“I was indeed severely injured. To fend off the enemy, I had to release the Profound Ice Cold Qi I had cultivated for years within my lifebound flying sword. It was chaotic at the time, and both the others and the one who injured me were eager to proceed to the next level, which is why I narrowly escaped.” Bai Yaoyi said with lingering fear.
“Oh? From your words, it seems you’re not very familiar with the one who attacked you!” Han Li raised an eyebrow and asked.
“That person must have been among the group of cultivators who unsealed the area. I was locked in a standoff with someone else when I was ambushed by them. The massive ice formed by this Profound Ice Cold Qi can only be shattered by a late-stage cultivator. Otherwise, it would take considerable time to break through. However, due to my severe injuries, I couldn’t free myself either. I owe my survival to Brother Han’s intervention. Had it been delayed any longer, the consequences would have been dire. Speaking of which, Brother Han is truly formidable, effortlessly dispelling my cold qi.” Bai Yaoyi said with a hint of astonishment.
“It was nothing, just a small effort. May I ask why Fellow Daoist Bai came here?” Han Li replied nonchalantly.
“After parting ways with Brother Han and Fellow Daoist Fu, we searched a hidden chamber in Kunwu Mountain and gained some benefits. Initially satisfied, we planned to withdraw. But unexpectedly, such a shocking treasure phenomenon appeared near the Demon-Suppressing Tower. Greed got the better of us, and we foolishly came to join the commotion. On the way, we encountered many cultivators chasing each other toward the tower, including familiar faces like the Yin Luo Sect and the group that unsealed the area, as well as the Silver-Winged Corpse and some rogue cultivators. Seeing so many powerful figures, we regretted our decision and considered retreating. But someone attacked us without warning, dragging us into the chaos. I was pursued relentlessly and forced to flee here, while Fellow Daoist Fu disappeared along the way, likely having found an opportunity to escape the turmoil.” Bai Yaoyi recounted her experience to Han Li, glancing uneasily at the ugly woman beside her, clearly sensing her monstrous aura.
“Fellow Daoist Bai need not worry. Fellow Daoist Guiling has agreed to ally with me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare venture here alone,” Han Li said with a smile, noticing her apprehension.
Guiling forced a faint smile.
“I see. I was wondering how someone as astute as Brother Han could be as reckless as us!” Bai Yaoyi said, though she doubted the simplicity of the relationship between the ugly woman and Han Li, she felt somewhat relieved.
“However, on my way here, I came across Fellow Daoist Fu’s remains. He has already perished,” Han Li said solemnly, delivering the news of Fu Lao’s death.
“Fellow Daoist Fu is dead?” Bai Yaoyi exclaimed in shock, her eyes flashing with horror.
“I personally handled his remains. It seems even his Nascent Soul didn’t escape in time. By the way, while you were trapped in the ice, did you sense anyone else passing through here?” Han Li suddenly recalled the blood blade wielder, his eyes glinting coldly.
“Others? No, I didn’t sense anyone. Why? Have other cultivators entered?” Bai Yaoyi was puzzled by Han Li’s question.
“In that case, it’s nothing. Fellow Daoist Bai has suffered significant damage to your vitality. What are your plans now?” For some reason, Han Li chose not to mention the matter of the Four Scattered True Man and instead glanced at the entrance to the lower level, asking casually.
“What else can I do? No matter what treasures lie here, I won’t entertain any illusions. I plan to leave immediately and wait outside for the spatial rift to reopen,” Bai Yaoyi replied without hesitation.
“That’s wise. Then we shall part ways here. I still have some interest in this treasure,” Han Li said, showing no surprise at her decision to retreat.
“If Brother Han is confident, I won’t dissuade you further. Take care!” Bai Yaoyi said with a bitter smile.
“Fellow Daoist Bai, take care as well!” Han Li clasped his hands in farewell and swiftly headed toward the distant entrance, with Guiling silently following.
Bai Yaoyi watched their departing figures, sighed softly, and took out a fiery red pill from her storage pouch, swallowing it.
After walking about twenty zhang away, Han Li suddenly turned back and called out, “Fellow Daoist Bai, I’ve long heard of the North Night’s Little Extreme Palace. Might I have the honor of visiting someday?”
