When Han Li actually manipulated the gray light in combat, he discovered that using the Object Control Technique to drive the gray radiance produced by the talisman, while devastatingly sharp and capable of cutting through almost anything under his command, still came with significant limitations.
First of all, driving this gray light consumed an absurd amount of magical power!
Someone like Han Li, who had cultivated the Eternal Spring Technique to the eighth layer, could cast the full Fire Bullet Technique well over a hundred times in succession. But when channeling the gray light, his magical power was completely drained after a mere quarter of an hour.
Now that he thought about it, Jin Guang Shangren hadn't held back on using the gray light from the start because he wanted to — it was simply that his magical power was far too limited. The amount of time he could drive the talisman was probably pitifully small.
This also explained why the resistance Han Li had faced when seizing the item had been so feeble. The dwarf had likely exhausted most of his magical power driving the gray light beforehand, and then running into Han Li — a fresh opponent whose reserves far surpassed his own — he'd crumbled without a fight, allowing Han Li to take the talisman with ease.
Beyond that, the gray light's second drawback was a hard limit on its range. The gray radiance could only be freely controlled within a radius of twenty zhang centered on Han Li. Beyond that range, it became sluggish and rigid, frequently malfunctioning. Once it flew past thirty zhang, the gray light would revert entirely to its original talisman form and drop to the ground.
If the above two flaws were something Han Li believed would gradually improve as his magical power grew, then the final problem was a fatal defect inherent to the talisman itself.
After using the talisman several times, Han Li noticed that the cold gleam emanating from the small gray sword drawn on the talisman paper was slowly dimming with each use, as if its lifespan was gradually running out. In other words, the talisman had a fixed number of uses and a time limit — once that count was spent, it would lose all its spiritual properties and perish for good.
This was one of the reasons Han Li had immediately stopped practicing after learning to wield the gray light. He wanted to save something this powerful for a truly critical moment. Perhaps one day it could save his life during some future crisis.
By the same token, Han Li assumed the golden talisman that could transform into a golden light shield must carry similar limitations. He simply didn't know the activation incantation yet, so he stored it carefully for later use.
As for the triangular token and the Qin family genealogy, Han Li studied them during his rest but found nothing useful.
And so the days passed until the fifth day, when Han Li had just taken down his "not receiving visitors" sign when Li Feiyu came bounding in unannounced. The moment he laid eyes on Han Li, he launched into recounting the wild rumors about Han Li being demonized.
These gossip and whispers left Han Li caught between laughter and tears. He could only keep a straight face and glare at Li Feiyu with visible irritation as the latter openly made fun of him.
Li Feiyu finally stopped laughing. He slowly composed himself and began speaking to Han Li in a solemn tone: "I'm sure you can already guess why I'm here!"
"Sure. Those important figures are worried about me and sent you to feel me out," Han Li said casually, with a dismissive air.
"Heh heh! As long as you understand." Li Feiyu let out a long sigh of relief, as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Still, you've got to help me figure out how to report back to those people, old friend. You know, they've already promised to promote me from Deputy Blade Master to full Blade Master of the Outer Blade Hall to buy my cooperation." Li Feiyu immediately slipped back into his cheeky grin.
Han Li frowned, thought for a moment, then murmured softly: "It seems I really do need to meet with Sect Master Wang and the others face-to-face and clear a few things up. Otherwise, they'll never rest easy."
"Tell Sect Master Wang this: tomorrow at noon, I'll go to Sunset Peak personally to see him. He shouldn't worry." Han Li said with a smile.
"Great! With that, I can deliver my report." Li Feiyu shrugged with a noncommittal expression.
After that, Han Li and Li Feiyu chatted idly for a while. Han Li even put on a close-range demonstration of the Fire Bullet Technique for his friend, giving him quite a spectacle and leaving him envious for a good while.
Before long, Li Feiyu bid farewell and left the valley to report back to Wang Juechu and the others.
Han Li stood at the doorway of his house, gazing at Li Feiyu's retreating figure, lost in thought for a long time. Suddenly, a mysterious smile crossed his face, and looking quite pleased with himself, he went inside and shut the door.
Early the next morning, just as the sky was brightening, Li Feiyu made his way up Sunset Peak undetected and slipped quietly into Sect Master Wang's room.
When Wang Juechu woke and saw the figure standing rigidly at the foot of his bed, his face turned as ugly as it could possibly get. Still, he forced a strained smile and asked with some awkwardness:
"Doctor Han! I wasn't expecting you — please forgive me for not greeting you at the gate. But wasn't it agreed we'd meet at noon? Why have you come so early?"
Han Li cast a cold glance at the Sect Master, and that single look sent Wang Juechu's hair standing on end, his face stinging as though sliced by a knife.
Seeing a flicker of fear cross Wang Juechu's face, Han Li felt a small twinge of satisfaction. That look had been delivered after activating the Heavenly Eye Technique — a new application he'd only discovered in recent days. The technique could be used to mentally intimidate ordinary people, leaving them flustered and panicked, somewhat similar to the legendary "Soul-Capturing Art" whispered about in the martial world.
"No particular reason. I just suddenly felt that if I came in the morning, everyone's minds would be clearer, and no one would do anything... unpleasant." Han Li's expression betrayed nothing, but his tone carried an unmistakable edge of menace.
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(End of chapter)