Chapter 2193: War in the Demon Realm Number Two Array Core

These colossal structures included enormous pavilions resembling palaces, honeycomb-shaped islands like small mountains, and even a massive cloud transformed directly from a hazy green light.

Upon these giant structures were also packed the allied forces of various races. After a brief pause in mid-air, they were escorted by numerous flying chariots and war boats, densely streaming away from above Mianmu City, rumbling as they flew towards the distance.

The departing allied forces took away nearly half of Mianmu City's elite strength, including three Grand Ascension stage cultivators. They would also rendezvous at the demon race border with several other reinforcing forces from different cities, ultimately forming a power capable of truly confronting the demon army.

Han Li did not leave with this force. Instead, when Mo Jianli and others led the team away, he stood above the pavilion, gazing into the distance for a while, then calmly returned to his residence to continue cultivating.

Five days later, Mianmu City, which had been quiet, became restless again as another allied force, primarily composed of the Wood Race's own strength, gathered, also preparing to depart Mianmu City.

At this moment, Han Li, who was meditating with closed eyes on the top floor of the pavilion, subtly shifted his expression, stopped his cultivation, and opened his eyes.

A moment later, footsteps were heard from the staircase as Zhu Guo'er came up and respectfully said to Han Li:

"Senior Han, the Wood Race has sent someone to invite you over."

"I understand," Han Li said in a commanding tone. "Your cultivation is still too low. For this battle, you should remain in Mianmu City. After the battle concludes, I will return to take you back to your clan."

"Yes, Guo'er will heed Senior's words." Zhu Guo'er was first startled upon hearing this, but immediately detected an unchallengeable tone in Han Li's words and promptly lowered her head in agreement.

Han Li nodded slightly, then calmly stood up and walked downstairs from the pavilion.

When he arrived at the ground floor hall, Daoist Crab was quietly sitting cross-legged on the floor in a corner, his face devoid of any expression.

In the center of the hall, a young Wood Race male with emerald-green skin was standing there, looking somewhat uneasy.

With just a glance, Han Li could tell that this young Wood Race male only had Nascent Soul stage cultivation and had only recently successfully formed his Nascent Soul.

"Greetings, Senior Han. Junior has been sent by the Grand Elder to specially invite you to depart." As soon as the young Wood Race male saw Han Li appear, he hastily stepped forward two paces and bowed deeply as he spoke.

"Grand Elder? Isn't your clan's Grand Elder recuperating within the Sacred Tree?" Han Li narrowed his eyes and asked slowly.

"To answer Senior," the young Wood Race male explained, lowering his head, "the position of our Wood Race Grand Elder is currently being temporarily held by Elder Zihan."

"I see," Han Li nodded calmly. "Lead the way. Brother Crab, let's go together." He then called out to Daoist Crab.

Daoist Crab did not speak in reply, but after his figure blurred, he silently appeared behind Han Li.

The young Wood Race male was naturally greatly startled upon seeing this, but at Han Li's subtle gaze, he dared not ask further and hastily walked out the door.

Led by him, Han Li and Daoist Crab walked out of the pavilion. With a sweep of his gaze towards the sky, Han Li immediately saw more than a dozen azure cloud masses, each spanning thousands of acres, rising into the air and quietly hovering high above.

On top of these cloud masses, pavilions and terraces were faintly visible, and numerous guards from various races were busily moving in and out, as if transporting goods from Mianmu City onto these azure clouds.

Han Li only took a few glances, then withdrew his gaze, and with a flash of escape light, he followed the young Wood Race male, streaking towards the largest azure cloud mass in the sky.

Daoist Crab followed closely behind his escape light.

A moment later, Han Li's escape light faded as he appeared on a platform on the cloud mass, constructed entirely from light yellow wood. At one end of the platform, there was a verdant green hall, over a hundred zhang tall.

At the entrance of the grand hall, there were surprisingly more than a dozen fully armed Wood Race guards stationed.

"Senior Han, the acting Grand Elder is waiting for you seniors inside the hall," the young Wood Race male carefully explained.

Han Li glanced at the hall a few times, and after sweeping his spiritual sense inside, immediately sensed several strong presences within. A slight curl appeared at the corner of his mouth, then he gestured for the young Wood Race male to continue leading the way and walked forward.

Clearly, the Wood Race guards in front of the hall recognized the young Wood Race male and had no intention of stopping them when they approached. But a moment later, as soon as these guards sensed the unfathomable spiritual pressure emanating from Han Li, their previously impassive faces all changed, and their gazes towards Han Li unconsciously carried traces of fear.

Even when Han Li walked past them, these Wood Race guards unconsciously bowed their heads.

Although their races were different, when facing a true powerhouse, the reverence displayed by these Wood Race guards was no less than when facing a strong individual from their own race.

But at this moment, Han Li suddenly moved his lips slightly, transmitting a few words to Daoist Crab behind him.

Daoist Crab's eyes flickered slightly, then he suddenly paused his steps and stopped. With his hands clasped behind his back, he walked towards one side of the hall entrance.

The Wood Race guards were all somewhat surprised to see this, but after exchanging glances, none of them spoke.

Meanwhile, at this moment, Han Li, led by the young Wood Race male, passed through a corridor and entered the main hall of the palace, casually sweeping his gaze inside.

In the hall, which was dozens of zhang wide, there were surprisingly only three people.

