The final two waves of lightning indeed unfolded exactly as Han Li had anticipated. After being partially absorbed and weakened by his silver shield, the lightning struck with diminished force. When the last surge faded, the sky—once dark and ominous—quickly transformed. Sunlight burst forth from the clouds, dispersing the stormy masses, leaving the heavens clear and vast. The Tianlan beast, stationed within the formation, was now completely enveloped in a thick, layered veil of gray-white mystical aura, solidifying into a massive, silken cocoon that subtly pulsed and quivered. Yet Han Li showed no surprise. The creature had endured the lightning ordeal and was now undergoing a process of reformation, transforming into a humanoid form. This kind of transformation—typically not under the creature’s own control, but rather akin to the process of human birth—generally produced its final appearance, including its physical beauty or ugliness, organically during the process. Of course, the specific traits also depended on its own species. After all, fox-like beasts that can transform into human form are usually handsome men or women. As for those whose original forms are unattractive, when they take on human shapes, they naturally don't look very appealing. Suddenly, Han Li remembered something and turned his head to gaze toward the distant area. There, the remains of the mutated giant earthworm had already been completely consumed by the gold-eating insects—truly a case of no bones left at all. Now, the insect swarm was hovering quietly at a low altitude above the spot, humming softly. Without further thought, Han Li let out a long roar, and instantly the golden insect cloud surged toward him. In a moment, the gold-eating insects were neatly stored inside his spiritual beast bag. Then he sat cross-legged beside the scene, closed his eyes, and waited quietly for the celestial澜 beast within the magical array to complete its transformation. And thus, Han Li remained seated for one full day and night. When he blinked again with a change in expression, a deep, resonant "pffft" sound suddenly echoed from within the massive dragon cocoon, and a surprisingly delicate white arm burst through the cocoon's surface. Immediately, a familiar child's voice resonated from within: "At last, it's complete, Mr. Han. Truly, you've worked hard." Hearing this, Han smiled gently and slowly rose to his feet. Several days later, Han returned silently to the Zimu Peak of Yunmeng Mountain. Now, he stood in a private chamber of his dwelling, gently handling the bright golden horn in his hands, with a gourd and two other magical artifacts placed before him. Floating halfway across the room was a massive jade cauldron, about one zhang in height, upon which stood a young boy dressed in yellow robes, with rosy lips and white teeth. He held a book made of animal hide and moved his head thoughtfully, reading intently. This boy was naturally the Tianlan Beast, capable of transforming into human form. Though his current appearance differed slightly from the earlier phantom image, it still bore about seven or eight parts of resemblance. Upon closer reflection, it seemed quite natural. This creature had already undergone a transformation in the spiritual realm, and thus, it was well familiar with the form it now took. As a result, the phantom image it previously manifested began to resemble its transformed appearance. Han Li gently traced the uneven patterns on the golden horn in his hands. After a moment, he suddenly spoke: "I've tested it thoroughly, and this horn can absorb most types of spiritual energy and release them as well. The only drawback is that it has a limited capacity for absorption at a single time, and the absorption process is somewhat slow." "Indeed, no wonder it's such a rare material for a mutated beast—this exceptional ability to absorb spiritual energy is quite uncommon. Such materials are highly sought after throughout the spiritual realm, with countless cultivators striving to obtain them. It's an ideal choice for crafting defensive artifacts; many renowned defensive spiritual items contain this very material." The child placed the scroll of the beast's hide down, lifted his face, and offered Han Li a bright, cheerful smile. "Could such a defensive artifact be used to craft a battle armor?" "Han Li's eyes brightened as he asked. "Hehe, how truly astute you are! If this item can be combined with the Fire Spirit Silk you currently hold, it indeed can be used to craft a rare battle armor—though perhaps not quite on par with a spiritual treasure, it would still be quite close. However, if I may suggest, I believe you would do better not to proceed this way." The child spoke with serious demeanor. "Why so? I currently lack a fine battle armor to protect myself." Han Li's gaze flickered with curiosity. "If your intention is merely to spend your life safely within the Human Realm, prioritizing security, then crafting a battle armor is undoubtedly the best choice. But if you wish to make use of the spatial nodes and secretly ascend to the Spiritual Realm, hehe, then it would be better to retain this item and use it to craft another treasure." The child maintained his composed expression. "What kind of treasure could it be used to craft?" Han Li inquired, puzzled. "Of course, the Boundary Transformation Pearl! Only this item can truly assist you in traversing the spatial nodes effectively." The child replied without hesitation. "The Boundary Transformation Pearl?" As far as I remember, when you descended to the mortal realm, you employed a kind of artifact known as the "Boundary Stone." What is the relationship between the two? Or are they, in fact, the same thing?" After a brief pause, Han Li asked with a tone of mild surprise. "Their names are so similar—there is indeed a connection. The Boundary Stone is a rare, consumable treasure unique to the Spiritual Realm, whereas the Boundary Pearl is a post-natural artifact crafted through cultivation and can be reused multiple times. Though their functions are quite