Above the South Sea, a small flying boat whistled past.
Azure sea and blue sky, with white clouds like dogs.
Soon after, the flying boat landed on a desolate mountain.
From the boat, two young men disembarked; one was dressed as a Scholar, and the other as a rich young master. Both had extraordinary appearances.
"Li Feiyu, do you think Han Li's eyes will pop out when he sees me? Hahahaha~"
"Then you're thinking too much. He's also experienced, so he can manage to not show his emotions."
"But, honestly, I truly feel like a lifetime has passed."
Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence looked at Li Feiyu and asked, "By the way, the thousand years of Lifespan is real, right? You wouldn't trick me and make me happy for nothing, would you?"
"Old Monster, you've asked that several times already. Is it interesting?"
"What good would I get from tricking you?"
"That's fine. However, this body's aptitude is truly poor. A Five Elements Spiritual Root, most don't even have the possibility of stepping onto the path of Cultivation."
"I gave you so many Medicinal Pills to eat like candy, so be content! Since Han Li hasn't arrived, just Cultivate quietly here, a small Cultivator at Qi Condensation Level 1."
Han Li had to kill a Level 8 evil dragon. Even if he faced two at the same time, he had enough strength to resolve it, so Li Feiyu didn't go to find him.
Half a month later, a green light streaked across the sky and landed on this desolate island.
"Senior Brother Li, um... who is this?"
"There's a somewhat familiar feeling."
Han Li naturally recognized the Scholar's Cultivation Realm at a glance—Qi Condensation Level 1. Moreover, a somewhat familiar aura emanated from him.
"You guess."
The Scholar had a bamboo tube on his back. He was very young but gave off a feeling of not being young, as if he had experienced a long period of time and witnessed many changes.
This was especially true of his eyes.
"He must have undergone Possession. Could it be the Old Monster?"
"But that shouldn't be. He himself knows that even if Possession succeeded, with his weakened Divine Soul, there would be no hope."
"Without reaching Deity Transformation, it would ultimately be in vain!"
Han Li couldn't understand, but he still spoke, "It's the Old Monster, right? But I don't understand why you would be so reckless as to attempt Possession."
"Haha, as expected, you're smart. Don't worry, I naturally have confidence to do this."
"Don't ask too many unnecessary questions."
Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence asked Li Feiyu not to tell others that he was his subordinate. Li Feiyu naturally wouldn't mind; all he wanted was to use his intelligence.
Han Li looked deeply at Li Feiyu. His intuition told him it must be related to him.
He sighed, "Alright, as long as you're happy."
"Are we still refining that Puppet?"
"Yes, refine it!"
"This is my lifelong pursuit. Although I will develop more powerful ones in the future, this is my previous obsession. I must personally see it refined to resolve this obsession."
"Then let's rest a bit and start. There aren't many Materials, only one set, so we must be extremely careful."
"I'll set up the grand array first, to prevent anyone from disturbing us."
...
The process for a Nascent Soul Stage Puppet is complex, and the possibility of refining it in one go is too small.
Han Li, following Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence's instructions, refined it piece by piece, and a year passed in the blink of an eye.
During this period, he occasionally refined Snow Soul Pills and fed them to the twelve Six-Winged Frost Centipedes. After a round of molting, these Six-Winged Frost Centipedes finally grew their first pair of snow-white wings.
After they advanced, the effect of the Snow Soul Pills on them greatly diminished.
Soon after, Han Li successfully completed the assembly of the Puppet's various components.
The entire process was surprisingly smooth and unobstructed.
This Puppet was not an ordinary Puppet; it was specially made. Ordinary spirits could not control it as desired; at least a Level 9 Demon Beast's spirit was required.
According to Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence, the Puppet's combat power was enough to rival a Great Cultivator. If there were enough Spirit Stones, it could even suppress a Great Cultivator.
Its power was indeed strong, but its consumption was also indeed large.
At full power, even a high-grade Spirit Stone could only sustain it for fifteen minutes.
"The Puppet is finally refined, which fulfills one of my wishes. Which of you two wants this Puppet?"
Li Feiyu knew Han Li was somewhat tempted and said with a smile, "Han Li helped find all the key Materials, so I don't need it."
"Besides, it's not very useful to me, at most it would be left to the Sect as a foundation."
Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence was unhappy now, "You're looking down on my Puppet, aren't you? How about we compare?"
"Sure, but you'll have to find a suitable spirit first!"
"I..."
Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence was so angry he couldn't speak. According to the original plan, he intended to split his soul and become the Puppet's spirit, but now, for the sake of his future, this was definitely impossible.
This led to the Puppet currently being idle.
"Alright, you should just Cultivate honestly."
Li Feiyu looked at Han Li, "What do you plan to do next?"
