Chapter 2227: True Immortal Descends Frost Centipede Trace

"Since you, Senior, have already advanced to the Grand Ascension stage and noticed me with a single glance, it would be self-deceptive for me to think I could deceive you with just a few words," the bearded man said with a bitter smile.

"Hehe, before meeting you, I hadn't realized that the true body of the famous Heavenly Lan Sacred Beast in the Human Realm was actually one of the Seven Great Demon Kings. Fellow Daoist Tian Lan, your Heavenly Lan avatar certainly kept quiet; it didn't reveal a single word of this in the Human Realm," Han Li chuckled, his gaze a little strange as he spoke.

This Cavern Sky Rat King was indeed the true body of the Heavenly Lan Sacred Beast from the Human Realm.

This was truly something no one could have predicted.

"I, too, never imagined that a human cultivator I once dismissed over a thousand years ago would now become a Grand Ascension stage being whom I must look up to. However, you and I, Senior, have no past grievances. In fact, that avatar even had some dealings with you. Given your current status, you wouldn't genuinely seek trouble with someone like me, a 'junior,' would you?" The bearded man's voice dropped a few octaves at the end.

"Indeed, your Human Realm avatar and I do share some connection. However, before that, when it first descended, it nearly joined forces with others to take my life. It wouldn't be unreasonable for me to settle that 'old score' with your true body now, would it?" Han Li's lips curled slightly as he spoke nonchalantly, uttering words that left the Rat King speechless.

"The incident in the Human Realm was a complete misunderstanding. My avatar descended by possessing a body; it had no consciousness at first and was merely used by others. Besides, didn't you, Senior, eventually turn the Heavenly Lan Saintess from an enemy into a friend?" The Cavern Sky Rat King hastily tried to explain himself in a panic.

"What you say seems to have some merit, but it also depends on whether I'm willing to accept your explanation," Han Li said with a faint, meaningful smile.

"Senior Han, what would it take for you to let go of that past grievance? Whatever the condition, as long as I can fulfill it, I will not refuse," the Cavern Sky Rat King finally realized under Han Li's gaze. After a moment of thought, he gritted his teeth and spoke.

Although Han Li's words were somewhat overbearing, facing such an immense disparity in power, the Cavern Sky Rat King could only reluctantly accept his misfortune.

"Alright. Since Fellow Daoist Cavern Sky is willing to account for what happened, I won't hold onto it too tightly. How about this: just tell me the whereabouts of my Six-Winged Frost Centipede, and we'll consider the matter settled." Han Li yawned, speaking a few words casually. However, the last two sentences, upon reaching the Cavern Sky Rat King's ears, instantly transformed into a thunderous roar, causing his expression to change drastically as if struck by lightning.

"Six-Winged Frost Centipede... Senior Han, you must be joking. Didn't that spirit beast run away on its own? How would I know its whereabouts?" The Cavern Sky Rat King almost subconsciously retorted in a panic. But as soon as the words left his mouth, his expression changed again, showing regret.

"Oh. When did I tell anyone else that the Six-Winged Frost Centipede ran away on its own?" Han Li's expression was a subtle smirk, as he unceremoniously counter-questioned. "Alright. I admit I do know something about the Six-Winged Frost Centipede's whereabouts. But before I tell you, I'd like to understand how you, Senior, knew I had encountered it. I'm certain I've never told anyone else about this," the bearded man said with a grim expression. After pondering for a while, realizing he couldn't hide it any longer, he sighed and admitted it, but then, still somewhat unwilling, he pressed the question.

"It's simple! You should be able to guess it without me telling you," Han Li replied with a light chuckle, a peculiar glint in his eyes.

"I should have known... that spirit beast was once Senior Han's bonded spirit pet. Is that why...?" The bearded man's eyes flickered rapidly, and then a look of realization finally appeared on his face.

"Exactly. Although the Six-Winged Frost Centipede severed its master-servant blood curse connection with me and broke free, a faint trace of spiritual connection remained. Since you spent some time with it, you naturally picked up a subtle aura from it. Even after such a long time, this aura is almost imperceptible, but it cannot escape my spiritual senses," Han Li explained openly, having no intention of concealing it.

