Chapter 638: Nine Grades of Immortal Treasures
"Celestial Maiden Mo, the Floating Cloud Mountain Range is fraught with peril right now. Even for a Golden Immortal like yourself, it's far too dangerous to remain here," Duan Yuzai urged.
Daoist Master Jingyang and the others also chimed in in agreement, trying to dissuade her from her decision, but Mo Wuxue shook her head with a determined expression as she said, "Thank you for your concern, everyone, but I've already sworn a vow to remain in the Leisure Valley and wait for the return of a certain person."
Yu Ziqi's complexion paled slightly as he lowered his head upon hearing this.
Han Li naturally noticed this reaction from Yu Ziqi, and his brows furrowed ever so slightly, but he didn't say anything.
It seemed that Yu Ziqi had already confessed his feelings to Mo Wuxue, but there appeared to be some obstacle standing between them.
Immortal Lord Hot Flame and the others exchanged a glance with one another, and all of them chose to remain silent as well.
It was simply not in their place to be commenting on the relationships of others.
"Having said that, please take Fellow Daoist Yu with you to the Hundred Creations Mountain, Fellow Daoist Jingyang. He still hasn't fully recovered from his injuries, so he needs some more time to rest and recuperate," Mo Wuxue said.
Daoist Master Jingyang was just about to reply when Yu Ziqi sprang to his feet and declared, "Of you're not leaving, then I'm staying here with you."
A complex look appeared in Mo Wuxue's eyes upon hearing this, and she lowered her head as she heaved a forlorn sigh, but didn't turn him down.
A slightly awkward silence descended upon the pavilion.
"Seeing as both of you have already made up your minds, we won't say anything further. I'll set up some Hundred Creations Mountain restrictions around the valley later, and I'm sure that'll at least be somewhat effective in intimidating whoever it is that's been wreaking havoc in the valley," Daoist Master Jingyang said.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Jingyang," Mo Wuxue said with a grateful expression.
Just because she had chosen to stay here didn't mean that she didn't fear death. The Hundred Creations Mountain was vastly renowned near Jade Gathering City and throughout the entire Black Mountain Immortal Region, so with this restriction in place, they would be much safer in the valley.
Yu Ziqi also hurriedly rose to his feet to express his gratitude.
Everyone chatted for a while longer before parting ways, and Daoist Master Jingyang flew out of the valley to begin setting up the restriction.
Mo Wuxue also returned to her cave abode, and before long, Han Li and Yu Ziqi were the only ones left in the pavilion.
Meanwhile, Yu Ziqi stared after Mo Wuxue with a dazed expression, only withdrawing his gaze after she had already entered her cave abode.
Han Li heaved an internal sigh upon seeing this, but there was no further part that he could play in their relationship.
Even though he had only been with these people for a few centuries, he had found some warmth and friendship here, both of which were extremely rare and precious things in the harsh world of cultivation, and that was why he was willing to help them.
Perhaps only by casting aside the fulfillment of certain desires could one hope to regain some precious things that they had lost in the past, but ultimately, such a lifestyle was destined to be nothing more than a fleeting affair.
"Fellow Daoist Yu, these pills are for you, and they should be helpful for your recovery," Han Li said as he summoned a storage ring before handing it to Yu Ziqi.
"I already owe you a great deal for saving my life, I can't accept any more of your pills. I'll be fully recovered in a few more years at most, so I won't waste your precious pills," Yu Ziqi hurriedly refused.
"These pills are no longer very useful to me, so don't turn them down, Fellow Daoist Yu. The sooner you recover from your injuries, the less that Celestial Maiden Mo has to worry about you," Han Li said as he set the storage ring down beside Yu Ziqi.
Having gained eight time law threads last time, the rate of recovery of the Time Dao Runes on his Mantra Treasured Axis had increased significantly, and at this point, all of the runes had recovered.
Of course, while Han Li was very pleased to see this, his main objective for trying to secure more time law threads was to see whether accruing a sufficient number of them will actually allow him to physically transmigrate using the Heaven Controlling Vial.
Daoist Master Jingyang raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, and after a brief moment of contemplation, he flipped a hand over to summon a small golden lock.
The golden lock was giving off incredibly formidable time law power fluctuations, far superior to that of the Time Severing Flagon and the azure wooden ruler that Han Li had previously acquired, and his eyes immediately lit up at the sight of it.
"This is a time-attribute immortal treasures. It's only a ninth-grade one, but given that it contains one of the three paramount laws, its value is equivalent to that of a normal seventh-grade immortal origin stones.
“I still owe you eighty thousand Immortal Origin Stones from last time, and now that you're leaving, I have to repay my debt, so I'll be doing so in the form of this lock," Daoist Master Jingyang said, and it was clear that he was very reluctant to part with the lock, but he still handed it to Han Li.
"A ninth-grade immortal treasure? There are grades among immortal treasures? Why have I never heard of this before?" Han Li asked with a perplexed expression.
"You're not aware of this? I suppose that makes sense. Generally speaking, only High Zenith cultivators are privy to this information," Daoist Master Jingyang replied with a smile. "All treasures of a sufficient caliber that contain law powers can be referred to as immortal treasures, but there are huge discrepancies between immortal treasures.
“Our Hundred Creations Mountain invented a grading system depending on how much law powers an immortal treasure contains, with the ninth grade being the lowest, and the first grade being the highest. As I just said, this golden lock is a ninth-grade immortal treasure."
"If this lock contains such immense law powers, yet is only a ninth-grade immortal treasure, then doesn't that mean that most immortal treasures wouldn't be graded at all?" Han Li asked with a stunned expression.
"That is indeed the case. Graded immortal treasures are extremely precious, and generally speaking, they're only in the possession of High Zenith cultivators. As for cultivators below the High Zenith Stage, the vast majority of the immortal treasures that they own are ungraded.
“For someone at or below the Golden Immortal Stage, obtaining an immortal treasure is already a very difficult task in itself," Daoist Master Jingyang explained with a smile.
"I see," Han Li replied with a nod, then looked down at the golden lock in his hand.
The lock contained such immense law powers that it outshone almost all of the immortal treasures in his possession, and it was definitely worth more than eighty thousand Immortal Origin Stones, so this was clearly a gesture of goodwill from Daoist Master Jingyang.
"This is too precious a treasure to be worth a measly eighty thousand Immortal Origin Stones, but it is indeed something that I require, so I won't refuse. I owe you a favor for this," Han Li said with a serious expression as he stowed the lock away.
"There's no need to be so serious about it, Fellow Daoist Li. I'm glad that it's to your liking," Daoist Master Jingyang replied with a faint smile.
He had a good grasp on Han Li's personality, and he knew that Han Li wasn't the type of person who would accept kindness without reciprocation. As a Heavenly Pill Master, Daoist Master Jingyang knew that Han Li would definitely be able to assist him greatly in the future.
After that, the two of them chatted for a while longer before parting ways.
Right as Han Li was about to depart, a voice suddenly rang out in his mind.
"Fellow Daoist Li, no matter where you go from here, make sure you do not use that Fire Leaf Sect elder badge ever again."
Han Li stopped in his tracks as he turned back to the Leisure Valley with a surprised look in his eyes.
That voice belonged to none other than Immortal Lord Hot Flame.
At this moment, Immortal Lord Hot Flame's cave abode was completely empty, and only a faint burst of spatial fluctuations remained within its walls, but that also quickly faded.
Despite the restrictions present in Immortal Lord Hot Flame's cave abode, they were unable to keep out Han Li's Infernal Devilish Eyes.