Among them, the Long Family Ancestor naturally remained with the black-robed cultivator surnamed Hui, while Han Li paired up with the feathered-robed maiden.
As for the Spirit Race side, led by the Eternal Sage Maiden and Bai Qi, they also split into two other groups.
After flying for about ten thousand miles, the feathered-robed maiden suddenly halted her flight and flicked her sleeve to one side.
With a muffled sound, an object flew out from her sleeve, expanding in the wind to reveal itself as a black flying vessel.
This demonic artifact was over ten zhang long, its surface pitch-black and utterly unremarkable in appearance.
At this moment, the feathered-robed maiden flashed onto the vessel and raised her arm, beckoning to Han Li.
Han Li’s expression flickered slightly, but without hesitation, he adjusted his flight and appeared beside her in a flash.
Only then did the feathered-robed maiden smile faintly and say:
“This Black Jade Boat is a flying demonic artifact I purchased in Blood Crow City. It’s quite fast for travel and can also help conceal our movements.”
“This artifact is indeed quite good. Fairy Ye has been thoughtful,” Han Li replied with a slight smile after examining the vessel.
“With Brother Han’s discerning eye, this boat is hardly worth mentioning. Let’s step inside and discuss further,” the maiden chuckled lightly. She raised her hand and released a ball of yellow light, which transformed into a puppet resembling a yellow-turbaned warrior, standing motionless at the bow of the boat.
She then turned and walked toward the cabin in the middle of the vessel.
Clearly, she intended for this puppet to control the boat’s flight.
Han Li showed no surprise at this and nodded before following her into the cabin.
Inside, the space was several zhang wide, furnished with tables, chairs, beds, and even several black meditation cushions in the corners.
The boat could comfortably accommodate four or five people, making it relatively spacious for its size.
The feathered-robed maiden and Han Li each took a seat, after which the maiden’s expression turned serious.
“Brother Han, when we were with the others, it was inconvenient for me to speak privately with you. Now, however, we need not worry about such things. What I’m about to say concerns the route we’ve chosen—matters best kept from Fellow Daoist Long and the others.”
“Oh? Then I’ll listen carefully,” Han Li replied, his expression shifting slightly as he recalled how this woman had been the first to choose this route and had actively sought to travel with him. Among the others, she was the only one with whom he had a relatively good relationship, and the route itself made little difference to him, so he had agreed without much thought.
Now, it seemed she had another purpose in mind.
“You also possess the blood of the Heavenly Phoenix, don’t you? Brother Han, there’s no need to deny it. I’ve heard about your transformation during the demon siege of Tianyuan City. Many fellow Daoists are already aware of it. Moreover, between those of the same bloodline, our Ye Family’s inherited secret technique allows us to faintly sense traces of the Heavenly Phoenix’s aura. However, what’s strange is that aside from the Heavenly Phoenix’s aura, you seem to carry several other mixed auras, each no weaker than the phoenix’s. I can’t discern the specifics, but I suspect they’re related to your other transformations. Could it be that you truly possess the blood of multiple different true spirits?” The feathered-robed maiden stared at Han Li for a moment before suddenly speaking words that startled him.
“Since Fairy Ye already knows, I won’t hide it. During my travels in the wildlands, I did encounter some opportunities among the foreign races and obtained the blood of several true spirits. But why bring this up now?” Han Li replied calmly, his expression unchanging.
“Brother Han need not be wary. I have no intention of probing the origins of these bloodlines. Rather, since you’ve found a way to integrate different true spirit bloodlines, would you be willing to refine one more?” The maiden replied lightly.
“What do you mean? Does Fairy Ye possess another true spirit’s blood?” Han Li’s eyes narrowed in surprise.
“I don’t have it now, but there is a place along our route where such blood exists,” the maiden said, her beautiful eyes flashing with cunning.
“Where?” Han Li’s expression finally turned solemn.
“Iron Sand Ridge!” the maiden answered without hesitation.
“Iron Sand Ridge? Isn’t that the territory of the Azure Wing Clan? What true spirit blood could be there?” Han Li’s mind raced as he recalled relevant information.
