Han Li’s expression remained unchanged as he stood motionless, calmly gazing toward the distant source of the rumbling noise.
Suddenly, the earth on the distant horizon churned violently, forming a thick, dragon-like earthen ridge that rapidly extended outward, as if some enormous creature was charging toward Han Li from beneath the ground.
Seeing this, Han Li’s expression flickered slightly, but before he could react, a towering silver giant, dozens of feet tall, burst forth from the swirling yellow dust behind the earthen ridge.
The giant had long, emerald-green hair, a lion-like mouth, and ox-like eyes. Most of its body was bare, save for a green leather skirt tied around its waist. Its muscles bulged and twisted like forged silver, gleaming brilliantly. With a single stride, it crossed hundreds of feet in an instant, causing the ground beneath it to tremble violently—its body seemed unimaginably heavy.
When Han Li finally got a clear look at the silver giant, a trace of astonishment flashed in his eyes.
At that moment, the giant took a few more strides, catching up to the head of the earthen ridge. With a low roar, it slammed both palms onto the ground with tremendous force.
**BOOM! BOOM!**
Two earth-shaking explosions erupted.
The ground within several miles of the giant collapsed inward, forming a deep basin a hundred feet deep.
A sharp screech pierced the air as a blurry yellow beast suddenly burst from the basin, desperately fleeing toward the direction of the Screaming Miasma.
Yet the silver giant seemed to have anticipated this. With a loud laugh, it swayed slightly before instantly teleporting above the beast and stomping down with a massive foot.
**CRASH!**
The moment the yellow beast made contact with the silver foot, its body shuddered before plummeting from the sky.
Another dull thud followed as the beast was half-buried into the ground by the force of the stomp.
Only then did Han Li finally see the beast clearly—a sixty-to-seventy-foot-long, earthen-yellow tortoise. Its shell was half a foot thick, covered in foot-long yellow spikes, while its horned head was pinned beneath the silver foot, unable to retract into its shell despite its frantic struggles.
Without hesitation, the silver giant swung its arms, transforming its fists into a flurry of silver shadows that rained down upon the tortoise.
In an instant, bursts of silver light exploded across the tortoise’s body, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
Despite its formidable defenses, within a few breaths, the tortoise’s head was reduced to pulp, and its shell shattered into fragments under the relentless silver onslaught.
**CRACK!**
The silver giant’s massive hand finally punched straight through the tortoise’s body. When it withdrew, it held a yellow orb the size of a human head.
The giant burst into wild laughter at the sight of the orb, flicked its wrist, and tossed it into its mouth, swallowing it whole.
A yellow glow briefly shimmered across the giant’s body before it returned to normal with a quick hand seal.
At that moment, the giant suddenly turned its head and glanced toward Han Li.
Its eyes were a piercing silver-white, devoid of pupils.
Han Li’s pupils contracted slightly.
The silver giant immediately strode toward Han Li, laughing like thunder before it even got close.
“Fellow Daoist, might you also be attending the Celestial Summit? I am Yin Gangzi of the Tianji Clan.”
“So it’s a fellow Daoist from the Tianji Clan. I am Han Li of the human race. Greetings.” Han Li exhaled lightly and clasped his fists from a distance.
“Ah! So you are the Han Li who ventured into the Demon Realm and slew the Mother of the Parasites? What a coincidence! I’ve long heard of your name.”
The silver giant’s face flickered with surprise before it quickly formed a hand seal, shrinking rapidly until it became a silver-skinned man of similar stature to Han Li.
“Brother Yin flatters me. My slaying of the Mother of the Parasites was merely a stroke of luck. The reputation of the Tianji Clan, however, has long thundered in my ears. That transformation of yours just now—was that the legendary Creation Body? Truly unfathomable in power.” Han Li smiled politely.
The Tianji Clan was a renowned race on the Wind Yuan Continent. Though their numbers were few, each member possessed extraordinary innate talents and cultivated at speeds far surpassing ordinary races. Those who reached a high enough level to manifest the Creation Body could instantly double their combat prowess.
