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Im surprised that youve already reached the late-Deity Transformation Stage in such a short time, Guoer, looks like your Ice Essence Body is living up to its reputation, Han Li said with a smile.

Its all thanks to your guidance and pills, Master. Otherwise, theres no way I wouldve reached this level so quickly, Bai Guoer replied with a respectful duck of her head.

Qi Lingzi, youve also reached the late-Deity Transformation Stage bottleneck, right? Han Li asked.

Qi Lingzis heart jolted slightly upon hearing this, and he hurriedly replied, I am indeed only one step away from reaching the late-Deity Transformation Stage, but Im unable to take that step no matter what I try.

Looks like its about time you two ventured into the primordial world. Your cultivation journey has progressed very smoothly thus far due to your exceptional aptitude and the pills I provided you with, but if you want to reach the Spatial Tempering Stage, cultivation alone wont allow you to get there. As is the case with a flower in a greenhouse, theres no way you can develop to your full potential without experiencing hardships, only in the primordial world can you find the opportunities that belong to you. I can bestow upon you my experiences and insights, but they may not be suitable for you, Han Li said in a meaningful voice.

Qi Lingzi was elated to hear this, and he replied, Thank you for your guidance, Master. I had also been considering whether it was time for me to venture into the primordial world, now that Ive received your approval, I can make a decision. Junior Martial Sister Bai and I will being preparing for the journey right away!

Bai Guoer also agreed with an unchanged expression, clearly having already anticipated this.

The primordial world is an extremely perilous place, and its not uncommon to see even Body Integration Stage beings perish in there. You two are only at the late-Deity Transformation Stage, so that risk is naturally only heightened for you. As such, I have some treasures for you to use when your lives are under threat, Han Li said.

Thank you, Master!

Qi Lingzi and Bai Guoer didnt know what treasures Han Li would bestow upon them, but they were still very grateful in advance.

A faint smile appeared on Han Lis face as he swept a sleeve through the air, releasing two storage bracelets, one for each disciple.

Ive already prepared the treasures, and I had originally intended to wait for a few years before giving them to you, but it looks like Ill have to change my plans. There arent many treasures in those storage bracelets, but if you use them wisely, youll be able to save yourselves several times even against the average Body Integration Stage being, Han Li said in a confident manner.

Qi Lingzi and Bai Guoer injected their spiritual sense into the storage bracelets, and they were ecstatic with what they saw as they extended another grateful salute.

Master, Senior Martial Brother Qi and Junior Martial Sister Bai are both going to the primordial world, can I also… Hai Yuetian was already becoming rather fidgety upon hearing Han Lis instructions for Qi Lingzi and Bai Guoer to go to the primordial world, and now that Han Li was presenting them with treasures, he couldnt but step forward as well.

Hmph, youre currently only at the early-Deity Transformation Stage, even if I give you a life-saving treasure, you wont be able to unleash much of its power. Besides, even though youve temporarily weathered the storm stirred up by your recessive lightning spiritual root, who knows whether there are still people watching you from the shadows? Perhaps youll be abducted by some old monster as soon as you leave the holy island to be used as a tribulation transcendence tool. Stay on the island and continue to cultivate for now.As long as you stay on the holy island, even the Grand Ascension Stage beings of the foreign races wouldnt dare to come after you. This will be your punishment for not being able to keep your mouth shut, Han Li harrumphed coldly in response.

Hai Yuetian shuddered upon receiving this scolding, and he hurriedly said, Please just pretend like I never said anything.

Once Qi Lingzi departs for the primordial world, youll be in charge of his disciples until he gets back. Hopefully, the added responsibility will help you become more steadfast and mature, Han Li said with a smile.

Yes, Master!

Qi Lingzi and Hai Yuetian both gave affirmative responses, but the latter was still rather displeased by this arrangement.

After that, Han Li turned to Zhu Guoer, and his expression eased slightly as he said, Your cultivation base has also improved, looks like you havent been slacking off during your time on the holy island. Come to my room tomorrow at noon, I have some things that I want to ask you.

Zhu Guoer was quite elated to hear this, and she immediately replied, Yes, Senior.

By the way, have you received any news about Fellow Daoist Ice Phoenix? Han Li asked.

Qi Lingzi replied, We havent received any news from Senior Ice Phoenix yet, but her soul lamp has remained lit this entire time, so we presumed that she was still exploring the primordial world.

Its about time she came back, could it be that shes encountered some trouble? Even if her soul lamp is fine, she could still be trapped somewhere, Han Li mused with a contemplative expression.

Senior Ice Phoenix is a Spatial Tempering Stage being, and with her Ice Phoenix Body, she should be able to ensure self-preservation even against the average Body Integration Stage being, so she should be fine, Hai Yuetian said.

I certainly hope so, Han Li replied with furrowed brows.

Meanwhile, in the air above a certain body of water on the Tian Yuan Continent, a white-robed young man with golden and silver patterns on his face was facing off against a pride of fiery lions.

The young mans appearance was very ordinary, and he bore a slight resemblance to Han Li.

Several hundred feet behind the young man stood a beautiful silver-robed woman, looking on at the confrontation with a cold expression.

What a bunch of idiots! I only concealed my aura for a brief moment, and they immediately rushed out to attack me. So be it, I havent had any live prey in a long while, youll suffice as a meal, the white-robed young man harrumphed coldly as he appraised the pack of Deity Transformation Stage lions.

He then made a hand seal, and six identical wings appeared on his back amid a flash of white light.

The six wings were only around a foot in length each, and they were extremely thin, to the point that they were virtually transparent.

The fiery lions facing him werent very intelligent, but their ruthless instincts were triggered by the young mans actions, and the largest lion that was leading from the front immediately let loose a ferocious roar.

All of the lions immediately released a scorching heatwave toward the young man, and a few of them had even blasted fireballs out of their mouths.

In the face of their collective attacks, a cold smile appeared on the white-robed young mans face, and he suddenly flapped his six wings, upon which he instantly vanished on the spot.

The fireballs instantly exploded in mid-air, sending ferocious waves of flames sweeping in all directions, encompassing even the silver-robed woman, who was standing not far away.

The silver-robe womans expression darkened slightly, and she remained on the spot, but a translucent white phoenix projection that was over 100 feet tall suddenly emerged behind her.

The projection flapped its wings, and a burst of white glacial Qi swept forth to envelop her in a secure barrier.

The barrier made a sizzling sound as it came into contact with the flames, but remained resolute and kept the flames at bay.

Right at this moment, a six-winged projection appeared among the pride of lions in a wraith-like manner.

The white projection traversed through the scorching flames as if they didnt even exist, then plunged an arm into a nearby fiery lion like lightning.

Translucent light swept forth from the arm, and a formidable glacial aura instantly snuffed out the flames burning on the lions body, then sealed it into a massive block of ice.

The other lions hurriedly retreated in a panic upon seeing this, then pounced toward the white projection again, but at this point, the projection had already vanished.

Meanwhile, the lion that had just been sealed in ice exploded into massive chunks amid an anguished wail.

In the next instant, spatial fluctuations erupted beside a few other fiery lions, and the six-winged projection re-emerged before plunging an arm through another lions body.

Thus, one lion was quickly felled after another, and once most of the pride had been slain, the remaining fiery lions were finally struck by a sense of fear.

Their leader let loose a low roar, and all of them immediately fled as giant fireballs.

Youre not getting away that easily!

The white projection reverted back into the white-robed young man, who cast his gaze toward the fleeing lions with a cold expression.

Immediately thereafter, around a dozen identical arms sprouted out of the young mans abdomen, and he thrust those arms toward the fleeing fiery lions from afar, then released around a dozen pillars of translucent light. freewbnoel.com

It looks like this Spirit Monarch really is very mysterious. Do you know what kind of deal Patriarch Shi Xin struck with the Spirit Monarch in exchange for that Sanqing Lightning Talisman? Han Li asked.

Im afraid thats the only piece of information I didnt manage to gather. All I know is that the Spirit Monarch asked Patriarch Shi Xin to do something very dangerous for him. Otherwise, he wouldnt have promised Patriarch Shi Xin a Sanqing Lightning Talisman as compensation, Mo Jianli replied.

Han Li and Patriarch Ao Xiao were both quite surprised to hear this.

If it hadnt been for the injuries that I had sustained in the Elder Devil Realm, I wouldve most likely paid the Spirit Race a visit as soon as I returned from the Elder Devil Realm, Mo Jianli said with a wry smile.

Why didnt you mention this to me before, Brother Mo? If we had combined our powers, perhaps we wouldve been able to obtain a Sanqing Lightning Talisman from the Spirit Monarch, Patriarch Ao Xiao said as his brows furrowed slightly.

What good would that have done? You had also sustained some injuries in the Elder Devil Realm, and your heavenly tribulation was imminent. If your injuries had been worsened even further during our confrontation with the Spirit Monarch, youd probably be in even worse shape to transcend the tribulation even with one of those talismans. However, theres some hope now that Fellow Daoist Han has returned. If Im not mistaken, Fellow Daoist Hans aura has become even more unfathomable compared to back before he entered the Elder Devil Realm. If hes willing to make the trip with me, its possible that we could obtain a few Sanqing Lightning Talismans from the Spirit Monarch, Mo Jianli said.

What? You want to go to the Spirit Race with Fellow Daoist Han? Patriarch Ao Xiaos expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

Thats right. With Fellow Daoist Han to accompany me, the Spirit Monarch wouldnt dare to plot against us even though the relations between the Spirit Race and our two races is rather strained. On top of that, well have to make this trip sooner or later. After all, my heavenly tribulation isnt far away, either, and Im also not very confident that Ill be able to transcend it. In addition to that, the Sanqing Lightning Talisman will be very useful for Fellow Daoist Han as well, who knows if it could save you during a future heavenly tribulation? Mo Jianli said.

A hesitant look appeared on Patriarch Ao Xiaos face, and he didnt say anything in response.

