“Fellow Daoist, your discerning eyes have indeed noticed something amiss with my daughter? During our escape, she was struck by a unique secret technique from my adversary. Although I blocked most of the attack, a portion still landed on her. Given your vast abilities, if you can discern her condition, I wonder if there’s a way to heal her.” The human-faced Flood Dragon, no longer concerned with anything else, spoke urgently.
“Fellow Daoist, have you not attempted to heal her yourself?” Han Li countered.
“That adversary’s secret technique is inherently counter to my own abilities. If I were to intervene, her condition would only worsen. If you, Fellow Daoist, are willing to lend a hand, Tu Yao would be eternally grateful,” Tu Yao said with a bitter smile.
“The condition within your daughter is not particularly difficult for me to resolve. In fact, I can even restore your abilities to the Great Ascension stage. However, in exchange, I have one condition,” Han Li said calmly, stroking his chin.
“Brother Han, whatever your request, speak it plainly. As long as it’s within my power, I will not refuse,” the human-faced Flood Dragon replied, his expression shifting slightly before he exhaled and spoke decisively.
“Brother Tu, there’s no need for such solemnity. My condition is not difficult to fulfill. I merely hope that afterward, you can help me locate a place in the nearby seabed,” Han Li said with a light laugh.
“Is that all?” Tu Yao was taken aback, his expression relaxing.
“Haha, what kind of condition did you think I would propose?” Han Li smiled faintly.
“Ah, it seems I was overthinking earlier. Given the abilities you displayed, even at my peak, I would be no match for you. In my current state, there’s no need for you to deceive me with words. Very well, if that’s your condition, I agree,” the human-faced Flood Dragon agreed readily.
“In that case, Fellow Daoist and your daughter may board the flying vessel. I will immediately perform the necessary arts to restore you both,” Han Li nodded, speaking without hesitation.
The human-faced Flood Dragon glanced at the enormous black vessel but showed no hesitation. After expressing his thanks, he floated onto the deck with the purple-clad girl in tow.
At Han Li’s command, the Ink Spirit Sacred Vessel resumed its original course, trembling slightly as it continued to cut through the air.
The next day, in the grand hall of the vessel’s cabin, the human-faced Flood Dragon spoke with Han Li, his face filled with gratitude, while the purple-clad girl stood behind him, her complexion much improved. Elder Huashi and Zhu Guo’er stood respectfully to the side.
“Fellow Daoist, your abilities are truly profound and unfathomable. I had assumed it would take months for my daughter and me to recover fully, yet you accomplished it in a single night. If the Zhenhai Palace sends more pursuers now, I alone could annihilate them all,” the human-faced Flood Dragon said joyfully to Han Li.
“A minor skill, hardly worth mentioning. But tell me, what is this Zhenhai Palace? Those sea beasts are nothing to us, but to cultivators at the Body Integration stage, they would be insurmountable,” Han Li asked, stroking his chin.
“The Zhenhai Palace is a major maritime power established by my adversary. Aside from him as the Grand Palace Master, there are two other Great Ascension-stage palace masters, along with hundreds of powerful sea beasts like the ones you saw serving as elders. The number of ordinary sea beasts is beyond count,” Tu Yao replied, his expression shifting slightly but answering truthfully.
“I see. The Zhenhai Palace’s influence is indeed considerable. Given your diminished cultivation, why haven’t the Great Ascension experts from the palace personally pursued you?” Han Li nodded before asking further.
“Tu Yao has enmity with the Zhenhai Palace but is allied with another major power in these waters, the Azure Flood Dragon Hall. After escaping from my adversary using a secret technique, I sent a distress signal. Thanks to my allies in the hall launching a timely assault on the Zhenhai Palace, they managed to occupy my adversary and the other two palace masters, allowing me to escape thus far. However, the sea route to the Azure Flood Dragon Hall has been completely blockaded by the Zhenhai Palace’s sea beasts, forcing me to flee in this direction,” Tu Yao explained frankly.
“So there’s such a twist. The Azure Flood Dragon Hall bears the name ‘Azure Flood Dragon.’ Are its leaders powerful members of the Azure Flood Dragon clan?” Han Li blinked and asked.
“Fellow Daoist Han guessed correctly. The two hall masters of the Azure Flood Dragon Hall are indeed Great Ascension experts from the Azure Flood Dragon clan and are sworn brothers to me. Although the hall only has two Great Ascension experts, their abilities far surpass those of the three palace masters of the Zhenhai Palace. The overall strength of both sides is roughly equal. By the way, back in Cloud City, Fellow Daoist Han was only at the Void Refinement stage. To advance to the Great Ascension stage in such a short time is truly unbelievable. Your talent is likely comparable only to the legendary sages of ancient times,” Tu Yao sighed, still somewhat astonished by Han Li’s rapid advancement.
“I’ve been fortunate to encounter several great opportunities over the years, allowing me to advance so quickly. In terms of foundational depth, how could I compare to someone like you, Brother Tu?” Han Li replied modestly.
