Half a day later, Han Li packed up the Heavenly Mechanism Estate, then mounted a streak of light and headed toward the interior. Since there was no need to search for anything along the way, he reached the mainland roughly half a month later.
He did not return to the Heavenly Talisman Gate, and instead flew straight toward the Southern Border.
Along the way, he made occasional stops to refine portions of the Three Flame Fan's materials into spirit components using his Nascent Fire.
Unfortunately, he never encountered stormy weather during the journey, and the thunder-fire he needed could not be gathered at all, which left Han Li somewhat vexed.
Still, he was in no particular rush. The Southern Border was covered in dense forests with hot, humid air — whenever it rained, lightning and thunder almost always accompanied it. So collecting thunder-fire after arriving in the Southern Border would only be a matter of time.
Four months later, after crossing through several commanderies, Han Li's streak of light finally appeared within the borders of the Southern Border Commandery.
The Southern Border was one of the few regions in the world not dominated by major sects. Its territory was carved up among a dozen or so mid-tier sects.
Though these sects fought amongst themselves on a daily basis, the moment any outside force encroached upon the Southern Border, they would immediately unite against the common enemy. Even the ten great orthodox or demonic sects had never been able to extend their influence into the region, giving the Southern Border an air of being a kingdom unto itself within the Great Jin.
This state of affairs had much to do with the Southern Border sects' extreme xenophobia and their cultivation methods, which formed a system entirely of their own.
The techniques cultivated by these sects were largely rare and insidious methods seldom seen elsewhere in the cultivation world. Not only were they adept at poison arts and insect taming — both uncommon disciplines — but their mastery of curses and dark sorcery was positively otherworldly. Cultivators of the same rank who fought them had to be constantly on guard, for a single lapse could mean falling victim to some inexplicable underhanded attack.
This was the primary reason the major sects were unwilling to clash head-on with the Southern Border sects. If several great sects were to join forces and accept severe damage to their own vitality, they could theoretically seize the commandery by force — but the cost was simply too steep.
Chaoyun Prefecture lay in the western reaches of the Southern Border. The Twin Scorpion Mountains were a remote and seldom-visited range within Chaoyun Prefecture, where miasma blanketed an area stretching hundreds of li in every direction. Without profound cultivation or prior consumption of specialized anti-miasma pills, one could not enter the mountains at all.
And yet the range held a certain renown within the Southern Border. Due to the toxic gases and favorable terrain, the mountains not only harbored several species of valuable poisonous herbs but were also rich in two types of venomous scorpions — the Iron-Tail Scorpion and the Red-Line Scorpion — excellent spirit insects for local low-level cultivators practicing insect taming.
When Han Li arrived near the mountains, it happened to be the once-a-year peak of the miasma eruption. Numerous cultivators had gathered at the mountain's outskirts, for only during this period would both scorpion species emerge from their caverns to feed — a prime opportunity for capturing venomous spirit insects.
Most of these cultivators were at the Qi Condensation stage, with the occasional Foundation Establishment cultivator scattered among them. Those at Core Formation or above had no interest in the range whatsoever, and high-level cultivators rarely came here.
A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator like Han Li appearing in such a place would certainly cause a considerable stir if discovered by the other cultivators. For that reason, Han Li did not linger near the range for even a moment, and flew straight into the miasma from high above.
A shell of azure spiritual light now enveloped his body, easily keeping the pink-hued miasma at bay.
The miasma was exceptionally thick, and venomous insects appeared within it from time to time. For low-level cultivators, it was a nearly lethal hazard, but Han Li regarded it with complete indifference. After confirming his bearings, he flew directly toward the heart of the mountains.
Though the elderly man surnamed Fu had mentioned only the name of the Twin Scorpions Mountains without specifying an exact location, heading for the main peak first was certainly not a mistake.
As he flew overhead, the occasional cultivator he encountered was beneath his notice — he simply passed over them without a glance.
At his speed, these low-level cultivators could not detect his presence in the slightest.
But just as Han Li flew along, contemplating what the old man surnamed Fu could possibly want by inviting him here —
A shrill scream suddenly echoed from somewhere off to the side.
"It's the Scorpion King — a mutated Iron-Tail Scorpion! Run!" A hoarse man's terrified cry reached him faintly through the miasma, followed by several explosive sounds and an unearthly insect shriek, seemingly not too far away.
Han Li's expression shifted. He turned his head toward the direction of the sound, a blue light flickering in his eyes.
Successive whistling sounds pierced the air, and several figures — men and women — burst into view through the miasma, fleeing toward Han Li's position at full sprint. They leaped with their toes barely touching the ground, covering several zhang in a single bound — clearly employing movement techniques.
"Oh?" Han Li's normally cold expression wavered as his gaze swept over one particular woman among them, and he let out a soft exclamation. His streak of light came to a halt.
He then swept his sleeve, and a vast wave of azure radiance billowed outward. Where the light passed, the miasma was swept clean, and in the blink of an eye, a clear expanse dozens of zhang in diameter opened up around them.
The fleeing figures stumbled into this clearing in the same moment and, shocked by the sudden phenomenon, skidded to a halt.
Before they could react, Han Li reached one hand toward the space behind them and seized at the air. An enormous azure light hand materialized out of the miasma and plunged downward with a vicious scoop. Something dark and indistinct was caught in the giant palm, then swung back and came to rest hovering before Han Li.