Deep within the Medicine Hall, Mo Juren's private Pill Refinery was thick with medicinal fragrance, yet it could not conceal a faint trace of sinister cold. Earthfire burned quietly beneath the pill furnace, casting flickering light across Mo Juren's refined face.
He sat in a rosewood armchair, his fingers tapping lightly against its armrest. He appeared calm, but deep in his eyes, uncontrollable greed and agitation churned. The news that Han Li had returned, seemingly with further gains in cultivation, left him both excited and uneasy. Excited because this vessel was becoming ever more perfect; uneasy because the boy was growing far too quickly-quickly enough to make him sense the danger of losing control.
I must act soon... I cannot wait any longer! Mo Juren secretly made up his mind. The Meridian-Eroding Powder and Tracking Mark he had previously deployed seemed to have had no effect, perhaps because of the Dark Spiritual Root's peculiar nature. That left him no choice but to risk more drastic measures-restrain Han Li by force, then use the Possession Secret Art! The risk was greater, but so was the reward!
He had already carefully prepared a Spirit-Locking Formation and Heart-Illusion Incense inside the Pill Refinery. The moment Han Li entered, his spiritual power would be suppressed and his mind clouded. Then Mo Juren could subdue him with thunderous force!
"Grandfather, will Senior Brother Han come?" Mo Caihuan asked anxiously from beside him. She had dressed up especially for today, looking charming in a pale yellow dress, but a barely perceptible worry lingered between her brows. She did not fully understand her grandfather's plan. She only vaguely sensed that his "interest" in Senior Brother Han was far from ordinary, and it filled her with an inexplicable unease.
Mo Juren glanced at his granddaughter and forced a kindly smile. "Rest assured. Now that Martial Nephew Han has returned to the mountain, both sentiment and propriety dictate that he pay me a visit. Huan'er, once he arrives, you should withdraw. Your grandfather has important matters to discuss with him."
Mo Caihuan parted her lips, wanting to say more, but the unquestionable look in her grandfather's eyes left her no choice but to lower her head and murmur her assent.
Just then, a disciple's respectful announcement came from outside the Pill Refinery. "Elder Mo, Senior Brother Han Li has arrived."
Mo Juren's spirits rose, and a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes. In an instant, he resumed the air of an immortal-like elder who cared deeply for his juniors and called out, "Quickly, invite Martial Nephew Han inside!"
The Pill Refinery's stone door slowly opened, revealing Han Li in the doorway. He still wore the blue-green Core Disciple Uniform. With a calm expression and steady steps, he entered the Pill Refinery and bowed slightly to Mo Juren. "Disciple Han Li pays his respects to Elder Mo."
His gaze swept across the Pill Refinery, and he immediately detected the exceedingly faint, unusual fragrance in the air that could disturb the mind, along with the concealed formation patterns on the floor and walls. His inward sneer deepened. The old fox truly had no good intentions.
"No need for such courtesy, Martial Nephew Han. Sit, sit!" Mo Juren warmly invited Han Li to take the seat opposite him. His gaze passed over Han Li with apparent casualness, but inwardly he was startled. The boy's aura was so restrained that he could not quite gauge his strength! Moreover, much of his former nervousness in Mo Juren's presence seemed to have vanished, replaced by an indescribable composure and... indifference?
Suppressing his doubts, he smiled. "You must have gained a great deal from this excursion, Martial Nephew. Your aura has grown more condensed, so your cultivation must have advanced again. Truly a cause for celebration!"
Han Li replied evenly, "Thanks to your blessings, Elder, I made a little progress."
At Han Li's arrival, a hint of delight appeared on Mo Caihuan's face. She was about to speak, only for Mo Juren to stop her with a glance. Biting her lip, she said quietly, "Grandfather, Senior Brother Han, please continue. I'll take my leave." She gave Han Li a reluctant look, then turned and left the Pill Refinery, closing the stone door behind her.
The instant the stone door closed, the atmosphere inside the Pill Refinery turned eerie. The medicinal fragrance remained, but that thread of sinister cold grew increasingly distinct.
The smile slowly faded from Mo Juren's face. His gaze deepened as he stared at Han Li and said slowly, "Martial Nephew Han, there are no outsiders here now, so I will dispense with the roundabout talk. Do you know why I value you so highly?"
Han Li met his gaze without any change in expression. "Please enlighten me, Elder."
"Because of your spiritual root!" Mo Juren's voice suddenly rose, tinged with fanaticism. "A Dark Spiritual Root! Something not seen in ten thousand years! This is an opportunity heaven has bestowed upon our Seven Mysteries Sect-upon me! But your cultivation technique is far too crude. It is utterly unworthy of such a heaven-defying spiritual root! If this continues, you will only squander your talent!"
He stood, fixing Han Li with an intense stare. "I possess an ancient, secretly transmitted cultivation technique called the Profound Yin Spirit-Melding Art. It is perfectly suited to your Dark Spiritual Root! It can advance your cultivation a thousand miles in a day, putting foundation establishment within reach! So long as you accept me as your master and sincerely devote yourself to me, I will teach you this supreme art without reservation! I will also make you the heir to my legacy and spare no effort in nurturing you!"
The map had unrolled, revealing the dagger! First, he dangled a lavish reward as bait!
Han Li sneered inwardly, yet let just the right touch of "shock" and "hesitation" appear on his face. "This... I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Elder. But... taking a master is a matter of great importance. I must inform my parents, and report it to the sect as well..."
