Mortal: I, Zhang Tie, started by joining forces with Han Li to kill a strategist.

Han Li fell silent. He was no longer a novice in cultivation and knew that the aptitude of four spiritual roots was called pseudo-spiritual roots in the cultivation world, and most sects were unwilling to accept them.

Without the Ascension Token to pave the way, there's a high probability that they wouldn't even qualify for the assessment, and would be eliminated in the first round by those from the seven sects.

But this is precisely the reason for Han Li's guilt.

"Brother Tie, you gave up the Ascension Token because of me, right? If you had this token, you could have directly entered Yellow Maple Valley to cultivate, but now you..."

Han Li's voice was somewhat low, and he didn't notice the strange expression on Zhang Tie's face.

Zhang Tie sighed and rubbed his forehead. Han Li really had a vivid imagination. But even if he said now that he didn't want to go to Huangfeng Valley, Han Li probably wouldn't believe him!

Oh well, let nature take its course!

He couldn't very well tell Han Li that in a few years, the demonic path would invade Yue Kingdom and utterly defeat the seven sects of Yue Kingdom!

"I'm planning to join Spirit Beast Mountain. They specialize in beast taming; if a spirit beast is trained well, it's practically invincible among its peers!"

Zhang Tie continued, "With my three spiritual roots, combined with my mastered techniques and physical strength, as long as I defeat my opponent on the arena and perform exceptionally well, Spirit Beast Mountain will not refuse an outstanding disciple!"

"Brother Tie, how confident are you?"

"About 70%! The remaining 30% depends on how things go on the day. Just make sure we don't run into any tough opponents!"

Han Li seemed to be deep in thought.

Zhang Tie saw through his concerns: "Han Li, in the path of cultivation, everyone has their own path to take. You can choose Huangfeng Valley, or you can seek other options."

"No rush, there's still more than a year to think it over!" Zhang Tie stood up and patted Han Li on the shoulder.

Han Li nodded, and Zhang Tie went inside to cultivate, leaving Han Li alone in the courtyard to ponder.

The moonlight shone on Han Li's face, and his expression was complex.

He knew that Zhang Tie gave him the Ascension Token not entirely for the reason he had just mentioned, but probably also because he was afraid that Zhang Tie wouldn't be able to join a sect and would remain a rogue cultivator for the rest of his life.

Zhang Tie was thinking of him, but he had nothing to repay him with. Thinking of this, Han Li clenched his fist.

...

In the days that followed, the two continued to cultivate and improve their cultivation in preparation for the upcoming Ascension Ceremony.

However, Han Li devoted more of his attention to alchemy, and each time he refined a pill, he would secretly give Zhang Tie an extra 10%, keeping only 40% for himself.

"You've given me too many pills; you need to cultivate yourself too!" Zhang Tie frowned as he looked at the pills Han Li handed him.

"That's enough for me!" Han Li said without looking up.

"You need these pills more than I do. The ninth level of Qi Refining isn't enough; you need to reach at least the eleventh level to be confident in your ability to compete in the arena!"

Zhang Tie opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Han Li's somewhat stubborn expression, he swallowed his words back.

This guy, I gave him the Ascension Token, he really doesn't need it!

However, Zhang Tie no longer declined Han Li's offer and took the pills back to his secret chamber to cultivate in seclusion.

A year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the secret room, Zhang Tie awoke from his meditation, his bones crackling and popping like firecrackers.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging spiritual energy within his body.

Qi Refining Stage 11, just one step away from the Great Perfection!

[Host: Zhang Tie]

[Qualifications: Metal, Fire, Earth]

[Realm Level: Qi Refining, Eleventh Level]

[Technique: Eleventh Level of the Giant Spirit Technique]

[Spells: Earth Spike (Perfected), Earth Shatter (Perfected), Stone Skin (Perfected), Fireball (Mastered), Wind Control (Mastered)]

Causality value: 260

Over the past year, he not only improved his cultivation by two minor realms, but also mastered all three earth-attribute spells attached to the Giant Spirit Technique.

