Back inside the cave, the old man surnamed Fu and Bai Yaoyi were still seated in quiet meditation.
Han Li had no intention of disturbing them. After a moment's hesitation, he patted his storage pouch with one hand, and a stack of formation flags and discs appeared in his palm. Without a shred of hesitation, he tossed them into the air.
Immediately, spiritual light of various colors shot outward in all directions, flashing briefly before vanishing into the walls of the cave. A simple magical formation took shape in an instant.
Besides its concealing properties, the formation could also serve as a warning if any enemy intruded into the cave.
The other two paid Han Li's actions no heed, remaining motionless where they sat.
Han Li smiled faintly at this, then settled cross-legged in a corner of the cave and closed his eyes to rest.
A day and a night passed before the magical power of the old man surnamed Fu and Bai Yaoyi gradually recovered.
When the two of them rose to their feet one after another, Han Li's expression shifted slightly, and he opened his eyes.
"You've both fully recovered your magical power?" he asked mildly.
"Thank you for standing guard for us, Brother Han. Elder Fu and I have recovered more or less completely," Bai Yaoyi replied with a graceful smile.
"Brother Han, you went outside — do you know where we are?" the old man surnamed Fu asked, glancing at the enormous formation in the center of the cave.
"I'm not certain. But we're deep inside the belly of a massive mountain, and there are restrictions set up all around us. It seems leaving won't be easy," Han Li said candidly.
"A massive mountain? Brother Han, you come from beyond the seas, so it's only natural you wouldn't be familiar with the famous mountains and great rivers of the mainland. But perhaps I might be able to recognize it." The old man's eyes lit up, his voice full of confidence.
"Oh? Is that so? Since Elder Fu feels that way, why not go outside and have a look first?" Han Li chuckled, noncommittal.
From his tone, Bai Yaoyi immediately caught something. Her bright eyes flickered. "Brother Han, does this mountain hold some special significance? I should go take a look as well."
Han Li nodded, his expression still unreadable.
His demonstrated abilities far surpassed those of the other two, and he had naturally become their de facto leader.
The old man and Bai Yaoyi exchanged a glance, then transformed into two streaks of light and flew out of the cave.
Han Li remained seated on the ground, but with a flip of his palm, the tracking disc appeared in his hand.
His gaze swept across its surface, where two points of light — one white, one black — glowed with perfect clarity.
Han Li narrowed his eyes and stared at the disc without a word.
After an indeterminate stretch of time, his brow twitched, brilliant light burst from his hand, and the disc vanished.
Moments later, a flash of light appeared at the cave entrance, and the old man surnamed Fu and Bai Yaoyi flew back. But the expressions on both their faces were rather grim.
"Well? Did you two find anything?" Han Li's lips curled into a half-smile.
Though he wasn't well acquainted with the Great Jin, if there truly were such a massive spirit mountain, there was no way he wouldn't have heard of it.
Sure enough, the moment Han Li spoke, the old man surnamed Fu let out a bitter laugh.
"Don't tease us, Brother Han. A mountain of this magnitude — I've not only never seen one, I've never even heard of one. I can't even be certain we're still within the borders of the Great Jin." As he finished, a trace of worry appeared on the old man's face.
"Indeed. If a mountain this astonishing truly existed somewhere in the Great Jin, there's no way I wouldn't have heard something about it," Bai Yaoyi added, her fine brows furrowed.
"Perhaps. Regardless of what the restrictions outside are about or what conditions lie beyond, this teleportation array was undoubtedly laid down by ancient cultivators. The array suddenly activated and transported us along with the Silver-winged Yaksha here — it may have been triggered during the fight, or there could be some other unknown cause. But none of that matters now. Let us first refine the Nascent Soul Nurturing Pills, and then explore this mountain. What do you two think?" Han Li said, his tone perfectly calm.
"Brother Han speaks wisely. The spiritual energy here is so abundant, staying here for however long is no problem at all. And even if this mountain does hold some peculiarity, with Brother Han present, there's nothing to worry about. Who knows — it might even be some sort of fortune for us," the old man said after a brief pause, his expression brightening into a smile.
Bai Yaoyi was equally desperate to obtain the Nascent Soul Nurturing Pills, and she naturally had no objection. She nodded.
"You flatter me, Elder Fu. You've both no doubt noticed — perhaps because of the restrictions outside, our spiritual sense is severely suppressed here. We can only extend it a few li at most. And with a mountain this vast, even if all three of us worked together, who knows how long it would take to cover it all," Han Li said, suddenly shifting the topic.
"True. I noticed that as well. Besides, this mountain is eerily lifeless. That alone is quite unsettling. It's probably not a safe place," Bai Yaoyi agreed.
"Whatever this mountain may be, the spiritual energy here is incredibly rich, which is enormously beneficial for refining spirit pills. Let us focus on refining the Nascent Soul Nurturing Pills first," the old man said with a dry chuckle.
Han Li and Bai Yaoyi had no objections whatsoever. The three of them first set up a Spirit Gathering Formation in the cave, then laid down several additional layers of protective restrictions, after which the old man surnamed Fu began the process of refining the Nascent Soul Nurturing Pills.
During this time, Han Li and Bai Yaoyi ventured no further outside, instead standing guard nearby like sentinels.
After all, the Nascent Soul Nurturing Pills were of paramount importance to them both. Even if this mountain harbored some unknown strangeness, neither of them could afford to be distracted at this moment.