"Sect Leader, your junior brother has successfully achieved Foundation Establishment a few days ago, and has thus come to request permission to open a cave dwelling," Han Li said directly without preamble.
"Foundation Establishment success?" Zhong Lingdao was first stunned, but then he realized the truth.
There were many precedents for this: receiving the Foundation Establishment Pill but not taking it immediately, instead waiting for the opportune moment to consume it and achieve success. This Sect Leader Zhong took Han Li as one of those cases.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Han, on entering the Foundation Establishment stage! Our sect gains another high-level disciple—a truly joyous occasion!" Zhong Lingdao stroked his three long whiskers and smiled as he spoke.
"This junior was merely fortunate, and it is all thanks to the Foundation Establishment Pill bestowed by the sect!" Han Li replied with a beaming face.
After hearing Han Li's polite words, Zhong Lingdao smiled faintly and examined Han Li once more. At this moment, the more he looked, the more familiar Han Li seemed. He had definitely seen him before, but he couldn't quite remember when or where.
Thus, Zhong Lingdao nodded and fell into deep contemplation, racking his brains.
Seeing this, Han Li found it amusing but didn't disturb the other party. Instead, he picked up his teacup and slowly savored the tea.
After a moment, inspiration struck Zhong Lingdao's mind, and he actually remembered the matter of the Ascension Command Token. The young man who had stood in the Council Hall back then and this composed junior brother before him suddenly overlapped!
Having recalled Han Li's background, Zhong Lingdao suddenly looked up with an expression of complete astonishment and exclaimed:
"It's you! The disciple who entered the valley with the Ascension Command Token back then! You've actually achieved Foundation Establishment?"
"Sect Leader still remembers this junior! Back then, being able to join Yellow Maple Valley was truly thanks to your kind assistance!" Han Li, seeing that the other party recognized him, showed no panic and smiled lightly as he expressed his gratitude to Zhong Lingdao.
Hearing the other party address him as "Sect Leader" again and again, Zhong Lingdao realized that this person was no longer the rogue cultivator disciple from before, but a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the same seniority as himself! A flash of surprise crossed his face before he quickly regained his composed demeanor and said gently, "It was nothing. As Sect Leader, I was merely following the rules a few years ago! But for Junior Brother Han to achieve Foundation Establishment with a False Spirit Root—that is truly incredible! If word got out, you would immediately become famous throughout the cultivation world!"
Even though Zhong Lingdao appeared to have regained his composure on the surface, his words still revealed the astonishment in his heart!
This was understandable. Zhong Lingdao had known full well about Han Li's situation back then. For such a four-attribute False Spirit Root to succeed in Foundation Establishment was indeed too difficult to accept.
Seeing this, Han Li smiled and said in a half-joking tone:
"I didn't expect it either. Taking a single Foundation Establishment Pill actually led to success. I can only say that heaven helped me—perhaps this foolish person has his own foolish fortune!"
Han Li's words actually amused the other party! "However, Junior Brother Han! Weren't the Foundation Establishment Pills given to Martial Nephew Ye's grandnephew back then? Where did you get this new Foundation Establishment Pill?" Sect Leader Zhong had just laughed twice when he thought of this puzzling matter and asked.
"Heh heh! Sect Leader, speaking of which, this Foundation Establishment Pill was actually given to me by you!" Han Li thought to himself with amusement, a smile on his face as he spoke.
"Me?" Now Zhong Lingdao was completely confused—he had no memory of this!
"Sect Leader, have you forgotten? Among the few who returned alive from the Forbidden Grounds, three received Foundation Establishment Pills as rewards, and I was one of them!" Han Li finally put away his smile and spoke seriously.
"You were the disciple accepted as a nominal disciple by Grand Uncle-Master Li?" Zhong Lingdao could no longer maintain his composure and was visibly moved.
"That's correct—I am indeed the disciple accepted by Grand Uncle-Master Li during that trip to the Forbidden Grounds!" Han Li didn't deny it and admitted directly.
"Is that so? Now I remember why the name Han Li sounded so familiar! So you are the disciple who caused such a stir in the valley a couple of years ago!" The astonishment in Zhong Lingdao's eyes deepened, but his tone became even more amiable.
Zhong Lingdao's meaning was clear. Since Han Li had already achieved Foundation Establishment, the likelihood of him becoming Grand Uncle-Master Li's official disciple in the future was virtually guaranteed. He naturally had no wish to make an enemy of Han Li. And he secretly pondered:
"From the looks of it, this Junior Brother Han was extremely fortunate to succeed. Otherwise, with his aptitude, the chance of Foundation Establishment would be less than one in a hundred!"
