“The Ancestor of the Demonic Race!”
Upon hearing these four words, which seemed to carry immense demonic power, the expressions of both the human cultivators and high-ranking demonic beings present changed drastically.
Having just survived the demonic calamity, they naturally harbored an indescribable fear toward the Ancestor of the Demonic Race, the symbol of the demonic race’s greatest power.
The spirit being within the purple light also showed a slight change in expression upon hearing this, yet the answer did not seem entirely unexpected. After taking a deep breath, it bowed respectfully and said, “Thank you for your response, Senior. If I was presumptuous earlier, I hope you will not hold it against me. I will faithfully relay your reply to the Holy Monarch.”
Han Li nodded without further comment.
After the spirit being in purple light took its seat, envoys from several other foreign races began to appear one after another, presenting their congratulatory gifts and expressing goodwill from their respective races.
Among them was even an envoy from the Wood Tribe, which had already fragmented and submitted to other races.
Facing these envoys representing their respective races, Han Li smiled and thanked them one by one.
However, after these foreign envoys had presented their gifts, a graceful woman, previously cloaked in a yellow robe, rose from a corner of the plaza. Removing her hood, she revealed a face of unparalleled beauty, as if painted by a divine hand.
“Fairy Rong?! Impossible!”
“It really is Fairy Rong! Didn’t the Sacred Isle claim that she disappeared into the wilderness three thousand years ago?”
Human cultivators who recognized her face immediately erupted into commotion, with many exclaiming in disbelief.
This woman seemed to be extraordinarily famous, instantly stirring up a wave of shock.
Seeing this, Han Li’s heart stirred, and his gaze swept over her. Though she was only at the mid-stage of the Body Integration Realm, her aura was peculiar, with faint crystalline light emanating from her skin, making her seem otherworldly.
Clearly, her cultivation technique was extraordinary, far beyond that of an ordinary Body Integration cultivator.
“Fellow Daoist, you are…?” Han Li asked, his expression unchanged.
“This junior, Li Rong, represents the Sacred Isle in congratulating Senior Han on achieving the Great Ascension Realm and becoming our race’s second Great Ascension cultivator. As a token of our respect, we offer a top-tier flying vessel, ten first-class attendants, a hundred top-tier spirit beasts, and a thousand armored puppets as gifts,” the stunning woman said with a sweet smile, her voice as melodious as celestial music.
“So, you are an envoy from the Sacred Isle. Such generous gifts—Han thanks you. I had already planned to visit the Sacred Isle after the celebration,” Han Li replied, his eyes flickering slightly.
“If Senior is willing to grace the Sacred Isle with your presence, it would be our greatest honor. The fellow Daoists of the Sacred Isle have long wished to invite you there to discuss matters of great importance,” Li Rong said with a radiant smile.
“Very well, I will certainly go,” Han Li nodded, his tone noncommittal.
“Junior has one more matter—”
“Who’s there, skulking outside?!”
Before Li Rong could continue, Han Li’s expression darkened. With a flick of his sleeve and a low shout, an invisible force surged through the mountain’s barriers, striking something several miles away in the void.
A black halo exploded, revealing a towering figure clad in black armor.
The burly man looked fierce, his face briefly showing surprise at being detected from such a distance. But his expression quickly turned indifferent as he laughed heartily. “Hahaha… Fellow Daoist Han, Ye has come uninvited. Surely you won’t turn me away?”
After clasping his fists from afar, the black-armored giant took a single step and somehow traversed several miles in an instant, appearing directly above the three-colored mountain before descending boldly.
With a *pfft*, the layered barriers shattered like paper upon contact with his body.
Bathed in black light, the giant landed at a low altitude in the plaza, crossing his arms as he faced Han Li from a distance.
The cultivators present were stunned at first, but some hot-tempered human cultivators immediately began shouting reprimands.
However, the more composed individuals, seeing the giant’s brazen demeanor even in the presence of a Great Ascension cultivator, felt a chill in their hearts.
“King Xiao… It’s the Black Xiao King of the Yaksha Race! Weren’t you said to have perished in the True Lightning Tribulation thousands of years ago while attempting the Great Ascension bottleneck? How are you here? Have you also reached the Great Ascension Realm?!” Li Rong gasped after scrutinizing the giant, her voice trembling.
“Black Xiao King!”
Han Li’s brows furrowed slightly, a glint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
The other cultivators who had been shouting at the giant also seemed to recognize his name, their voices abruptly cutting off as fear replaced their anger.
“Oh? Have you seen me before, little girl?” The giant turned his head, eyeing Li Rong with mild curiosity.
