The woman in purple, upon seeing Han Li’s true appearance, stared at him with dazed eyes, as if utterly entranced.
At the same time, the thin black mist enveloping her body gradually dissipated, revealing a face as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Though slightly pale, her peerless beauty unmistakably identified her as “Ziling,” Han Li’s beloved from the human realm.
However, her aura had undergone a drastic transformation—she had clearly cultivated pure demonic techniques and now possessed the astonishing cultivation of late-stage Void Refinement.
The familiar figure Han Li had glimpsed upon arriving at Bluefall City was undoubtedly Ziling! It was only due to the drastic change in her aura that Han Li had initially failed to recognize her.
Though she had vanished without a trace after their brief encounter in the human realm, not even reappearing when Han Li crossed into the Spirit Realm through the spatial node, there was no doubt that among all the female cultivators Han Li had known, aside from Nangong Wan, she was the one he had missed the most.
Now, unexpectedly encountering her in the Demon Realm filled Han Li with both joy and deep emotion.
“I never imagined that after arriving in the Sacred Realm, I would truly see Brother Han again in this lifetime. I almost doubted myself, wondering if I was dreaming from longing too much,” Ziling finally spoke, her soft words causing Han Li’s heart to clench with a faint ache.
“After ascending, I deliberately sought news of you but found none. I never expected you to have come to the Demon Realm. No wonder I couldn’t find you!” Han Li, regaining his composure from the initial shock of seeing Ziling, forced a bitter smile.
Yet as he spoke, his gaze flickered toward the flaxen-robed girl and “Aunt Zhu,” a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes.
The demonic woman’s expression darkened as she stepped forward, shielding Lan Ying behind her.
The flaxen-robed girl, sharp-witted, immediately understood Han Li’s concern and waved off the woman with a light laugh. “So, Fellow Daoist Han, you are the heartless man Sister Ziling has never forgotten! This is your true face. I don’t see anything particularly handsome about you to make her pine for you so. But if not for my divination a few days ago, Sister Ziling wouldn’t have visited today, and you two wouldn’t have reunited. Now that you’ve met, are you planning to silence me, your benefactor, before even exchanging sweet nothings?”
“You little imp, what nonsense are you spouting? What sweet nothings? Your last divination was pure luck and doesn’t count. Brother Han, you needn’t worry about human realm cultivators. Ying’er is my closest friend and would never reveal anything. Moreover, their Guangyuan Pavilion isn’t a local Demon Realm force but a branch of a vast organization spanning multiple realms. There are over a dozen proxy pavilion masters like her across different realms, including the human realm. Otherwise, how could Guangyuan Pavilion have endured under the noses of the Demon Realm’s Sacred Ancestors for so long?” Ziling first chided the girl before turning to explain to Han Li.
“An organization spanning multiple realms? Yet I’ve never heard of Guangyuan Pavilion in the human realm,” Han Li inhaled sharply, skeptical despite his vast experience.
“Brother Han is quite cautious, even doubting Sister Ziling’s words. Though called ‘Guangyuan Pavilion’ here, it goes by different names in other realms. Otherwise, any being capable of traversing realms would easily uncover the connection,” the flaxen-robed girl replied with a teasing glance.
“I see. My apologies for the rudeness,” Han Li said, bowing slightly, his suspicions somewhat allayed.
Before the girl could respond, Ziling interjected, “Ying’er, don’t blame Brother Han for his caution. He didn’t know of our sisterly bond beforehand.”
“I never thought Sister Ziling would prioritize romance over friendship. Just reunited with an old flame, and already taking his side,” the girl teased, her demeanor now playful compared to her earlier aloofness.
“More nonsense! Who’s prioritizing romance?” Ziling flushed, glaring at her.
The girl merely smiled and changed the subject. “You two must have much to discuss after so long. Aunt Zhu and I will retire to the fifth floor. Take your time. Here’s the restriction token for this floor.”
She stood, flicking her sleeve to send a white light—a token-shaped demonic artifact—toward Ziling.
“Thank you, Ying’er,” Ziling said gratefully, catching the token.
With a slight bow, the girl and the woman ascended the stairs.
Soon, they entered a quaintly decorated room. The girl sat in a chair, deep in thought, while the woman stood nearby.
“Aunt Zhu, what do you think of Fellow Daoist Han?” the girl asked abruptly.
“In what regard?” the woman asked, puzzled.
“His cultivation and strength. If he’s a Body Integration cultivator, he’s likely the human who recently stirred the Demon Realm and obtained the pseudo-immortal puppet.”
“Given his name and race, it’s almost certainly him. His aura is complex—far from an ordinary Body Integration cultivator. He’s dangerous, with many lives taken.”
“Then, even without the puppet, he’s worth recruiting.”
“Indeed. And since he’s close to Lady Ziling, befriending him shouldn’t be hard.”
“You’re mistaken. His resolve is unshakable by mere sentiment. To truly win him over, we’ll need tangible benefits.”
“Your insight is as sharp as the old master’s. But with our current resources, what can we offer a late-stage Body Integration cultivator?”
“We’re in the business of information. Didn’t we just stumble upon a perfect favor to grant?”
“You mean…?”
Meanwhile, below, Ziling chanted incantations, activating the token.
Soon, colorful light barriers enveloped the fourth floor, leaving only Han Li and Ziling within.
As she stored the token, Han Li asked urgently, “Ziling, your human realm cultivation wasn’t demonic. How did you ascend to the Demon Realm? And how did you advance so quickly?”
He frowned, sensing her pure demonic energy.
“It’s a long story. But first, are you the human who recently upheaved the Sacred Realm?”
“If no other human has done so, then yes.”
“So it’s true—you’ve reached late-stage Body Integration, with fearsome abilities and a puppet rivaling a Sacred Ancestor?”
“Exaggerated, but mostly accurate. Though the puppet follows me, I don’t control it.”
“To advance so swiftly, nearing the Mahayana realm—you’ve endured much hardship, haven’t you?”
“Some trials, but the results justify them. Yet your demonic energy is unnaturally pure. You’re nearing Body Integration yourself.”
“Within decades, perhaps. But unlike you, I’ve had unlimited resources and prepared pills. Otherwise, I’d never have progressed so fast.”
“Who would sponsor you without cause?”
“Have you heard of Sacred Ancestor Liu Ji?”
“One of the Demon Realm’s three new overlords. You’re her disciple?”
“Her seventh and youngest disciple—more accurately, a backup vessel.”
“A backup vessel? She’s enslaved you?” Han Li demanded, fury flashing in his eyes.
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