The massive green boat and three streaks of dazzling rainbows appeared almost simultaneously above the valley, facing each other from a distance. Both sides couldn’t help but feel slightly surprised.
“What a coincidence. I didn’t expect our Spirit Race friends to arrive at the same time. Long greets you all.” As the light dissipated, Patriarch Long revealed himself and smiled at the opposite side.
“Qianqiu thought Brother Long had already entered the valley, but it seems you’ve only just arrived as well.” The voice of Saintess Qianqiu echoed from the giant boat. Then, with a flash, her figure appeared at the bow of the vessel.
Behind her stood four other figures. Three were the other Spirit Saints who had previously appeared on the boat, while the fourth was an unusually pale-faced young man enveloped in a faint blue mist, his expression utterly blank.
“Haha, I should have arrived two days earlier, but encountered some trouble along the way, which delayed me. It’s impressive that you all managed to arrive so punctually despite the long journey. You must have put in considerable effort.” Patriarch Long laughed heartily, his gaze sweeping across the five figures opposite him before lingering briefly on the figure shrouded in white light, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
“Trouble? Will it affect our mission?” The yellow-robed woman’s expression turned serious as she cautiously inquired.
“Rest assured, Saintess Qianqiu. We merely encountered a few high-ranking demons, but they’ve been dealt with. There won’t be any leaks about our journey.” Patriarch Long replied with a smile.
“If Brother Long says so, then I am relieved. It seems some of your people have already arrived. Shall we descend and discuss further?” Saintess Qianqiu visibly relaxed.
“Hmm, the aura belongs to Fellow Daoist Han and Fairy Ye. Let’s join them below.” Patriarch Long’s divine sense swept the valley below, and he immediately made a discovery.
With that, both groups descended toward the valley. The Spirit Race’s massive green boat, which had been hovering mid-air, vanished without a trace as the elderly scholar turned and pointed at it, employing some unknown technique.
The Spirit Saints followed Patriarch Long and his companions, lightly landing at the valley’s center.
The moment their feet touched the ground, a clear male voice rang out: “Fellow Daoists have finally arrived. Fairy Ye and I have been waiting for quite some time.”
As the words faded, two streaks of rainbow light flashed from the other end of the valley, arriving before the two groups with a whoosh.
Amidst the shimmering light, Han Li and the feathered-robed girl silently materialized.
“It truly is the two of you! Now, everyone is accounted for.” A faint smile crossed Patriarch Long’s face upon seeing Han Li.
“Aside from Fellow Daoist Qianqiu, the other Spirit Race members are unfamiliar to us. Could you introduce them?” Han Li nodded in response, his gaze sweeping over Saintess Qianqiu and the others as he spoke calmly.
“Fellow Daoist Han has reached the late-stage Body Integration realm!”
In stark contrast to Han Li’s composure, Saintess Qianqiu’s divine sense swept over him, and her face paled in shock.
When they first met at the Myriad Spirit Platform, Han Li had only been at the early-stage Body Integration realm. Now, after just a few centuries, he had advanced to the late stage, which naturally startled her.
“I was fortunate enough to advance to the late stage. Please don’t laugh at my humble progress.” Han Li replied with a faint smile.
At his current cultivation level, it was impossible to conceal his true realm from fellow late-stage Body Integration cultivators unless he deliberately employed concealment techniques.
The slender man and the other Spirit Saints, hearing the saintess’s words, instinctively scrutinized Han Li, their faces also betraying astonishment.
Before their departure, these Spirit Saints had thoroughly familiarized themselves with the human cultivators they would be cooperating with and immediately recognized Han Li.
However, the human cultivator who was supposed to be the weakest among them—an early-stage Body Integration cultivator—had suddenly become a terrifying late-stage expert, leaving them all stunned.
“Haha, Brother Han is a once-in-a-hundred-millennium cultivation genius among our human race, which explains his rapid progress. But with his increased strength, our mission’s success is even more assured.” Patriarch Long chuckled, his tone ambiguous.