“Junior once saw Senior with Master Mo thousands of years ago,” Li Rong replied, her face pale with fear.
“So, you’re that yellow-haired brat who followed Old Ghost Mo back then! Tsk tsk, to think you’ve grown into such a beauty and even reached the Body Integration Realm. Impressive! As for me, I successfully broke through the Great Ascension bottleneck over ten thousand years ago. The rumor of my death in the tribulation was merely a ruse to deceive your races. How laughable that you all believed it,” the giant said, his gaze lingering on Li Rong with undisguised lust.
Li Rong’s heart sank, and she nearly turned to flee.
But remembering she was in Tianyuan City and that a newly ascended Great Ascension cultivator of her race was present, she suppressed her fear and forced herself to remain still, lowering her gaze to avoid his lecherous stare.
“So, it’s Fellow Daoist Black Xiao, renowned in the Yaksha Race for millennia. For a Great Ascension cultivator like yourself to appear here so suddenly is truly an honor,” Han Li finally spoke, his tone calm and unreadable.
“Heh, Fellow Daoist Han is the second Great Ascension cultivator of the human race and the only new Great Ascension to emerge among our races in the last ten thousand years, aside from myself. How could I not come to see you in person?” The giant laughed, turning fully toward Han Li.
“I see. Unfortunately, my advancement was merely by chance, so I fear I may disappoint Fellow Daoist Black Xiao. Still, a guest from afar is always welcome. Attendants, prepare a seat for Fellow Daoist Black Xiao!” Han Li said indifferently.
“Yes, Master!” Qilingzi responded, moving to comply.
But the giant waved a massive hand dismissively. “No need for such formalities. I won’t be staying long. Once I’ve said what I came to say, I’ll be on my way.”
“Oh? And what might that be?” Han Li asked coolly.
“Two things. First, I wanted to see what kind of person Fellow Daoist Han is. Since you detected me from such a distance, your abilities are indeed remarkable—I’m not disappointed. Second, I came to ask for someone. No, actually, I’ve changed my mind. I’ll be taking two people now,” the giant said, his grin turning savage.
“Two people? Who?” Han Li’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ve heard you have a disciple with a Hidden Thunder Root. I’ll be borrowing him to help me weather my next heavenly tribulation. As for the second… it’s this fairy here. I’ve taken a liking to her and will be taking her back to the Yaksha Race as my personal concubine,” the giant declared, his voice booming like thunder, leaving the entire assembly in stunned silence.
“What?! He dares to demand Senior Han’s disciple?!”
“And to take Fairy Rong as his concubine?! Does he have no regard for our two races?!”
The crowd erupted in fury, though none dared to curse openly under the weight of the Great Ascension cultivator’s presence. Instead, they glared at him with burning eyes.
“Black Xiao King, how dare you set your sights on me! Have you forgotten Master Mo’s warning?!” Li Rong’s face twisted with rage as she hissed.
“Master Mo? Hahaha! You humans truly love deceiving yourselves. Do you really think I don’t know that Old Freak Mo and Ao Xiao have long been absent from your race, their fates unknown? Otherwise, why would I dare come here?” Black Xiao King roared with laughter, his words sending shockwaves through the plaza.
“Master Mo and Senior Ao Xiao are missing?!”
“He must be lying! Those two seniors are peerless—how could anything happen to them?!”
“But it’s true… there’s been no news from them for years…”
Panic spread like wildfire among the crowd, their composure shattered.
The foreign envoys reacted with varying degrees of shock and calculation.
“Fellow Daoist Han, surely you wouldn’t bring calamity upon your race for the sake of two individuals? You may have reached the Great Ascension Realm, but it will take centuries for you to fully master its power. You’re no match for me,” Black Xiao King sneered, ignoring the others as he fixed Han Li with a cold stare.
His words dripped with threat.
“So, Fellow Daoist Black Xiao didn’t come to celebrate my ascension but to cause trouble,” Han Li mused, his lips curling into a faint smile.
“Trouble? If that’s how you see it, so be it,” the giant replied, his grin widening with arrogance.
“Very well. Since you’re an unwelcome guest, as the host, I have no choice but to personally teach you some manners,” Han Li said, his voice turning icy.
With a single hand seal, the three-colored mountain trembled, releasing countless strands of five-colored light that lashed toward the giant. Simultaneously, thunder boomed overhead as gold and silver lightning snakes descended.
Han Li had activated the mountain’s formations without hesitation.
“You dare attack me? Foolish! But this saves me the trouble of claiming an unfair victory!” Black Xiao King laughed, unperturbed.
Clenching his fists, he smashed them together.
*BOOM!*
A shockwave of black soundwaves erupted, tearing through the air!
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