Traversing countless worlds from the primordial era

Chapter 16 Honesty and Cooperation

This mission is extremely dangerous; usually, more than half of the disciples who accept it perish. Of course, the rewards are also very generous, but few disciples are willing to go.

Lei Ming was forcibly assigned there, and in just two years, he experienced dozens of battles. Fortunately, although there were some experts among the rogue cultivators, there weren't many Foundation Establishment cultivators. After two years of fighting, although Lei Ming's cultivation level hadn't broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, his combat power was already incomparable. He not only survived himself but also protected the other disciples.

Therefore, Lei Ming has a high reputation among these disciples, and even Mo Yanping looks at him differently.

The flying artifact was extremely fast, and it took only one day to travel from Leizhou to Huangfeng Valley. After returning to the mountain, Lei Ming first turned in the mission and received the reward, and then went to find Han Li. Although he had not been in Huangfeng Valley for the past two years, he still kept in frequent contact with Han Li.

After joining Wasp Valley, Han Li went to the Hundred Herbs Garden. He had a small green bottle that allowed him to cultivate spiritual herbs, making the work there a breeze. Lei Ming would occasionally collect seeds of spiritual herbs while out and about and have them brought back by others. Han Li would also give him some pills, such as Yellow Dragon Pills and Golden Marrow Pills.

Lei Ming arrived at the Hundred Herbs Garden, just as Han Li had left. He left a message and then returned to his own courtyard.

"I have mastered all thirteen levels of the Everlasting Spring Skill, and it's time for me to prepare for Foundation Establishment."

Lei Ming's strength wasn't merely the eleventh level of Qi Refining as he appeared; he was actually at the perfected thirteenth level. He had deliberately cultivated a spell to conceal his aura, making him undetectable only to Core Formation cultivators. Lei Ming did this out of necessity; almost everyone knew he possessed a five-elemental spiritual root, and cultivating too quickly would inevitably arouse suspicion.

Out of caution, Lei Ming had been suppressing his emotions for a year until this mission ended.

However, Lei Ming hadn't been idle during those two years. He had already mastered the "Eternal Spring Skill" to the point of perfect Qi refining. After that, he found basic cultivation techniques for the metal, water, fire, and earth elements, and then mastered each of them to perfection. As for the wind and lightning elemental techniques, Lei Ming had also tried them, but the speed of cultivation was far slower than that of the five elemental techniques.

Lei Ming was convinced that he had extraordinary talent in the Five Elements Dao, so he focused on Five Elements magic from then on. Now, even without relying on physical strength, his strength was invincible below the Foundation Establishment stage.

Furthermore, Lei Ming also studied spirit talismans, weapon crafting, alchemy, and formations. Each of these skills requires a lot of time and also needs to be passed down, so Lei Ming's research was not in-depth.

……

Han Li emerged from Yuelu Hall, his mind preoccupied with several spiritual herbs and also considering the Blood Forbidden Trial. He had just learned of this news and was currently somewhat hesitant.

"Brother Lei is back!" Upon returning to his residence, Han Li was overjoyed to see Lei Ming's message. He immediately sent Lei Ming a message talisman, and an hour later, the two met at a restaurant at the foot of the mountain.

"Brother Lei, congratulations on your safe return!" Han Li ordered a pot of wine, and the two chatted as they drank.

"Although Leizhou is dangerous, it's a blessed place for me." Lei Ming took a sip of wine. This wine was brewed with spiritual herbs, and it was refreshing and contained spiritual energy. "In the past two years, more than 300 rogue cultivators have committed crimes, and more than 100 of them have died at my hands. Although these rogue cultivators didn't have much wealth, their small gains added up and made me a fortune."

Hearing Lei Ming's nonchalant tone, Han Li was secretly alarmed. Although Lei Ming was deliberately hiding his true feelings, the murderous aura emanating from him still sent chills down Han Li's spine.

"It's only because of Brother Lei that he could have returned; it would have been difficult for anyone else to do so." Han Li raised another cup to Lei Ming. "Speaking of which, I was partly responsible for Brother Lei's exile to Leizhou in the first place..."

Lei Ming waved his hand, interrupting Han Li.

"This has nothing to do with Brother Han. I can't stand bullying others, especially since he's just a Foundation Establishment cultivator. I'm not afraid of him. To be honest, Brother Han, I came back this time to prepare for Foundation Establishment," Lei Ming said.

