The atmosphere in the Sect Master's Main Hall was heavy.
The master of the Seven Mysteries Sect, a lean-faced Daoist in blue robes whose authority needed no display of anger, sat in the seat of honor. His aura was as unfathomable as the sea; his cultivation had unmistakably reached the great perfection of late Foundation Establishment. Beside him sat the red-faced Elder Li, the sinister-looking Elder Wang, and the composed Nangong Wan. Below them stood several influential stewards who had hurried over upon hearing the news.
Han Li stood at the center of the hall, enduring gazes that scrutinized him, probed him, or bore veiled pressure. His head was slightly lowered and his bearing respectful, but his spine remained straight, neither servile nor overbearing.
"Han Li," the sect master began slowly, his voice mild yet carrying an invisible pressure, "recount everything that happened in the Medicine Hall, exactly as it occurred."
Han Li cupped his hands and clearly delivered the account he had prepared: receiving Elder Mo's Sound Transmission Talisman, falling into the ambush of a formation and illusory incense inside the pill chamber, being forced to fight back, Mo Juren finally revealing his dagger beneath the unrolled map and attempting to possess him, and, at last, Elder Nangong appearing and Mo Juren detonating himself out of fear of punishment. His account was orderly and precise, its details corroborating Nangong Wan's earlier report. In particular, his suggestion that Mo Juren had practiced evil arts and might have been connected to the previous disappearances of disciples made several elders' expressions shift repeatedly.
"...Every word this disciple has spoken is true. Elder Nangong can bear witness. By good fortune, I obtained part of Senior Mysterious Bone's legacy, which alone allowed me to see through the plot and preserve my life. Here is my transcription of the first three layers of the Profound Yin Art. I ask the sect master and the elders to examine it." Han Li presented a jade slip he had prepared with both hands. Naturally, it contained a simplified version of the Profound Fiend Asura Art, extensively altered and stripped of its core methods of slaughter. Though still exquisite, it was no longer anything consequential.
A steward stepped forward, took the jade slip, and presented it to the sect master. The sect master swept his spiritual sense through it, then nodded slightly after a moment and passed it to Elder Li beside him for inspection.
"Hmm. This cultivation art does indeed belong to the orthodox Daoist tradition. Though inclined toward cold yin, it is no evil art. Obtaining such an opportunity was your good fortune." The sect master's gaze softened somewhat as he looked at Han Li. "Mo Juren was blinded by greed and violated our rules. Death was more than he deserved. You bear no fault in this matter. On the contrary, you have rendered a service by ridding the sect of a scourge."
The red-faced Elder Li stroked his beard and nodded. "The sect master is absolutely right. A dark spiritual root is scarcely seen once in ten thousand years, and Han Li possesses a resilient disposition. His obtaining this legacy is truly a blessing for our Seven Mysteries Sect. He should be richly rewarded, both to recognize his service and to reassure the other disciples." Clearly, he intended to seize this opportunity to draw Han Li firmly to his side.
Yet the sinister Elder Wang gave a cold snort and said sharply, "There may be nothing wrong with the cultivation art, but this boy's cultivation soaring to such heights is far too suspicious! The Qi Refining ninth layer? He joined only a few months ago! Even with a legacy, he would need time to assimilate it. And how do you explain Junior Brother Mo's mention of a 'cult leader' before his death? Could this boy be colluding with an outside evil cult, staging a show of suffering to win our trust?"
At those words, the atmosphere in the hall immediately grew tense again. Several stewards also looked doubtful. This was indeed the greatest unanswered question.
Han Li sneered inwardly, but his face showed just the right measure of indignation and wounded innocence. "Please judge fairly, Elder Wang! My cultivation advanced for two reasons. First, Senior Mysterious Bone's wondrous legacy infused me with spiritual power. Second, while gaining experience outside the sect, I was ambushed by Black Fiend Cult members in Poison Dragon Marsh. I narrowly escaped death, killed several of them in turn, and gained insights through that life-and-death struggle, allowing me to break through. The proprietor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Falling Cloud Market may be able to testify that I purchased information on the Black Fiend Cult. As for Elder Mo's dying ravings, they were plainly an attempt to frame me and drag me into the grave with him! Heaven and earth can bear witness to my loyalty to the sect! If you do not believe me, Elder Wang, I am willing to swear another Heart-Demon Oath!"
His words blended truth with falsehood, attributing his advancement to a "legacy infusion" and "life-and-death combat," both perfectly plausible explanations. He also brought up the Black Fiend Cult to muddy the waters, then invoked the Heart-Demon Oath again to lend himself credibility.
Sure enough, at the mention of the Black Fiend Cult, the sect master and several elders grew solemn. The "cult leader" Mo Juren had mentioned before dying seemed to have a possible identity now.
Nangong Wan spoke at precisely the right moment, her voice cool. "Sect master, Senior Brother Wang. Han Li's account agrees with the traces I investigated. There were indeed remnants of a Spirit-Locking Formation and Heart-Illusion Incense in the Medicine Hall's pill chamber, and several sinister magical artifacts were found on Mo Juren. As for Han Li's cultivation, I observed that although his spiritual power is condensed, it remains somewhat unstable. That is exactly the sign of cultivation forcibly raised within a short period and not yet fully consolidated, which accords with his account of a legacy infusion. The Black Fiend Cult has been active in the Falling Cloud Mountains lately. Whether Mo Juren colluded with them still requires careful investigation, but using this to cast suspicion on Han Li is unfair."
