“Brother Long, rest assured. As long as the Zhao family doesn’t have a Demon Venerable overseeing them, we naturally won’t need to reveal our combined-stage abilities. We’ll simply seize the demonic lizard and leave immediately, avoiding any unnecessary actions.” The Saintess of the Thousand Autumns smiled confidently in response.
Han Li and the feathered maiden naturally had no objections.
Seeing this, the Long Family Ancestor nodded in approval.
In the following time, the group carefully discussed the details of their plan, finalizing each step of the operation.
Several hours later, the Long Family Ancestor, Han Li, and the others left the cave abode and returned to Phantom Night City.
Over the next two months, Han Li remained secluded in his pavilion, quietly awaiting the agreed-upon time.
During this period, he received several messages from the Long Family Ancestor, indicating that everything was proceeding smoothly.
Not only had the Long Family Ancestor successfully provoked the Zhao family into harboring ill intentions, but through meticulous arrangements, he had even convinced two of their Demon Venerables to personally take action.
However, throughout this time, the Long Family Ancestor remained in Phantom Night City, denying the Zhao family any opportunity to strike.
One day, as Han Li was meditating in his pavilion, a faint hum came from his waist, and a ball of white light flew out, transforming into a dozen misty white characters that unfurled before him.
Han Li glanced at the words, smiled faintly, and then stood up to descend the stairs.
When he reached the main hall on the first floor, he found Zhu Guo’er sitting obediently on a chair near the door, resting her chin on one hand in a daze.
As soon as she saw Han Li descending, the young girl snapped back to attention and hurriedly approached to greet him.
“This time, you don’t need to stay here. Come with me,” Han Li instructed indifferently before walking straight toward the door.
Zhu Guo’er was momentarily stunned but quickly brightened with excitement, hastily responding with a “Yes!” and following behind Han Li.
After all, though Han Li had never mistreated her during this time, being confined to such a small space in the pavilion had left her feeling stifled, almost as if she were imprisoned. The prospect of leaving with him naturally filled her with joy.
Once outside the pavilion, Han Li and Zhu Guo’er boarded a beast-drawn carriage and left Phantom Night City.
After exiting the city gates, Han Li summoned a streak of light, enveloping Zhu Guo’er as they flew toward a nearby nameless mountain peak.
A short while later, Han Li’s light descended.
Under a large tree at the summit, the Lin Family’s disheveled man had been waiting. Upon seeing Han Li, he immediately stepped forward with a smile.
Though this combined-stage cultivator still appeared aged, his previously gray hair had turned black again, and his face now bore a healthier complexion—all thanks to the Essence-Refining Pill Han Li had given him.
“Brother Han, you’re as punctual as ever. Is this young girl the junior you mentioned?” The disheveled man glanced at Zhu Guo’er, his eyes flickering with curiosity.
“Indeed. This girl has some ties to me. I’d appreciate it if you could take her back to the Spirit Realm. Once matters in the Demon Realm are settled, I’ll retrieve her immediately,” Han Li replied calmly.
“Don’t worry, fellow Daoist. Since I’ve accepted your pill, I’ll ensure her safety. Brother Long and the others are set to launch their plan within the next two days, so I must depart today,” the disheveled man said solemnly.
“Mm, it’s better for you to leave early, Fellow Daoist Lin. Getting entangled in their affairs would only complicate things,” Han Li agreed with a nod before turning to Zhu Guo’er.
“Meeting me here is a stroke of fate. I’ll help you return to your clan. Fellow Daoist Lin is a senior elder of one of the major human clans, so you’ll be safe under his care. As for other matters, I’ll explain in detail when we meet again.”
Zhu Guo’er stood dumbfounded, her lips trembling as if she wanted to ask something in shock.
But before she could speak, Han Li flicked his sleeve.
A burst of azure light swept out as Han Li transformed into a streak of green light, shooting into the sky and vanishing in an instant.
The mountaintop was left with only the disheveled man and Zhu Guo’er.
“Little girl, no need to stare. Since Brother Han entrusted you to me, I’ll take you to the Spirit Realm,” the disheveled man said indifferently.
