Crow Immortal: I Can Duplicate Infinite Resources

Chapter 227: Appearance

Han Yu finished his cultivation session and looked up. Sure enough, Sect Leader Qi was standing on the roof ridge again.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, the number of threads in his Star Luo Traction Technique remained at nine; no new threads had condensed. However, fueled by his new Foundation Establishment Qi, the strength, flexibility, and responsiveness of those nine threads had increased dramatically.

Most importantly, he could now extend their length, significantly expanding his range for both attack and defense.

Just as Han Yu was about to head inside, Sect Leader Qi floated down from the roof like a leaf on the wind.

“Finished cultivating?”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Good. Cultivate diligently. The future of the Sect will rely on your generation to carry the torch.”

After offering this encouragement, Sect Leader Qi continued, “Sect Leader Ye brought back the Spirit Condensing Golden Pill that the Little Sky Net Sect gifted us last time. He inspected it thoroughly and concluded there shouldn’t be any overt traps.”

“However, we still have no intention of using it. We plan to trade it to that traveling merchant for something of actual value. Perhaps we can exchange it for resources useful to you and the other ‘seeds’ of the Sect.”

Han Yu couldn’t help but offer a word of caution. “Sect Leader, if someone did tamper with that pill, they would likely be at the Nascent Soul realm. It would be entirely normal for us here in the Southern Region to miss the signs.”

Sect Leader Qi smiled and nodded. “Your caution is well-placed. For now, it is just an idea. We still need to see if the merchant is even willing to trade.”

“If the trade falls through, the pill cannot remain within our gates. We will have to send it far away.”

“We cannot risk the safety of the Sect for a single pill.”

With that settled, he reminded Han Yu to make an appearance at the Battle Hall tomorrow. It was time to let the spies know he was still “active” in the Sect, forcing the Myriad Phenomena Sect to reconsider their theories about the Demon Star’s location.

The next day, Han Yu appeared at the Battle Hall.

The Outer and Laborer disciples, who hadn’t seen him in half a year, were delighted. They crowded around, eager for guidance from the legendary senior brother.

Han Yu didn’t need to reveal his true strength. Even back in the Qi Refining realm, his mastery of technique coordination and his crow flock had made him untouchable to ordinary disciples. He simply used his old methods, carefully restraining his power to avoid accidental injuries.

Furthermore, with the top talents like Ye Shinian, Yuan Shengjiao, Sheng Yan, Bai Shiqi, and Li Yunxia all sequestered away for intensive training, the remaining crowd lacked anyone capable of pushing him. None of them had the insight to realize Han Yu’s strength had ascended to an entirely new realm.

To them, Han Yu looked exactly the same as before.

When someone boldly asked about his current cultivation level, Han Yu just smiled silently and gestured for the challenger to step into the ring.

The questioner laughed nervously and backed down, daring not to ask again.

“Han Yu, did your cultivation advance another layer?” Bai Lingyun asked, sidling up to him.

Han Yu chuckled and beckoned him closer.

When Bai Lingyun leaned in, Han Yu curled a finger and rapped him sharply on the forehead.

“Ouch!” Bai Lingyun clutched his head, looking aggrieved. “Why did you hit me?”

“You’re still asking questions? If Elder Bai finds out you’re gossiping again, he’ll ground you for sure.”

At the mention of his grandfather, Bai Lingyun shrank back, whispering pleadingly, “Alright, alright, I spoke too much! Just don’t tell my great-grandfather! He was furious after I accidentally befriended that spy last time.”

“Then you need to be more careful in the future—”

Before Han Yu could finish, a commotion erupted outside. Someone shouted, “Bai Lingyun! Your white crane is getting beaten up by Senior Brother Han’s crows again!”

Bai Lingyun’s face crumbled. “Han Yu! Your crows are too vindictive! It’s been half a year—why do they still beat up my crane on sight?”

Han Yu found it amusing but sent a mental command to the flock to settle down.

The large crow responded with a smug caw, indicating it had made its point, before strutting back to Han Yu’s side with two smaller crows in tow, looking for all the world like a victorious general.

Bai Lingyun rushed out to cradle his battered crane, cooing over its claw marks with a heartbroken expression.

Han Yu’s crows are so petty!

News of Han Yu’s return spread quickly through Wanchun Valley. Over the next few days, old acquaintances trickled into the Battle Hall to catch up.