Senior Mo, if those talismans really are that valuable, then the task that the Spirit Monarch wants to have done is most likely going to be extremely dangerous, Silvermoon cautioned.

Mo Jianli seemed to have already considered this, and he replied, Its naturally going to be dangerous making a deal with the Spirit Monarch, but cultivators like us are constantly living on a knifes edge. Of course, Fellow Daoist Han doesnt have to worry about heavenly tribulations anytime soon, so if the risk really is too great, then I can try to complete the task on my own.

Silvermoon cast her gaze toward Han Li upon hearing this, then turned to look at Patriarch Ao Xiao, and a complex look appeared on her face.

If we can obtain a Sanqing Lightning Talisman, how much would it increase Fellow Daoist Ao Xiaos chances of transcending his next heavenly tribulation? Han Li asked.

At least 15%, Mo Jianli replied in a concise manner.

Patriarch Ao Xiao remained silent, clearly agreeing with this figure.

Thats a significant improvement. Fellow Daoist Ao Xiao, how much longer will you be able to delay your heavenly tribulation, Han Li asked.

10 more years at most, I wont be able to manage any longer than that, Patriarch Ao Xiao replied.

10 years should be more than enough time, Han Li said as a decisive look appeared in his eyes.

Obtaining the Sanqing Lightning Talismans would be greatly beneficial to all three of us, and it could save Fellow Daoist Ao Xiao from a potentially dire situation, so theres no reason for me not to go on this trip. Here, Brother Mo, Han Li said with a smile as he swept a sleeve through the air, sending a ball of white light flying directly toward Mo Jianli.

Mo Jianli reflexively caught the streak of white light to discover that it was a small white vial that was giving off a faint medicinal aroma.

Those pills are very effective for aiding in recovery, take those pills and go into seclusion for a year, and you should be fully recovered from your injuries. When that time comes, well be able to go and see the Spirit Monarch with no qualms, Han Li said.

You have my thanks, Brother Han. Mo Jianli was ecstatic to hear this, and he immediately opened the vial to examine its contents with his spiritual sense before stowing it away.

If he had only had access to normal pills, then it wouldve taken several times longer to recover from his injuries.

After that, Han Li turned to Patriarch Ao Xiao, and said, Fellow Daoist Ao Xiao, if Im not mistaken, your injuries seem to be far more severe than Fellow Daoist Mos, even your soul appears to have been wounded.

Back when I was trapped in the ancient seal, I fell prey to a sneak attack by several extremely powerful insects, and my soul was damaged as a result. Itll take some more time for me to recover, and Im not 100% sure whether Ill be able to fully recover before my heavenly tribulation. If I cant, then my chances of transcending my heavenly tribulation will be even less than 5%, Patriarch Ao Xiao sighed.

Is that true, Grandfather? Silvermoon was distraught to hear this. feewenve.com

Why would I lie about something like this? Patriarch Ao Xiao sighed in a resigned manner.

Silvermoon immediately turned to Han Li with an urgent expression. Brother Han, do you have…

Han Li raised a hand to cut her off before summoning several vials of different colors, then tossed them toward Patriarch Ao Xiao. Rest assured, I have some pills in my possession that can heal spiritual injuries as well.

Thank you, Brother Han, I knew youd have a way. Silvermoon was ecstatic to hear this, and her eyes were filled with gratitude as she appraised Han Li.

Patriarch Ao Xiaos eyes lit up as he caught the vials, and he also extended his gratitude toward Han Li in an ecstatic manner after examining the vials contents.

Haha, looks like both of us are becoming even more indebted to Fellow Daoist Han, Mo Jianli chuckled.

Its all thanks to your help that Im where I am today, Im simply repaying you for the kindness that youve shown me. Once Brother Mo recovers from his injuries, well make a trip to the Spirit Race and try to obtain a few Sanqing Lightning Talismans. As for Fellow Daoist Ao Xiao, you just worry about recuperating and making preparations for your tribulation transcendence. Once we obtain the talismans, well immediately return so we dont miss your tribulation, Han Li said.

Patriarch Ao Xiao sighed as he rose to his feet before cupping his fist in a formal salute toward Han Li and Mo Jianli. Ill be sure to remember this, but if its not doable, then please dont force the issue. There are only three Grand Ascension Stage beings in total in our two races, it would be an extremely heavy blow if something were to happen to any of us. Even if I obtain a Sanqing Lightning Talisman, my chances of transcending my next heavenly tribulation are still quite low, so its not worth taking too big a risk.

Han Li hurriedly rose to his feet to return the salute, while Mo Jianli remained seated, and chuckled, Haha, Im not doing this for you, I may not even be willing to make this trip had I not heard that the Spirit King had more than one of those talismans.

The gratitude in Patriarch Ao Xiaos eyes wasnt lessened in the slightest upon hearing this. Weve known each other for tens of thousands of years, do you think I cant tell when youre being facetious?

Mo Jianli merely smiled and remained silent.

Come to think of it, you mustve been trying to lead me onto this topic of conversation by telling me to take a rest and stay in our human race, it looks like your concern for me wasnt genuine! Han Li suddenly said with an amused smile.

An awkward look appeared on Mo Jianlis face upon hearing this, while a hint of color finally returned to Silvermoons complexion.

She was very hopeful that Han Li and Mo Jianli would be able to bring back a Sanqing Lightning Talisman so that her grandfather would have a greater chance of transcending his next heavenly tribulation.

After that, they began to discuss some topics regarding the recuperation of the two races.

Han Li was informed that during these past years of effort, the damage caused by the devilish invasion had been mostly rectified, and that there were also some supremely talented young cultivators that had arisen among the two races.

Han Li was naturally quite intrigued by this, and asked some relevant questions.

Thus, the discussion continued for close to half a day before everyone departed.

That night, Han Li was reunited with his disciples in a cave abode on the holy island that was filled with extremely abundant spiritual Qi.

As Han Li swept his gaze over his disciples, a pleased look appeared on his face, but as his gaze fell upon the youngest Bai Guoer, that pleased expression suddenly turned into surprise.

What do you mean by that, Brother Mo? Han Li could immediately tell that there was a hidden meaning behind Mo Jianlis words.

Brother Aos next heavenly tribulation is going to arrive soon, and well have to assist him with that, Mo Jianli sighed with a grim expression.

Han Lis expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and he immediately turned to Patriarch Ao Xiao.

Is that true, Grandfather? Silvermoons smile also instantly faded as her face paled slightly.

Hehe, my heavenly tribulation shouldve arrived over 1,000 years ago, its only been delayed to this point as I had taken some special measures. As a result, this heavenly tribulation will be even more fearsome than it otherwise wouldve been. However, I never had much of a chance of transcending this tribulation to begin with, so the benefits outweighed the consequences. During this period of time, Linger has reached the Body Integration Stage, and Fellow Daoist Han has become a new pillar for our two races, so I can let go without any qualms now, Patriarch Ao Xiao chuckled.

So you did this for my sake, Silvermoon said in a trembling voice.

Not entirely. Even if you didnt exist, I wouldve still made the same decision so I could be around to protect our two races from the invasion of the Elder Devil Race, Patriarch Ao Xiao said with a shake of his head.

However, Silvermoon was shaking her head vigorously, clearly not trusting his alibi.

Is there really no hope for you to transcend this heavenly tribulation, Fellow Daoist Ao? If you require certain treasures, I can try to seek them out for you, Han Li said with tightly furrowed brows.

If I hadnt delayed this tribulation, Id still have a roughly 10% chance of being able to transcend it, but now, that probability has fallen to less than 5%. As for treasures, Ive already prepared as much as I can. There are a few that I still havent found, but it was always going to be a struggle to find them, so Im not too fixated on that, Patriarch Ao Xiao sighed.

Less than 5% is way too low! Isnt there any way to increase that probability, Grandfather? Silvermoon asked as tears began to well up in her eyes.

If that disciple of Fellow Daoist Hans with the recessive lightning spiritual root were a Grand Ascension Stage being, that probability would be increased by about 10% with his assistance, but as he currently is, he wont be of any use, Patriarch Ao Xiao replied.

Silvermoons face paled even further upon hearing this.

Han Li and Mo Jianli could only exchange a resigned glance as well.

Perhaps it would be possible for them to raise Hai Yuetians cultivation base to the Body Integration Stage in a short time, but it was entirely impossible to help him reach the Grand Ascension Stage on such short notice.

As for Han Lis extreme mountains, they were very effective against heavenly lightning tribulation, but they had already been completely refined, so he couldnt lend them to anyone even if he wanted to.

Theres one thing that may be able to increase your chances of transcending your heavenly tribulation by as much as 15% to 20%, Mo Jianli suddenly said.

What is it, Senior Mo? A hopeful look immediately appeared in Silvermoons eyes upon hearing this.

At the same time, a surprised look appeared on Patriarch Ao Xiaos face, indicating that he had never heard Mo Jianli mention this before.

Instead of directly answering Silvermoons question, Mo Jianli asked, Youve heard of Patriarch Shi Xin, right, Fellow Daoist Ao Xiao?

Of course. Isnt he the Cloudmound Race Grand Ascension Stage being who entered the original sealed site with us? I spoke to him on one occasion, but didnt he perish in the ancient seal in the end? What does this have to do with him? Patriarch Ao Xiao asked.

Patriarch Shi Xin didnt possess any treasures that could resist heavenly tribulations, but he did know of such a treasure, and that treasure should be in the Spirit Race, Mo Jianli explained.

Prior to entering the Elder Devil Realm, those foreign Grand Ascension Stage beings stayed at the Spirit Race for some time, so this information is most likely reliable, but what exactly is this treasure that youre talking about, Brother Mo? Patriarch Ao Xiao asked.

Im referring to the Sanqing Lightning Talisman, Mo Jianli finally revealed.

Patriarch Ao Xiaos expression changed drastically upon hearing this. What? Isnt that a talisman that can only be found in the True Immortal Realm? Is there really such a talisman in our realm?

