Dao Ancestor Han Li Cuts Down Peach Blossoms, Shi Hao’s Invitation

Yellow Maple Valley, mountain foot market, night.

Han Li had joined Yellow Maple Valley half a month ago. Over those two weeks, he had gained a thorough understanding of the sect’s structure and found work cultivating a medicine field.

Cultivating medicine fields was a lucrative assignment in any sect, since most of the medicinal ingredients used for the sect’s pills came from there. Logically, a newly joined disciple should never have been able to take on such an enviable task.

But with the Little Green Bottle assisting him, cultivating medicine fields was practically Han Li’s specialty. It came naturally to him.

Seeing Han Li’s extraordinary talent, the Medicine Field Elder directly entrusted the medicine field to him and went off to travel the world.

It was not as though no one had taken on medicine field assignments before. Their cultivation skills had simply been too poor; they could even raise fresh spirit herbs to death, enraging the Medicine Field Elder until he cursed them out.

One had to know that the Medicine Field Elder was a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator. How could those Qi Refining Stage disciples dare offend him?

Therefore, Medicine Field Elder Han had never left the medicine fields. He mainly did not trust the younger generation and feared they would ruin these precious spirit herbs.

Han Li’s arrival allowed Medicine Field Elder Han to finally set down his heavy responsibilities and go out to rest for a while.

Of course, in the Cultivation World, a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator was merely an insignificant nobody, cannon fodder.

In this dog-eat-dog Cultivation World, many cultivators who left their sects might never return. It was not that they did not want to return; more likely, they had been robbed and killed, reduced to a pile of yellow earth.

Even so, cultivators seeking opportunities outside the sect were endless in number. The vast world was alluring, and obtaining a single opportunity could be worth decades of cultivation within a sect.

Foundation Establishment elders as old as Elder Han were the epitome of many cultivators. Limited by their talent, the Foundation Establishment Stage was already their limit. Their chances of forming a Golden Core were too slim, so they could only risk their lives seeking opportunities outside.

Although Han Li had only just met Elder Han, he had a very favorable impression of the old man, who was highly knowledgeable about medicinal principles. Elder Han was likewise generous in teaching Han Li about spirit herbs.

This allowed Han Li to rapidly expand his knowledge in a short time, benefiting greatly.

Now, Han Li’s life of lying low in Yellow Maple Valley, growing spirit herbs, and tending fields had begun. Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion, especially since he was the only one in the medicine field area and no one came to disturb him.

This was Elder Han’s jurisdiction. Ordinary disciples were forbidden from approaching without special orders.

That day, after cultivating the medicinal herbs, Han Li prepared to head to the market at the foot of the mountain to purchase supplies, such as scarce spirit herbs, magic treasures, and cultivation techniques.

The Chat Mall also had such things, but they required a large number of points to purchase. Thus, Han Li chose to browse for treasures in the real world and see if he could find a bargain.

The market was mostly made up of cultivators from families affiliated with Yellow Maple Valley. Naturally, cultivators from nearby sects also mingled among them. The cultivators traded with one another, tacitly maintaining the rules of the place.

Han Li wore a conical hat, his face covered by black cloth, and was dressed entirely in black. Although he looked mysterious, he did not draw anyone’s attention here.

Chat Group.

Ye Hei: "Han, you’re just buying something. Why are you wrapped up so tightly? With your Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, what the hell are you afraid of?"

Number One Golden Core of Kyushu: "Hehe, is this a max-level boss returning to the Newbie Village?"

Iron Man: "Interesting."

Wang Lin: "Steady!"

Bad Commander: "Tsk, tsk. I have to say, the Cultivator world is truly exciting."

Sword God Li Chungang: "Same, same."

Han Li: "Ahem, it’s never wrong to be a little more cautious."

Han Li had previously lived like a hermit, isolated from the world. He had not shown much of his world, but now that he was in a cultivation sect, he took the initiative to start a livestream and share a bit, making his presence known.

Besides, the group members were not in the same world, so they had no effect on one another.

Little Huang Rong: "It’s so lively!"

Snow Moon Sword Immortal: "Not bad. It really is a cultivation world, completely different from ordinary worlds."

Qian Renxue: "Six!"

Number One Golden Core of Kyushu: "Han Li, if you want to buy magic treasures or anything, you can trade with this Sword Immortal too. Fair prices, genuine goods. We’re both cultivators, after all."

Han Li: "There are still differences between worlds."

Xu Yi: "Don’t listen to Wang Wu’s nonsense. What could she possibly trade? She’s so poor that she has nothing left but herself."

Qian Renxue: "Exactly!"

