Chapter 1875: Giant Crater and Teleportation

Volume Ten: War in the Demon Realm

The second layer was naturally much more dangerous than the first, but in the eyes of Han Li and the others, it was still an insignificant challenge.

After checking the map and confirming their location, they headed west.

Their journey lasted three days and three nights. During this time, Han Li and the others not only killed several mid-level demonic creatures along the way but also encountered multiple waves of enforcement squad cultivators.

The cultivators' lowest cultivation level was at the Deity Transformation stage, while their leaders were clearly at the Saint stage.

Given Jin Yue's status as the Great Elder of the Heavenly Roc Clan, these enforcement cultivators naturally didn't cause any trouble. Most simply asked a question or two before letting them leave safely.

However, witnessing this scene, Jin Yue's expression couldn't help but turn somewhat grim.

To deploy so many people for just one individual, this matter seemed to carry a hint of strangeness.

Could there be more to the mineral vein robbery than met the eye?

Having governed the Heavenly Roc Clan for so many years, Jin Yue's cunning was naturally extraordinary. Although she gradually grew suspicious, she showed no unusual emotion in the presence of the enforcement squads.

Thus, the three of them found the entrance to the third layer with unusual ease: a hidden underground river.

Following the current, and drifting in the darkness for several hours, Han Li and the others finally arrived at the third layer of the Abyssal Lands!

Three days later, while flying over a desolate plain covered in rubble, Han Li and the others suddenly felt an unusual surge of elemental energy in the distance. Then, a silver light flashed into existence at the edge of the sky.

A deafening rumble echoed, and the entire ground shook violently.

Han Li and Jin Yue's expressions changed drastically, and they couldn't help but exchange glances.

“Fellow Daoist Jin, it seems someone is fighting over there. Should we go and take a look?” Han Li asked after a slight hesitation.

“With such a huge commotion, if there are other enforcement squads nearby and we don't investigate, it might make us seem overly apprehensive. That might not be entirely appropriate,” Jin Yue said, her eyes flashing.

“In that case, let's go investigate.” Although Han Li didn't want to get involved in more trouble, he knew Jin Yue's concerns were valid, so he nodded in agreement.

As for Lei Lan, she had no other opinions.

Thus, the three changed direction and shot towards where the silvery-white lightning had just flashed.

After flying for over ten thousand li without stopping, they finally halted their escape light at a high slope.

The three gazed at the chaotic scene below, their expressions turning somewhat strange.

Amidst a pile of rubble below, a massive pit, dozens of zhang in diameter, had appeared.

The area around the pit was scorched black, and a faint burnt smell emanated from it, as if it had been struck by lightning.

Suddenly, Han Li raised a hand and made a grabbing motion in the air towards a spot at the edge of the great pit.

With a 'swoosh,' an object suddenly flew out from beneath the rubble, flashed once, and then landed in Han Li's hand.

It was a blue short blade, nearly half broken. Though its surface was covered in cracks and it gleamed coldly, it was clear at a glance that it must have originally been a formidable magic treasure.

“It seems the others were instantly reduced to ashes by that heavenly lightning, and even their vital magic treasures couldn't escape. However, lightning capable of instantly killing cultivators at the Void Refinement and Deity Transformation stages is simply unimaginably powerful. Fellow Daoist Han, what do you think?” Jin Yue asked abruptly, looking at everything.

“We could sense the ferocity of that heavenly lightning from such a distance, which indicates that the perpetrator must be skilled in lightning-elemental divine abilities. And this magic treasure carries traces of malevolent aura that haven't dissipated even after its owner's demise, so it must belong to those from the enforcement squad,” Han Li said with certainty after tossing the broken blade in his hand.

“Indeed. There are traces of three fallen individuals here, and the one capable of such ruthless action is most likely the mysterious person who plundered the mineral vein.” Jin Yue said, waving one hand to draw out several other damaged treasures from the rubble. After a quick inspection, she agreed.

“That person is so powerful, actually able to kill three enforcement squad members simultaneously!” Lei Lan gasped, taking a sharp breath.

“This isn't too surprising. If they weren't this powerful, how could they have committed such a brazen act? No one else has arrived yet, so it seems there are no other enforcement squads nearby. However, enforcement squads have their own secret sensing techniques, so someone will surely arrive soon. We don't need to stay here long. Let's go!” Jin Yue said after a moment of thought.

“Fellow Daoist's words make sense. This place is only a few days' journey from the coordinates I need to reach. We should hurry there to set our minds at ease,” Han Li said, pleased, immediately agreeing.

Lei Lan also nodded thoughtfully.

With their escape lights activated simultaneously, the three shot away like three dazzling rainbows.

More than half a day later, over a dozen escape lights arrived, shooting towards the great pit from another direction.

By then, Han Li and the others were already tens of thousands of li away.

Seven days later, above a continuous, dark mountain range, Han Li held a white disk in one hand. Dozens of golden miniature swords circled and danced around his body, instantly slicing swarms of black demonic birds, resembling gigantic crows, into countless pieces, which then fell from the sky as showers of blood.