Han Li was also quite taken aback by this revelation.

The Sanqing Lightning Talisman was one of very few types of treasures that could resist Grand Ascension Stage heavenly tribulations, so it was vastly renowned across all realms.

However, this was a disposable treasure, and it had always been said that only true immortals of the True Immortal Realm would be able to refine such talismans, so no one had actually ever seen one.

Thus, as time passed, even most of the Grand Ascension Stage beings gradually became unconvinced that such talismans could be found in the lower realms.

As such, it was naturally a massively pleasant surprise for Patriarch Ao Xiao to hear that this talisman could be found in the nearby Spirit Race.

Theoretically speaking, there shouldnt be any Sanqing Lightning Talismans in the lower realms, but Patriarch Shi Xin saw the talisman in person, and I can guarantee you that his information is reliable. As for why that is, Im afraid I cant reveal that, Mo JIanli said with a meaningful expression.

In that case, Im sure this information is trustworthy, but why is it that Patriarch Shi Xin didnt try to obtain those talismans for himself? Even though he was quite far away from his next heavenly tribulation, surely he wouldnt be willing to miss out on such a priceless treasure, Mo Jianli said with furrowed brows.

Indeed, I would also do everything in my power to obtain such a treasure if I were to discover one, Han Li chimed in in agreement.

Its not that Patriarch Shi Xin didnt try to obtain the treasure, he had already made an agreement with the owner of the talismans, and once he returned to the Elder Devil Realm, he would fulfill the agreement and receive the talisman, Mo Jianli said with a smile.

Even Patriarch Shi Xin had to make an agreement with that Spirit being? Who is it? A hint of wariness appeared on Patriarch Ao Xiaos face as he spoke.

Who else could it be? Mo Jianli sighed with a wry smile.

A perplexed look appeared on Silvermoons face upon hearing this, but a thought then immediately occurred to her.

Meanwhile, Han Li suddenly chuckled, You must be referring to the Spirit Monarch.

Patriarch Ao Xiao and Mo Jianli exchanged a quick glance upon hearing this, and the latter nodded in response.

I am indeed referring to the Spirit Monarch. He is in possession of the Sanqing Lightning Talisman, and he seems to have more than one.

More than one? Patriarch Ao Xiao was quite taken aback to hear this.

According to relevant tomes, no matter how many Sanqing Lightning Talismans one possessed, only a single one could be used per heavenly tribulation.

Ive heard some things about the Spirit Monarch, but I dont know too much about him, it seems that both of you are quite wary of him, Han Li observed as his eyes narrowed slightly.

Thats an understatement! If possible, Brother Ao and I would choose to never have any interactions with that old monster, Mo Jianli replied with a wry smile.

Oh? Why is that? Han Li asked.

The Spirit Race isnt a large race, and its overall power could well be inferior to the combined power of our human and demon races, but the Spirit Monarch is very likely to have lived for over 1,000,000 years, Patriarch Ao Xiao explained.

1,000,000 years? How is that possible? Han Li was truly stunned to hear this.

Hehe, I had the exact same reaction when I first heard about this, Mo Jianli chuckled.

If the Spirit Monarch really has lived for over 1,000,000 years, then the number of heavenly tribulation he mustve endured… Han Li didnt complete his sentence, but what he was trying to convey was very apparent.

I dont know about that, no one has witnessed the Spirit Monarch transcend a tribulation, nor heard any news about his tribulation transcendence. Some people say that the Spirit Monarch is a special being that experiences a heavenly tribulation only once every 100,000 years, while others speculate that the title of Spirit Monarch has already been passed down several times in secret. As for which one of those theories is correct, no one really knows, Patriarch Ao Xiao said.

If he really has lived for over 1,000,000 years, then even Ill have to be quite wary of him, Han Li said with a contemplative expression.

One thing is for sure: the aura and appearance of the Spirit Monarch has remained consistent during these past 1,000,000 years according to the descriptions of the past Grand Ascension Stage beings of our two races. Thankfully, its extremely difficult for new Spirit beings to be born, so even if the Spirit Monarch possesses unfathomable power, hes unable to expand the Spirit Races current territory. On top of that, the Spirit Monarch is a very mysterious man, and hes rarely ever been involved in a battle during the past 1,000,000 years, Mo Jianli added.

Han Li swept a hand toward the azure halberd first, and it immediately flew over to him.

He caught the halberd before giving it a brief appraisal, then smiled as he handed it over to Silvermoon.

This is a treasure thats incorporated a fragment of a Profound Heavenly Treasure. Its not very useful to me, but it should be perfect for you.

Thank you, Brother Han. Silvermoon accepted the halberd with glee and began to inspect it with an elated expression.

Meanwhile, Han Li drew the yellow gourd into his grasp, and after another brief appraisal, a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

He then flipped his hand over to stow the gourd away before casting his gaze toward the final treasure among the three.

That miniature flying ark was most likely the legendary Inkspirit Holy Ark. Han Li inspected the ark through narrowed eyes for a short while, then made a hand seal and pointed a finger at the ark.

The miniature ark shuddered slightly before rising up from the stone platform on its own, and inky-black runes surged forth around it as it began to swell drastically in size.

All of the treasures in the hall began to buzz incessantly, as if to resonate with the black ark.

Around an hour later, the surface of the lake up above suddenly began to churn, and massive waves surged forth in all directions.

An earth-shattering boom rang out, and the entire glacier that the lake was situated upon shattered, upon which a gargantuan black object emerged amid a flurry of ice and snow.

This was a gigantic ark that was over 10,000 feet in length.

The ark was comprised of over 10 levels, and it had countless profound spirit patterns etched onto its surface.

At the front and rear ends of the giant ark stood around a dozen giant silver flags of different heights, bearing images of all types of strange and exotic beasts.

An army of Devil Crystal Puppet guards was situated on the deck of the ark, and as soon as it appeared, the ark sped away as a ball of black light, vanishing into the distance in the blink of an eye.

Two months later, a rumbling boom suddenly rang out above a small mountain range in the Spirit Realm, and dark clouds converged from all directions to form an enormous black vortex.

Bursts of spatial fluctuations erupted out of the vortex, and countless silver arcs of lightning intertwined within the vortex, following which a massive black ark slowly emerged.

The entire nearby space warped violently as if the sky were about to be torn apart, and on the top level of the ark stood Han Li and Silvermoon.

Were finally back to the Spirit Realm! That was easier than I expected, its quite a pleasant surprise that this ark possesses spatial abilities as well, Han Li said as a pleased look appeared on his face.

The entrance of the spatial node that we found wasnt all that stable, so I thought it would take more time to return to the Spirit Realm, Silvermoon said with an excited smile.

In any case, this trip to the Elder Devil Realm was a very fruitful one, Han Li said with a smile.

Indeed, it was! Silvermoon replied with an elated nod as she thought of the portion of Qi Lings treasures that Han Li had given to her.

Alright, now that were back to the Spirit Realm, lets ascertain our current location and return to the holy island, Senior Mo and Senior Ao Xiao should both be waiting for us there, Han Li said in a calm manner as he quickly swept his spiritual sense over the entire mountain range.

Oh? It sounds like we arent too far away from human territory, Silvermoon remarked.

Weve arrived somewhere slightly different from our anticipated destination, but fortunately, this place is even closer to human territory than expected, Han Li replied.

Thats great! Lets set off right away, Silvermoon said in an ecstatic manner.

Thus, the black ark tremored slightly before hurtling through the air at Han Lis behest, while the black vortex slowly vanished not long after the arks departure.

Half a year later, a Patriarch Ao Xiao and Mo Jianli were discussing something in a hall that was situated on the holy island.

On either side of the hall stood the dozen or so holy island elders.

Patriarch Ao Xiaos brows were tightly furrowed with concern as he said, Fellow Daoist Han should be back by now, could it be that hes encountered some trouble in the Elder Devil Realm?

Mo Jianli shook his head in response. Dont worry, Fellow Daoist Han is far more powerful than we can imagine, how can anything happen to him when even that Stemborer Queen wasnt able to kill him?

That may be true, but there are countless powerful beings in this world, and hes often getting himself into trouble, who knows if hes landed himself in some hot water again? Patriarch Ao Xiao said as he pursed his lips.

Haha, why do you sound like a grumpy father scolding his son-in-law? Youre not really trying to make a match out of your granddaughter and Fellow Daoist Han, are you? Mo Jianli said as he stroked his chin with an amused smile.

So what if those were my intentions? With Lingers aptitude, I cant say that shell become a Grand Ascension Stage being for sure, but shes definitely more likely to get to that level than everyone else here. Besides, if my granddaughter becomes Han Lis dao companion, our human and demon races will truly be one massive family, Patriarch Ao Xiao said.

Awkward looks appeared on the faces of all of the holy island elders in the hall upon hearing this, but they didnt dare to raise any objections.

Mo Jianli could only shake his head with a wry smile, but he had to admit that Patriarch Ao Xiao was right.

I heard that Fellow Daoist Han already had a dao companion in the human world, and they seem to be very close. Otherwise, he wouldnt have refrained from finding a dao companion even after spending so many years in the Spirit Realm.

That may be true, but its extremely common for beings of our caliber to find a few dao companions. I may be old, but Im not senile yet, and I can tell that Fellow Daoist Han definitely has some feelings for my Linger, Patriarch Ao Xiao chuckled.

Mo Jianli nodded in response with a thoughtful expression. Come to think of it, Fellow Daoist Han is still far younger than us, if hes willing to find a few more dao companions for himself, theres a good chance that hell be able to produce some extremely talented descendants.

Patriarch Ao Xiao faltered slightly upon hearing this, and he was just about to respond when a slightly exasperated male voice suddenly rang out in the hall.

Please stop making jokes at my expense, fellow daoists. Otherwise, I wouldnt even dare to come and see you.

As soon as the voice trailed off, Han Li and Silvermoon appeared at the entrance to the hall amid a burst of spatial fluctuations.

