Chapter 176: Hidden Moon Sect

Han Li was also quite tempted. He knew very well that on the path of cultivation, having an enlightened master to offer guidance could definitely save him many detours and greatly benefit his practice.

However, Ancestor Li was not easily fooled. Han Li harbored many secrets, and prolonged contact with him would likely expose something amiss. If questioned, it would undoubtedly lead to his demise. Moreover, judging by his earlier "wise advice," this person was certainly not one to value master-disciple bonds. More likely, he would engage in a struggle for survival between master and disciple, seizing treasures and eliminating witnesses. Han Li's initial stirrings of ambition immediately subsided after this careful consideration.

Other Yellow Maple Valley disciples, unburdened by such concerns, were rubbing their fists and raising their spirits. They were now fighting not just for survival, but also for their future prospects. Han Li subconsciously glanced at Junior Sister Chen, noticing her flushed cheeks, tightly clenched fists, and eyes gleaming with determination. He sighed inwardly, no longer bothering to pay attention to the other Yellow Maple Valley disciples, and instead looked towards the Clear Void Sect opposite them.

The Taoist was speaking animatedly to his disciples, spittle flying, occasionally displaying agitated expressions. This elicited cheers from the younger Taoists, all of whom appeared fervent, seemingly brainwashed with great success. Of course, some older Taoists remained calm and unmoved.

Han Li found it amusing and was engrossed in watching when suddenly, someone shouted, "Look, the Moon-Embracing Sect is here! That's the Celestial Moon Divine Boat!" Han Li was startled by the shout and looked up at the sky. A white speck of light appeared on the horizon, gradually drawing closer. Its speed was astonishing. Soon, it arrived above the desolate mountain, revealing a massive ship carved from green jade. Its outer walls were lavishly adorned with dragons and phoenixes drawn in gold foil, and a vast white light shield enveloped the entire vessel. On board, a large group of white-robed individuals, half male and half female, stood. Leading them was a charming woman dressed as a young married lady, whose every gesture exuded captivating allure.

Once the woman landed the jade boat and removed the light shield, she parted her apricot lips and said, "Senior Brothers, Uncle-Master Qiong, Ni Chang greets you!" Ancestor Li and the Taoist dared not delay and hastily returned the greeting. But Senior Qiong grinned, his figure suddenly blurred, and he vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a sentence and a triumphant, eerie laugh: "In seven days, I will return here. Prepare your bets in advance! I'm certain to win this time!" The Taoist and Ancestor Li exchanged bewildered glances, wondering why the old man was so confident. They had just observed the Moon-Embracing Sect disciples; while they were indeed much stronger than their own two sects, it wasn't enough to warrant such boasting!

The young woman, with her beautiful eyes, curiously inquired about the situation. Upon understanding the details of their wager, she couldn't help but smile, her laughter enchanting and captivating. The enchanting charm of the young woman made many young male disciples from the three sects stare blankly, almost drooling. However, Ancestor Li and the Taoist completely disregarded the beautiful sight before them. Seeing the woman's reaction, their hearts sank. They both felt deeply deceived, and their faces turned bitter. Could the Moon-Embracing Sect truly have some trump card on this trip that could simultaneously overpower their two sects? Maintaining their dignified status, although filled with vexation, the two were too embarrassed to inquire about the reason from the young woman opposite them. And the beautiful young woman, Immortal Ni Chang, was naturally more than happy to feign ignorance, changing the subject to discuss other interesting matters with them.

Han Li and the other male disciples from Yellow Maple Valley had already cast their gazes upon the large group of newly arrived female disciples. They had long heard that the Moon-Embracing Sect advocated dual cultivation techniques, and at least half of their recruited disciples were female, with none of inferior appearance being accepted. Seeing them now, it was clear the reputation was well-deserved. These women were all enchanting and beautiful, causing the male disciples to drool and fantasize. Han Li was somewhat better; though momentarily overwhelmed, he managed to quickly compose himself and calm his mind, relying on his extraordinary willpower.

It was then that he noticed the Moon-Embracing Sect's female disciples seemed accustomed to being stared at by so many people simultaneously. They continued to chat and laugh without batting an eye, some even batting their eyelashes seductively at those who stared, leaving them weak-kneed and disoriented. However, the male disciples' reactions were completely opposite; they glared furiously. They were especially protective of the young women beside them, wishing they could glare back at every single person who stared. Han Li smiled faintly. Seeing the men and women standing in pairs, it was clear that even if they weren't actual couples, they were certainly paired up for cultivation. This explained the male disciples' anger! They probably already considered the women beside them as their private property, even if the female disciples didn't share that view.

Han Li noticed that these male disciples were glaring not only at those from Yellow Maple Valley but also at those from the Clear Void Sect. Out of curiosity, he turned his head and indeed saw those young Taoists, full of vigor, occasionally stealing glances at the young women, then quickly averting their gaze as if afraid of being caught, appearing extremely furtive. Han Li struggled to suppress his amusement, afraid of laughing aloud! He wondered if it was his imagination, but Han Li felt that the Moon-Embracing Sect's female disciples flirted more with the young Taoists than with those from Yellow Maple Valley. This left him speechless for a while.

However, a thought suddenly struck Han Li, chilling him. These disciples weren't here for flirting but for a life-or-death battle in a restricted area. If the younger disciples from the other sects encountered the Moon-Embracing Sect's female disciples, they might lose a third of their fighting spirit before the battle even began, as it would be truly difficult for most people to strike these charming women with ruthless intent. What puzzled Han Li even more was why all the Moon-Embracing Sect disciples on this trip, regardless of gender, were so young. There wasn't a single older individual, which was highly irregular. Han Li utterly refused to believe they were old monsters with successful age-preserving techniques; their frivolous behavior suggested they were, at most, in their twenties, showing no signs of maturity.

Yet, the Blood-Colored Trial was notorious for being a death-trap. It was impossible for so many young people to volunteer for certain death. Even if some did, it was inconceivable that they would all be in pairs, with their affections so profound as to face life and death together—Han Li simply couldn't believe it. Both Yellow Maple Valley and Clear Void Sect had some elderly individuals in their ranks. Approaching their lifespan limits, these elders wouldn't live much longer even if they didn't participate in this forbidden land expedition, so they desperately sought one last chance. If they could successfully acquire Foundation Establishment Pills and fortuitously enter the Foundation Establishment stage, their fortunes would turn instantly. Although there would be no hope of reaching the Core Formation stage afterward, living for another hundred years or so would still be a bonus. While not many elders participated in the Blood-Colored Trial with this idea, there were seven or eight combined from the two sects. The Moon-Embracing Sect, however, had none, which struck Han Li as quite strange.

Ancestor Li and the Taoist also seemed to have noticed something amiss. Their expressions grew even gloomier. Although they continued to speak with Immortal Ni Chang of the Moon-Embracing Sect, their distracted demeanor was obvious to anyone.

Soon after, the remaining four sects arrived one after another. The ones that impressed Han Li the most were the Giant Sword Sect and the Spirit Beast Mountain. The Giant Sword Sect consisted entirely of men, all clad in black, each with a man-high, sheathless greatsword strapped to their backs. Their expressions were utterly cold, radiating an intimidating aura. The people from Spirit Beast Mountain, on the other hand, wore brightly colored, flamboyant attire, and were laden with numerous leather pouches and bags, within which living creatures subtly squirmed, making the disciples from other sects feel uneasy. Apart from their varied clothing, the disciples from Blade Transformation Dock and Sky Tower Fortress were, in Han Li's eyes, relatively normal. Like the Yellow Maple Valley disciples, many were whispering and appeared nervous.