Chapter 1152: Master and Disciple

"Given the predicament that you're already in, you may as well join our True Mantra Sect. You've done quite well in your cultivation of the Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra thus far, but you've also made many mistakes.

“Right now, the five types of time law powers in your body are still relatively weak, so you won't be able to feel anything, but once those time law powers become stronger, problems will gradually begin to arise. When that time comes, you'll be torn apart and killed by the rampant time law powers in your body," Patriarch Miro warned.

A grim look appeared on Han Li's face upon hearing this.

Having just heard Patriarch Miro's lecture, he had gained a much deeper understanding of the Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra, and he could already sense that something wasn't quite right with the time law powers in his body.

He couldn't put his finger on exactly what was amiss, but he could tell with certainty that Patriarch Miro was telling the truth.

After a brief hesitation, Han Li arrived at a decision.

"In that case, I'm willing to join the True Mantra Sect," he said as he prepared to kneel down and kowtow to Patriarch Miro to officially accept him as his master.

Patriarch Miro was ecstatic to hear this, and he immediately raised a hand to release a burst of invisible force, holding up Han Li to prevent him from kneeling down.

"You and I are not even from the same time period, so there's no need for such formalities."

A surprised look appeared on Han Li's face upon seeing this.

"Even though I'm taking you as my disciple, you are already a very formidable cultivator, and I'm sure you'll be able to reach the Great Encompassment Stage soon. Hence, even though we're officially master and disciple, you can regard me as a friend to be treated on equal terms with yourself," Patriarch Miro continued with a smile, and Han Li was even more surprised to hear this.

All of the sects in the True Mantra Sect placed a great deal of importance in hierarchies of seniority, particularly when it came to master and disciple relationships. According to Han Li's knowledge, the True Mantra Sect was an ancient sect that also held these values in very high regard, so it was very surprising to him that Patriarch Miro was completely disregarding all of that.

Having said that, this suited him just fine.

He had become accustomed to fending for himself over the course of his cultivation journey, so the idea of having to kneel and kowtow to someone was a rather awkward and unappealing one.

"That wouldn't be right. I've taken you as my master, so I should observe the formalities of a disciple," Han Li said in a respectful manner.

Patriarch Miro didn't dwell on the subject as he sat down onto the ground while gesturing for Han Li to do the same.

After they had both taken a seat, a solemn look appeared on Patriarch Miro's face as he asked, "Han Li, how is the True Mantra Sect in your time period?"

Han Li hesitated momentarily, then replied, "In my time period, the True Mantra Sect had already been eradicated by the Heavenly Court long ago, and the Time Dao Ancestor of the Heavenly Court personally brought about its fall."

"I see..." Patriarch Miro replied in an unsurprised manner, as if he had already anticipated this.

"Master, I must warn you that Qi Mozi is not to be trusted. He will go on to betray the True Mantra Sect and defect to Heavenly Court, almost single-handedly bringing about the sect's downfall in the process, so make sure to act swiftly against him," Han Li urged.

Patriarch Miro's expression remained unchanged as he replied, "If it is the will of the heavens, then there's no need to try and alter it. Otherwise, no one can tell what could be brought about."

Han Li was just about to say something when Patriarch Miro raised a hand to stop him.

"Who's to say that our True Mantra Sect won't be destroyed just because I stop Qi Mozi's scheme? There's no need for us to discuss this matter any further. You just said that you won't be able to stay here for long, so in the remaining time that we have together, I want you to show me your Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra so I can determine the problems that you're facing."

Han Li obliged to this request, speaking no further on the matter of Qi Mozi as he channeled his Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra.

The Mantra Treasured Axis, the Time Severing Torch, the Clear Time Vial, the Illusory Dawn Hourglass, and the Eastern Vicissitudes Divine Tree appeared around him one after another, then began to revolve around his body.

He wanted to fully display everything to Patriarch Miro, so he was channeling his Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra with all his might, revealing all of the Time Dao Runes and time law threads on the five time-attribute law treasures.

The fifty time law threads that he had expended to come here had all come from the Time Severing Torch, so at the moment, there were only just over a hundred time law threads left on it.

There were around thirty time law threads around the Mantra Treasured Axis, while each of the other three remaining law treasures only had a few law threads around them.

Patriarch Miro first gave a pleased nod upon seeing this, then immediately shook his head in disapproval.

Han Li raised some questions pertaining to his cultivation to Patriarch Miro, then also told him about his failed Great Encompassment Stage breakthrough before cupping his fist in a salute as he implored, "Please enlighten me, Master."

"The laws of time are one of the three paramount laws that transcend above all others, and nothing in this world can escape from its influence. As for the laws of the five elements, they form the foundation of all laws.

“The Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra is a cultivation art that uses the simplest reasoning of the five elements to divulge the secrets of the laws of time," Patriarch Miro said, while Han Li listened intently, latching onto his every word.

"The laws of the five elements are present in all other laws, as is the case with the laws of time. The five elements form an equilibrium in which they give rise to, but also conflict with one another, resulting in an eternal, unbroken cycle.