“You’d be mistaken to think so. Though the Azure Wing Clan isn’t among the strongest in the demon world, some of their special members do indeed inherit true spirit bloodlines. Few outsiders know of this,” the maiden replied with a cold laugh.
“And what do you mean by ‘special members’?” Han Li stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“Naturally, the core members of the Azure Wing Clan. Like our human true spirit families, not all of them inherit the bloodline—only a select few. Those who are confirmed to carry the bloodline, regardless of purity, immediately see their status skyrocket within the clan,” the maiden explained.
“If the Azure Wing Clan possesses true spirit blood, many must have coveted it. Their protection of these core members must be extremely tight. Are you truly confident in obtaining it? Moreover, since the Ye Family already has the Heavenly Phoenix’s blood, why take such risks? Unless… you’ve also mastered a technique to fuse other bloodlines?” Han Li mused before posing the question.
“Nothing of the sort. But do you know which true spirit’s bloodline the Azure Wing Clan inherits?” The maiden’s lips curled into a mysterious smile.
“Please enlighten me,” Han Li replied, his thoughts racing but his expression unchanged.
“Do you know the most famous true spirit-level avian beings of ancient times?” the maiden countered with another question.
“Aside from the Heavenly Phoenix, the most renowned are the Roaming Heaven Kunpeng, the Ghost Owl, and the Nine Heavens Azure Luan,” Han Li answered after a brief pause.
“The Azure Wing Clan carries the bloodline of the Azure Luan, along with some of its innate abilities. Now you understand why I’m so fixated on this blood. To be frank, I learned of the Azure Luan’s blood in the demon world long before coming here. Without this knowledge, I might not have risked this journey. In a way, this blood is even more important to the Ye Family than the Spirit Cleansing Pool or the Pure Spirit Lotus. I sincerely hope Brother Han will lend me his aid. That said, whether it’s the Long Family or the Spirit Race, their goals in the demon world likely extend beyond the pool and the lotus. Otherwise, why would they so readily agree to split up without objection?” The maiden spoke earnestly.
“The Azure Luan’s blood… No wonder. I’ve heard that the Azure Luan and the Heavenly Phoenix originally shared the same avian bloodline, diverging only due to differences in their innate abilities. So, you intend to give the Ye Family another inheritable true spirit bloodline,” Han Li replied calmly, though inwardly he was ecstatic.
If it were any other true spirit’s blood, he might have dismissed it. But the Azure Luan’s blood was precisely one of the additional bloodlines recorded in the Seismic Awakening Art. Obtaining it would undoubtedly advance his mastery of the technique significantly.
At his current level, each additional bloodline could enhance the power of his other transformations by a considerable margin.
“Exactly. Since the Ye Family can inherit the Heavenly Phoenix’s blood, the Azure Luan’s blood should pose little issue for our descendants. With it, surpassing the Long Family would be effortless. Personally, if I could possess both the Heavenly Phoenix and Azure Luan’s bloodlines and refine them into one, my cultivation would soar, and I might even gain a sliver of hope to ascend to the Mahayana realm.” The maiden’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
“Aside from a share of the blood, what else do I stand to gain?” Han Li asked bluntly after a long silence, his tone neutral.
The maiden’s face lit up with joy, and she quickly replied, “Aside from a fortune in spirit stones rivaling a mid-sized sect’s millennium of accumulation, the Ye Family will owe you a great favor. In the future, should you ever need our aid, we will spare no effort to assist you once.”
“Very well. Then it’s settled. Let’s seal it with a handshake.” Han Li extended his palm slowly from his sleeve.
Without hesitation, the maiden raised her hand to meet his.
*Pa! Pa! Pa!*
Three firm handclasps later, both withdrew their hands, the maiden now beaming with satisfaction.
“Fairy Ye is willing to pay such a price, so the Azure Luan’s blood must be exceptionally difficult to obtain. Now that I’ve agreed, what exactly are the challenges?” Han Li exhaled lightly before asking coolly.
“Brother Han is astute. To obtain the Azure Luan’s blood, we may have to face a Demon Ancestor,” the maiden replied, her smile fading as she delivered the shocking news.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage