Into the White Silence
They walked deeper.
The mist thickened, swallowing color, sound, even breath. Soon Han Li could barely see his own hand.
Then—
Xiao Ho's footsteps vanished.
"…Xiao Ho?"
Only silence answered.
Han Li turned—alert, spiritual sense sharp.
A faint whisper brushed his ear.
"Here."
A cold hand gripped his wrist—
The world shattered like rippling water.
The fog peeled away—
And the silence was replaced by rough laughter.
---
The Ambush
Han Li now stood in a clearing surrounded by jagged rocks.
Four figures waited there.
Three middle-aged men: scarred faces, filthy robes, low-grade swords and axes glowing faintly with weak spiritual light.
One youth: Xiao Ho — now standing with them, his earlier kindness gone, eyes cold and mocking.
All four were late 7th or early 8th stage Qi Refining.
One of the older men grinned, showing yellow teeth.
"Hahaha! Another clueless lamb. Good job, Xiao Ho — didn't think you'd bring two this week."
Another cracked his knuckles, voice dripping arrogance:
"Listen here, brat. If you're smart, hand over everything—stones, pills, treasures—and maybe we'll let you crawl away."
Han Li said nothing.
His expression remained calm.
Too calm.
Xiao Ho stepped closer, smirking.
"You should have stayed home, Senior Han. The fog doesn't lead to the Immortal Gathering… it leads to us."
All four laughed.
Until Han Li slowly raised his gaze.
Cold. Sharp. Unbothered.
His voice was quiet—almost polite:
"Are you finished?"
The laughter died.
Something about his tone chilled the air.
---
Then start the Fight.
You brat you really are thick skinned,
The bandits exchanged looks—then the biggest one roared:
"Kill him!"
Artifacts ignited—
Swords howled through the air—
A talisman exploded with flame—
Blades of spiritual metal shot toward his throat—
Wind howled from a palm strike—
But Han Li moved first.
His spiritual power surged—calm, controlled, terrifyingly precise.
Clang!
His mother-worn sword flashed from its sheath, slicing through the first flying weapon like rotten wood.
He stepped forward.
One step—
A sword arc—
Blood sprayed.
The first attacker fell before he even reacted.
A fire talisman detonated beside Han Li—
but he flicked his wrist, redirecting the explosion with a barrier technique.
Dust and fire swallowed him for a second—
"Did we get—"
A head rolled.
The second body collapsed before the sentence finished.
Xiao Ho stumbled backward, trembling now.
The last bandit screamed in fear, swinging wildly—
Han Li didn't even dodge.
He caught the blade between two fingers—
twisted—
and shattered it.
His sword pierced the man's chest cleanly.
Only Xiao Ho remained.
He fell to his knees.
"S-Senior… mercy—!"
Han Li wiped his blade without emotion.
Mercy ,,, I am not that noble to have mercy, han li moved his finger the 9 swords eight small and 1 big the mother were about to strike xaio ho he yelled loud,,,
Senior I'll lead you to immortal gathering you don't want to be late do you, or else you won't be able to join the seven sects for next 50 years.
"Take me to the real Immortal Gathering."
His voice was quiet—but it carried the weight of death.
Xiao Ho swallowed hard, nodding quickly.
"Y-yes… yes! Right away!"
Han Li turned slightly.
"If you attempt to deceive me again…"
His eyes flickered—cold, sharp, merciless.
"You will join them."
Xiao Ho trembled.
"Yes… Senior."
---
Xiao Ho led him through the mist—properly this time.
And slowly… a massive gate emerged from the fog, glowing with ancient runes.
The true entrance.
Han Li sheathed his sword.
The path ahead was finally open.
The world shifted like rippling water after Han Li stepped through the formation.
Light returned slowly—not from lanterns —but from faintly glowing moss coating the ancient forest floor.
There were no walls.
No streets.
No grand architecture.
Just an ancient forest—untamed and silent—yet alive with figures.
Dozens, maybe hundreds, of cultivators wandered between moss-covered stones where items were displayed.
Vines hung from enormous trees like curtains, and spirit beasts paced behind crude wooden stakes hammered directly into the earth.
Instead of stalls, items lay on:
flat stones
tree stumps
broken roots
or simply on the grass.
Some cultivators floated or meditated mid-air, while others bartered fiercely beside glowing plants.
Everywhere, voices echoed:
"Low-grade qi recovery pills—no impurities!"
"Spirit beast fangs! Last batch!"
"Refined ores! Cheap! Cheap!"
Han Li stepped forward slowly, absorbing everything.
There was no order—only instinct, trade, ambition, and hunger.
So this is the Immortal Gathering… raw, unfiltered survival.
But when he turned to speak—
Xiao Ho was gone.
No footsteps, no sound—not even spiritual traces.
Han Li's eyes narrowed.
Either cowardice… or intention.
He let it go.
In a place like this, everyone carried knives—sometimes visible, sometimes hidden.
Han Li moved forward, studying talismans carved into stones, crude pill furnaces sitting on roots, and artifacts rusted with forgotten history.
Until he heard it.
A quiet voice.
Fragile… but stubborn.
"Eight spirit stones… no less."
Han Li turned.
A young girl, around his age, sat behind a smooth flat boulder.
Her stall was small—barely two feet across.
But placed on the center was:
A golden talisman brush glowing faintly.
A thin scripture bound with jade silk radiating spiritual warmth.
Her talismans were lined with almost obsessive neatness—evidence of respect and struggle.
Around her stood a small group of cultivators.
"Five spirit stones!"
"Six!"
"Seven!"
She shook her head.
"Eight spirit stones. Final price."
Someone snorted.
Before the negotiation could continue—
a lazy voice cut through like a dull blade:
"One spirit stone."
A young man stepped forward.
Simple robes. Bored eyes.
His expression said: I'm not asking, I'm declaring.
The crowd changed instantly—not mocking, but cautious.
Someone whispered:
"That's Guo Zhong…
"Poor girl…"
"Another one being robbed."
The girl's shoulders trembled slightly.
Still—she forced her voice steady.
"I already—already set the price…"
Before she finished, a silent figure stepped behind Guo Zhong.
A breathtakingly beautiful woman—expression normal, posture perfect, eyes sharp enough .
She said , guo senior why do bully this girl, she might need money for something, or else wuy would she sell such precious things.
Oh! Junior sister how am I bullying her I'm negotiating price.
Tell me who wants to buy this for more than 1 sprit stone no body talked, look junior sister.
Guo Zhong leaned closer to the girl.
"Listen carefully," he murmured.
"One spirit stone. You accept—because I said you will."
The girl lowered her gaze.
Not in surrender.
In frustration, helplessness… and quiet fury.
Guo Zhong reached toward the golden brush—
And that was when another voice slipped into the air.
Soft.
Even.
Unhurried.
But carrying weight.
"Four pills."
Silence rippled outward.
Han Li walked forward, placing a slim jade bottle on the stone before her.
"Mid-tier recovery pills," he said calmly.
"Equal to 40 spirit stones. Fair exchange."
The girl stared at him—eyes widening.
The crowd murmured. 4 pills, mid tier, is he mad or something.
This big brother don't joke around,,, the girl said, .
Guo zhong expression changed.
Han Li didn't even look at him.
He only asked the girl:
"Do you agree?"
Yes but do you mean what you say?
Han li took out a bottle throw it to wards the girl as she look into the bottle she, fastly put it in her sprit pocket .
Her breath trembled—but her voice carried strength at last.
This big brother take them, han li swiped awy the book and brush into his pocket.
Only then did he shift his gaze to Guo Zhong.
Not aggressive.
Not mocking.
Just a simple statement:
"If you intend to contest… don't use your mouth." you need wealth.
Wind stirred.
Guo Zhong's qi flared—but before he stepped—
the woman behind him raised a hand.
"Stand down," she whispered. Senior guo we are here for immortal gathering not to fight.
Guo Zhong clenched his jaw in anger okay for the sake of junior sister let's forget .
The girl bowed deeply—not in servitude, but respect. And murdered to herself, his brother is too handsome but very aggressive then sighed and left forth.
Han li also then moved deeper into the forest market as whispers followed him.
All were moving here and there until every body listen a big bang.... Ting tang tong...!