“The current situation is quite unusual, so I’ll keep it brief. You’ve already seen the state of Yun City. The matter is simple—our clan fell into a trap set by the Horned Serpent Tribe. They lured our main forces to a perilous location and temporarily trapped them. Meanwhile, the Horned Serpent army seized the opportunity to capture thirteen cities in a row, advancing all the way to Yun City. The city’s grand restriction array diagram was also stolen, leaving us unable to rely on the defensive formations to resist their forces. Thus, we will soon abandon this city. You should not linger here either. Evacuate immediately to the nearest Fuhu City,” the young man surnamed Weng said indifferently.
“The situation is this dire? But with a senior like you here, surely we don’t have to abandon Yun City,” Yue Xianzi exclaimed, her face paling slightly.
The others also wore expressions of shock.
“Do you think the Horned Serpent Tribe lacks Mahayana-stage cultivators? Among the invading forces this time, there are two of their Grand Elders. They sent me a message in advance—if I don’t intervene in this conflict between our tribes, neither will they. Otherwise, the consequences are self-evident. While I may not be a match for two peers, they also have no certainty of killing me if they join forces. Hence, we’re at a stalemate,” Weng explained calmly.
“But this city has gathered dozens of Saint-stage cultivators. If they act, they could turn the tide. Yet, on our way here, we didn’t encounter a single Saint-stage cultivator from our clan. Could they have…?” The middle-aged man surnamed Ning gasped, unable to suppress his question.
“Rest assured. They are unharmed but are on a separate mission outside the city. You must have noticed that the Horned Serpent forces attacking the city also lack Saint-stage cultivators—that’s their doing. However, this won’t last long. The Horned Serpents will soon realize and deploy their own Saint-stage experts. With me unable to intervene, this city is doomed. That’s why I’ve ordered its abandonment. Under the guidance of Fellow Daoist Bing, you must leave immediately,” the young man commanded with a wave.
Yue Xianzi and the middle-aged man exchanged glances and hastily complied, not daring to disobey. The others also bowed in acknowledgment.
Only Han Li frowned, a trace of hesitation flickering across his face.
“Ah, Fellow Daoist Han, stay behind. I have something to discuss with you privately,” Weng suddenly said, glancing at Han Li.
Han Li’s heart skipped a beat, but he had no choice but to comply.
The others, though inwardly suspicious, showed no outward reaction and followed the dark-faced man out of the hall.
Weng then turned to Han Li with an enigmatic smile.
“May I ask what instructions Senior has for this junior? If there’s anything I can assist with, please don’t hesitate to command,” Han Li asked respectfully, though inwardly uneasy facing a Mahayana-stage cultivator with unknown intentions.
“Hmm, I kept you here to entrust you with a task. Fellow Daoist Han, you hail from the human race of the Feng Yuan Continent, correct?” Weng’s opening question startled Han Li.
“How did Senior recognize my origins? Have you been to the Feng Yuan Continent?” Han Li’s heart raced as he struggled to maintain composure.
“Not only have I been there, but I also once crossed paths with several of your human race’s cultivators. We even fought before becoming acquainted, so I have some ties with them. Though the human race isn’t particularly powerful overall, they possess a few hereditary divine abilities that are not to be underestimated. However, these techniques have stringent cultivation requirements, making them inaccessible to most humans,” Weng chuckled.
“Since Senior is aware, this junior need not hide anything. I am indeed a human from the Feng Yuan Continent who ended up here,” Han Li admitted honestly.
“Good that you acknowledge it! What is your relationship with Fairy Bingpo? How did you come to possess her Void Spirit Cauldron?” Weng’s next question left Han Li stunned.
“Void Spirit Cauldron? Senior, are you referring to this?” Han Li blinked in surprise before spitting out a ball of azure light.
Within it, a small cauldron flickered faintly—the Void Heaven Cauldron.
“So it is this treasure. Though I haven’t seen it in many years, its aura remains largely unchanged,” Weng murmured, narrowing his eyes as he examined the cauldron.
