finally having some free time, I heard you enjoy a good drink, so I brought this jar of 'Immortal's Drunkenness,' aged for a thousand years, hoping to share a few cups with you. But unfortunately, you were out, so I had to drink alone."

"Then it's my fault for keeping Your Highness waiting so long. I should punish myself with a cup." Han Li raised his cup and drank it all in one go.

"Haha, refreshing! With such a temperament, no wonder my thirteenth brother considers you a close friend." Shi Pokong laughed heartily.

"Brother Shi has been in seclusion for some time. I wonder when he will emerge?" Han Li asked casually.

"My thirteenth brother has endured many twists and turns, accumulating hidden injuries along the way. He has also faced life-and-death tribulations, so his insights into cultivation are different from before. The gains from this breakthrough will likely far exceed those of the past." Shi Pokong nodded.

"Then I should congratulate Brother Shi in advance..." Han Li raised his cup, clinked it with Shi Pokong's, and drank it all.

"Fellow Daoist Li, regarding the matter of saving Fellow Daoist Soul-Devouring Beast, I've thought it over and must explain to you. This matter is complicated. It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but the timing isn't right. I hope you can understand." Shi Pokong swirled his cup but did not drink.

"Then I'll leave it to Your Highness." Han Li thought for a moment and nodded.

Only then did Shi Pokong drink the wine in his cup, bid farewell, and leave.

After sitting quietly in the courtyard for a while, Han Li returned to the Long Pavilion Garden.

Once inside his room, he activated all the restrictions, took out the Tai Fei's single eye, held it in his palm, and silently began to cultivate the Grand Five Elements Illusion World Technique.

From then on, he remained in seclusion at the Third Prince's residence and did not go out.

...

Time flew by, and ten years passed.

One day, Han Li was cultivating in his room, with golden light surging around him like a tide.

Beneath him, a layer of golden sand covered the ground; to his left, golden flames roiled; above his head, a precious bottle hung suspended; behind him, a golden wheel spun slowly; only the space to his right was filled with golden threads converging into the faint outline of a tree.

The entire room was filled with surging waves of time law fluctuations, distorting the light within, making some areas dim and others dazzling.

Just then, Han Li suddenly withdrew his hands from the mudra, and all the manifestations outside his body instantly flew back into him, disappearing. The golden light that had filled the room also vanished.

Only then did the light in the room return to normal, somewhat dim, as it was nearing dusk.

Han Li slowly opened his eyes, exhaled lightly, and stood up.

At the door of his room, he straightened his clothes, opened all the restrictions, and pushed the door open to step out.

Outside the Long Pavilion Garden stood a purple-clad young man with white hair. Who else could it be but Shi Chuankong?

Seeing Han Li emerge, Shi Chuankong's face lit up with joy, and he quickly approached.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Shi, on successfully advancing to the Tai Yi realm." Han Li offered his congratulations.

"Congratulations to you too. I see your cultivation has also improved considerably, Brother Li. I've been out of seclusion for over half a month and wanted to see you, but I couldn't. If it weren't for something to discuss with you, I really wouldn't want to disturb you." Shi Chuankong laughed.

"No matter. I've been in seclusion for a long time, so it's good to get out and stretch. But what is it you want to discuss?" Han Li waved his hand and asked.

"A few days ago, Third Brother came to tell me that Father might be emerging from seclusion soon. When that happens, there may be a turning point in curing the Soul-Devouring Beast." Shi Chuankong said.

"Oh? Is that true?" Han Li immediately asked upon hearing this.

"Third Brother and I have already planned. At the celebration for Father's emergence, I will praise your achievements and tell everyone that it was with your help that I recovered one of our clan's treasures, the Luo Zha Pipa. I'll also make sure they know that without your protection, I would never have made it out of the Ten Plague Mountains or survived the subsequent assassinations." Shi Chuankong said confidently.

"Brother Shi, you're attributing all the credit to me and clearing yourself completely. What are you trying to do? Tell those siblings of yours who are eyeing you covetously that you're still the same mediocre, unambitious good brother?" Han Li was silent for a moment before speaking.

"Haha, they wouldn't believe me no matter what I said. I'm doing this only to secure a reward for you from Father." Shi Chuankong laughed.

"You mean... have the Demon Lord order the High Priest to cure the Soul-Devouring Beast?" Han Li realized.

"Exactly. Once Father gives the word, even Big Brother cannot refuse." Shi Chuankong smiled.

"No wonder the Third Prince said before that he had a plan for this. So this was the timing he was waiting for." Han Li's lips curled into a smile.

"Third Brother is always meticulous. You can rest assured, Brother Li." Shi Chuankong said.

The two hadn't seen each other for a long time and chatted for a while before returning to their own quarters.

Back in his room, Han Li found it hard to calm down and cultivate, so he opened the Flower Branch Cave Heaven to visit the Soul-Devouring Beast again.

Over the years, besides cultivating, he had never stopped searching for a way to cure the Soul-Devouring Beast, but with little progress. He had planned to leave if Shi Chuankong didn't emerge soon.

Now, with Shi Chuankong's assurance, he felt much more at ease.

...

In the blink of an eye, over half a year passed.

One day, Han Li was cultivating in the residence when the loud sound of a bell suddenly came from outside, easily penetrating the restrictions he had set up in the room.

The bell had a mysterious power that caused the immortal spiritual power in his body to tremble, rippling like water.

However, this trembling was not harmful; instead, it gave Han Li a comfortable feeling.

He stopped cultivating, left the room, and came to the Long Pavilion Garden.

The resonant bell sound came continuously from the top of the Sacred Mountain. Along with the bell, rings of silver halos constantly emerged from the mountaintop and spread outward.

The servants in the Third Prince's residence, upon hearing the bell, showed great joy and immediately stopped what they were doing, sitting down cross-legged on the spot.

The bell rang one after another for a full quarter of an hour before finally stopping completely.

The servants in the residence all woke up, their faces beaming with joy, and their auras had noticeably become purer.

Sensing this, Han Li's face showed a hint of surprise.

"This is our clan's Three Saints Stabilizing Origin Bell, which has the effect of purifying spiritual energy. However, activating it consumes a great deal of origin energy, so it is only rung on important occasions." Just then, a voice came from in front of him.

Following the voice, streaks of silver light emerged in the void, converging in one place, and quickly formed a semi-transparent figure—it was Shi Chuankong.

"Is this a spatial clone? Fellow Daoist Shi, your control over spatial laws has become even more exquisite since advancing to the Tai Yi realm. Admirable." Han Li laughed.

"Haha, you flatter me, Fellow Daoist Li. It's just a mirror clone, with only ten to twenty percent of the original's strength. Its only advantage is long-distance projection, mostly used for communication." Shi Chuankong showed a hint of pride.

Han Li marveled at this. Suddenly, a memory surfaced in his mind of when he had used the Gourd Vase to travel to the Demon Domain. Back then, when the Demon Lord descended on the battlefield, he had used a similar mirror clone technique, but it was far more exquisite and profound than what Shi Chuankong had displayed.