Contrary to Han Li's expectations, within the next few days, Little Extreme Palace merely increased its vigilance, without the imagined commotion. Bai Yaoyi also disappeared, seemingly occupied with other matters.
Han Li remained indifferent.
Now, unless pursued with all might by a Nascent Soul cultivator or trapped in some deadly situation, nothing in this world could threaten his life. Thus, he remained unusually calm and did not flee from this normally dreaded vortex.
This was partly due to his promise to assist Master Han Li in breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage. Most importantly, the secret technique for breaking through the bottleneck given by the Grand Elder of Little Extreme Palace required his presence to understand its entirety. This realization left Han Li somewhat frustrated.
Furthermore, there was still no clue about the Solar Essence Fire, making him reluctant to leave.
He visited the Sutra Pavilion again, using the remaining two days to fully search for information on the Solar Essence Fire, but to no avail.
Han Li was not surprised. If it were that easy to find, he would have been more shocked.
In the following days, Han Li stayed in the guest building, meditating and cultivating, treating Little Extreme Palace as his own cave abode.
A month passed swiftly, with Little Extreme Palace remaining calm, though a palpable tension before the storm lingered.
On this day, Han Li's meditation was interrupted by a visitor. A woman with a striking resemblance to Bai Yaoyi, possessing a mid-Nascent Soul cultivation but seemingly at its peak, came to see him.
"Are you Bai Yaoyi's cousin?" Han Li asked, a bit surprised.
"Yes, I am Bai Mengxin, an inner elder of Little Extreme Palace, and one of the cultivators practicing the Extreme Cold Flame," she responded.
"Oh, I heard from Fellow Daoist Han that besides him, your palace has two other cultivators practicing the Extreme Cold Flame. So you are one of them. May I know the purpose of your visit?" Han Li said with a flicker of interest.
Though this woman was exceptionally beautiful, her pale face gave him a slight chill, clearly related to her cultivation method. Han Li did not underestimate her.
"I heard Han Brother's skills are extraordinary, comparable to late-stage great cultivators, and that your Violet Extreme Fire is also marvelous. I would like to test my Wind-Separation Ice Flame against your Extreme Cold Flame, if you don't mind," she said, raising a fair finger, on which a wisp of white ice flame flickered.
Though this ice flame seemed like light smoke, Han Li, having an Extreme Cold Flame, sensed its terrifying power, his face growing serious.
"Alright! I have long heard of the three great cold flames of your palace. Let's have a test. But here?" Han Li glanced around, chuckling.
"Why not? I just want to test your flame, not truly fight," Bai Mengxin smiled faintly, blowing on the white flame.
The white ice flame expanded several times, transforming into a white snake heading toward Han Li.
Frowning, Han Li waved his sleeve, casting several colored formation flags that disappeared into the void.
A light red barrier emerged, restricting the area.
Han Li spat out a purple flame, forming a purple bird flying toward the white snake.
Under Han Li and Bai Mengxin's watchful eyes, the white and purple flames collided, emitting low thunderous sounds.
