68: Han Li and Li Huayuan

Li Huayuan's mood at this moment could be described as a mix of emotions.

Only a handful of Huangfeng Valley Disciples who entered the Forbidden Ground returned, and they were all individuals he hadn't thought much of previously.

This Han Li had mediocre Aptitude and had joined the School only a short time ago, so he hadn't held much hope for him.

But now, he could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive.

He glanced at Han Li, seeing that although his clothes were somewhat dusty, his aura was still stable, unlike the disheveled old man and middle-aged woman.

"Han Li, who told you to hide so far back? Come here!" Li Huayuan frowned, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure, seemingly feeling that Han Li's timidity was an embarrassment to him.

Upon hearing this, Han Li's heart tensed, but he dared not show it on his face, merely taking a small step forward, appearing even more respectful.

"Yes, this Disciple is here."

Li Huayuan snorted, his gaze sweeping over Han Li with a hint of scrutiny, and he asked in a deep voice, "Did you gain anything from your trip into the Forbidden Ground? If you did, the School will not be stingy with rewards. If you returned empty-handed, do not be disheartened; after all, the Forbidden Ground is dangerous, and it's not easy to come out safely."

His words, the first half carried a faint expectation, but the latter half was already words of comfort, clearly indicating he didn't hold much hope for Han Li's gains.

After all, even many Disciples at Qi Refining Stage Level 13, and even Great Perfection, had either perished or returned empty-handed. What astonishing performance could a Qi Refining Stage Level 12 Han Li possibly have?

Hongfu Immortal watched quietly from the side, her beautiful eyes showing little ripple.

She had no impression of Han Li either.

Upon hearing this, Han Li secretly calculated in his heart.

The Spirit Medicine in his Storage Pouch was more than just abundant.

The Medicine Garden he had plundered contained countless hundred-year-old Spirit Medicine, and even several precious plants over a thousand years old.

If he took everything out, it would probably shock everyone present and even attract unnecessary covetousness and trouble.

He understood the principle that an innocent man is guilty because of his treasure.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Han Li revealed a perfectly timed smile on his face, reached into his robe, and took out several Spiritual Plants from his Storage Pouch.

"Reporting to Grandmaster, this Disciple's luck was rather good; I was fortunate enough to pick a few Spirit Medicine."

He held the Spirit Medicine in his palm and presented them.

Those Spiritual Plants were all around a hundred years old, and their quality was quite good, emitting a faint Medicinal Pill fragrance.

Most of the Disciples from other Schools present merely looked on with envy.

After all, those who could come out alive and with some gains were few. Hundred-year-old Spirit Medicine was quite valuable for Qi Refining Cultivators.

Li Huayuan's eyes shifted, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

"Oh? Hundred-year-old Blood-Pattern Grass, Azure Spirit Flower, and a two-hundred-year-old Condensing Dew Fruit?" He reached out and took them, examining them carefully for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Not bad, not bad. These Spirit Medicine are quite rare even within the Forbidden Ground. You, young man, do have some luck."

His tone finally held a hint of approval.

Although these few Spirit Medicine were far from enough for him to win his bet with Fuyun Zi, they were much better than the almost empty-handed return of the previous two Disciples.

At least, Huangfeng Valley would not return with nothing and lose all face.

Fuyun Zi, standing nearby, curled his lip into a disdainful sneer.

"Heh heh, a few hundred-year-old Spirit Medicine are worth such a fuss? Fellow Daoist Li, it seems your School's standard is only this much." His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached Li Huayuan's ears.

Li Huayuan's face darkened, and he was about to retort.

However, he saw Han Li standing in place, seemingly hesitant. After a moment, as if having made up his mind, he reached into his Storage Pouch again.

"Grandmaster, this Disciple... this Disciple still has some," Han Li said, looking a little embarrassed.

Li Huayuan was startled, and everyone else's gazes once again converged on Han Li.

Han Li then took out three or four more Spirit Medicine, each of which was clearly around two or three hundred years old! Among them, a "Purple Ape Flower" enveloped in purple Qi was even close to five hundred years old!

"Hiss!"

A chorus of soft gasps rose from around them.

Earlier, those few hundred-year-old Spirit Medicine had not caught much attention.