Number One Golden Core of Kyushu: "…Group Owner, I’m pure and kind-hearted. How could I possibly do bad things?"

Ye Hei: "You do plenty."

Foshan Ip Man: "Ahem."

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "Everyone seems very happy."

Ye Hei: "Of course. Little Stone! Aren’t you happy?"

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "Of course I am. Actually, I also want to know what beast milk from other worlds tastes like."

Ye Hei: "Little Stone, as expected of you. How old are you already? You still haven’t weaned? Too bad I don’t have any here. If I were on Earth, I’d at least buy you some."

Feng Baobao: "I have lots here."

Ye Hei: "Baobao, give Little Stone some high-tech goodness."

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "High-tech goodness? What’s that?"

Iron Man: "Ahem."

Xu Yi: "Ye Fan, those thoughts of yours."

Ye Hei: "Group Owner, I didn’t do anything."

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "Why do I feel like something bad is about to happen?"

Qian Renxue: "Get rid of the ‘feel like,’ Little Stone."

While everyone chatted, Han Li headed to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in Yellow Maple Valley’s market. It was the most famous place in the market for cultivators to buy magical artifacts, with powerful cultivators backing it.

The owner of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was a plump middle-aged man. His eyes shifted constantly, filled with shrewdness. His name was Wang Yu. Looking at Wang Yu before him, Han Li felt something particularly strange. It was as though they knew each other and were even quite close, yet this was clearly their first meeting. He did not know why that sense of familiarity existed.

Wang Yu brought out many magic treasures, such as the Golden Cicada Mother-Child Blades: one mother blade and eight child blades. Once unleashed, they could catch enemies off guard and easily draw them into a trap.

Sky Thunder Pearls, capable of injuring Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators.

As well as the Sky Origin Sword and Black Tortoise Shield, providing both offense and defense!

Although none of them were particularly high-grade magic treasures, Han Li was extremely tempted.

He directly brought out a thousand-year spirit herb in exchange.

This surprised Wang Yu. Spirit herbs five or six hundred years old were common, but those exceeding a thousand years were rare even throughout the Cultivation World.

Moreover, this thousand-year spirit herb, Silverblue Grass, was not originally some precious spirit herb. It was a basic ingredient for making Qi Replenishing Pills. Logically speaking, how had Silverblue Grass been grown to a thousand years old?

Such spirit herbs were generally harvested like chives after a few years or decades.

Facing Wang Yu’s gaze, Han Li looked away without any intention of explaining.

Knowing he would get no answer, Wang Yu quietly said, "Fellow cultivator, you are no ordinary person. I have connections in the Tiannan Cultivation World. If you have more spirit herbs like this to trade in the future, remember to contact me. I’ll give you a discount."

"Mm." Han Li nodded.

For transactions like these, it was best not to speak, because the more one said, the more flaws one revealed.

Saying nothing instead made one seem unfathomable and difficult to deal with, forcing the other party to think twice.

After leaving the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Han Li mounted the Sky Origin Sword and flew on it. He moved at incredible speed, like a shooting star.

This left some of the group members deeply envious. How many people wanted to ride the wind on a sword, soar through heaven and earth, and live freely and unrestrained?

With Han Li’s Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, he could return to Yellow Maple Valley in just a few breaths while flying on his sword.

But he had currently suppressed his cultivation to the eighth layer of Qi Refining Stage. He also enjoyed this slower flight, the sensation of flying while admiring the scenery.

As he passed through a forest, Han Li happened to spot two Yellow Maple Valley disciples he had once encountered in the sect.

Could it be them? Han Li’s expression shifted slightly. He had watched the Tiannan dungeon and knew certain threads of fate.

But in his view, he was now already a Nascent Soul powerhouse. Fate should have long since changed, yet some things were still slowly following their original trajectory.

Thus, Han Li secretly descended and landed behind a large tree, quietly watching.

Of the two Yellow Maple Valley disciples, the male disciple was a descendant of the Lu Family of Zhao Country. His name was Lu Fengyun, and he possessed a wind-element mutated Spiritual Root. His talent was exceptional. As long as he did not die young, he was guaranteed to at least form a Golden Core.

In the Human Realm, cultivators with a single Spiritual Root cultivated extremely quickly. They had a one-hundred-percent chance of reaching Foundation Establishment. Forming a Golden Core required an opportunity, but it would not be too difficult.

The other disciple was a woman named Chen Qiaoqian, a descendant of the Lu Family, a cultivation clan. She too was exceptionally talented and beautiful, with the potential to form a Golden Core.

At this moment, given the situation, Lu Fengyun and Chen Qiaoqian should have been on a date.

After all, in the eyes of Yellow Maple Valley’s disciples, Lu Fengyun and Chen Qiaoqian were a handsome man and a beautiful woman. It was only a matter of time before they got together.

"Come, Junior Sister Chen, have a drink. This is the last time before heading to the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land. Who knows whether we’ll be able to come back?" Lu Fengyun said with a refined smile that naturally inspired goodwill.

Although Chen Qiaoqian was a cultivator, she was only around twenty years old and did not have much scheming in her.

Seeing the wine offered before her, she directly took a sip.

When he saw Chen Qiaoqian drink, a sharp gleam flashed through Lu Fengyun’s eyes, and the corners of his lips curled upward slightly.

After drinking, Chen Qiaoqian said, "Senior Brother Lu, you already have a Foundation Establishment Pill. Why are you still going to the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land? It’s too dangerous there."

"The Blood-Colored Forbidden Land? Foundation Establishment? With Ancestor Hongfu helping me, wouldn’t that be effortless?" Lu Fengyun smiled smugly.

"Ancestor Hongfu?" Chen Qiaoqian asked in confusion.

Then her delicate body went limp, her vision blurred, and Lu Fengyun’s figure split into doubles before her eyes. She swayed as if she could collapse at any moment. "Senior Brother, what did you put in the wine?" Chen Qiaoqian asked, clutching her head and unable to stand steadily.

"Joyful Union Powder," Lu Fengyun said, his smile growing increasingly unrestrained. "Why?"

Chen Qiaoqian could not understand why the usually gentle and refined Senior Brother Lu had suddenly changed.

"Junior Sister Chen, naturally it’s so Junior Sister Xuan’er won’t discover that I’m two-timing her. So I can only wrong you.

"We may be Dao companions in name, but you refused to give yourself to me, insisting that we wait until after Foundation Establishment.

"Now, before you perish, I’m going to make good use of that lovely body of yours. Hehehe." Lu Fengyun wore an evil grin.

Although Chen Qiaoqian’s family was respectable, how could they compare to Ancestor Hongfu, a Golden Core Stage powerhouse?

He had pursued Chen Qiaoqian in the past for the Chen Family’s resources. Now that he had found a better target, he had decided to pursue Dong Xuan’er, the disciple of Yellow Maple Valley’s Ancestor Hongfu.

As long as he won Dong Xuan’er, with his Spiritual Root talent, he might not be unable to form a Golden Core in the future.

But Chen Qiaoqian was also a great beauty. It would truly be a pity to give her up.

That was why he had lured Chen Qiaoqian outside Yellow Maple Valley, intending to take everything from her before destroying the evidence.

For a cultivation sect, an ordinary disciple disappearing was extremely common, especially a Qi Refining Stage disciple. They were not that important.

Besides, people were even accidentally killed during ordinary sparring sessions.

And the upcoming Blood-Colored Forbidden Land would gather all the sects of Tiannan. Once inside, disciples from multiple sects would slaughter one another, and death was nearly certain.

Lu Fengyun was doing this precisely so he would not have to enter the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land.

"Beast!"

After leaving behind that one sentence, Chen Qiaoqian collapsed against the tree trunk, her consciousness growing increasingly hazy.

"Junior Sister, I’ll be even more of a beast in a moment. Hehe."

Lu Fengyun sneered wickedly, his gaze burning.

From afar, Han Li had been observing in secret. He did not like taking the initiative to entangle himself in karma, and he would not meddle in matters unrelated to himself.

But that was the old him, weak and unable to provoke important figures, forced to protect himself wisely.

Things were different now. No matter what, his true body was a Nascent Soul-level powerhouse. Furthermore, he had Qu Hun, a puppet fused with the Superman Gene. It was no exaggeration to say that he could swagger sideways through the Human Realm.

If he saw someone die and did nothing, it would only make him look like a coward.

Without much hesitation, Han Li leaped out and said, "Beast, let that girl go."

Seeing this, the group members gave Han Li a thumbs-up.

Lu Fengyun was surprised. His gaze fell upon Han Li as he said, "It’s you, the one who entered Yellow Maple Valley through the back door using an Ascension Token. Tsk, tsk, another Foundation Establishment Pill."

Those who entered the sect using an Ascension Token were specially granted a Foundation Establishment Pill by the sect to help them establish their foundation.

This was because those who possessed Ascension Tokens either had ancestors who were descendants of the sect or had rendered great service to it.

In the original story, Han Li indeed had a Foundation Establishment Pill. However, his talent had been too poor for a single pill to be useful. He needed dozens just to barely enter the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"You talk too much," Han Li said.

