"Fellow Daoist Han, those ten cultivators you challenged were actually temporary fighters hired at great expense from the island's guard squad by those wealthy families. Although none of them possessed high cultivation levels, they had spent much of their time battling demonic beasts at sea and sparring with cultivators from other islands. As a result, their combat experience and techniques were far superior to those of ordinary cultivators. Let alone those with lower cultivation, even ordinary cultivators two or three stages above them would not find it strange to lose at their hands!" Wen Qiang said with a look of admiration, clicking his tongue.
"It's nothing. I was merely lucky!" Han Li smiled and replied modestly.
When it came to combat experience, he certainly had plenty of his own!
"By the way, Fellow Daoist, you must be heading to the Ascension Pavilion to handle some procedures, yes?" The young man glanced in the direction of the mountains and turned back with a smile to ask.
"Fellow Daoist Wen guesses correctly. I do indeed wish to settle my registration on the island and also pick a place to cultivate."
There was nothing to hide about these matters, so Han Li spoke frankly.
"Haha! I've been to the Ascension Pavilion several times. Why don't I lead the way for you? It's on the way anyway! Otherwise, with Azure Cloud Mountain being so vast, it's truly not easy to find." After hearing Han Li's words, Wen Qiang suggested without hesitation.
Seeing the young man's enthusiastic offer, Han Li was briefly startled before expressing his thanks profusely.
And so, the two flew toward the great mountain side by side.
"Apart from the three great peaks of Heavenly Pillar Peak, Celestial Night Peak, and Heavenly Gate Peak, Azure Cloud Mountain on our island also has three hundred and sixty-seven smaller peaks. The number of caves and valleys of various sizes is too many to count. In other words, there are many places where one can cultivate." As they flew forward, the young man introduced the mountain range before them to Han Li in a torrent of words.
"Of course, although most of Azure Cloud Mountain sits atop a considerable spiritual vein, the concentration of spiritual qi certainly varies. Generally speaking, the higher the peak, the more abundant the spiritual qi. Therefore, the thirty-six peaks with the densest spiritual qi have become the targets of the spirit land challenges held once every ten years on this island. Anyone who believes their cultivation is higher than that of the current master of one of these thirty-six peaks may challenge them freely. The winner takes over that peak. As for the other peaks, where the spiritual qi doesn't differ much, any cultivator who has entered the Foundation Establishment stage can automatically claim one as their cultivation ground. As for cultivators in the Qi Condensation stage, they can only obediently find valleys and caves to cultivate in."
"A Foundation Establishment cultivator can own an entire peak by themselves?" Han Li was quite surprised.
"Yes, but the Foundation Establishment cultivators on this island have already occupied nearly all of them. For Qi Condensation cultivators like us, we shouldn't harbor such fantasies." The young man said with self-deprecation.
"Oh!" Various thoughts turned over in Han Li's mind, and he felt a surge of excitement.
"By the way. Those three main peaks are so tall and massive. The spiritual qi on them must be even more abundant!" Han Li suddenly asked as if something had occurred to him.
"Of course. The tallest one, Heavenly Pillar Peak, is the site of the island's Spiritual Eye — the cultivation place of Island Master Master Wooden Dragon. No other cultivators are permitted to enter. I've heard that Island Master Wooden Dragon has reached the mid-stage of Core Formation. His powers are truly formidable. As for Heavenly Gate Peak and Celestial Night Peak, those are the cave abodes of the two Vice Island Masters, Master Yuan Jun and Master Kan Qin. Although slightly inferior to Heavenly Pillar Peak, their spiritual qi is still several times richer than elsewhere." As Wen Qiang spoke, a look of envy appeared on his face.
"Fellow Daoist Wen, are the two Vice Island Masters also seniors at the Core Formation stage?" Han Li raised an eyebrow slightly and asked slowly.
"The two Vice Island Masters are not only early-stage Core Formation cultivators, but also a pair of dual cultivation partners." Wen Qiang said with a knowing nod.
Hearing this, Han Li inadvertently furrowed his brow slightly.
That Kui Star Island alone had three Core Formation cultivators — this was truly beyond his expectations.
While Han Li was contemplating this inwardly, he and Wen Qiang had already entered Azure Cloud Mountain. They occasionally encountered a few other cultivators riding their magical treasures through the air.
These cultivators merely cast cold glances at the pair before flying off on their own.
Half an hour later, under Wen Qiang's guidance, Han Li finally arrived at a relatively tall peak.
Atop the summit stood a two-story pavilion. It was impossible to tell how long it had been built. Its exterior was not only dilapidated but exceedingly weathered. A signboard with a missing corner hung above the door, on which three crooked black characters were written: "Ascension Pavilion."
