Chapter 1863: The Giant Eye

“Leave this realm? What do you mean by that? Could it be…” Han Li was stunned, his voice tinged with shock and doubt.

“Master guessed correctly! After devouring a wisp of the Heavenly Demon Lord’s divine sense in the Demon Gold Mountain Range, my body underwent a drastic transformation, and I faintly sensed the pull of another realm. To avoid an uncontrollable outcome, I had to remain in deep slumber within the spirit beast ring. Just now, when the thunder beast transformed into a giant bird and woke me, I uncontrollably absorbed its heavenly thunder power. As a result, my body is now completely rejected by the natural laws of this realm. I fear I will soon be drawn to the legendary True Immortal Realm,” the Soul-Crying Beast murmured, its expression dazed.

“The True Immortal Realm? Are you certain it’s the power of that realm calling you?” Han Li was silent for a long moment before forcing a bitter smile.

Hadn’t he risked life and limb in his cultivation all these years precisely to one day ascend to the Immortal Realm and achieve true immortality alongside heaven and earth?

Yet now, while he remained far from that goal, the Soul-Crying Beast was about to accomplish it effortlessly.

His mind was in turmoil, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. Of course, deep down, he still harbored some skepticism.

“Though I don’t know how, I can indeed sense the pull of the Immortal Realm’s power. Many of the new memories in my mind are also related to the True Immortal Realm,” the Soul-Crying Beast replied honestly.

“You know about the True Immortal Realm? Could you share some of that knowledge with me?” Han Li’s heart stirred at these words.

“If Master wishes to know, I can certainly share a little. But—oh no, there’s no time!” The Soul-Crying Beast initially nodded in agreement but suddenly cried out in alarm.

As soon as the words left its mouth, a muffled boom echoed from the sky. The white mist parted, revealing a dazzling five-colored radiance that swirled into a massive eyeball the size of a house.

Its pupil was crystalline yet blood-red, shimmering with an eerie light.

The eyeball shifted slightly before locking onto the Soul-Crying Beast below.

A terrifying, world-ending aura descended from above.

Han Li felt an icy chill seize his body, paralyzing him completely. Not a single finger could move.

This wasn’t just a disparity in power—it was an absolute suppression of realms.

That bizarre eyeball seemed capable of annihilating his soul with but a thought.

Han Li’s expression darkened.

It had been countless years since he last felt his life hanging by a thread, utterly at another’s mercy. The sensation transported him back to his childhood, when he had been powerless before the sinister Physician Mo.

Under the gaze of the eyeball, the Soul-Crying Beast’s facial muscles twitched, and sweat beaded on its forehead. One arm trembled slightly as if trying to raise itself, but it only managed to lift halfway before collapsing weakly.

The giant eyeball seemed to sneer mockingly, emitting an eerie, chant-like sound.

Then, as if blinking, it unleashed an immense blood-red beam downward.

With a *whoosh*, the Soul-Crying Beast was instantly lifted into the air, vanishing into the pupil of the five-colored eyeball.

The chanting ceased, and the eyeball slowly closed before disappearing with a thunderous boom.

The white mist surged back, restoring the sky to its original state.

As the five-colored eyeball vanished, so too did the terrifying aura that had gripped Han Li’s heart.

Freed from the paralysis, Han Li remained motionless, staring blankly at the sky.

After what felt like an eternity, he let out a sigh.

Lowering his head, his expression carried a trace of loneliness.

The Soul-Crying Beast had followed him since the Chaotic Star Sea, accompanying him all the way to the Spirit Realm and saving his life countless times. Now, it had left him abruptly, its fate uncertain. It was impossible not to feel concern.

But that giant eyeball was clearly a manifestation of the Immortal Realm’s power. Before it, Han Li was nothing more than an ant, utterly powerless to resist. All he could do was watch helplessly.

Fortunately, the Soul-Crying Beast had seemed calm before its departure, suggesting it might not face great danger in the True Immortal Realm. If Han Li could one day ascend, reuniting with it might not be impossible.

The only regret was that its ascension had been too sudden, leaving him no time to learn more about the True Immortal Realm. Such knowledge could have been invaluable for his own future tribulation and ascension.

Suddenly, Han Li’s expression shifted, and he looked up toward another part of the sky.