Han Li was currently wearing a resigned expression, while Silvermoon had a faint blush on her face.

Ah, we pay our respects to Senior Han! The holy island elders hurriedly gathered to pay their respects, while Patriarch Ao Xiao and Mo Jianli exchanged an ecstatic glance.

Youre finally back, Fellow Daoist Han, I was growing a little worried.

Haha, I thought youd eloped with my Linger!

The two Grand Ascension Stage beings also rose to their feet to greet Han Li.

Sorry for making you worry, fellow daoists, Han Li said with a smile before giving the holy island elders a slight nod of acknowledgment.

You can all go now, the two of us wish to speak to Fellow Daoist Han in private, Patriarch Ao Xiao said to all of the elders.

The holy island elders immediately gave affirmative responses before exiting the hall.

Following the departure of the elders, Han Li took a seat across from Mo Jianli and Ao Xiao, while Silvermoon made her way over to Patriarch Ao Xiao and gave him an indignant pout before standing behind him.

It was clear that she was still quite embarrassed by what he had said earlier.

Fellow Daoist Han, Brother Ao Xiao and I wouldve most likely perished in the Elder Devil Realm if it hadnt been for you, Ill remember what you did for us, Mo Jianli said in a genuine manner as he cupped his fist in a salute toward Han Li.

Indeed. If Fellow Daoist Han hadnt come to rescue us, that ancient seal wouldve become a tomb for all of us. Ill be sure to repay you for this, Fellow Daoist Han. Patriarch Ao Xiao also expressed his gratitude toward Han Li.

Youre far too kind, fellow daoists. Youve done so much for our two races over the years, it was only expected of me that I would do everything in my power to save you, Han Li hurriedly replied.

Hehe, thats not the same thing. We have indeed contributed greatly to our two races, but that still doesnt change the fact that you saved our lives. This is something that we must repay you for, Mo Jianli insisted.

Patriarch Ao Xiao also nodded in agreement.

Han Li could only shake his head with a resigned smile upon seeing this.

After that, Han Li and the two Grand Ascension Stage beings discussed their experiences in the Elder Devil Realm, as well as some matters regarding the Stemborer Queen.

Of course, Han Li made no mention of the ancient true immortal still residing in the original sealed site, he merely attributed the destruction of the Stemborer Queen to Bao Hua and the ancient seal, and Patriarch Ao Xiao and Mo Jianli had no reason to suspect that he was lying.

Fellow Daoist Han, youve only just returned, so why dont you take a rest and refrain from going anywhere for now, Mo Jianli suddenly said with a slightly peculiar expression.

His nonchalant-looking palm strike was instantly able to pierce through the red light before clashing with the giant crimson hand, which was immediately struck by a burst of devastating force and crumbled into powder.

Despite this, the giant puppet remained completely expressionless, and crimson light radiated from its body as several devilish beastly projections that resembled cow-tiger hybrids emerged before pouncing toward Han Li.

Right at this moment, Han Li opened his mouth to release a streak of azure sword Qi, which instantly reached the puppet before revolving around its massive body. Spiritual light flashed violently from the puppets body, but it was still sliced in half at the waist and toppled to the ground.

As for the beastly projections that had just been conjured up, all of them disappeared into plumes of smoke.

However, in the next instant, scorching crimson flames erupted from the crystals on the ground, releasing countless translucent threads that abruptly pulled the two halves of the puppets body together again, and its wounds were instantly healed.

Han Lis expression remained unchanged upon seeing this, and he thrust a hand downward, upon which a shimmering golden hand that was around an acre in size appeared above the puppet before crashing down with devastating might.

The giant puppet was completely immobilized under the tremendous power being exerted by the palm, and countless white cracks appeared all over its body before it exploded into a ball of red light.

A fist-sized ball of golden light erupted out of the explosion before immediately attempting to flee, but Han Li seemed to have already anticipated this, and he harrumphed coldly as he made a grabbing motion with his outstretched hand.

The golden ball of light was immediately enveloped by a burst of enormous power, then drawn into Han Lis grasp, and he looked down to find that it was a golden ball that was riddled with holes and intricate runes.

The ball was virtually weightless, seemingly completely hollow.

This is most likely the core of the puppet, Han Li said with an intrigued expression as he inspected the golden ball in his hand.

A wry smile appeared on Silvermoons face upon seeing this.

She knew that Han Lis powers would be unimaginable to her now that he had reached the Grand Ascension Stage, but she hadnt witnessed him in action since his breakthrough, so there was no standard for her to judge just how powerful he was.

However, she knew that she would definitely be no match for that giant puppet, yet Han Li had destroyed it with ease.

This made it clear to her just how massive a disparity there was between her and Han Li, and the realization saddened her slightly.

Just as she was becoming absorbed in her own thoughts, the specks of silver flames in the air converged, and the silver Fire Raven re-emerged.

However, on this occasion, Han Li didnt spur on the Fire Raven to continue onward. Instead, he stowed the golden ball in his hand away before sweeping his spiritual sense through the surrounding area, then immediately made a hand seal.

The Fire Raven raised its head and let loose a clear cry, following which its body began to swell drastically in size.

In the blink of an eye, it had swelled to over 1,000 feet in length, forcing the surrounding sea of flames back to create a massive empty area.

Han Li then pointed a finger up at the silver Fire Raven before uttering the word absorb!

A burst of loud rumbling rang out as the Fire Raven flapped its wings to release countless silver runes, and at the same time, a burst of enormous suction force surged forth in all directions.

The surrounding sea of flames instantly converged toward the Fire Raven through around a dozen massive pillars of flames, and as soon as the flames came into contact with the Fire Ravens body, they were instantly absorbed.

As the Fire Raven absorbed more and more crimson flames, its body expanded further and further, and it didnt take long before the entire sea of flames was completely absorbed, thus finally revealing the true appearance of the surrounding area.

Silvermoon quickly inspected her surroundings, and a surprised look appeared on her face.

They were currently situated on a tall platform around 1,000 acres in size that was riddled with crimson crystals.

Around the platform was a boundless trench, within which were countless deep craters of different sizes.

Spiritual light was flashing within all of those craters, and within each of them was a Devil Crystal Puppet.

These puppets were clad in suits of five-colored armor, wielding weapons of different shapes, forms, and sizes, and there were even some menacing beastly puppets among them.

At a glance, it could be estimated that there were close to 100,000 of these puppets.

Han Li quickly swept his gaze through the surrounding area, and he discovered that most of the puppets were at the Core Formation Stage and Nascent Soul, and around 10% of them were at the Deity Transformation Stage and Spatial Tempering Stage.

However, what was most eye-catching were the dozens of top-grade puppets that bore a strong resemblance to the one that Han Li had just destroyed.

Those Devil Crystal Puppet hadnt reached the late-Body Integration Stage yet, but they were all still at the early and mid-Body Integration Stage.

If this army of puppets were to appear in the outside world, it would be powerful enough to raze many major powers to the ground.

Looks like Sacred Ancestor Qi Ling was a master in refining Devil Crystal Puppet, thats quite a pleasant surprise, Han Li said as he stroked his own chin with a faint smile.

Silvermoon was already completely dumbstruck by what she was seeing, and only now did she return to her senses as she asked, What do you plan to do with these puppets?

Im going to take them all away, of course. What else would I do? Leave them for someone else? Han Li replied without any hesitation.

Alright, Ill help you collect them, Silvermoon said in an excited voice.

Han Li nodded in response, and Silvermoon immediately rose up into the air, flicking her wrist to release several storage bracelets toward all of the puppets in one direction.

Han Li also swept a sleeve through the air to release dozens of storage bracelets that surged toward the other directions.

Spiritual light of all colors surged out of these storage bracelets in a frenzy, and all of the Devil Crystal Puppet swept up by the spiritual light quickly disappeared.

There was an astonishing number of puppets present, but the two of them were able to collect the puppets quite quickly by working together.

However, when attempting to collect the dozens of Body Integration Stage puppets, the puppets suddenly released light barriers to keep the storage bracelets at bay.

As opposed to being enraged by this, Silvermoon was quite elated, and she immediately began flicking incantation seals of different colors through the air, all of which vanished into the bodies of these top-grade puppets in a flash.

The giant puppets bodies shuddered slightly before they relinquished their resistance and were also stowed away into the storage bracelets.

After the final puppet had been collected, the entire platform suddenly began to sink into the ground on its own amid a burst of loud rumbling.

Silvermoon hurriedly flew back to Han Lis side upon seeing this, while Han Li raised a hand to withdraw the silver Fire Raven before standing on the spot with his hands clasped behind his back.

Only after the entire giant platform had sunk over 1,000 feet into the ground did the violent tremors cease.

Right at this moment, Han Li and Silvermoons attention were both drawn toward the same direction, where an azure stone door was situated on a grey stone wall.

Lets go. I cant sense any restriction fluctuations in there, so that must be where Sacred Ancestor Qi Lings true treasure is stored, Han Li said with a smile.

Silvermoon nodded in response with a hint of excitement in her eyes.

Thus, the two of them immediately made their way toward the stone door.

Once they were no more than several tens of feet away from the stone door, Han Li thrust a hand through the air, and the door was pushed open by a burst of enormous power.

A massive hall was revealed behind the gate, within which were a series of long stone benches with various items placed upon them.

A hint of elation surfaced in Han Lis eyes, and he immediately strode into the hall with Silvermoon in tow.

After entering the ball, Han Li inspected his surroundings to find that jade boxes of different sizes had been placed all over the stone benches alongside treasures of different descriptions.

All of these treasures were either glowing with scintillating light, or were dilapidated and completely unremarkable in appearance.

However, judging from their auras, all of them were top-grade treasures that could easily start a war in the outside world.

Despite this, Han Li didnt display much interest toward these treasures. Instead, his gaze was drawn toward the three stone platforms in the hall, which stood taller than all of the stone benches.

