"Looking at your ident—"
Han snapped out of it.
I was checking your profile information, but can I actually tell you that?
"Nothing much. Just… surprised by the Dragon Sovereign’s power."
He quickly recounted what had happened at the banquet.
Lu Qingmo raised an eyebrow.
You really can’t say a single honest sentence, can you?
"It seems the Dragon Sovereign is indeed unscathed," she nodded.
"His display wasn’t just about gathering lunar essence—it was also a message for those watching in the shadows."
"There were people spying?"
"Of course. Word of the banquet had long since spread. Anyone with a vested interest would be observing, trying to gauge the Dragon Sovereign’s condition," Lu Qingmo explained.
"Ten years ago, he did not personally take action during the banquet. But this time, he did. Those who matter will understand exactly what that means—he wouldn’t have done so if he were unsure of his own strength."
She then pointed to the Dragon Spirit Nectar Han had received.
"This will significantly aid your martial cultivation."
"As for the Dragon Princess’s invitation… that’s up to you."
Han nodded, clear-headed about his own choices.
Lu Qingmo continued, "I’ve received word that Jade Capital is aware of what’s happening in Black Mountain. The imperial court is currently discussing the matter, and a decision will be made soon."
"My guess? They’ll send someone to take full control over Black Cloud Town and its affairs."
Han’s eyes narrowed. "Will they send someone from Xuandu Sect?"
"Not necessarily," Lu Qingmo shook her head.
"It could be someone from Xuandu Sect, someone from the imperial court, or both."
"Xuandu Sect may be the state religion of Great Qi, but…"
She didn’t finish the sentence, but Han understood.
Xuandu Sect might enjoy immense prestige, but it was still just a sect—distinct from the imperial government.
If representatives from Jade Capital were coming…
That meant someone from one of the most powerful places in the world.
"You should cultivate. Even with your foundation, the wine from the banquet should still benefit you," Lu Qingmo advised.
Han nodded and left his body, drawing in lunar energy to refine his soul.
By the time he was finished, the night was nearly over.
When Han arrived at the martial hall, he found his senior brothers and sisters in high spirits.
"What’s with all the excitement?" Han asked.
"Junior Brother, there you are!" Zhang Yuantao laughed.
"No wonder so many people flock to the Dragon Sovereign’s Banquet—the benefits are incredible!"
Han chuckled. "Congratulations, Third Senior Brother, you're one step closer to the Viscera Refinement Stage."
The banquet’s wine was indeed more effective than regular spiritual herbs and far easier to absorb.
Cloud River Dragon Palace had centuries of accumulation—they might not possess legendary divine artifacts, but when it came to high-quality treasures, they had an endless supply.
At midday, Han returned home and summoned An Lang in a shaded corner.
"Step into the sunlight. Start absorbing it."
"Huh?" An Lang blinked in confusion.
"Young Master, I haven't reached that level of cultivation yet…"
Are you trying to get rid of me?
"I have a method. You won’t be harmed."
Han pulled out a protective talisman and examined it carefully before slapping it onto An Lang’s forehead.
Now it felt right.
"You’re enhanced. Go!"
An Lang hesitantly touched her forehead, then glanced at the sunlight.
The fear she had instinctively felt… disappeared.
This talisman actually works?
She cautiously extended a single finger into the sunlight.
The solar energy instantly surged into her body. Startled, she pulled her hand back.
But then, she realized…
She wasn’t burning.
The energy, which should have been searing and deadly, felt instead… gentle.
"Young Master… it doesn’t hurt?"
Han gave her a look of pure disbelief.
"Did you seriously think I was lying to you?"
An Lang lit up with joy and jumped straight into the sunlight, basking in it.
After five years of being a ghost, she was finally feeling warmth again.
At the same time, her ghostly body instinctively absorbed the harmless solar energy, strengthening itself.
If only cultivators' souls worked the same way… Han mused.
If they did, this talisman would be priceless.
An hour later, Han noticed the talisman flickering, so he called An Lang back.
She looked different—her ghostly form was more solid, more lifelike.
"Young Master! Am I as strong as a Daywalking Ghost now?" An Lang asked excitedly.
Han rolled his eyes.
"In your dreams."
"Even after absorbing sunlight, do you really think you could beat me?"
An Lang immediately shook her head in defeat.
"This talisman has three uses. Each session lasts one hour," Han explained.
"Use the next three days to gradually adapt. Eventually, you’ll need to stand in the sun without the talisman."
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Talisman stocks were limited, but An Lang was not.
As long as she underwent enough exposure and refinement, she would naturally gain the ability to withstand the sun.
