Chapter 1477: Visit from Two Maidens

Han Li swept his spiritual sense over the wooden box and lightly traced his fingers over it before falling into silence.

After a long pause, he suddenly opened the lid of the box. With a *whoosh*, a pitch-black orb flew out.

The orb spun in front of Han Li before exploding into a cloud of black mist, vanishing in a flash.

Almost simultaneously, Han Li felt a faint itch in the palm of one hand.

His expression flickered, and he abruptly raised his hand.

Several eerie, tiny characters—each no larger than a grain of rice—appeared faintly on his palm.

Han Li glanced at them, then flicked his wrist. Amid a flash of cyan light, the characters disappeared without a trace.

After another moment of contemplation, a cyan glow enveloped him as he transformed into a streak of azure light, shooting out of the meditation chamber. After a brief hover, he sped straight toward the entrance of his cave abode.

A quarter of an hour later, the azure streak descended like a celestial dragon upon an unnamed valley at the edge of the mountain range.

The cyan light dissipated, revealing Han Li hovering at low altitude over the valley.

His gaze swept downward before he slowly descended.

The valley was no more than a thousand zhang in size, with a small pile of scattered rocks at one end.

Han Li landed right in front of this pile.

“I have arrived as promised. Fellow Daoists, show yourselves,” Han Li said calmly, addressing a particular boulder in the pile as soon as his feet touched the ground.

*”Hehe, Senior Sister Yan, I told you. Our concealment technique wouldn’t fool Brother Han.”*

*”I also knew Fellow Daoist Han’s abilities were extraordinary. This was merely a test.”*

Following light laughter, the pleasant voices of two women suddenly emerged from the boulder.

A ripple of gray light shimmered, and two beautiful young women appeared side by side atop the rock.

One had skin as white as snow, with celestial beauty, while the other was petite and exceptionally charming—both wore faint smiles. They were none other than Yuan Yao and Yan Li!

The black wooden box Han Li had received in his cave was crafted from the Soul Nurturing Wood fragment obtained in the Void Sky Palace, which he recognized immediately.

What puzzled him was how the two women had managed to deliver the box undetected to his secluded chamber.

“So it really is you two! Miss Yuan, it’s been a long time since we parted in the Chaotic Star Seas. Have you been well?” Han Li asked slowly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face as he regarded the two women.

*”Brother Han, are you teasing me? Do Sister Yan and I look ‘well’ to you?”* Yuan Yao sighed, her smile fading.

“Ah, my apologies. That was thoughtless of me. However, you two don’t seem like mere spirits. There must be more to this,” Han Li remarked, frowning as he sensed the overwhelming yin energy emanating from them.

*”You’re right, Brother Han. Back then, my junior sister fell into the Ghost Mist of the Chaotic Star Seas while trying to save me. We cultivated the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Art using the nether qi there. But this dual cultivation of human and ghost has left us half-human, half-ghost. Ultimately, it’s my lack of a physical body that has burdened Junior Sister Yuan.”* Yan Li spoke with deep remorse.

*”Senior Sister, don’t say that! If not for your rescue back then, I wouldn’t even know if I’d be alive today. How could you have ended up like this otherwise?”* Yuan Yao quickly interjected, her expression shifting.

Yan Li could only shake her head with a bitter smile.

*”The Yin-Yang Reincarnation Art?”* Han Li’s brows furrowed deeply.

*”Indeed! It seems Brother Han knows quite a bit about this technique.”* Yan Li turned her head, her beautiful eyes glinting.

“I do have some understanding of it. So, the two of you have forfeited the chance for reincarnation?” Han Li coughed lightly.

Yan Li was one thing—Han Li wasn’t particularly familiar with her. But he had always admired Yuan Yao for her past actions.

*”If not for cultivating this art, Senior Sister and I would have long perished in the human world. So I have no regrets. On the contrary, Brother Han’s ascension to the Spirit Realm is truly remarkable.”* Yuan Yao gave Han Li a faint smile.

“Given the scarcity of spiritual energy in the human world, I didn’t ascend through conventional means either. But why are you two here? This isn’t human territory.” Han Li grew puzzled again.

