Chapter 1518: Heaven Yin Body

When the old man surnamed Jiang asked this question, Han Li’s heart skipped a beat.

The fact that the other party asked this suggested they were indeed still in the Netherworld River and had not escaped this space.

Thinking this, Han Li pondered briefly before replying:

“Reporting to Senior, we were coerced into following others into this place. Now that we’ve escaped from them, we dare not face them again.”

Han Li’s words were somewhat vague, but the old man surnamed Jiang merely nodded casually and said, “You needn’t worry about offending me. The reason I reside here is simply because I made a mutually beneficial deal with a few of the Ephemera Clan’s Grand Elders. As long as this space isn’t shattered by destruction, I won’t intervene in anything. However, the fact that outsiders managed to find another entrance to this space and even defeated the Ephemera Clan’s Soul-Puppets has piqued my interest. These people must not be ordinary, right?”

“Senior’s insight is unparalleled! These individuals are indeed demon kings at the mid-to-late Body Integration stage, each possessing extraordinary abilities,” Han Li replied with a bitter smile.

“Since they forced you to come here, they must have targeted your Evil-Warding Divine Thunder. Now that they’ve broken through the restrictions and still refuse to let you go, it seems they’re not just after the Divine Milk but also eyeing those demonic artifacts. Heh, they’re courting death,” the old man sneered, a mocking glint in his eyes.

“From Senior’s tone, are those demonic artifacts problematic?” Han Li asked, puzzled.

“Problematic? More than that. Once they enter the place where those artifacts are hidden, they’ll suffer greatly. One of those artifacts recently took human form and devoured the others, achieving a supreme demonic body. Even I might not be able to subdue it if I encountered it. With their abilities, whether they can escape with their lives is uncertain,” the old man said with a cryptic smile.

“Supreme demonic body!” Han Li’s lips twitched.

This was the ultimate aspiration for demonic cultivators.

“That thing lurks deep within the abyss of demonic energy, wholly focused on cultivation. Without your Evil-Warding Divine Thunder to clear the way, those demon kings might not even find it. Of course, if they persist and provoke it, that’s another matter. By the way, do you two have another companion?” the old man asked nonchalantly.

“Junior does have a junior sister who was originally with us. How did Senior know?” Yan Li, who had been silently listening, spoke up in surprise.

“It’s nothing. Besides you two, another person was drawn here by my Seven Gates Yin-Locking Formation. However, she wasn’t with you and ended up elsewhere. I’ve summoned her here, and you’ll see her shortly,” the old man said lightly.

“Many thanks, Senior! I’ve been extremely worried,” Yan Li exclaimed joyfully.

“Senior Jiang, why did your Seven Gates Yin-Locking Formation draw all three of us here?” Han Li hesitated before asking.

“Hmm, I merely made slight adjustments to the formation’s power at key points in the Netherworld River where yin energy is most likely to erupt. This allows me to monitor the intensity of yin energy fluctuations to prevent spatial collapse due to imbalance. The three of you happened to be near the Soul-Devouring Mist when the formation activated, so you couldn’t avoid being drawn in,” the old man explained with a faint smile.

“So that’s how it is,” Han Li murmured in realization.

Though he was tempted to ask about the black mist, this space, and its connection to Rahu, he decided against it.

This space had little to do with him, and he didn’t want to risk annoying the old man with too many questions.

As they spoke, a blue light flashed on one side of the hall, revealing another passage.

A black streak of light shot out, carrying a beautiful woman enveloped in yin energy—Yuan Yao.

The moment she appeared, her face was full of wariness. But upon spotting Han Li and Yan Li, her expression brightened with joy.

“Brother Han, Senior Sister! You’re here too! This is wonderful!” she exclaimed, darting to their side.

“Another ghost-path cultivator. Hmm, something’s odd…” The old man, who had been composed, suddenly looked uncertain as his gaze swept over Yuan Yao.

“Who is this Senior…?” Yuan Yao glanced at the old man, unable to gauge his cultivation but sensing his extraordinary power. His words, however, left her baffled.

Han Li and Yan Li exchanged puzzled looks.

Given the old man’s terrifying strength, what about Yuan Yao could unsettle him so?

After a moment of contemplation, the old man’s face lit up with realization. He raised a finger and pointed lightly at Yuan Yao.

A green thread shot from his fingertip, vanishing into her body before anyone could react.

“Ah!”

Yuan Yao recoiled, hastily checking her body for any anomalies.

Yan Li stepped protectively beside her, glaring at the old man. If not for their vast power gap, she might have attacked.

Han Li narrowed his eyes but remained still.

If the old man had ill intentions, he would have acted earlier when restraining Han Li’s sword. Sensing no malice, Han Li relaxed slightly, though his grip on his spirit beast bracelet and thunder pearls tightened.

The old man spoke calmly:

“No need for alarm. That was merely a testing spell to confirm my suspicions. It won’t harm you.”

“A test? What does Senior wish to test? This is our first meeting!” Yuan Yao remained uneasy.

The old man formed a hand seal, and Yuan Yao felt a sudden heat in her dantian. Before she could react, dark-green patterns resembling leaves spread across her face.

“What is this?” Yan Li gasped.

Yuan Yao, unaware of the markings, was bewildered by her reaction.

“As I thought—Heavenly Yin Body! After searching fruitlessly for millennia, heaven delivers one to me just as I was about to give up. And not too late—there’s still time!” The old man laughed heartily, overjoyed.

His outburst unnerved Yuan Yao and Yan Li, who retreated toward Han Li for support.

Han Li’s eyes flickered before he spoke:

“Heavenly Yin Body? I’ve traveled widely but never heard of such a constitution. Senior seems elated—could you enlighten us?”

“My apologies for the outburst. The Heavenly Yin Body isn’t a human trait—it’s a term from the Changyuan Tribe, referring to a rare physique. While useless for ordinary human cultivation, it’s essential for a certain supreme art of their race. Even among the Changyuan, such individuals are scarce, let alone in other races. I’ve searched for nearly ten thousand years without success. Fellow Daoist Yuan, would you consider becoming my disciple?” The old man beamed at Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao was stunned by the offer.

“Senior wishes to take Junior Sister as a disciple?” Yan Li was equally shocked.

“Indeed. But rest assured, I mean no harm. I admit I covet her Heavenly Yin Body for a supreme art that would grant me a seventy percent chance of surviving my next heavenly tribulation. With luck, I might even endure the one after. Two tribulations would buy me time to reach late-stage Great Ascension and perhaps even the Tribulation Passage stage,” the old man said earnestly.

“Tribulation Passage? Senior is a Great Ascension cultivator?!” Yuan Yao inhaled sharply.

“I reached early-stage Great Ascension over ten thousand years ago. Many would kill for the chance to be my disciple,” the old man declared proudly.

Yan Li’s eyes widened.

Han Li, though he’d suspected as much, felt his mouth go dry. This was the first Great Ascension cultivator he’d met in the Spirit Realm.

“To be Senior’s disciple would be an unparalleled honor. But this is sudden—may I discuss it with my sister and Brother Han?” Yuan Yao steadied herself and asked cautiously.

“Of course. Take your time. Rest here for three days, then give me your answer. Or seek me sooner if you decide,” the old man said confidently, stroking his short beard.