With Han Li’s initial cultivation level and his previous feigned weakness, his sudden bold statement naturally shocked everyone present.
Even the expressionless purple-robed man flashed a hint of surprise as he glanced at Han Li.
The man with the slanted brows had a fleeting trace of murderous intent cross his face.
“Bold words! It’s been centuries since I’ve met someone with lower cultivation daring to speak to me like this. Since that’s the case, in three days’ time during the battle for the spiritual land, neither of us will hold back,” the man said with a sinister tone.
“Then I shall witness your divine abilities at that time. For now, I take my leave,” Han Li replied nonchalantly, giving a slight bow to the purple-robed man before gracefully exiting the second floor.
Watching Han Li’s retreating figure, the slanted-browed man’s expression darkened.
……
Not long after, in the empty skies near the Jade Pavilion, the figures of the golden-robed fatty and the slanted-browed man appeared, conversing through sound transmission.
“Brother Weng, what exactly is your purpose in seizing that spiritual land? You couldn’t say it inside, but now you should give me a hint,” the golden-robed fatty asked with a harmless smile.
“I wasn’t lying earlier. I truly need to change my cave residence to cultivate a secret technique. Otherwise, why would I deliberately seek out a place with such sparse spiritual energy?” the slanted-browed man sighed.
The golden-robed fatty’s face twitched slightly, his expression full of disbelief.
The slanted-browed man felt a headache coming on but maintained a calm facade, as if to say, *If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.*
“Fine, whatever your reasons, if you don’t wish to say, I won’t press. But do you really intend to go all out against that Han kid?” the fatty abruptly changed the subject.
“What, do you have some connection with him?” the slanted-browed man frowned, displeased.
“Of course not. But did you know? He’s a newly ascended cultivator who just arrived at Sky Abyss City,” the fatty said pointedly.
“Ascended cultivator? So what? We get one every few years. Do you think I can’t handle an early-stage cultivator? No wonder he’s so arrogant—probably used to being a big shot in the lower realm,” the slanted-browed man scoffed after a brief pause.
“Haha, his cultivation is naturally nothing to worry about. With your abilities, even I wouldn’t dare claim victory easily. But ascended cultivators here are notoriously protective. Teach him a lesson, but don’t kill him. Otherwise, even with Senior Ming backing you, those old monsters might stir up trouble,” the fatty advised with a concerned tone.
“If he’s this insolent, I’ll make sure he learns his lesson. Whether he lives or dies depends on the fight,” the slanted-browed man replied coldly.
“Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t say more. In three days, I’ll also be fighting four others. Who knows how that’ll go,” the fatty sighed dramatically.
“Brother Jin, you’re too modest. I heard you recently obtained an ancient treasure with extraordinary power, rivaling even spirit treasures,” the slanted-browed man suddenly smirked.
The fatty’s expression stiffened momentarily before he laughed it off.
“Ah, you’ve heard about that? It’s just a trinket with some defensive quirks, nothing extraordinary,” he waved dismissively.
“Is that so?” The slanted-browed man’s smile was cryptic.
After exchanging a few more guarded words, the golden-robed fatty transformed into a streak of red light and departed.
Watching the vanishing glow, the slanted-browed man’s face twisted into a sneer.
“Hmph, trying to provoke me into making an enemy of an ascended cultivator? Clever scheme,” he muttered to himself.
“Jin Fatty suspects something. Be cautious from now on. He’s no threat, but his grandfather is troublesome—best not to cross him,” a male voice suddenly spoke from above.
A flash of light revealed a jade-green flood dragon, about a foot long, hovering nearby.
“Master, don’t worry. Once I secure the land, I’ll seal it immediately. Unless he knows something, he won’t interfere,” the slanted-browed man bowed respectfully.
“Good. But this matter is critical. If I weren’t refining a spirit treasure, I’d be here myself. Don’t disappoint me,” the flood dragon said sternly.
“I won’t, Master. But… are we sure about the location? The spiritual energy there is weak—hardly a likely place for his final resting site,” the man hesitated.
“I can’t guarantee it’s true. But given his status, even a slim chance is worth pursuing. If we find his legacy, my tribulation will be secure, and you might even reach the Void Refinement stage. Win at all costs. If necessary, kill your opponent—trouble later is nothing compared to this prize,” the flood dragon’s voice turned icy.
“Understood,” the man replied solemnly.
“Still, ascended cultivators excel in combat. To be safe, I’ll lend you the ‘Thousand Soul Bell.’ Three days should suffice to wield it temporarily. With this, victory is assured,” the flood dragon spat out a dark mist, revealing a small black bell covered in sinister runes.
Overjoyed, the man thanked his master and stored the bell in his sleeve.
After a few more instructions, the flood dragon vanished into the man’s other sleeve.
The slanted-browed man then turned and flew off as a streak of blue light.
Unaware of these machinations—and that someone now sought his life—Han Li had left the Jade Pavilion but didn’t return to the Flying Spirit Hall. Instead, following his map, he flew across the city for hours before stopping high above, surveying the sprawling metropolis with a frown.
Strictly speaking, “Sky Abyss City” was more like a small nation, its territory vast. The true city, however, was a walled area spanning tens of thousands of miles.
Shaped like a trapezoid, its front and rear were fortified by towering walls, while its sides were shrouded in dense mist from powerful formations—impenetrable even to True Spirit-level beings. The narrowest section facing the wilderness had walls thousands of feet tall, inscribed with arrays, looming like colossal barriers.
Beyond these walls, human and demon guards patrolled day and night, with defensive formations perpetually active. Behind them, an army of over a million stood ready in massive towers.
Such defenses ensured Sky Abyss City had never fallen to a surprise attack.
In contrast, the opposite side of the trapezoid had lower walls but stretched for miles, bustling with humans and demons from the Three Realms and Seven Lands—some venturing into the wilds, others trading in the city, fueling its prosperity.
Beyond the city proper lay vast mountain ranges dotted with small mortal villages but no other cultivator settlements. These villages supplied necessities and low-level cultivators or body refiners. The demon-controlled regions teemed with beasts and low-level demons, serving a similar purpose.
Though humans and demons allied to survive in the Spirit Realm, their differences necessitated separation. A colossal barrier split the city in two, each race governing its half. Outside, an uninhabited zone served as a boundary.
The only shared space was the central Elder Tower—twice the size of others, where over a dozen human and demon elders at the Body Integration stage convened to make decisions.
To all in Sky Abyss City, this tower was shrouded in mystery.
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