Three days later, Han Li, accompanied by Silvermoon, Crab Daoist, Bai Guo’er, and Li Rong, departed from Tianyuan City and headed straight for the Xu Clan.
Han Li had already learned that after the demonic forces retreated, the Xu Clan had returned to their original ancestral lands. After passing through several cities via teleportation and a brief half-month journey, Han Li and his group arrived at the Xu Clan.
Upon announcing their arrival, the entire Xu Clan erupted in excitement. Not only did the clan leader, Xu Jiao, and Xu Qianyu rush out to greet them, but all the Xu Clan elders followed closely behind. Among them were Xu Yan and Xu Huo, who had met Han Li in the past. It seemed the Xu Clan had suffered minimal losses during the demonic calamity.
“Greetings, Senior Han! The Xu Clan is deeply honored by your esteemed presence,” Xu Jiao said respectfully, bowing deeply. The other elders also bowed with excitement.
In the past, when Han Li had visited as a Body Integration cultivator, the Xu Clan could still maintain some pride as a major human clan. But now, facing Han Li as a Grand Ascension cultivator, they could only show utmost reverence, not daring to display anything that might displease him.
Han Li and his companions were ushered into the Xu Clan’s main hall, reserved for distinguished guests. Without ceremony, Han Li took the seat of honor and calmly addressed the clan leader standing nearby:
“You must know why I’ve come. Though I’ve heard about Daoist Bloodsoul from Fairy Xu, I’d like the Xu Clan to recount the details once more to ensure nothing was missed.”
“Of course, Senior. Daoist Bloodsoul returned to the Xu Clan seven months ago…” Xu Jiao began carefully, recounting the events in detail.
Han Li listened intently to every detail. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, when Xu Jiao finished, Han Li spoke gravely:
“So, aside from instructing you to deliver the Void Heaven Cauldron to me, Daoist Bloodsoul also said that only I could awaken her?”
“Yes, Senior. As an incarnation of our ancestor, Daoist Bloodsoul’s body is semi-ethereal, making her nearly impervious to injury. Yet this time, she was struck by some unknown means—her body shows no external wounds, but she is shrouded in black energy and remains unconscious. It’s deeply unsettling. Despite exhausting all methods, we’ve had no success. We implore you, for the sake of our ancestor Frost Li, to lend your aid.”
“Your account has piqued my interest. I’ll examine Daoist Bloodsoul’s condition firsthand. If I can help, I won’t hesitate,” Han Li replied with a faint smile.
“Thank you, Senior! Allow me to guide you,” Xu Jiao said gratefully.
“Crab Brother, come with me. Silvermoon, Guo’er, and Daoist Li, stay here,” Han Li instructed.
“Understood. We’ll wait here,” Silvermoon replied obediently. Li Rong and Bai Guo’er naturally complied.
The Xu Clan members had already noticed Silvermoon and the others. Given the vast gap in cultivation, they could only sense their profound auras, unable to discern their true strength. Awed, they treated them with equal respect.
Leaving a few female elders to accompany Silvermoon and the others, Xu Jiao and the elders led Han Li and Crab Daoist to the Xu Clan’s forbidden grounds.
Deep within the clan’s territory, in an underground stone hall, Han Li stood before a translucent crystal coffin. Inside lay a white-robed woman, her eyes closed, her body faintly shrouded in black energy—the Bloodsoul incarnation of Frost Li.
As Han Li approached within ten feet, he immediately felt an intense chill.
“Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice,” Han Li remarked, recognizing the coffin’s material.
“Your insight is unparalleled, Senior. Only this coffin could slow the deterioration of Daoist Bloodsoul’s condition,” Xu Jiao explained.
“Profound ice can suppress many injuries. Given the uncertainty of her ailment, this was a wise choice,” Han Li acknowledged, his gaze fixed on the woman.
Bloodsoul’s face was covered in black energy, and a strange blood-red pattern flickered on her brow, emitting a faint glow. Seeing this, Han Li frowned slightly.
“Senior, have you discerned the cause?” Xu Jiao asked eagerly.
“I have some suspicions but need confirmation,” Han Li replied calmly, releasing his spiritual sense to envelop the coffin.
Moments later, Han Li’s expression shifted. He tapped his brow, and a black mist emerged, coalescing into a dark third eye. A crystalline thread shot from it, piercing the coffin and entering the woman’s body.
The thread retracted, pulling out a thumb-sized crimson insect. Simultaneously, the blood pattern on Bloodsoul’s brow vanished. The insect resembled a snail but had several writhing tendrils, thrashing wildly upon extraction.
“What is this? How did we never detect it?” Xu Jiao gasped in shock.
“It’s no surprise you missed it. This is a Blood Gu Insect—formless and colorless, dissolved in the blood. Only by forcibly extracting it could it be revealed,” Han Li explained, studying the insect.
“A Blood Gu Insect? But why have we never heard of such a fearsome creature?” Xu Jiao asked, bewildered.
“This isn’t a gu insect from our Feng Yuan Continent. It’s unique to the Blood Sky Continent, the most mysterious of the three continents. It’s nothing like the gu insects you know,” Han Li replied.
“Blood Sky Continent? Impossible!” Xu Jiao and the elders were aghast.
“Though I’ve never been there, I once traveled to the Thunder Continent and read of this insect in their texts. There’s no mistake,” Han Li said. With a flick of his wrist, the crystalline thread multiplied, slicing the insect into pieces that dissolved into blood droplets.
“Though deadly within the body, once extracted, it’s fragile,” Han Li added coldly.
“Thank you, Senior. But what of Daoist Bloodsoul?” Xu Jiao asked, glancing at the still-unconscious woman.
“With the gu removed, she’ll recover with time. But I can’t wait that long. I’ll awaken her briefly,” Han Li said.
“Xu Clan is eternally grateful!” Xu Jiao exclaimed, the elders echoing his thanks.
Retracting his third eye, Han Li stepped to the coffin. After a glance at the woman’s face, he tapped her forehead, sending a surge of spiritual energy through her meridians, unblocking obstructions.
With a pained groan, the woman’s brows furrowed, and her eyes slowly opened. Han Li flicked a green pill into her mouth, its medicinal aroma filling the air.
Smiling, Han Li turned and walked out. “Let her rest for fifteen minutes to absorb the pill’s energy, then bring her to me.”
“Yes, Senior!” Xu Jiao replied joyfully. Crab Daoist followed Han Li out expressionlessly.
Fifteen minutes later, in the main hall, Han Li faced the fully awakened woman.
“Daoist Bloodsoul, how do you feel now?” Han Li asked kindly.
“Thanks to your ‘Soul Restoration Pill,’ I’m temporarily stable,” she replied weakly, her face pale but smiling.
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