Han Li tossed the small ball of spiritual light in his palm into the air, where it hovered motionlessly.
With a single hand, he reached to his waist and flipped it over, revealing a small banner several inches long.
The banner was entirely crimson, emitting waves of bloody light and faint ghostly wails.
Ling Yuling was momentarily stunned upon seeing it and shot Han Li a puzzled glance.
However, Han Li had no intention of explaining. Instead, he murmured an incantation and threw the banner above his head.
With a flash of light, the banner rapidly expanded, transforming into a massive flag several zhang in size within moments. Its surface shimmered with bloody radiance, as if painted with thick, fresh blood.
Han Li pointed at it!
Instantly, the giant banner unfurled, releasing a mist that coalesced into a blood-red cloud, flying toward the nearby Magnetic Mountain.
But then, the cloud paused at the mountain’s peak and halted.
The blood cloud churned and spread, covering most of the cavern’s ceiling and emanating a thick, metallic scent, as if formed from condensed blood.
Ling Yuling swept her spiritual sense over it and immediately sensed the unfathomable ghostly power within. Startled, she withdrew her senses, her heart unsettled.
Meanwhile, Han Li strode to the foot of the Magnetic Mountain and beckoned to the floating light sphere.
The sphere flashed and shot toward the mountain, vanishing into it without a trace.
Han Li then raised a hand and made a grasping motion toward the mountain.
A five-colored spiritual light flickered across the mountain’s surface, followed by a deep rumbling as it trembled. Slowly, it lifted into the air and floated toward the blood cloud above.
Under Ling Yuling’s astonished gaze, the massive mountain disappeared entirely into the blood cloud.
Han Li then flicked a spell seal into the air.
The blood cloud churned and shrank, eventually reverting to a small crimson banner, which shot back into Han Li’s hand.
The cavern was now empty, as if the Magnetic Mountain had never existed.
“A spatial treasure!”
Ling Yuling finally snapped out of her daze, her face filled with shock.
“This treasure does possess some spatial abilities. I hope you’ll forgive its crude nature,” Han Li said with a smile, scanning the banner with his spiritual sense before nodding in satisfaction.
“A treasure with spatial powers capable of storing the Magnetic Mountain must be exceedingly rare in the human world. Brother Han is truly fortunate to possess one,” Ling Yuling marveled, though inwardly she sighed bitterly.
The Twin Saints of Star Palace had once left her a method to restrain Han Li, but it required him to remain in Star Palace to cultivate the Magnetic Divine Light. Now, with him free to leave, all their carefully laid plans were rendered useless.
She sighed inwardly, finally abandoning any hope of keeping Han Li in Star Palace.
With a flash of bloody light, the small banner vanished. After a brief pause, Han Li smiled and said, “I can stay at Star Palace for a while to exchange cultivation insights and help you diagnose your cultivation issues. However, during this time, I have a small favor to ask of Star Palace.”
“Brother Han has done our palace a great kindness. Whatever you need, just ask. There’s no need for such formality,” Ling Yuling replied with a light laugh, though she was slightly taken aback.
“It’s a minor matter. I’d like to know the recent whereabouts of the Golden Flood Dragon King in the Outer Sea. If you could pinpoint his exact location, that would be even better.”
Han Li spoke calmly, as if discussing something trivial, but Ling Yuling’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes flashing with surprise.
“Brother Han wishes to track the Golden Flood Dragon King? Could it be that you intend to…” She hesitated, her words trailing off.
“I have my reasons for seeking him. There’s no need for concern—Star Palace won’t be implicated. Unless, of course, this request is too troublesome?” Han Li glanced at her, his brow slightly raised.
“Brother Han has done too much for our palace. No matter how difficult the task, I would never refuse. However, in recent years, Star Palace has withdrawn most of its personnel from the Outer Sea. The Golden Flood Dragon King is a peak tenth-grade demonic cultivator. Tracking him may take some time.” Ling Yuling shook her head, her expression grave.
“Time isn’t an issue. Even if it takes years, I can wait,” Han Li replied indifferently.
“Since Brother Han says so, I’ll arrange it immediately. Please await our news.” Ling Yuling no longer hesitated.
