Chapter 1209: Battle at the Star Palace (Part 5)

The blue light barrier shimmered with spiritual radiance, then eerily revealed a circular passage about ten feet wide in its center.

Han Li gave it a brief glance before transforming into a cyan streak and darting inside. After a few flickers, he emerged within the barrier.

The light barrier trembled once more, and the passage vanished.

“Fellow Daoist Han, you’ve finally arrived.” As the cyan streak flashed above the city gate, Han Li’s figure appeared mysteriously. Dressed in feminine attire, Ling Yuling pressed her red lips together, a trace of joy in her smile.

“Since Fairy Ling invited me with a Ten-Thousand Mile Talisman, how could I possibly break my promise?” Han Li replied with a faint smile.

“This humble one thanks Brother Han for his great assistance. With you here, the clowns of the Anti-Star Alliance are surely no threat. However, this is not the place to talk. Please follow me to the Sacred Mountain. Elder Sun, summon all available elders of our palace to gather at the Sacred Hall. I have important matters to discuss.” Ling Yuling extended her invitation while turning to issue orders to a yellow-robed cultivator beside her.

“As you command, Palace Master!”

The yellow-robed cultivator, at the early Nascent Soul stage, had been scrutinizing Han Li since his arrival. Yet, when his divine sense swept over Han Li, he found his cultivation unfathomable, unable to discern his true level. This realization filled him with awe, and he promptly bowed in acknowledgment before retrieving a stack of message talismans to summon the Star Palace elders.

Han Li’s gaze then shifted to a white-haired elder, and he remarked coolly, “It seems Fellow Daoist Zhao has not only retained his former grace but also advanced in cultivation. Truly a cause for celebration.”

The elder was none other than the Zhao who had once proposed dual cultivation with him on Silver Shark Island. In just over a century, this elder, like Ling Yuling, had reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

“Haha, I lack the ability to reach this realm on my own. It was only with the assistance of the two former Palace Masters that I managed to progress,” Elder Zhao replied with a bitter smile, hinting at some untold circumstances.

“I see,” Han Li murmured, his eyes flickering with thought.

“So Elder Zhao and Brother Han are old acquaintances? Even better. Let us proceed to the Sacred Hall for further discussion,” Ling Yuling said with a light chuckle.

Han Li nodded in agreement.

The group then soared on their escape lights toward the Sacred Mountain at the heart of Heavenly Star City.

Under Ling Yuling’s guidance, Han Li ascended to the highest level of the mountain, landing before an unassuming stone hall.

Han Li studied the hall briefly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

“What? Does Brother Han find our Sacred Hall too plain?” Ling Yuling turned to him with a radiant smile.

“It is indeed beyond my expectations,” Han Li admitted frankly.

“This hall may seem ordinary, but it was once the cultivation site of our founding ancestor. Thus, it has been preserved as a sacred site of our palace. Normally, outsiders are not permitted entry, but Brother Han’s aid from afar naturally exempts you,” Ling Yuling explained with a smile.

“Though plain, the spiritual energy here is exceptionally dense—a rare cultivation haven. Few places in the Inner Star Sea could rival it,” Han Li remarked with a nod.

Pleased, Ling Yuling led him toward the hall’s entrance.

A dozen Star Palace disciples guarding the door bowed deeply, their eyes flickering with curiosity as they glanced at Han Li.

Ling Yuling paid them no mind, guiding Han Li through a short corridor into an ancient hall.

Once seated, she wasted no time. “Brother Han, you must already be aware of our palace’s current predicament?”

“Indeed. Your situation is far from ideal,” Han Li replied calmly.

“Then you must also know that we were initially dominant. The sudden reversal was due to Wan Tianming’s unexpected breakthrough to late Nascent Soul, becoming a Great Cultivator. The Anti-Star Alliance has since chipped away at our outer forces, besieging even Star City. If you can restrain him, we are confident in crushing the alliance once more,” Ling Yuling declared, a hint of ruthlessness in her brow.

“You wish for me to oppose Wan Tianming?” Han Li’s eyes gleamed as he countered.

“Precisely. Does Brother Han object?” she asked, taken aback.

“Not an objection, but I believe Fairy Ling has misunderstood something,” Han Li stated bluntly.

“Misunderstood? Did you not come to aid me?” Her expression shifted slightly.

“Of course I did, but—” Han Li paused abruptly, turning toward the hall’s entrance.

Ling Yuling followed his gaze.

Moments later, three cultivators entered—one mid-Nascent Soul and two early-stage. The mid-stage cultivator, a pockmarked purple-robed man, ignored Ling Yuling, instead glaring defiantly at Han Li. But when his divine sense brushed Han Li, his pupils contracted, his face darkening.

“Elder Ma, you’ve arrived swiftly. Please be seated. Once the others gather, I shall introduce a distinguished guest,” Ling Yuling said with a smile.

“Indeed, this fellow Daoist’s cultivation is profound. The palace master’s reverence is well-placed,” the man forced a smile, his arrogance visibly subdued as he took a seat.

The other two elders, equally unable to gauge Han Li’s strength, exchanged uneasy glances before bowing and sitting.

Ling Yuling tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear, her eyes flashing coldly.

Han Li watched with an amused smirk.

Clearly, Elder Ma held little respect for the new palace master, and Ling Yuling had used him to assert authority. Though mildly exasperated, he bore no grudge—after all, it cost him nothing.

As more elders arrived, each was startled by Han Li’s presence. Yet, seasoned by experience, they masked their surprise, adopting polite demeanors.

Soon, over twenty elders filled the hall—three mid-stage, including Elder Zhao, the purple-robed man, and Ling Yuling, the rest early-stage.

“With most elders present, allow me to introduce our honored guest: Han Li, a guest elder personally acknowledged by the former palace masters,” Ling Yuling announced, gesturing gracefully.

“Han Li? Him?” Murmurs erupted, one elder gasping aloud.

Han Li’s gaze sharpened, landing on a white-robed elder with kindly features.

Recognition dawned, and his expression darkened.

“So it’s you—the one from the Void Sky Hall. Where is the other who presided over its opening?” Han Li’s voice turned icy.

The white-robed elder paled.

This was the Star Palace law-enforcement elder who had nearly slain him in the Void Sky Inner Hall. Though vaguely familiar earlier, the elder’s exclamation had jogged his memory.

“Brother Han knows Elder Ximen?” Ling Yuling asked cautiously, noting his cold demeanor.

“Merely an entanglement from before my Nascent Soul days,” Han Li replied after a moment, his expression smoothing.

Relieved, Ling Yuling swiftly steered the conversation back. “Then let us focus on Wan Tianming. The Anti-Star Alliance remains our greatest threat.”

The white-robed elder relaxed slightly but remained uneasy.

“Fairy Ling, the former Twin Saints’ agreement with me was clear: I would assist only in matters concerning your life or within my capabilities. I never pledged to risk my life for Star Palace’s survival against a peer,” Han Li stated evenly.

Silence engulfed the stone hall.