Hearing Lü Luo's words, Han Li finally felt relieved.
It seemed things had unfolded much as he had anticipated — even without the unsealing method he had personally retrieved, Nangong Wan would have been fine. But since he had already obtained the curse-breaking technique, it would be wasteful not to use it. He would still cast the spell on Nangong Wan once more, just to eliminate any lingering unknown aftereffects.
In the span of a few breaths, Han Li had already made his decision.
As the three chatted idly, they arrived before the grand protective formation of the Falling Cloud Sect.
Since Lü Luo had released a voice transmission talisman along the way, the moment the pair flew over, the dense mist of restrictions enveloping the entire formation began to churn and roil. Then, gradually, it dispersed and faded away.
The entire mountain-warding grand formation was being completely withdrawn.
Han Li was startled by this. But before he could say anything, several hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, led by over a dozen Core Formation cultivators, shot out from the mountain gate in a burst. They quickly arranged themselves in orderly pairs on either side in midair, then thundered in unison:
"Disciples of the Falling Cloud Sect respectfully welcome Elder Han upon the completion of his Nascent Soul, and bid him return to our mountain!"
After shouting these words, every one of them bowed deeply to Han Li with expressions of barely contained excitement. It was clear that Lü Luo had informed the sect's disciples of Han Li's advancement to a late-stage great cultivator in his transmission talisman.
That was why the disciples had assembled such an elaborate formation to welcome this "Elder Han."
Every single one of them understood perfectly well what it meant for the sect to produce a great cultivator. Not only would the sect immediately become one of the preeminent super-sect of the Tian Nan region, but the cultivation resources they could claim would be incomparably greater than before. As disciples of the Falling Cloud Sect, their elation was entirely natural.
Han Li shot a wry look toward Lü Luo beside him.
"Senior Brother Lü, it's not as though I'm a stranger. Surely all this fanfare isn't necessary?"
"Ha ha, what are you saying, Junior Brother Han? You have advanced to the rank of great cultivator — of course the disciples must welcome you with proper ceremony. In a few months, the sect will also hold a grand celebration in your honor, and we will invite the elders of other sects to attend. Otherwise, how could we properly reflect your current status?" Lü Luo said with a hearty laugh.
"Suit yourself, Senior Brother. But I won't involve myself in any of these matters. At most, I'll show my face when the time comes," Han Li replied, resigned.
According to the conventions of Tian Nan, whenever a cultivator advanced to the late stage of Nascent Soul, an exceptionally grand ceremony was indeed held to announce the fact to the entire region. This allowed other sects to acknowledge the achievement and formally recognize the super-sect status of the sect in which such a great cultivator resided.
It was not something Han Li could very well oppose.
Thus, escorted by this multitude of disciples, Han Li entered the Falling Cloud Sect and proceeded directly into the great hall.
Han Li took the central seat in the hall. Though Lü Luo sat beside him, his seat was positioned slightly to the side — a deliberate gesture to indicate that from now on, Han Li was the preeminent figure.
Han Li noticed this but said nothing.
When a Nascent Soul great cultivator belonged to a sect, and the sect did not place him in the leading position, problems were sure to follow. Setting aside everything else, the disciples would grow anxious and unsettled, to say nothing of the suspicions and unease it would stir in other sects. Before long, trouble would erupt.
So Han Li did not refuse, tacitly accepting the arrangement. However, once seated at the center of the great hall, he said not a single word.
After all, he had been away from the sect for many years and had never involved himself in its internal affairs. It was best to leave everything to Senior Brother Lü to handle.
Sure enough, while Lü Luo's cultivation was not particularly remarkable among Nascent Soul cultivators, he managed the sect's affairs in a thoroughly orderly fashion. He first had the newly advanced Core Formation in-name disciples step forward one by one to pay their respects to Han Li. Then he formally announced that Han Li had officially become a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Amid the excited gazes of the assembled disciples, he assigned various tasks and set them to work preparing for the grand ceremony months away.
Han Li sat serenely in his chair, his gaze drifting casually over the disciples before him.
Most of those qualified to stand here were Core Formation cultivators, with a few Foundation Establishment cultivators interspersed among them — important stewards responsible for the sect's mundane affairs.
Whenever his eyes fell upon any particular disciple, they would immediately lower their heads in deference, not daring to meet his gaze — a mark of their respect for Han Li.
But after a few moments of observation, Han Li suddenly realized that among all these people, his in-name disciple Liu Yu was nowhere to be seen, nor was that woman surnamed Song who cultivated the White Phoenix Bee.
He felt a brief start of surprise and mild puzzlement.
Once Lü Luo had finished issuing all his instructions, the disciples respectfully accepted their orders and filed out of the great hall to begin preparations for the ceremony that would take place in several months.
"Senior Brother Lü, I don't seem to have seen Niece Song. Has she perhaps left on some errand?" Han Li asked casually.
Lü Luo chuckled softly at this.
"Ah, Junior Brother Han, you may not be aware — Niece Song has gone to the Devilfall Valley. It seems she wishes to refine a certain spiritual elixir but is missing a rare spirit grass. That particular herb has long since been extinct in the outside world, but someone once brought a specimen out of Devilfall Valley."