Chapter 2219: White Light Realm

“Oh, Fellow Daoist Xie Lian, you don’t seem surprised by our arrival,” Han Li narrowed his eyes, his words carrying an implicit meaning.

“Are the three of you from the Spirit Realm or the Black Flame Realm?” Xie Lian the Sacred Ancestor scrutinized Han Li and his companions for a moment before asking expressionlessly.

“Spirit Realm? Black Flame Realm? How can you be so certain we come from these two realms?” Han Li’s eyes flickered as he questioned.

“Because among the realms that sent powerful reinforcements to aid our Sacred Realm last time, only the Black Flame Realm and the Spirit Realm have yet to send anyone to seek us out again,” Xie Lian replied coldly.

“Us?” Han Li’s expression shifted slightly.

“Indeed, naturally, it refers to those of us Sacred Ancestors who have not yet entered the Primordial Seal Land. Although I have temporarily secluded myself in this Ten Thousand Flowers Mountain, I have never lost contact with the other fellow Daoists. If you newcomers from other realms wish to understand the situation in the Primordial Seal Land, seeking us out would naturally be your first step,” Xie Lian replied unhurriedly.

“So that’s how it is. The three of us are indeed from the Spirit Realm, so you guessed correctly. However, it seems you must be well aware of what has happened in the Primordial Seal Land?” Han Li pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.

“Fellow Daoists from the Spirit Realm! Your face looks somewhat familiar—have you visited our Sacred Realm before?” The woman in the green palace dress did not immediately answer Han Li’s question. Instead, after staring at his face for a moment, she suddenly asked thoughtfully, showing no concern over the fact that the three were from the Spirit Realm, as if she were completely unaware that the two realms had just concluded a great war not long ago.

Han Li was momentarily taken aback by her words but quickly chuckled.

“I did visit your realm once before. It seems Fellow Daoist Xie Lian has already recognized me, so why ask knowingly?”

“Tsk tsk, so you are that Han surnamed cultivator who was once jointly pursued by Yuan Yan and Liu Ji! When you left the Sacred Realm, you were only at the Body Integration stage, yet now you’ve advanced to the Mahayana stage. I finally understand why those two held you in such high regard back then. That being the case, the fellow Daoist beside you must be Fellow Daoist Xie from the Demon Source Sea. I am probably one of the few Sacred Ancestors in the Demon Realm who hasn’t yet visited the Demon Source Sea to meet you. But it seems it’s not too late now,” Xie Lian sighed, her gaze shifting to the impassive Crab Daoist.

As for Silvermoon, who was only at the early Body Integration stage, she didn’t even spare her a glance.

Clearly, beings below the Mahayana stage were beneath her notice.

Crab Daoist remained expressionless, showing no intention of responding.

Han Li, however, raised his eyebrows and asked with a darkened expression:

“Since you’ve recognized Brother Xie, I won’t need to introduce him. Regarding the matter of the Primordial Seal Land, you haven’t answered my question yet, have you?”

“I do know something about the Primordial Seal Land. However, this matter is of great importance, and this is not the place to discuss it. Why don’t the three of you follow me below for a detailed conversation?” The woman in the green palace dress glanced around before the coldness on her face suddenly melted away.

“Below? Are you inviting the three of us to your cave abode for a chat?” Han Li cast a glance at the mountain peak shrouded in five-colored radiance not far away and asked noncommittally.

“What, Fellow Daoist Han, are you afraid I might play some tricks?” The palace-dressed woman let out a light laugh, a hint of charm suddenly appearing between her brows.

“How could I think that! With Fellow Daoist Xie Lian’s status, you wouldn’t stoop to such petty schemes. Unless you truly believe you can handle two Mahayana-stage beings at once,” Han Li laughed heartily, his thoughts completely unreadable.

“Then, Fellow Daoists, please.” The palace-dressed woman slightly inclined her body and spoke with a smile.

Without further ado, Han Li flicked his sleeve, releasing a golden radiance that enveloped Crab Daoist and Silvermoon, transforming into a golden streak that shot toward the distant mountain peak.

Xie Lian the Sacred Ancestor, meanwhile, blurred into a mass of green light and flew after them.

The five-colored radiance covering the mountain peak suddenly parted, allowing Han Li’s group and the palace-dressed woman to pass through the barrier and land together before the palace gates at the summit.

At that moment, two figures emerged from the palace gates—two burly men dressed in extremely peculiar attire.

Their skin was dark, clad in silver-gray armor, but their exposed arms and faces were marked with crimson spirit patterns. Their eyes gleamed silver, devoid of pupils, giving them an eerie appearance.

One of them was completely bald, his face exceptionally fierce-looking.

The other had disheveled hair and thick golden rings around his arms, appearing immensely strong.

When their gazes swept over, it felt as sharp as blades, sending a chill through even Han Li’s skin despite his cultivation.

