Chapter 2413: The Land of Howling Evil

Han Li gazed at the purple-gold thunderball for a moment before suddenly flicking his wrist and tossing it away.

With a thunderous *boom*, the moment the thunderball flew several zhang away, it exploded into a burst of electric light.

Countless purple-gold lightning threads scattered and coiled, creating a pale gray hole at the center, no larger than an egg. From it emanated a faint spatial fluctuation.

“As expected, it can directly shatter the void. The purified Evil-Warding Divine Thunder is even more powerful than I initially anticipated,” Han Li murmured, a hint of delight flashing across his lips.

At that moment, a faint buzzing sound came from his sleeve.

Han Li was momentarily startled but quickly recalled something, his expression turning solemn. With a flick of his sleeve, a flash of spiritual light emerged.

A green talisman flew out, and after a slight tremble, numerous green characters scattered from it, swirling before arranging themselves into densely packed lines of text.

Han Li only needed to glance at the characters for his expression to shift slightly.

“So, that True Immortal has indeed set foot on the Wind Origin Continent. In that case, I have no choice but to go. If I can suppress or expel him from the Spirit Realm without implicating the human race, that would naturally be the best outcome,” Han Li thought silently. Without further hesitation, he raised a finger and swiftly traced a few strokes in the air.

The green characters blurred and transformed into a different passage before vanishing back into the talisman, disappearing without a trace.

Seeing this, Han Li retrieved the talisman with a wave of his hand, stood up, and walked out of the secluded chamber.

Half an hour later, in the main hall of the Green Origin Palace, Han Li sat at the head seat, issuing instructions to the gathered disciples.

Nangong Wan sat beside him, her calm expression betraying a hint of concern.

Disciples like Hai Da Shao and Lan Yao’er stood respectfully nearby.

Even Yin Yue, who had been in seclusion, appeared beside Nangong Wan, her demeanor unusually composed.

“To summarize, this journey of mine carries considerable danger. Though I am confident in my ability to protect myself, there are matters I must address beforehand. During my absence, all palace affairs will be handled by Wan’er, with Yue Tian and the other stewards assisting. Yin Yue is at a critical juncture in her cultivation and should focus solely on her seclusion. Additionally, if I encounter unforeseen circumstances and cannot return to the Green Origin Palace for an extended period, you must jointly activate this talisman. I have left further instructions within it—simply follow them as written,” Han Li concluded, flipping his palm to reveal a purple-gold talisman faintly crackling with lightning.

With a single command of “Go,” the talisman transformed into a streak of purple-gold lightning, embedding itself several inches deep into a beam in the hall. The edges were unnaturally smooth, as if it had been inscribed there from the beginning.

Hai Da Shao and the other disciples naturally voiced no objections.

Nangong Wan and Yin Yue exchanged a glance before nodding silently.

Early the next morning, Han Li departed Yuanhe Island alone, riding a streak of light toward the direction of Tianyuan City.

Similar scenes unfolded among various races across the Wind Origin Continent.

The Great Ascension powerhouses, revered as the pillars of their respective clans, received identical messages. After considering their own reasons, most chose to immediately head for the Outer Heaven of the Howling Abyss.

Some, confident in their overwhelming strength, even set out with excitement.

After all, the opportunity to slay or suppress a living True Immortal was not something one encountered casually. With luck, they might even obtain an extraordinary opportunity from the immortal.

Over ten days later, high above the underground world where the Helian Trade Alliance headquarters once stood, two figures hovered in the void.

The black-robed youth stared at the empty buildings below, his expression grim.

His vast divine sense had already swept the underground world multiple times, yet not a single soul remained—not even insects. It was as if all living beings had evaporated into thin air.

The formations and restrictions that once protected the underground world had been dismantled completely. Even the buildings that should have housed the alliance’s treasures were stripped bare, without a single spirit stone left behind.

“Master, it seems the Helian Trade Alliance received advance warning and evacuated beforehand,” Yang Lu said respectfully, though inwardly surprised by the outcome.

For an organization as renowned as the Helian Trade Alliance to retreat without a fight was beyond his expectations.

