Published: August 27, 2025
Chapter 373: External Manifestation
The only small town on the island was located at its eastern end, close to the harbor. To the west of the island, there was a small mountain range more than twenty li long, with two relatively modest peaks—one about two or three hundred zhang high, and the other just over a hundred zhang.
Han Li caught sight of the peaks from the air but restrained the flicker of excitement in his heart, choosing to first land in the middle of the town.
The arrival of Han Li and Quhun stirred quite a commotion. Soon, an elderly man who claimed to be the town mayor hurried over to meet Han Li.
After Han Li handed over the jade slip engraved with golden symbols for the elder to inspect, the mayor immediately expressed that everyone in the town was willing to obey all orders given by the Immortal Master.
Of course, Han Li had no intention of asking a bunch of mortals for help. Instead, he casually inquired about the island’s situation and, more importantly, how many shares of spirit stones the townsfolk could contribute to maintain the protective formation. That was the issue he cared about most.
Upon hearing a number so small it was almost negligible, Han Li felt a bit frustrated.
Did this mean he had to bear the entire spirit stone consumption himself?
The middle-aged cultivator had said they would collect some spirit stones from the residents to offset some losses, but it seemed that was just empty talk—no difference whether they had it or not.
Han Li silently criticized the middle-aged cultivator, then reassured the elderly mayor with a few kind words.
After that, he went to take a look at the core of the formation in the center of the town.
Han Li roughly estimated the amount of spirit stones consumed by the formation and compared it with what the mayor had told him. Without hesitation, he handed over a year’s worth of formation spirit stones to the mayor.
He told the elder that from now on, he could come to the secluded mansion he had built to collect the spirit stones needed for the following year.
Without paying attention to the mayor’s repeated thanks, Han Li flew westward across the island with Quhun.
As soon as they entered the mountain range known by the island residents as “Xiaohuan Mountain,” Han Li felt a faint surge of spiritual energy, which pleased him a little.
After a moment, Han Li stood on the Divine Wind Boat and circled around the two peaks — one tall and one short — several times.
It was clear that in terms of spiritual energy density, the taller peak was richer. However, the shorter peak was sturdier and seemed more suitable as a secluded mansion. Moreover, it already had the remains of a former cultivator’s dwelling—intact and ready to be used almost immediately.
Han Li pondered on the Divine Wind Boat for a while. A gleam of determination flashed in his eyes as he made up his mind.
First, he flew into the old mansion in the sturdy, short peak and found a very hidden spot deep inside the cave. Then, he used a magical artifact to start tunneling downward.
Half a day later, an underground passage had taken shape. This tunnel, two or three zhang in diameter, led straight down to the base of the mountain peak.
But when the tunnel was still about ten zhang below the mountain’s base, it suddenly changed direction and extended toward the other peak just two or three li away.
Though Han Li’s magical artifact was incredibly sharp and with Quhun’s help, this massive project still took two full days to complete before the two mountain peaks were fully connected underground.
Next, Han Li modeled the interior of the taller peak’s new mansion after the old secluded mansion on Tian Nan Mountain.
Everything in this mansion was exactly the same as the one on Taiyue Mountain.
However, this time he didn’t carve out an exit—aside from the tunnel, it was completely semi-sealed.
This would be Han Li’s true place for cultivation and nurturing spiritual herbs.
Having two mansions, one genuine and one fake, ensured much greater security.