similar, their power levels differ vastly. To be more specific, the power of the Boundary Pearl is roughly only one percent of that of the Boundary Stone." The attendant thoughtfully replied. "One percent?" Han Li found himself speechless upon hearing this ratio. "Do not underestimate the capabilities of the Boundary Pearl merely because of this. After all, the Boundary Stone is a rare treasure—even the great immortals and kings of the Spiritual Realm possess only a limited number of them. It ranks alongside the Inverse Star Disk as one of the Three Treasures capable of breaking boundaries." Although the Huajie Pearl falls far short of the first two in terms of prestige, it is still renowned for its ability to break certain spatial seals. Since it requires spiritual essence materials to be crafted and thus is exceptionally scarce, I once visited a spatial node in the Ling World out of curiosity, though I returned shortly afterward. The spatial storms and the overwhelming power of the interdimensional forces there still leave me deeply shaken. Even if you have perfected the Puomu Fa Mu technique to its utmost, the chances of successfully passing through remain extremely slim. Otherwise, countless cultivators from the lower realms who have infiltrated the Ling World would have already reached it by now. Without a Huajie Pearl, you should have no hope at all—your journey would be certain to end in failure. I originally intended to remind you of this matter once you advanced to the Hua Shen stage. Now that you have obtained the spiritual essence materials, I thought it only fitting to mention it to you as well. The young attendant coldly remarked. "It seems we have no choice but to proceed with crafting the Huajie Pearl," Han Li said, rubbing his nose and offering a wry smile. "Hehe, if it weren't for your already possessing the shattered vision eyesight, I wouldn't even bother mentioning this treasure's matter. Only when both conditions are met do you have a slim chance of succeeding through the spatial nodes. By sharing the method of crafting this pearl, I'm finally repaying your earlier gift of the cold marrow to me." The child said calmly. "You truly are quite clear in your sense of obligation and justice. Still, I have a few questions. I once witnessed an eight-tier turtle spirit enduring its celestial trial—its lightning ordeal seemed quite different from Tianlan's. Your own lightning trial, in fact, was far more severe than just a little bit." Han Li shifted the topic, suddenly bringing up the matter of the previous trial. "That's nothing unusual. Since our spirit and beast species differ, our experiences of lightning trials naturally vary. The more ancient and significant the celestial or terrestrial spiritual beasts, the more difficult their trials become. For instance, legendary true dragons with the spirit of wind and light are said to endure thirteen waves of lightning strikes. I've only faced eleven—already quite favorable." "The child said nothing hidden, simply speaking frankly. "Ah, now I understand!" Han Li was somewhat enlightened. "This 'Nine Transformations of the Wind' technique you've brought is indeed quite impressive. But what is your purpose in presenting it to me, Child? Do you still have interest in our clan's techniques?" The child raised his hand, displaying the leather-bound scroll in his hand, and stared steadily at Han Li, asking with a smile that held both warmth and curiosity. The power of this Nine Transformations of Wind and Storm technique is considerable, and since I've acquired the Wind-Thunder Wings, I've been lacking a specialized set of techniques specifically tailored to complement them. This technique emphasizes body movements and maneuvers—exactly what suits my current state of practice. If we were to set it aside without utilizing it, it would indeed be a real pity. Since Tianlan Brother is also an immortal cultivator of the feline lineage, I believe with a slight adaptation, this technique can be made suitable for my cultivation. I'm confident that shouldn't present any difficulty. In return, I'd like to offer you the partial page of the Golden Hall and Jade Book for your study. Though this item is excellent, it is quite profound and intricate; at present, I still haven't found the time to fully devote myself to it. I said this slowly. This technique is rather rare among human and immortal cultivators. For someone like you who possesses the Wind-Thunder Wings, it is indeed a perfect match. However, there is one issue—shouldn't you be aware of it? To fully manifest the techniques described, a strong, resilient body akin to our own immortal lineage is essential. Although you have practiced a body-tempering technique, making your physical strength far greater than that of ordinary cultivators, you still fall short of having reached the full depth of that technique." The young attendant furrowed his brow, delivering a precise and direct assessment. "If only the gap were a little narrower, I wouldn't find it difficult to overcome. I once obtained a technique known as the 'Ming Wang Technique' from a Buddhist sect. With each layer mastered, my body grows significantly stronger. I have now reached the second layer. I believe that upon reaching the third layer, I will fully meet the requirements of the 'Ji Feng Ji Bian'." Han Li paused thoughtfully before responding as if he had already deeply considered this matter. "The Ming Wang Technique—a Buddhist cultivation method?" The young attendant was momentarily surprised, his expression revealing a touch of astonishment. "Is there something particularly unsuitable about Buddhist cultivation techniques?" Han Li raised an eyebrow. "How many layers does your technique have?" the young attendant asked. "Seven," Han Li replied, though he himself was somewhat puzzled, speaking honestly. "That's quite interesting indeed." To my surprise, I also know a body- cultivation technique originating from the Buddhist tradition, which is likewise divided into seven layers!" The young attendant suddenly smiled in a most unusual way.