“That is the essence of the Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra. Regardless of how much time passes, the Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra continues to exist in a self-sustaining cycle, granting it immortality in the all-encompassing river of time," Patriarch Miro continued.

Han Li was struck by a sense of enlightenment upon hearing this, as if a lamp had been ignited in his heart.

He had always wondered why the laws of the five elements featured so prominently in the Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra when it was a time-attribute cultivation art, and this answered that lingering question.

"Hence, the most important thing in cultivating the Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra is balance. The five elements can only coexist in harmony when all is balanced. Otherwise, catastrophic outcomes will arise. Right now, everything in your cultivation is extremely unbalanced.

“Your Time Severing Fire Domain has a huge number of time law threads, far outnumbering those of your Clear Time Vial, Illusory Dawn Sand Domain, and Eastern Vicissitudes Divine Tree. With such a severe imbalance present, how could you possibly have succeeded in your breakthrough to the Great Encompassment Stage?" Patriarch Miro explained.

"I see. The problem is that it's not so easy to increase the number of law threads on my Clear Time Vial, Illusory Dawn Hourglass, and Eastern Vicissitudes Divine Tree. Things that contain time law powers are difficult to find to begin with, and it'll make it even more difficult if I have to find treasures that contain similar time law powers to my Clear Time Vial, Illusory Dawn Hourglass, and Eastern Vicissitudes Divine Tree. Do you know any other way to attain time law threads, Master?" Han Li asked.

"The Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra grants you the extraordinary ability to refine the time law powers in external items into time law threads. In contrast, all other cultivators of the laws of time can only slowly and arduously attain time law threads by deepening their understanding of the laws of time and advancing in their cultivation base.

“You are able to progress countless times faster than them, yet it seems like you're still not satisfied," Patriarch Miro scolded in a stern manner.

"I understand that I'm asking for a lot, but in my time period, the Heavenly Court is constantly hot on my tail, so I can't afford to make slow and steady progress. Given that our True Mantra Sect is so powerful, would it be possible for me to have a few materials that contain time law powers that I can refine into law threads?" Han Li asked with a smile.

"So that's what you had in mind!" Patriarch Miro chuckled. "Of course I have the materials that you seek, but I'm assuming there are many restrictions to this type of space-time transmigration, so you may not be able to take them back with you."

Han Li faltered slightly upon hearing, clearly having failed to consider this problem.

"In any case, it can't hurt to try," Patriarch Miro said as he swept a sleeve through the air to summon three items, namely a length of green wood, a broken, blue halberd, and an earthy, yellow stone.

All three items were giving off formidable time law power fluctuations that weren't inferior in the slightest compared with the Fire Age Fireflies nests.

"Thank you, Master!"

Even though there was a chance that these items wouldn't be able to make it back to his time period with him, Han Li was still very happy to have had them bestowed upon him.

"The path of cultivation must be one that's walked one step at a time. At the moment, the time law powers in your body are very unsettled, and that's an indication that you've been progressing too quickly, so you must take the time to remedy this problem," Patriarch Miro cautioned.

"Yes, Master," Han Li replied with a serious nod. "Also, I have another question pertaining to spirit domains. It's already been many years since I first attained my spirit domain, but up to this point, it's still in its most elementary form, and I haven't been able to reach the Creation Tier or the Spiritform Tier. Why is this?"

"As one of the three paramount laws, the laws of time are extremely powerful, but the Heavenly Dao is balanced in that it's far more difficult to progress in one's mastery of the laws of time than it is for other laws, and the same applies to the cultivation of your spirit domain. I'm afraid this is not something that I can help you with. The only way to advance your spirit domain is to deepen your understanding of the laws of time," Patriarch Miro replied.

Han Li nodded in response, then raised some other questions, some pertaining to the Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra, some to immortal treasures, and some about other facets of cultivation.

Not only did Patriarch Miro possess an unfathomable cultivation base, he also seemed to possess a boundless understanding of laws, immortal treasures, and all other aspects of cultivation, allowing him to answer all of Han Li's questions and provide him with frequent bouts of enlightenment.

Before long, almost all of the Time Dao Runes on the golden wheel had faded away.

Even though Han Li had only spent a short time with Patriarch Miro, his understanding of the Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra, the laws of time, and the overall concept of cultivation had improved by leaps and bounds.

The two of them remained seated across each other in the hall, and Han Li didn't raise any further questions.

Patriarch Miro seemed to be able to sense that Han Li was about to leave, and he didn't say anything, either.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. I have benefited immensely from our time together," Han Li said as he extended a respectful bow.

"As your master, it's only right that I instruct you in your cultivation. If anything, I feel quite inadequate in only being able to provide you with such limited guidance. Having said that, seeing as you possess the ability to transmigrate through space and time, you should be able to return here in the future. There are still many things that I have yet to teach you about the cultivation of the Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra," Patriarch Miro sighed.