"I'll refine some Spirit-Descending Talismans on the island first, and then I need to go to Bitter Bamboo Island to get the Crimson Phoenix Feathers. After I've refined the Four Flames Fan, I'll go to Double Scorpion Mountain in Southern Xinjiang to meet up with Daoist Fu."
Li Feiyu thought for a moment, "I heard that Bitter Bamboo Old Man is quite troublesome. Although he is only at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, relying on his three hundred sixty-five Cold Bamboo Flying Swords and the Ten Thousand Wood Grand Array, centered around a Heavenly Mulberry Divine Tree, even a Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator would be unwilling to directly invade his lair."
"I've heard about that too."
"So I'll go with you; it will increase our chances."
Han Li looked at him and said, "Then I thank Senior Brother Li."
Two months later, Han Li successfully completed his task. The group, riding their escape light, sped towards Bitter Bamboo Island.
Within a few days, they arrived above the island.
Han Li's eyebrows rose, and blue light flashed in his pupils as he looked down. A moment later, his expression turned grim.
If he could secretly take the Crimson Phoenix Feathers, that would naturally be best, but in this situation, it was impossible to sneak in silently.
Li Feiyu glanced at it, "It does have some tricks, but that's all it is."
Han Li's mouth twitched. He was still so fond of showing off.
"Don't believe me? Then watch closely and see what kind of methods your Senior Brother has now!"
Li Feiyu looked at the calm sea of mist below, his eyes flashing with light. He was thinking about what method to use to break through this grand array.
The blue light in his pupils suddenly brightened, and the grand array gradually became clear in his eyes.
Li Feiyu smiled faintly. With a raise of his hand, fire-elemental Spiritual Qi erupted, forming a giant Golden Crow. With a long cry, the sky trembled violently, and then it charged towards the sea of mist.
The scorching high temperature caused the sea of mist to churn violently even before it got close.
The Golden Crow plunged into a certain spot in the sea of mist. In an instant, a heaven-shaking and earth-shattering burst of Spiritual Qi erupted, and red flames shot into the sky.
The fire-elemental Spiritual Qi spread, and the entire sea of mist suddenly dissipated, revealing the island's original appearance.
Originally, the island was enveloped by a layer of green light, but now, a gap appeared in the light, and the entire light was gradually dissipating.
"How was it?"
Li Feiyu smiled as he looked at Han Li and Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence.
Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence snorted coldly, "It's just so-so. If I had my full strength from back then, I could also break it with one strike."
Han Li, however, generously admitted, "Senior Brother Li, your methods are impressive. I'm afraid I would have to use all my abilities to stop your Golden Crow Scorching Sun attack just now."
"Haha, don't be discouraged. When you reach the Late Stage Realm, you can at least achieve a level close to mine."
"Let's go, let's go meet them."
The island's grand array being forcibly shattered immediately alarmed everyone on the island. Those with weaker Cultivation thought the island was about to be sunk.
Old Man Bitter Bamboo led a group of Cultivators and flew towards Li Feiyu and the others.
"Fellow Daoists, what are you doing? Why did you break my Ten Thousand Wood Grand Array without cause?"
Li Feiyu smiled and said, "Nothing, just a joke. We're here to ask for the three Phoenix Feathers from the tail of the Crimson Phoenix on your island."
"We will give you a satisfactory price."
Old Man Bitter Bamboo really wanted to curse them back, but someone who could break his painstakingly arranged grand array was at least a Great Cultivator, and a very powerful Great Cultivator at that.
If he truly offended them, it was likely that no one on the entire island would survive.
"Fellow Daoist, that joke isn't funny."
"Haha, my apologies, my apologies. Junior Brother Han, you can negotiate the price yourself."
Old Man Bitter Bamboo looked at the other person, who was at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage. Upon closer inspection, he also had unique qualities that made one treat him with caution.
He inwardly cried out in bitterness, "What's wrong with me? Is my luck bad this year?"
A malevolent star suddenly came to visit!
"I am willing to offer two Level 7 Demon Beast Inner Cores and two Level 6 Demon Beast Inner Cores as compensation. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo?"
Old Man Bitter Bamboo raised an eyebrow, then looked at Li Feiyu again.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Li Feiyu smiled.
Old Man Bitter Bamboo sighed, "Then so be it. Since Fellow Daoist is so sincere, please wait a moment, I will have someone retrieve them."
Han Li cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for your cooperation."
With the items in hand, they flew away.
Daoist Bitter Bamboo watched them, letting out a long sigh, "They're finally gone."
"What a disaster from the heavens. What are you all looking at? Hurry up and repair the grand array!"
...
On the desolate island.
Li Feiyu called out Crimson Crow and told him he wanted to borrow a golden feather from his tail.
Crimson Crow immediately bristled!
"No way, this is a symbol of my identity! The glory of my Bloodline!"
Li Feiyu persuaded, "It'll grow back anyway! I've already promised Han Li. You wouldn't make me go back on my word, would you?"
"But..."
"Alright, no more 'buts'! It's decided!"
