"Let me explain it," a Cultivator from the Nine Nations Union said with a smile. She was a female Cultivator, commonly known as Lady Qi.
If it weren't for Li Feiyu, Wei Wuya wouldn't have attended at all; such matters could be left to other Cultivators of the Nine Nations Union.
"Two Nascent Soul Stage Fellow Daoists both perished at the hands of two Early Stage Cultivators. They possess special Magic Treasures, and once defeated in a fight, even their Nascent Soul could not escape, leading to their demise."
"What kind of Magic Treasure is that?"
"They devour the Divine Souls of the fallen, capture the Primordial Spirit and Divine Soul of high-level Cultivators, and are enveloped in a demonic Qi. It's highly probable they are evil Cultivators of the demonic path."
Another Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator named Wu from the Beyleaf Sect said, "These two are likely external forces, assisting the Mulan people in attacking us for unknown reasons."
"In the past, the Mulan people always employed delaying tactics, slowly advancing, with battles lasting decades. But this time, they are coming fiercely, probably intending a quick victory."
The Cultivator named Wu said, "Please ask all Fellow Daoists to return and inform your Sects or other Sects, urging them to lend their full support."
Lady Qi said, "Let's conclude here for today. Thank you, Fellow Daoists. We will discuss reinforcements again in a few days."
Wei Wuya invited Li Feiyu to the Huayi Sect's outpost for a chat, and Li Feiyu did not refuse.
A serene and elegant bamboo forest, with green leaves swaying in the wind, producing a rustling, pleasant sound.
The two sat cross-legged on cushions woven from yellow bamboo. This yellow bamboo was a rare Spirit Bamboo, possessing the effect of calming the mind and concentrating the spirit, which could slightly accelerate Cultivation speed.
However, its effects were extraordinary only for those below Core Formation stage. Once one reached Core Formation stage, its effects became mediocre.
Zhou Yuan stood a distance away from them.
Wei Wuya glanced at Zhou Yuan, then his gaze returned to Li Feiyu's face.
"Fellow Daoist Li, I didn't expect that in just twenty years, Zhou Yuan has already formed his Nascent Soul. He truly possesses extraordinary talent."
"He's alright, but he wasted some years. Otherwise, he could have entered the Nascent Soul Stage by around three hundred years old."
"Fellow Daoist Li thinks highly of him?"
Li Feiyu nodded.
"However, his promotion to Nascent Soul must have been greatly aided by Fellow Daoist, no?"
Li Feiyu's lips curved into a slight smile, "What, Fellow Daoist Wei, are you here to inquire what I possess that can aid in forming a Nascent Soul?"
"Alas, the ingredients on those Pill Formulas are either nearly extinct or require too many years to mature. No chance."
"Fellow Daoist speaks true."
Wei Wuya continued, "Some time ago, people from the Ghost Spirit Sect approached me, saying they had a way to enter the Devilfall Valley and invited me to go with them."
As he spoke, he observed Li Feiyu's expression, seeing no significant fluctuation.
"Of course, I didn't believe it at first. The Devilfall Valley is too dangerous. For thousands of years, Great Cultivators in Heavenly South have coveted it, but no one has succeeded."
"Just to enter the outer valley, the only entrance gorge is filled with spatial rifts, already a near-certain death."
"And the truly good things are all in the inner valley. The more treasures and rare Spirit Medicine there are, the more perilous it becomes."
"Moreover, rumors say that Ancient Devils might even cross Realms there…"
Li Feiyu chuckled, "After all that, Fellow Daoist Wei, are you perhaps inviting me to enter the Devilfall Valley with you?"
"What do you think, Fellow Daoist Li?"
"I am indeed interested in the Devilfall Valley, but entering together, I still need to consider that."
Wei Wuya said, "That's natural, and I haven't agreed to the Ghost Spirit Sect yet. I don't know if what they say is true."
"After this Mulan invasion, I will go confirm it. By then, can Fellow Daoist Li give me an answer?"
"Naturally."
"Actually, our Nine Nations Union is a neutral force, and your Five Elements Sect also doesn't wish to participate in power struggles. We can have more interactions."
"Let's discuss this later. My Five Elements Sect is just starting, and it will take many years to develop in the future."
Li Feiyu picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
Not long after, Li Feiyu and Zhou Yuan departed.
Han Li did not attend this grand hall meeting, but he coincidentally met Ancestor Linghu from Yellow Maple Valley on the streets of Yuantian City.
Ancestor Linghu had also heard about Han Li and initially thought it was a namesake, but upon seeing him now, he was greatly shocked.
"Ancestor Linghu, I didn't expect to run into you. Long time no see."
"Fellow Daoist Han… congratulations! You've entered the Nascent Soul Stage at such a young age." Ancestor Linghu's face held a bitter smile.
Suddenly, his heart stirred, and he said, "How about we find a place to chat privately?"
Nangong Wan knew of Han Li's connection with Ancestor Linghu, so she didn't object. Moreover, she believed Han Li would be fine.