A streak of golden light flashed in the distance, approaching at incredible speed. In just a few blinks, it was before him.

Han Li’s pupils contracted slightly as he recognized the figure within the light, a smile tugging at his lips.

The light dissipated, revealing a stunningly beautiful woman with snow-white skin and an elegant figure.

“Lady Yuan, it’s been many years. I hope you’ve been well,” Han Li greeted with a cupped fist.

“Brother Han, it really is you!” Yuan Yao, clad in an emerald-green gown, beamed with joy at the sight of him.

Han Li swept his divine sense over her, and upon discerning her cultivation level, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. “Lady Yuan, you’ve already reached the late-stage Void Refinement realm. It seems Senior Qing Yuanzi has spared no effort in guiding you.”

“Hmph, Yao’er is not only my disciple but has also recently become my adopted daughter. How could I not devote myself to her cultivation?” A man’s voice snorted coldly.

A wisp of green light shot out from Yuan Yao’s sleeve, swirling into a miniature figure about a foot tall. Clad in a gray robe with a small emerald sword strapped to his back, the figure had an ordinary face adorned with a long beard—a scaled-down version of Qing Yuanzi.

“Solidified Nascent Soul!” Han Li exclaimed in astonishment.

“What, my Nascent Soul leaving my body surprises you? Ah, I nearly forgot. For those below the Body Integration stage, prolonged Nascent Soul separation is indeed perilous. But I reached the Body Integration stage countless years ago, and my Nascent Soul has long been solidified to the point where my physical body is no longer essential. You’ll understand once you reach this stage yourself. Besides, this is only one of my three Nascent Soul avatars accompanying Yao’er,” Qing Yuanzi chuckled.

“Senior’s divine abilities are truly awe-inspiring. This junior is deeply impressed,” Han Li said with a respectful bow.

“My skills are nothing special. What’s remarkable is you, Han boy. In just a few centuries, you’ve advanced to the Body Integration stage. Even in my prime, my progress paled in comparison. It seems fortune has favored you greatly these years,” the green-clad miniature figure remarked with a faint smile.

“You flatter me, Senior. This junior merely stumbled upon some opportunities. I dare not compare myself to you,” Han Li replied humbly.

“Flattery or not, I know my own judgment. But before arriving here, did you engage in battle with someone? The residual aura here feels… peculiar,” Qing Yuanzi asked, frowning as he scanned the surroundings.

Han Li was momentarily taken aback.

Given the terrifying aura emitted by the five-colored eyeball, Qing Yuanzi should have sensed it from afar. Yet his words suggested otherwise. Could the eyeball have confined its aura to a limited range without any leakage?

If so, the eyeball’s power far exceeded his initial estimates.

Thinking this, Han Li replied nonchalantly, “It’s nothing. When I teleported here earlier, an enemy managed to slip in as well. I dealt with them just now. Their origins were unusual, hence the strange residual aura.”

“I see. My concerns were unfounded. This isn’t the place to talk. Fellow Daoist Han, come with Yao’er and me to my residence. Your arrival point was slightly off—it’s still half a day’s journey from my abode. Had I not coincidentally brought Yao’er out to test a secret technique, we wouldn’t have reached you so quickly,” Qing Yuanzi said meaningfully before adding lightly, “Let’s go.”

Without waiting for Han Li’s response, he transformed into a green streak and shot into the distance.

Han Li could only comply, summoning his own light to follow.

Yuan Yao, smiling, transformed into a golden streak and flew alongside him.

“Brother Han, I thought it would take you a few more years to return. After all, the materials Father asked you to collect are exceedingly rare,” Yuan Yao transmitted softly as they flew.

“Lady Yuan, how can you be so sure I’ve gathered everything Senior Qing Yuanzi requested? Perhaps I returned for other reasons,” Han Li replied with a faint smile.

“Others might not know, but I understand your temperament, Brother Han. Without sufficient benefits, you wouldn’t go to such lengths to return. The only thing here that could catch your eye is the Netherworld River Divine Milk, which would be immensely useful to you now,” Yuan Yao said, her smile radiant.

“You know me well, Fairy. Indeed, I came for the Netherworld River Divine Milk,” Han Li admitted after a brief silence, his voice laced with a wry chuckle.