The other looked at the master and apprentice with their mischievous smiles, feeling a bit unable to bear looking directly at them. They were members of the Spirit Hall, which worships the Angel God, yet the two always gave off a villainous vibe.
"Do we need to stay a few days to lure out that person in black and deal with them?"
Azure Luan suggested cautiously.
"No need. On the way out, just have Sister Yan and Grandpa reset the poison formation. Others won't be able to find this place," Han Li shook his head. Once he left, the consciousness of the realm would reseal this area.
By then, not to mention Tang Hao, even if the entire Clear Sky Sect came as a group, they would be misled to other places, making it almost impossible to enter here.
"Don't worry, just leave it to Xiao Li to handle," Guang Ling chimed in from the side. If he had been worried about Han Li before, now that Tang Hao had delivered himself to their doorstep, he would probably have been played to death by Han Li.
"Alright, let's leave it to Xiao Li then."
Azure Luan thought for a moment, considering Han Li's combat power and the opponent's situation. The person had fled in a hurry after being startled by Han Li's aura alone, and Guang Ling obviously knew something, so he readily agreed.
"Okay, should we tidy up this place?"
Dugu Bo, seeing that they had finished discussing, pointed to the severely damaged basin with some heartache and said.
It was a top-notch medicinal field, after all. Fortunately, they had already collected the precious herbs earlier. As for the seeds, they were still buried in the soil, but given the current state, they also needed to be rechecked.
"I overlooked this point," Han Li glanced around at the situation, feeling a bit of a headache.
This was an oversight on his part. He didn't expect that during the condensation of his soul core, the commotion would be so great. The environmental damage was mostly caused by the space elements, resulting in such a dire situation.
"Then let's stay for another day to tidy this place up. It will be needed in the future."
Without much thought, Han Li made the decision. He originally planned to leave after today.
Everyone nodded in agreement, and under Dugu Bo's guidance, the three women began checking the condition of the previously planted medicinal seeds. Guang Ling and Azure Luan dealt with the scattered stones and leveled the ground.
As for Han Li, he activated his elemental vision and domain to calm the surrounding energy so as not to affect the others.
After Han Li took the soul bone from the skeleton below the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the energy concentration here actually decreased. Fortunately, he didn't take everything; he only took the soul bone. The intact skeleton and some residual blood remained below. Continuing to maintain the status quo wouldn't be much of an issue, though the effect might be slightly diminished.
While smoothing out the surrounding energy, Han Li silently pondered the rules related to ice and fire. Because of the attention from the divine realm and the fact that the others didn't know about the matters of the gods, there were some things Han Li didn't say.
After obtaining the soul bone of the Ice and Fire Dragon King, the gains he mentioned before could only be considered scraps. The greatest gain was the remnants of their divine consciousness and the purified spiritual will that provided insights into the rules of ice and fire.
The former allowed him the ability to slowly accumulate and then rapidly advance across realms, while the latter, although rules comprehension wouldn't be difficult with the realm's consciousness, could still save him some time.
Overall, this was the biggest gain from his plan this time. Other things were merely intentionally displayed for the divine realm to see.
With this setup, having demonstrated the potential to become a god independently, and in the eyes of the gods, having completely opposed the soul beasts, his upcoming actions on the continent to gather faith, even if they stirred up a bit, wouldn't be closely scrutinized by the divine realm, right?
Han Li quietly contemplated his current actions, speeding up his work.
Soon, they finished their tasks and gathered again, looking at the restored Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with satisfied expressions.
"It's already past noon; let's just prepare dinner now. Once we leave here tomorrow, we should head back directly," Guang Ling suggested.
"Sure, it's rare for Master to have this enthusiasm."
Han Li immediately agreed. With everything settled and the group's strength significantly improved, it was indeed a reason to celebrate.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get started," Guang Ling urged, glancing at the others still standing around.
In the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the group began to busy themselves. Skydream, whose nest was not yet complete, was also pulled in to help, taken by Dugu Bo to hunt for prey outside.
It wasn't until the sunset's afterglow that the group and the beast began their celebration. Laughter, singing, and the aroma of food filled the basin, creating a delightful scene.
It was late into the night when the basin gradually quieted down, and everyone returned to their stone chambers—some to cultivate and others to sleep.
As for Skydream, it lay in the basin, the sky as its blanket and the earth as its bed, entering a peaceful sleep. It's normal for a soul beast to sleep in the wild, especially here where there's no worry about attacks from other soul beasts, allowing it to sleep soundly.