Han Li glanced at Lei Ming in surprise, only then realizing that his aura had actually reached the eleventh level of Qi Refining. Lei Ming smiled lightly, released the concealment of his magic, and unleashed the aura of the thirteenth level of Qi Refining.

"Brother Lei, your cultivation level..." Han Li was so surprised that he stammered.

"I have reached the peak of Qi Refining."

"This... if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it. You have five elemental roots, how come your cultivation speed is even faster than mine?" Han Li knew all too well the importance of aptitude. If he hadn't been taking pills freely these past two years, he probably wouldn't have been able to break through to the tenth level of Qi Refining, let alone the eleventh level.

Lei Ming was less talented than him, and he didn't have the same opportunities.

"Could it be that Brother Lei also had a similar extraordinary encounter as I did?" Han Li couldn't help but wonder.

Lei Ming, unaware of his thoughts, drank another glass of wine.

"In cultivation, aptitude is only one factor; temperament and perseverance are even more important. Of course, the most important thing is luck. Those with great supernatural powers are all people with boundless luck, but when luck declines, no matter how powerful you are, you cannot escape death." Lei Ming sighed, "Brother Han, you have great luck. Although you started from a lower point, you will eventually achieve the Great Dao."

Han Li's expression changed upon hearing this. The concept of luck existed in this world, but not many people believed in it. However, Lei Ming's mention of Han Li's luck made Han Li feel as if his secret had been discovered.

"Brother Lei, you flatter me. I am just an ordinary cultivator, how could I dare to aspire to the Great Dao?" Han Li chuckled and drank a cup of wine to hide his embarrassment.

Lei Ming smiled and looked at Han Li.

"Brother Han, there's no need to be so nervous. I have my reasons for saying this." Lei Ming said, taking out three array flags from his storage bag and setting them up around the two of them. Then he summoned the Demon-Binding Net, which immediately made Han Li nervous.

"Brother Han, please don't misunderstand. I did this just for safety reasons, to prevent our conversation from being overheard," Lei Ming said with a smile. "This formation is only used to conceal our presence, but my net has an extraordinary origin. If we talk here, even the immortals in the heavens will not be able to hear us."

Han Li still didn't understand Lei Ming's meaning, and upon hearing this, he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Lei, what exactly is the origin of this net?"

Lei Ming said, "This net is very ordinary, woven from the roughest materials, but it has been contaminated by one of the most wondrous things in the world, and thus transformed into a rare treasure. To be honest, Brother Han, Chang Tongshu of the Giant Sword Sect died under this net. But I digress. I have no ill intentions towards Brother Han, and I also know your secret. Brother Han, don't be nervous. This secret is known only to me besides you, and I will not covet your treasure."

"I don't understand what Brother Lei means by these words," Han Li denied categorically.

"I was referring to the little green bottle on Brother Han's person. Brother Han himself may not know that this little green bottle is a supreme treasure from the Immortal Realm, but it is damaged. I don't know its name, but its origin is definitely very significant. Brother Han's ability to obtain it is a testament to your great fortune."

Han Li's expression changed several times. The little green bottle was his biggest secret, and he had never revealed it to anyone.

"How did you know?" Han Li's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Lei Ming shook his head: "That's not important. What's important is that I have no ill intentions towards Brother Han, and I have no interest in that treasure. To be honest, in terms of value, my Demon-Binding Net may not be inferior to your little green bottle."

Han Li glanced at the golden demon-binding net again, but remained silent. He knew nothing about these two treasures, so he couldn't assess their value. However, for now, Han Li still felt that the little green bottle was more valuable.

"Brother Lei, you've revealed my secret and also shared some of yours. What does that mean?" Han Li vaguely sensed Lei Ming's intentions.

"It's very simple. I want to cooperate with Brother Han. Brother Han has had a great adventure and great fortune, and I am no ordinary person either. If the two of us cooperate, who in the cultivation world can stop us?" Lei Ming said confidently.

Upon hearing this, Han Li couldn't help but smile wryly. According to his personality, he would not easily believe Lei Ming, but at this moment he did.

"Brother Lei, how do you plan to cooperate?" Han Li asked.

(End of this chapter)