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"Which sect are you a disciple of, brother?" the youth asked, turning his head after he excitedly finished studying the mist before him, as if suddenly remembering something.
From their casual chat, Han Li had already learned that besides the various cultivation sects and clans, the cultivation world was also home to a great many rogue cultivators.
As for these rogue cultivators, most of them were either descendants of fallen cultivation clans, ordinary people like Han Li who had stumbled upon some cultivation technique and entered the cultivation world on their own, or heirs of small, nearly extinct sects. Their cultivation levels were mostly low, usually hovering only around the Qi Condensation stage. This is why rogue cultivators had always been looked down upon by cultivation clans, much like the way wealthy families in the mundane world looked down on poor, impoverished ones.
"I'm not from any clan! I've been cultivating on my own!" Han Li decided to tell the truth after thinking it over. After all, it was way too easy to get caught impersonating another clan's member.
"You're a rogue cultivator!" The youth was a bit surprised, but there was no hint of discrimination in his expression. On the contrary, there was a touch of pleasant surprise.
He excitedly circled around Han Li, sizing him up as if looking at a rare specimen.
"Didn't you just say that cultivation clans look down on rogue cultivators? Then why are you so happy to see one?" Han Li asked, a little surprised.
"That's them! Don't lump our Wan clan together with the rest of them! Our clan has always been on good terms with rogue cultivators!" The youth pouted and replied proudly. He seemed to feel deeply proud of his clan's ways!
"Our Wan clan's ancestor was originally a rogue cultivator himself. He was lucky enough to later join a cultivation sect and become an official disciple of the Giant Sword Sect, which is how our clan got its start. That's why our family rules have an ancestral precept against discriminating against rogue cultivators," the youth explained with a grin.
"Actually, it's not just our clan. The ancestors of some other clans were rogue cultivators too, so they don't hold any particular animosity towards them. It's just that these clans make up such a small minority of all cultivation clans, which is why there's a saying that cultivation clans look down on rogue cultivators," the youth said, shaking his head in a scholarly way.
"I see! It seems I'm quite fortunate to have met a member of the Wan clan like you right off the bat." Having understood the youth's words, Han Li's wariness towards the boy for revealing his identity as a rogue cultivator eased considerably.
"But, brother, you've been asking all these questions that everyone in the cultivation world knows during our journey. Could you be a newcomer who's just left the mountain as well?" The youth's eyes suddenly sparkled with an unusually sharp wit, speaking with an expression of sudden realization.
Han Li gave a gentle smile at this. Patting the youth on the shoulder, he said apologetically, "I didn't mean to deceive you, little brother. I've just entered the cultivation world recently and had some reservations, that's all!"
"No harm done, I don't mind at all! Oh, but big brother, shouldn't you tell me your name now! And from now on, you can just call me Xiao Shan." Wan Xiaoshan was clearly the type to get familiar with people very quickly, responding with a complete lack of concern.
"Hehe! My name is Han Li. I really have just recently entered the cultivation world. I hope you can look out for me a bit, Brother Xiaoshan!" Han Li felt his fondness for Wan Xiaoshan growing, and his tone had become much more casual.
"No problem, Brother Han! Feel free to ask anything you don't understand. Hehe! Who would have thought I, Wan Xiaoshan, would live to see the day I'm teaching someone!" Wan Xiaoshan said, puffing out his chest proudly.
"I definitely will come to you, Xiaoshan, if I have any questions. But, shouldn't we be heading into the valley now?" Han Li pointed at the sky and gave a faint smile.
"Ah! I almost forgot the important stuff!" Wan Xiaoshan looked towards the sky following Han Li's finger, then immediately started bustling about frantically.
The youth fumbled with his clothes for a good while before finally pulling out a talisman paper from inside his robe.
He gestured with it in his hand a few times, muttered a few words under his breath, and then tossed the talisman into the air. It transformed into a streak of flame that shot into the mist and vanished without a trace.
"Wait a moment, Brother Han! This Sound Transmission Talisman of mine will reach the valley in no time. The people inside will naturally undo the formation to receive us," the youth explained upon seeing Han Li staring somewhat blankly in the direction where the light had vanished.
"Oh!" Han Li nodded, indicating his understanding.