Chapter 832: Emerging from Seclusion

"I'm looking for Master Kang in particular, not just any Heavenly Pill Master," Han Li replied.

"Master Kang is not just an exceptional pill refinement master, he also excels in treating all types of conditions related to spiritual damage. However, I can tell you that he won't be able to help you, so pursuing a meeting with him won't get you anywhere, Fellow Daoist Li," Gao Feng said with a smile.

"You know who I am?" Han Li asked as his brows furrowed slightly.

"I can perhaps help you out, so why don't you come with me, and we'll continue this conversation somewhere more private?" Gao Feng invited with an earnest smile.

Han Li's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, but internally, he was feeling very conflicted.

It was clear that Gao Feng had approached him with some type of agenda, and it was also very apparent that he had to have been somehow tied to one of Shi Chuankong's siblings.

However, Weeping Soul's condition was in desperate need of treatment, so after some contemplation, Han Li ultimately decided to go with Gao Feng.

He was confident that none of Shi Chuankong's siblings would dare to do anything out of line in Night Sun City, and even if he had to face a Great Encompassment cultivator, he had decent chances of being able to escape.

With that in mind, Han Li was just about to accept Gao Feng's offer when another voice suddenly rang out nearby.

A beautiful silver-haired woman squeezed her way past Han Li as she exclaimed, "Is that you, Brother Gao? What are you doing here? Did you slay another Primordial Fei Beast somewhere?"

The woman was the same woman that had appeared in the Exotic Wares Shop following Han Li's departure on that day, but as opposed to a suit of armor, she was currently wearing a white dress that gave her a more feminine charm.

Gao Feng clearly wasn't very pleased to see the woman, and his brows furrowed slightly as he said, "I have no time to deal with you right now. Let's go, Fellow Daoist Li."

Han Li's heart stirred ever so slightly upon hearing mention of a Primordial Fei Beast, and he knew that the silver-haired woman was dropping him a subtle hint.

A sense of wariness welled up in his heart, and he cupped his fist in a salute as he declared, "My apologies, but I suddenly recalled that I have some other matters to attend to, so I'll be taking my leave now."

With that, he immediately departed, returning straight to the Naraka Area.

......

That night, Han Li returned to Shi Pokong's manor.

While passing through a garden, he just so happened to run into Shi Pokong, who was sitting in a stone pavilion, drinking by himself while looking up at the moon.

"Long time no see, Fellow Daoist Li. Care to join me for a drink?" Shi Pokong offered with a welcoming smile.

Han Li hesitated momentarily, then made his way into the pavilion and sat down onto a chair.

Shi Pokong had already brought out a second cup, and Han Li smiled as he asked, "What's put you in the mood to be drinking here by yourself, Your Highness?"

Shi Pokong filled Han Li's cup, then replied, "I've been quite busy recently, so I haven't had the chance to visit you, and I apologize for that. I finally have some spare time on my hands, and I heard that you were quite an avid wine enthusiast, so I came here today in the hope that we could share a drink together. However, you weren't here, so I could only drink by myself."

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Your Highness. I'll drink as punishment for my tardiness," Han Li said, then downed his cup of wine in one go.

"You're quite the breath of fresh air, Fellow Daoist Li! No wonder you became such good friends with Chuankong," Shi Pokong chuckled.

"Speaking of Brother Shi, when will he be coming out of seclusion?" Han Li asked.

"Chuankong endured a great deal of hardships during his journey, and he accumulated many internal injuries. However, at the same time, he's also gained a lot of insight into cultivation as a result of those hardships, so I'm sure his breakthrough will elevate him to exceptional heights," Shi Pokong said.

"In that case, let's drink to celebrate his breakthrough in advance," Han Li said as he touched his own cup to Shi Pokong's, then downed his drink once again.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, I feel like I owe you an explanation regarding Fellow Daoist Weeping Soul's treatment. It's not that I'm unwilling to help you, it's just that there are some rather complex circumstances involved, so I need to bide my time. I hope you can understand," Shi Pokong said.

"It's fine. I trust you, Your Highness," Han Li replied with a nod.

Only then did Shi Pokong finish his drink, following which he promptly departed.

Han Li remained seated in the pavilion for some time before also returning to the Long Pavilion Garden.

Upon entering his room, he activated all of the restrictions, then summoned that Primordial Fei Beast eyeball before channeling his Great Five Elemental Illusion Mantra.

Ever since then, he remained in seclusion in Shi Pokong's manor.

......

Ten years flew by in a flash.

On this day, Han Li was cultivating in his room, and there was golden light rippling like water around him.

The ground beneath him was covered in a layer of golden sand, while golden flames were swirling around to his left, and there was a projection of a tree situated to his right. At the same time, there was a golden vial hovering above his head, and a golden wheel slowly revolving behind him.

