Chapter 770: Xiao Junior Nephew

A Mortal's Journey to Immortality

In recent days, at a certain section of the border between the Yu and Beiliang nations, squads of spellcasters and cultivators, dozens of miles apart, descended from the sky, controlling their magic tools and treasures. They then systematically established large camps, utilizing existing strongholds.

Overnight, imposing and intricate grand formations emerged one after another in quick succession. This rarely visited place became a scene of turmoil and surging murderous intent.

Furthermore, small teams of cultivators and spellcasters ascended into the sky, patrolling around the large camps, as if fearing a sudden enemy attack.

As days passed, more cultivators and spellcasters gathered here. Defensive restrictions of all sizes spread across both sides of the border, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

However, at the center of the border, patrolling spellcasters and cultivators occasionally encountered each other. While they exchanged cold gazes, they managed to restrain themselves from fighting.

After all, fighting now would be pointless for the overall situation. They all suppressed their impatience, quietly awaiting the future life-or-death battle.

By the sixth day, the grand formations and restrictions of Tiannan and Mulan were almost fully deployed. Everyone began to keep a low profile, conserving their energy and strength within the camps. Even patrolling personnel significantly decreased for a time. However, high-level immortal cultivators began to appear frequently in the patrol teams.

The high-ranking spellcasters and cultivators were also intensely planning their final battle strategies within the camps.

The Tiannan cultivators' main camp faced Tianyi City to the north. Naturally, the defensive restrictions in that direction were somewhat fewer compared to those facing the spellcasters. However, all necessary watchposts and patrol personnel were in place, with their numbers even slightly adjusted.

Under these circumstances, a team of over ten cultivators was flying unhurriedly about twenty li away from the main camp.

The leading cultivator was a beautiful woman in her early twenties, with an early Core Formation cultivation level. The cultivators behind her were at the Foundation Establishment stage.

The great battle was imminent. These individuals dared not be careless. Although it was only a routine patrol mission, the group remained exceptionally vigilant, constantly looking around.

Only the leader appeared relatively composed, but she had also extended her spiritual sense to its maximum, sensing any abnormalities in the vicinity.

Suddenly, her expression changed. Her escape light abruptly halted, and she looked up in surprise towards the distance.

The other cultivators were startled by this and likewise looked in the same direction, as if facing a formidable enemy. However, they saw nothing.

"Senior Xiao, you...?"

A blue-robed cultivator asked with surprise and doubt. But before he could finish speaking, a white light flashed in the distant sky. A speck of light appeared there, and then shot towards them.

"What incredible speed!" a cultivator exclaimed.

In the blink of an eye, the white speck of light seemed to enlarge several times for the group, and something seemed to be vaguely visible within the light.

"It must be a senior cultivator arriving. However, according to regulations, we still need to go forward and inquire. You all can wait here." With a composed expression, the elegant-faced woman calmly instructed.

Then, a yellow light flickered around her body, and she flew directly towards the white light.

Seeing this, the cultivators exchanged glances for a moment, but no one said anything.

They were not from the same sect as her. Furthermore, their cultivation level and seniority were much lower. Naturally, they dared not voice any objections.

She had only flown a short distance before halting her escape light. The speck of light had already reached her and transformed into a dazzling orb of light, suddenly coming to a stop. Inside, there seemed to be a peculiar carriage-like magic tool, with blurry figures moving within it.

"Junior Xiao Cui'er of Huangfeng Valley greets Senior. May Senior please reveal your identity? Junior is acting under orders, please forgive any offense." Although the beautiful woman was surprised internally, she still greeted him with a pleasant voice.

"Oh! Xiao Cui'er?" A voice of surprise came from within the white light.

"Does Senior know this junior?" Xiao Cui'er blinked her clear, bright eyes, revealing a look of astonishment.

Among the Nascent Soul cultivators she knew, there seemed to be no one who fit this appearance. However, the voice did sound somewhat familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.

As the woman stared at the light orb in astonishment, the white light flickered a few times, then receded, revealing everything inside.

On a peculiar white flying carriage stood two young male and female cultivators.

The man wore a green robe and had an ordinary appearance, while the woman wore a white dress and was astonishingly beautiful.

"Martial Uncle Han!" The moment she saw the green-robed man's face, Xiao Cui'er covered her mouth with a slender hand and cried out in surprise.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief!

"Little girl, you've grown up. You're quite different from how you used to be." Han Li gazed at her, observing her pretty and familiar face, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"Martial Uncle Han, it really is you! Although Senior Sister Nie and Senior Brother Lei mentioned your advancement to Nascent Soul, I still found it hard to believe." Xiao Cui'er said, overjoyed, her expression as if she had reverted to the young girl she was when she first met Han Li.

"Meeting them then was just a coincidence," Han Li smiled and said nonchalantly.

This woman was personally brought into Huangfeng Valley by him. Although they didn't have much contact, he felt differently about her. Furthermore, she was Martial Brother Ma's personal disciple back then. Naturally, Han Li treated her differently than he did Nie Ying, Lei Wanhe, and others, showing some consideration for their past connection.

The Song-named woman nearby saw this situation and muttered a few words to herself.

She had vaguely heard people say that her Martial Uncle was originally from Huangfeng Valley. Now it seemed he had encountered an old acquaintance. The person before them seemed exceptionally intelligent; she wondered what her relationship with this Martial Uncle was.

