"You discovered me long ago, fellow Daoist."
Behind the great tree, a faint ripple appeared, and a pleasant voice drifted out.
Then a figure flickered, and a beautiful woman in a yellow robe stepped out from behind the tree, eyeing Han Li with a guarded expression.
When Han Li saw the woman's face — virtually identical to Blood Pith's — he gave a slight smile. But after his spiritual sense swept over her body, a peculiar expression flickered across his face.
"You must be Fellow Daoist Ice Pith. I didn't expect to find you the very moment I entered this place. And you've already advanced to the Mahayana stage," Han Li said unhurriedly.
The woman before him, who looked virtually identical to Blood Pith, was indeed emanating Mahayana-stage spiritual pressure. However, it seemed she had only advanced a few years ago, and her aura was still slightly unstable.
"How do you recognize me, sir? This should be our first meeting." The yellow-robed woman was startled but did not deny her identity. Instead, she countered with unusual caution.
Though both were Mahayana cultivators, she knew her own Mahayana cultivation was not yet stable and she could not compare with others of the same realm. Being in such a secretive place as the Heavenly Cauldron Palace, she was naturally even more on guard.
"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist. I was brought here by your blood spirit avatar as a helper, and I'm also a human cultivator. As for how I recognized the fairy — it's naturally because of the resonance of this item." Han Li said calmly, then reached out and grasped the empty air. A small, crystalline bottle flickering with faint blood light appeared in his hand, which he tossed directly toward the woman.
"Fellow Daoist Han is a human Mahayana cultivator, and you carry the essence blood of my blood spirit avatar. No wonder the moment I saw you, I vaguely sensed something on you that felt exceptionally familiar." The yellow-robed woman — none other than Ice Pith Fairy — took the small bottle and, after briefly inspecting the essence blood within, finally broke into a mixture of surprise and delight.
"Have you been trapped here all this time? In all these years, have you never thought of a way to leave?" Han Li took the opportunity to survey their surroundings once more, asking thoughtfully.
"How could I not have thought of escape? But this place is the central hub of the Heavenly Cauldron Palace — an independent space painstakingly arranged by the Heavenly Cauldron True Master. Apart from the teleportation formation you used, there is simply no other way to enter or exit this space. When I and several fellow Daoists broke in all those years ago, the others all perished, and the formation outside was accidentally destroyed as well. My cultivation was not high back then, so I could only remain trapped here, powerless. Fortunately, I managed to obtain some of the True Master's techniques and legacy. Combined with these years of dedicated cultivation, I finally — by sheer luck — advanced to the Mahayana stage a few years ago. Oh, right — where is my blood spirit avatar now? After you teleported in, I seemed to vaguely sense that she should also be somewhere in the Heavenly Cauldron Palace." Ice Pith sighed before explaining.
"To have advanced to Mahayana in such a short time — it goes to show that the True Master's legacy is truly extraordinary. He truly deserves his reputation as one who ascended to the Immortal Realm. As for Fellow Daoist Blood Pith, she should still be searching for you in the outer regions. It's a good thing you left this contingency measure behind all those years ago. Otherwise, even if I had the desire to help, I fear I would have been powerless." Han Li replied with a smile.
"It must have been difficult for Blood Pith, but the fact that she was able to enlist the help of a powerful cultivator like you, Fellow Daoist Han, was something I never anticipated. Originally, I left her on the outside so she could seek out a few non-human friends I once knew, hoping they might lend a hand." Ice Pith smiled radiantly.
"Heh, perhaps Blood Pith felt that recruiting me offered better odds." Han Li rubbed his chin and chuckled.
"Given your Mahayana status, it's only natural for Blood Pith to think that way. When I left the human race all those years ago, it seemed there were only two Mahayana elders — Ao Xiao and Mo Jianli. You must have advanced to Mahayana not long ago either, Brother Han. I also knew some of the famous Body Integration cultivators of the clan back then. Your face is quite unfamiliar to me — could you be one of those reclusive cultivators who has been in hidden seclusion?" Ice Pith seemed to think of something and asked with a hint of doubt.
"It's true that I haven't advanced to Mahayana for many years, and there's nothing strange about you finding me unfamiliar. I come from the same Human Realm as you, but I ascended to the Spirit Realm only after your disappearance. Come to think of it, I actually have quite a connection with you, fairy. I once entered the Void Heaven Palace and obtained the Void Heaven Cauldron you left behind, along with some other benefits." Han Li replied with a half-smile.
"What? You obtained the Void Heaven Cauldron I left behind in the Human Realm? If you ascended after my disappearance, then you went from Spirit Transformation all the way to Mahayana in just a few thousand years?" After hearing Han Li's answer, Ice Pith Fairy's beautiful eyes widened considerably, completely stunned.
And no wonder!
With Han Li's heaven-defying advancement speed, even the Heavenly Cauldron True Master who ascended to the Immortal Realm all those years ago would have been dumbstruck.
"I've had some fortunate opportunities, which is why I could advance so quickly. Fortunately, I obtained the Void Heaven Cauldron back then — without it, Blood Pith and I would have had far more trouble entering the Heavenly Cauldron Palace. Besides, I'm not the only Mahayana cultivator who entered the Heavenly Cauldron Palace this time. The two of us should leave this place as soon as possible. Although I tampered with the formation outside, I can't guarantee it won't be discovered by those who come after. If Fellow Daoist Ice Pith still has any unresolved questions, you can sort them all out once we're outside and you meet with Blood Pith." Han Li looked up at the sky, his expression turning serious.
"Leave now..." To Han Li's great surprise, Ice Pith Fairy showed a hint of hesitation upon hearing this.
"What? Do you still have unfinished business here?" Han Li was no ordinary person. After a quick turn of thought, he had a fair idea of what she meant.
"Since you are also a fellow Mahayana cultivator of our race, Brother Han, and you have some connection with me, I won't hide anything from you. Although I found the True Master's legacy techniques and extracted quite a few treasures, there is one most important treasure vault that I have never been able to open. Several of the True Master's greatest treasures remain there, inaccessible. These treasures complement his cultivation techniques perfectly, making them extremely important to me." After a moment's hesitation, Ice Pith Fairy gritted her teeth and spoke frankly.
While such matters were best known by as few people as possible, if she left now, these treasures would be forever out of reach.
"Where is this treasure vault? If it won't take too much time, I can take a look. If it's within my ability, I'll naturally help you retrieve the treasures." Han Li said casually.