Chapter 1149: Leikong Island

Under the attack of so many lightning orbs, the three cultivators were in a chaotic flurry, completely unable to react to the Infant Carp Beast's escape.

However, Han Li, who was observing from the side, saw this and his expression darkened. He flicked his sleeve towards the direction the demon beast was fleeing.

A flying sword, roughly a foot in length, shot out from his sleeve. With a tremble, it transformed into a golden streak over ten zhang long and swept forth.

The sword light was incredibly swift. The Infant Carp Beast only saw a flash of golden light before its eyes, then immediately felt intense pain throughout its body and lost consciousness. The golden light simply circled the demon beast a few times, and large plumes of blood mist scattered down from mid-air. The beast was instantly sliced into seven or eight pieces; even its nascent soul was annihilated in the golden light before it could escape.

Its severed remains fell directly downwards.

At this moment, Han Li again made a single-handed grabbing motion towards the distant void.

Strangely, a section of the demon beast's remains burst open. A yellowish orb shot out amidst the flying flesh and blood, transforming into a streak of blue light and flying away.

With a clench of his hand, the Infant Carp Beast's demon core was effortlessly drawn into Han Li's grasp.

He casually glanced at the demon core; there was nothing unusual about it in his eyes.

Demon cores of this caliber were naturally no longer worth his attention.

With the demon beast's demise, the hundreds of lightning orbs that had been fiercely attacking the three cultivators all dissipated in a flash.

The three instantly let out a huge sigh of relief, and their gazes towards Han Li immediately turned to awe.

Although they had been preoccupied just now, they had clearly witnessed Han Li effortlessly eradicating a Level Six demon beast.

Their astonishment was naturally understandable.

They had initially assumed Han Li, passing through alone, was at most a Core Formation cultivator, but they hadn't expected him to be a Nascent Soul cultivator.

However, this area was already quite deep in the outer seas. While high-tier cultivators like Han Li were still rare, these individuals had previously encountered such powerful figures. Therefore, despite their surprise, they remained composed. The three quickly retrieved their magical treasures and artifacts, then drifted towards Han Li.

Before they even got close, the leading man in the bamboo hat bowed deeply.

"Junior Chen Jing, a disciple of the Azure Sun Sect, greets Senior," he began. "Thank you for your assistance. Otherwise, we juniors would have been entangled by this demon for a long time and would truly have found it difficult to escape. May I ask Senior's esteemed name?" As he spoke, he secretly appraised Han Li. While his expression showed profound respect, there was also a hint of neither servility nor arrogance.

"Azure Sun Sect? Are you a disciple of True Lord Sanyang?" Han Li was startled upon hearing this, a hint of surprise appearing on his face.

"True Lord Sanyang is indeed my master. Does Senior know my master?"

The man in the bamboo hat's spiritual sense swept over Han Li. He knew the other party's cultivation was unfathomable and that he was an expert in the Nascent Soul stage, but he couldn't discern Han Li's exact realm. Feeling curious, he naturally assumed Han Li was an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

After all, mid and late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators were basically universally known in the Scattered Star Seas. "Heh heh, I, Han, have merely heard of your master's great name, but have never met him!" Han Li chuckled. Upon hearing the names of the Azure Sun Sect and True Lord Sanyang, he naturally recalled how Yuan Yao had killed the young master of the Azure Sun Sect years ago, leading to the sect's continuous pursuit of her. However, although True Lord Sanyang had a considerable reputation in the Scattered Star Seas, in Han Li's eyes, he was merely a mid-stage cultivator, no longer worth his attention.

Other than this matter, he had no other grievances with the Azure Sun Sect, nor would he suddenly turn hostile and kill these three. He then directly asked what he wanted to know:

"You three should be quite familiar with the nearby sea areas, right? Do you know the exact location of Jade Spirit Island?"

Although the sea chart in Han Li's possession was detailed, accurately finding an island in this boundless ocean was truly not an easy task. It was rare to encounter these three cultivators, so he naturally wouldn't let this opportunity pass easily.

Upon hearing the inquiry about Jade Spirit Island, the Azure Sun Sect cultivator's expression changed, and he couldn't help but smile.

"Senior wants to collect some high-grade spirit stones on Jade Spirit Island, right? If so, Senior doesn't need to go to Jade Spirit Island at all. Spirit stones can also be acquired in the nearby markets. Of course, if Senior knows any of the cultivators guarding the mines for the Reverse Star Alliance or the Heavenly Star Palace, the price will naturally be cheaper."

"Markets? Are there many high-grade spirit stones in these markets? I don't need just a few pieces," Han Li said noncommittally.

"Senior, you jest," Chen Jing replied with a fawning smile. "High-grade spirit stones are, by theory, equivalent to tens of thousands of spirit stones, but their actual selling price is often more than double that amount. As long as Senior doesn't acquire more than thirty or forty pieces at a time, these markets can provide them."

"In that case, take me to the markets first to have a look. If I'm not satisfied, I'll make a trip to Jade Spirit Island. Consider this demon core your reward for leading the way." With a swift and decisive flick of his hand, Han Li released the Infant Carp Beast's demon core, sending it flying towards the other party.

Chen Jing caught the demon core and was instantly overjoyed.

"Senior, rest assured. I have been in these nearby sea areas for over a decade," Chen Jing replied with delight. "I couldn't be more familiar with these markets. Entrust this matter to me; I guarantee Senior will not be disappointed." Although this Azure Sun Sect cultivator still had some doubts about Han Li's identity, a Level Six demon core represented a huge sum of spirit stones for a Core Formation cultivator, and this was merely a minor task of leading the way. He naturally agreed with great joy.