There were peers from the Outer Disciple Grand Competition, old friends from his Laborer days, and even Hua Qi, now one-armed but still spirited. From the Spirit Field Department came Zhong Yue, Sun Kang, and Liu Lan.

After the initial pleasantries, Zhong Yue, Sun Kang, and Liu Lan stayed behind to chat. When they asked about his progress, Han Yu gave his standard modest reply: “Just some slight improvement.”

He asked about their situations in return. Zhong Yue and Liu Lan were progressing well, likely to reach the fifth layer of Qi Refining within two years. Sun Kang, however, was struggling. With his Four Spirit Roots aptitude, he would need several more years to reach the same milestone.

As the conversation wound down, Han Yu noticed the deep fatigue etched into Sun Kang’s face. He asked the others to leave so he could speak privately with the Senior Brother who had once looked after him in the fields.

“Senior Brother Sun, are you and Senior Sister Liu doing well? She seems quite lighthearted.”

Sun Kang sighed heavily. “Her aptitude is better than mine, and her cultivation is faster. Naturally, she has no worries.”

“My own progress has stalled recently. I feel like… forget Foundation Establishment, even reaching the late Qi Refining stage might be impossible for me in this lifetime.”

“If this continues, I’m afraid—”

“Are you afraid of losing Senior Sister Liu, or are you afraid of your own stagnation?” Han Yu asked gently.

Sun Kang thought for a moment before answering honestly. “Both. The more I think about it, the more anxious I become.”

Han Yu smiled reassuringly. “Senior Brother Sun, don’t worry. Just focus on your cultivation. If you truly hit a wall, I will help you.”

“Breaking through to Foundation Establishment requires a bit of destiny, but helping you reach the late Qi Refining stage? That is well within my power.”

Sun Kang was stunned, then smiled with relief. “Thank you for your kindness, Junior Brother Han. Hearing that makes me feel much better.”

“But my aptitude is truly limited. Please don’t waste your precious resources on me.”

Han Yu waved his hand dismissively. He still had a stash of duplicated pills from his Qi Refining days. To him, they were trivial; the only issue was not taking out too many at once.

He handed Sun Kang a bottle of Clear Heart Qi Gathering Pills. “Senior Brother Sun, since your slow progress worries you, keep these for yourself. Do not give them to anyone else.”

“If Senior Sister Liu uses these to jump ahead to the fifth layer, you will only feel more anxious. It is better for you to use them to catch up, so you can walk the path together as equals.”

“Is that… right? If I don’t share with her…” Sun Kang hesitated, clutching the bottle.

“Senior Brother, decide for yourself,” Han Yu said firmly. “If you can accept being left behind—having a lower cultivation and shorter lifespan—and you truly don’t fear her leaving you, then share them generously.”

“But if you have doubts, if you want to stand by her side for the long haul, then you must prioritize your own strength first.”

Leaving Sun Kang with those words, Han Yu departed.

Walking back to his residence, Han Yu reflected on the interaction with a strange feeling in his chest.

The path to immortality was long and lonely. If a partner could offer mutual support and harmony, that was a blessing. But if a relationship became a source of anxiety and burden, why force it?

He held no judgment toward Sun Kang or Liu Lan, but he reaffirmed his own resolve: he would never seek a partner lightly.

Back in his room, Han Yu consumed a Gathering Essence Pill. Aided by the Thousand-Year Sunkwood Heart and the Ancestral Tree Spirit Liquid, he resumed his cultivation of the Green Wood Foundation Establishment Technique, Green Wood Protection Technique, and Wood Spirit Body Refining Art.

Before sunset, he visited the Technique Pavilion to copy the manuals for three Foundation Establishment techniques: Lightning Technique, Blazing Flame Technique, and Geng Metal Technique.

Later, Elder Lü called him out for instruction. Master and disciple sparred without artifacts or talismans, focusing purely on combat instincts and the flow of Qi.

Han Yu soaked up the knowledge like a sponge. Foundation Establishment combat was a different beast entirely—fiercer, faster, and more ruthless. The rhythm required rapid adaptation.

Fortunately, having a master at the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment as a sparring partner accelerated his growth immensely.

At night, he practiced the Star Luo Traction Technique, condensing starlight to extend the reach and power of his nine threads while dutifully recording the positions of the seven bright stars.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Han Yu maintained his grueling regimen, his strength growing steadily in the shadows.

Until two months later.