At the edge of the lava lake, several wolf-like monster carcasses lay quietly, each severed into seven or eight pieces, clearly sliced apart by some sharp blade.
“Golden Child!”
Han Li withdrew his gaze and called out calmly.
With a soft *puff*, a purple-golden figure several inches tall appeared nearby, bowing deeply to Han Li while emitting a series of incoherent sounds, as if speaking to him.
Han Li’s expression turned serious, yet he seemed to understand perfectly.
“So these creatures appeared not long after I left. It seems they were sent by the Rakshasa Spiders. Fortunately, I left you here beforehand, or we wouldn’t have known what this clan was plotting. Golden Child, return now.” After listening, Han Li revealed a satisfied expression, called the little figure, and flicked his sleeve toward it.
The name “Golden Child” was casually given by Han Li to this Devouring Gold Beetle King, and he found it quite fitting.
Upon hearing its name, the little figure leaped forward, transforming into a golden light that flew into Han Li’s sleeve and disappeared.
Han Li then flicked his finger toward the carcasses below, sending several crimson fireballs shooting out. Flames surged, reducing everything to ashes.
With that, Han Li withdrew his gaze and glanced once more at the lava lake, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.
A jade box sealed with talismans appeared in his palm, containing the blue crystal pearl he had previously restrained.
Han Li lifted the jade box, brushing two fingers over it. The talismans floated down, and the lid opened by itself, revealing the crystal pearl inside.
As soon as the pearl was exposed, it emitted a strong wave of law energy. Under Han Li’s urging, most of it surged toward the lava lake.
When Han Li first saw the blue stone and this crystal pearl in the cold pond, he noticed that aside from their intense law energy, they also carried a faint, familiar aura.
Upon reflection, he realized this aura was identical to that of the Skyfish Clan he had encountered earlier.
However, the aura on these two items was extremely weak, almost imperceptible.
Had it not been for his recent encounter with the Skyfish Clan members, he might not have detected it at all.
Though Han Li didn’t know that the treasure retrieved from the cold pond was the so-called “Sacred Relic of the Skyfish Clan,” he guessed it must be related to them.
Moreover, though he lacked concrete evidence, he vaguely sensed that this treasure might conceal some unknown secret.
Thus, upon obtaining the crystal pearl, he immediately headed straight for this fiery land.
The pale blue crystal pearl flickered wildly in the jade box, its law energy growing increasingly intense. The surrounding space began to emit a low hum, and faint, indistinct bands of light materialized in the air, dancing chaotically.
The entire underground cavern trembled violently as the light bands swirled, sending countless rocks tumbling from above.
For an ordinary person, such a barrage of falling rocks would have been fatal or at least left them severely injured.
But to Han Li, a Great Ascension cultivator, it was trivial.
A faint sweep of cyan light reduced all falling rocks to nothingness before they could touch him.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
The lava below parted, and several figures of varying builds emerged.
Half-human, half-fish, wielding various weapons—they were members of the Skyfish Clan, both male and female.
They surrounded Han Li, eyeing the stranger with wary suspicion.
Among them, a burly Skyfish man was the same leader who had appeared here days earlier.
Only his gaze remained fixed on Han Li’s jade box, a mix of suspicion and barely concealed excitement in his eyes.
Han Li, meanwhile, observed the fish-like creatures with an amused expression, showing no intention of speaking first.
“Who are you, Senior? Why have you come here with such power? Are you targeting our clan?” the burly Skyfish finally spoke, his tone laced with apprehension.
This was hardly surprising.
As the strongest among his kin, he had only recently reached the Void Refinement stage. Unable to discern Han Li’s true cultivation level, he was naturally uneasy.
“I wish to speak with your clan’s leader. Lead the way,” Han Li said coolly, his tone brooking no argument. With a flash of white light, the jade box and the crystal pearl vanished from his hand.
“Understood. If the Senior wishes to see our chief, this junior will guide you.” The burly man’s expression shifted before he forced a smile and complied. Clearly, he knew refusal was not an option.