Ghosts and humans walk different cultivation paths—at least in the early stages.
A ghost that absorbed only lunar energy for a thousand years could become a peerless Ghost King, nearly unstoppable.
But a cultivator who only absorbed moonlight would never progress past the Night Roaming Stage.
Some ghosts even thrived in daylight—Sunlit Ghosts, for whom moonlight was deadly poison.
Unlike humans, ghosts didn’t need to balance energies.
A ghost that could absorb both sun and moon energy would far surpass those that only absorbed one.
Han wanted An Lang to be a ghost of both worlds.
If she couldn’t appear in daylight, her usefulness would be far too limited.
"Don’t worry, Young Master!" An Lang pounded her chest.
"I can feel that absorbing sunlight has changed me. I’ll master this soon!"
"Good."
Han nodded, wondering if An Lang had unlocked a new ability.
He checked her profile using God’s Perspective.
【An Lang】
- Heavenly Yang Prefecture
- Han’s Bound Ghost—Loyalty Absolute
- Innate Spirit Ghost
- Yin-Yang Soul Reversal
- Her seemingly fragile ghostly form contains immense potential. However, her Yin-Yang Soul Reversal will shape a future of both great power and great hardship.
Her profile was the most detailed Han had seen so far—likely because she belonged to him completely.
Even God’s Perspective acknowledged her limitless potential.
And God wouldn’t lie… right?
But the "future hardship" warning?
Han made a mental note of it.
Three days later.
The protective talisman burned to ashes, its purpose fulfilled.
An Lang cautiously extended her hand into the sunlight.
She winced at first—but then slowly stepped in completely, her expression shifting to relief.
"Young Master! I did it!"
Han nodded in satisfaction.
After three days of exposure, her body had adapted.
Many things in life followed this principle—zero times or infinite times.
Once you crossed a certain threshold, the rest became easy.
An Lang, now absorbing both lunar and solar energy, seemed to radiate harmony.
Suddenly, she closed her eyes—then opened them again.
"Young Master, I think I’ve awakened a new ability."
"What kind?"
"I can make the sunlight feel cold and the moonlight feel hot. But their nature stays the same."
Han’s eyes narrowed.
Yin Sun? Yang Moon?
This was likely a manifestation of her Yin-Yang Soul Reversal.
An interesting ability.
Perhaps… it could help cultivators break through to the Daywalking Stage?
"Train hard—both in lunar and solar refinement," Han instructed.
"Yes, Young Master! I’ll become a Ghost King and make the world bow before you!"
"…You don’t have to aim that high."
Also…
Who taught you to laugh like that?!
Bai Tian frowned. “Shen Yu and the others aren’t strong enough. If they enter with you, it could be dangerous.”
“Master, trust me,” Han assured him confidently.
“I’m certain I can bring everyone back safely.”
Bai Tian fell silent. Your confidence is great and all, but you’re only at the Minor Meridian Stage…
“Master, really,” Han said seriously.
“I would never deceive you or put anyone in harm’s way.”
“This is a rare opportunity to hone our martial skills. It would be a shame if Fourth Senior Brother and the others missed it.”
“I stake my talent on this.”
I stake my cheat on this.
Bai Tian’s eyes flickered. This kid… is he hinting at something?
“I’ll think about it,” Bai Tian finally said.
He knew his disciple was exceptional, and he wanted to trust Han—but this was still a risky endeavor.
Han left the martial hall and went straight to Lu Qingmo in the peach grove to discuss his plan.
Some things were too complicated to explain through messenger snails—better to talk in person.
“Black Mountain right now is indeed a treasure trove,” Lu Qingmo acknowledged.
“There’s a good chance some rare, priceless treasures will emerge.”
“With your strength and luck, your harvest should be significant. But be careful—never let greed blind you.”
“How rare are we talking?” Han asked, intrigued.
So far, the treasures he had encountered in this world had been powerful, but none truly fit the title of a once-in-a-lifetime divine artifact.
Even his Pure Yang Flame couldn’t compare to the one cultivated by Xuandu Sect for countless years.
“A treasure capable of turning an ordinary person into a genius.”
“A weakling into a powerhouse.”
“A single item that grants lifelong benefits—one that defies fate itself.”
“Black Mountain was already a sacred land for cultivation. But after the Mountain God failed to ascend, his shattered divine energy may have created such relics.”
Han’s heart stirred.
This… actually sounds a lot like the treasures I obtained from the Grand Immortal Tree.
- The Nine Aperture Golden Pill and Ghost Dwelling—which enhanced potentialand talent.
- The True Dragon Blood Soul Stone—which strengthened bloodlines.