Han Li nodded in satisfaction.
After exchanging a few more words, the two left the cavern and vanished into the passage beyond the jade door.
—
Two years later, above a nameless desolate island in the Outer Sea of the Chaotic Star Sea, two figures hovered in the air—a man and a woman. The man had an ordinary face but piercingly bright eyes, while the woman was delicate and petite, with refined features.
Though both appeared young, the woman spoke to the man with utmost deference, while he remained expressionless.
“From what you’ve said, the Golden Flood Dragon King is certain to come to this island soon. He won’t change his mind and go elsewhere?” The man’s voice was calm, but the woman immediately replied respectfully, “Elder Han, rest assured. We’ve verified the information multiple times and even soul-searched a high-ranking demonic cultivator. There’s no mistake. This island’s seabed produces a rare spiritual fruit. Though useless to humans, it’s a delicacy for flood dragons. The Golden Flood Dragon King visits every decade when the fruit ripens, without fail. If not for the fruit’s inability to survive transplantation, the flood dragons would have moved it long ago. The fruit is ripe now—he will come.”
“Very well. I’ll wait a little longer,” the man said solemnly.
The man was naturally Han Li, while the woman was a disciple sent by Ling Yuling to guide him.
After two years of Star Palace’s relentless investigation, they had finally pinpointed the Golden Flood Dragon King’s movements. Han Li, who had remained in Star Palace all this time, secretly followed the disciple through a hidden teleportation array to the Outer Sea and had been lying in wait on this island for months.
But so far, there had been no sign of the Golden Flood Dragon King. Unable to suppress his impatience, Han Li questioned the disciple again.
Her confident reply eased his expression slightly.
Just as Han Li was about to ask for more details, his expression suddenly changed. He turned sharply toward the distant sea.
“Good. He’s finally here. The aura matches the Golden Flood Dragon King. Leave immediately—I don’t want you caught in the crossfire.” Han Li’s face lit up with satisfaction as he ordered the woman away.
The disciple paled and bowed hastily before transforming into a streak of white light, fleeing in the opposite direction.
As she left, Han Li flicked his sleeve, releasing a small black vial.
A gust of gray-white demonic wind later, five humanoid skeletons materialized.
“Go.”
At his command, the skeletons rode the demonic wind and scattered into the sky, vanishing in an instant.
Next, he tossed out a spirit beast pouch, releasing twelve four-winged centipedes. They hissed and dove into the island’s ground, hiding beneath the surface.
Han Li cast one last glance at the distant sea, sneered, and vanished on the spot.
All these preparations took but a moment.
The island’s sky was now empty, as if no one had ever been there.
Within the time it takes to eat a meal, two streaks of light—one gold, one green—streaked across the horizon. The sound of tearing air echoed over the sea as the lights dissipated, revealing two figures.
One was a burly man in brocade robes, with wild hair and a green beard, while the other was gaunt, wearing a silver crown and green robes.
The golden-robed man’s majestic face suddenly flickered with suspicion. His gaze swept the surroundings like lightning but found nothing amiss.
“What’s wrong, Brother Jin? Did you sense something?” the green-robed man asked curiously.
“Just now, I felt someone probing us with their spiritual sense. But it was so faint, I’m not sure if it was just my imagination,” the golden-robed man said, frowning.
“If true, that would mean their spiritual sense far surpasses yours. How could that be?” The green-robed man chuckled.
“Brother Feng flatters me too much. Though I’m called the Golden Flood Dragon King, I’m only a big fish in a small pond. Beyond the Star Sea, I’m nothing.” The golden-robed man shook his head, scanning the island again with his spiritual sense. Finding nothing unusual, he relaxed.
Unbeknownst to him, the five demonic skeletons were already dispersed far above, the centipedes buried hundreds of zhang underground, and Han Li’s spiritual sense was indeed far superior to his own.
“Brother Jin is too modest. Aside from Divine Transformation cultivators, who in this world could possibly threaten you? Still, this place is truly remote. Without your guidance, I’d never have guessed the Dragon Scale Fruit grew here.” Though the green-robed man privately dismissed his companion’s caution, he still offered a subtle compliment.
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