The entire room was filled with time law power fluctuations, and the light in the room seemed to be warping slightly, with some parts appearing very dim, while other parts were particularly bright.

Right at this moment, all of the phenomena around Han Li suddenly vanished into his body, and the rippling golden light in the room also faded away.

Only then did the light in the room return to normal, and it was already close to dusk, so the light was rather dim.

Han Li opened his eyes as he exhaled and rose to his feet.

After taking a moment to smooth down his robes, he deactivated all of the restrictions in the room before making his way outside.

Waiting for him outside was none other than Shi Chuankong, and he immediately approached Han Li with an elated expression.

"Congratulations on reaching the High Zenith Stage, Fellow Daoist Shi," Han Li said with a smile.

"Thank you, Brother Li. I can see that your cultivation base has advanced quite a bit as well. It's already been close to a month since I came out of seclusion, and I wouldn't have disturbed you if it wasn't for the fact that I have something to speak to you about," Shi Chuankong said with a smile.

"It's fine. I've been in seclusion for quite a while, so it's about time that I came out for some exercise. What did you want to speak to me about?" Han Li asked.

"A few days ago, my brother told me that our father is about to come out of seclusion soon, and that means that there could potentially be a change in the circumstances surrounding Fellow Daoist Weeping Soul's treatment," Shi Chuankong replied.

"Is that right?" Han Li asked.

"My brother and I have already planned to tell Father about your contributions after he comes out of seclusion, and I'll make sure that everyone knows that it was only thanks to your protection that I was able to make it back to Night Sun City with the Virata Lute," Shi Chuankong declared in a confident manner.

"What do you intend to do by showering me with all of the accolades while completely downplaying your contributions? Are you trying to tell your siblings that you're still the same mediocre and unambitious brother that you've always been?" Han Li asked.

"They won't believe me no matter what I say, I'm only doing this to try and request a reward for you from my father," Shi Chuankong explained with a smile.

A look of realization appeared in Han Li's eyes as he asked, "You want your father to order the grand priest to save Weeping Soul?"

"That's right. If Father issues the order, even Zhanfeng won't be able to refuse," Shi Chuankong confirmed with a smile.

"No wonder His Highness told me that he had a plan, this must be the opportunity that he was waiting for," Han Li said as a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Pokong has always been very meticulous and thoughtful in everything that he does, so you can count on him, Brother Li," Shi Chuankong said.

The two of them hadn't met in a very long time, so they had an extensive chat before parting ways.

After returning to his room, Han Li felt himself unable to enter the appropriate headspace to continue cultivating, so he entered the Flower Branch domain to see Weeping Soul again.

Over these past years, he had never stopped searching for a cure for Weeping Soul, but no progress had been made on that front, and if Shi Chuankong had remained in seclusion any longer, he was about to leave on his own.

Now that he had received a promise from Shi Chuankong, he was feeling much more reassured.

......

Close to a year flew by in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Han Li was cultivating in his room when the thunderous strikes of a giant gong suddenly rang out from outside, easily piercing through the restrictions that he had set up in the room.

The sound carried some type of inexplicable power that caused the immortal spiritual power within his body to ripple incessantly, but it wasn't harmful in any way. Instead, it struck him with a sense of comfort.

He got up from his cultivation, then left his room and stepped out into the Long Pavilion Garden.

The sound was coming from the summit of the holy mountain, and rings of silver light were also spreading outward incessantly from the mountain summit.

All of the servants in Shi Pokong's manor were ecstatic to hear this sound, and they immediately stopped what they were doing before sitting down on the spot with their legs crossed.

The gong was struck over and over again, and only after around fifteen minutes did the sound subside, following which all of the servants in the manor opened their eyes with elated expressions.

All of their auras had clearly become slightly elevated, and a hint of surprise flashed through Han Li's eyes upon sensing this.

Right at this moment, a voice rang out from beside him.

"That's the Holy Essence Guarding Gong of our race. It's able to cleanse one's essential energy, but striking it requires an immense amount of energy expenditure, so it'll only be struck on important occasions."

At the same time, specks of silver light appeared out of thin air, then converged toward a single spot to form a semi-transparent Shi Chuankong in the blink of an eye.

"Is this a spatial avatar? Your control over the laws of space has become even more exceptional following your breakthrough, Fellow Daoist Shi," Han Li praised with a smile.

"You're far too kind, Fellow Daoist Li. This is only a mirrored avatar that possesses around 10% to 20% of my power, but it can be projected over long distances and is commonly used for communication purposes," Shi Chuankong explained.

Han Li was rather intrigued to hear this, and he suddenly thought back to the scene that he had witnessed back when he was first transmigrated to the Devil Realm through the Heaven Controlling Vial. Back then, the Devilish Monarch had descended upon the battlefield using an ability similar to a mirrored avatar, but his was clearly far more profound than Shi Chuankong's.