*”We don’t know either. Two hundred years ago, after mastering the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Art and reaching the Deity Transformation stage, we were suddenly enveloped by a massive gust of yin wind and blown out of our cultivation site, losing consciousness. When we awoke, we were already in the Earth Abyss. There, we encountered the Ghost Matron, who took us in as disciples. Only after staying here for a long time did we realize we were in the Spirit Realm—yet we’ve never had the chance to set foot on the surface.”* A trace of bewilderment flashed across Yan Li’s face as she spoke.

Hearing this, Han Li was utterly speechless.

In the human world, countless Deity Transformation cultivators had exhausted themselves scheming to reach the Spirit Realm, only to fail.

Yet Yuan Yao and Yan Li had stumbled into the Spirit Realm the moment they mastered their technique.

Truly, the world was full of wonders!

“I can’t deduce how you two arrived here, but your failure to land in human territory is likely due to the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Art preventing the Spirit Reception Platform from drawing you in,” Han Li mused after a brief pause.

*”We’ve considered that possibility as well and reached the same conclusion.”* Yan Li nodded in agreement.

“Enough of the past—we can revisit it another time. You sought me out for a reason, didn’t you?” Han Li arched an eyebrow, abruptly changing the subject.

Yuan Yao and Yan Li exchanged glances, falling silent for a moment.

Finally, it was Yan Li who hesitantly spoke words that stunned Han Li:

*”Since Brother Han and Junior Sister Yuan are old acquaintances, I won’t hide our purpose. This time, we’ve come seeking your help because our lives are in grave danger.”*

“Your lives are in danger? What do you mean? As disciples of the Ghost Matron, no one in the Earth Abyss would dare trouble you!” Han Li’s expression turned incredulous.

*”Unless the one threatening us is the Ghost Matron herself!”* Yan Li exhaled sharply, a flicker of fear in her eyes.

“The Ghost Matron? Miss Yuan, is this true?” Han Li’s heart chilled. Though he doubted Yan Li would lie, he turned to Yuan Yao for confirmation.

*”Brother Han, if there were any other way, we wouldn’t have risked discovery to see you. But don’t worry—the Ghost Matron is currently refining several Netherghost Kings for the Netherworld River and won’t emerge anytime soon. This is our only chance for escape. Normally, we’re confined to the underground palace.”* Yuan Yao’s delicate face was grave as she nodded.

*”Brother Han once aided my junior sister in the human world, protecting her during her soul restoration. She’s spoken of it often. Now, with no one else to turn to, we’ve come to you. Please, save her!”* Yan Li’s eyes reddened as she tugged Yuan Yao’s sleeve, both preparing to bow deeply.

Han Li’s expression shifted. With a flick of his sleeve, an invisible force halted their motion mid-bow.

Yuan Yao and Yan Li froze, astonished yet overjoyed—his power exceeded their expectations, and if he agreed, they might truly escape.

“Miss Yuan, you overestimate me. You know my situation—I’m under house arrest. How could I oppose the Ghost Matron? And why would she want you dead? There must be a reason. Are you certain of this?” Han Li’s face darkened as he pressed for details.

*”A misunderstanding? If only it were! But we uncovered her scheme ourselves. I won’t elaborate, but she took us in solely for the pure yin energy we cultivated via the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Art. She has a method to devour our souls and energy to boost her own cultivation.”* Yan Li shuddered.

*”We also discovered that previous ghost-disciples under her vanished without a trace. The evidence is irrefutable!”* Yuan Yao added, her face pale.

“Even so, you can’t expect me to simply demand your release. My value lies only in entering the Netherworld River—once there, my own life hangs by a thread,” Han Li said after a pause, his gaze sharp.

*”Don’t worry, Brother Han. We’ve devised a plan that requires minimal effort from you. Helping us also saves yourself—we can temporarily remove the mark on you in the Netherworld River.”* Yan Li’s lips curled slyly.

“What? You can truly do that?” Han Li’s composure shattered.

*”Hehe, I wouldn’t jest about something so crucial. I’ll explain the method first—you can judge its validity yourself.”* Yan Li smiled enchantingly.

“Very well. If the method is sound and within my power, I’ll take the risk to aid your escape.” Han Li stroked his chin, glanced at Yuan Yao, and finally nodded in resolve.