Mortal: Starting with the Golden Jade Book

the next day.

When Han Li stepped into Xin Ruyin's residence again, in addition to Xin Ruyin and Qi Yunxiao, he also saw Lin Zui, whom he had not seen for a long time.

"Brother Lin!?"

"Hahaha, Brother Han, it's been a long time! How have you been?"

Lin Zui stepped forward and clasped his hands in a salute.

"Brother Lin, what are you doing here?"

Han Li looked at him in surprise.

If we were to say that he had any friends besides Li Feiyu and Zhang Tie, it would undoubtedly be Brother Lin, who had helped him many times without asking for anything in return.

Last time at Yan Family Fortress, if it weren't for this person's reminder, he wouldn't have been able to see through the Ghost Spirit Sect's conspiracy in advance, and might have been tricked into the formation and refined without even realizing it.

It's a pity that we fled in such a hurry that we don't know if Brother Lin escaped or not. I was planning to find out after we were safe.

Then the demonic invasion struck, and he was conscripted to various places. He stayed in Jingu Plain for another year. After a series of battles, he gradually forgot about the matter.

I never expected to see him here.

"It's a long story. Back then, I was trapped by the formation and couldn't comprehend it, so I found Fellow Daoist Xin through Brother Han. After some discussion, we became close friends and have had many interactions ever since."

Later, for some reason, he went to Yanjiabao, but by chance he discovered the Ghost Spirit Sect's conspiracy. Seeing that Brother Han was also there, he gave Brother Han a warning. Then he took the opportunity to escape from Yanjiabao in the chaos.

"I originally intended to return to Yellow Maple Valley, but with the great war imminent, and seeing a large number of low-level disciples being conscripted for the battle, I really didn't want to become a sacrifice in the sect's infighting. So I simply left Yellow Maple Valley and came here to live in seclusion."

Lin Zui recounted the events of the past years, half-truthfully and half-jokingly. Han Li listened with deep emotion, while the others felt extremely awkward.

Keep making things up!

However, in front of outsiders, no one would naturally show it, letting Lin Zui perform as he pleased.

Han Li sighed for a moment and recounted his experiences over the years before looking at Yan Ruyan, who was following behind Lin Zui.

This goddess has a cold and aloof demeanor and unparalleled beauty, no less than Nangong Wan. However, that's not all. Judging from her cultivation level, she is clearly a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet she silently follows behind Lin Zui, a Qi Refining cultivator. What's going on here?

"Brother Lin, who is this fellow Daoist?"

Seeing that Lin Zui had no intention of introducing himself, Han Li had no choice but to ask.

"Oh, this is my Daoist partner, Liu Yan'er!"

"What! A Daoist partner?"

Han Li almost spat out his tea. A Foundation Establishment cultivator becoming a Daoist partner for a Qi Refining cultivator?

Are you kidding me?

"Yan'er greets Fellow Daoist Han!"

"Oh, I've met Fellow Daoist Liu."

Yan Ruyan's voice came, and Han Li quickly returned the greeting. After calming himself down, he asked Lin Zui with a wry smile.

"I never expected that after not seeing you for more than a year, Brother Lin would already have a Daoist partner, and not just any partner, but a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Miss Liu."

Han Li felt a bitter taste in his mouth and couldn't help but think of a certain palace maid. In the dead of night, he would fantasize about one day taking her as his Daoist partner, but in the face of the huge gap in their cultivation levels, he could only dream about it.

"Hehe, Yan'er and I have been through thick and thin together, and we developed feelings for each other, so naturally we got together. As for differences in our social standing, what do they matter in the face of love?"

Lin Zui saw through Han Li's thoughts and couldn't help but add insult to injury.

As expected, Han Li's mental state collapsed even more after hearing this, but fortunately, his will was firm and he managed to endure it.

He glanced at the two of them, then reached into his storage bag and took out a jade box. When he opened it, two crystal-clear white pills appeared in front of Lin Zui and Yan Ruyan.

"I am pleased to offer you two a wedding gift. I have nothing of value to offer but two Youth Preservation Pills. They are not particularly precious, but they are quite rare. Please accept them as my congratulatory gift."

"Since Brother Han puts it that way, then I, Lin, will not stand on ceremony."

The moment Han Li mentioned the Youth-Preserving Pill, Lin Zui noticed Yan Ruyan's eyes light up. He immediately understood her thoughts and accepted it without hesitation.

After chatting for a while, they finally got down to business.