"The sect? Your parents?" Mo Juren scoffed, his tone growing aggressive. "The path of immortality defies heaven itself. How could you let mundane customs bind you? As for the sect, so long as we stand united as master and disciple, who in the Seven Mysteries Sect would dare object once you have mastered this divine art? Han Li, do not be foolish! This is your only chance to ascend to heaven in a single step!"
As he spoke, he secretly activated the formation! The formation patterns on the floor and walls lit up almost imperceptibly, and an invisible pressure enveloped Han Li. At the same time, the potency of the Heart-Illusion Incense began to intensify!
Mo Juren stared fixedly into Han Li's eyes, trying to catch the instant his mental defenses failed. The moment Han Li revealed the slightest opening, he would strike and subdue him completely!
Yet he was disappointed.
Under the combined effects of the formation's pressure and the Heart-Illusion Incense, Han Li showed neither confusion nor struggle. Instead, he slowly raised his head. His formerly tranquil eyes now resembled two bottomless pools of icy water-cold, sharp, and filled with mockery and killing intent!
"Elder Mo," Han Li said with terrifying calm, his voice carrying a bone-piercing chill, "have you finished your little performance?"
Mo Juren's expression changed drastically. "You...!"
Before he could react, Han Li's aura erupted! The tremendous spiritual power of the ninth level of Qi Refining, mingled with the chilling fiendish aura unique to the Profound Fiend Asura Art, surged like a flood bursting through a dam. It instantly overwhelmed the so-called Spirit-Locking Formation! The formation's light flickered violently once, then gave a mournful whine and shattered completely!
At the same time, Han Li opened his mouth and inhaled. Like a great whale drawing in water, he sucked every trace of the Heart-Illusion Incense filling the Pill Refinery into his belly! The [Slaughter System] activated, instantly refining and devouring that meager hallucinogenic potency. It even replenished a trace of his spiritual power!
"You... your cultivation?! This is impossible!" Mo Juren was frightened almost out of his wits. He retreated repeatedly, his face full of incredulous terror! The ninth level of Qi Refining! How much time had even passed? And the quality of that spiritual power, that terrifying fiendish aura! This was no Dark Spiritual Root prodigy-this was clearly a monster!
"Impossible?" Han Li slowly stood and advanced toward Mo Juren, one step at a time. With every step, his fiendish aura thickened, and the temperature throughout the Pill Refinery seemed to plunge. "Mo Juren, did you really think I knew nothing of your filthy tricks-secretly poisoning me, laying formations, and plotting to possess my body?"
"You... how did you know?!" Mo Juren was shaken to his core. Having his greatest secret exposed in a single sentence threw him into utter disarray!
"Not only do I know," Han Li said, his voice like a freezing wind from the nine netherworlds, "I also know that your lifespan is nearly exhausted and you have no hope of advancing further in foundation establishment. That is why you set your sights on me! You wanted to turn me into your vessel and prolong your wretched life!"
"Today is the day you die, you old ghoul!"
Before his words had faded, Han Li struck without hesitation! He used no magical artifact, merely threw a simple punch! Black fiendish energy curled around his fist, faintly forming a roaring ghost's head. It was the killing move of the Profound Fiend Asura Art-the Demonic Fiend Fist!
Wherever the force of his punch passed, the air cracked with shrill explosions! The fierce blast sent the medicinal racks inside the Pill Refinery toppling every which way, and bottles and jars shattered across the floor!
"Arrogant brat!" Mo Juren was both terrified and furious. After all, he was a foundation establishment early stage cultivator. Faced with death, he unleashed every last ounce of his potential! With a furious roar, his withered palm instantly turned pitch-black and met Han Li's fist amid a foul-smelling, sinister wind! This was the ultimate technique he had kept in reserve-the Black Fiend Palm!
Fist met palm!
BOOM!!!
An earth-shaking explosion reverberated throughout the Medicine Hall! A violent shock wave burst outward from the two men. Cracks instantly spread across the sturdy stone walls of the Pill Refinery, and dust showered from the ceiling!
"Pfft-!"
Mo Juren reeled as though struck by a crushing blow. His entire body flew backward like a kite with its string severed and slammed into the stone wall behind him. The blood he spewed contained fragments of his internal organs! The arm he had used to meet Han Li's punch was now a mangled mass of flesh, its bones shattered inch by inch!
One move! Just one move! Mo Juren, a foundation establishment early stage cultivator, had suffered a crushing defeat and grievous wounds!
He lay collapsed on the floor, watching Han Li approach step by step, his fiendish aura surging skyward. Endless terror and despair filled his eyes. "You... what sort of monster are you?!"
Han Li stopped before him and looked down, his gaze as cold as if he were regarding a lamb awaiting slaughter. "Why should a dying man ask so many questions?"
He raised his hand, dark spiritual power gathering at his fingertips. He was about to use the Soul Searching Technique, squeeze the last bit of value from this old ghoul, and send him on his way!
Yet at that very moment, another sudden change occurred!
Someone blasted open the Pill Refinery's stone door from outside! A graceful figure in white swept inside like a startled swan, accompanied by a clear, icy rebuke:
"Stop!"
Nangong Wan! She had actually appeared at this very moment!
Her face was frosty, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and anger. Her gaze swept over the devastated Pill Refinery and the gravely wounded, dying Mo Juren before finally settling on Han Li, whose body was wreathed in fiendish aura.
"Han Li! How dare you murder an elder within the sect?!"
Before you continue