Chapter 2032: Advance Agreement

Chapter 10: Battle of the Demon Realm

Book Title: A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality

"Senior Ao Xiao has not only gone to Sacred Island but will also remain there for a considerable period until the true decisive battle with the demon race begins," the Long Family Patriarch stated in a deep voice.

"So, it seems the demon progenitor's arrival is likely true. If that's the case, our plans are completely disrupted," Han Li said with a sigh.

"Isn't that the truth! Originally, we planned to endure the demon race's initial fierce offensives, and then, once the war situation stabilized somewhat, we would confidently enter the Demon Realm. But now that the demon progenitor is personally coming to this realm, things are much more complicated. The key to victory or defeat in the upcoming great war will largely depend on how Senior Ao Xiao, Lord Mo Jianli, and Sacred Island respond. If our two races are defeated, this region will surely have to be ceded to the demon race, and we will have no choice but to immediately evacuate and flee far away, completely unable to consider entering the Demon Realm. And if we win, all the demon race members will retreat back to the Demon Realm. At that time, all the passage nodes will surely be filled with a large number of high-level demons, making it equally difficult for us to infiltrate. However, if we infiltrate the Demon Realm before the demon progenitor arrives, the entire Demon Realm will soon become temporarily empty due to the war, and our risks could be minimized. From this perspective, the demon progenitor's departure is also greatly beneficial to our actions," the Long Family Patriarch said with a bitter smile.

"For now, this is the only way to think about it. But Brother Long, have you mentioned this matter to the Spirit Race?" Han Li asked with a moment of hesitation.

"Contact with the Spirit Race isn't very convenient, so I haven't had a chance to tell them yet. However, as long as we have no problems on our side, I imagine the Spirit Race won't either. This time, with the demon progenitor's arrival, their targets can't possibly be limited to just the Human and Monster races; other nearby foreign races should also be their objectives. In that case, their choices will likely be similar," the Long Family Patriarch replied with great confidence.

"I see. But this matter is of no small importance. How about you allow me two days to consider it before I give you my reply, Fellow Daoist?" Han Li said with a touch of gravity after a moment of thought.

"Haha, that's perfectly understandable. Then I will visit again in two days to hear your reply, Fellow Daoist Han." The Long Family Patriarch agreed without surprise, a smile on his face.

"In two days, I, Han, will certainly give you a definite answer. But before that, I'd like to understand the demon race's movements on your side, Brother Long. I hope you won't hesitate to enlighten me," Han Li nodded, then suddenly changed the subject.

"I'm not too clear about other places, but although our several family strongholds have been attacked by the demon race a few times, we've managed to hold them, barely. However, this is also because the main force of the demon race has been drawn to Sacred Emperor City; otherwise, our families would be in some danger. It seems the demon commander leading the forces at Sacred Emperor City intends to first concentrate their power to capture Sacred Emperor City, and then come to annihilate us and other lesser forces. And the Sacred Emperor indeed lives up to his reputation as the top existence among our human race; under the demon army's frantic assault, he still manages to both attack and defend, only slightly at a disadvantage. In the beginning, when the demon race besieged the city..." The Long Family Patriarch pondered for a moment, then slowly began to recount.

Han Li listened very attentively, occasionally interjecting with specific questions, all of which the Long Family Patriarch answered as fully as he could.

After listening, Han Li was greatly satisfied.

So, the Long Family's foremost cultivator chatted with Han Li for a while longer, then discreetly took his leave.

Han Li saw him off to the entrance of the main hall, then seemingly casually asked a question:

"In the news you received, Brother Long, did Senior Ao Xiao appear alone on Sacred Island, or was he accompanied by any other disciples or sect members?"

"I'm not too clear on the exact specifics, but Senior Ao Xiao does seem to have brought a direct descendant with him. Why do you ask, Brother Han?" The Long Family Patriarch replied with a touch of curiosity.

"It's nothing, I just asked casually," Han Li chuckled, replying vaguely.

Hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in the Long Family Patriarch's eyes, but as it didn't concern him, he naturally didn't press further. After taking a few steps to a terrace, he cupped his hands slightly towards Han Li, then transformed into a dazzling rainbow and escaped the stone pagoda.

Han Li watched motionless as the Long Family Patriarch's escape light vanished without a trace, then returned to the main hall expressionlessly.

At this moment, Qi Lingzi and Hai Dashao entered the main hall, standing on either side once more.

"Master, have you encountered any trouble? Can your disciple be of any assistance?" After rolling his eyes twice, Hai Dashao asked with a grin.

"If you two could help me resolve it, then it wouldn't be much trouble for your master," Han Li glanced at him, replying noncommittally.

"It's all our fault for having such shallow cultivation, unable to help ease your worries, Master," Qi Lingzi interjected, a look of shame on his face.