“Mahayana-stage beings!” Han Li muttered under his breath, his heart tightening.

Silvermoon’s expression changed, and she inhaled sharply.

These two dark-skinned men were also Mahayana cultivators, yet their auras were entirely different from those of demons, giving Han Li an unfamiliar sensation.

“Fellow Daoist Xie Lian, these three are reinforcements from other realms? Why is one of them merely a minor Body Integration-stage cultivator?” The bald man’s eyes swept over Han Li’s group before he rolled them and spoke in a strange, metallic voice.

“Fellow Daoist Han, let me introduce you. These two are Fellow Daoists Jin Cha and Shi Ding from the ‘White Light Realm,’ who arrived here only half a month before you. Fellow Daoist Jin, these are Fellow Daoists Han and Xie from the Spirit Realm,” the palace-dressed woman stepped forward and introduced them with a smile.

“The Spirit Realm? The realm that recently clashed with your Demon Realm. I thought they wouldn’t send anyone else here,” the bald man grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, though his tone carried a hint of disdain.

“If the Mother of the Soul Devouring Beetles truly breaks free from its seal, all nearby realms face the risk of annihilation. Naturally, our Spirit Realm wouldn’t stand idly by. As for the White Light Realm, this is the first time I’ve heard of it,” Han Li said calmly, his initial surprise now concealed.

“Hmph, you’ve never even heard of our White Light Realm? How ignorant. Could it be that you’ve only recently advanced to the Mahayana stage by sheer luck?” The bald man’s face darkened, his voice turning icy.

The disheveled man beside him remained as expressionless as Crab Daoist, saying nothing.

Han Li chuckled, about to respond, when the palace-dressed woman abruptly interrupted:

“Fellow Daoists, you didn’t come here just to bicker, did you? Since you’re all here for the Mother of the Soul Devouring Beetles, let’s discuss this inside. Fellow Daoist Jin, didn’t you always want information about the Primordial Seal Land? Now that Fellow Daoist Han and his companions are here, I can speak openly.”

Hearing this, Jin Cha’s expression shifted several times before he nodded slightly, his silver eyes flashing.

“Fellow Daoist Xie Lian is finally willing to share the information we seek. Brother Shi and I will listen attentively.”

With that, the bald man motioned to his companion and turned to enter the palace.

“Fellow Daoist Han, please,” the palace-dressed woman turned and invited Han Li with a smile.

Han Li smiled faintly and led Silvermoon and Crab Daoist inside, following Xie Lian the Sacred Ancestor.

“Greetings, Lady Xie Lian!”

Though the emerald-green palace was not large, the corridor beyond the gates was lined with maids dressed in identical palace attire, numbering thirty to forty.

Upon seeing Xie Lian enter, they immediately bowed in unison.

“Prepare some spirit fruits and tea. We have esteemed guests today,” Xie Lian waved her hand, exuding an air of grace and nobility as she issued her orders.

Some of the maids promptly withdrew to carry out her instructions.

Moments later, Han Li and the others followed Xie Lian into the main hall of the palace.

There, the two Mahayana cultivators from the White Light Realm sat on one side, whispering to each other.

Han Li, without ceremony, took a seat opposite them with Crab Daoist and Silvermoon.

Xie Lian gracefully took the central seat of honor.

“Fellow Daoist Xie Lian, now that we’re all here, can you begin?” the bald man asked directly, his expression shifting.

“Of course. But before I do, I have a few questions for all of you. Did you come to our Sacred Realm to help us reseal the Mother of the Soul Devouring Beetles, or merely to rescue your own kin and friends?” Xie Lian’s smile faded as she asked with solemnity.

“Fellow Daoist Xie Lian, what do you mean by that? I don’t see any contradiction between the two,” the bald man’s expression darkened as he replied sharply.

Han Li, puzzled by the question, frowned slightly.

“I’m afraid this may disappoint you all. Time is of the essence, and we can only focus on one task at a time. Whichever we choose, we must pool all our strength and give it our all to have any chance of success. This is also why I didn’t rashly share information about the Primordial Seal Land with Fellow Daoists Jin and Shi earlier,” Xie Lian revealed a trace of bitterness for the first time.

“Hmph, so just because two more people have arrived, you feel comfortable sharing the information now?” Jin Cha snorted, clearly displeased.

“Even if Fellow Daoist Han and his companions hadn’t come, I would have shared the information with you within a month. In a month’s time, we Sacred Ancestors will gather, and fellow Daoists from other realms who have come to aid us will also attend to discuss how to resolve the calamity facing our Sacred Realm. I assume none of you would want to miss that,” Xie Lian explained after a moment’s thought, holding nothing back.

“Fellow Daoist Xie Lian, regardless of our purpose in coming to the Sacred Realm, wouldn’t it be better to first inform us about the situation in the Primordial Seal Land before we make any decisions?” Han Li interjected suddenly.