Hearing this voice transmission, Han Li's brow furrowed briefly before smoothing out again.
"Silver Moon, lower the restrictions and let the two Falling Cloud Sect elders in first. Sooner or later, we'll have to give them an explanation. Once the restrictions are down, though, don't show yourself. After all, although your fox demon body excels at concealment and illusion techniques, the demonic aura on you can't be hidden from Nascent Soul cultivators," Han Li instructed calmly.
"Yes, Master," Silver Moon replied respectfully, then glided gracefully outward.
A moment later, the two Falling Cloud Sect elders waiting outside the stone mountain suddenly watched the scenery below transform. The seemingly ordinary rock faces and cliffs were now shrouded in vast swathes of greenish-blue luminous fog that enveloped the entire small mountain. Within the fog, a ferocious killing aura surged skyward and talisman symbols drifted about — it was clearly protected by powerful restrictions.
The silver-haired old man and the cultivator surnamed Lu exchanged a glance and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
The other party had established a cave dwelling within their Falling Cloud Sect and set up such formidable formations, yet they, as the hosts, hadn't noticed a thing. If word got out, it would be an enormous loss of face. At the very least, they'd be mercilessly mocked by several close friends.
At that moment, Han Li's unhurried voice drifted out from within the luminous fog.
"This time, Han has borrowed your sect's spiritual ground for cultivation without so much as greeting my fellow Daoists — a most rash oversight. I hope you won't hold it against me. I'm lowering the restrictions now. Please, come inside for a chat."
Han Li's words were exceedingly courteous and tactful.
"Haha! What are you talking about, friend? That you chose our Falling Cloud Sect and condensed your Nascent Soul here — that is our good fortune! How could the two of us possibly be displeased? If anything, we should be embarrassed — we came in such a rush that we didn't even prepare any congratulatory gifts for your Nascent Soul formation," the silver-haired old man said with a hearty laugh, as though he bore no resentment whatsoever.
"Fellow Daoist jests. Being able to form my Nascent Soul here — Han Li has already received an enormous kindness," Han Li replied evenly.
As his words fell, the greenish-blue fog churned violently, then parted of its own accord, opening a passage two or three zhang wide before the two of them.
Without the slightest hesitation, the silver-haired old man and Lu shot straight through the passage, arriving in an instant before a great gate of green stone.
The stone gate stood wide open. Before it stood a young man in green robes, appearing to be in his twenties, with unremarkable features and a faint smile at the corner of his lips — none other than Han Li himself, who had come out to greet them.
"Fellow Daoists, please — come in!" Han Li smiled at the pair and gestured for them to enter the cave dwelling.
"We've imposed upon you," the silver-haired old man and Lu said with a casual clasping of hands, then followed Han Li through the stone gate.
Behind them, the greenish-blue fog churned once more, the passage vanished, and the restrictions sealed themselves back up as before.
Though the two elders perceived this, they were confident they were within the Falling Cloud Sect's territory and had nothing to worry about.
After following Han Li through a short corridor, they entered a spacious reception hall.
"Fellow Daoists, please try some of the spiritual tea I've refined," Han Li said. Once the two were seated, he sent out a thread of spiritual sense, and a giant ape puppet walked in slowly, holding a tea tray. Three cups of freshly brewed tea sat upon it, each placed before one of them. The puppet then withdrew expressionlessly.
"Excellent tea! But I must say, I didn't expect that Fellow Daoist Han actually cultivates the art of mechanical puppetry — that's exceedingly rare," the silver-haired old man praised after taking a sip, then stared in the direction where the giant ape puppet had disappeared, clearly surprised.
"Nothing remarkable. I merely have a rough understanding of the puppeteer's craft — enough to refine a few to serve me. How could they possibly catch the eyes of two distinguished Daoists?" Han Li replied without a care.
"Heh heh, far too modest! That giant ape may be just a puppet, but judging from the spiritual energy it radiates, it could certainly hold its own against a Foundation Establishment cultivator." The middle-aged cultivator surnamed Lu was equally surprised by Han Li's puppetry skills and couldn't help probing further.