Chapter 1615: Zhi Xian

Han Li stood beside Yue Zong, gazing into the distant sea of mist with a thoughtful expression.

The woman named Xianxian also glanced ahead, her eyes flashing with eagerness.

Soon, the three of them resumed their flight, led by Yue Zong, heading straight toward the misty expanse.

Though the sea of mist appeared close, it was actually quite far. Despite their swift speed, it took them the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before they finally approached it.

As they flew, Han Li’s expression suddenly shifted slightly.

From a distance, he hadn’t noticed anything unusual, but now that they were closer, a deep, thunderous roar echoed from the green mist, as if a storm raged within, its power astonishing.

Suddenly, Yue Zong’s blood-red light halted before the thick green mist, and his figure reappeared. With a flip of his hand, he produced another golden token and raised it, sending a beam of golden light shooting into the mist, where it vanished.

Instantly, the impenetrable fog parted where the golden light passed, forming a natural passageway.

“Follow closely, fellow Daoists. Do not stray from this path, or you’ll face considerable trouble,” Yue Zong warned before resuming his flight.

Though Han Li didn’t know what dangers lay in the green mist outside the passage, he had no intention of testing them and calmly followed Yue Zong.

Xianxian, however, couldn’t resist asking as they flew, “I’ve been to the Demon Mountain Range once before. If I recall correctly, shouldn’t we be heading to another place first?”

“Ordinary people would need to go elsewhere first. But given my reputation here, we can skip that step,” Yue Zong replied with a shake of his head.

Hearing this, Xianxian fell silent.

Guided by the golden light, the three flew over ten miles into the mist in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, Han Li’s eyes flickered. About a mile below, a cluster of buildings faintly appeared. As they drew closer, it became clear—it was a narrow, elongated town composed of hundreds of stone houses of varying sizes, arranged in two rows.

At the town’s center stood a towering five-story pavilion, constructed from bluish-gray stone and reaching several dozen zhang in height, making it exceptionally conspicuous.

A few people moved along the streets, though their numbers were sparse.

With a low shout, Yue Zong headed straight for the pavilion at the town’s center, with Han Li and Xianxian close behind.

Their flight ceased as the three appeared simultaneously before the massive pavilion.

Now, Han Li could see clearly.

Above the pavilion’s towering gate hung a plaque inscribed with three ancient characters: “Thundercloud Pavilion.”

“Come with me, fellow Daoists. This is where we obtain the restriction tokens. I believe Fairy Xian has been here before?” Yue Zong said with a smile toward the crystal race woman.

“Indeed. But last time, I had to visit another place first to purchase a ‘Cloud-Parting Token’ before entering,” Xianxian nodded.

“The Cloud-Parting Token you obtained was temporary, expiring after a month. The treasure I used to part the mist can be reused. It was a special gift from a senior overseeing this area, given my frequent travels into the Demon Mountain Range. Though the outer mist is troublesome, getting lost in it isn’t fatal—those trapped are usually guided out within a month or two. What we need now is the ‘Lightning-Warding Banner,’ the true pass to enter the Demon Mountain Range. Even a Saint Race existence couldn’t force their way past the restriction lightning,” Yue Zong explained before stepping into the pavilion.

The pavilion’s doors were wide open, and the first floor appeared empty, as if rarely visited.

Han Li nodded and followed, with Xianxian trailing behind. The three quickly entered the pavilion.

The first floor held only a few chairs and tables, so they ascended the stairs to the second floor.

Finding the second floor equally barren, they proceeded to the third without pause.

At the third-floor entrance, a faint white light barrier blocked the stairway.

Yue Zong ignored it, passing through effortlessly.

Han Li raised an eyebrow but stepped through the barrier without hesitation, finding no resistance.

Yet, as soon as he emerged on the other side, his expression shifted.

From above came a clamor of voices, suggesting a crowd on the third floor.

Yue Zong and Xianxian also heard the noise, their faces showing surprise.

However, Yue Zong quickly regained his composure and calmly ascended. The noise abruptly ceased as the crowd noticed his arrival.

