“Enter the Abyss?” Jin Yue was visibly startled upon hearing this.
“What? Does Fellow Daoist Jin find this condition difficult? Isn’t the Abyss currently occupied by the Feiling Clan? Sending me in should be a trivial matter for you,” Han Li asked calmly.
“If it were a hundred years ago, your words would indeed hold true. Bringing someone into the Abyss wouldn’t have been an issue. But now, it’s extremely troublesome.” Jin Yue unconsciously stroked the jade slip in her hand twice before forcing a bitter smile.
“Oh? Why is that?” Han Li asked in surprise.
“It’s simple. A century ago, someone accidentally discovered an extremely rare and hidden mineral vein in the deepest layer of the Abyss. This vein is not only of great importance to our various clans but also astonishingly abundant. To prevent any single clan from secretly exploiting it, the entire Abyss is now under semi-lockdown. The deepest layer, where the vein is located, is off-limits to all except the guards—even the elders of our clans cannot enter easily.” Jin Yue hesitated slightly before explaining.
“The deepest layer? When did I ever say I wanted to go there? I only need to reach the third layer of the Abyss,” Han Li replied, his expression relaxing as he smiled.
“If it’s not the deeper layers, then it’s negotiable. However, if Fellow Daoist truly wishes to complete this transaction, you must disclose the real reason for entering the Abyss. After all, the Abyss lies deep within Feiling Clan territory and holds undiscovered secrets. Surely you don’t think I would blindly bring an outsider in, do you? Even if your technique is of utmost importance to the Tianpeng Clan, I cannot act so recklessly.” The woman stared at Han Li, enunciating each word clearly.
After hearing her words, Han Li fell into contemplation. Moments later, he sighed lightly and said, “I understand your concerns, Great Elder. Rest assured, the reason I need to go to the third layer is simply to fulfill an agreement with a senior. I must use the coordinates there to be guided into another secluded space where this senior resides. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Feiling Clan and poses no harm whatsoever. As for further details, I’m afraid I cannot elaborate.”
“Another space! Fellow Daoist Han is already at the mid-Saint stage. For you to address someone as a senior… could it be…?” Jin Yue’s expression changed drastically.
“Great Elder understands. This senior has some ties to our human race. It was thanks to their help that I escaped the hands of the Four Demon Kings back then. This time, my return here is also at their request. If I’m obstructed from meeting them, this senior might not take kindly to it—perhaps even directing their displeasure toward your clan.” Han Li’s eyes gleamed with hidden meaning.
“Are you threatening me?” Jin Yue’s face darkened.
“Not at all. However, this senior has been in seclusion for tens of thousands of years, and my visit is of great importance to them. Surely Fellow Daoist Jin wouldn’t want the Feiling Clan to make such a formidable enemy for no reason?” Han Li’s lips curled slightly in a half-smile.
“Hmph! Even so, how can I be sure you’re telling the truth?” Jin Yue’s expression flickered between uncertainty and suspicion before she finally snorted coldly.
“That’s simple. If you personally escort me to the third layer and witness my departure, you’ll have no further doubts. Should you sense anything amiss, you’re free to detain me. With your late-Saint stage cultivation, stopping a mere mid-stage cultivator like me should be effortless. Of course, if you’re still uneasy, you may bring additional guards. I won’t object.” Han Li replied without hesitation.
“That’s a reasonable approach. But I’m still not entirely at ease. Fellow Daoist’s abilities were extraordinary even back then. Now that you’ve advanced to the mid-Saint stage, I’m not confident I could stop you if you truly intended something underhanded.” Jin Yue’s beautiful eyes flashed with wariness.
“Fellow Daoist Jin, your words are somewhat disingenuous. The technique I’m offering, when combined with your clan’s transformation art, can increase the power of the Tianpeng transformation by nearly half. With this, your clan could elevate the Tianpeng Clan to the ranks of the great Feiling clans within ten thousand years. Yet you expect to obtain it without taking any risks? Isn’t that a bit naive?” Han Li remarked with a hint of mockery.
At his words, a cold glint flickered in Jin Yue’s pupils.
“Fellow Daoist Jin, it’s best not to entertain any other ideas. You should know that since I’ve come alone, I’m not afraid of your clan resorting to force. The latter half of the technique isn’t recorded in a jade slip—it’s memorized in my divine sense. If you attempt to seize it by other means, a single thought from me can erase it entirely. Moreover, whether your clan could actually detain me is another matter entirely.” Han Li suddenly chuckled darkly.