Even the first and last “special drops” during the tree-felling buff period seemed to fit this description.
“But even if such treasures appear, they will be deep within the mountain—far beyond your reach,” Lu Qingmo cautioned.
“In Black Mountain, greed is the greatest danger.”
She then handed Han a formation disk, explaining that it could conceal the aura of his moon-refining cultivation.
Even inside Black Mountain, he would need to train. There would always be downtime.
“Aunt Mo, can I ask you for something?”
Lu Qingmo raised an eyebrow. What now?
“What do you need?”
“…Do you have extra storage bags?”
“I do,” she replied, puzzled. “But why?”
“I’m worried that I might… collect too much loot and run out of space.”
“…”
Lu Qingmo was speechless.
You’re going on an expedition, not robbing a bank!
She gave him a serious look.
“Black Mountain is dangerous. Viscera Refinement and Bone Refinement-level beasts are everywhere. It’s not a place where you can just pick up treasures off the ground.”
“If you return empty-handed, that would be completely normal.”
“Your mindset… is all wrong.”
Han felt awkward.
How do I even explain my situation?
Seeing his expression, Lu Qingmo sighed and shook her head.
“…Fine. Since you’re asking, I’ll give you some.”
She handed him a ring and two bracelets, all with storage capabilities.
Han beamed.
“Thank you, Aunt Mo! You’re the best—I like you the most!”
And before she could respond, he had already dashed off.
Lu Qingmo shook her head with a smile.
This kid and his silver tongue…
Back at the martial hall, Bai Tian finally agreed to Han’s request.
Everyone could go.
Shen Yu and the others were ecstatic—it seemed they had also been pleading their case earlier.
But Han wasn’t done.
“Master, I have one more request.”
“…What now?”
“Storage bags. Lots of them.”
Bai Tian laughed.
“You really think you’ll be collecting that many treasures?”
Despite his amusement, he still handed Han a few extra storage bags.
Young people had dreams—why crush them?
Once they entered Black Mountain, they would soon realize the reality—treasures weren’t just lying around.
Yes, there would be more treasures after the earthquake, but there would also be far more fierce beasts.
The danger had multiplied.
At dawn, after the earthquake subsided, Han and his six senior disciples crossed Cloud River and entered Black Mountain.
The mountain range stretched vast and endless, its towering peaks shrouded in mist.
At its core stood a single colossal peak—the true Black Mountain, once the Mountain God’s domain.
Ever since arriving in this world, Han had heard countless stories about Black Mountain.
By all rights, he should have entered long ago—his senior siblings had all undergone training here.
For the people of Black Cloud Town, this was a place every cultivator had to visit at least once in their life.
But due to various events, Han had never stepped foot inside.
Until today.
Now, he was finally here.
As they ventured deeper, the destruction was clear—trees uprooted, cliffs collapsed, the land scarred by the quake.
The towering trees formed a dense canopy, blocking out the sun.
Bai Ruoyue and Shen Long positioned themselves at the front and rear, guarding the group.
“Senior Sister, which way should we go?” Shen Yu asked.
“There’s no fixed path through Black Mountain,” Bai Ruoyue explained.
“Too many martial artists have explored this place before. We’ll move toward the deeper regions, but we won’t go all the way in.”
As she spoke, she noticed Han standing still, an odd expression on his face.
“…Junior Brother?” she called out softly.
“Don’t worry. I know this is your first time in Black Mountain, but with your strength, you’ll be fine. We’re here to protect you.”
Han shook his head—then nodded—his lips curling into an uncontrollable smile.
If not for the people around him, he would have burst into laughter.
Bai Ruoyue frowned.
“…What’s so funny?”
“I’m laughing at—”
“No, actually. Never mind.” Han waved his hand.
“Senior Sister, you all follow me.”
“I’ll lead the way!”
“…”
Everyone stared at him in confusion.
You’ve never even been here before.
And now you want to lead the way?
Han had just promised their master he would ensure everyone’s safety—was he about to lead them straight to their doom?!
“Senior Sister, you know me.” Han’s expression was dead serious.
“You know how accurate my intuition is.”
Bai Ruoyue’s eyes widened.
“…Your intuition is acting up again?”
“It’s going crazy right now.”
Han stared at the map in his mind, where God’s Perspective revealed everything—
- Their seven green markers.
- Numerous white markers, representing beasts.
- Icons marking spiritual herbs, rare treasures, and hidden pathways.
- The shifting terrain and movement of nearby creatures.
Everything was laid out before him.
Tell me, is my intuition accurate or not?
Tell me, can I guide you all safely or not?
No more talking. I’m leading. Follow if you want!