Fairy Zi Ling also caught the meaning in Han Li’s words, her beautiful face instantly growing a few shades paler.
The old man stared silently at the pile of bones on the ground, his eyes flickering as if deep in thought.
Han Li, however, paid no attention and instead looked around, calmly analyzing, “Since even a mid Core Formation cultivator perished here, it shows that the malicious spirit’s cultivation is absolutely terrifying. Even if it hasn’t reached the level of a Ghost King, it’s probably not far off. I wonder if Fairy Zi Ling and Fellow Daoist Ge are mentally prepared to possibly perish here? If the two of you turn back now, you won’t have to take this immense risk. As for me, I still intend to venture forward!”
Han Li’s voice was very calm, but after hearing his words, the other two exchanged uneasy glances.
After a long moment of contemplation, Fairy Zi Ling resolutely declared, “Senior Han! If I cannot form a Golden Core in this lifetime, even if it means falling into the ghost path forever, this humble one accepts it. I will not turn back.” Her voice was extremely firm, clearly indicating she had made up her mind.
But upon hearing this, Han Li could only inwardly sigh and turned to look at the old man.
Ge Li’s face shifted between light and shadow.
After a long while, he finally said dejectedly, “I came this time only to see if I could pick some longevity fruits, not for anything that requires risking my life. Since moving forward is so dangerous, this old man will simply turn back. After all, a peaceful death and release are far better than falling into the ghost path forever.”
After saying this, the old man showed a hint of shame. He then cupped his hands toward the two, and without further hesitation, flicked his sleeves and disappeared back into the mist.
Han Li stood expressionless, watching the direction where the old man had vanished, remaining silent for a long time.
Fairy Zi Ling, on the other hand, showed disappointment. With one less Core Formation cultivator accompanying them, the danger within the ghost mist had increased significantly.
“Elder Han, should we continue?” Fairy Zi Ling glanced at the eerie, thick mist around them and forced a smile as she spoke to Han Li. Although she had spoken resolutely earlier, whether her choice was right or wrong, even she herself did not know, leaving her feeling uneasy.
Han Li responded with a calm “Mm,” but then lowered his head to look at the skeleton.
Suddenly, he reached out with one hand, and the Flame Repelling Treasure Robe flew into his grasp with a swoosh. He then calmly stored it away in his storage pouch without changing expression.
Seeing this, Fairy Zi Ling looked surprised and parted her cherry lips as if to say something, but after a moment’s thought, she remained silent. Han Li’s next action, however, left her even more astonished.
With a flick of his finger, a green sword light shot out, striking the nearby ground and creating a pit about ten feet deep. Han Li then lightly waved his sleeve, sending the skeleton and the fragments of the magic treasure into the pit and burying them.
Seeing this, Fairy Zi Ling’s expression turned peculiar.
“Do you find my actions strange?” Han Li suddenly turned to her and asked calmly.
“A little,” Zi Ling hesitated before answering truthfully.
Hearing this, Han Li chuckled lightly. “I buried it because, as fellow cultivators, I don’t know when I might end up as a pile of bones myself. Since I came across it, I thought I might as well lend a hand to prevent it from being exposed to the wilderness. I hope that if I ever meet an unfortunate end, someone might do the same for me. As for taking the treasure robe, it’s simply because the dead have no use for it. Burying it along with the bones would be a waste, so I took it as payment for my efforts,” Han Li explained leisurely.
After hearing his words, the surprise on Fairy Zi Ling’s face gradually faded, and she fell into thought.
Meanwhile, Han Li began walking forward.
Seeing this, Fairy Zi Ling glanced at the freshly buried mound, sighed softly, and slowly followed.
“Fellow Daoist Zi Ling, how much do you know about the origins of the Heavenly Void Hall? Could you share a little about it?” Since it was just the two of them now, Han Li slowed his pace to walk alongside her, appearing quite relaxed.
Zi Ling glanced at Han Li’s composed face, her feelings somewhat mixed.
