“Leaving now would indeed be inappropriate and might completely offend those Nascent Soul cultivators like Elder Hu. From what I can see, they seem genuinely wary of Brother Han. I think staying here would be fine; Elder Hu wouldn’t go back on his word.” Violet Spirit hesitated slightly before nodding slowly.
Now that she had regained her freedom, her sharp wit and intelligence had returned, and she once again became the “Violet Spirit Fairy” who dared to travel the world alone.
Facing her radiant demeanor, Han Li responded with a smile and immediately headed toward the grand hall.
Violet Spirit glanced at Han Li’s retreating figure, her bright eyes flickering with unspoken thoughts. A faint blush appeared on her peach-like cheeks, but she quickly bit her lip lightly and followed him with graceful steps.
Three days later, the Demon Palace held the ceremony for Elder Hu to take two other stunning female cultivators as concubines.
The number of demonic cultivators and rogue cultivators attending the celebration had increased, totaling around twenty or thirty. Among them, the lowest cultivation level was mid-stage, and several more late-stage Great Cultivators had joined.
This gave Han Li a renewed understanding of the strength of the Great Jin’s cultivation world. The Heavenly South truly paled in comparison.
The congratulatory cultivators were astonished to see the three Nascent Soul cultivators treating Han Li as an equal. However, after learning from the earlier arrivals that Han Li was the one who had reduced the Yin Luo Sect to such a pitiful state, forcefully taken a concubine from Elder Hu, and even exchanged a single blow with him, they were all filled with awe. When interacting with Han Li, they were exceedingly polite, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
Over these few days, Elder Hu behaved as if nothing had happened regarding Violet Spirit’s betrothal, his demeanor unchanged in front of Han Li.
Han Li felt somewhat relieved but remained vigilant, staying cautious throughout the three days. Violet Spirit also dared not stray far from Han Li’s side. Having such a stunning beauty by his side was hardly a hardship.
But as soon as the celebration ended, Han Li immediately bid farewell to Zhi Li and the others, leaving the Demon Palace with Violet Spirit and descending Mount Motuo, vanishing without a trace.
…
Three months later, atop a nameless, picturesque mountain, a young man in a blue robe stood quietly on a boulder, gazing into the distance.
This unremarkable-looking youth was none other than Han Li, who had left Mount Motuo months ago.
At this moment, his eyes were calm, yet a rare hint of complexity and hesitation flickered within them.
Suddenly, he raised his hands and silently examined them.
Just a day ago, these hands had roamed passionately over Violet Spirit’s jade-like body, the sensation of her smooth, warm skin utterly intoxicating. But now, the beauty was gone, leaving him alone on this mountain.
After leaving the Heavenly Demon Sect’s territory with Violet Spirit, they had slowed their flight and shared their experiences since parting in the Fallen Devil Valley. Sometimes one listened with rapt attention, while the other smiled knowingly.
There had always been a subtle affection between them, and after months of intimate companionship, they had succumbed to passion in a moment of weakness.
However, afterward, Violet Spirit made it clear that since Han Li already had a cultivation partner and could not formally marry her, she had no intention of becoming a concubine. Yet, she vowed never to love another man or marry anyone else, dedicating herself entirely to cultivation in pursuit of the Great Dao.
After calmly stating this, Violet Spirit departed with serene composure.
Though Han Li had the power to force her to stay, he recognized her resolve and could only watch silently as she left.
Now, standing atop the mountain, he reflected on the months spent with Violet Spirit, feeling an indescribable sense of loss and a faint ache in his heart.
He knew this was a sign of emotional instability but chose not to suppress it, instead quietly experiencing the myriad emotions.
After an unknown length of time, the confusion in Han Li’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by clarity and calm.
“Perhaps this is what they call ‘fate without destiny,’” Han Li murmured.
With a flash of cyan light, he transformed into a streak of light and shot into the sky.
Moments later, the streak vanished beyond the horizon.