In Heavenly South now, apart from Li Feiyu, probably no one could guarantee capturing Han Li. Even the three Great Cultivators, while they could defeat Han Li, might not be able to catch him.
She had witnessed Han Li's Windfire Wings; his escape speed was probably second only to the legendary Thunder Escape.
Even if a Great Cultivator tried to stop him, they might not succeed.
"Go, I'll wait for you here."
Han Li nodded and went with Ancestor Linghu to the nearest Cultivation Inn.
"Old Ancestor, please speak directly if you have something to say."
"What happened back then was my misjudgment. I heard you've become an Elder of Falling Cloud Sect. If I ask you to return to Yellow Maple Valley to take charge, would you be willing?"
"My Lifespan is not much longer. As long as you rejoin Yellow Maple Valley, it will be yours alone. Falling Cloud Sect now has two Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators; if you stay there, you might be constrained everywhere."
"Thank you for your kind offer, Old Ancestor, but I have no interest in wielding Sect power. In Falling Cloud Sect, no one controls me, and I feel quite at ease."
No matter what Ancestor Linghu said, Han Li had no intention of rejoining Yellow Maple Valley.
Knowing he couldn't persuade him, Ancestor Linghu sighed, "Since you are unwilling, then so be it. However, I hope Fellow Daoist Han agrees to another condition of mine."
"I am willing to pay Fellow Daoist three great treasures in exchange for three times your assistance, to the best of your ability, for Yellow Maple Valley during your lifetime."
"That condition is acceptable." Han Li thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
Soon, after completing the transaction, the two parted ways.
Nangong Wan asked curiously, "What did you talk about? Let me guess, he wanted you to return to Yellow Maple Valley, but you didn't agree, right?"
Han Li playfully flicked her delicate nose, "Wan'er is truly clever. But I did agree to three great treasures in exchange for three times my assistance, to the best of my ability."
"What do you think of this deal?"
"With your personality, you naturally wouldn't let yourself suffer a loss."
"That's natural. I've only ever suffered losses at the hands of my Senior Brother Li. He sees right through me. Many times, I don't want to ask him for help or owe him favors, but I just can't escape his grasp."
"It's as if he can read my mind."
"Alright, enough talk. Let's go find Senior Brother Cheng and ask about the current situation of the Nine Nations Union. I have a feeling that a storm is brewing."
...
A few days later, in Yuantian City, Han Li encountered Marquis Nanlong again.
Marquis Nanlong naturally sought Han Li to team up and enter the Devilfall Valley to retrieve treasures, because he possessed the essential Yin Yang Ring for entering the Devilfall Valley.
The Yin Yang Ring is divided into a Yin Ring and a Yang Ring. The Yin Ring can sense the Arctic Primordial Light in the Devilfall Valley and protect the user, while the Yang Ring has the ability to manipulate the Primordial Light.
This Magic Treasure was quite useless, as it had no other power besides protecting oneself under the Arctic Primordial Light and manipulating it.
And the Arctic Primordial Light was too rare and dangerous; it was almost impossible for anyone without Great Divine Ability to collect and refine it.
Besides Han Li possessing the Yin Ring of the Yin Yang Ring, another reason they sought Han Li was the Celestial Ice Flame he had displayed previously.
Han Li, with his cautious nature, did not immediately agree.
Firstly, the Devilfall Valley was too perilous. Secondly, according to them, the spatial rifts in the Devilfall Valley would have a stable period every so often, and that time was still a few years away, so there was no rush.
Li Feiyu wasn't entirely clear about what Han Li usually did, but he did know about the Devilfall Valley matter.
The Fire Toad Ancient Beast, having lived for countless years, possessed little intelligence but astonishing Divine Abilities, comparable to a Nascent Soul Late Stage. He had recently refined some high-quality qi activation pills.
If he could subdue a few and awaken their intelligence, while not suitable as mounts, they would be more than enough to serve as Sect-protecting Spirit Beasts.
However, he wasn't entirely sure if he could succeed.
After all, the lack of intelligence in such barbaric Ancient Beasts was a limitation imposed by heaven and earth.
Whether their intelligence could be awakened depended on Opportunity.
During this period, he accompanied Yaoer and Zi Ling, shopping during the day, spending time with Yaoer at night, and dedicating the remaining time to Cultivating the Profound Heaven Divine Thunder in the Void Garden Pearl.
Soon, it was time for the next meeting of the various forces.
This time, Han Li and Nangong Wan also attended, and quite a few people were present.
Of course, many forces from the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Demonic Paths were still on their way.
To meet the enemy, they would dispatch a portion of their Nascent Soul and Core Formation Cultivators, but not too many, to avoid weakening their own Sects.
Joining forces against the Mulan people was a last resort. For hundreds, even thousands of years, many Sects and factions in Heavenly South had deep-seated grudges that were almost impossible to resolve.
The Mulan people, formed by numerous tribes, also could not achieve unity of purpose.
This time, Wei Wuya did not come.
In the three seats at the very front, only Li Feiyu sat in the middle, calm and composed, listening to their debates and task assignments.
"Why is there no arrangement for the Five Elements Sect?"
