Chapter 1375: Task

In a hidden spot within a crimson forest filled with twisted, strange trees, five young men and women stood silently, confronting each other several yards apart.

One individual, over thirty years old, was clad in a brocade robe, with snow-white eyebrows and eyes like lightning.

A young woman in a black dress possessed a slender figure, dark eyebrows that extended to her temples, and a fierce expression.

A young man, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wore a purple robe. He had a blood-red mole near his mouth, was handsome and refined, and wore a smile.

A white-robed woman, appearing sixteen or seventeen years old, had a delicate and beautiful face with a touch of childishness.

The last individual was a twenty-three or twenty-four-year-old man in a green robe, completely expressionless. This was Han Li, who had recently left Tianyuan City. All five appeared remarkably young, yet their cultivation levels were all above the Spirit Transformation stage. Han Li and the youngest white-robed woman were in the middle Spirit Transformation stage, while the other three seemed to be at the peak of the late Spirit Transformation stage.

Notably, the young woman in the black dress was the same Black Phoenix tribal member whom Han Li had encountered years ago after the beast tide.

The woman gazed at Han Li with a chilling expression. Though she said nothing, her eyes clearly betrayed surprise and doubt. "I truly didn't expect that two of the three cultivators your Human Race sent this time are only at the middle cultivation stage. Is your esteemed race intentionally trying to shirk this operation?" The brocade-robed man with snow-white eyebrows spoke with a cold, clear voice. Despite its low volume, it resonated with a buzzing sound in everyone's ears.

Upon hearing the white-browed youth's comment, the blood-mole youth's eyebrow twitched slightly, and his smile diminished. Han Li, however, didn't bat an eyelid, simply lowering his gaze to fiddle with a milky-white jade slip.

The white-robed girl, for her part, simply rolled her dark eyes and smiled.

To their surprise, none of the three responded.

Witnessing the demeanor of Han Li and the two others, the white-browed man's anger flared. A stern expression crossed his face, and just as he was about to speak again, the young woman named Xiao suddenly interjected: "This journey could impact Tianyuan City, and even the safety of both our races. If we don't genuinely cooperate, it's not a question of completing the mission, but whether we'll even reach the destination. Don't forget, the journey alone will take half a year. Since your esteemed race sent three fellow daoists, I presume you are all extraordinary individuals. However, as we will be traveling together for such an extended period, we should introduce ourselves. I am Xiao Hong, from the Black Phoenix tribe, and this is Fellow Daoist Li from the Profound Hawk tribe."

The young woman spoke with an air that was neither humble nor arrogant.

Hearing this, the blood-mole youth's eyes flickered, and he spoke with a soft chuckle: "I am Long Dong. Given your powerful fire energy, Fairy, I presume you have cultivated the Black Phoenix tribe's innate flame to an exceptionally high level."

"You are from the Long family!" The young woman's expression subtly changed upon hearing the youth's name.

"I didn't expect Fairy to know about my Long family as well," the blood-mole youth said with a smile, revealing a set of sparkling white teeth.

"My name is Ye Ying," the white-robed girl said with a beaming smile, her voice as clear and melodious as an oriole.

"Han Li," Han Li stated plainly, then immediately fell silent.

"Han Li? It truly is you. No wonder you possessed a rare treasure like the Celestial Pearl that day. You were indeed a high-level cultivator all along. So, the cultivation method you practice is dual cultivation of body and spirit?" Xiao Hong's voice suddenly turned cold as she faced Han Li.

The mention of "dual cultivation of body and spirit" startled both the Long-surnamed youth and the white-browed youth, and the white-robed girl also paused in surprise.

"If you say it's dual cultivation of body and spirit, then so be it. It's been many years; how is Dai'er doing now?"

"It was a wise decision for Dai'er to come with me back then. Her cultivation speed is incredibly fast now; she has already formed her Golden Core, and catching up to you and me is only a matter of time." Hearing Dai'er's name, the young woman paused for a moment before replying indifferently.

"Is that so? I'm relieved she's alright," Han Li sighed softly.

"Oh, Sister Xiao, do you know Brother Han?" The girl named Ye Ying asked with a giggle after glancing at Han Li and Xiao Hong.

"Know him? Hehe! You could say we're old acquaintances!" the young woman sneered.

At this moment, the blood-mole youth also cast a glance in their direction, appearing to look at Han Li and Xiao Hong, but his gaze briefly lingered on the young girl before casually shifting away.

A flicker of greed deep within his pupils went unnoticed by everyone.

"Although we haven't entered the depths of the Barbarian Realm yet, the fact that all of you could reach this rendezvous point alone indicates that your powers are not weak. However, the path ahead will not be as easy as before. If the five of us don't join forces, it will likely be difficult to reach the Black Leaf Forest safely. The dangers we'll encounter along the way will be several times more terrifying than what we've faced," Xiao Hong warned after a brief pause for thought.

Upon hearing the words "Black Leaf Forest," the expressions of the other four changed, and they were all visibly moved.

