Chapter 2448: Multitudes of Manifestations in the Human Realm

At an altitude of several thousand feet, hundreds of “righteous and demonic” cultivators were fiercely engaged in battle, divided into two opposing waves.

One side was shrouded in rolling baleful auras, with countless ghostly apparitions materializing in layers, while the other had set up several small formations, their magical artifacts and treasures unleashing deafening roars of lightning and thunder.

Among these cultivators, the highest in cultivation were merely two Core Formation cultivators, with the majority being at the Foundation Establishment level or thereabouts.

“As expected, the upheaval in the Great Jin Dynasty is closely tied to the interference of these sects and factions. However, no matter which side emerges victorious, the imperial family of Great Jin will likely see another change in surname.” High above, atop a white cloud, Han Li observed the battle below and sighed with deep emotion.

Everything he had experienced in the Great Jin Dynasty still felt as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. Yet, in reality, thousands of years had passed. Not only were his old acquaintances long gone, but even the once-familiar sects had likely vanished for the most part.

The combat techniques of the so-called “righteous and demonic cultivators” below were naturally beneath Han Li’s notice now.

After lingering briefly in the vicinity, he silently formed a hand seal and vanished from the white cloud without a trace.

…

In a heavily restricted forbidden area in the southern border of the Great Jin Dynasty, teams of cultivators clad in the attire of various sects patrolled methodically at the foot of a towering, pitch-black mountain.

The entire forbidden area was enveloped by formidable aerial restrictions. Apart from the Nascent Soul Ancestors—the pinnacle of the human realm—these guards had no fear of anyone entering the mountain directly from the sky.

Though this mountain had once caused a tremendous uproar, even claiming the lives of many high-level cultivators, leading several major sects to jointly seal and guard it, by now, thousands of years later, any remaining treasures within had long been excavated. There was no reason for any high-level existence to take an interest in this mountain.

Thus, while the sect cultivators appeared to be guarding it meticulously, their hearts were elsewhere, merely going through the motions of their duties.

Under these circumstances, a faint shadow effortlessly bypassed the layers of restrictions and guards, slipping unnoticed into the black mountain.

Half an hour later, Han Li materialized a hundred feet above the mountain’s summit, casting his gaze downward.

With his immense spiritual sense, even the lingering restrictions on the mountain could not hinder him in the slightest. In an instant, he had surveyed every corner of the colossal peak.

Upon recognizing some vaguely familiar locations, a complex expression flickered across Han Li’s face.

“Since Kunwu Mountain is now but a shadow of its former self, there’s no need to linger here any longer. I shall return it to the void.”

After murmuring these words, Han Li’s figure blurred as he transformed into a streak of azure light, shooting skyward.

Moments later, a violent tremor erupted at the mountain’s peak. A colossal azure hand, a thousand feet long, materialized out of thin air and slammed down onto the mountain below.

A deafening, earth-shaking roar echoed through the sky as countless restriction lights flared to life, sending ripples of intense spatial fluctuations outward.

In the blink of an eye, the entire mountain vanished without a trace, leaving behind only an unfathomably deep crater.

This spectacle was witnessed clearly by all the patrolling sect cultivators nearby, leaving them dumbfounded, as if they were trapped in a dream.

Soon after, several Nascent Soul Ancestors, alarmed by the event, rushed to the scene.

However, after thorough investigation, they found only traces of residual spatial energy in the vicinity. Like the others, they could uncover no clues about Kunwu Mountain’s whereabouts and could only depart in frustration, their minds filled with unanswered questions.

Later, this incident became one of the Great Jin Dynasty’s top ten inexplicable legends, and the tale of Kunwu Mountain was once again the subject of countless discussions among cultivators.

But as time passed, the rumors gradually faded. After ten thousand years, only a few sparse mentions of Kunwu Mountain could be found in ancient texts.

…

The massive island housing the sacred city of Heavenly Star in the Chaotic Star Sea was bustling with activity, teeming with life. Countless ships, large and small, converged upon it like ants.

Within the city, Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators were innumerable, and occasionally, the mounts of Nascent Soul Ancestors could be seen streaking across the sky, heading straight for the Star Palace at the summit.

Today marked the thousandth birthday of the Star Palace’s master, “Venerable Ling.” For over a decade, factions across the Star Sea had been preparing lavish gifts in hopes of winning the favor of this Venerable Ling, ensuring their continued protection under the Star Palace’s auspices.

By noon, dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators had gathered in the Star Palace’s grand hall, all gazing respectfully at a young woman in white palace robes seated at the head.

Her face was as fair as jade, exuding an extraordinary charm, yet her eyes shimmered with a crystalline light. Wherever her gaze fell, the Nascent Soul Ancestors present bowed their heads in deference.

