Chapter 1163: Returning to Silver Shark

Volume Six: Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures

Five thin wisps of spiritual energy slowly emerged from the spirit stone, cool and unusually dense. They burrowed directly into Han Li's palm like five small snakes.

Caught off guard, Han Li was startled. He immediately squeezed his fingers, instinctively clenching the spirit stone and cutting off the energy flow. Even so, the five small snakes had already darted into the meridians of his arm and dispersed on their own. Immediately, a surge of spiritual power, brimming with vitality, instantly spread and, in a flash, permeated his entire body. Han Li instantly felt a warm-cool sensation envelop him, which then turned into a pleasant warmth. His whole body felt incredibly comfortable, giving him an unbelievably light and ethereal feeling.

"So this is a top-grade spirit stone?" he thought. "As expected, the spiritual energy it provides is far superior to that of high-grade spirit stones."

Han Li hastily refined this portion of power, and his heart was filled with joy. Just this momentary absorption could save him half a month of arduous meditation and cultivation. If he were to absorb the entire spirit stone, wouldn't he save ten years of diligent cultivation? Han Li couldn't help but think greedily. Of course, he could only fantasize about such an extravagant and wasteful idea. A spirit stone that could provide such a massive amount of spiritual energy at once could naturally only be used at crucial moments for breaking through bottlenecks.

Han Li flipped his palm, and a small green box appeared. He carefully placed the top-grade spirit stone into the box, took out several talismans of various functions, and affixed them to the wooden box. Only then did he put the wooden box into his storage pouch.

Han Li let out a long whistle, feeling greatly pleased. He transformed into a dazzling green light and, with a flash, shot into the distance.

Several months later, Han Li returned uneventfully to the vicinity of Silver Sand Island. However, as soon as he entered the nearby waters, he noticed something unusual. All the way until he neared Silver Sand Island, there wasn't a single cultivator to be seen. This was quite uncommon.

When Han Li, with a hint of surprise in his heart, finally spotted Silver Sand Island from a distance, he couldn't help but be stunned. He saw that Silver Sand Island was enveloped by a layer of thick blue light barrier. At the same time, the island's restrictions were intensely active, as if all major formations were simultaneously activated. When he swept his divine sense across the area, the nearby sea surface was deserted, as if all cultivators had retreated and huddled within the island's restrictions.

Han Li paused, bewildered. He then used his divine sense to scan the nearby seabed as well, and after confirming there was indeed nothing unusual, he flew, somewhat surprised and doubtful, towards the entrance of the island's barrier. The fluctuations of the restrictions there were relatively gentle; it should be the specially designated entrance of the great restriction formation.

Transforming into a streak of green light, he flashed a few times and arrived before the light barrier. As the light subsided, Han Li revealed his form. He glanced behind the hazy blue light barrier, raised a hand, and a sound transmission talisman flashed as it slipped into the barrier. Han Li then floated in the air, his face expressionless.

"May I know which fellow Daoist is returning to the island at this time? Could you please state your name?" a cautious male voice came from behind the light barrier. Simultaneously, a divine sense swept over Han Li.

Han Li's expression darkened. A dazzling green light suddenly erupted from his body, instantly bouncing back the divine sense without courtesy and delivering a counter-attack. Immediately, a muffled groan came from behind the light barrier, causing the owner of the divine sense to suffer a minor setback.

"Hmph! Is my name something you juniors can just casually inquire about?" Han Li snorted coldly, his voice frigid. "Quickly lower the restrictions! I have important matters to attend to on the island."

"So it's a senior of the Nascent Soul stage who has arrived," the cultivator said, hastily explaining while enduring the pain from the backlash of the divine sense. "Please forgive this junior's disrespect. Under normal circumstances, this junior would naturally comply immediately. However, recently a large number of demon beasts suddenly appeared in the nearby waters. They attacked our island just a few days ago, and this junior has been ordered that any cultivators returning to the island these days must have their identities verified before being allowed in."

"Such a thing happened?" Han Li asked, his voice softening after a brief moment of thought, as a scene of demon beasts attacking Jade Spirit Island instantly flashed through his mind. "How do you intend to verify my identity?"

"Senior, could you please state your name and origin?" the cultivator inside replied cautiously, chuckling apologetically. "Or do you have any token that can prove your identity?"

"A token? Then take a look at this!" Han Li frowned, then raised his hand, and a golden light shot into the light barrier and disappeared from sight. It was precisely the guest elder token given by the Heavenly Star Dual Sages.

"So it's Senior Han! Please forgive this junior, I will let you in immediately!" the astonished voice of the man came from behind the light barrier.

Hearing this, Han Li's heart stirred, and a hint of crimson flashed in his eyes, but his expression immediately returned to normal. He waited quietly. Just a moment later, the blue light barrier in front of him trembled, and after a flash of light, a fissure opened up. Han Li's figure swayed, and he transformed into a startling rainbow, flying into it. The fissure, after a buzzing sound, slowly closed as it had been before.

As soon as he flew into the light barrier, Han Li's eyes brightened. More than ten Star Palace cultivators in white robes appeared before him, standing in two rows. The green rainbow swirled, and Han Li flashed into existence before these cultivators.

"Greetings, Senior Han," a middle-aged cultivator hastily stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Han Li. By his voice, it was the same person who had spoken with him. He possessed a mid-Core Formation stage cultivation, but his face was slightly pale. It seemed he hadn't fully recovered from the divine sense backlash from earlier.