“I do know of Fairy Bingpo, but this cauldron isn’t the Void Spirit Cauldron—it’s the Void Heaven Cauldron,” Han Li replied with a wry smile.
“Void Heaven Cauldron?” Weng paused momentarily before recalling something. He reached out, and the cauldron, previously under Han Li’s control, broke free with a whoosh, appearing inexplicably in Weng’s hand.
Han Li’s expression flickered briefly before returning to normal.
Weng held the cauldron aloft, scrutinizing it intently.
“Upon closer inspection, it does differ from the Void Spirit Cauldron. The craftsmanship is cruder, yet it’s not a replica—more like a prototype crafted before the Void Spirit Cauldron,” Weng mused, his eyes glinting coldly.
“A prototype?” Han Li’s mind raced with implications.
“Never mind. Though I mistook the treasure, it still originates from Fairy Bingpo, suggesting some connection between you two. I kept you here to ask you to deliver an item and a letter to her upon your return to the human race,” Weng said, releasing the cauldron with a casual smile.
“To be honest, Senior, I obtained this treasure by chance and have never met Fairy Bingpo. I don’t even know if she still lives,” Han Li explained hastily, recalling the cauldron into his body.
Though he’d learned of Fairy Bingpo in the human realm, if she had ascended to the Spirit Realm and survived to this day, she’d be a monstrous existence akin to Weng. Han Li had no desire to invite such trouble needlessly.
“No matter. With Fairy Bingpo’s fame, you’ll surely find traces of her among the humans. If she’s truly departed, deliver the items to her descendants,” Weng said dismissively, producing a jade box and a pale blue jade slip.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed them to Han Li.
Seeing no way to refuse, Han Li sighed inwardly and caught them, reluctantly glancing at their surfaces.
Both were sealed tightly with golden talismans.
“These talismans are of my own making. Only Fairy Bingpo or her bloodline can open them. Anyone else attempting to remove them will trigger an explosion. Remember this. I won’t have you work for nothing—here are some rare materials unique to the Thunder Continent as compensation. Additionally, though Qian Jizi and others promised you access to the super teleportation array, the sudden turn in the war has led to all nearby city arrays being sealed. The super array happens to be in a hidden hall in Fuhu City, now also closed. I’ll arrange for you to use it once. But first, you must swear a Heart Demon Oath to fulfill your promise,” Weng stated coolly.
“With Senior’s words, how could this junior refuse?” Han Li forced a smile after a moment’s hesitation. He formed a hand seal and solemnly swore the oath before storing the items away.
Such oaths held little weight in the human realm, but in the Spirit Realm, especially after reaching the Void Refinement stage, they became formidable barriers during breakthroughs, making them highly binding for high-level cultivators.
Han Li’s thoughts churned, but he swore without hesitation, vowing to deliver the items to Fairy Bingpo or her descendants.
Satisfied, Weng nodded and produced three jade cases containing the promised materials, tossing them over.
This time, Han Li swept them into his sleeve with a flick of azure light, not even glancing at them.
“Very well, you may leave now,” Weng said sternly, his expression blank.
Relieved, Han Li bowed and exited the hall.
Weng watched Han Li’s departing figure, his eyes flickering with contemplation.
…
When Han Li stepped out of the Spirit Communication Hall, he was surprised to find a massive silver flying carriage parked outside.
The vehicle was over twenty zhang long, rectangular, adorned with intricate patterns, and pulled by six giant mantis-like spirit beasts.
Yue Xianzi, Liu Shui’er, and the others were already aboard, while the dark-faced man stood quietly at the front.
Their gazes turned to Han Li as he emerged, their expressions varied, clearly waiting for him.
“Fellow Daoist Han, come aboard. We’re about to depart,” the dark-faced man called with a smile.
“Many thanks, Senior!” Han Li replied calmly, clasping his hands before flashing onto the carriage and settling cross-legged in a corner without a word.
The dark-faced man chuckled and let out a low whistle. The six beasts sprouted wings, lifting the carriage into the air.
As it ascended, a layer of emerald light enveloped the vehicle, transforming it into a green streak that shot across the sky.
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