“Brother Han flatters me. The palace would certainly welcome you,” Bai Yaoyi replied after a moment of surprise, smiling gracefully.
“With your words, I am reassured,” Han Li smiled faintly before truly departing without looking back.
Only after Han Li’s figure vanished into the entrance did Bai Yaoyi’s smile fade, her expression turning pensive. Though she had agreed readily, she was deeply puzzled by Han Li’s sudden mention of the Little Extreme Palace.
The seventh layer, where the ancient demons had battled the fierce ghosts, was now empty and devoid of life.
Han Li and Guiling easily found the small stone chamber leading to the eighth layer, where two small black-and-white teleportation arrays still stood.
Gazing at the arrays, Han Li stroked his chin, deep in thought.
“Silvermoon, do you sense anything? Both arrays are short-range teleportation formations leading to the next layer. You mentioned something calling to you. Can you feel anything?” Han Li silently asked Silvermoon through his divine sense.
“Strange… both arrays seem to emanate something familiar, but the white one feels stronger,” Silvermoon replied slowly.
“That’s enough. We’ll take the white array. The black one gives off an unsettling aura,” Han Li said calmly after a moment of silence.
Without another word, he stepped into the white array. Guiling followed without question.
A spell triggered the array’s edge, and with a flash of light, they vanished.
The moment they appeared on the eighth layer, Han Li immediately summoned the Yuan Shield, while Guiling’s body was instantly clad in crimson armor.
They were prepared for an ambush, but none came. Instead, the deafening roar of battle filled the air. As the disorientation from teleportation faded, Han Li scanned the surroundings and froze.
The scene was utter chaos.
Swords and treasures clashed in the sky, explosions of spiritual light and streaks of escaping light filled the air.
At a glance, Han Li spotted over a dozen figures, including the Silver-Winged Corpse duo, Cultivator Xu, the Heavenly Ladder Saintess, and two from the Hua Xian Sect, along with several unfamiliar faces—likely the so-called Ye Family cultivators.
Notably absent were Ge Tianhao and his group, either slain en route or having never arrived.
However, these cultivators weren’t fighting each other. Instead, they were scattered around a palace, besieged by a massive formation and dozens of altars. Each altar bore a jade stone statue several zhang tall, clad in golden armor and wielding massive golden blades.
These statues had come to life, slashing golden beams of light that clashed with the cultivators’ attacks, holding their ground remarkably well.
Yet, the cultivators’ attention wasn’t solely on the stone puppets. Many glanced repeatedly at the sky above the palace, where a peculiar emerald-green wooden ruler floated ten zhang high, emitting a faint green glow.
The ruler, half a chi long and ancient in design, rotated slowly.
Normally, such an unremarkable artifact wouldn’t draw such attention. But with each rotation, countless faint lotus blossoms materialized around it, drifting ethereally. Among these blossoms, eight illusory spirit beasts of varying sizes flickered in and out, bowing toward the ruler and emitting clear cries, as if worshiping it.
“Suānjiǎo Shòu, Bā Qílù, Jīn Lín Jiāo…” Han Li inhaled sharply upon recognizing them—each was a legendary beast from ancient times!
“The Eight Spirit Ruler! To think the Three Elders of Kunwu didn’t take this treasure back to the Spirit Realm!” Guiling murmured in shock before Han Li could react.
“Eight Spirit Ruler?” Han Li’s expression shifted.
“It’s one of the Heaven-reaching Spiritual Treasures, though rarely used in ancient times, hence its obscurity. But as a Heaven-reaching treasure, its power is undoubtedly extraordinary,” Silvermoon explained slowly.
“Are you alright?” Han Li frowned, noticing the odd tone in her voice.
“I don’t know… it’s strange. I don’t recall this treasure, yet its details suddenly flooded my mind. And something in that palace is calling to me—no, not something, but someone very close… or rather, my other half is there.” Silvermoon’s voice grew erratic, as if her consciousness was wavering.
Han Li frowned, about to press further, when Cultivator Xu, the Silver-Winged Corpse, and others noticed his arrival. A dozen hostile or suspicious gazes locked onto him.
On high alert, Han Li had no time to question Silvermoon further. With a sharp glint in his eyes, he strode out of the teleportation array and ascended into the air.
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