Mortal: My name is Ma Liang, and I also possess a magic brush.

Ma Liang raised his hand and used a wisp of spiritual energy to lift Wen Siyue up. "It's nothing. I've already explained why I helped you back then."

"You still haven't told me how your family is doing these days? And why did you join the Wonderful Sound Sect?"

"Senior, it's not just me; my father and mother are also in the Miaoyin Sect now. It's a long story..."

She suddenly changed the subject, looking curiously at Ma Liang, "By the way, senior, what brings you to Tianxing City? Is there anything we can help you with?"

"I did come to Tianxing City on important business, but there's nothing you can do to help with it."

He changed the subject and looked at Zi Ling, "But your sect leader might be able to help."

He pointed to Wen Siyue beside him, "Now that Siyue is here to testify, how much of what I said earlier do you believe?"

Zi Ling remained tight-lipped, carefully choosing her words.

"I need to consider what you have said more carefully, senior. May I have some time?"

Ma Liang didn't press the matter further, simply nodded, and turned to leave.

"Senior!" Wen Siyue called out to him, "Would you like to come home with me? My parents are very worried about repaying your kindness!"

Just as Ma Liang was about to agree, a dense green pillar of spiritual energy suddenly shot into the sky from a distant mountain peak.

The pure wood-attribute spiritual energy surged and spread, instantly stirring up the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Ma Liang scanned the beam of light with his divine sense and instantly discerned its nature.

He immediately laughed and said, "Siyue, you should go back first. I have some urgent business to attend to. I'll come find you when I have time later."

As soon as he finished speaking, he transformed into a streak of light and rushed towards the direction of the green pillar of light.

Zi Ling stared at the pillar of light shooting into the sky, "This is... someone is forming their core!"

Ma Liang landed on a peak opposite the pillar of light, stood with his hands behind his back, and locked onto the source of the towering pillar of light.

"Han Li... I never expected to meet you here."

"Seeing you form your core here, I understand the current timeline."

Ma Liang was not in a hurry. He casually scanned the surroundings with his divine sense, found a flat spot, sat down cross-legged, and waited for Han Li to finish forming his core.

While waiting, a figure dressed in Star Palace attire flew over from a distance.

As Ma Liang was intently observing, another figure rose into the air from the other side, heading towards the Star Palace cultivator.

The two whispered a few words in mid-air, and then the Star Palace cultivator changed direction and quickly disappeared into the distance.

The person who was talking to the Star Palace cultivator seemed to have noticed his presence and immediately clasped his hands in a gesture of respect towards him.

Ma Liang also returned the greeting with clasped hands.

Upon seeing this, the man flew down from the peak, and after landing, he cupped his hands in greeting, "I am Jin Qing, greetings to this fellow Daoist."

Ma Liang also stood up to return the greeting, "I am Ma Liang, greetings to fellow Daoist."

"Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. Have you just arrived in Tianxing City?"

Ma Liang nodded and replied frankly, "Fellow Daoist has discerning eyes. I have just arrived in Tianxing City and happened to witness this place filled with spiritual light, so I came to see which fellow Daoist is forming their core here."

Jin Qing nodded in deep agreement, his gaze sweeping over the towering pillar of light. "Exactly. This fellow Daoist's Core Formation phenomenon is so magnificent that anyone who sees it will be curious about who he is."

As the two were talking, several more Core Formation cultivators arrived one after another.

They hovered at a distance, scanning the mansion below with their divine senses. After sensing the tight formation, they each took out a communication jade talisman and threw it towards the mansion.

Having done all this, they did not linger there, but transformed into streaks of light and quickly disappeared into the distance.

Ma Liang was observing the Core Formation cultivators hurrying to and fro when Jin Qing seemed to read his mind. "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Ma is just passing through Tianxing City, or if he intends to stay here for a while?"

Ma Liang replied frankly, "I have been traveling for a long time and am quite tired. I was planning to rest in Tianxing City for a while."

"That's great!"

"There are many cultivators in Tianxing City. On weekdays, they can exchange ideas and discuss the Dao with their fellow cultivators. In their spare time, they can also explore secret realms together and seek spiritual pills and treasures."

Ma Liang thought to himself: Forget it, I don't want to die so soon after going down into the secret realm with all of you.

He remained outwardly calm, saying, "What Fellow Daoist Jin said is quite right. If there is an opportunity in the future, I might as well give it a try."

Ma Liang had no intention of exchanging pleasantries with Jin Qing any further, and his gaze swept over the beam of light.

"Judging from this fellow Daoist's progress in forming his core, it will likely take some time. I have other important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

Jin Qingyi smiled and returned the greeting with a cupped hand, "If I have some free time in the future, I'll have another long chat with Fellow Daoist Ma."

The two clasped their hands in farewell, then each activated their spiritual power, transforming into two completely different streams of light that flew away in opposite directions.

Ma Liang did not flee far away. Instead, the moment he flew out of Jin Qing's sight, he suddenly turned back and landed in front of Han Li's residence where Han Li had reached the Core Formation stage.

He found a large rock about ten feet high, sat on it, and then sat cross-legged in meditation, waiting for the strange phenomenon of core formation in the cave to subside.

Ma Liang did not wait long. In less than an hour, the towering pillar of light slowly receded, and the surging spiritual energy and strange phenomena around it all dissipated.

"Finally over." He muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping over the layers of restrictions outside the mansion.

With a thought, he cast a concealment spell on himself. His spiritual energy rippled like water, and his figure became blurry and transparent. In just a few breaths, he completely disappeared from the spot.

Ma Liang remained hidden outside the barrier, waiting quietly.

Suddenly, a muffled thud was heard coming from the mansion.

In just a few breaths, Han Li, with his chest exposed and clothes half-open, strode out of his residence.

He gazed at the clear sky, his heart surging with intense emotions. After taking a deep breath, he proclaimed loudly, "Doctor Mo, Li Feiyu... did you see that? I, Han Li, have reached the Core Formation stage!"

Before the exclamation filled with endless emotion had faded, a voice that seemed to be both laughing and laughing suddenly came from the void without warning.

"I saw it."

"But why didn't you say my name?"

Han Li was so startled by the sudden sound that the hairs on his body stood on end.

Before he could think it through, he flipped his wrist, and several magical treasures shot out of his storage bag, hovering in front of him, ready to fight.

At the same time, Qu Hun stepped forward, standing like an iron tower protecting him.

Han Li then looked in the direction of the sound and saw a figure appearing on a large rock not far away, with a ripple-like spiritual light flowing around it.

Han Li recognized the figure, his pupils contracted sharply, and he blurted out, "Ma...Ma Liang!"

Ma Liang gave a faint smile. "What? After nearly a century, you've become so disrespectful? You can't even address me as 'Senior Brother' anymore?"

Han Li remained vigilant towards Ma Liang. "Why has Senior Brother Ma appeared here?"

Ma Liang took in his wariness. "There's no need for such hostility towards me. When have I ever harmed you?"

"As for why you're here, isn't it obvious? The scale of your Core Formation was so grand that the cultivators throughout Tianxing City have probably noticed it."

"I was just following the strange phenomenon to get closer to take a look, but I happened to sense a familiar aura, so I concealed myself to see who it was. I never expected it to be Junior Brother Han."

As he spoke, Ma Liang leaped down from the boulder and stepped outside the barrier.

He raised his hand and patted the barrier in front of him. "Junior Brother Han, let's remove this barrier. Today you've broken through to the Core Formation stage, so let's have a good drink to celebrate."