Everyone's expressions changed, and they all looked over. Han Li's lips curled slightly, an interesting expression on his face.
"It's Old Freak Tianhen. No wonder he's so arrogant, even refusing to acknowledge the Five Elements Sect!"
Lady Qi said awkwardly, "The Five Elements Sect is a newly established force and is not included in this support consideration."
"Then what are they doing here? Watching the show?"
Everyone looked at Li Feiyu, and seeing no change in his expression, they breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Suddenly, his voice rang out sharply.
"Old Freak Tianhen, you're not young, but your temper is quite big. Do you want to join my Five Elements Sect? I'll help you become a Great Cultivator."
Everyone held their breath, then all looked at Old Freak Tianhen, waiting for his reply.
Old Freak Tianhen fell silent. To say he wasn't tempted would certainly be a lie.
Although he was known as the strongest Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator below the Great Cultivators in Heavenly South, his Divine Abilities could contend with a Great Cultivator for dozens of rounds.
But that was it; he could never cross the gap in Realm.
When he first heard that someone in Yue Country, a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, had suppressed three Great Cultivators, he immediately found it utterly ridiculous.
Even being able to fight a Great Cultivator for half a day was already considered invincible among Intermediate Stage Cultivators.
Suppressing three? What else could that be but a joke?
But later, as more and more people spread the news, and no one from the three Great Cultivators' Sects came out to refute it, he had no choice but to believe that such a Heaven-Defying person existed in the world.
He hadn't attended the Five Elements Sect's grand ceremony last time, but he had specifically come to Yuantian City for Li Feiyu this time.
Otherwise, with his reclusive personality, unless a Great Cultivator personally invited him, he would have no interest at all.
Nascent Soul Late Stage!
Old Freak Tianhen was confident that if he became a Great Cultivator, he would definitely surpass Master Zhiyang and Fellow Daoist Hehuan in a short time, and be on par with Wei Wuya.
"Seeing that you are a Loose Cultivator, and hearing that your Divine Abilities are not bad, if you are willing to follow my command and guard Yue Country for me, I don't mind helping you."
"How to decide, think it over and you can come find me."
Li Feiyu finished speaking and said no more, his eyes never having opened the entire time.
Old Freak Tianhen looked at Li Feiyu several times, not feeling that he was joking, then lowered his head in contemplation, his mind fully absorbed in Li Feiyu's words.
"Does anyone else have any opinions on this arrangement?" the Cultivator named Wu said with a smile.
They had satisfied the demands of each faction; for every support team, each force had to assign a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator to prevent being ambushed.
Seeing no one speak, he continued, "Then it's settled. Fellow Daoists who have been assigned, please depart as soon as possible."
After everyone dispersed, Old Freak Tianhen approached Li Feiyu.
"Is what you said true?"
"What do you think?"
Looking at Li Feiyu's half-smile, Old Freak Tianhen angrily said, "You're going too far!"
Black lightning arcs appeared on Old Freak Tianhen's palm, emitting crackling sounds.
If an ordinary Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator saw this, they would certainly be startled, but Li Feiyu remained unfazed.
"This black lightning arc Divine Ability is quite good. Rumor has it you can even injure a Late Stage Great Cultivator in a direct confrontation, which is quite impressive."
"Don't think I'm afraid of you. Even if I can't defeat you, if I want to leave, you can't stop me."
Li Feiyu chuckled, "Want to try?"
A pair of wings suddenly appeared behind Li Feiyu, erupting with astonishing wind and thunder spiritual energy fluctuations.
Old Freak Tianhen looked horrified, "Wind Escape and Thunder Escape!!
!"
"Just with the help of a Magic Treasure, nothing worth mentioning." Li Feiyu smiled slightly.
Old Freak Tianhen silently withdrew his Divine Ability. With the other party mastering these two rare escape techniques, even if he were more arrogant, he didn't feel he had much chance of escaping from the other's grasp.
Furthermore, his rumored strength was even more terrifying than that of an ordinary Great Cultivator.
Perhaps, anyone inferior to Li Feiyu, if he wanted to kill them, wouldn't be able to escape.
Seeing him calm down, Li Feiyu also put away his wind-thunder wings.
"Have you heard of the Creation Pill?"
"The ancient legend of a Heaven-Defying Medicinal Pill that greatly aids in breaking through Bottlenecks below the Deity Transformation Stage?!"
"Exactly, that's the item. I've been eyeing it recently. If you're willing to join my Five Elements Sect, I don't mind sharing a piece of the pie with you."
"Are you sure there will be multiple Creation Pills?"
"No, besides joining your Sect, there must be other conditions, right?"
Li Feiyu grinned, "Acknowledge me as your master, and open your Primordial Spirit for me to plant a Restriction. Of course, I won't truly treat you as a servant; it's just to prevent you from harboring ill intentions towards my Sect."
"As long as you can enter Deity Transformation, you can naturally break the Restriction with your own power."
"You can take your time to consider. I await your reply!"
Li Feiyu left Old Freak Tianhen alone, laughing loudly as he departed.