Still, he exchanged glances with a male and female Skyfish, silently conveying a message through sound transmission before gesturing respectfully for Han Li to follow.
The two Skyfish members, understanding his intent, flashed red and plunged back into the lava.
Han Li paid no heed to this, calmly descending toward the lava lake.
As soon as he touched the molten surface, the lava parted like a tide, revealing a massive passage several zhang wide.
Glowing red and unfathomably deep, it seemed to lead straight to the lake’s bottom.
“Flame Repelling Technique…”
The burly man was stunned once more.
The “Flame Repelling Technique” wasn’t particularly renowned—it was a basic spell known to most cultivators.
But for such a simple technique to produce such a spectacle was nothing short of astonishing.
Steeling himself, the burly man led the others in following Han Li.
The lava lake appeared modest in size from above, but its depth was unexpectedly vast.
Descending along the parted path, Han Li sank nearly three to four hundred zhang before spotting a layer of azure light below.
His expression flickered slightly. With a single movement, he pierced through the light barrier, emerging into a small, enclosed space.
The moment he entered, shrill alarms erupted.
Over a dozen patrolling Skyfish warriors rushed toward him, their faces a mix of shock and fury.
Han Li’s brow arched as he considered teaching them a lesson, but before he could act, the burly man appeared behind him, shouting, “Stand down! This Senior is an honored guest here to see the chief!”
“What? To see the chief? That’s not appropriate!” The guards hesitated, their expressions dubious.
“The chief has ordered that the guest be welcomed to the Celestial Hall. No one is to obstruct him!”
Almost simultaneously, a red streak shot from another direction, materializing into a female Skyfish holding a token aloft.
“If the chief has commanded it, then it must be so.” Though still wary, the guards retreated.
Han Li chuckled, then surveyed the space.
It wasn’t large—perhaps a dozen li in radius—and dotted with over a hundred triangular structures of varying heights.
Their surfaces were inscribed with curved, arc-like symbols, appearing primitive yet exuding an inexplicable profundity upon closer inspection.
Though it was unclear how many Skyfish dwelled within these buildings, only about two hundred were visible outside, mostly elders, women, and children. The able-bodied made up barely a tenth.
Even accounting for those indoors, the entire clan likely numbered no more than five or six hundred—hardly a thriving population.
“Senior, please allow me to guide you,” the burly man said nervously, stepping forward as Han Li studied his surroundings.
“Lead the way,” Han Li replied indifferently.
“Follow me, Senior.” The man bowed and took flight.
Han Li strode forward, appearing dozens of zhang away with each step, keeping pace effortlessly.
After a few flashes, they landed before an unremarkable building.
No guards stood at its entrance.
“Senior, the chief awaits inside. This junior will remain here,” the burly man said respectfully.
Han Li nodded and strode in.
Beyond the door lay a modest hall, sparsely furnished with simple tables and chairs.
At its far end sat a gaunt, gray-haired elder. Unlike the others, his lower body resembled that of a human rather than a fish.
A sweep of divine sense revealed his cultivation—barely at the early Body Integration stage.
“Are you the chief of the Skyfish Clan?” Han Li asked calmly.
The elder had risen upon Han Li’s entry. After scrutinizing him, his expression shifted slightly. “This junior is Liu Shuo, leader of the Skyfish Clan. From whence do you hail, Senior? Are you… a Great Ascension cultivator?” His voice held reverence and a trace of excitement.
“Your discernment is sharp. I am indeed a Great Ascension cultivator from beyond these lands,” Han Li replied with a faint smile.
“Praise the heavens! Our clan has finally encountered an outsider of your stature. Senior, you must save us! If you can free us from the Rakshasa Spiders’ grasp, our clan will pledge fealty to you, serving you and your descendants for generations!”
*Thud!*
The elder dropped to his knees, kowtowing with a mix of despair and hope.
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