Just as Han Li was feeling somewhat speechless toward Silver Moon, she spoke up once more.
"I've never quite understood — if that Clear Purifying Spirit Water has no effect on cultivators above Foundation Establishment, why does Brother Han still want it?" Her voice carried a trace of puzzlement.
"The people from Hidden Sword Peak got one thing wrong. The Clear Purifying Spirit Water isn't entirely useless for high-level cultivators — it's just that after high-level cultivators undergo bone-washing and meridian-cleansing, their eyes already possess some ability to see through simple illusions and mists. So if you only gently rinse the eyes with it, the effect naturally won't be apparent. To grant a Core Formation cultivator truly extraordinary ocular abilities, you'd need to use all of that refined spiritual liquid to wash a high-level cultivator's eyes, and even that might not be enough. Given that, it would be far more effective to benefit some low-level cultivators instead." Han Li's lips curved into a faint smile as he answered.
"Oh! How does Brother Han know this?" Silver Moon's voice carried a note of surprise.
"It's nothing special. Back when I was in the Scattered Star Seas, I came across this information in an ancient text. It should be reliable." Han Li replied.
"Could it be that Brother Han means to...?" Silver Moon let out a soft exclamation.
"That's right. I intend to use this opportunity to get close to the Spirit Eye Tree and see if I can obtain the spirit root of that spiritual wood. Then I'll use the Small Bottle to mature it further. Once that's done, no matter how much Clear Purifying Spirit Water or Spirit Calming Pills there are, I should be able to get my hands on them. And of course, I'll need to find ways to obtain both recipes as well." Han Li said unhurriedly.
"Heh heh, Brother Han's plan is indeed a once-and-for-all solution. This way, you only need to make it into the top ten. It may still be a bit conspicuous, but it's certainly safer than aiming for the championship." Silver Moon said approvingly.
Han Li smiled and was about to say something more when his gaze swept to one side. He couldn't help letting out a soft "oh?"
In the distance, a streak of crimson light was shooting toward them, within which a slender female figure was faintly visible. Her features were lovely as a peach blossom, yet her expression was cold as frost. It was none other than the female cultivator surnamed Mu — the one who had arranged for him to stay in the medicine garden and then never paid him any further attention.
Upon drawing near, the woman spotted Han Li hovering in midair and a flicker of surprise crossed her striking face.
But her expression quickly returned to normal. She slowed her flight and halted beside Han Li.
"You received the transmission as well? You're heading to Heavenly Spring Peak?" she said in her characteristically cold manner.
"Yes, Senior Aunt Mu. Might Senior Aunt know what's happened? Why has the Peak Master summoned all the disciples?" Han Li replied calmly.
"No. But it probably has something to do with the Sword Trial Assembly." The woman surnamed Mu answered briefly, then glanced at the flying sword beneath Han Li's feet. Her brow furrowed and she said abruptly: "Although that flying sword of yours is a high-grade magical tool, it isn't designed specifically for flight. Let me carry you with the Heavenly Star Ribbon instead — no sense wasting time." Before Han Li could respond, the red ribbon-like magical tool on her body suddenly swelled, transforming into a swath of crimson light that enveloped Han Li from above.
Startled, Han Li offered no resistance. He allowed the woman to pull him onto her magical tool, and the two of them flew off together wrapped in red light.
"Have you been practicing the Mystic Ice Technique I gave you? Cultivating it won't strengthen your foundational technique, but once you reach a basic level of proficiency, it will allow you to use several water-attribute spells of considerable power. Now that you've succeeded in Foundation Establishment, this technique can serve as a smooth transition to your primary cultivation method. There's no harm in practicing it more." The woman glanced sideways at Han Li as she piloted the tool, her face expressionless.
What could Han Li say to that? He replied that he had indeed practiced it a little. If she wanted to see, mimicking a few water-attribute spells with his level of cultivation would pose no difficulty at all.
Fortunately, it seemed to have been only a casual question on her part, and she said nothing further after that.
So Han Li inhaled the faint, delicate fragrance emanating from the woman and was carried all the way to Heavenly Spring Peak.
Silver Moon, aware that now was not the time to speak with Han Li, had fallen silent within his mind ever since the woman surnamed Mu had arrived.
Just as the two of them were approaching Heavenly Spring Peak, Han Li, standing behind the woman, sensed something and glanced up at the sky.
Moments later, a streak of green light came hurtling down from high above at an angle, cutting directly in front of the woman's crimson flight light and blocking their path.
"Junior Sister Mu! It's been so long since I've seen you. What have you been busy with lately? I've sent countless sound transmission talismans — why hasn't you replied to a single one?" Under Han Li's surprised gaze, the light ahead dispersed to reveal a cultivator with pointed ears and a simian face, in his thirties. It was none other than the cultivator surnamed Yan — the same one who had tried to waylay Han Li and the other newly admitted disciples in the past, hoping to recruit a couple of manual laborers.
The cold beauty's expression shifted slightly upon seeing this person, but then her face darkened.
"You, surnamed Yan! I'm under orders from the Peak Master to return to the mountain for a gathering. Do you dare obstruct me?"
"Hee hee! Junior Sister Mu, you flatter me. How would I dare do such a thing? I simply wanted to ask — have you received a letter from your father? You see, the elders of both our families have already agreed to our marriage. Shouldn't we discuss setting a date?" The cultivator surnamed Yan said with a grinning smile.