"Oh."
Crimson Crow, feeling wronged, soared into the sky, returning to his normal size. After a golden light emanated from his body, a slender golden feather drifted down from the air in the dazzling light.
Han Li collected it, thanking him repeatedly.
"You got off cheap!"
Crimson Crow shrunk and flew back to Li Feiyu's shoulder. Li Feiyu tapped his head.
Although Crimson Crow had dozens of golden feathers all over his body, losing even one would cause him considerable damage.
Each of his golden feathers carried a special Spiritual Qi. Holding it could ward off fire and could activate a trace of the contained True Spirit power to unleash an extremely terrifying attack.
Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence took it from Han Li's hand and examined it carefully. "It's even stronger than I imagined. If nothing goes wrong, the Four Flames Fan that's refined will definitely reach fifty-five percent of its power."
"Perhaps there will even be a special surprise."
Han Li also felt the terrifying fluctuations emanating from this golden feather. This time, he had indeed made a huge profit.
Seeing the fatigue in Crimson Crow's eyes, Li Feiyu secretly gave him a drop of thousand-year longevity liquid as compensation, then sent him back to Void Garden Pearl to recuperate.
In Void Garden Pearl, several top-grade Spirit Medicine, such as Blood Phoenix Wood, Dragon-Subduing Tree, Undying Grass, and Profound Yin Grass, have now been added. They are thriving, almost all of them a thousand years old.
Among them, after the Undying Grass reaches ten thousand years, it can allow Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators to regenerate limbs.
Profound Yin Grass, on the other hand, can condense Profound Yin Qi, which is greatly beneficial to Cultivators who Cultivate Profound Yin Cultivation Technique.
Blood Phoenix Wood and Dragon-Subduing Wood are both top-grade Spirit Wood, with hard textures, making them excellent Materials for refining Puppets and Magic Treasures.
"By the way, Junior Brother Han, you should refine the Four Flames Fan on this island first. The matter we are going to do is not very suitable for the Old Monster to participate in with his current Cultivation."
Han Li thought for a moment and nodded, "That's true."
"I'll send him to Jin Capital to settle down first. The order there is still acceptable. We'll pick him up after we're done."
"You're already tired of this Old Man so quickly? Hmph, don't get too smug, this Old Man will catch up very soon."
Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence pouted, very stubborn.
Then, he flicked his sleeve, and two Jade Slips flew out, landing in Li Feiyu and Han Li's hands.
"Here are the subsequent Cultivation Technique of the Great Development Art, as well as this Old Man's many years of experience in refining Puppets and several Puppets. Consider it repayment."
Han Li cupped his hands, "Thank you."
Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence waved his hand, and Li Feiyu smiled faintly. Aura enveloped him, and the wind-thunder wings unfolded behind him. With a gentle flap, they vanished from the spot, transforming into a golden streak of light and flying into the distance.
Han Li then meticulously studied the refining method of the Four Flames Fan. After committing it to memory, he began to refine it cautiously.
He believed that if successfully refined, the Four Flames Fan would temporarily become his greatest trump card.
Even the half-finished Geng Metal Sword Array couldn't compare!
As for the Void Heaven Cauldron, its power was indeed immense, but Han Li estimated that he wouldn't be able to activate it until he reached the Deity Transformation Stage.
And by the time he reached the Deity Transformation Stage, he believed that there would be no opponent in the Human Realm worthy of him activating the Void Heaven Cauldron.
"I wonder if my strongest attack can rival Senior Brother Li after the Four Flames Fan is successfully refined."
Han Li was somewhat expectant.
Li Feiyu settled Divine Lord Monarch Soul Divergence and then returned to the desolate island.
Han Li refined the Four Flames Fan, while he entered Void Garden Pearl to Cultivate Profound Heaven Divine Thunder. After Cultivating the Profound Heaven Five Spirits Art, he found new insights into the subsequent Cultivation of Profound Heaven Divine Thunder.
It was like a reference and a lesson.
Following this line of thought, he felt he had a chance.
Under the profound heaven immortal tree, a large amount of Profound Heaven Spiritual Qi surged into Li Feiyu's body. Threads of profound green lightning arcs suddenly leaped from him, dancing gracefully and nimbly.
...
More than two years later.
Two rainbow lights, one green and one gold, rose from this desolate island in the South Sea and flew towards Southern Xinjiang.
Southern Xinjiang was remote and distant. Even with their combined escape speed, it took them a full three or four months to fly there.
Chaoyun Prefecture was located in the western part of Southern Xinjiang, and Double Scorpion Mountain was a rarely visited mountain range in Chaoyun Prefecture.
The area within a hundred li was perpetually shrouded in miasma, and only Cultivators with profound Cultivation would dare to venture in.
Li Feiyu and Han Li naturally didn't care about this mere miasma poison. With Aura protecting their bodies, they directly plunged into the red miasma.