Seeing this, Han Li was stunned.
"This is the place..." Although he could see the signboard, Han Li still couldn't believe it, and couldn't help but turn to Wen Qiang.
"As much as I hate to admit it, this is indeed the Ascension Pavilion." The young man said with a helpless expression, spreading his hands.
"Well then, I'll take my leave here. Also, the senior in charge of the Ascension Pavilion has a rather eccentric temperament! You should be careful!" The young man waved goodbye to Han Li and transmitted a word of caution as he departed.
Han Li watched the young man disappear with an indifferent gaze, shook his head almost unconsciously, and then descended before the pavilion with a composed expression, walking toward it at a leisurely pace.
But just as he reached the door, a somewhat sinister voice reached his ears.
"Come in! The door is ajar." Upon hearing this, Han Li felt a chill, but he entered the pavilion without the slightest hesitation.
Stepping inside, Han Li was dumbfounded.
The interior was completely opposite to the building's shabby exterior — it was decorated with resplendent magnificence!
The floor was covered with fiery red, gleaming precious silk. The walls were inlaid with gold and embedded with jade, countless glittering gemstones flickering upon them. Several stalks of brilliantly colored flowers and plants — species Han Li couldn't even begin to identify — were arranged in the corners of the pavilion.
Across from Han Li sat a peculiar stone bed. The bed emanated an eerie blue glow. Though he couldn't tell what material it was made of, it was undoubtedly something extremely rare and precious.
Upon it reclined a middle-aged man with a haggard complexion. He wore a dazzling crimson fur robe, cradling an enormous white pearl in both arms, and was gazing at Han Li with an indifferent expression.
"Greetings, Senior. I am here to process my settlement registration. Might I ask if you are the one in charge?" Han Li suppressed his astonishment, bowed, and asked respectfully.
"Settlement? Do you have a guarantor?" The middle-aged man coughed lightly and asked feebly.
"I do." Han Li immediately produced the document given to him by the Gu family, stepped forward, and handed it over.
He dared not underestimate this person, for the fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from the man's body clearly told him that this was a powerful cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
The middle-aged man took the signed document from Han Li, glanced over it briefly, and set it aside. Then, a sharp light flashed in his eyes as he looked Han Li up and down.
"I heard that a new cultivator arrived on the island and defeated someone from the guard squad at only the fifth layer. That wouldn't happen to be you, would it?" The middle-aged man stroked the pearl in his arms with one hand and asked suddenly, somewhat nonchalantly.
Hearing this question, Han Li was slightly alarmed inside but quickly replied with humility:
"This junior was merely lucky! It's nothing worthy of note!"
"Hmph! Lucky..." The man let out a cold, derisive snort.
Seeing the man's expression, Han Li frowned inwardly while feeling somewhat puzzled.
"This match was only a few days ago. How does this person already know about it?"
As if seeing through Han Li's confusion, the middle-aged man tightened the fur robe around his body and said without any change in expression:
"The guard squad member you defeated happens to be one of my worthless disciples! To have lost to an opponent with lower cultivation — I've already sent him to face the wall in reflection as punishment."
Hearing this, Han Li was first stunned, then broke into a bitter smile.
This was far too much of a coincidence! Was this man perhaps looking to avenge his disciple?
Han Li grew somewhat uneasy.
"Rest assured, this is merely a matter between juniors. I won't resort to bullying those beneath me. But five years from now, I hope you will compete with my worthless disciple once more. Regardless of the outcome, I will consider this matter settled." The middle-aged man glanced sideways at Han Li and said coldly.
"Since Senior makes this request, this junior naturally will not refuse!" Han Li felt relieved and agreed immediately.
Seeing Han Li agree so readily, the middle-aged cultivator was first taken aback, but then showed a satisfied expression.
"Now, let me process your settlement registration." A white light flashed on the middle-aged man's hand, and the pearl vanished abruptly. He then sat up slowly and spoke.
The so-called settlement procedure was quite simple. The middle-aged man produced a golden register from his person and inscribed Han Li's name in it, and that was all. Of course, the green jade medallion Han Li had received upon entering the port was confiscated and replaced with a blue jade pendant.
This jade pendant shimmered with blue light and was actually a low-level magical treasure. According to the middle-aged man, it had a mild water-repelling effect, which was quite practical.
But next, the middle-aged man produced a silver album from his person and tossed it to Han Li.
"Places marked with golden light are already occupied. The white ones are vacant cultivation sites you can choose from. Pick one yourself. Cough, cough..." The middle-aged man's health seemed rather poor. Having spoken these few sentences a bit too quickly, he couldn't stop coughing lightly, looking as though he were seriously ill.