"Fellow Daoist Xin, I wonder if the array flags for that Inverted Five Elements Array have been improved?"

Han Li asked Xin Ruyin.

Xin Ruyin nodded, took out a jade box, opened it, and a set of exquisite array flags and array plates appeared inside the jade box.

"These are the array flags and array plates of the Inverted Five Elements Array that Fellow Daoist Han wanted. After many improvements by Yunxiao and me, the power of this item has been increased to about three-tenths of the original Inverted Five Elements Array."

Han Li was shocked. This was the legendary forbidden formation, the Reversal of the Five Elements Formation! He had originally thought it would only slightly improve his abilities, but he never expected it to improve them so much.

However, before he could say anything, Xin Ruyin continued.

"Ruyin originally thought that 30% was the limit, but she didn't expect that after Lin's rune array was incorporated into it, its power was increased again, reaching about 40% of the original Reversed Five Elements Array. It should be no problem to trap one or two Core Formation cultivators."

Han Li was overjoyed. He never expected that he would exchange a thousand-year-old spiritual herb for such a valuable treasure. He had actually gotten a great deal.

"Miss Xin, there is actually another item I came here to ask you to see if it can be repaired."

"Oh? I wonder what Brother Han is referring to?"

Xin Ruyin asked in confusion, but Lin Zui narrowed his eyes and had already guessed it.

Sure enough, Han Li took out a jade slip, which contained the information about the ancient teleportation array that had been damaged.

"It really is an ancient teleportation array. I never expected that such an array would still exist in Tiannan."

Xin Ruyin read the jade slip, thought for a moment, and nodded.

"If this formation were completely destroyed, Ruyin would be powerless to help. Fortunately, only a corner is damaged, so it is not impossible to repair."

"Oh, it really can be fixed?"

Han Li was overjoyed.

"That's right, but repairing this formation won't be done in a day or two. It will take at least half a year. Brother Han will have to wait a while."

"Of course, thank you for your hard work, Miss."

After thinking for a moment, Han Li reached into his robes and took out a storage bag, handing it to Xin Ruyin.

"Miss Ruyin has gone to great lengths for me, and I have no way to repay her. Here are some spirit stones; I hope Miss Ruyin will not find them offensive."

Xin Ruyin was taken aback. Looking at the storage bag that Han Li handed over, she subconsciously glanced at Lin Zui, who was quietly drinking tea to the side. Her ears turned slightly red, and then she pushed it back.

"Brother Han, you're too kind. If it weren't for your spiritual herbs back then, how could Ruyin have survived until now? It's just a small matter; how could I accept your spirit stones?"

As soon as Xin Ruyin finished speaking, before Han Li could say anything, Lin Zui's voice suddenly came from the side.

"Fellow Daoist Xin, please forgive my bluntness, but sometimes there's no need for formalities between friends. Brother Han may not know about your situation, but I, Lin, am well aware of it. Brother Qi has already exhausted all his resources to buy you medicine. If you don't accept these spirit stones, what will you two do afterward?"

Lin Zui put down his teacup and earnestly advised him.

Han Li was immediately startled upon hearing this.

"Brother Lin, what's wrong? Is Miss Ruyin still not better?"

Lin Zui sighed.

"Alas, Miss Ruyin's illness is special. Back then, she relied on Brother Han's thousand-year-old spiritual herb, which greatly relieved her condition, but as time went by, there were signs of relapse."

Brother Qi consulted numerous renowned doctors, and some said that only by rapidly increasing her cultivation level and constantly nourishing her meridians with abundant spiritual energy could she possibly recover. Therefore, over the years, Brother Qi has exhausted his family fortune to purchase elixirs to aid Miss Xin's cultivation, but he has long since run out of funds.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, stop talking. Besides, even with these spirit stones, we might not be able to buy many suitable pills, so why bother..."

"Miss Ruyin..."

Lin Zui and Xin Ruyin's back-and-forth banter immediately made Han Li feel guilty. He and Xin Ruyin were just strangers who met by chance, but because Han Li gave her a spiritual herb to save her life, she devoted all her efforts to improving his formation.

Now, when he went to the other party for help again, the other party, disregarding his illness, agreed without hesitation. And what was the result?

As a result, he actually thought he could just give them some spirit stones and get rid of them.

What a beast!

Han Li thought it over and over, but he couldn't bring himself to remain indifferent.

Looking at the group of people in front of me, apart from Miss Liu whom I didn't know much, the other three were trustworthy. So... I'll help them out.

"I have elixirs that aid in cultivation!"