Chapter 1900: Family Stronghold

Upon seeing the battlecraft, the golden-robed old monk immediately smiled and transmitted his voice from afar, asking, "Is that Fellow Daoist Han Li? This humble monk Jinyue has been waiting here for a long time."

Monk Jinyue’s spoken voice was not particularly loud, yet it resonated with a booming sound above the several large ships in the distance, creating an astonishing display of power.

"Master Jinyue has actually come out personally to greet me; I am truly overwhelmed with gratitude! It seems the letter sent a while ago has reached you, Master." A flash of green light appeared at the front of the leading large ship, and a figure in green emerged, transmitting his voice clearly against the wind.

The voice was equally clear and distinct on the city wall, as if it were speaking right next to everyone's ears.

This figure was Han Li.

Upon hearing this, the high-level cultivators present were greatly awed, feeling that Han Li's reputation was indeed well-deserved.

"Haha, Brother Han is willing to lend a hand to our Tianyuan City. It is only right for this humble monk to welcome you even from ten thousand li away," Monk Jinyue said with a laugh.

Han Li smiled faintly upon hearing this, but did not respond further.

In an instant, the several large ships arrived above the city wall after a few flashes. Han Li moved, calmly descending.

"It's been many years, Master, and your demeanor remains as refined as ever," Han Li said, sweeping his gaze across the crowd before his eyes settled on the old monk's face, then he cupped his fist.

"At my age, what 'refined demeanor' can there be? On the contrary, Brother Han, you've advanced to the Mid-stage realm again in just a few hundred years, which truly makes us old folks feel ashamed! When this humble monk was your age, I had only just entered the Void Refinement stage," Monk Jinyue replied with a wry smile, his heart filled with shock after confirming Han Li's current cultivation realm with his divine sense.

"Why be so modest, Master? If I'm not mistaken, your eyes are filled with radiant light, clearly a sign that you have mastered a certain divine ability," Han Li replied with a chuckle, a half-smile on his face.

"Fellow Daoist, your insight is truly sharp. This humble monk has indeed recently mastered a certain divine ability, but it is hardly worth mentioning compared to you. Well then, Brother Han, please follow this humble monk to the Elder Hall for a more detailed discussion. As for your disciples, this humble monk will ensure they are properly arranged for," the old man said, shaking his head and making a few humble remarks before turning sideways.

"Then I shall trouble Master to lead the way," Han Li replied, not standing on ceremony, nodding in agreement without any hesitation.

Thus, Monk Jinyue instructed the two cultivators behind him to guide the flying ships further into the city walls, then personally accompanied Han Li as they flew towards another location deep within Tianyuan City.

An hour later, Han Li and Monk Jinyue appeared in a hall within a giant pagoda.

Within this hall, everything from the tables and chairs to the walls was crystalline white, as if entirely constructed from the finest jade.

Besides Han Li and Monk Jinyue, three other Integration stage cultivators were also present, accompanying them.

These included an old man in white robes with a full head of silver hair but a youthful face, a burly man dressed in a dark leather robe, and a woman with shoulder-length black hair wearing a silver mask.

Among these three, the white-robed old man clearly had the highest cultivation, being at the great circle of the Mid-Integration stage, seemingly only a step away from becoming a late-stage cultivator.

The burly man and the masked woman were both Early Integration stage cultivators, but their auras were strange, indicating they each cultivated unusual techniques.

At this moment, Han Li sat in his chair, seemingly responding to the others, but his gaze kept scrutinizing the woman with the silver mask, his expression subtly strange.

"Oh? Brother Han, have you met Fairy Yinguang before?" the white-robed elder asked with a smile upon seeing this.

"I also have some questions, Brother Han; perhaps you could enlighten me?" the masked woman said with a hint of annoyance, having been continuously scrutinized by Han Li since he entered the room.

"This is Han's first time meeting the Fairy, but Fellow Daoist Yinguang's aura is remarkably similar to that of an old acquaintance of mine. May I ask which demon race the Fairy belongs to?" Han Li's eyes flickered a few times, then he asked thoughtfully.

"Similar aura! It seems your old acquaintance is also a member of the Silver Wolf Race. Fellow Daoist Yinguang is indeed one of the two Integration stage cultivators of the Silver Wolf Race!" the black-robed burly man interjected, seeming enlightened.

"So that's how it is. Brother Yan's words are true; I am indeed from the Silver Wolf Race. May I ask who your old acquaintance is? Perhaps I know them," Fairy Yinguang said, her expression softening, and she asked curiously in return.

"Since the Fairy is indeed from the Silver Wolf Race, Han truly intended to ask. Does the Fairy know if a fellow Daoist named Linglong from your noble clan is still safe and well?" Han Li's expression stirred, and he indeed asked about Yin Yue.

With his current cultivation, he naturally no longer feared the Heavenly Kui Wolf King, so he asked with unusual frankness.

After he advanced to the Integration stage, he had indeed deliberately sought information about Yin Yue. However, the Silver Wolf Race's hiding place was exceptionally secretive, and its members rarely interacted with outsiders. Therefore, those he asked either knew nothing at all or could only provide bits and pieces of information, making it impossible to ascertain Yin Yue's current specific situation.