"You two are already one in ten thousand in terms of cultivation talent; otherwise, you wouldn't have reached your current realm in such a short time. It's just that this matter is extremely dangerous even for cultivators at the Integration Stage. It's normal for you not to be able to intervene. Alright, let's not discuss your master's affairs for now. First, tell me about the general situation in Tianyuan City. Have the remaining demons been completely wiped out?" Han Li shook his head, then suddenly asked with a serious expression.

"Reporting, Master, ever since you entered seclusion, Senior Gu and the others returned to the city for a brief rest, then immediately went their separate ways..." Qi Lingzi immediately recounted all the recent changes and major events that had occurred in Tianyuan City to Han Li.

After Qi Lingzi finished recounting what he considered the last significant event, Han Li had a fairly good understanding of everything that had happened recently. However, after a moment's thought, he made no comment, but instead suddenly asked about Bing Feng.

Hai Dashao hurriedly replied: "Reporting, Master, after the great battle, Aunt-Master Feng seems to have grasped the spiritual opportunity for a breakthrough and has also entered seclusion. According to Aunt-Master, she will emerge from seclusion in as little as a few months or as long as a year."

Han Li showed a hint of satisfaction upon hearing this: "Your Aunt-Master Feng originally possesses the Spiritual Phoenix bloodline, so comprehending something during the great battle is a sign that her opportune moment has arrived. During this time, you two must guard the pagoda well and not allow anyone to disturb her comprehension."

"Yes, Master."

Qi Lingzi and Hai Dashao naturally accepted the order without question.

"Alright, I need some quiet time alone. You two may leave first," Han Li nodded contentedly and instructed.

"Master, please rest. Your disciples will take our leave."

Qi Lingzi and Hai Dashao bowed deeply and retreated towards the door.

"Oh, and one more thing," Han Li suddenly remembered something as his two disciples reached the doorway, and abruptly cautioned them, "do not easily reveal the matter of Fellow Daoist Long's visit today to outsiders."

Qi Lingzi and the other disciple felt a chill in their hearts, and naturally agreed respectfully.

In a flash, only Han Li remained in the main hall.

He sat quietly in his chair, propping his chin with one hand, his eyes slightly narrowed as he began to ponder, a faint, entranced expression subtly visible on his face.

...

Over half a year later, above a certain continuous mountain range, a group of demons, their bodies enveloped in rolling black mist, were ceaselessly battling seven or eight human cultivators.

The power gap between the two sides seemed insignificant, which only made their struggle even more intense. Amidst flashes of light and demonic aura, various booming sounds resounded endlessly.

Suddenly, a spiritual light flashed on the distant horizon, and a five-colored dazzling rainbow appeared, shimmering. With a single whoosh, the rainbow strangely arrived nearby in an instant.

Both the demons and the human cultivators below were greatly startled. Unsure whether the newcomer was friend or foe, they involuntarily ceased their fighting and quickly retreated.

But just then, a clear, young woman's laughter came from within the five-colored dazzling rainbow:

"Since I've stumbled upon this, I might as well give you a hand."

No sooner had she spoken than the dazzling rainbow paused briefly over the demon side, instantly revealing a faintly discernible, slender figure. With a flick of her hands, thousands upon thousands of five-colored light threads shot forth, and in a flash, they pierced the bodies of the demons, leaving them riddled with holes, as they turned to dust and vanished within the vibrant glowing light.

"Many thanks for your great kindness, Senior!"

Seeing this, the human cultivators were overjoyed, and immediately bowed towards the sky, expressing endless gratitude.

But besides a light chuckle, the hazy figure said nothing further. With a slight stamp of her foot, she once again transformed into a five-colored dazzling rainbow and soared away, vanishing without a trace in the nearby sky after just a few flashes.

Only the human cultivators, looking at each other in bewilderment, remained.

After exchanging a few words, they also hastily departed.

Not long after these human cultivators left, a disturbance suddenly occurred high in the sky, and two figures silently appeared once more.

One of them was extraordinarily tall, clad in black battle armor, with an exceptionally ugly and ferocious face. The other was a slender woman in a white palace dress, but her entire body was enveloped in a thin layer of pink spiritual mist, making her face impossible to discern.

"Master, should I eliminate those human cultivators from earlier?" the large man in black armor rumbled, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

The woman in the white palace dress shook her head, speaking with unusual calm: "They are merely some mid-level human cultivators; why bother with them? All we need to do is stick closely behind this woman."

"But Master," the large man in black armor said with some hesitation, "we've been secretly tracking this woman for about a year, yet we haven't gained anything. Could the previous prediction have been wrong somewhere?"

"It's not uncommon for such profound divinations to make errors. However, the last casting was quite successful. When I first saw this woman, guided by the divination results, I was certain she was the person foretold by the hexagrams. Following her should give us a certain chance to find a spiritual medicine that can heal my injuries, or others who possess such medicine. This is far more promising than blindly searching across such a vast human territory." The woman in the palace dress glanced indifferently at the black-armored man, yet replied without any change in her expression.