Lu Qingmo instructed Han to enter the loft and help himself to some tea while she stayed outside. Han followed her request.

  When the master himself didn’t even ask for a cup of tea and stood outside to discuss matters, it clearly showed the nature of their relationship. It wasn't exactly warm.

  Han could vaguely hear their conversation, and it seemed to be entirely about Black Mountain with no small talk, only business. The soundproofing in the loft wasn’t great, which made him wonder if there was some kind of sealing technique in place—after all, last time in the secret chamber...

  After a while, Lu Qingmo entered, her expression serious. Bai Tian was nowhere to be seen, so it seemed he'd left already.

  “Aunt Mo, have you heard about the Mountain God?” Han asked.

  Lu Qingmo nodded, her face grave. "I didn’t expect the situation to be this bad."

  "If the Mountain God is really dying, then it’s going to be a problem."

  Lu Qingmo paused for a moment, thinking, before shaking her head. “Let’s see how they handle it."

  “Aunt Mo, how did you break the restriction on the soul?” Han asked curiously.

  "I’m not very good at dealing with soul restrictions," Lu Qingmo admitted. "But one of my juniors specializes in this. I contacted him for guidance and broke the restriction with his help."

  At first, she had said it was impossible, but then it seemed she had no choice but to reach out to her junior...

  Han’s mind stirred. “Aunt Mo, have you been staying in Black Cloud Town since you left the Xuandu Sect?”

  Lu Qingmo nodded. “It’s been fifteen years, I’ve been here ever since."

  Han was silent. Fifteen years without returning to Xuandu Sect? That didn’t seem right. She was stationed here, not exiled.

  The fact that she hadn’t gone back only meant one thing—Lu Qingmo didn’t want to.

  If she had been expelled or punished, how could she have allowed Han to become a roaming spirit messenger?

  Thinking about Lu Qingmo’s somewhat pale face earlier, Han couldn’t help but sigh.

  Aunt Mo, you've been so kind to me, how can I ever repay you?

  Such a great favor—being a servant in the next life may not be enough to repay it. Perhaps I can do so in this life...

  "Aunt Mo, I really appreciate it."

  "You, always overthinking." Lu Qingmo smiled. "Don’t worry about Black Mountain."

  She paused, her tone shifting. "I could feel something strange in Bai Tian’s breath today. He’s probably made a significant gain in Black Mountain. After all, he went in with the Meng family, so he wouldn’t return empty-handed."

  "His strength is far beyond those Bone Refining masters. Protecting the Taibai Martial Arts Hall will be no problem."

  "Also, when you leave Black Cloud Town in the future, be cautious of the Gao family. Don’t let them trap you."

  Lu Qingmo warned him, "At least one of them is a Sun Wanderer. And they’re likely in cahoots with outside forces."

  Lu Qingmo had mentioned this when Han went to the county city last time—someone in Black Cloud Town was plotting something.

  The Gao family? Interesting. Looks like they’re courting death.

  “I understand.”

  Han took out the red-black bead he had found in the shark’s stomach in the river and explained what had happened.

  “This is a Blood Curse Bead. If consumed, it sends murderous energy into the brain, causing a violent, irrational state.”

  “This bead couldn’t have originated from the Yunjiang River—it must have come from somewhere else."

  "Could someone have fed it to that water beast on purpose?"

  "It could have been intentional, or it could have swallowed it by accident. It's hard to say," Lu Qingmo mused. "If you encounter anything unusual in Yunjiang again, just notify the Shrimp Soldiers."

  “I was planning to do that.”

  Lu Qingmo then handed Han the "cooling-off" package she had been holding.

  "Young Master, I heard you were attacked? We were worried about you," said An Lang, visibly concerned.

  Han’s eyelid twitched. If only you’d gotten rid of the lingering incense smoke on you while saying that, it’d be more convincing.

  So, you’re worried about me because you’ve inhaled more incense, right?