Stepping out of the secret chamber, one could see fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from not far away.

It was Han Li who was practicing the Fireball Technique. In just one year, Han Li's Fireball Technique had reached a level of perfection.

Three fireballs hovered around him, like three fire dragons, changing shape at his will.

Zhang Tie watched from a distance for a while and found that Han Li's spiritual energy fluctuations were stronger than he had imagined.

"Have you reached the tenth level of Qi Refining?" Zhang Tie asked as Han Li finished his practice.

"Hmm! Perhaps in a few more months, I'll be able to reach the eleventh floor!"

Zhang Tie walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Not bad! You haven't fallen too far behind!"

The two sat down in the courtyard, and Han Li brewed a pot of tea.

"Brother Tie..." Han Li began, his voice hesitant.

"Um?"

"I've made up my mind. I'll use the Ascension Token to cultivate in Yellow Maple Valley!"

Zhang Tie nodded, a smile spreading across his face: "I think you made the right decision!"

Han Li looked at Zhang Tie: "Brother Tie, you really don't mind me using this Ascension Token? If you need it, I..."

Zhang Tie waved his hand, interrupting Han Li's next words.

"I told you, I have my own reasons. Spirit Beast Mountain is my goal, not something I chose because of you. Besides, if I go to Spirit Beast Mountain and you go to Yellow Maple Valley, we're both in Yue Kingdom, so it's not like we'll never see each other again!"

Han Li felt a little warm inside.

But the thought of their impending separation made them feel sad. The two of them had become students of Mo Juren when they were ten years old, and had spent ten years together, which was longer than the time they had spent with their families!

Zhang Tie noticed the slight redness in Han Li's eyes and felt a pang of emotion.

That evening, the two packed their bags.

There weren't many things I actually needed to bring; I stuffed all the valuables into my storage bag.

"Have you brought everything?" Zhang Tie asked.

Han Li glanced at it again and nodded.

"Let's go then!"

The two walked out of the wooden house and stood in the yard.

Over the course of ten years, their presence has been felt in almost every blade of grass and every tree here.

Han Li glanced back, his expression complex.

"You can't bear to part with it?" Zhang Tie asked.

Han Li shook his head, then nodded. At this moment, he couldn't even explain the complex emotions he felt.

"Let's go, you can come back and visit sometime in the future!"

The two figures used wind manipulation techniques and quickly disappeared into the Valley of Divine Hands.

......

Located on the southern border of Lanzhou, in the Tainan Mountains.

From Jingzhou, where the Seven Mysteries Sect is located, to Lanzhou, a journey of several thousand miles, Zhang Tie and Han Li traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently along the way, for more than two months.

This was the first time for both of them to leave Jingzhou. Apart from a few ignorant bandits, they didn't encounter any danger along the way. Zhang Tie's fireball spell scared them so much that they ran away in terror!

The Tainan Mountains stretch across the entire territory of Lanzhou, extending for hundreds of miles, with steep and rugged terrain.

There are still several months before the Ascension Ceremony begins, but once you enter Lanzhou, Tianwu Terrace will not be far away.

The two entered the Tainan Mountains, but after traveling for only a few hours, Zhang Tie stopped.

"There's some noise ahead!"

Han Li immediately listened attentively.

The faint sounds of fighting could be heard in the distance, accompanied by fluctuations in spiritual energy.

Cultivators?!

Zhang Tie and Han Li exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.

"Take a detour and avoid trouble!" Zhang Tie made a quick decision.

Han Li didn't hesitate and followed Zhang Tie to avoid the area ahead, thinking it was better to avoid trouble.

But the two hadn't gone far when the sounds of fighting grew closer and closer.

Those guys are moving this way!

Zhang Tie's face darkened.

"Too close, can't dodge!" Han Li muttered, his hand already on the short sword at his waist.