However, while Han Li was paying attention to the number of mortals, he also faintly sensed the presence of numerous cultivators at the port. It seemed these people were specifically responsible for maintaining order at the harbor.
As Han Li pondered this, he led Qu Hun and followed Master Gu and Wang Changqing into a stone building by the port.
The interior was very simply furnished. Besides a wooden table and a chair, there was only a sallow-faced old man sitting there with his eyes closed, resting.
Upon hearing the sound of Han Li and the others entering, this Immortal Master opened his eyes.
A cold light immediately shot from his eyes. Han Li felt a chill in his heart upon seeing this. This person was actually a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and his cultivation seemed no weaker than before Han Li had lost his own magical power.
The sallow-faced old man directly ignored Master Gu and Wang Changqing, casting only a brief glance at Han Li and Qu Hun. After noticing Han Li's cultivation was only at the Qi Condensation stage, a few layers in, he returned to his languid expression. However, Han Li noticed that this person seemed to take an extra look at Qu Hun.
"You lot, what business do you have? If you have something to say, say it quickly. Don't disturb my rest." The man spoke with a weary tone, a hint of impatience showing on his face.
Han Li, thanks to his photographic memory, had already learned about seventy to eighty percent of the local language from Wang Changqing. Although he couldn't speak yet, he could勉强 understand what others were saying.
However, since he had absolutely no experience dealing with cultivators in this area, he didn't dare speak carelessly. He simply watched with a smile as Master Gu and Wang Changqing negotiated with the cultivator.
Master Gu respectfully called out "Immortal Yang," then leaned close to the sallow-faced cultivator and whispered a few words. He then turned back and pointed at Han Li, seemingly explaining his origins, before discreetly placing several spirit stones into the man's hand.
Feeling the spirit stones in his hand, Immortal Yang's expression softened considerably. He then reached into his robes and produced a green jade tablet, asking Han Li in a stiff tone:
"What is your name?"
"Han Li!" Han Li stated his name very fluently. As for what language the other person interpreted it as, he didn't care.
Immortal Yang's hand flashed with green light, enveloping the jade tablet completely. A moment later, the light faded, and two strange symbols that Han Li couldn't recognize now appeared on the jade tablet.
Then the sallow-faced old man raised his hand and tossed the jade tablet to Han Li.
"Keep this token safe. If you lose it, come to me promptly to get a replacement. Otherwise, you'll be punished for trespassing on Kui Star Island. Of course, if you plan to settle here permanently in the future, this jade tablet won't be needed and will be collected back. As for this refined corpse behind you, naturally it doesn't need one." After finishing these words with an elderly air, the Immortal Master paid no further attention to the three of them and closed his eyes to rest again.
Master Gu naturally understood the situation and immediately retreated.
However, Han Li was somewhat concerned that this person had seen through Qu Hun's true identity at a glance. After giving him one more look, he also left silently.
Not long after Han Li had gone out, Immortal Yang opened his eyes again and muttered to himself in confusion:
"This refined corpse is quite peculiar. It's clearly a dead body, yet it still emanates spiritual energy! Could this be some new technique for creating refined corpses?"
Then the sallow-faced old man fell into deep thought...
Outside, after leaving the port, Master Gu hired a beast-drawn cart pulled by two sheep-like, ox-like monsters. Leading Han Li, they galloped along a main road into the island.
Along this road, such carriages were numerous as ox hairs, bustling and busy.
However, after the cart passed through several clean and lively small towns, such vehicles became noticeably fewer. Later, after turning onto a few smaller paths, they encountered even fewer passersby and carriages.
After traveling swiftly for another half day, the cart finally arrived at a farmstead covering more than ten mu of land. In front of the manor were planted many strange crops that Han Li had never seen before.
Some grain-type plants had rice ears similar to normal rice, but their leaves were thick and flat, actually purplish-red in color, and emitted a faint fragrance. Some vegetable-type plants looked extremely similar to Chinese cabbage, but how could any cabbage in the Tian Nan region be half a person's height? Moreover, several small blue flowers had bloomed at the heart of the vegetable...
In these vegetable fields, about a dozen farmers were working in small groups, planting and tilling the land.
What a serene pastoral scene!
Han Li was watching with great interest when the beast-drawn cart arrived at the main gate of the manor and stopped.
Han Li jumped down first with Qu Hun and looked around the area.
