"Bai Guo'er, it's only been such a short time since we last met, yet you've already cultivated to the late stage of Deity Transformation. The talent of the Ice Marrow Body truly lives up to its reputation — this kind of aptitude is only now fully showing itself." After observing Bai Guo'er for a while, Han Li suddenly smiled and spoke.
"This is all thanks to Master's guidance and the generous provision of various pills. Without them, this disciple would never have been able to advance to the late stage of Deity Transformation so quickly." Bai Guo'er lowered her head and replied respectfully.
"Qin Lingzi, you've also hit a bottleneck at the late stage now, haven't you?" Han Li smiled again and suddenly asked another disciple.
"Reporting to Master, this disciple is indeed only one step away from achieving perfection at the late stage, but that final step has always eluded me." Qin Lingzi's heart tightened, and he stepped forward to reply.
"Mm, it seems you two have reached the time to venture into the Desolate Wasteland for experience. In previous years, the reason your cultivation progressed so smoothly was largely due to your exceptional talent and the power of medicinal pills. If you wish to enter the Void Refinement realm, simply secluding yourselves within the clan and cultivating in isolation will be far from sufficient. It's like a flower in a greenhouse — without weathering storms and wind, it can never truly grow strong. Besides, it is only in the Desolate Wasteland that you can truly find the opportunities and fortunes that belong to you. My own insights and experiences, while I can pass them on to you directly, may not necessarily be entirely suited to you." Han Li said meaningfully.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master. This disciple had actually been considering venturing into the Desolate Wasteland as well. Now that Master has given your approval, I am even more at ease. This disciple and Junior Sister will go back and prepare immediately, aiming to leave Sacred Island and head for Heavenly Abyss City as soon as possible!" Qin Lingzi showed no surprise at these words — instead, he replied with delight.
Bai Guo'er also agreed readily, her expression unchanged, as if she had long anticipated this.
"However, the risks of the Desolate Wasteland are far greater than anything within the clan. Even a Body Integration stage existence could fall there, and that would not be unusual at all. You two are only at the late stage of Deity Transformation, so the danger of perishing out there is naturally even greater. That is why I have several treasures to bestow upon you, to serve as life-saving measures." Han Li nodded and then continued.
"Thank you for Master's generous gifts!"
Although they did not know what treasures Han Li intended to bestow, Qin Lingzi and Bai Guo'er naturally expressed their endless gratitude.
Han Li smiled faintly, flicked both sleeves, and a ring shot out from each. After a flash, they landed in the hands of his two disciples respectively.
"I prepared these treasures long ago and had originally intended to give them to you after a few more years. But now it seems I can't delay any longer. Though there aren't many treasures, as long as you keep your wits about you, even if you encounter an ordinary Body Integration existence, you should be able to save your lives several times over." Han Li said with exceptional confidence.
Qin Lingzi and Bai Guo'er each sent a wisp of spiritual sense into their storage bracelets, and their faces lit up with expressions of extreme joy. They performed another deep bow of gratitude.
"Master, since Senior Brother and Junior Sister are both going to the Desolate Wasteland, might I also be allowed to..." From the moment Han Li had mentioned sending Qin Lingzi and Bai Guo'er to the Desolate Wasteland, Hai Dashao had been fidgeting uneasily to one side. Now, seeing Han Li produce treasures outright, he could no longer contain himself and stepped forward, bowing as he spoke.
"Hmph. With your current cultivation at the early stage of Deity Transformation, even if I gave you life-saving treasures, you would be unable to truly unleash more than a fraction of their power. Besides, although you left Sacred Island for a time and the matter of your Hidden Thunder Spirit Root was temporarily suppressed — helping you weather the storm — who knows whether there aren't still people watching you covetously from the shadows. The moment you leave Sacred Island, some old monster might snatch you up directly to serve as a human-shaped tribulation-defying treasure. Stay put on Sacred Island and cultivate properly for now. With my current reputation, as long as you remain on Sacred Island, even those Grand Ascension stage cultivators from other races would have to think twice. Or perhaps you think that, because I didn't punish you for your loose tongue before, I'm planning to combine both occasions and punish you severely this time?" Before Hai Dashao could finish, Han Li guessed what he was going to say, swept a cold glance over this disciple, and snorted.
"I wouldn't dare. Pretend this disciple never said a word." Upon hearing this rebuke, Hai Dashao shuddered, dared say no more, and hastily shrank back to his original position.
"Heh heh. You've always been this flighty and impatient. After Qin Lingzi leaves for the Desolate Wasteland, his disciples will be temporarily placed under your charge. Once he returns, you'll hand the authority back. Hopefully this kind of tempering will make your character a bit more steady." Han Li's lips curled slightly upward, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes as he issued this instruction.
"Yes, Master."
"Yes, Master!"
Qin Lingzi agreed at once, while Hai Dashao's face lengthened considerably, clearly reluctant at heart.
However, Han Li naturally paid no heed to his second disciple's feelings. He turned to gaze at Zhu Guo'er, who had remained silent throughout, and his expression softened as he spoke: "Mm, your cultivation has also improved somewhat. It seems you haven't been slacking off during your time on Sacred Island either. Come to my bedroom alone at noon tomorrow. I have some matters I wish to ask you about specifically."
"Yes, Senior Han. This junior will be there on time." Zhu Guo'er's face lit up with joy upon hearing this, and she hurriedly agreed.
"By the way, has there been any news from your Senior Aunt Ice Phoenix?" Han Li nodded, then turned to Qin Lingzi and asked another question.
"Reporting to Master, there has been no news from Senior Aunt yet, but her Soul Tablet has remained unharmed, so she is likely still traveling in the Desolate Wasteland." Qin Lingzi replied, lowering his head.
"By my calculations, she should have returned by now. Could she have truly run into some trouble? Even if the Soul Tablet is fine, that doesn't necessarily mean the person isn't trapped somewhere." Han Li murmured thoughtfully.
"That shouldn't be the case. Senior Aunt Ice Phoenix is, after all, a high-level existence at the Void Refinement stage, and with her Ice Phoenix Body, she should be more than capable of protecting herself even against an ordinary Body Integration cultivator." Hai Dashao replied without hesitation.
"Let's hope so." Han Li's brows furrowed slightly, but at this moment, there was nothing more he could say.