But with the appearance of these three to four hundred-year-old Spirit Medicine, their significance was completely different!

One must know that although there were many Spirit Medicine in the Blood Forbidden Ground, high-grade Spirit Medicine were often guarded by powerful Yao Beasts or grew in extremely secluded places, making them very difficult to pick.

Many Disciples from other Schools who had come out now looked at Han Li with a mix of surprise and jealousy.

Li Huayuan's eyes also lit up immediately.

"Good boy! You actually have such gains!" He snatched the Spirit Medicine, his face showing pleasant surprise.

The value of these Spirit Medicine was already quite considerable!

Fuyun Zi's sneer froze slightly, and his brows unconsciously furrowed.

Among his Qingxu Sect Disciples, the one with the most gains had only two or three hundred-year-old Spirit Medicine, and their quality was not as good as what Han Li had just taken out.

"Hmph, it's just good luck," Fuyun Zi thought to himself, but he said nothing more aloud.

However, Han Li's actions did not stop.

He seemed somewhat addicted, reaching into his Storage Pouch again and slowly fumbling around.

This time, he took out even more Spirit Medicine, as many as seven or eight!

Moreover, the Spiritual Qi fluctuations emitted by each Spirit Medicine far surpassed the previous ones!

"Six-hundred-year-old Dragon Saliva Grass!"

"Seven-hundred-year-old Jade Marrow Ganoderma!"

"Heavens, that Scarlet Flame Fruit must be eight hundred years old!"

Exclamations rose one after another.

Among the Core Formation Cultivators present, except for the Yanyue Sect's female Elder and Hongfu Immortal who could still maintain their composure, the others, including the beautiful woman from Tianque Fortress and the Sword-Bearing Daoist from Giant Sword Sect, now looked at Han Li with astonishment.

Li Huayuan's breathing even became somewhat hurried. He stared intently at the Spirit Medicine in Han Li's hand, his eyes blazing with light.

Any one of these Spirit Medicine, if taken out, would be incredibly valuable!

Especially that seven-hundred-year-old Scarlet Flame Fruit, for Cultivators who Cultivate fire-attribute Cultivation Technique, it was an even more coveted treasure!

"Hahahaha! Good! Good! Good!" Li Huayuan repeated "good" three times, snatching all the Spirit Medicine as if afraid they would grow wings and fly away.

His mood at this moment had simply ascended from Hell to Heaven!

He had previously worried that Huangfeng Valley would come in last and lose face this time.

Unexpectedly, this Han Li, whom he had always overlooked, had given him such a huge surprise!

The combined quantity and age of these Spirit Medicine were enough to surpass all other Schools!

Fuyun Zi's old face was now as black as the bottom of a pot.

He never expected that this seemingly unremarkable Huangfeng Valley Disciple could produce so many high-grade Spirit Medicine!

Could it be that this boy was accidentally teleported to a Medicine Garden?

His heart was filled with both jealousy and disbelief.

"Han Li, do you... do you have more?" Li Huayuan's voice was even trembling slightly. He looked at Han Li, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Han Li rubbed his nose, seeming a bit troubled, but ultimately nodded.

Under everyone's almost numb gazes, he slowly took out a Spiritual Plant from his Storage Pouch that was entirely crimson, shaped like coral, and emitted astonishing fire Spiritual Qi.

As soon as this plant appeared, the surrounding air seemed to heat up by several degrees.

An extremely rich Medicinal Pill fragrance permeated the air, invigorating those who smelled it.

"This... This is... Blood Ginseng?!" Even the Yanyue Sect's female Elder, who had always been as calm as an ancient well, couldn't help but gasp, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.

"Looking at its quality, its age... I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's nearly a thousand years old!" The Sword-Bearing Daoist from Giant Sword Sect said, his voice dry.

Thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine!

These four words exploded in everyone's ears like a thunderclap!

A Qi Refinement Stage Disciple actually managed to pick a nearly thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine?!

Li Huayuan's pupils, at the moment he saw that Blood Ginseng, sharply contracted to the size of a needlepoint!

His breathing stopped abruptly, his heart seemingly gripped tightly by an invisible large hand!

Blood Ginseng! And a nearly thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng!