Although Zhong Lingdao was muttering to himself internally, on the surface he naturally exchanged a few more pleasantries with Han Li before asking him to wait a moment while he retrieved the registration tablet.
Han Li naturally agreed and quietly waited for his return.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhong Lingdao finally entered, holding a white jade register. Then, in front of Han Li, he used a gold-brushed brush to write Han Li's name at the very bottom of the register, which was densely filled with numerous names. The registration was finally complete!
Seeing this, Han Li was delighted, knowing that this meant he could now legitimately possess a cave dwelling.
Zhong Lingdao frequently handled such miscellaneous matters for newly established Foundation Establishment disciples. One glance at the smile on Han Li's face, and he naturally guessed what Han Li was thinking. With a slight smile, he took out three mid-grade spirit stones and five small flags surrounded by thin white mist from his storage pouch and handed them to Han Li.
"What are these?"
Han Li could somewhat understand receiving mid-grade spirit stones—this was probably a reward the sect gave to Foundation Establishment disciples! But what were these five palm-sized flags for? From their strange appearance and spiritual energy, they didn't seem to be ordinary magical artifacts and appeared rather peculiar!
Before Han Li could even ask, Zhong Lingdao flipped his hand and passed another jade slip to Han Li, then explained:
"These spirit stones are a one-time reward given to every newly established Foundation Establishment disciple. In the future, you will receive one mid-grade spirit stone annually without needing to perform any chores!"
"As for these Mirage Tracking Flags, they are essential for opening a cave dwelling. Although the Mirage Tracking Array they deploy is just a simple small-scale formation, it is sufficient to repel mortals or wild beasts! Of course, if you are yourself proficient in formations, you naturally don't need these flags. Additionally, this jade slip contains the formation deployment techniques and manipulation methods. I have also copied in some matters you should pay attention to after Foundation Establishment. You can review it thoroughly when you return."
"Many thanks, Sect Leader!" Han Li received them with both hands, his mouth filled with repeated expressions of gratitude.
These were indeed exactly what Han Li currently needed most, filling him with joy!
After all the matters were completed, Han Li chatted with Sect Leader Zhong for another incense stick's time before taking his leave of the Council Hall.
After leaving the stone hall, Han Li intended to immediately fly out of Yellow Maple Valley to personally seek a location for his cave dwelling.
However, on the way, after reviewing the jade slip Zhong Lingdao had given him, Han Li immediately changed his mind. He turned his magical artifact and flew in a different direction.
The name "Qilin Pavilion" was quite imposing and resonant! It was also one of the most important locations within Yellow Maple Valley!
Because this was the place where spirit beasts were raised and tamed.
"Spirit beasts" were actually demon beasts. Once demon beasts were tamed by cultivators, they naturally became so-called spirit beasts!
Most of the spirit beasts within Qilin Pavilion were only first-level spirit beasts. Even if there were some second-level demon beasts, they were placed there by others and could not be freely commanded.
However, even first-level spirit beasts provided many convenient services for the disciples of the valley. For example, carrying people as mounts, guarding gates, searching for spiritual herbs, assisting in combat, and so on. And Han Li had come specifically for a type of demon beast called the "Twin-Eye Rat."
This spirit beast, which looked like an ordinary mouse but was born with divine eyes, was precisely what Zhong Lingdao had recommended to Han Li in the jade slip. It was the best helper for finding cave dwelling locations!
This mid-level first-stage demon beast's twin pupils could easily see through fog, rivers, trees, and other obstacles that blocked the vision of ordinary cultivators. Moreover, it had a natural instinct to burrow and nest in places with the densest spiritual energy.
Therefore, with minimal training, this Twin-Eye Rat became the best scout for finding locations with spiritual eyes! It was very popular among the disciples of the valley!
This was not Han Li's first time visiting Qilin Pavilion. He had passed by its gates several times before while handling various matters. So he was not completely unfamiliar with the place.
When he descended from the sky and landed on the guest reception platform of Qishou Mountain—which encompassed the entire verdant hill belonging to Qilin Pavilion—a low-level female disciple immediately approached and greeted Han Li:
"Is this Martial Uncle here to rent a spirit beast?" After speaking these words in a clear voice, the girl, who was only sixteen or seventeen, couldn't help but show an expectant look.
Seeing this, Han Li smiled faintly and asked:
"Are there any Twin-Eye Rats available on the mountain right now? I wish to rent one for two days!"
"Yes, of course! I'll go get one for this Martial Uncle right away!" Upon hearing this, the girl's face lit up with joy as she spoke happily.