Atop these three intricate stone platforms were three different items, comprised of a rusty azure halberd, a yellow gourd, and an inky-black flying ark that was only around half a foot in length.

Han Li swept his spiritual sense toward the three treasures, and his expression immediately changed slightly.

Silvermoons attention had also been drawn entirely to those three treasures.

Within the silver flames was a thin grey line that was writhing incessantly, but no matter how much it struggled, it was unable to fly out of Han Lis grasp.

Silvermoon was quite stunned to see this, and Han Li explained, This is Contaminant Yin Qi, which appears to be a living creature, but actually possesses no shape or form. It can seep into ones physical body without being detected, and under normal circumstances, even Body Integration Stage beings wouldnt be able to detect it, only after it accumulates to a certain extent and spontaneously erupts will its presence be made known.

What? Doesnt that mean Ive already… Silvermoon was given quite a fright upon hearing this, and hurriedly inspected her own internal condition.

Rest assured, Im aware of this things presence, so I naturally wasnt going to allow it to approach us, Ive already kept it out with my spiritual sense, Han Li chuckled.

You gave me a huge fright there. You withheld this information from me on purpose, didnt you? Silvermoon said as she rolled her eyes in an unintentionally seductive display.

Even with Han Lis resolute and steadfast mental state, he couldnt but be momentarily entranced by her stunning beauty, and he immediately averted his gaze.

Its not that I didnt want to tell you about this in advance, its just that this type of Qi is only dangerous due to its undetectable nature. Once detected, even a Spatial Tempering Stage being would be able to easily keep it at bay with their spiritual sense.

So its that easy to ward off, thats quite a relief. Silvermoon was elated to hear this, and she hurriedly released her spiritual sense as well.

We should reach Sacred Ancestor Qi Lings treasure once we get out of this maze, right? We already passed by two so-called treasure pavilions, but the treasures in there will only be able to fool the average devilish being, theyre nowhere near valuable enough to catch our eyes, Silvermoon said with a smile.

An ordinary Sacred Ancestor most likely wouldnt be capable of setting up any other measures, but back in Sacred Ancestor Qi Lings heyday, his reputation was virtually comparable to that of the three devilish patriarchs, so there should be more stern obstacles ahead, Han Li replied.

What else could he have set up? Im guessing its most likely going to be some type of powerful restriction or formation, Silvermoon speculated.

Perhaps, Han Li replied in an indifferent manner.

While the two of them were conversing with one another, another cluster of beastly projections emerged, only to be promptly eradicated.

At this moment, they finally emerged from the maze, and a giant red gate that was several hundred feet tall appeared up ahead. The gates surface was riddled with inky-black devilish patterns, and it seemed to be extremely heavy.

Han Li swept his spiritual sense toward the gate while appraising it with blue light flashing within his eyes, and he said in a rather surprised manner, This gate is constructed from Fire Origin Crystal, looks like this Sacred Ancestor Qi Ling was wealthier than I imagined.

Han Li pointed a finger toward the giant gate as he spoke, and a ball of silver flames shot forth from his fingertip before vanishing into the gate in a flash.

Countless bursts of crimson flames immediately erupted out of the gate in a frenzy, transforming it into a giant flaming gate, but at the same time, the gate slowly began to open amid a burst of rumbling.

A scorching aura instantly swept forth from behind the gate, and as soon as it came into contact with Silvermoon, her expression changed drastically as she stumbled back a few steps while the protective spiritual light around her body flashed erratically.

Behind the giant gate was a sea of crimson flames that were far hotter than normal flames, and even the Body Integration Stage Silvermoon didnt dare to let it come into direct contact with her body.

Han Lis brows furrowed slightly upon seeing this, but he remained still on the spot.

With his Spirit Engulfing Heavenly Flames, there was no way that these flames would be able to harm him in the slightest.

However, he could sense some restriction fluctuations emanating from within the sea of flames, so it clearly wasnt as simple as it appeared.

With that in mind, he immediately made a hand seal before opening his mouth to expel a silver fireball, which instantly transformed into a massive Fire Raven that was around 10 feet in size.

The Fire Raven spread its wings and let loose a clear cry, then plunged headfirst into the sea of flames.

All of the crimson flames in the path of the Fire Raven immediately parted, creating a path that was around 10 feet wide.

Lets go, Silvermoon! Han Li said as he took a step forward, then abruptly appeared right at the center of the path.

Silvermoon smiled and immediately followed along behind him.

Thus, the two of them were able to traverse through the sea of flames behind the silver Fire Raven.

Beneath the parted sea of flames were countless fist-sized crimson crystals that littered the entire ground, and each crystal was releasing wisps of crimson fire.

Han Li and Silvermoon were both hovering around 10 feet in the air as they flew along behind the silver Fire Raven, and they reached the center of the sea of flames in the blink of an eye.

All of a sudden, the ground below the silver Fire Raven split open, and a thick arm holding a giant translucent blade lashed out to instantly slice the Fire Raven in half.

If a normal spirit beast were to be dealt such a heavy blow, they would at least suffer severe injuries and perhaps even be killed. However, the Fire Raven possessed no substantial body, so the two halves of its body instantly fused back into one again.

Immediately thereafter, it swooped down while vigorously flapping its wings downward, sending countless streaks of silver light crashing down onto the ground below.

A string of resounding booms rang out, and countless crystals embedded onto the ground were shattered by the streaks of silver light.

The crimson arm that had just emerged was instantly riddled with holes, and it seemed to be on the verge of completely crumbling away.

Right at this moment, another massive crimson fist erupted out of the nearby ground before landing a vicious blow on the silver Fire Raven, releasing a flurry of countless crimson runes that completely scattered the Fire Raven into countless specks of silver flames, rendering it unable to return to its original form in a short time.

Han Li stopped in mid-air upon seeing this, and his eyes narrowed slightly, while a surprised look appeared on Silvermoons face.

The sea of flames began to surge violently, and the ground down below tremored as a humanoid puppet that was over 100 feet tall emerged.

The puppet wore a suit of crimson armor that covered every single inch of its body, and its body was attached to the crumbling arm that was holding the giant blade.

There were wisps of crimson flames revolving all over the puppets body, and a crimson crystal was embedded into its glabella.

This is a Devil Crystal Puppet! Han Li exclaimed upon getting a clear view of the giant puppet.

This puppet was far larger than the other Devil Crystal Puppets he had seen before, but its aura indicated that it was definitely a Devil Crystal Puppet, and one of quite a high caliber, at that.

Whats a Devil Crystal Puppet? Silvermoon asked.

Devil Crystal Puppets are created using a puppet refinement technique unique to the Elder Devil Realm. Ive seen some in the past, but none of them can compare with this puppet, which is close to the pinnacle of the Body Integration Stage, Han Li quickly explained.

Right at this moment, the giant puppet had already completely emerged from the ground, and it immediately sent its giant blade crashing down toward Han Li.

The puppet was quite massive and bulky, but its saber strike was as fast as lightning, and it instantly reached Han Li, striking him with a bone-chilling sensation that threatened to freeze his blood solid.

Heavenly Frozen Light? Interesting, no wonder you were able to scatter my Spirit Engulfing Fire Raven. Han Lis eyes lit up as he swept his spiritual sense toward the giant blade, then raised an arm upward, catching the blade in a casual manner.

A dull thump rang out as powerful shockwaves erupted in all directions, causing the entire sea of flames to surge violently once again.

Glacial light was surging toward Han Li from the giant blade, but he seemed to be completely unaffected.

Indeed, with Han Lis current physical body, this glacial light was nowhere near powerful enough to harm him.

However, that wasnt the extent of the giant puppets abilities.

A cold light flashed through its eyes and it suddenly opened its mouth to release a pillar of white light. At the same time, it swept its other arm through the air, and a giant crimson hand emerged before crashing down viciously toward Han Li with countless runes revolving around it.

A burst of scorching red light came surging down along with the arm, and a charred odor immediately wafted through the air.

The red light seemed to be capable of melting through space, and that was a clear testament to just how fearsome it was.

Han Lis expression darkened slightly as he swept a sleeve forward to release a burst of grey light.

As soon as the pillar of white light came into contact with the grey light, the former abruptly vanished into thin air.

At the same time, Han Li extended a pristine white hand out of his sleeve before thrusting it toward the oncoming red light and giant crimson hand in an unhurried manner.

Youre telling me you disabled your own cultivation base? Han Li asked with a skeptical expression.

If I hadnt done that, theres no way that Bao Hua would be content with only banishing me to this place. After all, I was the one she once trusted the most, yet I stabbed her in the back, its already a huge surprise to me that I was able to survive this ordeal, Yuan Cha explained.

I see. To think that she was still willing to let you live after what you did to her, the two of you mustve really been quite close, Han Li said as he nodded with a contemplative expression.

Fellow Daoist Han, weve had our differences in the past, and Im no longer any match for you, so Im completely at your mercy. Are you going to take revenge for what I did to you back then? Yuan Cha asked as a forlorn look appeared in her eyes.

I would be inclined to exact my revenge if Bao Hua hadnt handed down any punishment to you, but I have no intention of doing that now. Not only has your cultivation base been severely debilitated, your mental state has already fallen apart, so its already quite remarkable that you were able to maintain your current cultivation base. Theres no longer any hope for you to return to the Grand Ascension Stage. Seeing as you were once a Grand Ascension Stage Sacred Ancestor, I wont ask you to do anything too degrading, just sever one of your own arms, and Ill let bygones be bygones, Han Li said.

Yuan Cha faltered slightly upon hearing this before a wry smile appeared on her face. An arm? Is that all? Thats certainly not an issue.

As soon as her voice trailed off, she raised an arm before opening her mouth to release a streak of white light, which revolved around her raised arm, instantly severing it at the shoulder.

However, the cross-section of the wound was as smooth as a mirror, and there was no blood flowing from it.

Yuan Cha then made a grabbing motion with her other hand, and her severed arm exploded into a cloud of blood mist.

