Another reason was that Han Li wanted to step out for some fresh air and gather some information.
He had been laying low in Lingjun City for over a decade and it was about time to start preparing the herbs required for the Rebirth Pill.
For more than ten years, no one had come to Lingjun City in search of him, and Han Li felt there probably wasn't anyone who knew he possessed the Rebirth Pill Formula.
It was quite possible that Qiu Xuan and those two assassins were the only three who knew, and having likely all died, he no longer needed to worry.
Han Li was half right in his guess. In reality, only Qiu Xuan knew the Rebirth Pill Formula, the two Pihai Realm assassins who attacked him were unaware of it.
At that time, Qiu Xuan had stumbled into a heritage site while adventuring outside, where he found the Rebirth Pill Formula. Although there seemed to be many more treasures inside, Qiu Xuan resisted his greed and left immediately.
When he left, he appeared out of thin air at a certain place in Dingyuan Manor, with excitement, thrill, and happiness written all over his face, just as two Pihai Realm cultivators happened to pass by and saw him.
Those two Pihai Realm cultivators realized Qiu Xuan must have come across a great opportunity; not bothering to find out what it was, they lied in ambush to kill him and seize his treasures, only to be counter-slain by Qiu Xuan.
After this incident, Qiu Xuan didn't dare to show any signs of his find and forcefully calmed himself, enduring his serious injuries as he flew back to Fenglei City. Not long after Han Li arrived, Qiu Xuan passed away.
...
Several days later, Han Li left Lingjun City and flew towards Lingyuan County.
Lingyuan County, like Lingjun County, was one of the hundreds of counties within Fengyang Prefecture, with its county town being Lingyuan City.
The Loose Cultivator gathering of the Pihai Realm was taking place within the boundaries of Lingyuan County but not in Lingyuan City itself. Instead, it was in a secluded area, away from the prying eyes and the hustle and bustle, to avoid leaking information and to facilitate an easy departure for everyone after the gathering.
It took Han Li less than half a day to reach his destination.
Instead of entering, he found a hidden spot nearby to wait and watch; there were still three days left until the start of the Loose Cultivator gathering.
Han Li wanted to see who would be attending this time, whether there were any Gangyuan Realm cultivators mingling among them, or if there were any cultivators with ill intentions.
Two to three miles in front of him, there was a steep mountain peak that soared into the clouds with cliffs and precipices, and where Spiritual Energy was rather weak. It was scarcely visited by people, but now, four individuals were guarding at the foot of the mountain.
All four were Innate Realm cultivators concealed at the base of the mountain, ready to come out and guide any Pihai Realm Loose Cultivators who arrived.
Han Li saw an Innate Realm cultivator leading a Loose Cultivator with a concealed face up the mountain. They vanished halfway up the slope, an obvious sign of a hidden Formation; the gathering was taking place inside.
Han Li had a lot of patience and waited there for three days. He noticed that more than twenty Pihai Realm Loose Cultivators came, mostly in the early or middle Pihai Realm. However, there were also cultivators in the late or even peak Pihai Realm, with pure and potent auras that might have hailed from prestigious sects.
The origins of these Loose Cultivators were complicated and varied. Han Li didn't delve into it deeply; he just wanted to know how many there were to avoid being caught off guard by someone pretending to be weaker than they were.
He even discovered a ninth-tier Innate Realm Loose Cultivator sneaking in, who possessed an item that could conceal his aura, undetectable by Pihai Realm cultivators, but Han Li was a Gang Yuan Realm cultivator.
After another two hours of observation, seeing that no one else was coming, Han Li slowly flew towards them, pretending he had only just arrived. The aura he displayed was merely that of a second-tier Pihai Realm cultivator.
But if someone tried to undermine him, Han Li could instantly transform into a sixth-tier Gang Yuan Realm cultivator. His accumulated cultivation was even likely enough to advance to the latter stages of the Gang Yuan Realm.
