During this period, a major event occurred at Seven Xuan Sect, one that would have far-reaching consequences.
The idol of the new generation of disciples, Senior Brother Li, had displayed exceptional vigilance and insight. He successfully uncovered two undercover spies sent by the Wild Wolf Gang, who were attempting to steal the list of disciples' training schedules. Li Feiyu, along with a dozen other disciples, had captured them alive, earning him significant praise.
A few days later, Sect Leader Wang personally awarded Li Feiyu the position of Protector, promoting him to a mid-level position within the sect. This caused quite a stir, and Li Feiyu's reputation soared, earning him greater recognition among the disciples.
However, Han Li remained oblivious to all of this. He was entrenched in his own secluded training, spending most of his time in his private wooden cabin. Apart from occasional trips to the kitchen for food, he had little interaction with others. Thus, he was unaware of his friend's newfound prestige.
As summer gave way to autumn, time passed swiftly, and the final day of their agreed-upon meeting had arrived.
In the dense thicket at the bottom of the ravine, a strange figure flickered in and out of view among the sharp thorns and branches. The sharp spikes, lethal to most, posed no threat to him. It was as if he were a shadow, effortlessly darting through the tangled thorns, appearing near and then vanishing into the distance. The entire process was eerily silent, as if he weren't flesh and blood, but an ethereal being.
Finally, the figure stopped at the trunk of a tree, standing still and gazing into the distance. It was none other than Han Li, who had made significant progress in his cultivation.
His clothes were torn and ragged, exposing patches of his skin. His hair was disheveled, and his face was marked with streaks of dirt. What was most striking were the small iron bells hanging from his neck, waist, arms, thighs, and ankles.
Seeing these bells, it was easy to deduce that his movement technique had become extremely unusual. His ghostly movements were aided by these bells, which made no noise as he moved through the thorny wilderness.
He stood motionless, looking in the direction of Shenshou Valley, muttering to himself, "The timing is perfect. I've finally mastered the Mist Shadow Steps just in time. With this, I have a better chance of self-preservation."
Although his face couldn't be clearly seen, the joy in his eyes was unmistakable.
After months of painstaking research and practice, Han Li had successfully mastered several powerful secret techniques. He was confident that, even if he couldn't match Mo Dafu's unfathomable martial abilities, he could at least defend himself adequately.
A breeze blew past, and Han Li shivered slightly. He glanced down at his tattered clothes and reflected on his current appearance. He couldn't help but chuckle bitterly at his state.
Recalling his earlier training with the Mist Shadow Steps, he shuddered. Practicing his movement technique in the thicket had been a life-threatening experience. At first, his clumsy steps had caused him to be scratched and bloodied by the sharp thorns. Fortunately, he had Vitality Pills with him. These not only healed internal injuries but also worked wonders on external wounds. After taking one pill, the bleeding stopped and the wounds started healing immediately. By the next day, even the scars were gone without a trace.
Han Li was amazed by the effectiveness of the pills, which were far superior to any ordinary wound medicine. He couldn't help but wonder why the medicine was called Vitality Pill. To him, a name like "Scar-Removing Pill" or "Blood-Stopper" would have been more fitting.
Had the mysterious creator of the Vitality Pill known that his legendary healing medicine would be compared to a mere "wound salve" from the local street peddlers, he would have been absolutely furious!
But it was precisely because of the danger he faced while training that Han Li had been able to push himself to his limits. In just a few months, he had already mastered the Mist Shadow Steps, which was now ready for use in a real-life situation.
Moreover, his Changchun Gong had reached the sixth level just a few days ago. This was the highest level of the technique that Mo Dafu had provided him, and without the aid of the dozens of bottles of spirit medicine, Han Li knew he would have never managed to achieve it in his lifetime.
After years of practice, Han Li had gained considerable insight into the Changchun Gong and found it to be a unique and fascinating technique. Unlike most martial arts, its effects were largely psychological and spiritual, rather than physical.
The first few layers of Changchun Gong had been easy for Han Li to practice, but when he reached the fourth level, progress had slowed dramatically, and he had felt stuck for the first time. He suspected that the technique was designed to be highly dependent on the practitioner's innate talent, which would determine how easily they could advance. Those with high potential would naturally make swift progress, while those with lower talent would find themselves unable to progress without external aid.
For Han Li, the external aid came in the form of the spirit medicines. By consuming a pill or two every day, he had overcome the limitations of his natural talent, easily breezing through the fifth and sixth levels without the difficulties others might face.
The Changchun Gong's sixth level had provided Han Li with a significant boost in his mental and physical clarity, but he had yet to notice any other extraordinary benefits. It seemed that the true powers of the technique lay in the higher levels, but Han Li knew that, given his current relationship with Mo Dafu, reaching those higher levels was impossible for him.
With a sigh, Han Li shook his head, dismissing his thoughts. He couldn't afford to waste time pondering such things now. Tomorrow, he would meet Mo Dafu, and he needed to use his sharp mind to carefully plan the meeting. He needed to anticipate every possible scenario and be ready for any danger that might arise.
With determination in his eyes, Han Li leaped lightly to the ground, making not a sound. He strode purposefully toward the small wooden cabin, ready to face whatever lay ahead.