"The Ten Direction Pavilion has put a bounty on that man's head, so he must be quite powerful. Even if he's restricted by the power of realms in the lower realms, he's definitely not someone that two or three Grand Ascension Stage beings can handle," Loose Bone said in a calm manner.
"There's no need to worry about that, Fellow Daoist. According to the information I've gathered, this man has been severely wounded, and his powers have been severely diminished. At most, he's only slightly more powerful than the average Grand Ascension cultivator," Spiritual Master Clarity replied.
"It's still too risky to let a sect from the lower realm deal with an Immortal. Why don't we wait for this person to leave the Spirit Huan World, and let the few of us deal with him ourselves?" The Boneflame Immortal said after a moment of silence.
"I think that this matter should be settled early. If we delay, there will be changes.
For the Ten Directions Tower to offer such a high bounty, it means that this person must have some big secret on him. Even if he doesn't, the bounty is enough for us to fight for it, "Reverend Clarity said slowly, his words filled with endless temptation.
Flame Bone was silent. His eyes flashed as if he was moved by Clarity Enlightened Master's words.
After a while, he slowly opened his mouth and said, "Alright, I'll remember this.
If everything is really as you say, then our two sects will join hands and support this great undertaking.
As for the specifics, we'll discuss it after I return to Blackwater City. "
"Brother Yan is wise," said Reverend Clarity with a smile.
…
Several days later, in a great hall in the depths of the Realm Temple in the Spirit Huan World.
There was nothing in the hall except for a white jade platform in the center of the hall. On top of this platform, there was a teleportation formation that was more than a hundred feet in size. It was buzzing, emitting a dazzling white light.
Daoist He Shan was currently standing in front of the spirit formation, looking at it expressionlessly as if he was waiting for something.
Moments later, the white light radiating from the teleportation formation fluctuated, and rings of runes emerged from within. They danced up and down, releasing dazzling light.
Within the light, two figures, one tall and one short, appeared. After the light faded, their true appearances were revealed.
The shorter one was a bald old man in a black robe. His hands were clasped behind his back and he was slightly hunched. He was not even as tall as the other person's shoulder. His face was as dark as pig iron, and his whole body exuded an indescribable cold aura.
The other person was a middle-aged man who wore a black robe and had a refined appearance. It was Duan Renli.
"Fellow Daoist Tong and Fellow Daoist Duan, our Realm Temple is honored by your presence.
We haven't seen each other for so many years, the two of you are still as graceful as before. Especially Fellow Tong, your cultivation seems to have risen greatly. It's truly a matter worthy of celebration! "Daoist He Shan cupped his hands towards the two of them and said with a smile.
The bald old man was the other Mahayana Stage cultivator in the Tengui School, Tong Renjue. Not only was he the person with the highest cultivation in the Tengui School, he could also be called the number one cultivator in the entire Spirit Huan Domain.
However, this person was eccentric and didn't stay in the sect all year round. No one knew where he usually cultivated in seclusion.
The old man only nodded slightly at Taoist He Shan as a form of greeting.
"Fellow Daoist He Shan, it's been a long time." Duan Renli returned Daoist He Shan's greeting with a faint smile.
"Fellow Daoists, this is not the place to talk, please move to the side hall." Daoist He Shan chuckled and made an inviting gesture before leading the way.
A moment later, the three of them arrived at a side hall and sat down according to the host and guest.
"Fellow Daoist He Shan, where is that Han Li now?" Tong Renjue went straight to the point as soon as he sat down.
His voice was hoarse and piercing like metal pieces rubbing against each other, as if he hadn't spoken to anyone for a long time.
"To tell you the truth, this True Immortal Han is currently in our sect's Condensing Star Stage.
Ever since he entered, he hasn't left a single step. It's already been half a year. "Daoist He Shan said frankly.
"He's a mighty True Immortal. He must have a reason for wanting to borrow the Condensing Star Stage. Does Fellow Daoist He Shan know the details?" Duan Renli's expression changed as he asked cautiously.
"I've thought about this as well. I've watched him from afar several times in the middle of the night and even had a Body Integration cultivator of our sect stand guard by his side day and night in the name of a protector.
Judging from the situation of his cultivation and the astronomical phenomenon he caused, he should be cultivating some kind of special body refinement technique that requires the power of the stars. "Daoist He Shan pondered for a moment before saying so.
"This person's body is already unbelievably powerful, and he can use some kind of strange secret technique to transform into a True Spirit Giant Mountain Ape and an Azure Luan.
Could it be that he's a Profound Immortal who fled to a lower realm? "Duan Renli guessed with a hint of realization.
"Perhaps.
According to the Clarity Patriarch, this person has already lost his immortal body due to his severe injuries. Now that he's in this realm, his strength will be greatly restricted, so he can only be considered a Half Immortal. "Daoist He Shan nodded in a noncommittal manner.
"Even if he's a Half Immortal, he's definitely not an ordinary Grand Ascension Stage cultivator. It's always good to be cautious," Tong Renjue said in a solemn voice.
"Fellow Daoist Tong is right. This matter is very unusual and has great implications. We must come up with a foolproof plan. This is also the reason why I invited the two of you here today." Daoist He Shan nodded with a solemn expression upon hearing this.