Can I go now? After severing one of her own arms, Yuan Chas face had paled even further.

Han Li nodded in response, displaying no intention to punish her further beyond this.

Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist. You and I will most likely never meet again.Yuan Cha extended a slight bow toward Han Li, then flew away as a streak of blue light.

As she flew through the air, a new arm began to take shape amid a cloud of black Qi to replace her severed limb, but losing an arm had undoubtedly taken a toll on her.

Are you really just going to let her go, Brother Han? Arent you worried that shell try to take revenge against you in the future? Silvermoon couldnt help but ask.

Bao Hua was willing to spare her, so its not really in my place to kill her. After all, who knows what type of bond may still exist between them? The fact that Bao Hua was willing to let her live even after what she did clearly indicates that their relationship was not an ordinary friendship. Ill be visiting the Elder Devil Realm in the future as well, so Id rather not do something that would drive a wedge between myself and one of the three devilish patriarchs. As for revenge, theres next to no chance for Yuan Cha to return to the Grand Ascension Stage, and her heart is already dead, so she most likely wont even be able to muster up the urge to seek revenge. If she cant return to the Grand Ascension Stage, then her lifespan will run out shortly, so theres nothing for me to worry about, Han Li replied.

Thats true. Besides, with your powers, you wouldnt have anything to fear even if she could return to the Grand Ascension Stage. How the tables turn! Back in the human world, just a wisp of her soul was able to almost kill both of us on Kunwu Mountain, but now, shes been reduced to such a sorry state, Silvermoon sighed.

She naturally didnt have any sympathy for Yuan Cha, it was just that the vast contrast evoked a series of complex emotions in her heart.

Yuan Cha poses no threat to us, but we should still secure Qi Lings treasure as soon as possible in case something goes wrong, Han Li said.

Youre right, Brother Han. Silvermoon naturally had no objections, and thus, the flying boat continued on toward their original destination.

Half a day later, the flying appeared in the air above the flat glacier, but what was quite peculiar was that there was a small green lake at the center of the glacier.

The lake appeared to only several thousand acres in size, but it was bubbling incessantly, and steam was rising up from its surface.

There were also some short shrubs growing around it, presenting a miraculous sight in this frozen landscape.

The flying boat quickly descended, and Han Li briefly inspected the surface of the lake before an intrigued smile appeared on his face.

This is the place on the map, Brother Han, it does look quite different from the surrounding area. After so many years, how have none of the devilish beings that have passed by noticed this place? Silvermoon asked.

Qi Ling was a Grand Ascension Stage Sacred Ancestor, his treasure collection cant be discovered by the average high-grade devilish being. Besides, even if another Grand Ascension Stage devilish being were present, they most likely wouldnt be able to find anything, either, without this map, Han Li said with a smile as he swept a sleeve toward the lake, and the four translucent bricks shot forth before hovering above the lake while emanating five-colored light.

Han Li then made a hand seal before pointing a finger down at the lake, and uttered the word open.

Countless runes surged out of the four bricks in a frenzy, forming a five-colored light formation that was around an acre in size.

The light formation then immediately began to rotate at a rapid speed, and a dull thump rang out from its center as a grey pillar of light erupted forth before vanishing into the lake in a flash.

Spatial fluctuations surged through the lake, and the surface of the lake began to ripple violently.

A black vortex had also appeared right beneath the light formation, and it was revealing countless black tendrils.

So this is the entrance to where the treasures are hidden, it sure is well-concealed! Looks like well most likely have to go through some trouble to obtain the treasures in there, Silvermoon said with an excited expression.

Lets go. Even if there are restrictions in there, theres no way they can stop us, Han Li said with a nonchalant smile, and the flying boat beneath his feet abruptly vanished amid a flash of spiritual light.

The two of them immediately drifted down toward the lake.

As soon as they entered the black vortex, the five-colored light formation above the lake reverted back into four translucent bricks, which also plunged into the vortex, immediately following which the vortex disappeared as well.

Time slowly passed by, and the surface of the lake returned to its former placid state.

After a long while, Han Li and Silvermoon were walking side by side through a maze beneath the lake.

There were thick round pillars all around them, and all of the pillars were over 100 feet tall with black Qi revolving around them.

Faint ghostly wails rang out incessantly in the surrounding area, and if a normal cultivator were to hear this sound, they would immediately be struck by a sense of drowsiness and sluggishness.

However, Silvermoon was easily able to keep the sound at bay by conjuring up a layer of protective spiritual light, while Han Li was able to simply ignore the sound altogether.

The sky above the round pillars was completely concealed by a blanket of black mist, and all of a sudden, several blurry projections erupted out of several of the nearby stone pillars.

The projections were in the form of giant menacing wolves, and even as they pounced toward Han Li, he didnt pause in the slightest as he released a burst of grey light to sweep up the oncoming projections in a flash.

Meanwhile, two of the giant wolf projections had pounced toward Silvermoon, and they were met by a giant silver wolf projection that devoured the oncoming pair of projections in a single mouthful.

After that, the two of them continued onward as if they were taking a stroll in the park.

How many waves has it been, Brother Han? Silvermoon suddenly asked.

That was the seventh wave, Han Li replied in a calm manner.

Surely this wouldnt be the extent of the restrictions set up by the vastly renowned Sacred Ancestor Qi Ling. These restrictions dont even pose any threat to a Body Integration cultivator like me, let alone a Grand Ascension Stage being like you, Silvermoon chuckled.

If you continue to think like that, youre going to fall into Qi Lings trap, Han Li replied in an indifferent voice.

What do you mean by that, Brother Han? Silvermoon was rather befuddled to hear this.

Han Li smiled, and asked, Do you really think these pillars are just here to make some sound effects and manifest some Spatial Tempering Stage beast projections?

Is there something special about them? Silvermoon asked with a surprised expression.

Let me show you something, Han Li said with a smile, then suddenly raised a hand and made a grabbing motion.

A burst of silver spirit flames immediately erupted between his fingertips, and he grabbed onto something before forcibly pulling it out of thin air.

Silvermoons eyes widened as she stared intently at Han Lis hand, and Han Li smiled as he slowly spread open his fingers.

After drawing the three Gold Devouring Beetles back into his spirit beast bracelet, Han Li closed his eyes to meditate again.

At the conclusion of the three Gold Devouring Beetles battle, only the most powerful one would remain.

As for whether that final faux beetle monarch would be able to evolve into a legendary Gold Devouring Beetle Monarch, Han Li wasnt all that confident.

After all, it was said that Gold Devouring Beetle Monarchs were so powerful than even true immortals were very wary of them.

Of course, this was only a rumor, no race in the entire Spirit Realm had ever managed to nurture a Gold Devouring Beetle Monarch before.

As such, it was difficult to say just how powerful the beetle monarch would be, Han Li would just have to wait and see.

With his current powers, the average Grand Ascension Stage being wouldnt be of much assistance to him. Thus, he had already decided that once he returned to the Spirit Realm, he was going to get his Leopard Kirin Beast to go into seclusion as well.

Even though spirit beasts generally progressed slowly with age, he should be able to accelerate that process with his vast collection of pills.

With that in mind, Han Li gradually entered a state of deep meditation.

The white flying boat surged through the air without any disguise or concealment, but the Grand Ascension Stage aura emanating from it was enough to scare away all of the nearby devilish beasts.

Half a month later, a boundless snowland appeared down below.

Heavy snow intermingled with frosty winds and chunks of fist-sized hail were sweeping incessantly through the air, but the flying boat was completely unaffected, enshrouded within a white light barrier.

The two giant ape puppets continued to guide the flying boat forward, and several days later, the thick snow down below was nowhere to be seen, having been replaced by massive icy glaciers.

There were countless transparent mountains of different sizes in the surrounding area, as well as some small white furry beasts that were running around on the ice, completely disregarding the flying boat up above.

It was clear that these devilish beasts were of such a lowly caliber that they couldnt even sense Han Lis almighty aura.

All of a sudden, a streak of silver light shot forth from the flying boat, then flew through the cluster of beasts before returning to the boat in a flash.

Silvermoon reappeared at the front of the boat amid a flash of silver light, holding a small white beast with a wide smile on her face.

The beast bore a strong resemblance to a white bear, but it had a short blue horn and a pair of remarkably long ears, presenting a very adorable package.

The little beast was currently being held by the scruff of its neck and was kicking erratically with its four legs in a blind panic. At the same time, traces of blue electricity were crackling around its short horn, and it seemed to be very uncoordinated.

How interesting! This beast doesnt possess any devilish Qi and seems to be more like a spirit beast from the human world, Silvermoon remarked as she stroked the little beasts furry head.

Thats an Ice Horn Bear, one of very few types of low-grade devilish beasts in the Elder Devil Realm that can survive without devilish Qi, and they possess innate ice and lightning attribute abilities.

A male voice sounded behind Silvermoon, and she turned around with an elated expression just as Han Li emerged from the cabin of the boat in an unhurried manner.

You know about these beasts, Brother Han? Silvermoon asked with a smile.

I once did some extensive research on the devilish beasts of the Elder Devil Realm, and these devilish beasts that resemble spirit beasts really stuck out in my memory, Han Li replied.

I see. Now that youve come out of seclusion, we must be quite close to our destination, right? Silvermoon asked as a hint of excitement appeared in her eyes.

According to Fellow Daoist Lan Ying, we should be half a day away from our destination at most, Han Li replied as he quickly swept his spiritual sense through the surrounding area.

Apparently, that Sacred Ancestor Qi Ling was once a vastly renowned figure in the Elder Devil Realm, Im sure his collection must contain a lot of valuable treasures, Silvermoon said with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

Who knows? Devilish beings use vastly different cultivation arts compared to us humans, perhaps things that are regarded as precious treasures to them arent very useful to us. However, I heard that the Inkspirit Holy Ark, one of the top three flying treasures of the Elder Devil Realm, was in his possession, if I can obtain that treasure, it would be worth this trip, Han Li said with a smile.

