Chapter 2221: The Gathering

“It seems Fellow Daoist Baohua already has a plan. In that case, there should be some confidence in re-entering the Primordial Seal Land. But I wonder, apart from the people from our two realms, how many reinforcements from other realms will be able to attend this gathering,” the bald burly man suddenly asked after rolling his eyes.

“So far, apart from the Black Flame Realm, several other realms adjacent to our Sacred Realm have sent additional forces. Though the numbers cannot compare to the first deployment, there are still over forty individuals. Among them, the strongest, the Sky Crow Realm, has sent as many as nine Mahayana cultivators at once, including the legendary Elder Bronze Crow, who has personally descended upon our realm,” Xie Lian replied with a light chuckle.

“Elder Bronze Crow? Could it be the renowned Bronze Crow, one of the Four Avians? Why would he come here in person?” The bald man gasped in astonishment.

“It seems Brother Jin has also heard of this elder’s reputation. Indeed, Fellow Daoist Bronze Crow’s fame across the realms even surpasses that of our Sacred Realm’s Three Ancestors. It’s no surprise you’ve heard of him. However, the reason he personally came to our Sacred Realm is said to be because among the foreign experts previously trapped in the Primordial Seal Land, there was one who was a direct descendant he held in the highest regard. Thus, he had no choice but to intervene personally,” Xie Lian replied with a hint of mockery.

“For someone of Elder Bronze Crow’s cultivation to risk himself for a mere descendant—this is truly unexpected,” the bald man sighed, scratching his shiny head.

“Rumor has it Elder Bronze Crow has only this one direct descendant, whom he painstakingly nurtured with countless resources to forcibly elevate to the Mahayana realm. Naturally, he couldn’t stand by and watch them face danger,” Xie Lian said indifferently.

“That makes sense. Thinking about it, if I had a Mahayana descendant, I’d also value them immensely,” Jin Cha chuckled, blinking his eyes.

“Since Fellow Daoist Xie Lian has clarified everything, Brother Crab and I will certainly attend the upcoming gathering. When the time comes, please notify us,” Han Li said after a moment of contemplation, exhaling deeply.

“Of course. When the departure date arrives, I will personally send word to the three of you,” Xie Lian agreed without hesitation.

“Then we won’t trouble you further. I’ll take my leave first,” Han Li nodded, rising without hesitation.

Crab Daoist and Silvermoon followed suit, clearly deferring to Han Li’s lead.

“Brother Han, why the rush? My Chaotian Peak has several unique spiritual fruits. Why not taste them before leaving?” the palace-robed woman said with a smile.

“No need. There will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy spiritual fruits in the future,” Han Li chuckled, cupping his hands slightly before flicking his sleeve. A golden mist enveloped the three of them, transforming into a golden streak that vanished through the hall’s entrance in a flash.

Xie Lian frowned slightly but didn’t attempt to stop them.

“Haha, it seems Fellow Daoist Han isn’t too keen on befriending a Demon Realm Ancestor like you. Not surprising, given the recent war between your Demon Realm and the Spirit Realm. Such grudges aren’t easily resolved!” the bald man laughed.

“The relationship between the Sacred Realm and the Spirit Realm is none of your concern, Fellow Daoist Jin. Now that Fellow Daoist Han has agreed to attend the gathering, what are your plans?” Xie Lian asked, her expression darkening slightly.

“Is there even a question? Naturally, we’ll join as well. However, we have no interest in roughing it outside, so we’ll likely impose on your hospitality for a while longer,” the bald man replied without hesitation.

“Excellent. It’s best if both of you join. As for lodging, that’s no issue at all. Having you stay here is an honor for me,” Xie Lian replied with a faint smile.

The bald man and his companion nodded in satisfaction.

At that moment, several palace-robed women entered the hall, carrying trays of spiritual fruits and fragrant teas.

Meanwhile, Han Li and his companions were flying high in the sky.

Soon, they descended into a secluded valley within the Ten Thousand Flowers Mountain Range.

Han Li summoned several giant ape puppets to carve out a temporary cave dwelling in the cliffside.