"Li Feiyu, you’ve got quite the nerve. But don’t beg me to spare your life later, because I won’t show mercy. I’ll make sure to torture you properly too."

As he spoke, he took out a banner. It was the Azure Serpent Banner bestowed by Lu Fengyun’s elder. Its power was formidable enough to slaughter indiscriminately among Qi Refining Stage cultivators and could even deal with Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators.

Han Li snapped his fingers. From the darkness, Qu Hun, clad in an ink-black robe, slowly emerged without making a sound.

"A puppet?"

Lu Fengyun was surprised, but he could not sense any Magical Power aura from it, so he did not think much of it.

He did not believe this puppet was anything powerful.

"Die!"

Lu Fengyun shouted, waving the Azure Serpent Banner. As his Magical Power circulated, a blue flood dragon flew out from the banner and charged directly at Han Li!

Qu Hun stepped forward and stood before Han Li. The dozen-meter-long flood dragon slammed into Qu Hun’s body, yet failed to move him in the slightest. Instead, it was shattered by the rebound.

"What? It actually withstood the Azure Serpent Banner’s full-force strike!" Lu Fengyun cried in shock, his eyes widening.

The next second, Lu Fengyun swung the Azure Serpent Banner again, but Han Li would not give him another chance. Qu Hun’s eyes suddenly turned scarlet, and a pair of blazing Heat Rays cut across the dark night sky, instantly piercing Lu Fengyun’s chest.

"?"

Lu Fengyun’s eyes were filled with terror and disbelief. Looking down, he saw a bloody hole in his chest, completely hollow.

Cultivators could wield the power of heaven and earth, but in the early stages, their physical bodies were mostly frail, sometimes even weaker than martial artists who trained their bodies.

Before the destructive force of the Heat Rays, his body was as fragile as tofu.

Boom! Lu Fengyun collapsed to the ground. The light in his eyes faded, and all signs of life vanished.

Han Li flew forward, picked up Lu Fengyun’s Storage Bag, and casually set his body ablaze, burning it to ashes without leaving even a trace behind.

"Not bad."

Han Li discovered several decent magical artifacts in Lu Fengyun’s Storage Bag. Although they were not top-grade magic treasures, they could add to his inventory.

There were also two Foundation Establishment Pills inside. I’ll symbolically take one. After all, I saved someone. Consider it interest.

Han Li said this instinctively. He would never allow himself to suffer a loss. Even if Foundation Establishment Pills were useless to him, this was a serious matter of principle.

But before he could think any further, a burning-hot delicate body pounced on him.

The previously unconscious Chen Qiaoqian had her eyes closed, her face flushed with desire. She grabbed Han Li and tried to kiss him.

Group members: "??? Isn’t this something only VIPs can watch?"

Han Li’s livestream had remained on the entire time, and the group members had been watching the drama from the front row.

Clearly, the story’s ending perfectly matched the group members’ expectations! Chat Group.

Ye Hei: "Han, if you run away now, I’ll truly look down on you!"

Number One Golden Core of Kyushu: "Watching the drama, watching the drama. Hahaha, exciting!"

Bad Commander: "Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Zhang Sanfeng: "This scene really isn’t good for an old man who’s been single for over a hundred years."

Sword God Li Chungang: "What’s wrong, Old Zhang? Your blood’s running hot?"

Morax: "!"

Iron Man: "Very nice!"

Da Gu Member: "I’m logging off first. As the Master said, one must not look at what is improper."

Ye Hei: "No, no, the Master never said that."

Little Dragon Girl: "!!"

Little Huang Rong: "Ah!"

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "Why is that sister in white biting Brother Han Li? Is there something tasty?"

Immortal Ancient Willow God: "…"

Luo Feng: "Little Shi, you’re still young. You’ll understand when you grow up."

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "Later? Why can’t I understand now? I may be small, but I’m much stronger than the uncles in Stone Village."

Ye Hei: "Ahem, that’s right. It is tasty."

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "Can I eat it too?!"

Tushan Second Head: "Little Shi, you little brat, why are you so curious? Go drink your Beast Milk."

Han Li: "Everyone, stop talking. What do you think I should do?"

Ye Hei: "You’re asking me? Brother Han, the mouth is on your face. Do whatever you want. Besides, that girl was drugged with Joyful Union Powder. If she isn’t properly treated, it’ll harm her body. Don’t be so reserved. You’re both adults. It’s just one night of passion. What’s the big deal?"

Qian Renxue: "Ye Fan, watch yourself. There are children in the group."