One of the top three flying treasures of the Elder Devil Realm? That does indeed sound quite remarkable, I would also like to see it, Silvermoon said in an excited manner.

Han Li was just about to respond when his expression suddenly changed slightly, and he cast his gaze toward a certain direction.

Did you discover something, Brother Han? Silvermoon asked.

It seems that weve run into an old acquaintance, Han Li said with a smile as he peered into the distance with blue light flashing within his eyes.

An old acquaintance? One that Im familiar with as well? Silvermoon was rather taken aback to hear this.

Thats right, both of us have quite a bit of history with her. Lets go and pay her a visit, Han Li said as he withdrew his gaze.

It really is someone that I know? Im very intrigued to see who it is. Silvermoon had also swept her spiritual sense toward the same direction, but her sensory range was limited, and she was unable to discover anything.

Han Li smiled and remained silent as he tapped a foot down onto the flying boat, upon which it immediately changed directions.

A distance of tens of thousands of kilometers was covered by the flying boat in the blink of an eye, and it arrived near an icy mountain that was tens of thousands of feet tall.

A string of rumbling explosions were ringing out incessantly above the mountain, sending powerful shockwaves sweeping through the air in all directions.

The mountain had already been reduced to just over half its original size, and the surrounding ground was filled with uneven craters and littered with countless chunks of ice of different sizes.

At the center of the commotion, white glacial Qi was clashing with bright blue light, and it seemed that there were two gargantuan creatures locked in a fierce battle.

Han Li looked on through narrowed eyes, and the flying boat drew to a halt at his behest, hovering still in mid-air.

Silvermoon was also appraising the battle in the distance with curious eyes, but unfortunately, the worlds origin Qi was extremely chaotic there, and she was unable to see anything.

However, judging from the ferocity of the clashes, the two combatants were definitely far more powerful than the average devilish lord.

Its her!

Silvermoon extended her spiritual sense forward, and a hint of shock immediately appeared on her face upon sensing a familiar aura.

Han Li merely smiled and remained silent as he continued to spectate the battle from afar.

With his enormous spiritual sense, he was naturally able to see everything as clearly as if it were unfolding right in front of him.

After around 15 minutes, an earth-shattering boom suddenly erupted up ahead, and a ball of blue light exploded violently, threatening to destroy everything in the surrounding area.

A bloodcurdling beastly roar rang out as a white wyrm that was over 100 feet in length emerged out of thin air amid a burst of spatial fluctuations.

Its body was riddled with wounds, but it didnt pay any heed to its own injuries as it frantically fled from the scene.

Right at this moment, an elegant figure appeared, and spatial fluctuations erupted up above as a giant blue claw emerged before crashing downward to slice the white wyrms body into several segments.

Scorching black flames then erupted out of the giant claw to sweep up the white wyrms dismembered body.

The white wyrm howled with anguish as the segments of its body thrashed violently in the flames, but it was unable to escape.

In the blink of an eye, its body and soul were all incinerated into nothingness.

Only then did Han Li break his silence.

Looks like theres some affinity between us, Fellow Daoist Yuan Cha, I didnt think Id run into you in such a secluded place. You dont seem to be in the best condition at the moment.

The elegant figure was an extremely beautiful woman with skin as fair as jade, and it was none other than Sacred Ancestor Yuan Cha.

She was wearing a suit of blue armor, but it was only glowing with very dim light, and not only was her face very pale, her aura was also fluctuating in a very unstable manner.

What was most perplexing of all was that she seemed to only possess a Body Integration Stage aura.

I also didnt expect to see you here, Fellow Daoist Han. Could it be that Bao Hua changed her mind and sent you to finish me off? Instead of being all that surprised to see Han Li, a sour look appeared on her face.

Thats not the case. I did assist Bao Hua on that one occasion, but thats all, do you think Im some sort of subordinate to Bao Hua? Han Li asked as his expression darkened slightly.

Yuan Cha faltered slightly upon hearing this before a wry smile appeared on her face. Please forgive me for misunderstanding the situation, Fellow Daoist Han. Come to think of it, now that youre at the Grand Ascension Stage, your powers are most likely not inferior to Bao Huas, so theres no reason for you to do her bidding and finish off a disabled wretch like me.

Disabled? There is indeed something wrong with your aura, why has it fallen to below the Grand Ascension Stage? Did Bao Hua do this to you? Han Li asked.

No, I did this to myself, Yuan Cha replied, much to Han Lis surprise.

Han Li was slightly saddened by Violet Spirits decision, but he didnt try to persuade her any further.

After all, just as she had said, her physique was more suited to cultivating devilish arts, and if she were to return to the human race, he wouldnt be able to ensure her ascension to the True Immortal Realm.

As such, it was better for her to stay in the Elder Devil Realm, and perhaps she would find her own opportunities.

Thus, Han Li stayed at the Vast Origin House for an entire month. During this period of time, he bestowed all of his experiences and insights in cultivating devilish arts upon Violet Spirit to aid her in her cultivation.

Lan Ying wasnt shy at all and also listened in on Han Lis lectures, benefitting immensely from the information that he divulged.

For beings of their caliber, the wholehearted guidance of a Grand Ascension Stage being was an extremely rare opportunity.

As expected of a superpower that spanned across several realms, the Vast Origin House was able to find a place identical to the one on Qi Lings treasure map within the span of this month, and this information was quickly delivered to Lan Ying, who immediately relayed it to Han Li.

Han Li was naturally very elated to hear this.

During the next few days, he visited some of the scenic attractions of the Blue Waterfall Lake area with Violet Spirit rather than continue to guide her in her cultivation, and as the two of them explored the region, they would often reminisce fondly about the time they had spent back in the human world.

However, neither of them mentioned that night of lust and desire, and they werent even all that intimate with one another, it was as if they were simply a pair of close friends.

Time quickly passed by, and on this morning, Han Li finally departed from Blue Waterfall City.

On the fourth floor of the Vast Origin House, Violet Spirit was staring at his departing figure through the window with a complex look in her eyes.

Are you really willing to separate yourself from Brother Han like this, Sister Violet? I clearly recall that you were very much looking forward to being able to stay by his side not long ago, Lan Ying asked with furrowed brows.

If I go with him, well temporarily be together, but whatll happen tens of thousands of years in the future? With his aptitude, its only a matter of time before he ascends to the True Immortal Realm, and if I want to truly stay by his side, I have to do the same. Do I pursue temporary happiness or a chance at eternal happiness? What would you do if you were in my place, Sister Lan? Violet Spirit sighed.

Lan Ying couldnt help but fall into deep thought upon hearing this.

Half a month later, Han Lis white flying boat descended into a valley not far away from the Blue Waterfall Lake.

Silvermoon was waiting for him under a huge tree with a faint smile on her face, and she was quite surprised to see that Han Li was alone.

Did you meet Sister Violet Spirit? she asked in a gentle voice.

I did, but she plans to continue cultivating in the Elder Devil Realm, and I think thats a good decision too. If she continued to cultivate devilish arts here, theres a chance that she really will be able to take that final step, Han Li replied in a calm manner.

If you agree with her decision, then it cant be wrong. In that case, should we return to the Spirit Realm? My grandfather and Senior Mo have already returned to the Spirit Realm along with all of the other Grand Ascension Stage beings, Silvermoon asked.

Its still too early to go back now. I have a devilish treasure map that should lead me to quite a large collection of treasures, Han Li replied.

A treasure map? Silvermoon was rather taken aback to hear this.

Hehe, if everything goes smoothly, this should only take several months, Han Li said with a smile.

Alright, then lets set off right away, Brother Han, Silvermoon said with a smile before drifting onto the flying boat as a ball of silver light.

Han Li nodded before gently stomping a foot down onto the flying boat, and it departed as a streak of white light.

Several months later, Han Lis duo arrived in a barren region that even high-grade devilish beings wouldnt venture into for no good reason.

At the front of the flying boat stood a pair of giant ape puppets that were around 10 feet tall, and there was faint spiritual light flashing beneath their feet, clearly indicating that they were controlling the flying boat.

Within a secret chamber in the cabin of the boat, Silvermoon was seated on a green futon with her eyes tightly shut, seemingly practicing some type of cultivation art.

Five-colored spiritual light was revolving all over her body, and an extremely life-like giant silver wolf projection had appeared behind her.

In a nearby secret chamber that was enshrouded under many layers of protective restrictions, Han Li was also seated on the ground, inspecting an object in his hand with a hesitant expression.

The object in his hand was none other than the black crystal that he had obtained after the Stemborer Queen had been killed by the Punishment Lightning.

It had been quite some time since Han Li had obtained the item, and after reading through some relevant tomes, he had discovered its origins.

This was something that would be left behind by powerful insects like the Stemborer Queen after they injected their essence entirely into their demonic cores when facing imminent destruction.

Of course, if it were possible, those demonic insects would also try to inject a wisp of their soul into their demonic core to preserve it, but the Stemborer Queens soul had been well and truly destroyed.

This crystalline core did possess remarkable defensive properties, but it stood no chance against immortal lightning like Punishment Lightning.

The Punishment Lightning had already eradicated everything within the crystalline core, and even most of the core itself had been melted away.

Han Li was currently appraising the object with a hesitant expression, seemingly in the midst of making a very difficult decision.

A faint buzzing sound that was also inaudible rang out, but it was as clear as a thunderclap in Han Lis ears.

Those guys are buzzing around again, it looks like they really want to get their hands on this thing. Unfortunately, this thing is very useful to me as well, if I were to absorb the essence within it, perhaps my Provenance True Devil Arts would progress to another level, Han Li murmured to himself as a wry smile appeared on his face.

Meanwhile, the buzzing was gradually growing louder and louder, and Han Lis brows furrowed slightly as he swept a sleeve through the air to release three balls of golden light.

The balls of light were then revealed to be three huge golden beetles with purple stripes all over their bodies.