Regardless of the Song-named woman's speculations, Han Li and Xiao Cui'er chatted pleasantly about some past events after their separation back then, including how Xiao Cui'er and the old man narrowly escaped pursuit from the demonic path, returned to Huangfeng Valley, and how Martial Brother Ma passed away, and this woman coincidentally formed her Golden Core, among other things.

This made Han Li sigh at how quickly things had changed.

After a while, Xiao Cui'er hesitated but still couldn't help but ask:

"Martial Uncle, have you truly become an elder of Luoyun Sect, and will you not return?" After speaking, a hint of expectation appeared on Xiao Cui'er's face.

Currently, Huangfeng Valley was in an extremely awkward situation. Although there was an old ancestor, Linghu, at the Mid Nascent Soul stage, overseeing the sect, they suffered from a lack of other Nascent Soul cultivators to succeed him. Once his lifespan ran out and he passed away, Huangfeng Valley's status among the Six Sects would surely plummet, putting them in a precarious position.

Therefore, not only Lei Wanhe and others were extremely worried, but even junior Core Formation cultivators like Xiao Cui'er were also deeply concerned. Moreover, Nie Ying and other cultivators who knew of her relationship with Han Li had urged Xiao Cui'er to try and persuade Han Li when she met him, hoping perhaps Han Li might be moved by their past connection.

Thus, after her initial joy, even though Xiao Cui'er knew Han Li had already rejected Lei Wanhe and others, she still had to bring up the matter again.

"Returning is not possible. Luoyun Sect has treated me well; I won't leave. There's no need to say more about this." Upon hearing Xiao Cui'er's words, Han Li's smile faded slightly, and he shook his head as he spoke.

"But what about our Huangfeng Valley in the future...?" Xiao Cui'er's expression darkened, and her face showed helplessness.

"You don't need to worry too much. I once made a deal with Old Monster Linghu. If Huangfeng Valley truly faces a crisis, I will still provide assistance within a certain scope." Han Li sighed and vaguely informed her of this deal.

"Such a thing exists! Thank you, Martial Uncle!" Xiao Cui'er was first stunned, then immediately brightened up and said.

"Let's not talk about these things for now. You are Martial Brother Ma's only disciple, and it's been many years since we last met, so I must offer you some assistance. This is a magic treasure I obtained after slaying another Core Formation cultivator back then. Although it cannot be used as a personal natal magic treasure, it will have other marvelous uses against enemies once you refine it. And this bottle of pills will be highly effective for advancing your cultivation and breaking through bottlenecks. Take them both." After a slight pause for thought, Han Li took out a jade-green ring and a bottle of pills from his storage pouch and handed them to her.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle, for your generous gifts!" Upon seeing this, Xiao Cui'er immediately bowed deeply in thanks and then happily accepted the two items.

"Alright. I still need to go to the main camp and meet with those old monsters, so I won't delay here any longer. Perhaps we'll meet again if fate allows." Han Li waited for the woman to put away the items, then calmly bid her farewell. Before she could react, he lightly tapped the flying carriage with his foot, and a blinding white light immediately flared up. Han Li and the Song-named woman's figures became indistinct again within the dazzling light.

"Farewell, Martial Uncle Han!"

She had wanted to say more, but seeing this, she could only quickly bow in a formal greeting. She then watched as the orb of light transformed into a white streak, tearing through the air and flying away.

Then the woman remained frozen in place, gazing motionless in the direction where the speck of light had vanished.

Meanwhile, her subordinates finally flew over on their artifacts.

"Senior Xiao, who was that senior? Was he a Nascent Soul cultivator?"

"But he looked quite young."

As soon as the cultivators gathered, their curiosity piqued, they asked eagerly, all speaking at once.

"Don't ask too many questions. That person is indeed a Nascent Soul stage senior, and he once showed me great kindness. He is not someone we can casually discuss. Let's just continue our patrol." After Xiao Cui'er regained her composure, her beautiful face became stern, and she swept her gaze over them, cold as frost, speaking without ceremony.

Hearing this, the others immediately fell silent.

After leaving Xiao Cui'er, even though the Wind Chariot's escape speed had greatly decreased, they reached the vicinity of the main camp shortly after. Han Li found the chariot too conspicuous, so he put the treasure away, and they proceeded using escape light instead.

The Song-named woman wisely refrained from asking about what had just happened, which made Han Li nod in approval internally.

After flying a bit further, a huge, five-colored light barrier appeared before them, thick and dazzling, enveloping the entire camp.

Before Han Li could fly down with the woman, another duty team had already rushed forward to greet them.

After verifying their identities, they immediately opened a passage and respectfully allowed the two to enter beyond the light barrier.

As soon as they entered the camp, Han Li parted ways with the Song-named woman.

The woman was to report to Lu Luo and then report to a pre-assigned cultivator team to await orders. Han Li, on the other hand, went directly to the center of the main camp, where he met the three main cultivators in charge, including Master Zhiyang.

Upon seeing Han Li arrive as promised, they were naturally extremely pleased. After a few words of greeting, they began to explain some arrangements for the great battle. Han Li was not very interested in this, so he listened for a few sentences before excusing himself and leaving.

He was then assigned a temporary stone house, where he immediately sat cross-legged in meditation, conserving his energy.