As for the old man and the young girl, whose cultivation was far inferior to his, everything naturally depended on him. However, their gazes towards Han Li showed even greater, unusual fear!

After all, the difference between Foundation Establishment cultivators and Nascent Soul cultivators was simply too vast!

Immediately, with Chen Jing and the other two leading the way, Han Li transformed into several streaks of light and departed from the area. According to Chen Jing, this place was only half a month's journey from Jade Spirit Island, and on the way, they would first pass through the island where they resided.

Flying continuously eastward, almost without stopping, for over ten days, an unknown island finally appeared ahead.

The island appeared quite large, spanning several thousand li in circumference. It was covered in rolling mountains and high hills, lush and green.

"This is Thunder Sky Island. I have a simple dwelling place on the island, so I am very familiar with the markets here," Chen Jing explained with a wide smile, flying alongside Han Li. "The market here is also the largest among those near Jade Spirit Island. I believe it will definitely not disappoint Senior."

"The spiritual ley lines on this island are good," Han Li remarked, glancing at it from afar and nodding. "No wonder so many cultivators remain on this island."

"Not only are the spiritual ley lines of Thunder Sky Island the best among the nearby islands," Chen Jing said with a hint of pride, "but the island also abounds in several rare spiritual herbs. Both the Reverse Star Alliance and the Heavenly Star Palace once eyed this island, but in the end, due to mutual apprehension, they allowed other forces to jointly occupy it."

"These so-called 'other forces,' your Azure Sun Sect is among them, right?" Han Li suddenly chuckled.

"Cough, our Azure Sun Sect only has a few individuals on the island," Chen Jing said with two dry laughs, seemingly with some hidden difficulty. "But how would these few dare to covet this island?"

Han Li naturally wouldn't truly concern himself with the affairs of the Azure Sun Sect. After a slight smile, he no longer mentioned the matter.

But at this moment, Chen Jing proactively began introducing Han Li to the island's various major and minor forces, as well as several Nascent Soul cultivators on the island.

"True Immortal Miaohao! The Miaohao from the Azure Cloud Sect?" Han Li was suddenly startled when he heard a familiar name from Chen Jing. "He's also on this island? I heard he suffered considerable damage back then."

"Senior also knows about Senior Miaohao?" Chen Jing's heart stirred, but he replied honestly. "Although this True Immortal once destroyed his original body years ago, he was later rescued by the Azure Cloud Sect and eventually recovered his full cultivation through soul possession. This time, coming to Thunder Sky Island, I heard he intends to take this island for the Azure Cloud Sect. However, the Azure Cloud Sect is not the only one with this idea, so it has instead become a situation where several forces are jointly occupying this island."

"Heh heh, so that's how it is!" Han Li said, neither warmly nor coldly, leaving Chen Jing unable to discern his thoughts in the slightest.

In the blink of an eye, the three of them vanished into the sky above the island, then flew directly towards the island's center.

After flying for a little while longer, a small city suddenly appeared before their eyes, nestled between several high hills.

This city, at first glance, was clearly a recently built one. Its area was not large, only about ten li in size. All the buildings in the city were constructed from large gray-white stones, appearing neat, fresh, and somewhat compact. The city appeared to have gates on all four sides, but those entering and exiting these gates were all low-tier Qi Condensation cultivators. Conversely, cultivators who knew how to fly with spiritual artifacts simply flew directly into and out of the city in a grand manner, presenting a scene of prosperity.

"How many cultivators are on this island? Do they all live in this city?" Han Li, seeing this situation, squinted his eyes slightly and suddenly asked this seemingly unrelated question.

"I haven't actually counted them, Senior," Chen Jing replied, startled but quick to respond after a brief thought. "But if we include those in the Qi Condensation stage, there are easily thirty to forty thousand people, most of whom live in the city. Some are also scattered in other gathering points on the island, and some, who deem their cultivation profound, have directly opened up their own cave dwellings in the mountains."

"Hmm!" Han Li nodded thoughtfully, not asking anything else. In the blink of an eye, the three of them arrived directly above the small city.

From their high vantage point, they could clearly take in everything in the entire small city.

Han Li quickly scanned his surroundings and became interested in the eight pillar-like stone towers erected in the city.

These stone towers were circular in shape, each about fifty to sixty zhang high. Their uneven surfaces were inscribed with numerous mysterious and unusual runes and formations, flickering with faint, multicolored spiritual light, making them very eye-catching.

Han Li couldn't help but take a couple more glances.

"These eight stone towers can activate the city's protective grand formation," Chen Jing explained. "They were designed by a famous formation master of our Scattered Star Seas. Once activated, their power is certainly no less than the sect-protecting grand formations of major sects. A Foundation Establishment cultivator guards each tower twenty-four hours a day, ensuring the formation can be activated at any time. This grand formation has indeed saved the city from destruction several times, performing great deeds." Han Li's heart tightened, and he slowly asked, "What, are there still demon beasts attacking this island?"

"Heh heh, please rest assured, Senior!" Chen Jing replied with a cheerful smile. "I was speaking of events many years ago. In recent years, ever since the mineral veins near Jade Spirit Island were divided between humans and demon beasts, these demons have never harassed this island again. Let's descend as well. The market is over there. I happen to know a few shops that specialize in selling high-grade spirit stones; I can introduce you to them." He then pointed towards the south side of the small city and quietly awaited Han Li's instructions.