Once inside, each entered a separate chamber to meditate and rest.

With the gathering of the Sacred Ancestors and foreign experts yet to occur, there was little to discuss regarding their next steps.

Of course, Silvermoon couldn’t help but worry about Patriarch Ao Xiao.

But knowing that everyone was merely trapped in the Primordial Seal Land with no immediate danger eased her mind somewhat.

A month passed in the blink of an eye for cultivators like Han Li.

One day, while meditating in his chamber, Han Li’s expression shifted. He suddenly reached into the air before him.

With a soft “pop,” a translucent white jade slip materialized in his grasp.

Without a word, he placed it between his palms and rubbed them together.

The slip shattered, releasing a burst of green flame.

“Brother Han, the time has come. Please come to Chaotian Peak. We depart today,” Xie Lian’s calm voice emerged from the flame, as if she were right before him.

Han Li smiled, extinguishing the flame with another rub of his hands before standing up.

Half a day later, Han Li, Crab Daoist, and Silvermoon arrived in a small chamber within the emerald-green palace on Chaotian Peak.

Xie Lian, two alluring female disciples, and Jin Cha’s group were already present.

At the center of the chamber, a faintly glowing silver teleportation array spanned several meters.

“This array will take us to the nearest town to the gathering site. From there, it’s a half-month journey to the meeting point. Brother Jin, Fellow Daoist Han, after you,” Xie Lian said coolly.

“Very well. We’ll go first,” Jin Cha chuckled, stepping into the array with his companion without hesitation.

A flash of light later, the two Mahayana cultivators from the White Light Realm vanished.

Han Li, expression unchanged, gestured to Crab Daoist and Silvermoon before stepping into the array himself, disappearing in another flash.

Xie Lian smirked, leading her two disciples into the array as well.

Half a month later, in the heart of an endless yellow desert, the earth trembled violently.

Amidst rolling sands, an ancient earthen city emerged from the ground.

The city spanned only a few miles, but its walls towered over a hundred feet high.

To the sound of low drums, squads of armored soldiers marched onto the battlements.

These soldiers, clad in colorful armor and wielding various weapons, were actually specialized puppets—numbering in the tens of thousands.

At the city’s center stood a resplendent golden palace.

Exquisitely crafted, the palace seemed forged from solid gold, its surface etched with intricate demonic patterns. Its roof was studded with fist-sized gemstones radiating dazzling multicolored light.

Before long, a piercing cry echoed across the sky as a pristine white beast-drawn carriage emerged from rolling white clouds in the distance.

The carriage, over a hundred feet long and crystalline in appearance, was pulled by four white flood dragons spewing mist as they raced forward.

A man and woman stood side by side on the carriage.

The man, in his forties, had a pale complexion and wore a white robe shimmering with crystalline light.

The woman, a young lady in her twenties, wore a blue leather armor, her hair elegantly coiled, her face delicate and refined.

In a few flashes, the carriage arrived above the earthen city.

The man made a hand seal, and the carriage and flood dragons vanished in a white flash.

The pair transformed into white streaks, descending into the golden palace below.

The palace remained eerily silent.

Soon after, two streaks—one black, one silver—appeared simultaneously from opposite horizons, crossing hundreds of miles in moments before entering the palace.

Another half-hour later, Buddhist chants filled the air as a seven-colored glow heralded the arrival of a procession of a thousand figures.

Half were golden-armored warriors wielding axes and halberds; the other half, clad in rainbow robes, played flutes and carried lutes like celestial maidens.

At their center floated a seven-colored halo the size of an acre, within which sat a towering figure on a massive throne.

The procession landed before the palace, the halo dissipating to reveal an imposing elder in a seven-colored robe and imperial crown.

After a light cough, the elder strode into the palace without a word.

Simultaneously, the armored soldiers and celestial maidens dissolved into motes of light, as if mere illusions.

Over the next few hours, dark clouds, fiery meteors, and other bizarre phenomena heralded the arrival of strange figures, all entering the golden palace without ceremony.