  After returning to the martial arts hall with An Lang, Bai Tian called Han over.

  “Let me see how you’re progressing with your martial arts.”

  Though this disciple had shown great promise, it seemed Bai Tian was unsure if he could fully guide him. Nevertheless, he would still fulfill his role as a master and teach him whatever he could to lay a solid foundation.

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  "Senior Sister already taught me the Sea-覆海蛟魔 True Strength," Han said, demonstrating.

  Bai Tian nodded slightly. "Your method is fine, but when you practiced this secret martial art..."

  "It seems a little special. You seem to possess... an essence?"

  "One night, I had an epiphany, and after that, my training in this secret art changed," Han explained.

  "Impressive. You truly are a genius, having an epiphany like that."

  Bai Tian checked Han’s physique and exclaimed in surprise.

  "Perfect! Your flesh has been tempered to a level I’ve never heard of before. This must be due to your naturally strong body and exceptional origins."

  "You’ve reached an extreme in this aspect, no one is better."

  Han then demonstrated the Taibai ultimate techniques. Bai Tian had more authority here and could point out Han’s shortcomings with accuracy.

  The swordplay, fist techniques, and footwork—Bai Tian gave Han detailed advice, and Han learned a lot.

  He wasn't born knowing everything, after all.

  Seeing how quickly Han learned, Bai Tian smiled with satisfaction but also sighed.

  "Unfortunately, these three techniques are just at the marrow-cleansing level. With your talent, if you entered a major martial school, not only could you learn unparalleled divine arts, but you could also master all martial arts under heaven."

  "Marrow cleansing? Is that a realm after Bone Refining?"

  "Yes. Bone Refining, Marrow Cleansing, transcendence, and reaching the peak. It's a pity," Bai Tian sighed.

  "I don’t have a corresponding fighting style for secret martial arts. I can only teach you the Taibai ultimate techniques."

  Han smiled. "I’m still at the Meridian Realm. The Taibai ultimate techniques are more than enough for me."

  "Divine arts of heaven and earth, unparalleled skills... I’m confident that my sword won’t fall short of them."

  As long as Bai Tian helped Han build a perfect foundation, he was content. As for protective martial arts, Han wasn’t too concerned.

  The Taibai Sword Technique may not be the pinnacle of martial arts in the world, but for Bai Tian, it is the best martial art he knows.

  After a moment's hesitation, Bai Tian spoke: "In the Taibai Sword Technique, there’s a final move. I had planned to wait until you reached the internal organ realm before teaching it to you."

  "However, your strength is already considerable, and your comprehension is excellent, so I’ll teach it to you now."

  "But remember, you must never use this move unless it's your last resort."

  Han, who had already overcome two opponents in the internal organ realm, had shocked Bai Tian.

  "What is this move?" Han asked, intrigued.

  "The sword strikes without me," Bai Tian replied cryptically.

  Han instantly understood the nature of this move.

  Should he learn it?

  Of course, he would!

  As Han trained with Bai Tian on the new sword technique, news about Han and the events involving the Gao family spread rapidly throughout Heiyun Town, leaving many people astounded.

  In just over twenty days, Han reached the Meridian Realm?

  He withstood an attack from two internal organ realm experts?

  Witnesses reported seeing Han surrounded by enemies, but no one saw him kill them, so most believed he survived only until Bai Ruoyue arrived.

  Otherwise, it would have been too fantastical to believe...

  Even so, when the news first spread, no one believed it. But as more details came to light, silence enveloped everyone.

  "It’s like a fantasy novel!"

  The entire Heiyun Town had been rocked by the news, and Han, already famous, became even more renowned.

  Gradually, the title of "Heiyun Town’s Greatest Talent" shifted to Han, earning widespread recognition.

  Though Han had only recently started on his martial path, unlike other Taibai disciples who had years of practice and reputation, very few people had actually seen Han in action. This made him appear even more mysterious.

  That evening, as Han left the martial arts hall, he noticed a small crowd gathered at the entrance. When they saw him, they began pointing and whispering.