“Hmph, they’re not fools. They knew they stood no chance against me alone, so they fled. No matter—let them run. We’ll focus on tracking down those two juniors. They bear my soul mark—even if they flee to the ends of the earth, they cannot escape my grasp. And who knows? Catching them might yield unexpected rewards,” Ma Liang mused before snorting coldly.

“Master, you mean…” Yang Lu’s eyes flickered with realization.

“I mean nothing. But last time, someone used those two as bait, and it didn’t end well for them. It seems someone intends to repeat the trick,” Ma Liang said with a yawn, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes.

“Understood. I shall act as you command,” Yang Lu replied, bowing.

“Let’s go. Those two may be weak, but their escape techniques are extraordinary. Catching them won’t be as easy as you think. Still, their true essence must be nearly depleted by now. Even with spiritual medicine, they won’t recover much in a short time. Once I catch them this time, they won’t escape,” Ma Liang declared coldly.

With a hand seal, the seven-colored mist beneath him gathered, enveloping him as he shot into the sky.

Yang Lu hastily transformed into a streak of light and followed.

At the same time, Liu Yi and Bing Feng stood in a distant Helian Trade Alliance outpost, listening intently to Ming Zun’s instructions.

“Rest assured, with this Gale-Splitting Divine Boat and these talismans, even if that True Immortal possesses heaven-defying abilities, he won’t catch you anytime soon. Our request is simple: lead him on a grand detour and ensure he arrives at the Outer Heaven of the Howling Abyss in three months. Succeed, and you will have rendered a great service,” Ming Zun said solemnly.

“What use is ‘great service’ to me? Just remember your promise,” Liu Yi replied coldly.

After receiving the treasures Ming Zun had promised, he felt somewhat confident about luring Ma Liang to the designated location. Otherwise, knowing he was being used as bait, he wouldn’t have complied so readily.

“Ha, don’t worry. I’ll also intercede with Fellow Daoist Han on your behalf, ensuring he doesn’t trouble you for a thousand years. I believe he will grant me that much face. As for Fellow Daoist Bing Feng, the items you seek—though our alliance cannot provide them all now—we will spare no effort to gather them afterward,” Ming Zun said with a faint smile.

“I only ask that you do your best,” Bing Feng replied with a bitter smile.

“If there’s nothing else, we should depart now. Given his speed, he could arrive within a day or two,” Liu Yi said, his expression easing slightly.

“Very well. Set out immediately. This outpost will also be abandoned,” Ming Zun nodded gravely.

Half an hour later, a muffled sound echoed outside as an azure, amber-like flying boat appeared in the sky. With a tremble, it transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the distance.

Soon after, over a hundred streaks of light shot out from the outpost, splitting into groups and dispersing in different directions.

Two days later, a seven-colored cloud appeared above the outpost. After a brief pause, a cold snort echoed from within, followed by a silver flash as a thick bolt of lightning descended.

With a deafening roar, the entire outpost was reduced to ashes.

The seven-colored cloud blurred before streaking away at breakneck speed.

…

Over half a month later, news that shook the entire continent spread.

The main city of the Xihe Clan—renowned as the Wind Origin Continent’s foremost masters of illusion—had been encircled by over a dozen boundless rivers of blood. Every one of the millions of Xihe Clan members residing within had been dissolved into blood.

Only the two Great Ascension elders guarding the city had received advance warning and escaped, sparing themselves the same fate.

Thus, rumors of the blood-sacrificing demon spread like wildfire across the Wind Origin Continent.

Many smaller clans near the Xihe Clan panicked upon hearing the news, sending envoys to verify its authenticity.

Meanwhile, over a dozen of the continent’s most powerful figures—using the trade alliance’s teleportation formations and traveling day and night—began converging on the Howling Abyss.

…

“So this is the Howling Abyss. The sinister aura here is overwhelming!” Han Li murmured, gazing at the endless expanse of black-green land ahead.

Despite his extensive experience, the sheer density of the yin-oppressive aura—nearly visible to the naked eye—left him deeply shaken within.

For ordinary cultivators, merely entering this place would drive them mad or kill them outright.

The Howling Abyss was, after all, one of the most infamous forbidden zones in the region.

As Han Li prepared to enter, his expression suddenly shifted. He turned to look in another direction.

Moments later, the ground trembled with increasingly loud and rapid booms, as if some colossal creature were charging across the land.