Despite being only at the early Core Formation stage, he remained so calm in such a dangerous place, which truly surprised her. But it also reassured her, suggesting that he must have some hidden cards up his sleeve.
Hearing his question, she paused briefly before obediently replying, “The time the Heavenly Void Hall has existed in the Chaotic Star Seas is untraceable. It’s only known that every three hundred years, the hall descends from beyond the heavens to a random corner of the Chaotic Star Seas, often in remote, uninhabited areas. The hall contains numerous treasures—whether spiritual medicines, ancient treasures, or cultivation techniques—all can be found here. It’s believed to be a secret hall built by ancient cultivators from the primordial era for reasons unknown. Thus, every time it opens, many high-level cultivators come to seek treasures.”
“However, the Heavenly Void Hall is filled with traps and formations. The closer you get to the inner hall at its core, the more precious the discoveries, but also the greater the danger. It’s said that the true treasures of the Heavenly Void Hall lie within the inner hall, but to reach it, one must pass through three trial stages. Otherwise, it’s nothing but a pipe dream. Aside from Nascent Soul cultivators, only a small number of lucky cultivators can pass through the three stages unharmed, making the inner hall all the more mysterious to ordinary cultivators.”
As Fairy Zi Ling spoke in her melodious voice, she carefully observed Han Li’s expression. But she was slightly disappointed to find that his demeanor remained unchanged, giving her a sense of his profound and unfathomable nature.
“No matter how many treasures the Heavenly Void Hall holds, after so many years of openings, there shouldn’t be many left, right?” Han Li asked casually.
“That’s not entirely clear. But the Heavenly Void Hall only opens for a limited time, and each treasure is hidden extremely well, making them difficult to obtain. There should still be quite a few left! It’s said that most cultivators who come here are considered lucky if they find one or two items. It’s also common for cultivators to return empty-handed, only gathering some ordinary spiritual medicines. It all depends on one’s fortune. Otherwise, the treasures within the hall would have long been swept clean by those Nascent Soul cultivators,” Fairy Zi Ling explained somewhat uncertainly.
Han Li nodded thoughtfully and stopped asking questions, instead slightly quickening his pace.
The two followed the trail left by the black-robed man for the time it takes to finish a meal without any mishaps. This eased Fairy Zi Ling’s worries a little. Perhaps the malicious spirit had gone to intercept cultivators on another path and wasn’t here, raising her hopes.
But just as this thought crossed her mind, Han Li frowned and stopped once again.
“What’s wrong?” Fairy Zi Ling was startled and also halted, asking uneasily. She then used her spiritual sense to probe the surroundings but found nothing. “It seems the black-robed man has encountered the evil spirit and is now engaged in battle,” Han Li said coldly, a strange light flashing in his eyes.
“What should we do? Should we go help or take the chance to bypass them?” Fairy Zi Ling hesitated, sounding uncertain.
Han Li glanced at her, knowing she likely leaned toward the latter option, wanting to seize the opportunity to escape. This approach wasn’t necessarily wrong—if they weren’t in the ghost mist, Han Li would have done the same without a second thought.
But now…
Han Li shook his head, sighed softly, and strode forward.
Seeing this, Fairy Zi Ling was taken aback, but after a moment’s consideration, she stamped her foot and quickly followed.
After chasing after him for several dozen feet, she faintly heard the sounds of spell explosions and a faint, sobbing cry. The cry sounded like a woman’s voice—high-pitched, low, and intermittent, grating on the nerves and unsettling the mind.
After hearing just a little, she felt her spirit tremble and a strong urge to dance uncontrollably. Alarmed, she quickly steadied her mind with a mental technique before wiping off cold sweat and looking up.
By then, she could no longer see Han Li’s figure.
Fairy Zi Ling hesitated but, gritting her teeth, cautiously moved forward. After advancing just a short distance, she unexpectedly saw Han Li’s solemn figure standing with his hands behind his back.
Relieved, she hurried toward him. But before she could get close, the ghostly weeping around her suddenly intensified, causing dizziness and vertigo. Her hands and feet began dancing wildly uncontrollably.
Terrified, her face drained of color!
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