Thus, the Tianji Clan was hailed as one of the Four Great Secret Clans of the Wind Yuan Continent. Their high-ranking members rarely appeared in public, making this encounter with a Mahayana-level Tianji cultivator all the more surprising to Han Li.
“Heh, Brother Han is too modest. That earthen tortoise I encountered earlier had an inner core useful to me, so I had no choice but to chase it here in my transformed state. Since we’ve met, why not travel to the Celestial Summit together?” Yin Gangzi chuckled.
“If Brother Yin extends the invitation, I naturally won’t refuse.” Han Li stifled a yawn, showing no signs of objection.
“Haha! Brother Han is truly straightforward. Then let us set off. Along the way, we can discuss that Blood Sacrifice Immortal matter. The message Ming Zun sent me was rather vague—do you know anything more?” Yin Gangzi seemed delighted.
“I did meet with Ming Zun once and learned a few details. If you’re curious, I’ll gladly share what I know.” Han Li replied without hesitation.
“Then I thank you in advance. Here, I have a Jade Wave Chariot—let’s ride it together.”
Yin Gangzi beamed before spitting out a stream of emerald light. A thirty-foot-long jade-green chariot materialized in the air.
The triangular chariot was exquisitely carved, exuding a faint fragrance. At its front and rear stood four silver-armored puppets, motionless.
Han Li didn’t decline, floating onto the chariot alongside Yin Gangzi.
Moments later, the chariot shot through the air as a streak of green light, vanishing into the desolate wasteland after a few flashes.
Half a day later, deep within the Screaming Miasma, the Jade Wave Chariot pressed forward against raging black winds.
Suddenly, the winds ahead thinned, revealing a bizarre landscape.
The sky ahead split into two distinct halves—black below, white above. The lower half remained a churning sea of black wind, while the upper half was a hazy white curtain, within which floated countless boulders of varying sizes.
Some were as small as houses, others as vast as mountains or islands, upon which stood faint outlines of palaces and pavilions.
“So this is the Celestial Summit. Quite fascinating.”
Han Li, standing at the chariot’s prow, marveled at the sight.
“Indeed! Legend says this was once the forbidden ground of an ancient race. But after some unknown catastrophe, the entire clan vanished, and the land spewed forth dense Yin Miasma, rendering it lifeless.” Yin Gangzi mused beside him.
Their earlier conversation on the chariot had left them on good terms, almost like old friends.
“For an entire race to disappear, they must have provoked some irresistible calamity. If it were man-made, it’s unlikely they’d vanish without a trace.” Han Li’s eyes gleamed thoughtfully.
“Perhaps. Hm—it seems the Commerce Guild has sent someone to greet us.”
A white flying boat descended from the white curtain, speeding toward them.
Han Li and Yin Gangzi exchanged glances before standing firm as their chariot halted silently in the wind.
Soon, the white boat docked beside them. A blue-robed man aboard scanned them briefly before bowing deeply.
“Are you Senior Han Li of the human race and Senior Yin Gangzi of the Tianji Clan? This junior was sent by Lord Ming Zun to escort you into the Celestial Summit.”
“You recognize me? It seems Ming Zun has described us to his subordinates. Lead the way.” Yin Gangzi commanded impassively.
Han Li remained silent, his expression neutral.
“Of course. Please follow us.”
The blue-robed man turned the boat around, guiding them forward. The Jade Wave Chariot followed closely behind.
After a short journey, the chariot landed on a floating boulder several miles wide, atop which stood a milky-white grand hall flanked by armored Commerce Guild guards.
Yin Gangzi stored the chariot, and the two strode confidently into the hall. The guards didn’t stop them.
Passing through a short corridor, they entered a towering hall where Ming Zun, the Commerce Guild’s leader, sat conversing with several imposing figures.
“Brother Han, Brother Yin! To arrive together—what a pleasant surprise!”
Ming Zun rose with a smile. The others remained seated, eyeing the newcomers with varying expressions.
“Haha! Brother Han and I met at the edge of the Screaming Miasma and traveled here together. But you, Brother Ming—after thousands of years, you look just as robust as ever!” Yin Gangzi laughed heartily.
Han Li simply nodded in greeting before curiously studying the other figures in the hall.
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