“I had indeed heard rumors of Fellow Daoist Han’s extraordinary talent, but never imagined he could advance so rapidly even after reaching the Body Integration realm. But as Brother Long said, this is undoubtedly beneficial for our journey to the demon realm. Allow me to introduce the other members of our Spirit Race. These are our secluded cultivators, rarely known to outsiders. This is Elder Jingu of our Metal Spirit lineage, skilled in soundwave techniques and adept at handling large groups of enemies…” Saintess Qianqiu’s thoughts raced as she regained her composure, pointing to the slender, gray-robed man as she began the introductions.
The feathered-robed girl and the others listened while discreetly observing the other Spirit Saints.
From the yellow-robed woman’s words, they learned that aside from Elder Jingu, the elderly scholar was named “Cangxing,” a master of formations and restrictions.
The Spirit Saint shrouded in white light, whose features were indiscernible, was called “Bai Qi,” proficient in several great techniques that countered demonic arts and well-versed in matters related to the demon realm.
Lastly, the pale-faced youth was briefly introduced as “Zhishui,” a newly advanced Body Integration cultivator from the Artifact Spirit lineage, with unique techniques in spatial manipulation.
Among these Spirit Saints, aside from Saintess Qianqiu and Bai Qi (late-stage Body Integration), the elderly scholar and the slender man were at the mid-stage, while the youth “Zhishui” was only at the early stage.
On the surface, had Han Li not unexpectedly advanced to the late stage, the Spirit Race’s displayed strength would have clearly surpassed the human side.
Patriarch Long, having observed everything, showed no outward reaction and instead greeted each Spirit Saint with a smile.
From the Spirit Race side, only the elderly scholar and the slender man responded with smiles. Bai Qi and the youth “Zhishui” remained cold and expressionless, respectively.
Being a shrewd and experienced figure, Patriarch Long paid no mind to this and briefly introduced Han Li and the others to the Spirit Race members.
Given that Bai Qi’s late-stage spiritual pressure seemed even stronger than Saintess Qianqiu’s, the human cultivators instinctively focused most of their attention on this mysterious Spirit Saint.
However, this late-stage Spirit Saint’s true form remained unclear. The fluctuating white light emanating from its body was so disorienting that even Han Li felt dizzy after prolonged observation, secretly astonished.
With no further ado, both sides seated themselves under a giant tree nearby and began discussing the specifics of their journey into the demon realm.
Having prepared for this expedition for years, they had already meticulously planned every step. Now, they only needed minor adjustments based on the current circumstances.
Thus, in just two hours, everything was settled. Everyone rose into the air and boarded the massive green boat, which had reappeared above them.
With a resonant hum, the boat’s surface shimmered with seven-colored light before transforming into a faint green streak that shot toward the horizon.
Within moments, the green light vanished from sight, having traversed hundreds of miles.
Unbeknownst to those on the boat, a nearly invisible white orb silently followed them from tens of miles away at an altitude of ten thousand zhang, matching the boat’s speed.
Inside this eerie orb, an ugly-faced black-armored man addressed a palace-robed woman enveloped in pink light: “Master, you say there’s someone among those outsiders who makes you wary? That can’t be! Although your injuries prevent you from unleashing your full Sacred Ancestor-level power, dealing with these Body Integration cultivators one by one shouldn’t be an issue.”
The palace-robed woman, her face obscured by pink light, rubbed a purple-gold coin between her fingers before replying calmly: “It’s not the cultivators I fear, but this ‘Destiny Coin’ of mine suddenly reacted on its own, indicating that one among them possesses a treasure that could threaten me. I’d rather not risk further injury through carelessness.”
The coin bore two faces—one cheerful and benevolent, the other ferocious and monstrous—alternating in an eerie display.
“What treasure could possibly threaten you, Master?” The black-armored man paled in shock.
“At my full power, only a Xuantian Treasure could pose a real threat. But in my weakened state, who knows? Some specially empowered Divine Spirit Treasures might now have some effect on me.” The woman’s eyes gleamed thoughtfully.
“Did you sense any traces of the spirit medicine among them?” The black-armored man hesitantly ventured after a pause.
“As for the spirit medicine… I did faintly sense it on one of them, but something was strange…” The woman frowned, her beautiful eyes clouded with uncertainty.
The black-armored man watched in confusion but dared not press further.
Meanwhile, the green boat flew continuously for three months, carefully avoiding human and demon strongholds until it reached the shores of an endless sea.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage