Chapter 1776: Entering the City

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Volume Ten: Battle of the Demon Realm

Han Li withdrew his gaze, then gently tapped with one foot, and the flying carriage immediately descended slowly. Given the immense size of the green flying carriage, the Azure Guard members below naturally spotted them, and streams of spiritual sense immediately swept over. Han Li flicked his sleeve; a green light flashed, and the flying carriage vanished instantly. The five figures moved, landing one by one near the teleportation array.

“Oh, Captain!” an exclamation suddenly came from one of the Azure Guards.

Hearing this, Han Li paused slightly. After scanning his gaze, he spotted a burly man with green eyes among the Azure Guards, whose appearance was surprisingly familiar. The man was none other than Zhuo Chong, one of the ten Black Guards he had led in Tianyuan City years ago. At this moment, he had advanced from the late Nascent Soul stage to the early Core Formation stage and was looking at Han Li with a surprised expression.

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Zhuo! Congratulations on also becoming an Azure Guard,” Han Li said slowly, a smile appearing on his face.

“It really is Captain! Oh, Captain, have you advanced to the Void Refinement stage?” Zhuo Chong asked, first joyful, then surprised, upon realizing it was indeed Han Li. His spiritual sense swept over, yet he couldn't discern Han Li's cultivation level, naturally assuming this was the case.

“I’ve been wandering outside for a while in recent years, and indeed, I’ve entered the Void Refinement stage. I didn’t expect to encounter Fellow Daoist Zhuo before even entering the city. How are the other fellow Daoists from the team doing these days?” Han Li asked with a smile.

“Well, how to put it? Not long after you, Captain, left, the foreign races attacked Great Tianyuan City. More than half of them perished in that battle, and among the survivors, some chose to leave Tianyuan City. Now, only Fellow Daoist Xu and I remain in Tianyuan City,” Zhuo Chong replied.

“Fellow Daoist Xu is still in the city?” Han Li’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise upon hearing this. This woman was a descendant of Fairy Bingpo, and she was the very clue he needed to complete the task assigned by the young man surnamed Weng from the Sky Cloud Race. Naturally, he became very concerned.

“Fellow Daoist Xu has also advanced to the Core Formation stage, and even to the mid-stage. She now leads a team of Black Guards. Oh, and Fellow Daoist Xu has mentioned you, Captain, many times. She always says that if it weren’t for your guidance back then, she wouldn't have achieved her current cultivation,” Zhuo Chong said, chuckling. It seemed he believed there was some unknown connection between Han Li and the woman.

“Haha, I merely did what came naturally back then; it was hardly a matter of guidance. For Fellow Daoist Xu to achieve what she has now, it’s naturally due to her exceptional talent,” Han Li said lightly, shaking his head.

Zhuo Chong simply smiled and didn’t comment further. When the scholar and the other three saw that Han Li actually recognized Zhuo Chong, an Azure Guard, their last trace of worry vanished. It seemed that what he had said earlier about his origins in Tianyuan City was entirely true. They no longer had to worry that he was a foreign race shapeshifted to approach them and infiltrate Tianyuan City. Such incidents were common in the past.

The scholar also recognized Zhuo Chong. With a slight shift in his eyes, he clasped his fists towards Zhuo Chong and said: “So Senior Han and Brother Zhuo know each other; that's wonderful. We also owe Senior Han for rescuing us, which allowed us to return here this time.”

“What? The four of you encountered danger?” Zhuo Chong was somewhat surprised.

“More than just danger; the four of us nearly lost our lives to a Void Refinement stage Stone Yuan Turtle,” the scholar said with a bitter smile.

“Heh heh, back then, our Captain could kill a Void Refinement stage foreign race member with just Core Formation cultivation. Killing a mere Stone Yuan Turtle now is even less of a problem,” Zhuo Chong said with a chuckle. Upon hearing Zhuo Chong, the scholar and the others nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“Perhaps we can chat again when there’s an opportunity, Fellow Daoist Zhuo. I have some important matters to attend to, so I'll enter the city first,” Han Li said with a subtle smile.

“Yes, yes, it was my oversight, Zhuo Chong. Captain must have traveled from a very distant place and must be very tired,” Zhuo Chong said, suddenly realizing, and quickly moved aside, revealing the teleportation array behind him.

Han Li nodded slightly at Zhuo Chong, then unceremoniously entered the array. With a flash of light, he suddenly teleported away. The scholar and the others naturally followed, also disappearing amidst the hum of the array. Zhuo Chong gazed at the empty array, a look of melancholy on his face.

“Brother Zhuo, do you really know Senior Han?”

“Was he truly your captain back then? And he could kill a Void Refinement stage cultivator with just Core Formation cultivation?”

“Why can’t we discern his cultivation level? Has he cultivated some special divine ability?”

The other Azure Guards, who had been silently standing by, couldn't help but speak up at this moment.

“Of course, it’s true. Captain Han’s reputation among the Azure Guards back then was certainly not small. His divine abilities were such that even ordinary Heavenly Guards might not have been his match. I, Zhuo, benefited greatly under his command back then; otherwise, I might not have successfully advanced to the Core Formation stage. After such a long time apart, he has indeed advanced to the Void Refinement stage, and his divine abilities are naturally even more unfathomable now. It’s not at all surprising that you can't discern his spiritual power cultivation,” Zhuo Chong replied, while secretly wondering about Han Li's whereabouts over the years. However, he would naturally never have guessed that the reason Han Li had been missing from Tianyuan City for so many years was that he had been wandering outside all this time, even visiting other continents.