The vicinity of the manor was planted with green pine trees, and beside it was a not insignificant hill. It could be considered an elegant environment, quite unique.
The entire manor was enclosed by an earthen wall about two zhang high and several chi wide. Within the walls, each residence looked brand new, as if they had been built only recently.
"This is the Gu family estate!" Han Li praised silently in his heart, but after carefully examining the pine trees, his expression subtly changed.
He was surprised to discover that among the pine trees surrounding the manor, there was a faint aura of formation arrays, clearly indicating that restrictions had been placed.
From Han Li's perspective, although this wasn't some brilliant formation, it was sufficient to trap low-level cultivators.
While Han Li was still suspicious, Master Gu, who had also gotten down from the cart, was already smiling apologetically and saying:
"Immortal Han, let's rest in the manor first! I'll have the servants prepare some local specialty wine for the Immortal!"
Hearing this, Han Li gave a faint glance around the manor and replied with a smile:
"Forget it, I won't trouble Master Gu's family. I'll just stay temporarily in that place. Once my business is done, I'll find a more permanent residence."
After saying this, Han Li pointed his finger toward a direction nearby.
Master Gu and Wang Changqing followed Han Li's pointing finger and saw the solitary little hill. They were completely stunned.
But after several enthusiastic invitations failed, they could only allow this somewhat eccentric Immortal Master to stroll toward the small mountain.
The two of them exchanged a helpless look and walked into the manor.
Han Li led Qu Hun up the hillside along a path that could hardly be called a road, reaching the top of the hill. Then he looked down at the Gu family manor below.
He saw Master Gu entering a large residence in the center of the manor, surrounded by a group of men and women. The crowd then dispersed automatically, with only a few people of higher status and more elaborate clothing following into the residence.
Han Li's lips curled slightly upward, then he turned around and went about his own business.
He first found a relatively flat slope at the middle of the hill. Then, without much ceremony, he selected a few thicker pine trees and used his magic treasure to quickly dismantle them. Qu Hun then...
Half an hour later, a simple small wooden cabin appeared on the hill. Inside, there were wooden tables, chairs, and even a wooden bed, all fully equipped.
For the next month, Han Li stayed in the wooden cabin, taking pills and medicines daily, practicing Qi Refining and meditation, striving to recover his cultivation as soon as possible.
During this period, Master Gu and Wang Changqing visited several times to discuss matters regarding the upcoming challenge. They didn't dare delay Han Li's cultivation and left in a hurry each time.
But Master Gu was a thoughtful person. Every few days, he would send someone to deliver exquisite food to the hill for Han Li to enjoy.
Han Li accepted without the slightest courtesy.
Among them were several very sweet fruits that gave Han Li quite a treat. They were obviously local specialties of the island, ones he had never seen before.
In the final days of that month, Han Li's cultivation actually recovered to the fifth level of the Qi Condensation stage.
This greatly surprised him and also made him feel somewhat more at ease.
Because, according to what Master Gu had said, the Immortal Masters hired by those ten households weren't remarkable in cultivation.
With a few exceptions, most were around the sixth or seventh level of the Qi Condensation stage. The opponent for the challenge would be decided by drawing lots. As long as Han Li's luck wasn't too bad, defeating his opponent wouldn't be a problem at all.
Furthermore, to increase Han Li's chances of winning, Master Gu had gathered two or three powerful magic treasures from various sources, hoping to make Han Li's strength even greater.
But when Han Li saw these items that could barely be considered upper-grade magic treasures, he could only roll his eyes inwardly and accept them first. This way, Master Gu could feel at ease!
Just two days after Han Li had recovered his cultivation to the fifth level, Master Gu and Wang Changqing finally came to find Han Li with tense expressions.
Without a word, Han Li followed them onto another beast-drawn cart and headed toward somewhere in the island at full speed.
This time, after the cart galloped for two hours, they were brought into a city constructed entirely of white stone.
When entering the city, there were quite a few mortal guards stationed at the city gate.
They wouldn't question those leaving, but anyone entering had to present a token very similar to Han Li's jade tablet for inspection.
However, when Han Li entered the city, the guards only took a cylindrical object and waved it a few times in front of him. Upon seeing green light emit from the cylinder, they immediately bowed respectfully to Han Li, and only then checked the tokens of Master Gu and Wang Changqing.