This shadowy figure was a temporary avatar formed by a strand of Han Li’s divine sense, which he intended to send into the wooden box using an alien secret technique that bypassed the thirteen layers of ancient restrictions.
However, the space here was clearly not inside the wooden box, which naturally surprised him greatly.
Though startled, Han Li felt little fear. At worst, he would only lose this strand of divine sense, with minimal harm to his true body.
After surveying his surroundings, Han Li moved lightly and flew in a certain direction.
Apart from the hazy gray mist along the way, there was nothing else of color. After flying for several hours, the scenery remained unchanged.
Frowning slightly, Han Li halted his flight, pondered briefly, then abruptly changed direction and soared straight upward.
Passing through layers of mist, the sky of this space seemed boundless. Even after half a day of flight, there was no end in sight.
His expression darkening, Han Li stopped again and scanned his surroundings.
Suddenly, his expression shifted as he glanced in a certain direction and called out, “Which fellow Daoist is hiding nearby? Please show yourself!”
Though his voice was not loud, it echoed through the void. Yet the surroundings remained silent, with no sign of anyone.
Seeing this, Han Li snorted coldly, sat cross-legged, and began meditating with his hands forming seals.
His eyes closed, his body motionless, he remained seated for most of the day, as if he intended never to rise again.
At the start of the second day, a green light suddenly flickered in the void nearby, transforming into an elderly man in a dark green robe.
The old man had unusually long eyebrows, a gaunt face, and a triangular topknot secured by a yellow wooden hairpin. His robe bore the image of a ferocious three-headed, six-armed demon, giving him an eerie appearance.
Upon appearing, he made no move to approach, merely staring coldly at Han Li in silence.
Han Li ignored him, as if unaware of his presence, continuing his meditation with closed eyes.
The two remained in a strange stalemate—one seated, one standing—neither willing to speak first.
Time passed swiftly.
After three days and nights, both remained unchanged.
However, upon closer inspection, the old man’s grayish-white eyes flickered slightly as he observed Han Li, revealing a trace of surprise.
A few more hours later, the old man’s eyes moved more noticeably before suddenly closing and reopening, now gleaming with an eerie silver light. His body then dissolved like foam, vanishing on the spot.
The next moment, spatial fluctuations rippled a few feet in front of Han Li, and the old man reappeared.
Han Li remained expressionless, not even lifting an eyelid.
The green-robed old man’s face twitched with anger.
“Hmph, you have quite the nerve to sit so arrogantly in my presence,” the old man finally spoke, his voice a grating metallic screech that unsettled the mind.
“Judging by your tone, you must be someone of great stature. May I ask your name?” Han Li opened his eyes calmly and replied.
“My name is beyond the knowledge of a mere human cultivator like you. But I am surprised that a human’s divine sense avatar has entered this place. It seems this object has fallen into your hands,” the old man said, immediately recognizing Han Li as an avatar and speaking with great arrogance.
“It seems you are a mighty figure from the Ancient Demon Realm. Indeed, this box is in my possession, which is why I sent this strand of divine sense to investigate. But this place is not inside the box—it must be some kind of restriction,” Han Li replied evenly, his expression unchanging.
Though his avatar couldn’t gauge the old man’s strength, he had already guessed he was a demonic being. While his face showed nothing, inwardly he was on high alert.
“This is indeed not inside the box but within the tenth layer’s illusionary restriction. By mastering its core principles, one can reshape this space at will. That said, the current demon race is truly useless to let this treasure fall into human hands. From your words, it seems the treasure has taken the form of a box—better than its previous conspicuous appearance,” the old man muttered, flicking his sleeve.
Han Li’s vision blurred as the gray surroundings shattered like glass. The fresh scent of grass and the sound of flowing water suddenly filled his senses.
Startled, he focused his gaze and found himself in an entirely different world—blue skies, white clouds, green mountains, and clear streams. Looking down, he and the old man stood in a shallow brook, its water barely covering their calves. A few foot-long green fish swam leisurely past their feet, unafraid of humans.
Han Li’s expression shifted slightly. Without a word, he reached down and grabbed one of the fish.
With a *whoosh*, the wriggling fish was plucked from the water. He could clearly feel its slippery struggle in his grip.
His pupils flashed blue as he tossed the fish back into the stream, then sniffed his fingers—the pungent smell of fish filled his nose.
“An impressive restriction, capable of manifesting reality from thought. But more importantly, could you explain why you are here? According to the technique I used, this strand of divine sense should have been sent directly into the box. Being trapped here must have something to do with you,” Han Li said after a moment of thought.
“Why should I answer you? If you want answers, find them yourself,” the old man retorted, rolling his eyes.
“Since you chose to reveal yourself, surely you didn’t just want to exchange a few words. And you don’t seem to be in physical form either—just a strand of divine sense like me. I doubt you’re here willingly,” Han Li replied with a faint smirk.
“Who *are* you? What do you know? Did that scoundrel Bloodlight send you?”
A thunderous roar exploded in Han Li’s ears as an overwhelming pressure bore down on him.
A gust of wind surged as the green-robed old man lunged forward, seizing Han Li by the throat. His silver eyes turned blood-red as he snarled, “Speak!”
A savage, primordial aura erupted from him, and a colossal blood-colored demonic shadow loomed behind him, as if ready to tear Han Li apart.
“I don’t know any ‘Bloodlight,'” Han Li replied calmly, though inwardly alarmed.
“Lies! If you didn’t know that wretch Bloodlight, how did you obtain this Demon Sealing Lock? Do you think I believe your nonsense? This artifact has passed through the hands of countless demonic ancestors—none would let it fall into human hands! Don’t tell me you *killed* Bloodlight to get it!” The old man’s face twisted with madness as his fingers tightened, green light flickering ominously.
Han Li’s avatar, being just a strand of divine sense, had no power to resist. Instead, he smiled faintly.
“Demon Sealing Lock? So that’s its name. I truly don’t know this ‘Bloodlight,’ nor would I take orders from a demon. If I had ill intentions, I wouldn’t have sent just a strand of divine sense. Destroying this avatar means nothing to my true body. In fact, if frightened, I might just toss this object into an unfathomable abyss where no one could find it—perhaps for a million years.”
“You dare threaten me? Hah! It seems you truly don’t know who I am—you’re not Bloodlight’s lackey after all. My apologies for the rudeness earlier!” The old man’s fury vanished as he released Han Li, his expression shifting abruptly.
“So you believe me now. But I’m still in the dark—care to enlighten me?” Han Li straightened his robes casually.
“Of course. But like you guessed, I’ve been trapped here for ages and have questions of my own. I’ll trade you—answer one of mine, and I’ll answer one of yours,” the old man said, stroking his beard with narrowed eyes.
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