On the main seat, representing the host, sat an elderly Wood Race male with a full head of purple hair, at the late Body Integration stage of cultivation, with a withered and thin appearance. He was dressed in a green robe and wore a half-silver, half-gold belt around his waist.

Below the elderly Wood Race male, on his left and right, sat a burly Wood Race man in silver armor and a tall, black-clad young woman, respectively.

Both of these individuals were at the mid-Body Integration stage of cultivation.

The burly man was exceptionally robust, nearly two heads taller than an average Wood Race member. He had several deep wrinkles on his forehead and lifeless eyes, making him appear somewhat listless.

The black-clad young woman appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, with a pair of short black horns on her head and a beautiful face, but an exceptionally cold expression.

As soon as Han Li walked in, the three individuals who had been conversing all fell silent and swept their gaze towards him.

"So you are Brother Han, I presume?" As soon as the elderly Wood Race male clearly saw that Han Li's cultivation was indeed at the late Body Integration stage, he immediately stood up with a wide smile and cupped his fist from a distance. "This old man has long heard Senior Mo speak of your extraordinary divine abilities. It is truly a blessing for our clan to have your assistance in this battle!"

"Fellow Daoist Han, Cao Ji pays his respects!"

"So you are Han Li. From your cultivation, you are indeed much stronger than both Fellow Daoist Cao and I. My name is Fei Xiaoxi, from the Yaksha Race."

After the other two sensed that Han Li's cultivation was superior to theirs, they also stood up, each with a different expression, and spoke with a similar bow.

"Han arrived a bit late, keeping you three fellow daoists waiting," Han Li returned the courtesy calmly.

"Please take a seat, Brother Han," the elderly Wood Race male said with a smile after inviting Han Li to sit down. "I was just discussing the protection of the array core with these two fellow daoists. Later, Fellow Daoist Cao and Fairy Fei will be grouped with Brother Han to jointly guard the same array core."

As for the young Wood Race male, at the elderly Wood Race male's gesture, he had already respectfully retreated from the hall.

"With Fellow Daoist Cao and Fairy Fei assisting, Han will have a bit more confidence in guarding the array core," Han Li said with a yawn, appearing as if he already considered Cao Ji and Fei Xiaoxi his subordinates.

Given his cultivation level, which clearly surpassed the other two, there was naturally no need for him to be overly polite at this moment; otherwise, he might find himself constrained later.

The burly Wood Race man's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this, but his face showed no unusual expression. The black-clad young woman, however, subtly changed her expression and couldn't help but let out a soft snort from her nose.

"Haha, with the combined strength of you three fellow daoists, I too believe that array core will certainly be impenetrable," the elderly Wood Race male said with a solemn expression after a slight pause. "However, besides guarding the array core from demon attacks, you three also have another important task."

"Another important task?" The black-clad young woman frowned, becoming somewhat displeased. "Why did I not hear about this from my clan's Grand Elder when I accepted the mission? Could it be something your esteemed clan added temporarily?"

"Of course not," the elderly Wood Race male explained nonchalantly. "In truth, while it's called an important task, it will primarily be Fellow Daoist Cao's responsibility when the time comes. Brother Han and Fairy Fei's tasks will still simply be to guard the array core well."

"Oh, what exactly will Fellow Daoist Cao be doing then, Brother Zihan?" Han Li asked with considerable interest. "Could you briefly explain?"

"It's nothing much, actually," the elderly Wood Race male said with a smile. "However, some subtle variations of the Wood Realm Grand Array might require the assistance of power from the three array cores. At that time, someone will be needed to manipulate the array core to coordinate with the entire grand array. The incantations for manipulating the array core's changes have already been taught to Cao Ji and two others. It's just that when they activate the array core's power, they will still need the extra protection of other fellow daoists."

"I see. That's naturally not a problem," Han Li said nonchalantly with a slight smile. "The Wood Realm Grand Array is originally your esteemed clan's protective array, so it's only fitting that its core be manipulated by someone from your clan."

"I have no problem either. Let Brother Cao be responsible for the array core." The black-clad young woman considered for a moment, then also nodded in agreement.

"Good, I knew you two fellow daoists would definitely lend your full support," the elderly Wood Race male said with great joy, rising again to bow to Han Li and the other two. "Once the grand array is set up, this second array core will truly be entirely entrusted to you three."

"Elder Zihan, rest assured!"

"Not at all, we will naturally do our best."

Han Li and the other two naturally also rose to return the courtesy.

In the time that followed, the elderly Wood Race male further advised them on various matters requiring attention and finally gave Han Li and the other two each a jade slip, which contained records of some restriction variations of the Wood Realm Grand Battle, to be memorized by all three.

In case powerful enemies truly breached the array core, they could also use the power of the restrictions to defend against them.

After explaining everything, the elderly Wood Race male issued another command, summoning three Wood Race individuals to arrange temporary resting places for Han Li and the other two in different structures on the colossal cloud mass.

After all, there was still a long journey from Mianmu City to the place where the grand array would be set up.

Before that, Han Li and the others naturally needed to rest well and conserve their strength.

Half a day later, a rumbling sound resonated in the high sky once more. As the dozen-plus colossal cloud masses began to move, they also departed Mianmu City, escorted by thousands of flying chariots and war boats, speeding directly towards the demon-occupied territories.