The “Fire Prison,” one of the Great Jin’s seven forbidden lands, was located in the southeast and had existed since ancient times.
In this fiery expanse equivalent to half a province, only black and red hues were visible. Across tens of thousands of miles, countless volcanoes of varying sizes dotted the landscape—some towering tens of thousands of feet, others mere hills a few hundred feet tall.
Some craters glowed crimson, pulsing with intense flames; others lay dormant, their mouths blackened; while still others roared continuously, spewing molten lava and scalding steam.
The sky above this land was shrouded in thick black-red fire clouds. The ground near the volcanoes was blanketed in layers of volcanic ash, and the low air reeked of sulfur, the heat far surpassing that of the outside world.
Yet, despite being uninhabitable for mortals, cultivators frequently appeared here, some landing to scavenge materials, others diving straight into volcanic craters.
Those who dared enter the volcanoes were naturally high-level cultivators of considerable strength.
While the Fire Prison was perilous and uninhabitable, it was also rich in fire-attribute materials. The true “forbidden” part of the seven great forbidden lands referred not to the vast surface area but to the central mountain range enveloped in dense red mist.
This mist stretched for thousands of miles, its exact boundaries unknown. Few cultivators who entered it ever returned alive, making its vicinity eerily devoid of life.
But on this day, at the edge of the mist, a streak of cyan light shot through the sky, stopping a hundred yards from the red fog.
The light dissipated, revealing a young male cultivator—Han Li, who had traveled for months to reach this place after stabilizing his emotions.
After scanning his surroundings, his gaze settled on the sea of mist ahead.
Unlike any mist he had encountered before, this vast expanse was eerily silent, devoid of sound or movement.
Han Li stood with his hands behind his back, observing it coolly. Then, with another flash of light, he plunged into the mist.
As his cyan protective aura met the red fog, violent explosions erupted, the clash of red and cyan light intensifying rapidly.
Frowning, Han Li flew another hundred yards before slapping his storage pouch.
A dozen red streaks shot out, materializing into crystalline pillars, each adorned with a lifelike crimson dragon relief—artifacts refined from the Fire Dragon Pillars obtained at Kunwu Mountain.
Chanting softly, Han Li pointed at the pillars, which spun and arranged themselves around him, forming a fiery barrier.
Strangely, the red mist no longer reacted violently to this fire-attribute shield, sliding harmlessly past it.
Satisfied, Han Li accelerated, his speed multiplying.
In the mist, spiritual perception was greatly constrained. Despite his formidable divine sense, Han Li could only detect a small surrounding area. Had he arrived before advancing to the late-stage Nascent Soul realm, his perception would have been even more limited. It was indeed a wise decision to come here after his breakthrough.
Han Li’s purpose here was the Sun Essence Fire needed to brew the Sun Returning Water. Years ago, through soul-searching the Frost Flames Sage’s Nascent Soul, he had learned of a strand of Sun Essence Fire hidden in this forbidden land. However, its location was perilous, so he had delayed his search until now, confident in his late-stage Nascent Soul strength.
The Sun Returning Water’s life-extending properties were invaluable. Though he had given Elder Hu several drops of Cold Essence to rescue Violet Spirit, he still had enough left to brew five or six portions.
The Sun Essence Fire was elusive and notoriously difficult to capture, even for the Frost Flames Sage, who had known its location but failed to secure it.
With his Moonlight True Fire, Han Li believed he stood a chance—otherwise, he wouldn’t have ventured here.
But the red mist was a forbidden land for more than just its fire-attribute hazards. The mountains beneath the mist teemed with high-level fire-attribute beasts, some as powerful as sixth or seventh rank. A dozen such creatures could spell doom even for a Nascent Soul cultivator.
And the mist held dangers far beyond mere beasts…
As Han Li pondered, his senses tingled. Cold light flashed in his eyes as he flicked a finger, sending a golden sword streak into the mist.
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