"Are you the only ones guarding this place?" Han Li asked, raising an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. The other Star Palace cultivators were only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and the defenses were indeed a bit sparse.

"Because the demon beast attack on the island a few days ago was very fierce," the man explained, "the other fellow Daoists have returned to the town on the island to rest. Currently, only this junior and others are on duty. However, Senior Han, please rest assured, there is a town about a hundred li away from here, where over a hundred of our palace disciples are stationed. They can provide support at any time."

"Have you notified anyone else?" Han Li's expression sank. A terrifying spiritual pressure suddenly erupted from his body, forcing the man's face to change and him to retreat several steps.

"Senior Han," the man said in a hurried and startled tone after steadying himself, "several months ago, the Palace had already circulated your appearance and figure to us disciples stationed on the island, and we were instructed to be at your disposal at any time."

"So that's how it is," Han Li said, his eyes flickering a few times before his expression suddenly softened and he smiled. "I didn't expect the two Palace Masters to be so concerned about me." At the same time, the towering spiritual pressure around him instantly vanished without a trace. Only then did the man's heart relax, and an apologetic smile appeared on his face.

Just then, Han Li raised his head and glanced towards the interior of the island, his gaze flickering a few times, then he asked nonchalantly, "Have you notified anyone else?"

"Yes," the man replied honestly, "this junior was instructed to immediately notify the island's elders to come and welcome senior as soon as I had news of your arrival."

"I see!" Han Li said, his expression unreadable, revealing nothing. But the man shuddered, his heart filled with apprehension.

Just then, a white light flashed in the distant sky, followed by the sound of rushing air, as a streak of white escape light shot towards them. Han Li looked at the sky and couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly.

"It's Zhao Changcai personally coming to welcome Senior Han," the man hastily said, somewhat ingratiatingly.

Han Li merely hummed in acknowledgment, his expression blank, standing motionless with his arms crossed. The man saw Han Li's nonchalant attitude and was secretly stunned. He, however, didn't know that Han Li was a late-stage cultivator. Earlier, his divine sense had been bounced back, so he didn't dare to scan Han Li again in the slightest. He thought Han Li was most likely an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator recently recruited by the Star Palace.

The escape light flashed, and a white rainbow shot down diagonally. As the escape light subsided, a white-haired old man appeared. The old man wore a brocade robe and a jade belt around his waist. His eyebrows were long and slender, giving off a chilling aura. This old man was precisely an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

The other party immediately spotted Han Li standing before the group. His eyes lit up instantly. He took a few steps forward and cupped his fists, saying: "Is that Fellow Daoist Han? This Zhao apologizes for not coming out to greet you earlier. I hope Fellow Daoist Han will be magnanimous."

The old man was smiling broadly, as if he had been friends with Han Li for many years. Han Li's eyebrow twitched slightly, but he replied calmly: "Fellow Daoist, you are too polite. I heard Silver Sand Island hasn't been very peaceful these past few days. How are things now? Are you, Brother Zhao, in charge of the island?"

"Heh heh, although a group of demon beasts came to harass our island," the old man surnamed Zhao said with a beaming smile, "there wasn't even a single transformed demon beast. It was merely a scare with no real danger. And the one in charge of the island isn't this Zhao, but Ning Changcai. However, he has currently gone out to investigate the reason why this group of demon beasts attacked our island. This time, I actually came here specifically to await Fellow Daoist Han."

"Awaiting me?" Han Li's expression shifted slightly, finally showing a hint of surprise.

"That's right," the old man said with a smile. "This was personally instructed by the two Holy Venerables of the Star Palace. They wish to meet with Fellow Daoist when you return to the Inner Sea. To be frank, Fellow Daoist Han, I have already been waiting for you on this island for several months."

"Oh? What is it then? To think it caused Fellow Daoist so much trouble?" Han Li frowned, vaguely sensing something troublesome.

"Heh heh, this matter needs to be explained in detail," the old man said. "This isn't a suitable place for a conversation. Brother Han, how about we go to a quiet place nearby to talk?" The old man surprisingly suggested with a mysterious smile.

"Hmm, very well. Let's talk on that small hill over there," Han Li said after pondering for a moment. He then swept his gaze around and suddenly pointed at an unnamed small hill more than ten li away.

"Alright, as Brother Han says," the old man surnamed Zhao said, also glancing at the small hill, and immediately agreed.

Han Li nodded. Immediately after, the old man surnamed Zhao gave a few instructions to the man and the other Star Palace disciples, then both transformed into streaks of escape light and shot directly towards the small hill.

At such a close distance, the two naturally arrived in the blink of an eye, and their escape lights descended upon the hilltop.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, if you have something to convey on behalf of your Palace Masters, please speak directly," Han Li asked with unusual calm the moment his feet touched the ground.

"Haha, Brother Han, there's no need to be so cautious," the old man surnamed Zhao said, stroking a few strands of his beard and smiling before he spoke. "This time, a great opportunity has come knocking at your door."

"A great opportunity? What do you mean by that?" Hearing this, Han Li was momentarily stunned.

"Fellow Daoist Han, your lifespan isn't yet a full hundred years, is it?" the old man asked with a smile.

"And what if it is?" Han Li felt a strange unease, but he stared at the other party without revealing anything, and did not deny it.