Han Li followed silently, stepping onto the third floor.

The space wasn’t large—only about twenty zhang across—but it was packed with over thirty individuals of various races, seated cross-legged on the bare floor.

Apart from a round stone table at the center, the only furnishings were the scattered meditation cushions beneath them.

As the trio appeared, all eyes turned toward them.

“Ah, Brother Yue!”

“Daoist Yue is here!”

“Haha, I knew you wouldn’t miss this opportunity!”

About a third of the crowd greeted Yue Zong warmly, some even with higher cultivation levels than his.

Those unfamiliar with him paled at his name, some even glaring with hostility. Though they didn’t know him personally, his reputation in the Demon Mountain Range was formidable.

A handful remained indifferent, merely scrutinizing the newcomers.

Han Li’s spiritual sense swept over the crowd, and he inwardly marveled.

Every person here was at least at the Nascent Soul stage, with half at the Void Refinement level—three even at the peak of Void Refinement. One individual’s aura was concealed by a treasure, making their cultivation level indiscernible.

Unlike Han Li, Xianxian’s eyes gleamed with intrigue upon witnessing Yue Zong’s renown.

“Senior Yan is here too? Has something happened in the Demon Mountain Range?” Yue Zong clasped his hands toward familiar faces before addressing a gaunt, gray-haired elder—one of the three peak Void Refinement cultivators—with evident respect.

The elder regarded Yue Zong kindly, his smile suggesting a closer relationship than with the others.

“What? Nephew Yue, you’re not here for this? Weren’t you planning to enter the Demon Mountain Range?” The elder seemed surprised.

“I am, but for other reasons. Shouldn’t this be the period of demonic energy eruptions? Why are so many gathered here? Are they all applying for Lightning-Warding Banners? That’s unusual,” Yue Zong said gravely, scanning unfamiliar faces.

“Who’d come here if not to enter the range? As for the reason… well, it’s a long story. Hmm, who are these two?” The elder sighed, then eyed Han Li and Xianxian curiously.

“No need for concern. Senior Han and Fairy Xian are my companions for this trip. Senior Yan can speak freely. We’re likely the only ones here unaware of recent events,” Yue Zong introduced them, sounding somewhat frustrated.

“True. To put it briefly, a humanoid Spirit Ginseng recently stormed into town, injured a cultivator, and fled underground into the Demon Mountain Range,” the elder explained after a moment’s thought.

“A humanoid Spirit Ginseng? Did I hear correctly?” Yue Zong’s face abruptly changed.

Han Li and Xianxian exchanged shocked glances.

“No mistake. It was undoubtedly a Spirit Ginseng. When it fled, someone wounded it and obtained a few drops of its blood, which were traded for an astronomical sum of spirit stones right here in town,” the elder confirmed firmly.

“It is extremely rare for spiritual medicines to take human form—it’s not merely a matter of age, but also of fortune and serendipity. Few such instances have ever been recorded in the Spirit Realm. Once this news spreads, at the very least, all of Tianyun will be thrown into chaos. So, these others must have rushed here upon hearing the news?” Yue Zong took a sharp breath, his expression peculiar.

“You’re mistaken, Brother Yue. More outsiders may gather in the coming days, but those from distant regions won’t arrive in time. That Spirit Ginseng not only excels in earth and wood escape techniques but has also cultivated the legendary ‘Phantom Light Escape,'” a fair-skinned youth interjected with a smile.

“Phantom Light Escape! With such a technique, why risk entering the Demon Mountain Range? Even a Saint Race expert couldn’t catch it!” Xianxian exclaimed in astonishment.

“Ah, but this Spirit Ginseng was unlucky. The cultivator it injured happened to practice Golden Origin Restriction Light. Though severely wounded in the ambush, their counterattack struck the ginseng. While it initially activated the Phantom Light Escape, the restriction light took effect midway, forcing it to materialize. Somehow, it bypassed the Thundercloud Formation’s lightning barrage and slipped into the Demon Mountain Range,” the youth paused meaningfully.