"This is Fellow Daoist He Shan's territory after all. I'm sure you've already considered this matter. I'd like to hear your opinion." Tong Renjue looked at Daoist He Shan in a meaningful manner.
"Hehe, you're being too polite, Fellow Daoist Tong.
I do have some humble opinions, but I still need to discuss them with the two of you. "Daoist He Shan chuckled.
… …
Late at night.
Not a sound could be heard in the Realm Temple. All of the pavilions were shrouded in a layer of hazy darkness. Only the peak of Nine Palace Mountain was brightly lit, as if it was daytime.
Six incomparably thick pillars of light hung down from the starry sky. As the white light flashed, it seemed to be gradually fading away, turning into specks of silver light that dissipated.
The entire Star Condensation Platform was filled with smoke-like silver light fragments.
On the ground of the platform, Han Li sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. His entire body was translucent, and there was a shimmering silver light flowing on the surface of his skin. The well-defined muscles all over his body emitted a faint silver metallic luster. Every muscle seemed to have become as tough as fine gold.
On his chest and abdomen, there were six spoon-shaped blue dots of light arranged in a row. They flickered incessantly and were abnormally eye-catching.
Right at this moment, six streaks of black light flew out from the six pillars of light that were about to completely collapse. The streaks of black light then transformed into six palm-sized antiquated black mirrors that flew into his body and disappeared without a trace.
After a long while, Han Li slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath.
With the support of the two strange treasures, the Star Condensation Platform and the Star Moon Treasured Mirror, the sixth level of the Little Big Dipper Star Yuan Art had finally been completed.
"Just one more step."
Han Li muttered to himself. He then stood up and took a step forward.
There was a loud "boom".
The entire Star Condensation Platform shook. His body could not help but stagger. He had actually stomped a hole in the stone platform, and half of his calf was embedded in it.
When Han Li saw this, he did not know whether to laugh or cry. He did not think that after completing the sixth level of the cultivation technique, there would be such an obvious change in his body.
Just now, he had not controlled the strength of his stomp well. It was not intentional, but it already had such astonishing destructive power.
Fortunately, the place he had stomped on had no engravings of a star atlas formation, so it would not affect the use of the Star Condensation Platform. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain.
Thinking of this, he could not help but reach out and touch his nose.
After the several elders around the high platform felt the violent vibration, they were all startled. Then the other three looked at the brown-robed, white-bearded old man.
"It's nothing, don't worry about it."
The white-bearded old man only glanced up slightly, then his lips moved slightly and transmitted his voice to the other three.
Ever since Han Li came here to cultivate, he had almost become accustomed to the behavior of this high-grade strength cultivator, whose strength was comparable to a Mahayana cultivator. What could a cultivator who could remain calm under the shroud of such a vast power of stars not be able to do?
And the order given to him by the Great Elder was to closely monitor this person's movements and try not to contact him as much as possible.
On the Star Condensation Platform, Han Li took a deep breath and flipped his wrist, taking out a grey shield that was two feet in length.
This shield was also a defensive treasure that he had casually put away during the battle at the Tengui School. It seemed to have been obtained from an unlucky Spatial Tempering cultivator. The entire shield was forged from Flowing Light Iron, and there were also some refined crystals mixed in. There were many mysterious runes engraved on the surface of the shield, and there were faint streams of light sliding on the surface of the shield.
He injected a little magic power into the shield, causing the surface of the shield to flash with spiritual light, and after all the reinforcement restrictions were activated, he held the two ends of the shield with both hands and exerted a little force.
With a "pu" sound, the spiritual light on the surface of the shield dimmed, following which a series of clanging sounds rang out. The entire black shield was immediately twisted and deformed, like a clay statue, being crushed into a ball.
Seeing this, Han Li was overjoyed.
According to his estimation, his current strength and physical strength had almost doubled compared to before.
He raised his head to look at the bright stars in the sky, and his mood gradually calmed down. He once again sat on the Big Dipper Star Atlas, closing his eyes and adjusting his breathing.
Approximately two hours later.
Han Li's hands formed a hand seal, and his mouth began to chant the chant for the seventh layer of the Little Big Dipper Origin Art.
The Big Dipper Star in the depths of the sky suddenly brightened, emitting a bluish-silver light that was different from the surrounding stars. Moreover, it violently flickered between bright and dark.
This time, there were a total of seven incomparably thick silver pillars of light that abruptly fell from the sky, bombarding the Star Condensation Platform.
All of the star atlases engraved on the platform simultaneously shined with silver light, illuminating the entire area.
From a distance, the entire platform seemed to have been molded with silver liquid.
Only a loud rumble could be heard.
The entire Nine Palace Mountain suddenly trembled, and a large expanse of silver light swept out. A silver vortex of light that was ten times more powerful than the previous one swept out, madly revolving above the platform.
The layer of protective light that originally enveloped the Star Condensation Platform was drawn into the incomparably violent power of the stars. Immediately, it was torn into pieces, turning into specks of golden light that disappeared without a trace.
The four elders guarding the platform were caught off guard, and were swept by the aftermath of the vortex. Among them, three Void Tempering Stage elders could not help but be sent flying.