Several mountains of several hundred zhang rose from the island, their slopes verdant and lush, dotted with plenty of trees.
After circling the peaks once, Han Li descended with Wen Siyue at the foot of one of the mountains.
Under the woman's astonished gaze, Han Li summoned his flying sword. In the space of a few hours, he had carved out a small cave dwelling at the base of the mountain.
Though it was only half the size of his former Mist Sea cave abode, and far simpler in its construction, it nonetheless had everything one could ask for — a bedroom, a hidden chamber, even an artifact refining room and a herb garden, all present and accounted for.
Han Li looked it over and found it satisfactory. He set up several formations at the entrance, then led Wen Siyue inside.
"You can live here from now on. I'll teach you the passphrase for the entrance formations. It's reasonably secluded here — you can cultivate in peace. There's even a fair chance you'll make it into the Foundation Establishment stage." Han Li brought Wen Siyue into the bedroom, sat down on a stone chair he'd hastily carved, studied the woman at length, and only then spoke in an unhurried tone.
"Thank you, Senior Li!" Wen Siyue's cheeks flushed pink under his gaze, and she seemed at a loss for what to do.
"Senior Li?" Han Li chuckled.
"I'm sorry — I should call you…" Wen Siyue quickly lowered her delicate head, a look of hesitation on her face.
She truly had no idea how she was supposed to address him now that she had become his concubine.
"Just call me Mr. Li." Han Li rubbed his nose and spoke flatly.
He had not revealed his true appearance to Wen Siyue, still presenting himself in the illusory form of a middle-aged man.
"Yes — Mr. Li." After a moment's hesitation, Wen Siyue obediently complied.
Han Li nodded in satisfaction, organized his thoughts, and then asked gently:
"When did Fellow Daoist Wen come to the Outer Star Sea? How did Madam Fan end up as the sect master of the Wonderful Sound Sect? As far as I know, the Wonderful Sound Sect has always been led by the Purple Spirit Fairy."
"Oh! You seem to know quite a lot about our sect's past, Mr. Li!" Wen Siyue was surprised that Han Li hadn't jumped straight to asking about the demon beast lair, but instead brought up the Wonderful Sound Sect.
After a moment's thought, she parted her cherry lips and explained:
"Before the Wonderful Sound Sect relocated to the Outer Star Sea, all matters within the sect were indeed in the hands of the Young Sect Master. But later, when she went to the Void Heaven Hall to retrieve treasure, a major upheaval occurred in the sect. By the time I returned, Right Envoy Zhuo had already disappeared without a trace. Authority over the sect had fallen into the hands of Left Envoy Fan and a group of outsiders. Only later did I learn that they were cultivators of the demonic path — and the Wonderful Sound Sect had become a vassal of the demonic faction. Left Envoy Fan promptly declared herself sect master and immediately gathered a large number of disciples, using the teleportation array in Heavenly Star City to bring us to this place. I was swept along with them at the time. Afterward, the sect established a secret market here, which has continued to this day. Those female disciples who harbored other loyalties have over the years either vanished or been given away. Most have faded into nothing. Had you not saved me today, Senior, I too would likely have ended up as someone's cultivation furnace." Wen Siyue's voice carried a tinge of sorrow.
"What is this Sect Master Fan doing out here in the Outer Star Sea? She wouldn't have come all this way just to run a secret market, would she?" Han Li's expression shifted slightly, but his tone remained calm and casual.
"That… I'm really not too sure. But Left Envoy Fan and that demonic cultivator surnamed Yun have been using the secret market to gather all kinds of intelligence, as though they're searching for something." Wen Siyue's voice was uncertain, and a flicker of confusion crossed her face.
Hearing this, Han Li stopped his questioning and turned the matter over in his mind.
Based on what this woman had told him, it seemed that shortly after he had rescued her back then, the upheaval in the Wonderful Sound Sect had taken place.
At that time, the Purple Spirit Fairy and he had been trapped inside the Void Heaven Hall.
Once Madam Fan had secured her takeover, she immediately brought a large contingent of disciples and teleported to Qiyuan Island. The Counter-Star Alliance's attack on Heavenly Star City followed after that.
It was clear that whichever faction within the demonic path had plotted to seize the Wonderful Sound Sect held considerable influence within the Counter-Star Alliance.
Otherwise, the timing could not have been so perfectly coordinated.
By the time the Purple Spirit Fairy emerged from the Void Heaven Hall, the sect would have long since been empty.
As for this demonic faction's intention to use the female cultivators of the Wonderful Sound Sect to search for something in these waters — there was certainly some deeper mystery at play.
Han Li had no stake in the matter and no interest in poking further.
Besides, that Miao He True Immortal, with whom he bore a deep grudge, seemed to have become connected with the current Wonderful Sound Sect as well. Han Li had even less desire to wade in and entangle himself further.
That was why, at the secret market, he had flatly refused Madam Fan's proposal.
As for returning to the Inner Star Sea — before he broke through his cultivation bottleneck, that was simply not something he was even considering.