Chapter 1781: Blood Spirit

The palace-robed woman swept her gaze over the surrounding crowd before her eyes narrowed and finally settled firmly on Han Li.

Han Li felt a surge of spiritual sense sweep over him. Though not overwhelmingly powerful, it gave him an eerie sensation, as if his body and soul were being laid bare.

His heart tightened, and the Great Development Art immediately activated within him, decisively blocking the probing spiritual force.

The palace-robed woman seemed slightly surprised but quickly withdrew her gaze. A delicate jade-like hand flipped in front of her, and the blood-red crystal coffin that had enveloped her suddenly shimmered with layers of shifting runes.

In a flash, the coffin shrank countless times, transforming into a mere few inches in size before resting in her palm. Another flicker, and it vanished entirely.

Thus, the palace-robed woman was freed from the treasure and now stood directly before the crowd below.

“Are you all members of the Xu Family? But who is this man? He doesn’t seem to be one of your kin,” the woman asked unexpectedly.

Xu Yuan and the others exchanged bewildered glances.

“Are you Fellow Daoist Bingpo?” Han Li, however, furrowed his brow slightly and countered with a question of his own.

Though this woman’s body was clearly formed from refined blood essence, he found it impossible to directly gauge her cultivation level, which intrigued him.

Of course, as a mere incarnation formed from a wisp of a soul, no matter how peculiar, it hardly warranted fear from him.

“Calling me Bingpo the Fairy wouldn’t be wrong. Are you a Body Integration cultivator?” The palace-robed woman’s eyes flickered with a faint bloody light as she responded to Han Li’s query.

Naturally, this was also because Han Li was a Body Integration cultivator, not inferior to her true self in cultivation.

“I am Han Li. Indeed, I was invited by Fellow Daoist Xu to awaken the fairy’s blood soul,” Han Li replied courteously, clasping his hands upon confirming her identity as the incarnation of Bingpo the Fairy’s blood soul.

“So that’s the case. My descendants have indeed gone to great lengths to enlist the aid of a Body Integration cultivator like yourself,” the palace-robed woman said, the coldness in her eyes gradually fading as she returned Han Li’s gesture.

Xu Jiao and the others, however, felt their faces burn at her words.

This “Senior Han” had not been invited by them but had instead arrived on his own initiative.

Otherwise, the Xu Family would never have succeeded in awakening their ancestor’s blood soul.

“Heh, in truth, this matter is somewhat related to me, so offering assistance was only natural. Moreover, Fellow Daoist Bingpo and I share another connection,” Han Li chuckled.

“Oh? Is that so?” The palace-robed woman blinked, her gaze shifting to the Xu Family cultivators below.

“Ancestor, Senior Han speaks the truth. Not only did he return the blood soul to the Xu Family, but he also hails from the same human realm as Ancestor Bingpo and has even obtained some of her legacy, the Dry Blue Iceflame,” Xu Jiao stepped forward and cautiously explained.

“Truly? I must thank you then. Once my true self is freed, I shall repay you handsomely,” the palace-robed woman said, a flicker of astonishment in her beautiful eyes. Though her words were few, they carried an undeniable sincerity.

“I seek no repayment. However, I do have a few questions I’ve long wished to ask the fairy. But now is not the time for such discussions. Let us wait until your incarnation stabilizes before we speak further,” Han Li said, his lips quirking slightly as he studied her.

“You’ve noticed. How embarrassing. This blood body was just formed and is indeed unstable. It will take a few days for the blood soul to fully merge with it,” the palace-robed woman admitted without denial, though she seemed slightly surprised.

“Since your blood soul has just awakened, you must have much to discuss with your kin. I shall take my leave now. Fellow Daoist Qianyu, please escort me back to my quarters,” Han Li said, turning abruptly to Xu Qianyu nearby.

“Ah—Qianyu obeys!”

“We shall not detain you further, Senior. Once the ancestor’s blood soul is fully restored, we will personally express our gratitude,” Xu Jiao quickly added, bowing repeatedly.

The palace-robed woman made no move to stop him, merely offering another slight bow to Han Li.

Thus, Han Li and Xu Qianyu turned and strode confidently out of the grand hall.

Only after Han Li’s figure vanished beyond the exit did Xu Jiao lead the Xu Family cultivators forward to pay their respects to the woman in the air.

“Rise. It must have been difficult for you to awaken my blood soul. Are you the current head of the Xu Family?” the palace-robed woman asked Xu Jiao slowly.

“Xu Jiao, the 173rd-generation descendant, pays homage to Ancestor Bingpo,” Xu Jiao replied with utmost reverence.