The next day, it wasn't until 10 a.m. that everyone gradually emerged from their stone chambers, with all their belongings packed. Skydream was still busy building its nest.
After Han Li had a private chat with Skydream and bid farewell, he and the group headed outside.
When they finished setting up the poison formation and were ready to leave the Sunset Forest, Guang Ling remembered something and pointed inside.
"Won't that big bug starve to death? What if it tries to steal the medicinal herbs?"
Hearing his master's words, Han Li couldn't help but chuckle, "Don't worry, Master. I left it a backdoor, and with its current ice attribute strength, as long as it doesn't act recklessly, getting through here safely shouldn't be too difficult."
"As for the herbs, do you think it would dare?"
"It certainly wouldn't dare."
Guang Ling thought of Skydream's behavior, knowing its past experiences and cautious nature, and shook his head with a smile.
"That being said, there's no place more suitable for it than here, no wonder it looks so delighted."
Chatting and joking, it didn't take long for them to exit the Sunset Forest.
"Alright, we won't be going to Heaven Dou City; let's part ways here. Remember to write back."
On the plains outside the forest, Guang Ling glanced at the four of them and casually announced their farewell.
"Aren't you going to see Qian Renxue?"
Han Li instinctively asked.
"No need, just take a message to her for me. This trip has already taken a lot of time, and I have things to report to the Worship Hall. Afterward, I need to go into seclusion."
"I don't want to delay any longer and then be surpassed by you."
Guang Ling shook his head in refusal, ending with a self-deprecating remark.
He had already said what he needed to during his conversation with Han Li the previous night, so returning to Heaven Dou City wasn't necessary. Plus, allowing Han Li and Xiaoxue to interact more was beneficial.
"Alright, then we'll part here."
Han Li looked at the group for confirmation and, after receiving it, responded.
"That's it, then. We're leaving. You all head back on your own."
The three titled Douluo left a parting word, spread their wings, confirmed their direction, and soared into the sky, quickly disappearing from view.
"Okay, let's head back as well."
After watching the three disappear, Han Li and the three women turned and began their journey home.
...
In the new mansion in Heaven Dou City, upon returning, Han Li greeted the three and then went straight into his room.
In the mental space, Han Li looked at his well-behaved little sphere, now adorned with more patterns, his mind racing.
After a while, he spoke up.
"Are you saying you want to go back into slumber again?"
Hearing his inquiry, the little sphere nestled at his feet.
"Yes, Father, your recent advancement has once again triggered my evolution. Although I can continue for a while longer, I hope to enter slumber soon."
"I have a feeling that when I wake up again, I will have grasped all my powers and can be of even greater help to you."
The little sphere was very earnest in its attitude.
"Alright, you can go into slumber now."
Han Li tapped the armrest and made his decision.
"Praise you, great Father."
The little sphere fluttered around Han Li excitedly, expressing its joy.
After they chatted for a while longer, the little sphere withdrew its consciousness and disappeared from the mental space to enter its slumber.
Han Li didn't leave immediately but instead attempted various operations, though he was still somewhat inexperienced.
Although the consciousness of the realm had fallen into slumber, its relevant permissions were simultaneously transferred to Han Li.
No, to be precise, Han Li inherently held the highest authority, while the realm consciousness was merely an administrator he had appointed.
Previously, his power was too weak, and his understanding of the rules was too vague, preventing him from direct contact.
Now, he possessed a divine consciousness, albeit a fragmented one, and had mastered his own ice and fire essence, even if only at an introductory level. Undoubtedly, he now had the qualifications to handle things personally.
"There's not much difference."
Awkwardly operating the functions previously demonstrated by the well-behaved sphere, Han Li reassured himself, sweating profusely.
A beginner at the helm, but it's not unusable, right?
"Next, I should create a bit of a stir to make them temporarily stop paying attention. I must say, these gazes are rather annoying."
After taking over the permissions, Han Li felt the attention from the divine realm. Although it was still somewhat vague, it undeniably made him a bit restless.
"Don't blame me for being ruthless, Tang San. Since you're the one chosen by Asura, no one is more suitable than you as a decoy. I have no choice but to trouble you a bit."
Han Li murmured, selecting without any psychological burden the person to draw the attention away.
"Faith and authority—I'm becoming more of a God now. Perhaps I could even attempt a divine conference?"
Han Li mocked himself and exited the mental space.