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

As soon as Zi Ling returned to Miaoyin Sect, she paced back and forth in her room, her mind in turmoil.

The information Ma Liang provided was too crucial. She pondered it several times, wanting to verify its authenticity with Old Monster Chi Huo, yet unable to suppress her curiosity about "Junior Brother Han"—who exactly was he, and did she really know him?

Thinking of this, she took out a wooden box from her storage bag, inside which was a small piece of Thunder Bamboo.

She closed the box, deciding to find out Han's identity first before deciding whether to take out the item.

Zi Ling immediately took flight from the room and headed towards Han Li's residence.

The two places were not far apart, and in no time she arrived at Han Li's residence.

A layer of restrictions was seen surrounding the mansion. Zi Ling extended her divine sense to sense it carefully and couldn't help but marvel at how ingeniously the restrictions were set up.

It seems that the person recommended by Ma Liang is indeed quite capable.

She bowed loudly to the person inside the door and said, "I am Zi Ling from the Miaoyin Sect. I have come to pay my respects to you, senior. I humbly request that you appear and have a chat with me."

Han Li, who was diligently cultivating inside the room, was startled by the noise outside the door. Zi Ling? Why would she suddenly come looking for him?

He immediately got up, pushed open the door, and went out.

When his gaze fell upon the newcomer, Han Li's eyes lit up, and he casually waved his hand to remove the barrier outside the door.

Zi Ling stood up, and upon seeing Han Li's face clearly, her expression immediately lit up with joy, and she blurted out, "So it's Senior!"

She suddenly realized the deeper meaning of Ma Liang's words, "I can tell at a glance." It seemed that Ma Liang had already calculated her every move.

"I wonder what brings Sect Master Ziling to see me?"

Zi Ling immediately remembered the important matter, "Senior Zi Ling has heard that your mastery of formations is unfathomable. Just now, when I saw that layer of restrictions outside the cave, it was truly exquisite."

"That's why I've taken the liberty of coming here to earnestly request your help in setting up a few trapping formations for me."

Han Li pondered these words.

Previously, Elder Zhao of the Miaoyin Sect asked him for help, and now the sect leader has personally come to ask him to set up an array. These two events are connected, and there must be more to it than meets the eye.

After a moment's hesitation, he decisively declined: "As I said before, whether or not I help is entirely up to me. If Sect Master Zi has come today for this matter as well, then please leave. I am currently at a crucial stage of my cultivation and it is truly inappropriate for me to be distracted by guests."

Zi Ling hurriedly spoke up, "Senior, please wait! This matter will not cause you any trouble. I only ask that you help me set up a few trapping formations."

As she was thinking about the details of the formation, Ma Liang's instructions suddenly flashed through her mind.

Don't waste time dealing with Han Li, just keep throwing treasures at him.

In a flash, Zi Ling stopped talking and took out a jade box from her storage bag.

The jade box lid was opened, and a section of Thunder Bamboo floated out of the box.

Han Li's gaze swept over the bamboo section, and he paused.

"I've heard that you've been searching for bamboo spirit objects, and I happen to have a section of it. I'd like to offer it to you as a way of repaying your life-saving grace. If you're willing to help set up a trapping formation, I'll offer you even greater thanks."

Han Li's gaze was fixed on the floating section of Thunder Bamboo. "Wasn't this Thunder Bamboo already stolen? How did it end up in your hands? Could it be...?"

"Senior, you are wise. This is indeed Heavenly Thunder Bamboo. My father knew its value and specially cut the whole thing in two, which is why I still have this section."

Since his encounter with Ma Liang, Han Li has been focused on increasing his strength as soon as possible, and he urgently needs the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart. "What kind of trapping formation are you planning to set up?"

Zi Ling looked around. "Senior, this is not the place to talk. May I come inside for a chat?"

Han Li pondered for a moment, then stepped aside to clear the doorway. "Alright, come in."

Upon entering the cave, the two sat down facing each other.

Zi Ling said frankly, "Senior, the core requirement for you to set up this trapping formation is to trap someone in the mid-stage of Core Formation. Moreover, I must be the one to control this formation."

When Han Li heard that they were going to trap a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, his heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the one who hijacked the goods of the Myriad Sounds Sect was actually a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator?