“The Spirit Realm? Senior, you’re truly human? Then… is Senior Han also…?” Zhu Guo’er, quick-witted despite her shock, still couldn’t quite believe it.
“Heh, do you think someone of my and Brother Han’s status would lie to a mere Golden Core-stage girl?” the disheveled man chuckled.
“But… Senior Han mentioned having some connection with me. What does that mean? Could you tell me?” Zhu Guo’er asked excitedly before suddenly recalling something.
“I don’t know about that. Didn’t Brother Han tell you?” The disheveled man looked slightly puzzled.
“I only just learned that Senior Han isn’t a demon! How would I know about any sudden connection between us?” Zhu Guo’er shook her head repeatedly, her face filled with confusion.
Yet, in her heart, she recalled Han Li’s earlier questioning about the “Maiden’s Reincarnation Art,” stirring a vague suspicion she couldn’t confirm.
Though the disheveled man was somewhat curious about Zhu Guo’er’s relationship with Han Li, he didn’t press further. After a few more calm words, he summoned a dark flying carriage, pulled by several flood dragon-like puppet beasts.
With a wave of his hand, the two boarded the carriage, which then soared into the sky, speeding toward the wilderness.
Wary of the impending actions of the Long Family Ancestor and the others, the disheveled man pushed the puppet beasts to their limits once they left Phantom Night City’s vicinity.
By midday, the carriage had traveled millions of miles away.
Below, rolling hills stretched endlessly, with a small mountain range faintly visible in the distance. Just as they were about to pass over it, a faint woman’s voice echoed in the disheveled man’s ears:
“Since you’ve come this far, you might as well descend.”
Before the words faded, the space above the carriage rippled, and countless pink petals materialized, coalescing into a colossal hand over a hundred feet wide, crashing down with overwhelming force.
The air filled with floral fragrance, as if the sky itself were collapsing, leaving no room for escape.
“Not good!”
The disheveled man paled in alarm. With one hand forming a seal and the other raised toward the sky, the puppet beasts at the front roared, spewing thick beams of multicolored light. Simultaneously, the carriage shimmered with crystalline radiance, forming a white barrier to shield its occupants.
At the same time, a bone blade wreathed in black mist shot from the man’s hand, transforming into a massive white blade that slashed toward the pink hand.
The blade’s passage distorted space, as if it could rend the void itself.
Despite his diminished cultivation, the disheveled man’s desperate strike was earth-shattering in power.
The next moment, the beams and blade struck the giant hand.
A deafening explosion resounded, shaking the surrounding hundred miles.
The beams were extinguished by the pink radiance, and the bone blade shattered under an unfathomable force.
The Lin Family’s combined-stage cultivator’s pupils contracted, his face drained of color. Before he could react further, the pink light descended, tearing through the carriage’s barrier.
A flood of pink petals overwhelmed his vision, his magic power froze, and a strange fragrance plunged him into unconsciousness.
In his final moment of clarity, he heard Zhu Guo’er’s terrified scream.
A bitter smile touched his lips.
Just half a day ago, he had boasted to Han Li—only to now find himself helpless. Had he not lost half his power, he wouldn’t have fallen so easily.
With that fleeting thought, his consciousness faded, and he collapsed onto the carriage.
An hour later, in a shadowy forest, the disheveled man slowly regained consciousness.
The moment he opened his eyes, he sensed something amiss and immediately checked his body.
He found himself nestled among pink blossoms, his body wrapped in petals—beautiful yet sapping his strength. His dantian felt hollow, devoid of even a trace of magic power.
His heart sank as he scanned his surroundings.
Before he could focus, a rough male voice barked from one side:
“Lady Treasure Flower, this human brat’s awake!”
Startled, the disheveled man turned toward the voice.
On a nearby mound stood a hideous, black-armored man with a vicious grin, sizing him up.
“A Demon Venerable!”
Though unsurprised, the man’s gaze flickered toward another tree, where pink floral shadows shimmered.
As the shadows dissipated, a peerlessly beautiful woman in white robes emerged, her eyes—like stars—locking onto his.
In that instant, the disheveled man’s mind wavered. Her gaze held an inexplicable warmth, stirring a fervent desire in his chest—even to die for her.
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