Chapter 376: Reincarnation Disciple
After reading through the first few lines in the jade slip several times, Han Li carefully swept his spiritual sense briefly over the concealment restriction that obscured the rest of the cultivation art, then promptly withdrew his spiritual sense from the jade slip.
He didn't know exactly what this restriction was, but given his extensive experience and master in this field, he could tell that this was definitely no ordinary restriction. If he were to try and break through it by force, the jade slip would most likely be instantly destroyed, and his spiritual sense would be severely harmed in the process as well.
Han Li swept a sleeve through the air to send the gray jade slip drifting back to Wyrm 3's side, then said, "Let's not waste any time here, Fellow Daoist Wyrm 3. What do you need me to do in exchange for the full cultivation art?"
A smile appeared on Wyrm 3's face as he set the jade slip down onto the stone table beside him, following which he replied, "Before we discuss that, I have something to ask you, Fellow Daoist Raccoon 11."
"Go ahead," Han Li prompted.
"How much do you know about this Spirit Refinement Technique?" Wyrm 3 asked in a calm manner.
This was a completely unexpected question to Han Li, and he contemplated the question momentarily before replying, "According to my knowledge, this is a forbidden art of the Immortal Realm, and it can enhance one's spiritual sense, but most of the people who cultivate it end up becoming deranged monsters who wreak havoc across the Immortal Realm. Hence, it's banned in all immortal regions, thereby making it a forbidden art."
"Is that all you know about it?" Wyrm 3 asked.
"That's all. Is there something wrong with what I've said?" Han Li asked.
"That's only the basic information that everyone knows about the Spirit Refinement Technique. If I'm not mistaken, you've already mastered the third level of the Spirit Refinement Technique, right? May I ask who it was that taught you the technique, and did they not go into further details about it back then?" Wyrm 3 asked.
The image of the immortal by the name of He Kang surfaced in Han Li's mind, but he naturally wasn't going to reveal that information, and he replied, "I obtained the first half of the Spirit Refinement Technique by chance, and at the time, I wasn't aware that it was a forbidden technique, so I cultivated it on my own."
This wasn't exactly a lie. All He Kang had done was bestow upon him the first three levels of the Spirit Refinement Technique, and he hadn't gone into any further detail beyond that.
Wyrm 3 seemed to have been astonished to hear this. "You're saying that you managed to master the first three levels of the Spirit Refinement Technique on your own without any guidance?"
"Is there a problem?" Han Li asked as his brows furrowed slightly.
Wyrm 3 was silent for a moment, then replied, "Not at all, I'm simply stunned by your exceptional cultivation aptitude."
"You're far too kind, Fellow Daoist. I was merely very fortunate to have made this much progress in the Spirit Refinement Technique," Han Li replied in an indifferent voice.
"Seeing as you don't know much about the Spirit Refinement Technique, I'll start from the beginning. Otherwise, it'll be difficult to proceed with the rest of our discussion," Wyrm 3 said.
"Please enlighten me," Han Li prompted as a hint of intrigue appeared in his eyes.
"What you just said is all true. The Spirit Refinement Technique has a very severe drawback, but it's also an extremely formidable secret technique that was once vastly renowned in the Immortal Realm.
“However, the Spirit Refinement Technique isn't a forbidden art just because most of those who cultivate it end up becoming insane. Additionally, the other main contributing reason to its forbidden status is the fact that it came from the Reincarnation Palace," Wyrm 3 revealed.
"The Reincarnation Palace?" Han Li was quite taken aback to hear this.
Wyrm 3 was rather surprised by Han Li's reaction, but he then smiled as he remarked, "It seems like you're already aware of the Reincarnation Palace, Fellow Daoist Raccoon 11."
"I have heard some things about the Reincarnation Palace, but not much. Please continue, Fellow Daoist Wyrm 3," Han Li replied.
"Seeing as you've heard of the Reincarnation Palace, I'm sure you're also aware that the Reincarnation Palace is an enemy of all of the Immortal Palaces. At this point, all those who have cultivated the Spirit Refinement Technique have some ties to the Reincarnation Palace, and that's why they're being hunted so vehemently," Wyrm 3 said.
"I have heard about that," Han Li confirmed with a nod as thoughts of Baili Yan and Daoist Hu Yan sprang into his mind.
"It's said that the Spirit Refinement Technique was created by the founder of the Reincarnation Palace, and it's always been a symbol of one's affiliation with the Reincarnation Palace. However, countless years ago, the first half of the cultivation art was somehow leaked, but only the Reincarnation Palace has the second half.
“Furthermore, due to the fact that the first half was leaked, extra precautions have been taken to ensure that the second half isn't also leaked, and it's forbidden to bestow the second half of the cultivation art upon anyone outside of the Reincarnation Palace," Wyrm 3 continued.
"Does that mean you're a member of the Reincarnation Palace, Fellow Daoist Wyrm 3?" Han Li asked.
"That's right," Wyrm 3 replied with a nod.
Han Li was rather taken aback to hear this.
Wyrm 3 was a very important figure in the Transient Guild, and Han Li certainly wasn't expecting him to be a member of the Reincarnation Palace as well.
It wasn't exactly an uncommon occurrence for people from different sects and powers to join the Transient Guild, but the majority of the guild's members were ordinary members like Han Li.
The fact that Wyrm 3 held such a lofty status in the Transient Guild yet was also a member of the Reincarnation Palace was a rather intriguing revelation.
"If you want to obtain the second half of the Spirit Refinement Technique, then all you have to do is actually something very simple," Wyrm 3 continued.
"Are you saying..."
"That's right. As long as you're willing to join our Reincarnation Palace, I'll hand over this jade slip right away," Wyrm 3 declared in a direct and straightforward fashion.
Han Li gently drummed his fingertips against the surface of the stone table as he fell silent.
Meanwhile, Wyrm 3 also remained silent as he waited patiently.
Right at this moment, the sound of footsteps rang out, and a servant entered the room, carrying a platter that held two cups of spirit tea.
The teacups were translucent, and it was unclear what type of material they had been crafted from. The spirit tea that they were holding was also quite remarkable, and even though it wasn't giving off much of an aroma, the white vapor that drifted up from the tea would occasionally take on the form of cranes that flew around the teacup briefly before slowly dissipating.
"How rude of me to not have offered you any tea, even though you've already been here for so long. This White Mist Spirit Tea is unique to our Reincarnation, and it's quite exquisite. Have a taste, Fellow Daoist Raccoon 11," Wyrm 3 said with a smile.
The servant set the two cups of tea down onto the stone table before quickly departing.
Han Li was still engrossed in his own thoughts, and only after hearing what Wyrm 3 had to say did he turn his attention to the tea on the table, upon which a hint of surprise appeared on his face.
The white mist wasn't just normal water vapor. Instead, it was extremely rich immortal spiritual qi, and the fact that it could manifest certain forms on its own indicated that it was an exceptional spirit tea.
The immortal spiritual qi that was contained in this single cup of tea was enough to make up for a month of cultivation for him, and this was by far the most exceptional spirit tea that Han Li had ever come across.
However, he didn't have a habit of drinking tea in unfamiliar places, so even though he was rather tempted, he decided not to touch the tea in the cup.
Wyrm 3 was rather amused by Han Li's cautious approach, and he picked up his own teacup before taking a sip.
Meanwhile, Han Li remained seated in silence, and he appeared quite calm on the outside, but internally, he was feeling quite conflicted.
The crisis that had taken place in the Blaze Dragon Dao had left a very deep impression on him. Baili Yan had already been on the cusp of reaching the High Zenith Stage, yet just because he was a member of the Reincarnation Palace, most of the Golden Immortal Stage dao lords had turned on him and plotted his downfall in collaboration with the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace.
Daoist Hu Yan clearly had close ties with the Reincarnation Palace as well, and it was unclear whether he was dead or alive.
Han Li didn't know much about the Reincarnation Palace, but he knew that it was a sworn enemy of the Northern Glacial Immortal Region and even the Heavenly Court.
Even though he was currently being hunted by the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace over his killing of Tao Yu, he still didn't want to join the Reincarnation Palace and place himself in direct opposition against the Immortal Palaces.
He was still only a late-True Immortal cultivator at the moment, and he wanted to avoid trouble at all costs.
However, if he didn't join the Reincarnation Palace, then he wouldn't be able to obtain the second half of the Spirit Refinement Technique, and that would be no different from an extended death sentence.
Neither of these options were particularly appealing to Han Li, and he remained silent for a long while.
Finally, Wyrm 3 set down his teacup as he broke the silence. "Are you worried that joining our Reincarnation Palace will pit you against the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace?"
"That's right," Han Li replied in a candid fashion.
"I'm assuming you must've been residing in the Black Wind Sea for a long time, so you don't know much about the world outside. The Northern Glacial Immortal Palace is quite a formidable power, but our Reincarnation Palace isn't the only force that can stand against it. It's just that none of those forces are willing to step forward for no good reason.
“On top of that, our Reincarnation Palace has always resided in the shadows, so it won't be easy for the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace to find us," Wyrm 3 said with a smile.
"Is there any proof to support your claims? Surely you can't expect me to just take your word for it," Han Li said in a solemn voice.
"Eventually, you'll come to find out whether I'm telling the truth or not. The fact of the matter right now is that you've mastered the first three levels of the Spirit Refinement Technique, so if you're caught by the Immortal Palace, you'll be dealt with as a member of our Reincarnation Palace anyway.
“On top of that, I can tell that you've recently suffered a bout of backlash from the Spirit Refinement Technique, so if you can't secure the second half of the cultivation art in a timely fashion..."
Wyrm 3's voice trailed off here, but it wasn't difficult to tell what he was implying.
Han Li's heart sank slightly upon hearing this.
He had already done everything in his power to restrain his spiritual sense, but Wyrm 3 had still managed to detect the spiritual sense crisis that had recently befallen him.
Han Li fell silent once again as he continued to tap the stone table in an absentminded manner, but at this point, the choice was becoming rather clear to him.
Wyrm 3 could tell that Han Li needed one final push, so he continued, "I don't mean to brag, Fellow Daoist Raccoon 11, but our Reincarnation Palace is no less formidable than the Northern Glacial Immortal Region.
“We have all types of pills, materials, secret techniques, and cultivation arts, and we're not inviting you to join our Reincarnation Palace as just an ordinary member. Instead, this is an invitation for you to become a Reincarnation Disciple."
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