Beside Han Li, a golden-yellow mirror had appeared before Jin Yue at some point. From it, streams of golden electric light sprayed forth, instantly crushing large numbers of demonic creatures.

As for Lei Lan, she was gravely forming hand seals with one hand. A pair of feathered wings behind her flickered, and streaks of silver electrical arcs surged, forming a small lightning net that completely enveloped her body.

Occasionally, demonic birds that crashed into the lightning net would instantly turn to ashes with a thunderous crack.

After flying for another half an hour, the black demonic birds finally thinned out, and eventually dispersed with a few mournful cries.

Seeing this, the three naturally put away their treasures and techniques and continued forward.

For the rest of the journey, Han Li constantly glanced at the disk in his hand, as if the object was guiding him to the precise location.

Just then, the white disk in Han Li's hand suddenly hummed, followed by an unstable flow of white light, and it spontaneously entered an activated state.

“We've arrived! This is the place!” Han Li exclaimed joyfully, immediately halting his escape light as he quickly lowered his head to check the display on the disk.

Hearing Han Li's words, Jin Yue and Lei Lan also immediately stopped.

“Is this truly the location you spoke of? It doesn't seem like it. The space nearby is exceptionally stable, with no signs of a spatial node!” Jin Yue asked, her beautiful eyes scanning the surroundings, a frown on her face, seemingly still somewhat skeptical.

“Fellow Daoist Jin, rest assured. Since that senior said it's this coordinate, it definitely won't be wrong,” Han Li replied with a slight smile, raising his head.

“It's best if Fellow Daoist Han is so certain. Since I have brought you to this place, should you not produce the latter half of the cultivation method now?” Jin Yue nodded, then slowly spoke with a grave expression.

“Great Elder, rest assured, I, Han, will not break my promise. Here is the other half of the cultivation method, Fellow Daoist, catch!” Han Li smiled, and with a sudden flip of his hand, a yellow jade slip appeared in his palm, which he then tossed over with a flick of his wrist.

Jin Yue's eyes lit up. With a graceful grab of her slender hand, the jade slip was pulled between her fingers. She then hastily placed it against her forehead to examine it.

Han Li, however, paid no attention to any of this. With a flick of his sleeve, five five-colored formation flags flew out, circling around his body before suddenly transforming into five five-colored pillars of light with a resounding ‘bang,’ shooting into the sky.

He formed hand seals with one hand, sending more than a dozen magic seals consecutively onto the light pillars. Immediately, as the pillars flickered, a five-colored light formation suddenly emerged at their center, its spiritual light dazzling and eye-piercing.

Han Li chanted incantations, and from his sleeve, supreme-grade spirit stones flew out one after another, totaling over a hundred pieces in one go. They flashed and disappeared into the light formation.

Then, he suddenly tossed the disk in his hand, and it floated before him. Following that, he continuously flicked his ten fingers, seemingly slowly activating the artifact.

Lei Lan quietly watched all this from the side. But seeing the disk begin to emit dazzling light and gradually transform into a white sphere of light, she couldn't help but glance at Jin Yue.

At this moment, Jin Yue's eyes were slightly closed, but her face was filled with pleasant surprise, clearly indicating that the cultivation method was not fake.

This made Lei Lan, the Saintess of the Heavenly Roc Clan, feel a slight sense of relief.

Suddenly, Han Li let out a low shout and pointed a single finger at the disk.

The white light sphere he had formed swayed, then slowly floated towards the center of the five-colored light formation. With a muffled thud, it seamlessly merged with the formation.

“Fellow Daoist Jin, how do you find the cultivation method? Are there any parts you are dissatisfied with?” Han Li stopped forming seals at this point and turned to Jin Yue, asking casually.

“None. This latter half of the cultivation method is indeed genuine. On behalf of my entire clan, I thank Fellow Daoist Han for your great kindness in bestowing it upon us!” Jin Yue exhaled a long breath, finally withdrawing her spiritual sense from her immersion in the cultivation method, and said with great satisfaction.

“Heh heh, I and your esteemed clan merely conducted a mutually beneficial transaction. Since Fellow Daoist Jin is satisfied, there are no issues, and I shall take my leave now,” Han Li said, a slight curve forming at the corner of his mouth, as he gave Jin Yue a single cupped-hand salute.

“I also wish Fellow Daoist Han a smooth journey!” Jin Yue returned a slight bow with a smile.

“Heh heh, I hope it will be as Fellow Daoist said. Saintess Lei, I hope your cultivation advances greatly in the future, and you enter the Saint stage soon!” Han Li chuckled, then bid farewell to Lei Lan.

“Thank you for your auspicious words, Senior. I will certainly work hard in the future,” Lei Lan replied with a slightly complex expression, curtsying respectfully.

“It's almost time. I, Han, should go.” Han Li nodded slightly at the two women, then, without hesitation, he moved and stepped directly into the five-colored light formation.

Bursts of incantations immediately emanated from the light formation.

Then, the light formation suddenly roared, and countless silver runes surged out from within it. The white light sphere at the center expanded wildly by several times, almost completely occupying the entire formation.