“You’re overthinking things. After all, Fellow Daoist once did our clan a great favor. How could I harbor such intentions? Very well, if it’s only escorting you to the third layer, I’ll find a way. However, to arrange this properly, you’ll need to wait a while longer. You may stay in the Holy City for now.” After a long deliberation, Jin Yue finally took a deep breath and agreed.
“Excellent. That’s a wise decision, Great Elder. However, I plan to use these days to cultivate a secret technique, so I won’t trouble you in the Holy City. I’ll return in half a month. By then, I trust you’ll have everything prepared.” Seeing her acquiescence, Han Li stood up with a hearty laugh.
Though she knew he simply didn’t trust staying, Jin Yue could only sigh inwardly and force a smile. “Since you insist, I won’t press you to stay. But wait a moment!”
“Attendants, bring the spiritual tea I requested!”
She suddenly transmitted her order outside the hall with a surge of magic power.
Moments later, a maidservant hurried in, presenting a pale yellow leather pouch to Han Li with both hands.
“In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony.” Han Li didn’t refuse. With a flick of his sleeve, a golden mist swept past, and the pouch vanished.
He then cupped his hands slightly toward Jin Yue and took his leave.
Not long after, a streak of azure light shot out from the Holy City, vanishing into the horizon after a few flashes.
Han Li eventually landed on an unremarkable hill a million miles from the Holy City. With a wave of his hand, he carved out a hidden chamber at its base, setting up a concealment array at the entrance before entering.
Sitting cross-legged, he pondered his earlier words and actions in the Holy City, ensuring there were no oversights.
After a while, he exhaled slowly, his expression easing.
This time, to ensure the Tianpeng Clan took him seriously, he had deliberately assumed the Tianpeng form.
Given his current mastery of the Awakening Art, the Tianpeng transformation he manifested was far more formidable than the innate transformations of the Tianpeng people.
Of course, only someone like Jin Yue could discern the difference, which was why she had been unable to hide her shock upon first seeing him.
Naturally, Han Li’s confidence stemmed from his mid-Convergence stage cultivation and numerous protective abilities, making him unafraid of any joint assault by the Tianpeng elders. Even if their combined magic power might surpass his, escaping would be effortless.
Jin Yue, as the Tianpeng Clan’s Great Elder, was well aware of this. Combined with the uniqueness of Han Li’s Tianpeng transformation, she had treated him with such courtesy from the start.
As for the technique he offered in exchange, it was derived from the Gu Clan’s blood refinement art and the Kunpeng transformation segment of the Awakening Art.
It was indeed immensely beneficial to the Tianpeng Clan—otherwise, they wouldn’t have been so eager.
With Jin Yue inclined to proceed, his entry into the Abyss was almost guaranteed.
Even if the Tianpeng Clan was the weakest among the Feiling clans, Jin Yue was a late-Saint stage powerhouse. Such a task was trivial for her.
Without this arrangement, infiltrating the Abyss alone would have been fraught with difficulties.
Still, when he returned in half a month, he’d need to remain vigilant in case Jin Yue acted rashly.
Of course, given his veiled reference to Qing Yuanzi—a terrifying Mahayana-stage existence—the likelihood of that was minimal.
Satisfied with his preparations, Han Li cleared his mind and closed his eyes to meditate.
At the same time, in the Tianpeng Clan’s Holy City, after a secret discussion with Jin Yue, the elders dispersed with varied expressions.
Only Jin Yue remained in the hall, lost in thought.
Half a month passed in a flash.
On that day, several streaks of light departed the Holy City, heading deep into Feiling territory.
Among them were Han Li in his azure robe, Jin Yue in white, and a youthful woman wreathed in crackling lightning—Lei Lan, one of the Tianpeng Clan’s two Holy Masters.
“Fellow Daoist Han, this time, I’ve arranged for you to enter as a guard under the pretext of escorting the Holy Master to cultivate the Ice Fiend Art in the Abyss. Under normal circumstances, there should be no issues. However, during inspections at the Abyss entrance, you must be cautious. Some high-ranking Feiling Clan members possess innate detection techniques that are hard to guard against. If we encounter someone with such abilities on duty, there might be complications.” Shortly after their departure, Jin Yue solemnly warned Han Li.
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