“The 173rd generation? It seems much time has passed. Though your cultivation is not the highest, it is commendable. All of you, rise. Though this blood soul inherits fragments of my true self’s memories, it is not the true ancestor. Moreover, due to the long years of sealing, most memories are fragmented, with only a few important details remaining. There’s no need to call me ‘ancestor.’ Simply address me as Blood Spirit,” the palace-robed woman said with a bitter smile, waving her hand dismissively.

The Xu Family cultivators were stunned at first, then inwardly alarmed.

“Senior Blood Spirit, do you recall the whereabouts of Ancestor Bingpo’s true self? Is she safe?” Xu Yuan blurted out, bypassing formalities to ask the question weighing on everyone’s minds.

At this, the palace-robed woman’s expression darkened. After a long pause, she shook her head. Xu Jiao and the others felt their hearts sink.

“Rest assured. Though I cannot recall her exact location, through the faint connection between blood souls, I know she still lives in the Spirit Realm. Moreover, I retain some vague impressions of related clues,” the palace-robed woman added, lifting their spirits once more.

“Even knowing clues is enough. As long as there’s a trace to follow, we will surely bring our ancestor home,” Xu Jiao declared solemnly, bowing deeply toward the sky.

“This will not be easy. Though the specifics elude me, my true self seems to be trapped somewhere on another continent. For now, I shall reorganize the fragmented memories in my mind before sharing the details with you. First, tell me of the current state of the human race and that Body Integration cultivator from earlier. I sensed a familiar aura from him—beyond the Dry Blue Iceflame, it seems he possesses something else I know well. Yet I cannot recall what it is,” Blood Spirit mused, a trace of puzzlement crossing her jade-like face.

Xu Jiao and Xu Yuan exchanged startled glances.

After a brief hesitation, Xu Jiao bowed and replied, “Since Senior Blood Spirit wishes to know, I shall recount everything truthfully. Shortly after Ancestor Bingpo’s disappearance, the great demonic calamity befell the human race. Many of the original Three Human Sovereigns and Seven Demon Kings perished, plunging humans and demons into chaos for millennia thereafter…”

The Xu Family patriarch began recounting major events from tens of thousands of years ago, interspersing them with significant occurrences within the Xu Family, including several brushes with annihilation.

Once finished, he relayed in detail everything Xu Qianyu had shared about Han Li to this incarnation of their ancestor’s blood soul.

The palace-robed woman hovered silently above the blood pool, her expression unreadably calm. Only the faint flicker of bloody light in her eyes betrayed the turmoil within.

Meanwhile, Han Li had returned to his pavilion and dismissed Xu Qianyu.

He ascended to the top floor, stepping to the window to gaze contemplatively toward the Xu Family ancestral temple for a moment before withdrawing.

Soon after, he returned to the center of the room, produced a yellow meditation mat, and sat cross-legged, closing his eyes with a serene expression.

From then on, he remained motionless, as if in deep meditation.

Three days later, the palace-robed woman who called herself Blood Spirit arrived at the pavilion’s entrance with Xu Jiao in tow.

Han Li, already sensing their approach, calmly ushered them into the first-floor hall.

“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on the completion of your blood body,” Han Li said with a smile as the woman took her seat.

“Such swift fusion of the blood soul and incarnation was only possible thanks to Fellow Daoist Han’s pure spiritual power. Otherwise, Blood Spirit could never have stabilized this form in just three days,” the palace-robed woman replied, her lips curving slightly.

Her once crimson pupils were now as dark and clear as any ordinary person’s.

“I merely acted on a whim. Your blood soul secret technique, however, is truly marvelous—to so effortlessly reconstruct an incarnation is a formidable self-preservation art,” Han Li remarked, momentarily taken aback by her self-address as Blood Spirit before waving it off.

“This blood soul technique was something I stumbled upon in the past. It does indeed contain several life-saving methods. If Fellow Daoist has no objections, Blood Spirit would like to offer this manual as thanks for your earlier assistance,” Blood Spirit said, her eyes twinkling as she flipped her hand to produce a white jade slip, which she placed on the table before Han Li.

Her gaze held a teasing glint as she watched him.

Han Li’s pupils contracted slightly. After a brief silence, he suddenly reached out.

With a soft “swoosh,” the jade slip leaped into his hand.

His expression calm, Han Li scanned it briefly, sending a wisp of spiritual sense into the slip.

Blood Spirit showed no outward reaction, though a faint flicker of surprise flashed deep in her eyes.