  "Is that Han?"

  "It must be, he looks a lot like the picture."

  "He doesn’t seem that impressive, though. Just looks handsome."

  "Well, he is quite handsome..."

  At first, Han was puzzled—what was going on?

  Then, it hit him—he was famous now.

  Realizing this, Han straightened up, waved at the crowd, and walked away with his head held high.

  Some people called out, wanting to challenge him, but Han ignored them.

  "If you want to fight me, you better first check the price," he thought.

  When Han returned home, he began focusing on training his soul and sensing his surroundings.

  No one had come to block his way.

  Martial artists, when enraged, are truly capable of spilling blood.

  Han released An Lang and, with a stern face, asked, "Did you work hard today?"

  "I worked really hard!" An Lang responded, flying around in the sky. Since becoming a ghost, she hadn’t touched the ground.

  She could walk, but why bother?

  "I've been learning to make Moonlight Incense, the kind used by Night Roamers," she continued.

  "Senior Lu also teaches me Daoist arts when she’s free."

  At these words, Han’s face darkened.

  "I call her Mo Yi, and you call her 'Sister'? Does that make me younger than you?" he muttered under his breath.

  "Let’s start training. Don’t slack off."

  Han moved closer to An Lang but not too close, as her consumption of Moonlight Essence could affect his soul.

  Yet An Lang floated around his soul, sniffing the air.

  "Are you a dog?"

  "Young master, I’ve been meaning to ask—why does your soul smell so nice?" An Lang asked with envy.

  "What did you use?"

  "Can you make me smell like that too? The more the better."

  Han shook his head. "It’s just something natural in me. I can't spray it on you."

  Ignoring her, Han began his meditation, focusing on visualization.

  An Lang, noticing his focus, began to practice her own cultivation without any hesitation.

  By midnight, Han entered the secret realm. "Brother Tree, I’m here!" he called out, eagerly making his way to the Great Celestial Tree.

  To express his longing for the Tree Brother, Han offered up a few spiritual plants.

  Four low-grade spirit plants, one low-grade soul plant.

  Together with what Bai Tian had brought back from Black Mountain, Han’s spirit plant stock was growing steadily.

  Bai Tian had brought back higher-grade plants as well, which would be shared with Bai Ruoyue and Shen Long due to their higher cultivation levels, a decision everyone supported.

  One of the items Han found in the secret realm was the "Dao Seed: Qi Perception Technique."

  This solidified Han’s innate talent for Qi perception. Even if the Qi Perception Talisman disappeared, his ability remained unchanged.

  Next was the "Martial Seed: Thirty-Six Hammer Strike."

  Nice, the Great Celestial Tree had not disappointed him.

  When Han saw the Martial Seed, he remained calm, numb to the excitement that usually followed such discoveries.

  As a swordsman, more weapons wouldn’t hurt, right?

  There was also a "Moral Pill: Qi Dissolution Pill" and a "Military Ration Pill"—two intriguing pills with specific effects, one that dissolves an opponent's Qi and one that allows a person to go without food for a month.

  Then came the more regular martial cultivation pills.

  The most fascinating of the items was a "Soul-Warding Trumpet Flower."

  A celestial item that emitted a sound capable of shaking souls, purifying those with weak souls but possibly destroying those with fragile foundations.

  Following that was the "Chicken Nest," an item brimming with abundant Qi and vitality.

  Han never expected such a thing to be hidden within the strange "Chicken Blood Stone" items he’d previously encountered.

  Finally, the most precious item: the "Golden Thread Robe."

  A soul-protecting artifact, capable of defending against Daoist attacks and safeguarding the soul.

  This, aside from the fragmentary artifacts he’d collected, marked Han’s second complete magical item.

  Seeing the luxurious Golden Thread Robe, Han finally realized.

  No wonder when his soul left his body, he always felt a chill—it was because he’d been wandering around without proper attire.