"Is this mission truly just to investigate the movements of the Wood Spirit race and retrieve the intelligence gathered by our spy sent there years ago? It doesn't sound too difficult," the girl asked with a smile.

"That's hard to say. The difficulty depends entirely on our luck. If everything goes smoothly, it might indeed be much simpler than other missions. However, if we encounter trouble, or are even discovered by Wood Spirits of Silver rank or higher, it would be normal for all of us to perish. But this mission is truly of great importance to both our races, so this risk must be taken," the blood-mole youth sighed, murmuring.

"If it's so important, why did they send cultivators like us at the Spirit Transformation stage? Wouldn't it be much safer to simply send a Void Refinement stage existence?" The white-browed youth asked somewhat suspiciously, his brow furrowed.

"Hehe, judging by your question, it seems the person responsible for the operation in your esteemed race must be Fairy Xiao." The Long-surnamed youth did not directly answer the question but instead looked at the young woman in the black dress with a half-smile.

"Since Brother Long knows about these matters, it seems the Human Race side must also be led by you."

The young woman showed no surprise whatsoever, speaking calmly.

"Indeed, I do know a few more things," Long Dong said, the blood mole near his mouth twitching, without denying the implied compliment.

The girl named Ye pursed her lips upon hearing this, but then seemed to remember something and glanced back at Han Li.

Han Li, however, remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard the conversation between the blood-mole youth and the young woman at all. This made the girl show a hint of surprise.

"The reason only Spirit Transformation cultivators like us were sent this time is because the Black Leaf Forest is already covered by the Wood Spirit race's Heavenly Wood Dream Net. Any existence above the Spirit Transformation stage would immediately expose their presence upon entering there," Xiao Hong explained, turning to the white-browed youth.

"I see," the white-browed youth nodded, then suddenly narrowed his eyes, looking at Han Li and Ye Ying. "But even for Fellow Daoist Long, these two are only at the middle Spirit Transformation stage. Isn't their cultivation a bit lacking?" he asked impolitely.

"Brother Li, please rest assured. The elders would not have sent Fellow Daoist Han and Miss Ye together if they weren't completely confident in them. They won't disappoint you; I can guarantee that," Long Dong said with a casual laugh.

"Since fellow daoist guarantees it, then so be it. But if they truly become a burden during the journey ahead, then don't blame me for not helping them when they're in peril," the white-browed youth said grimly.

"Hmph, you're only one realm higher than me, yet you speak as if you're a Void Refinement cultivator," the white-robed girl retorted, her delicate face finally darkening at the white-browed youth's repeated contemptuous attitude.

"When cultivation reaches our level, a difference of one realm signifies a considerable gap in divine abilities," the white-browed youth sneered, replying proudly.

The white-robed girl felt a flicker of anger and was about to say something more when Han Li interjected.

"Since Fellow Daoist Long and Fairy Xiao know more about the mission than we do, perhaps you could first introduce the details. When I accepted this mission, I only knew the general outline and didn't expect it would require multiple people to work together. Had I known that, I likely wouldn't have accepted it." Han Li spoke expressionlessly, though he was genuinely displeased.

When he learned in Tianyuan City that this mission required multiple people to complete, he had a faint feeling it wouldn't be simple. At that time, he did consider withdrawing. However, he was informed by his superiors that this mission was of great importance: once he accepted it and knew its general outline, withdrawing would mean losing the qualification to accept other missions and being confined to Tianyuan City for ten years.

As a result, with other important matters on his mind that required him to leave Tianyuan City within a few years, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and come here.

Consequently, after spending over a month to reach this so-called rendezvous point, and finding not other ascended cultivators but rather native Spirit Realm cultivators and demon race members, he could only smile bitterly.

It seemed the complexity and danger of this mission far exceeded his earlier expectations.

Hadn't Zhao Wugui and the others said that these missions were usually only taken by ascended cultivators like them? Was this an accidental assignment error?

Yet, before setting out, he had indeed been provided with enough Dust-Extinguishing Pills and had been promised that completing this mission would allow him to leave Tianyuan City. This point was exactly consistent with what Zhao Wugui and the others had said.

Naturally, Han Li felt a mix of surprise and doubt about this.

"Regarding the mission details, I will naturally explain them in detail to Brother Han and Miss Ye on the way. The time for this mission is not overly generous; we should start our journey first," Long Dong said with a slight smile.

"Brother Long is right; our time is indeed a bit tight. It's best to set off now, and I can also reveal some relevant information on the way," Xiao Hong agreed.

The white-browed youth and Ye Ying had no objections to this.

Han Li pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Alright, there will indeed be time to inquire slowly on the way."

"Since that's the case, for the sake of caution, everyone should take my Spirit Cloud Boat. Firstly, no one will need to expend much magical power, only a few spirit stones. Secondly, this boat is skilled at transformation and concealment, which can save us a lot of trouble on the journey," the blood-mole youth suggested amiably, appearing unusually enthusiastic.