These were none other than the three Faux Gold Devouring Beetles Monarchs, and they were all staring intently at the object in Han Lis hand.

The three of them then flapped their wings and shot forth directly toward the crystalline core as three streaks of golden light, and Han Lis expression darkened slightly as he reached out to make a grabbing motion.

A burst of enormous invisible force erupted forth, and three golden beetles were immediately sent flying, tumbling through the air several times before they managed to right themselves again.

The faux beetle monarchs were extremely powerful, but they were no match for the Grand Ascension Stage Han Li.

Even so, the three beetles continued to pounce toward Han Li with all their might, but were constantly kept at bay by that same burst of invisible force.

Han Lis brows furrowed even further upon seeing this, and after a long while, he heaved a long sigh as he murmured to himself, So be it, this thing contains the Stemborer Queens essence, so it should be more suitable for other insects. If I were to refine it myself, who knows what after-effects could arise? These three faux beetle monarchs have virtually reached the end of their evolution, if they were to devour the Stemborer Queens essence as well…

Having made his decision, Han Li withdrew the invisible force keeping the three faux beetle monarchs at bay while tossing the black crystalline core up into the air.

The three golden beetles immediately changed directions to pounce toward the crystalline core again, and they instantly clashed as three streaks of golden light.

They were trying to fend off one another while chomping down chunks of the crystalline core as quickly as they could.

In the end, the core was torn into three sections of different sizes before quickly being devoured.

After devouring the crystalline core, the purple stripes on the three faux beetle monarchs began to flash erratically, and their auras had also become extremely chaotic.

The three of them hissed in a menacing manner as they pounced toward one another, and Han Lis expression changed slightly upon seeing this, but he made no effort to stop them.

The battle between the three Gold Devouring Beetles was very fierce, and it didnt take long for all three of them to be riddled with wounds, two of them had even lost a front limb each.

After clashing for a while longer, the three beetles scattered as they hissed at one another in a threatening manner, then converged once again.

The three of them were all severely wounded at this point, but they were still extremely ferocious and showed no signs of backing down.

Han Li looked on for a short while longer before a thought suddenly seemed to occur to him, and he swept a sleeve through the air, releasing a burst of golden light that swept up the three Gold Devouring Beetles, causing them to instantly vanish on the spot.

A short while later, Han Li appeared in the hall on the third floor before taking a seat with the young woman.

Brother Han, no, I should be referring to you as Senior Han now. I knew that with your aptitude, you would reach the Grand Ascension Stage sooner or later, but I didnt think that day would come so soon, the young woman said with a smile.

Theres no need to be so formal, Fellow Daoist Lan, you and I are old acquaintances, so just refer to me as you did in the past. It looks like your Vast Origin House already knows everything that happened at the original sealed site even without a recount from me, Han Li said with a benevolent smile.

The young woman had done him a great favor in the past, so he naturally wasnt going to exert dominance over her now that he had reached the Grand Ascension Stage.

In that case, I wont be so formal and rigid. Our Vast Origin House prides itself in being an all-knowing organization, so weve naturally received firsthand information regarding the two battles that took place in the original sealed site. However, never did we think that you and Fellow Daoist Bao Hua would actually be able to kill the Stemborer Queen. Now that such a major threat has been eradicated, I can continue to run my Vast Origin House without any qualms, the young woman chuckled.

It was someone else who landed the killing blow on the Stemborer Queen in the end, Bao Hua and I just so happened to be in the right place at the right time. Otherwise, we would have struggled to even survive against the Stemborer Queen, let alone put an end to its life. As for the specific details, Im afraid that I cant disclose them to you, Han Li replied.

I see. In any case, even if you werent the one who landed the killing blow, Im sure you contributed greatly in the battle, Lan Ying insisted.

You think far too highly of me, Fellow Daoist Lan. I came here today because I want you to contact Violet Spirit for me, I plan to take her back to the Spirit Realm with me, Han Li said in a straightforward manner.

Hehe, leave that to me. Violet Spirit has constantly been cultivating in seclusion in a nearby area, so she should be able to get here in a few days, how about you stay at our Vast Origin House in the meantime, Brother Han? Lan Ying suggested.

Alright, Ill be in your care then, Fellow Daoist Lan, Han Li agreed after a brief pause for contemplation.

Lan Yings smile became even more pronounced upon hearing this, and she asked a few more questions about the battles that took place in the original sealed site, listening with rapt focus to Han Lis answers.

All of a sudden, a thought occurred to Han Li, and he said, By the way, theres something else that I need your help with.

Go ahead, Brother Han, Lan Ying immediately prompted.

I have a few things that Id like to show you. Han Li swept a sleeve through the air to release four balls of white light, which quickly revealed themselves to be four palm-sized translucent bricks.

Lan Yings expression immediately changed slightly at the sight of these objects.

A treasure map left behind by Sacred Ancestor Qi Ling is inscribed on these bricks, and I obtained them by chance many years ago. Unfortunately, my understanding of the Elder Devil Realm is very limited, so Ive never tried to seek out these treasures, and thats where I require your assistance, Han Li said.

Ah, so its the secret treasure map left behind by Qi Ling. Truth be told, Ive been searching for this treasure as well but havent been able to find any leads, I didnt think that you would be in possession of the map. Rest assured, Brother Han, as long as the treasures are located in the Elder Devil Realm, I definitely wont disappoint you, Lan Ying assured with a smile.

Han Li nodded with a pleased expression.

……

Five days later, Han Li was finally reunited with Violet Spirit in the same hall.

The two of them were naturally elated to see one another, but there was also a series of complex emotions in their hearts.

Lan Ying had already vacated the hall in a thoughtful gesture to give the two of them some alone time.

Violet Spirit had already been informed by Lan Ying that Han Li had reached the Grand Ascension Stage, and she was stunned to hear from Han Li that Liu Ji had already perished.

After all, the event had only taken place several months ago, and none of the people involved had intentionally leaked this information, so very few people knew about this.

So that means Ive finally regained my freedom and wont have to fear being refined into someone elses clone, Violet Spirit murmured to herself as her eyes glazed over slightly.

Indeed. Not only was Liu Ji killed, none of her clones managed to survive, either, Han Li replied in a confident manner.

Thats quite a relief to hear. Why have you come to see me, Brother Han? Violet Spirit asked as she cast a hesitant gaze toward Han Li.

Didnt you say that you wanted to revert back to a human body and see where the human race is residing in the Spirit Realm? I found a few secret techniques that can eradicate the true devilish Qi within your body and return you to your former physique. After that, youll be able to practice human cultivation arts even in the Spirit Realm, Han Li said with a smile.

Violet Spirit was unsurprised to hear this, but after a brief silence, she suddenly asked, Brother Han, I want to ask you something, please tell me the truth.

A sense of foreboding arose in Han Lis heart at the sight of Violet Spirits expression, and he said, Of course, go ahead and ask me anything you want.

I want to know roughly how much of a chance you have of ascending to the True Immortal Realm and becoming an immortal, Violet Spirit said with a serious expression.

Han Li was rather taken aback by this question. Why did you suddenly think to ask me something like this?

Please give me your answer, Violet Spirit insisted with a determined expression.

Han Li hesitated momentarily before replying, If anyone else had asked me this, I definitely wouldnt tell them the truth. However, I have nothing to hide from you. In the past, my chances of successfully ascending wouldve only been just over 20%, but I encountered some opportunities during my trip to the original sealed site, Im not sure whether those opportunities will spell fortune or tragedy for me, but theyve doubled my chances of successful ascension.

Violet Spirit was quite surprised to hear this. So theres a roughly 50% chance that youll be able to ascend to the True Immortal Realm. I knew that you would definitely be far more powerful than normal Grand Ascension Stage beings, but I didnt think youd be this confident.

Why have you decided to ask me this? Han Li asked once again.

Instead of answering Han Lis question, Violet Spirit continued with a solemn expression, Please allow me to ask you another question, Brother Han, if I were to eradicate the devilish Qi within my body and revert back to a human physique, my cultivation base will be severely impacted, right?

Han Li could tell where this was going, and he was silent for a moment before replying, If you had only attained this devilish physique not long ago, then theres a good chance Id be able to to preserve your cultivation base. However, youve been cultivating under Liu Jis guidance for many years, so your cultivation base will inevitably be impacted if I were to remove the devilish Qi within your body. However, with my current power, it wouldnt be a difficult task to return you to your former cultivation base, and I guarantee that it wont affect your future cultivation.

Ever since we parted ways last time, Ive considered my situation extensively, and no matter how I thought about it, I always arrived at the conclusion that staying in the Elder Devil Realm was the best option for me. Just like Liu Ji had once said, cultivating devilish arts is the ideal path for my physique. If I were to return to the Spirit Realm, perhaps I would be able to reach the Grand Ascension Stage with your assistance and by some immense stroke of fortune, but itll definitely be very difficult for me to ascend. I dont want to see you ascend and become a true immortal while I remain in the Spirit Realm and await my death with each passing heavenly tribulation, Violet Spirit said with a determined expression.

Han Li was silent for a long while upon hearing this before heaving a faint sigh. So youve made your decision? At your current cultivation base, I can still revert your back to your human physique, but as you progress, itll become more and more difficult for me to do that. Once you reach the Grand Ascension Stage, there will be no way for you to attain a human physique again.

Rest assured, Brother Han, Ive considered this decision thoroughly. I dont want to give up on even the slightest chance of ascending to the True Immortal Realm, Violet Spirit replied in a determined manner.

Han Li looked into her resolute eyes for a long while before nodding as he sighed, In that case, Ill leave the decision to you. During my two journeys through the Elder Devil Realm, Ive obtained some devilish secret techniques and pills that will be very helpful to your cultivation, Ill leave them with you now.

Thank you, Brother Han. With your powers, it shouldnt be too difficult to return to our holy realm, so Im sure well have many more opportunities to meet in the future, Violet Spirit said as a faint blush appeared on her face.