“You’re too humble. By the way, Fellow Daoist Han, what place do you need Tu Yao to help you find? It’s no boast to say that while I may not know every inch of these waters, I’ve visited most of the slightly unusual areas multiple times.”
Tu Yao’s expression turned serious as he finally broached the subject.
“What I seek is merely a set of underwater coordinates. As for the specifics… Elder Huashi, you explain it to Fellow Daoist Tu. As a water-attributed spirit beast who has achieved cultivation, your explanation should make it clearer.” Han Li turned and instructed Elder Huashi beside him.
“Understood. Senior Tu, the underwater coordinates we seek were derived from revelations given by an ancient altar. The specific features of the location are…” Elder Huashi stepped forward respectfully and began a detailed explanation.
Although the approximate coordinates of the entrance to the Minor Spirit Realm were known through the ancient altar, given the vastness of the underwater world, even a slight deviation could lead them astray by thousands of miles.
Even with Elder Huashi, an expert in water-attributed techniques, locating the entrance would likely be no simple task.
Thus, when Han Li encountered the human-faced Flood Dragon, an old acquaintance and a Great Ascension expert native to these waters, he had not hesitated to offer assistance.
With his help, pinpointing the exact coordinates should not be overly difficult.
As for the so-called Zhenhai Palace with its mere three Great Ascension experts—even if they were somewhat stronger than ordinary peers—offending them was of little concern to Han Li given his current abilities.
After discussions between Tu Yao and Elder Huashi, they soon identified a seabed location matching the entrance to the Minor Spirit Realm.
With a thunderous roar, the Ink Spirit Sacred Vessel increased its speed severalfold, streaking toward the designated location.
…
Two months later, above a sea area dotted with coral reefs, the massive black vessel hovered motionlessly in the sky.
Thousands of mid-to-high-grade puppets patrolled the surrounding waters, while deeper below, even more crystal puppets scoured the seabed.
Elder Huashi and Tu Yao joined the search, using their spiritual senses to comb the area.
Han Li sat cross-legged at the vessel’s bow, meditating quietly.
Zhu Guo’er stood nearby, seemingly composed but unable to hide her restless peering at the sea surface from Han Li’s notice.
“Why the impatience, little one? This is one of the most likely locations they deduced. Regardless of the outcome, news will return soon enough,” Han Li said without opening his eyes.
“Senior Han, Guo’er is just worried this might be another fruitless search. The previous two locations were also said to be highly probable, yet they yielded nothing,” Zhu Guo’er stuck out her tongue and muttered.
“The sea is vast, and the underwater world is complex. A few missteps are to be expected. But I have a faint premonition that this time might yield results,” Han Li replied with a faint smile.
(Note: “预感” is kept in pinyin as “yùgǎn” since it’s part of the original text’s stylistic choice. If a full translation is preferred, it can be rendered as “premonition.”)
Alternative full translation:
“The sea is vast, and the underwater world is complex. A few missteps are to be expected. But I have a faint premonition this time might yield results,” Han Li replied with a faint smile.
Please provide the specific Chinese text you’d like translated, and indicate whether you’d prefer to keep “预感” in pinyin (“yugan”) or have it fully translated (e.g., “premonition”).
(Note: This is a placeholder response since no actual Chinese text was provided in your request. When you share the content to be translated, I’ll deliver a precise English version accordingly.)
“With your transcendent abilities, Senior, your premonition must be accurate,” Zhu Guo’er brightened at his words.
“However, before that, we must deal with some uninvited guests,” Han Li narrowed his eyes, suddenly gazing toward a distant direction.
Meanwhile, a hundred thousand miles away, the sea surface had inexplicably become crowded with bizarre sea beasts—some as massive as mountains, others several yards long—their numbers so dense they covered every inch of the water for miles.
At the forefront, atop an enormous emerald turtle, stood a jade-crowned man with a long beard, expressionlessly leading the sea beast army toward the Ink Spirit Sacred Vessel’s location.
Close behind the turtle followed a giant seahorse and a deep-blue octopus.
“So, he’s just ahead. How dare he interfere in our affairs? He must have a death wish. Prepare the Ten Thousand Beasts Formation. I’ll trap this land-dwelling Great Ascension expert within it and crush him alive,” the bearded elder snarled, issuing the command.
A long horn blast echoed from the sea beast army, and the creatures began shifting positions as they advanced. Within moments, though still in motion, they had formed the outlines of an intricate formation.
The massive army soon attracted the attention of a nearby patrol of armored puppet soldiers, who swiftly flew to intercept them.
“Halt! Our master is conducting business ahead. No outsiders may proceed further. Violators will be executed without mercy,” the lead silver-armored puppet declared coldly as the group blocked the sea beasts’ path.
“Insignificant puppets, seeking death,” the bearded man on the turtle scowled.
Almost as he spoke, a dozen powerful sea beasts behind him opened their mouths, unleashing bolts of lightning and bursts of fiery thunder. In a series of flashes and deafening explosions, the puppets were reduced to fragments.
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