Upon hearing Long Dong’s words, a glint flashed in Han Li’s eyes, but he remained silent. The young woman and the white-browed youth exchanged glances, seemingly finding his reasoning sound, and thus voiced no objections.
However, the white-robed maiden blinked her beautiful eyes and suddenly spoke up:
“It’s quite eerie for other cultivators to appear in such a place. We should focus on our journey and avoid unnecessary trouble.”
“Precisely because it’s unusual, we should investigate why these people are here. At most, we won’t enter the city—just inquire outside. If we encounter any trouble, we need not fear it. Didn’t Brother Li just say there are no cultivators above the Void Refinement stage in the city? In a few days, we’ll enter the One-Line Sky. The environment there is extremely perilous. If some unknown danger lurks nearby, we could all perish. Caution is paramount!” Long Dong’s expression shifted, but after a moment’s thought, he shook his head.
“Listening to Brother Long, there might indeed be some merit to this. How about this—we observe from afar first, without alerting the cultivators inside. If there’s truly no issue, we can reveal ourselves later.” Xiao Hong proposed a compromise.
“That’s acceptable—more prudent.” Long Dong seemed to find the young woman’s suggestion agreeable and nodded.
Han Li stroked his chin, while the white-robed maiden smiled faintly. Neither spoke further.
Thus, the group altered their course, concealing their flight aura once more as they silently approached the small city.
Given their cultivation levels, even though they had slowed their speed considerably, they covered the hundreds of miles in mere moments.
A speck of green appeared in the distance. As they drew closer, they saw it was indeed a sizable oasis, surrounded by low shrubs and centered around a lake spanning several miles.
Beside the lake stood a small city, enclosed by white stone walls several zhang high. A massive gate, over ten zhang wide, faced their direction, guarded by over a dozen yellow-robed cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Outside the city, near the lake, ordinary mortals without any spiritual power moved about, seemingly bent over planting something.
Han Li halted his flight and swept his divine sense covertly over the city.
Long Dong and the others observed this and likewise employed their own detection techniques.
“Indeed, these are your human kin—both mortals and cultivators appear normal. There are quite a few cultivators in the city, including seven or eight at the Nascent Soul stage. As for Void Refinement cultivators, either there are none, or they’ve concealed their auras beyond our detection.” Xiao Hong concluded cautiously after her own investigation.
“Everything seems normal! Have any fellow Daoists noticed anything else?” Long Dong stared at the city for a long moment before turning to ask.
“No formation fluctuations around the city—it seems no arrays are set up nearby. Also, have you noticed? The temperature here is much cooler, far less scorching than elsewhere.” The white-browed youth remarked after his own observations.
“Indeed, it’s unusual. But the mere existence of an oasis here is already extraordinary. These details alone don’t prove anything.” The young woman mused.
“Why trouble yourselves so? Why not simply enter the city and converse with us?”
A strange voice suddenly rang out above them.
Startled, Han Li and the others scattered instantly, reappearing dozens of zhang away before cautiously looking up.
There, hovering in the sky, stood an elderly Daoist in purple robes, his expression kindly as he gazed down at them.
What sent chills down their spines was that this Daoist was a mid-Void Refinement cultivator. Fortunately, he was human—otherwise, they would have fled immediately.
Long Dong’s eyes flickered with concealed disappointment beneath his shock.
“Greetings, Senior! May we ask who you are and why you appear here?” Xiao Hong took a deep breath and inquired respectfully.
“So, a fellow Daoist from the Black Phoenix Clan. This old man is the Purple Cloud Sage. This city was built by my clan. You must have questions, but this is no place for discussion. Why not follow me into the city?” The elderly Daoist smiled and gestured invitingly.
“Purple Cloud Sage?”
The young woman was startled that he recognized her origins at a glance. She exchanged a look with Long Dong.
Both found the name unfamiliar, as if they had never heard of him. Naturally, they hesitated at his invitation.
“Fellow Daoists need not worry. This old man has long lived in seclusion, rarely interacting with others, so few know of me. You intend to cross the One-Line Sky, correct? If so, you must hear what I have to say. Recent changes there have made the journey perilous.” The old Daoist spoke kindly, as if sensing their reservations.
Though their wariness didn’t fully dissipate, Long Dong and the others relaxed slightly—until they heard of the One-Line Sky’s troubles, their expressions shifting.
“Since Senior is so gracious, we juniors dare not refuse.” Though inwardly reluctant, Long Dong couldn’t decline a Void Refinement cultivator’s polite invitation and reluctantly agreed.
With Long Dong’s assent, Han Li and the others could hardly object. They bowed to the old Daoist and followed.
The Purple Cloud Sage’s smile grew even warmer as he descended, leading them toward the city gate.
Not daring to fly, the group employed light-body techniques to follow him on foot.
The distance, though seemingly great, was covered swiftly. Soon, they neared the oasis, close enough to see children playing by the lake.
“Forgive the humble sight. My clan recently relocated here, bringing our mortal kin. Though this place lacks much, it boasts several rare spiritual fruits. You must try them.” The old man explained with a smile.
Long Dong and the young woman felt somewhat reassured.
Moments later, they stood before the city gate. The guards bowed deeply and stepped aside.
The old Daoist strode forward first.
Long Dong and the others scrutinized the guards, finding nothing amiss beyond their respectful demeanor. After a brief hesitation, they followed.
Han Li passed silently between two guards.
Everything seemed normal—until a clear cry rang from above, and a silver flame shot down, engulfing one of the guards.
The young woman and the others gaped in shock.
“What is the meaning of this? I extend hospitality, and you dare attack my juniors?” The old Daoist at the front roared, suddenly appearing before Han Li in a flash, his crimson-glowing hand striking down.
Han Li, initially puzzled, understood everything the moment the silver flame engulfed the guard. But the crimson hand was already upon him, an immense force locking him in place.
An ordinary cultivator would’ve been immobilized, but Han Li’s dual cultivation, enhanced by the Dragon Scale Fruit, Corpse Pearl, and Bone Tempering Art, allowed him to twist free and vanish, reappearing twenty zhang away—thanks to the Nine Changes of the Gale.
“Flee! They’re puppets possessed by Shadow Tribesmen!” Han Li bellowed, transforming into a green streak and shooting skyward.
Meanwhile, the guard wreathed in silver flames let out an agonized scream as a gray shadow emerged—only to be consumed by the flames.
From the silver flame’s appearance to Han Li’s escape, mere moments had passed.
The young woman and Long Dong, still bewildered, paled upon hearing Han Li’s warning and seeing the shadow puppet.
“Go!”
Without hesitation, the four shot into the sky as beams of light.
The old Daoist, startled by Han Li’s escape, snorted and flicked his sleeve, releasing countless crimson threads that ensnared one of the fleeing figures, yanking them back to the ground.
The light dispersed, revealing the trapped cultivator’s furious and terrified face.
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