This was precisely one of the main ingredients he had been painstakingly searching for decades to refine a crucial Medicinal Pill to treat his Dao Companion's illness!

Over the years, he had traversed the entire Yue Country, only finding some nearly hundred-year-old ones, which were far from old enough.

Unexpectedly, what he sought far and wide was found without any effort!

Han Li, this boy, actually found it in the Blood Forbidden Ground!

"Haha... Hahahahaha!"

After a brief moment of absentmindedness, Li Huayuan burst into thunderous laughter, filled with ecstasy and triumph.

He snatched the nearly thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng into his hand, trembling slightly with excitement.

He carefully held the Spirit Ginseng in his palm, as if cradling an unparalleled treasure, examining it repeatedly, liking it more and more with each look.

The Core Formation Cultivators from the other Schools around him now looked at Li Huayuan with envy.

Especially Fuyun Zi, whose old face had turned purplish-red like a pig's liver, his teeth grinding audibly.

He never dreamed that his confident bet would end in such a crushing defeat!

That single nearly thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng's value alone was enough to exceed the total gains of all the other six Schools combined!

Li Huayuan admired the Spirit Ginseng in his hand enough, then carefully put it away with satisfaction.

He turned his head, his gaze burning as he looked at Han Li, his face beaming with smiles. His kind and benevolent demeanor was completely different from before.

He quickly walked to Han Li's side, patted Han Li heavily on the shoulder, and at the same time, a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz entered Han Li's ear: "Han Li, my boy, well done! This Blood Ginseng is of great use to this old man! Don't worry, this old man will definitely not treat you unfairly! After returning to the Sect, not only will this old man ensure you enter the Inner Sect and enjoy the treatment of a Core Disciple, this old man... this old man will personally take you as my Disciple, how about it?"

Upon hearing this, Han Li's heart stirred, and he timely revealed a look of flattered joy, quickly bowing and saying, "This Disciple thanks Grandmaster for your great kindness! This Disciple is willing to become your Disciple!"

He naturally understood that Li Huayuan's current overture, while certainly influenced by the Spirit Medicine, was also a huge boon for him to be able to become the Disciple of a Core Formation Cultivator.

At least within Huangfeng Valley, his future Cultivation path would be much smoother.

Li Huayuan was even more overjoyed to see Han Li agree.

He turned around, looking triumphantly at the ashen-faced Fuyun Zi, and laughed loudly, "Fellow Daoist Fuyun Zi, do you see? This is my newly accepted Disciple, Han Li! Although he only joined the School two and a half years ago and his Cultivation is only at Qi Refining Stage Level 12, he has profound fortune and was able to pick so many rare Spirit Medicine in the Blood Forbidden Ground, and even a nearly thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng!"

He paused, lifting his chin high, and said smugly, "Fellow Daoist Fuyun Zi, how is my newly accepted Disciple's performance? Are you convinced?"

Fuyun Zi was so angered by Li Huayuan's words that he trembled all over, his old face flushed crimson.

He glared fiercely at Li Huayuan, then looked at the calm-faced Han Li, and finally squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "Consider... consider yourself lucky!"

With that, he violently flicked his sleeve, taking out an inner core from his Storage Pouch, the size of a dragon's eye, entirely blood-red, and emitting astonishing fire-attribute spiritual power. It was precisely the inner core of the level four top-tier Yao Beast, the Bloodline Fire Dragon.

He threw the inner core directly towards Li Huayuan without even looking, with such force as if to vent all the anger in his heart.

"Hmph! Here's your item! Let's go!"

Fuyun Zi snorted coldly, no longer having the face to stay there. He led the remaining dozen or so Qingxu Sect Disciples away dejectedly, disappearing from everyone's sight in a blink of an eye.

Li Huayuan steadily caught the Bloodline Fire Dragon inner core, feeling the surging fire-attribute spiritual power within, and his smile became even brighter.

He put the inner core into his Storage Pouch, his gaze sweeping over the Core Formation Cultivators from the other Schools, whose expressions varied. He felt extremely delighted in his heart.

How many years has it been!

He, Li Huayuan, had finally had his moment of triumph in front of these old fellows!

And all of this was thanks to his newly accepted Disciple!

The more he looked at Han Li, the more pleasing he found him.