Chapter 1748: The Turmoil in Yun City

Han Li’s expression changed slightly upon seeing this.

Although he knew that the chances of breaking through bottlenecks in the Coldflame Realm were significantly higher, the fact that each of the two groups had produced a cultivator advancing to the Body Integration stage was still astonishing compared to the Spirit Realm.

Fortunately, the Coldflame Realm only opened once every ten thousand years; otherwise, the number of Body Integration cultivators on the Thunder Continent would far surpass that of the other two continents.

However, Han Li was still puzzled as to why he had been teleported out before the others.

Was it just a coincidence? He couldn’t help but wonder.

Unbeknownst to Han Li, this was related to the Profound Heavenly Fruit sealed within his arm.

As a treasure containing the laws of another realm, even while sealed, it exerted a far stronger repulsion against the Coldflame Realm’s laws than ordinary foreign beings. Thus, he was the first to be expelled from the Coldflame Realm.

Meanwhile, the chaotic scene before them left the Tian Yun people, who had just returned from the Coldflame Realm, dumbfounded, hardly believing what they were witnessing.

They had only been gone for a little over a year—how had war suddenly erupted in Yun City, which was supposed to be deep in their territory?

However, those who survived the Coldflame Realm were no ordinary individuals. Knowing this was not the time for questions, a few impatient ones immediately summoned their treasures with flashes of spiritual light, preparing to join the battle in the sky.

Just then, a streak of red light descended from above, landing between the two teleportation formations. It was an elderly man with a familiar face, clad in light-blue armor, his eyes faintly yellow.

“Fellow Daoists, you’ve finally returned. The elders are all away, fighting the high-ranking Jiao Chi clansmen. However, Venerable Weng left instructions—if you return, head immediately to the Spirit Battle Fortress of the Ancient Spirit Clan!” the old man shouted urgently before tossing down a token-like object and darting back into the sky.

With a wave of his hands, the old man unleashed a barrage of crimson thunderfire at a Jiao Chi warrior charging toward him. The warrior roared, his body erupting with white flames, and the two clashed in a thunderous explosion.

Below, Han Li and the others exchanged glances.

The token was caught by the middle-aged man who had advanced to Body Integration. After inspecting it with his spiritual sense, he handed it to Yue Xianzi in the opposite formation.

“It’s genuine. I recognize this messenger—he’s Fellow Daoist Yu of the Azure Clan, a law-enforcement guard of the Elder Council,” Yue Xianzi confirmed after examining the token.

“Then let’s follow the order. Venerable Weng must have his reasons,” the middle-aged man said decisively, his tone carrying an air of authority.

Now that he had reached the Sacred Race stage, his former peers like Shi Kun could no longer be compared to him.

Though the others felt slightly uncomfortable with his tone, none objected, silently nodding in agreement.

The group immediately took to the air, flying toward another part of Yun City.

Along the way, they encountered sporadic Jiao Chi interceptions, but without any Sacred Race cultivators, these foes were effortlessly dispatched by the two early-Body Integration cultivators and the numerous late-Deity Transformation experts.

As they moved farther from the teleportation formations, the chaos in Yun City grew worse, with Jiao Chi warriors, battle beasts, and warships densely scattered throughout.

Han Li even spotted a nearly ten-thousand-foot super puppet lying motionless on the ground, its once-jade-white body now resembling a shattered mountain.

This was undoubtedly one of the twelve guardian puppets that had once orbited Yun City.

The fact that such a puppet, said to rival early-Body Integration cultivators, had been destroyed spoke volumes about the Jiao Chi army’s might. It seemed Yun City was unlikely to survive this assault.

Adding to Han Li’s unease was the absence of any Sacred Race cultivators along their path—as if all such beings had vanished from the city.

Had the top-tier experts of both sides gone outside the city for a decisive battle? Han Li pondered silently as he flew.

Neither Liu Shuier nor Shi Kun spoke to him during the journey, treating him like a stranger.

Yue Xianzi, aside from verifying the token, only glanced at Han Li twice with a faint smile, offering no further communication.

Han Li paid no mind to this, though the chaos in Yun City weighed heavily on his thoughts.

With the Jiao Chi army invading, would their plans to use the super teleportation array be disrupted?

Unhindered by any Sacred Race opponents, the group soon reached the Eight Cloud Mountains, having destroyed several warships and hundreds of chariots along the way.

Here, the Jiao Chi presence vanished, replaced by squads of Tian Yun warriors.

The eight spirit mountains radiated with treasure auras, layered with restrictive formations. Bronze chariots and colossal puppets lurked in the surrounding mist, making the area heavily fortified.

Before they could inquire further, a hundred-strong squad of warriors approached.

Their leader, a dark-faced man, seemed to recognize them and laughed heartily, “Fellow Daoists, you’ve finally returned from the Coldflame Realm! Venerable Weng awaits you at the Spirit Battle Fortress. Follow me!”

His aura was peculiar—even Han Li couldn’t gauge his cultivation, sensing only a terrifying latent power.

“Senior Bing! We dare not trouble you to wait for us!” Yue Xianzi and the middle-aged man exclaimed in surprise, hastily bowing.

Liu Shuier and the other Yun City natives also paled and paid their respects.

Han Li subtly furrowed his brows but offered a polite salute.

“Fellow Daoists Yue and Ning have reached the Sacred Race stage. There’s no need for such formality—we are peers now. Come, let’s meet Venerable Weng,” the man said cheerfully.

“What? Venerable Weng is in the fortress?” The middle-aged man, surnamed Ning, was first shocked, then overjoyed.

The others also relaxed. With a Grand Ascension elder present, the situation couldn’t be too dire.

The dark-faced man nodded and led the way toward a mountain peak, the group following closely with the warriors flanking them.

Soon, they crested the peak, revealing a sprawling castle surrounded by high walls lined with silver statues—some beast-like, others humanoid, ranging from a hundred to just a few zhang tall. Though motionless, they exuded a chilling aura.

Above the walls, rows of spear-wielding azure-armored puppets patrolled, devoid of life.

Near the castle stood a dozen metal puppets hundreds of zhang tall, wielding massive weapons.

Strange formations hovered in the low sky, pulsing with eerie light, their purpose unknown.

This was the Ancient Spirit Clan’s castle, their headquarters in Yun City—now a command center bustling with cultivators from various races.

Guided by the dark-faced man, the group landed before the Spirit Hall and entered under the scrutiny of two white-robed guards.

Inside, only three people were present. Seated calmly was the Tian Yun Grand Ascension elder—Venerable Weng.

“Greetings, Elder!” Yue Xianzi and the middle-aged man immediately bowed deeply.

“You’ve returned. Excellent—two advancing to the Sacred Race stage. Rise,” the youth said, his eyes brightening slightly.

As the group stood, Venerable Weng’s gaze swept over them.

Han Li felt—perhaps imagining it—that the elder’s smile deepened slightly when their eyes met.

Recalling how Venerable Weng had once gifted him the “Heavenly Seal” without reason, Han Li grew uneasy.

Fortunately, the elder’s gaze soon moved on, and he dismissed the two attendants with a wave.

The two late-Deity Transformation cultivators promptly withdrew.