Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter Eighty-Two Shadow Assassins

The headquarters of the Crimson Flame Sect was not particularly bustling. Looking around, there were no restaurants, inns, or eateries like those in the market outside.

However, the streets were all paved with bluestone bricks and were extremely wide on both sides. The people coming and going on the road were all wearing the uniforms issued by the Crimson Flame Sect, and were obviously disciples of the Crimson Flame Sect.

But simplicity does not mean rudimentary. Wooden streetlights are installed on both sides of the streets and alleys, and the houses inside are not as small and dark as the small courtyards in the alleys and hutongs of Yuqingfang.

All you see here are large houses and large courtyards.

These houses are all painted red with white walls, and you can even vaguely see horned beasts symbolizing peace and good fortune placed on the eaves.

To put it another way, the Qiuzhu Alley where Han Yi used to live was like an urban village in his previous life, while the Li Family Courtyard where he now lives is a normal residential community, and this place can be described as a high-end community.

What impressed Han Yi most about this place was the stillness, the extreme quiet.

There were none of the bustling noises and chaotic sounds of the outside market, nor the hawking and shouting of vendors.

The only sounds here are the soft rustling of footsteps or the hushed whispers of conversation.

Overall, this place is like a secluded paradise, completely isolated from the city of Anyan, a place of peace and tranquility.

No wonder all those outer disciples wanted to become inner disciples; just the living conditions at headquarters would probably speed up their cultivation progress...

Following the address left in Li Feng's letter, Han Yi walked through several streets and arrived at a sparsely populated neighborhood.

If what you see upon entering the city gates are residential areas, then this sprawling mansion before you is more like a villa.

Soon, he stopped in front of a mansion with two stone elephant sculptures in front of the gate.

In front of the gates of the mansions Han Yi had just passed, most of the protective ornaments were lions and qilin. Although elephants symbolized auspiciousness and peace, they were, after all, a species from the southern barbarians, and not many people in the Great Xuan territory knew about them.

Moreover, martial artists mostly prefer talismans with powerful and domineering connotations to protect their homes, so it is rare to see stone elephants used to guard the gate and courtyard.

Could it be that Elder Li is a pacifist?

Han Yi suddenly had a ridiculous idea.

Behind the stone elephant sculpture is a gate with a red plaque bearing two black characters: 'Li Mansion'.

On either side of the entrance, there were two guards, one on the left and one on the right. They were breathing heavily and their eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp light, clearly not ordinary servants.

Han Yi glanced over and saw that the numbers '30~35' were floating beside them, indicating that they were two martial artists around the early stage of Blood Refinement guarding the place.

The Li family is truly wealthy and powerful; employing a Blood Refining Martial Artist as a gatekeeper is incredibly extravagant…

Han Yi stepped forward and presented the token. After confirming it several times, one of the martial artists spoke up: "Young Master Han, please wait a moment. Young Master Feng has already given instructions. I will go and inform him now."

"Long time no see, Han Yi!"

A moment later, a hearty laugh rang out.

"How have you been doing, living in Anyan City these past few days?"

"Is the assassination attempt that happened earlier alright?"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Han Yi smiled and looked closely. He saw Li Feng dressed in a white training uniform, with fierce eyes and sword-like eyebrows. Even the usually mature and composed Li Feng couldn't help but show a hint of excitement on his face.

"Yes, it has been a long time since we last met... I'm doing well!"

The overall strength displayed above Li Feng's head has reached '75-90', a huge improvement compared to when I first met him. It's likely that Li Feng's cultivation has reached the late stage of Blood Refinement and he's preparing to break through to the Meridian Opening stage!

Although my strength has improved rapidly, Senior Brother Li hasn't been sitting around doing nothing either; everyone has their own way of cultivating...

Then, Han Yi strode forward and followed Li Feng into the mansion.

Inside the Li residence, the outer courtyard, the martial arts training ground, and the inner courtyard are all made of blue bricks and gray tiles, and the passageways are filled with corridors and pavilions.

In the outer courtyard were some small side rooms, which were connected together and appeared to be living quarters for guards and servants.

After passing through the outer courtyard, there is a sizable martial arts arena. In the center of the arena is a prominent square platform, several meters above the ground.

On one side of the platform, there was a row of weapons, including all eighteen kinds of weapons such as knives, spears, swords, halberds, and axes. On the other side, there were some special training equipment such as stone locks, large stones, and wooden mallets, and even a few metal puppets whose purpose was unknown.

Inside the courtyard, there are more than a dozen houses of varying sizes and heights, separated by garden scenes, flower beds, rockeries, and other decorations. These should all be the residences of the Li family members.

Han Yi followed Li Feng into the largest room and stopped in front of the study.

thump, thump, thump

"Enter."

Elder Li's calm voice rang out.

With a creak, Han Yi and Li Feng pushed open the door and entered.

The faint, invigorating aroma of incense, when it enters the nose, instantly refreshes the mind.

Inside the study, two rows of large bookshelves carved with pine, bamboo and plum blossom patterns come into view, filled with various ancient books. On the walls hang several calligraphy and painting works, all of which are slightly yellowed and look quite old.

On the desk, there weren't many writing brushes, ink, paper, or inkstones, but each piece was antique and would surely seem valuable even to someone who didn't know much about art.

Behind the desk, Elder Li sat in a grand chair, holding a celadon teacup with gold trim, seemingly deep in thought.

"Elder Li!" Han Yi bowed slightly.

Elder Li's overall strength is still between 105 and 160. It seems that it is even more difficult for a martial artist in the Meridian Opening stage to improve their strength! Elder Li raised his eyelids, glanced at Han Yi, then put down his teacup, and a smile instantly appeared on his face.

"Han Yi, sit down!"

"There are two things I wanted to discuss with you..."

"Firstly, it's to see if you still remember the assassination attempt on you. Could you recount some of the details..."

Han Yi then described the attack by the men in black that day, including their slogan, "The Shadow Master walks alone, a moment is eternal."

Elder Li slammed down his teacup, clearly somewhat surprised.

"Hmm..."

Elder Li paused for a moment, then said, "This should be the slogan of a force called 'Shadow Assassin Pavilion.' How did you get involved with them?"

Shadow Pavilion? Han Yi had originally planned to ask Bai Sanren for help inquiring about it, but unexpectedly he obtained relevant information from Elder Li.