Arriving late, Han Li was immediately approached by one of the Innate Realm cultivators at the foot of the mountain, who respectfully asked, "Senior, are you here to join the grand gathering?"
A grand gathering?
"These loose cultivators really know how to flatter themselves, not even having a single Gang Yuan Realm among them and yet daring to call it a grand event," he thought, but he still nodded his head.
"Senior, please follow me. I'll show you the way," said the cultivator of the Innate Realm respectfully.
Although he knew where to go, Han Li didn't show it; he simply waved his hand, enveloping the young fellow in his energy, and together they flew up the mountain under his guidance.
When they were halfway up the mountain, the youngster immediately said, "Senior, we have arrived."
The two landed, and Han Li casually rewarded him with some resources before walking into the formation. Watching Han Li disappear and then looking at the bottles of pills in his hand, the youngster felt a burning desire for the Pihai Realm.
Upon entering, Han Li found the place to be quite expansive—at least seven or eight square kilometers. Nearly half of the central portion of the entire mountain had been hollowed out.
Some twenty or thirty people gathered here, and it didn't feel crowded. There was still plenty of open space, with many loose cultivators already setting up stalls, selling various cultivation resources, and some gathered in groups, conversing in low tones.
After Han Li arrived, he did not conceal his appearance and was recognized by many loose cultivators. His displayed cultivation level wasn't high, but he was well-known throughout Fengyang Prefecture. Didn't everyone know of Han of Lingjun City's fondness for taking concubines?
Some loose cultivators' eyes lit up, seeing him as an easy mark; others merely glanced and averted their gaze, their eyes filled with contempt, looking down on Han Li for his lascivious nature and lack of commitment to proper cultivation; some cultivators appeared thoughtful, while others were expressionless, indifferent to Han Li's arrival...
Han Li took note of everyone's expressions, remained silent, and gave the Innate Realm cultivator at the ninth layer, who seemed like a scoundrel, an extra glance. Even though he couldn't clearly see the cultivator's face, Han Li felt there was something more to him.
His participation in the loose cultivators' gathering was not only to genuinely exchange for some pill formulas, refining blueprints, and other cultivation resources but also to go fishing.
Not concealing his appearance was the bait he'd cast, and later, when he exchanged items and revealed his wealth, if any loose cultivator harbored ill intentions, they would surely ambush him along the way, which would allow Han Li to conveniently capture them.
This way, he would acquire some cultivation resources—after all, no one gets rich without unearned wealth—and display some of his cultivation level, hence letting the outside world know his progress. This was another net he'd cast, to confuse any potential enemies.
When Old Han went fishing, he always welcomed those who wished to take the bait.
"Han my friend, you truly possess the art of maintaining a youthful appearance, it's really enviable," said an old man clad in a bright red robe, his eyes flashing with envy as he looked at Han Li.
Both being Pihai Realm cultivators and over two hundred years old, Han Li and most of the Pihai Realm loose cultivators present were complete opposites.
Most Pihai Realm loose cultivators looked middle-aged or older, some even white-haired and wrinkled, obviously of advanced age.
Han Li was completely different; he looked like a handsome twenty-year-old youth, vibrant and elegant with a noble bearing, dressed in brocaded garments, with a zeal jasper hanging at his waist, the very picture of a learned and romantic figure.
"Hmph—just a pretty old face," some loose cultivators muttered enviously.
"Li my friend you possess the air of a celestial being, now that's truly enviable," Han Li said offhandedly.
This man, named Li Deshun, was quite famous in Fengyang Prefecture, a seventh-layer Pihai Realm loose cultivator with a place of his own in the manor city. He had organized this gathering of loose cultivators.
Li Deshun was quite ambitious, aiming to rally the Pihai Realm loose cultivators and actively connect the Fengyang Prefecture Cultivator Alliance to ascend to the position of the alliance's leader. Many cultivators were aware of this but paid it little mind.
"Hahaha~"
Li Deshun laughed, finding Han Li to be quite the sociable man and a talent. Should Han Li run into any trouble, he wouldn't mind lending a hand to help.