Han Li was situated roughly twenty li from the Elder Tower.
From a distance he gazed up at the tall, azure stone tower that pierced the clouds, his gaze flickering ceaselessly.
As far as he knew, regardless of the time, both the human and demon tribes would always post one Body Integration Stage elder within the tower at all times.
Thinking about it, Han Li couldn't help but feel a twinge of emotion.
Back in the human world, those Spirit Transformation cultivators had been the sort of figures who were rarely seen — ordinary people could never hope to meet one. Yet here at Sky Abyss City, even Body Integration Stage cultivators were right at his doorstep, and in the future he might even have opportunities to request their guidance.
It seemed that staying here wasn't a bad arrangement at all, until he could wash away the foreign aura clinging to his body.
Han Li pondered silently to himself. As for competing with that man with the drooping eyebrows for a cultivation site — with abilities that had even clashed against a Void Refinement Stage cultivator, he naturally wasn't too worried about it.
After watching for a while longer, a flash of azure light enveloped Han Li's body, transforming him into a streak of azure radiance that shot back toward the Flying Spirit Hall at tremendous speed.
Once he returned to his quarters, Han Li immediately activated the restrictions. After confirming everything was in order, he stepped into the secret chamber and sat cross-legged.
Although he was fairly confident about the battle three days from now, he naturally wouldn't do nothing to prepare.
But before that, there was a small trouble he needed to deal with.
Han Li shook his sleeve, and a small, silver ring appeared in his other hand. The object looked exquisitely crafted yet was extraordinarily light — it appeared to be a hollow construct.
This was none other than the Spirit Beast Ring, an item on par with storage bracelets in the Spirit World. Its interior was divided into several separate spaces, each capable of housing different spirit beasts and spirit insects.
Since his trip to the Tomb of the Setting Sun, Han Li had placed his Gold Devouring Beetles, Soul Howling Beast, and other creatures inside it. The old Spirit Beast Pouch had been discarded entirely.
He now ran a hand lightly over the ring, and a fist-sized ball of yellow light flew out from within. It rapidly expanded, transforming into a small beast bound tightly by azure cords — roughly a foot in length.
This was the mutated Leopard Qilin Beast that had been captured by the Spirit Race during their expedition to the Tomb of the Setting Sun.
From the memories of Shi Yan, Han Li had learned that this beast, while appearing no different from an ordinary leopard on the surface, actually carried a trace of Qilin bloodline. Moreover, since this particular specimen was a mutated variant, its strength had already reached the level of a Nascent Soul cultivator despite not yet being fully matured.
During his recovery period, Han Li had naturally considered attempting to tame the beast. However, it was wildly untamed and had already developed a rudimentary intelligence, stubbornly refusing to submit even at the cost of death.
Left with no other option, Han Li had simply sealed it inside the Spirit Beast Ring, intending to let some time pass first and wear down its feral nature.
Now, having been locked away for several decades, the creature could finally bear it no longer. A few days ago, it had sent him a message of submission from within the Spirit Beast Ring.
But Han Li had been too preoccupied with tribulation crossing and a whole chain of events to attend to the matter.
Now, with three full days on his hands, there was plenty of time to tame this beast first.
The moment the small beast emerged from the Spirit Beast Ring, it immediately let out pitiful whimpering sounds at Han Li. A pair of emerald-green eyes displayed an almost human expression of pleading. Paired with its small, cat-like body, it looked exceptionally endearing.
"I'm going to plant a restriction on you. If you stop resisting, I'll remove your restraints and even give you some benefits. Otherwise, expect another hundred years in that ring." Han Li showed no mercy, issuing his threat outright.
Though the beast's intelligence was limited, it clearly understood Han Li's words. Its body trembled, and it could only nod its furry head repeatedly.
Han Li smiled faintly and flipped his hand, producing a dozen or so slender silver needles.
With a wave, all the needles vanished in a flash, piercing into the small beast's body.
He then produced a crimson talisman, opened his mouth, and spat a blob of vital blood onto it. Holding the talisman between his fingers, he gave it a gentle wave.
With a soft hiss, the talisman dissolved into a cloud of blood mist that hung suspended in the air without dispersing.
Muttering an incantation under his breath, Han Li slapped the crown of his own head. In a flash of azure light, a Nascent Soul several inches tall appeared, standing atop a small cauldron.
The moment the Nascent Soul took form, it opened its mouth and sprayed out a beam of green light.
The instant the blood mist encountered the green light, it surged forward eagerly. The two merged in the blink of an eye, transforming into a green-red flame.
The Nascent Soul then formed hand seals and fired several bursts of spiritual energy into the flame.
Upon absorbing those bursts, the flame suddenly trembled and then churned violently, condensing into a fist-sized ghostly face.
Grotesque and ferocious.
The Nascent Soul extended a small finger toward the beast.
The ghost head bared its teeth and, as if alive, whirled around with a howl before plunging into the small beast's skull, vanishing without a trace.
The beast let out a sharp cry, its eyes rolled back, and it collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Simultaneously, a layer of alternating green and red light appeared across its body, flickering erratically between bright and dim.
Seeing this, Han Li revealed a satisfied expression and made a grasping motion toward the beast's body.
With a muffled crack, the azure cords coiled around the beast snapped apart inch by inch, dissolving into nothingness.