Now, encountering an Integration stage existence from the Silver Wolf Race, Han Li naturally wouldn't let the opportunity pass to inquire further.

"Linglong? Your old acquaintance is Sister Linglong! Wait, I heard Brother Han is an ascended cultivator, could it be you are—" Fairy Yinguang was instantly startled upon hearing Han Li's words, but she stopped speaking halfway, as if remembering some taboo, and her gaze towards Han Li became strangely peculiar.

"It seems Fellow Daoist Yinguang truly knows Linglong?" Han Li's heart rejoiced upon hearing this, but he maintained a calm demeanor as he spoke.

"Sister Linglong and I grew up together in the past; how could I not know her? However, while I know some things about Linglong, I cannot say much more to Fellow Daoist Han. I can only tell you that Linglong is currently safe and well, and she has already advanced to the late Void Refinement stage," Fairy Yinguang said with a soft sigh.

"Cannot say more? What in this world cannot be spoken of openly? How about this! This place is not suitable for discussing this matter further. In two days, I will visit the Fairy privately to discuss Linglong's affairs in detail," Han Li transmitted with a slight movement of his lips, a cold light flashing in his eyes after a brief contemplation.

Upon hearing this, Fairy Yinguang's face flickered with hesitation, but she eventually nodded slowly.

Although the white-robed elder and the others were somewhat curious about Han Li and Fairy Yinguang's exchange, none of these shrewd individuals brought up the matter again. Instead, they changed the subject to discuss the impending demonic tribulation and expressed great appreciation for Han Li's offer of assistance.

Before his arrival, Han Li had already used a ten-thousand-li talisman to inform the Tianyuan City elders that he could only help them resist demonic attacks for the first few years of the demonic tribulation, in exchange for his disciples receiving protection there.

The most ferocious demonic attacks typically occurred during the initial waves of the tribulation. Thus, the elders were naturally very pleased and readily agreed in their reply.

Therefore, for a time, he conversed cheerfully with these elders, and after exchanging strategies for dealing with the demonic tribulation, he finally rose to take his leave.

As she watched Han Li's retreating figure disappear at the doorway, Fairy Yinguang's expression behind her mask was shifting and uncertain.

Two days later, Han Li arrived alone at Fairy Yinguang's residence. He entered and remained inside for a full half-day before emerging with a somber expression.

He paused at the doorway, tilted his head back, and gazed at the extremely blue sky for a long moment. Then, with a cold chuckle, he transformed into a streak of green light and shot away.

The place where Han Li resided was an independent white pagoda in Tianyuan City. Although this pagoda was ten times smaller than the other colossal pagodas, it was still spacious enough to accommodate Han Li's thousand disciples.

Han Li himself temporarily resided on the top floor of the pagoda.

However, this did not mean he intended to stay there long-term. Just over ten days later, Han Li summoned three of his disciples, gave them some instructions, and then transformed into a streak of green light, departing the pagoda.

Before the demonic tribulation erupted, there was one more thing he had to do. Therefore, he did not stop at all along the way, proceeding directly to Tianyuan City's teleportation formation. After giving some instructions, he was directly teleported by the guards overseeing the formation to a massive city tens of thousands of li away.

Han Li paid no heed to the respectful and surprised gazes of the formation-guarding cultivators on that side. He immediately took flight, leaving the giant city and continuously soaring in a certain direction without stopping.

Approximately two months later, Han Li suddenly appeared in a mountain range filled with a solemn, chilling aura.

This mountain range stretched for tens of thousands of li. Within it, a dozen or so cities of varying sizes subtly intertwined to form a massive ring, densely connected by various fortresses.

Beyond the fortresses, numerous arrays, both visible and concealed, were spread throughout the mountain range, making the entire area resemble a colossal fortress.

Within the mountains, teams of guards, clad in various colors of armor, patrolled continuously, ranging from a dozen to over a hundred strong.

However, with Han Li's astonishing cultivation, he naturally proceeded unimpeded to the deepest part of the mountain range and stopped before the largest of the dozen or so cities.

He gazed from a distance in the low sky at the prominent character "Long" on a huge banner on the city wall.

Han Li's eyes narrowed; he had already inquired about the situation of these cities when he was back in Tianyuan City.

This place was precisely the stronghold established by the Long Family, in conjunction with over a dozen other prominent families, to resist the demonic race.

Although these families varied in size, and some were not even true spirit families, their influence was considerable. Otherwise, they would not have had the confidence to establish their own base here and confront this demonic tribulation with such assurance.

Naturally, their greatest confidence stemmed from the presence of the Long Family's Old Ancestor, an entity almost considered one of humanity's top combatants.

But what kind of expressions would they have when they learned that this formidable backing, on whom they relied, would eagerly depart this place for the Demon Realm before the demonic tribulation even ended?

After a slightly sarcastic thought crossed his mind, Han Li suddenly flipped his hand, and a golden talisman appeared. With a flicker, it transformed into a golden streak of light that shot out and vanished in an instant.

Then, his escape light flashed, and he landed on a nearby small hilltop. He sat cross-legged on a rock, calmly closing his eyes.