As the only early-stage Deity Transformation cultivator in the Chaotic Star Sea—and one who, for reasons unknown to outsiders, had defied the lifespan limits of human cultivators to survive to this day—Palace Master Ling indeed had the right to look down upon her peers.

“It’s about time. Let the ceremony begin,” Palace Master Ling said indifferently as maidservants presented spiritual fruits and tea to the Nascent Soul cultivators.

Someone below promptly acknowledged the order and prepared to relay it further.

But at that moment, a calm male voice drifted in from outside the hall.

“Heh, it seems I’ve arrived just in time. Surely, Fairy Ling wouldn’t deny an old friend a cup of wine?” As the words faded, a figure appeared at the hall’s entrance—a plainly dressed man in green robes, a faint smile on his lips.

When the Nascent Soul cultivators present scanned him with their spiritual senses, they detected not a trace of spiritual energy, as if he were merely a mortal.

“You… Impossible! How could you still be in this realm?” Palace Master Ling, who had remained composed until now, showed a flicker of shock upon hearing the voice. When she saw the green-robed man’s face clearly as he entered the hall, she stood up abruptly, her voice trembling slightly.

“Nothing much. Certain matters compelled me to make a trip down. But congratulations are in order, Fairy Ling, for advancing to the Deity Transformation stage after all these years,” the green-robed man—none other than Han Li—replied with a faint smile.

“Everyone, leave us. I wish to speak with this old friend alone,” Ling Yuling commanded coldly after her expression shifted several times.

Though baffled by Han Li’s identity, the Nascent Soul cultivators dared not disobey. They rose and excused themselves one after another.

In moments, only Han Li and Ling Yuling remained in the grand hall.

“Fellow Daoist Han, you truly came from the Spirit Realm?” As soon as everyone left, Ling Yuling activated a restriction within the hall, isolating it completely from the outside world, before stepping down from her seat, her face a mix of joy and disbelief.

“I did descend from the Spirit Realm, but it’s a long story. We can discuss it in detail. Having been away from the human realm for so long, there are matters I’d like to inquire about from the Star Palace’s master,” Han Li replied unhurriedly.

“Brother Han, rest assured. Though I’ve seldom ventured beyond the Chaotic Star Sea in recent years, I’m well-informed about events elsewhere in the human realm. Ask away,” Ling Yuling said, her initial shock giving way to a complex expression.

“That’s excellent. On my journey here, I found none of my old acquaintances except you. The matters I wish to know are few, mostly concerning people from the past,” Han Li said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

Thus, the Star Palace’s master and Han Li remained in the hall for half a day.

When the hall’s restriction dissipated with a muffled sound, a dazzling azure streak shot into the sky, carrying a faint, lingering voice:

“Fellow Daoist Ling, I hope we may meet again in the Spirit Realm.”

With a flash, the streak vanished into the void.

Inside the hall, Ling Yuling remained seated, clutching a jade slip, her face bearing a trace of exhilaration.

Meanwhile, Han Li was already tens of thousands of miles away from Heavenly Star City, silently reflecting on the information Ling Yuling had shared.

The island he and Nangong Wan had left behind in the Chaotic Star Sea had become the stronghold of a significant faction. Its leaders were descendants of his former disciple Tian Qin’er, most of whom had reached late Core Formation or early Nascent Soul stage—technically his grand-disciples. One of them had even been among the Nascent Soul cultivators congratulating Ling Yuling.

Learning that these nominal “grand-disciples” were thriving under Ling Yuling’s care, Han Li saw no need to meet them.

Tian Qin’er herself had perished over two thousand years ago while attempting to break through to the Deity Transformation stage, her soul likely surviving in some form for reincarnation.

As for Shi Jian, his other disciple who had inherited the leadership of the Thousand Bamboo Sect in the Far West, he had perished in mutual destruction with a powerful foe during his Nascent Soul stage. However, his disciples had carried on the legacy of Great Divination Sage, even flourishing in recent years.

The two sects closely tied to Han Li—Yellow Maple Valley and Falling Cloud Sect—had diverged drastically over the millennia.

Yellow Maple Valley, once on the brink of collapse, had enjoyed a resurgence, producing several “genius disciples” who advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, elevating the sect to unprecedented prominence in the South Sky.

Falling Cloud Sect, bolstered by Han Li’s legacy, had maintained a steady stream of Nascent Soul elders, dominating the entire Cloud Dream Mountain Range.

Meanwhile, the once-mighty sects like Ancient Sword Sect and Hundred Craft Pavilion had been largely supplanted by newer factions.

Hearing these accounts, Han Li was momentarily stunned, though he trusted Ling Yuling’s honesty. In the end, he could only smile wryly at the passage of time.