Should I still go and help out as I promised?

He glanced at the section of Thunder Bamboo out of the corner of his eye, then thought to himself, with his abilities, even if he couldn't beat them, he could still run away.

"I do have a formation that can trap a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, but the materials needed to set it up..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zi Ling quickly interjected, "Senior, rest assured, all the materials needed to set up the formation will be provided by Zi Ling."

Han Li immediately gathered spiritual power at his fingertips and hooked the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo in the air, causing it to land in front of him.

But Zi Ling's next words made him freeze in his tracks, and his spiritual power almost dissipated.

"I humbly request your help in setting up three trapping formations, senior."

Han Li's hand trembled, and he asked incredulously, "What? Are you going to deal with three cultivators at the mid-stage of Core Formation?"

Zi Ling shook her head. "Setting up more is also for the sake of safety."

Han Li was now truly undecided.

Now that he had the Thunder Bamboo in his hands, he considered returning it, but when he touched the warm, spiritual light emanating from that section of bamboo, he couldn't bear to let go.

So be it, it's just setting up three trapping formations.

"Setting up the formation is fine. But I will not participate in Elder Zhao's request for my assistance."

Upon hearing this, Zi Ling felt a complex and indescribable emotion welling up inside her. She couldn't even tell whether she wanted him to go or not.

"You can decide for yourself whether you go or not."

"Alright, if that's the case."

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Li put the section of Thunder Bamboo into his storage bag.

He then took out a jade slip and handed it to Zi Ling: "This jade slip contains a detailed list of all the spiritual materials needed to set up this formation. Prepare all the necessary materials first, and then come find me when the time comes."

Zi Ling took the jade slip and probed it with a wisp of divine sense, carefully examining the list of spiritual materials recorded inside.

She could still gather these spiritual materials, so she immediately nodded and said, "Okay, Zi Ling will remember this."

But she stood there, not moving for a long time.

Han Li raised an eyebrow slightly. "Sect Master Zi Ling, is there anything else?"

Zi Ling originally wanted to take the opportunity to get some information about Ma Liang from Han Li, but she remembered that if she mentioned Ma Liang rashly, it might arouse Han Li's suspicion and even cause him to back out of the formation.

She quickly suppressed the thought, "Ah... Zi Ling is alright now, I'll take my leave."

Han Li took out the section of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo and repeatedly stroked its surface with his fingers, feeling that there was something strange about the matter.

But since he had already accepted the Thunder Bamboo, he no longer hesitated.

He turned and walked into the cultivation room deep inside the cave, inserted the Thunder Bamboo into the spiritual soil, and then took out a small green bottle from his pocket and dripped in a drop of the Dew of Creation.

The bamboo absorbs the dew, and its body glows with a shimmering green light, with new buds sprouting from its branches.

Seeing this, Han Li's eyes flashed with joy. "Hey, there's a chance!"

……

During this period, Ma Liang continued to immerse himself in painting in his secluded room.

After he finished drawing the outline of another spirit beast, he put away his magic brush and stretched.

"Counting the days, more than half a month has passed. How has Zi Ling handled things?"

The thought had barely formed when two loud thuds were heard, as if something heavy was hitting the study door.

Ma Liang simply flicked his sleeve, and the door creaked open in response.

A huge snake head then emerged; it was Jingzhe.

"What is it? This room is already small; someone your size can't fit in."

Ma Liang couldn't explain it either. Perhaps it was because Jingzhe had been by his side since it hatched, and it always acted like a child, fond of doing childish things.

He got up and walked over, patting the huge snake's head. "What's wrong, Jingzhe?"

The snake flicked its tongue and rubbed its large head against him, causing one of its scales to lift slightly.

Ma Liang carefully examined the unusual scale. "What's going on? Who did you fight?"

Jingzhe shook his head. Ma Liang looked again and realized that it wasn't injured on its head, but something was pushing outwards, causing its scales to stick up.

He suddenly remembered that Jingzhe was a silver-armored horned python, and it was the same kind as Li Huayuan's silver-armored horned python.

However, Li Huayuan's spirit pet has two horns on its head, while Jingzhe, although it has reached level four, has always had a smooth head without horns.

"Could it be... that you're going to grow horns?"