At the same time, Han Li appeared amidst a flash of spiritual light in what seemed like an ordinary hall. He slowly stepped out of the teleportation array and looked around. The scholar and the others also teleported out a moment later.

“Now that we've reached Tianyuan City, it’s time for me and you fellow Daoists to part ways,” Han Li said, turning to the four.

“Many thanks, Senior, for your great kindness to us four. We are currently residing temporarily at the Spring Slumber Pavilion. If Senior has any requests, we will certainly not decline,” the scholar said with an exceptionally sincere tone, bowing deeply. Without Han Li, they certainly wouldn't have escaped death this time, so these words truly came from their hearts.

“Spring Slumber Pavilion! I see. Perhaps I might genuinely trouble you fellow Daoists again in the future,” Han Li said, glancing deeply at the scholar and nodding. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he walked off towards the hall entrance. After a slight pause, the scholar and the other three likewise adopted a respectful posture to see him off.

Stepping out of the hall, they found themselves in a colossal hall spanning a hundred zhang in circumference. Some people were entering and exiting other halls around its perimeter, but the numbers didn't seem too large. However, at the exit of the colossal hall, two rows of Azure Guards still stood, holding "Spirit Detecting Disks" and meticulously inspecting every cultivator entering and exiting. Behind these Azure Guards, a Heavenly Guard clad in golden armor stood with his arms crossed, coldly observing everyone in the hall.

“Mid Void Refinement stage!” Han Li instantly discerned the Heavenly Guard's cultivation level. After a brief consideration, he walked over without hesitation. The Azure Guards at the array outside the city were only responsible for guarding the teleportation array against damage from foreign races and certain beasts. The guards here were truly responsible for verifying the identities of those entering and exiting. Tianyuan City originally issued temporary transit tokens to everyone entering the Barren World. Han Li, having not returned to Tianyuan City for so many years, naturally didn't possess one, which posed a slight problem.

There were originally only a few people in the colossal hall, and Han Li was the only Void Refinement stage cultivator present. The Heavenly Guard’s gaze immediately flickered and turned towards him. Han Li showed no unusual expression, but the aura he had originally concealed with a secret technique was now released without any further disguise. The gaunt-faced Heavenly Guard’s expression immediately changed, and his eyes revealed surprise.

“I am Yu Lingzi. Fellow Daoist, your cultivation is astonishing. May I ask your esteemed name and origin?” As soon as Han Li approached, the Heavenly Guard, with a flicker of his figure, appeared as if a phantom in front of the other Azure Guards and politely clasped his fists, asking Han Li.

“I am Han Li! As for my origin, hehe, over three hundred years ago, I was still a member of the Tianyuan Guards,” Han Li said, a slight curve to his lips.

“A Tianyuan Guard! Fellow Daoist, are you perhaps joking? I, Yang, have served as a Heavenly Guard in this city for several hundred years, and I know every Heavenly Guard. When have I ever seen you?” The Heavenly Guard first paused in bewilderment, then his expression turned grim.

Hearing this, Han Li merely chuckled. Suddenly, he raised a hand, and a ball of green light flew over. The gaunt Heavenly Guard’s pupils constricted. With a spatial grab of one hand, he seized the ball of green light. It was, astonishingly, a dark green jade pendant. One side of the jade pendant was inscribed with some silver-tinted characters, while the other side bore the faintly golden characters "Bing 56". It was precisely Han Li’s Azure Guard token from back then!

“An Azure Guard?” The Heavenly Guard seemed somewhat incredulous.

“Indeed. Do you see any issue with that, Fellow Daoist?” Han Li said lightly.

“No issue, not at all. However, I need to verify the token first,” the Heavenly Guard surnamed Yang replied with a dry chuckle, cautiously.

“No problem, Fellow Daoist, please proceed as you wish,” Han Li replied calmly.

The gaunt Heavenly Guard nodded. He rubbed his hands together, and the jade pendant immediately shimmered with a faint green light.

“Indeed, it is certainly an Azure Guard token. However, Fellow Daoist’s Azure Guard number was canceled over a hundred years ago. You are now free,” the gaunt Heavenly Guard said, a strange expression on his face as the spiritual light in his hand receded.

“Back then, I completed a near-death mission, and upon its completion, I was granted my freedom,” Han Li replied calmly, not finding it strange.

“A near-death mission… three hundred years ago?” The gaunt Heavenly Guard’s eyes lit up; he seemed to recall something and looked surprised.

“It seems Fellow Daoist also remembers what happened back then!” Han Li chuckled.

“So, Fellow Daoist, you were one of those who undertook those missions back then. My apologies for the oversight. There are no issues, you may leave. However, I must retrieve this Azure Guard token,” the Heavenly Guard surnamed Yang said, clasping his fists, a respectful expression on his face.

“That’s only natural. I merely presented this item because I haven’t returned to the city in many years and don’t possess any other proof of identity,” Han Li said nonchalantly.

The gaunt Heavenly Guard nodded. With a wave of his hand, the Azure Guards immediately cleared the path. Han Li, without ceremony, activated his escape light, transforming into a green rainbow that flew out of the colossal hall.

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