Demon Child Nezha: "Don’t you dare treat me like a child. I’m only two and a half years old, hehe."

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "Hahaha!"

Bad Commander: "Fellow cultivator Han, pluck the flower while it can be plucked; do not wait until there are no flowers and break branches in vain!"

Sword God Li Chungang: "Gang, you sure know a lot."

Zhang Sanfeng: "Yes, don’t leave yourself with regrets. Back then, I…"

Zhang Sanfeng recalled the past. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.

Ye Hei: "Sister Rong, this old Zhang Sanfeng has a crush on your daughter! In another parallel timeline."

Zhang Sanfeng: "…"

Little Huang Rong: "…"

Han Li shut off the livestream. He did not dare let the group members keep watching the spectacle.

In reality, Han Li broke free from Chen Qiaoqian’s embrace, wanting to calm himself down. But Chen Qiaoqian refused to let up and even kissed him on the lips.

Han Li, who had devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation, had never even held a girl’s hand. Now, he only felt as if currents were exploding through his body. He even found himself craving that strange sensation, falling into it at once and forgetting everything else.

Fortunately, after two and a half minutes, Han Li, whose heart was set on the Great Dao, gritted his teeth and came to his senses. He pushed Chen Qiaoqian away and knocked her unconscious.

The original fate was the original fate. Even if their future destinies were deeply entwined, now was not the time.

Once his thoughts cleared, Han Li directly used his Nascent Soul Magical Power to forcibly erase the effects of the Joyful Union Powder. Chen Qiaoqian slowly regained consciousness and saw Han Li before her.

A moment of confusion appeared in Chen Qiaoqian’s eyes. Then she noticed that her clothes were disheveled, though only on the surface. Combined with the traces of battle around them, it was not hard to guess what had happened.

"Where is Senior Brother Lu, Junior Brother?" Chen Qiaoqian asked tentatively.

"He’s dead. Senior Sister Chen won’t report me to the sect, will you?" Han Li said indifferently.

"Of course not. That scum deserved to die. So Junior Brother Li saved me. Nothing happened between us, right?"

Chen Qiaoqian was not stupid. The effects of Joyful Union Powder were enough to make even a saintess lose control. Something must have happened, even if it had not ultimately gone all the way.

"No, absolutely not." Han Li’s expression changed, and he instinctively took a step back.

"Then why is there a woman’s lip print on Junior Brother Han’s face?" Chen Qiaoqian asked.

"A lip… lip print? Is there?" Han Li immediately took out a mirror from his Storage Bag and examined himself, only to find that there was no lip print on his utterly ordinary face.

"I was teasing you, Junior Brother. Even if something really did happen, I wouldn’t blame you. You saved my life. That is what matters most. If Lu Fengyun had succeeded, I would not have been willing to rest even in death," Chen Qiaoqian said.

Han Li noticed that something was off about Chen Qiaoqian. The way she looked at him seemed filled with unusual emotions as well. He knew that if this continued, things might turn out just as they had in the original course of fate.

"I’m sorry, Senior Sister Chen."

Han Li was wholly devoted to cultivation, with no interest in romance. Nor did he want to be tied down and lose his composure.

Under Chen Qiaoqian’s incredulous gaze, Han Li casually took out a Dust Forgetting Pill and stuffed it into her mouth.

"??" Chen Qiaoqian.

Then Han Li immediately flew away, no longer lingering over love and romance.

A few minutes later, Chen Qiaoqian opened her eyes and stared blankly around her. "Where is this? How did I end up here?"

The eerie wind howled, making her scalp tingle. Chen Qiaoqian shrank her shoulders and immediately mounted her flying sword to leave.

Chat Group, private communication channel.

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "Willow God, can you come to my world? The Willow God here wants to meet you."

Immortal Ancient Willow God: "Meet me?"

Willow God, who was cultivating in the Journey to the West World after its fusion, slowly opened her eyes.

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "Can’t you, Willow God?"

Immortal Ancient Willow God: "Of course I can. But if I go, it will certainly have a great impact on your future and your fate. It may even change your future."

Willow God’s own world had long since changed, because she herself could not deal with the Dark Ancestors.

But Shi Hao was different. He was himself the ultimate power meant to confront the Plateau. There was no need to change the world; even by following the established course step by step, he could eventually reach that predetermined ending.

Great Wilderness Milk-Eating Baby: "I’m not afraid, and I’m not worried. The future needs to be created by oneself. Besides, I don’t like that future. I hope everyone can remain alive, instead of all dying, even if only temporarily."

Immortal Ancient Willow God: "All right!"