The emerald-green eyes of the leopard-lynx beast remained closed for a long while before suddenly snapping open again, letting out a low whimper toward Han Li.
Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Han Li’s face.
Not long after subduing this creature, he had discovered that aside from its astonishing speed and iron-hard body, it also possessed an extraordinary ability to track scents and objects.
Once this beast had sensed something—whether living or inanimate—it could ignore all concealment restrictions and accurately locate it within a radius of a million miles.
This tracking ability was not merely based on smell but rather an almost mystical spiritual perception.
At the very least, Han Li himself, without using the Taiyi Concealment Talisman, would be unable to shake off its pursuit.
As for the faint white light in the compass, it was naturally the trace of pure spiritual energy that the white-robed girl had embedded in everyone’s compasses before departure to maintain contact.
The small beast glanced around, tilting its head as if pondering something, but after a moment, it sprang into motion, transforming into a blur of pale yellow light as it shot forward.
Han Li was in no hurry to follow. Instead, he formed a hand seal with one hand and suddenly sent a streak of azure light into the ground.
From beneath the earth came a faint, clear cry, and suddenly, a silver flame burst forth, within which a fiery bird could be seen circling and dancing.
This was none other than the Spirit Devouring Firebird that Han Li had released earlier in the Black Night Forest, lying in wait underground.
Later, as a precaution, Han Li had never recalled the flame even as he fled the forest. Fortunately, since he had fully refined it, no matter how fast he moved, the firebird could follow him effortlessly with just a thought.
Of course, this firebird was not a true spirit beast, and maintaining its form consumed some mana. But for Han Li now, this expenditure was negligible.
Seeing that the Spirit Devouring Firebird was unharmed, Han Li nodded in satisfaction. With a flick of his finger, the firebird submerged back into the earth and vanished.
This place was still fraught with danger, and he had no intention of recalling the flame so easily. Keeping it outside served as a hidden contingency.
After finishing this task, Han Li’s spiritual light flared, transforming into an azure rainbow that shot forward. After a few flashes, he disappeared into the horizon, closely following the leopard-lynx beast.
The small beast flew northward for a long time before abruptly changing direction, veering off in another course.
Han Li, trailing behind, paused slightly but said nothing and adjusted his path accordingly.
However, the leopard-lynx beast changed directions several more times in succession.
This made Han Li’s expression grow solemn.
The beast’s behavior indicated that Ye Ying was still on the move—and likely being pursued by someone. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be changing directions so frequently.
But this didn’t deter him.
With his current abilities, unless he was surrounded by enemies or hunted by a vastly superior foe, he was confident in his ability to escape.
Moreover, since this woman was tied to his Dust Extermination Pill, he had no intention of retreating.
Expressionless, Han Li followed the leopard-lynx beast, his azure rainbow streaking across the sky like lightning.
This pursuit lasted three days and three nights, yet Han Li still hadn’t caught up to her.
But on the morning of the fourth day, as his light passed over an endless expanse of blue water, the leopard-lynx beast suddenly halted.
Han Li’s spirits lifted. In a flash of azure light, he appeared beside the small beast.
The leopard-lynx beast twisted its furry head and let out a few low whimpers, as if speaking.
While others wouldn’t understand its meaning, Han Li’s eyes lit up with joy. “What? She’s just ahead and has stopped? Right there? Good, I understand. You can return now.”
With a flick of his finger, a medicinal fragrance wafted through the air as a crimson pill—one the leopard-lynx beast had consumed before—shot forth.
The small beast, overjoyed, lunged forward and swallowed the pill midair. Then, with a flick of its tongue, it spat out the white speck of light before darting into Han Li’s sleeve in a blur of afterimages.
Meanwhile, Han Li flipped his hand, retrieving the compass and absorbing the white speck. Then, with another flash of spiritual light, a Taiyi Concealment Talisman appeared in his grasp.
Staring at the dim, nearly depleted talisman, Han Li frowned. After a moment of hesitation, he flipped his other hand, revealing an identical talisman—except this one was vibrant with spiritual light.
This was the second Taiyi Concealment Talisman he had painstakingly refined for his journey into the Savage Realm.
The first one was nearly exhausted. To ensure safety against potential unknown dangers, Han Li naturally opted to use a fresh one.
Storing the depleted talisman away, he activated the new one. Silver runes shimmered, and his figure vanished from sight.