Nangong Wan's testimony was crucial. Her standing was exceptional, and her words carried tremendous weight. Pointing out the "instability" of Han Li's spiritual power seemed like finding fault, but in fact cleverly provided a "reasonable" explanation for his sudden advancement while directing the investigation toward Mo Juren's connection with the Black Fiend Cult.
Elder Wang was momentarily left speechless. His expression darkened further, but he could hardly contradict Nangong Wan directly again.
The sect master pondered for a moment, then swept his lightning-sharp gaze over Han Li once more, seemingly intent on seeing through him inside and out. Han Li met it calmly, his eyes clear, with a trace of stubbornness at being doubted.
After a long while, the sect master said slowly, "Since Elder Nangong vouches for him and the evidence is conclusive, the matter of Mo Juren ends here. Han Li has rendered service and bears no fault. He shall receive one thousand spirit stones and one Foundation Establishment Pill, and permission to enter the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion to select one cultivation art."
The reward was undeniably generous, especially the Foundation Establishment Pill-a treasure Qi Refining cultivators dreamed of obtaining! Clearly, after weighing the matter, the sect's leaders had decided to devote their support to this gifted disciple with a dark spiritual root and a fortuitous encounter.
"Thank you, sect master! Thank you, elders!" Han Li displayed "excitement" at the appropriate moment and bowed in gratitude. Inwardly, however, he remained utterly calm. To him, a Foundation Establishment Pill was nowhere near as direct as slaughter and plunder.
"Hmm." The sect master nodded, then abruptly changed the subject, asking with apparent casualness, "Han Li, your cultivation has now reached the Qi Refining ninth layer. Have you made any plans for Foundation Establishment? And what do you know of the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land, which opens in three years?"
Here it comes! The real subject! Han Li's heart stirred.
He raised his head, allowing a fitting measure of hunger for power and longing for the unknown to show in his gaze. "Sect master, I hope to reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible and ascend higher on the path of immortality. As for the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land...I heard a little about it while outside the sect. It is said to be an ancient secret realm filled with opportunities and danger."
The sect master exchanged a glance with Elder Li and Nangong Wan, then said slowly, "Correct. The Blood-Colored Forbidden Land opens once every five hundred years, a momentous event in the Southern Heaven Cultivation World. Though it contains tremendous dangers, it also holds opportunities to reach Core Formation and even Nascent Soul. Our Seven Mysteries Sect receives several entry slots each time."
He looked intently at Han Li. "With your aptitude, disposition, and strength, you are already qualified to compete for one of those slots. But deadly threats lurk on every side within the forbidden land. Beyond natural hazards and demonic beasts, gifted disciples from the various sects slaughter one another. Only a scant few survive. Do you dare go?"
Han Li straightened his chest, a sharp light bursting from his eyes, and declared without hesitation, "The path of cultivation is itself a struggle against heaven for our lives! I am willing to go! I will seize opportunities for the sect and spread the mighty name of our Seven Mysteries Sect!"
"Good! Such ambition!" The red-faced Elder Li clapped his hands in praise.
A trace of satisfaction also appeared in the sect master's eyes. "Then prepare well. Over the next three years, the sect will direct resources toward you. Cultivate diligently, and do not disappoint our expectations."
"This disciple will spare no effort!"
The questioning ended, and Han Li took his leave. As he walked out of the hall, he felt the gazes behind him, each bearing a different meaning, and sneered inwardly. The sect valued his potential and the benefits he might bring back from the forbidden land, while he needed the sect as a stepping stone and a source of resources in these early stages. They were merely using each other.
As for that Foundation Establishment Pill...Han Li rubbed his Storage Bag, his eyes unfathomable. How could an ordinary Foundation Establishment Pill satisfy him? What he wanted was the Heaven and Earth Spirit Object within the forbidden land, rumored to be capable of laying an unsurpassed foundation for the Dao!
Inside the hall, once Han Li was far away, Elder Wang could not suppress a cold snort. "That boy is steeped in murderous aura and hides deep schemes. I fear he is no creature destined to remain in a small pond. Nurture him so generously, and beware of raising a tiger that brings disaster!"
Elder Li countered, "Extraordinary people do extraordinary things. Our Seven Mysteries Sect has languished for far too long. We need precisely such bold, ambitious individuals to stand out in this age of great contention!"
Nangong Wan said indifferently, "Whether he is a tiger or a dragon, the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land will tell. For now, uncovering Mo Juren's connection to the Black Fiend Cult is our most urgent task."
The sect master made the final decision. "Enough. Han Li's matter is settled and needs no further discussion. Wan'er, investigate the Black Fiend Cult in secret. As for Han Li...give him resources and see how far he can go. If he truly becomes a dragon, it will be a blessing for our Seven Mysteries Sect. If his halberd breaks and sinks into the sand, he will be nothing more than another speck of dust on the path of cultivation."
For the time being, Han Li paid no heed to the maneuvering among the sect's leaders. He returned to his courtyard and activated its restrictions. Every expression instantly vanished from his face, leaving his usual icy composure.
Mo Juren had been eliminated, and his position in the sect was provisionally secure. Next, he would use these three years to raise his strength at a furious pace!
The Blood-Colored Forbidden Land would be where his name resounded throughout the Heavenly South-and where he truly began his path of slaughter toward immortality!
All who stood in his way would be killed without mercy!
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