Then, with a silent incantation, he drifted forward, heading toward the location the leopard-lynx beast had indicated.
This vast expanse of water—whether a massive lake or the edge of a sea—stretched endlessly. After flying over two hundred miles, he still saw no shore. However, a small, inconspicuous island came into view.
The island was about ten miles in size, densely covered in vegetation, seemingly untouched by human presence.
Han Li studied the island briefly before glancing around and then silently making his way toward its center.
The leopard-lynx beast’s indication had to be this place.
At the island’s center lay a small basin, scattered with gray-white boulders of varying sizes.
On one of these boulders sat a pale-faced white-robed girl, while before her stood a woman who appeared to be of the Wood Tribe, standing respectfully.
Startled, Han Li halted midair, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized the unfamiliar woman.
Her skin was the same pale green as ordinary Wood Tribe members, and she wore an orange-yellow belt marking her rank—equivalent to a Void Refinement cultivator. But upon closer inspection, Han Li immediately noticed differences.
Unlike the usual wooden expressions of Wood Tribe members, this woman wore an extremely solemn expression. Moreover, though he didn’t probe with his spiritual sense, he could faintly detect an overwhelming fire-attribute spiritual power emanating from her—completely unlike the pure wood-attribute energy typical of the Wood Tribe.
This was no Wood Tribe member!
Han Li quickly reached this conclusion before shifting his gaze back to the white-robed girl.
Only then did he notice that aside from her pallor, there was a fist-sized bloodstain on her chest, vivid as a blooming crimson flower.
She was injured.
Seeing this, Han Li hesitated, debating whether to reveal himself.
Just then, the girl below suddenly raised her head and smiled toward the sky.
“Brother Han, since you’ve arrived, why not come down and rest for a while?”
Han Li’s heart jolted in shock.
How could she see through his concealment?
The Taiyi Concealment Talisman might not fool Body Integration cultivators, but against Void Refinement beings, it had never been detected before. Was she bluffing? Yet her gaze was fixed precisely on his location.
Unless… her spiritual sense was on par with a Body Integration cultivator!
Troubled, Han Li remained silent for a moment before allowing the silver runes to fade, his figure gradually materializing.
Then, with a pat on his chest, a purple talisman flew out, circling once before landing in his palm.
“Fellow Daoist Ye, who might this other Daoist be? Would you mind introducing us?” Han Li asked calmly as he descended.
“Allow me to introduce you. This is Ye Chu, an undercover agent our two races planted in the Wood Tribe. Judging by your appearance, Brother Han, you must have shaken off those Wood Tribe pursuers quite easily,” the white-robed girl said with a light laugh, studying Han Li with interest. Seeing him unharmed, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.
“Ye Chu? Are you human or demon?” Han Li asked, his gaze sharp as he studied the green-skinned woman.
“You have sharp eyes. I am human, but I possess the bloodline of the Wood Phoenix, so I suppose I am half-demon,” the woman replied coldly, her voice slightly hoarse.
“Wood Phoenix? Hmm—you’re at the Void Refinement stage!” Han Li was momentarily stunned by the name, but after sweeping her with his spiritual sense, his expression shifted slightly.
“Sister Chu is from our Ye Family. She was already at the early Void Refinement stage years ago. After all this time undercover in the Wood Tribe, she has now reached the peak of Void Refinement, just a step away from Body Integration,” the girl interjected with a smile.
“I owe much of my progress to the benefits I gained within the Wood Tribe. Otherwise, I would never have reached this level. Though I never expected the young mistress to personally come here this time,” Ye Chu replied humbly, standing deferentially before the girl.
“I see. If not for Senior’s timely assistance, we might have truly been wiped out this time,” Han Li said, inhaling sharply. Facing a late-Void Refinement expert, his tone naturally grew more respectful.
“Speaking of which, I was too busy fleeing earlier to ask properly. Sister Chu, what exactly happened? Why did we fall into the Wood Tribe’s trap? What of the others?” The girl’s smile faded, her expression turning grave.
“Aside from me, all the other spies in the Wood Tribe have perished. About a century ago, the Wood Tribe seemed to have obtained intelligence exposing our presence. After a thorough investigation, only I—thanks to my Wood Phoenix blood—managed to evade detection. The others were exposed one by one and forced to flee, but they were all hunted down and killed,” the green-skinned woman replied bluntly.
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