"So that's how it is! However, part of it must also be due to Senior Han's sudden surge in divine abilities. How could an ordinary person detect an aura from so many years ago with just spiritual power? And I just happened to stumble right in front of you at this very moment!" The bearded man's expression fluctuated between dark and light for a while before he replied somewhat helplessly.

"Alright, I've told you what you wanted to know. Now, it's time to talk about that Six-Winged Frost Centipede. Fellow Daoist, you are a discerning person, so you wouldn't say anything unreliable, would you? Otherwise, once I find that spirit beast, I can easily verify the truth," Han Li said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, the Cavern Sky Rat King's heart tightened. All his previous small intentions vanished, and he hastily replied, attempting to explain:

"Please rest assured, Senior Han. I encountered this Six-Winged Frost Centipede by chance. Seeing its astonishing potential, I had a sudden idea and simply made a mutually beneficial deal with it."

"A deal?" Han Li's eyebrow twitched slightly upon hearing this.

"Yes, this matter begins with the 'True Yin Reversal Spirit Grand Art' that I obtained back then. This cultivation method is a heaven-defying divine ability that reverses the secret techniques within the Golden Palace Jade Scroll. Back then, I once..." The Cavern Sky Rat King no longer dared to conceal anything and began recounting the story from the very beginning, in full detail.

Han Li sat cross-legged opposite him, quietly listening to the detailed account. His expression remained calm, but waves of emotion occasionally stirred within him.

"And so, ever since parting ways with the Six-Winged Frost Centipede back then, I haven't received any news from it all these years. If I didn't have its Natal Soul Tablet in my possession, I probably wouldn't even be sure if it had survived in the Barren World," the Cavern Sky Rat King concluded his narration with a sigh. Then, with a discerning gesture, he patted his waist, retrieved a light blue crystal tablet, and respectfully offered it to Han Li with both hands.

Han Li's gaze swept lightly over the crystal tablet. He didn't immediately take it but instead asked thoughtfully:

"According to you, the Six-Winged Frost Centipede, having obtained your True Yin Reversal Spirit Grand Art, has not only advanced to the Integration stage but even has a chance of reaching the Grand Ascension stage in the future. Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"

"Senior Han, it's not that I'm exaggerating; the True Yin Reversal Spirit Grand Art truly has the miraculous effect of reversing fate and seizing the fortune of heaven and earth. If it weren't for the fact that I couldn't cultivate this method due to my race and aptitude, why would I have easily imparted it to that spirit beast?" The Cavern Sky Rat King shook his head repeatedly.

"Hmm, what you've said doesn't seem false. In that case, our past grievances are now cleared," Han Li said, his expression softening after a moment of contemplation. With a single-hand gesture, he drew the crystal tablet from the bearded man's hand.

Seeing this, the Cavern Sky Rat King finally felt truly relieved.

Given his current cultivation and status, it was naturally impossible for him to speak falsely about such a minor matter anymore.

Han Li scanned the crystal tablet with his divine sense, nodded, and immediately stood up, seemingly intending to leave.

The Cavern Sky Rat King also quickly rose to see him off.

"Oh, and regarding the Six-Winged Frost Centipede, I don't want anyone else to know about it," Han Li added casually, as if remembering something.

"Please rest assured, Senior Han. I swear by my inner demon that I will never tell a third person about this," the Cavern Sky Rat King replied without hesitation.

"That's good. Fellow Daoist Cavern Sky, you can rest here for a while. You'll be released when the time comes." A satisfied expression flashed across Han Li's face. As he spoke, a golden glow enveloped his body, and he blurred, vanishing into the void.

The next moment, in another secret chamber, the woman in the black dress was startled by Han Li's sudden appearance before her. However, she quickly stepped forward to greet him respectfully.

Han Li waved his hand, signaling her to dispense with the formalities, and spoke directly:

"I came here only to ask about one matter. I hope Fairy Xiao can answer truthfully."

"Please ask away, Senior Han. I will naturally tell you everything I know," the woman in the black dress replied cautiously after a slight hesitation.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to ask about other trivial matters. I just want to know how that girl, Dai'er, is doing. I lost contact with her after the demonic tribulation began. Nothing happened to her, did it?" Han Li said casually, discerning what the woman in the black dress was thinking.

"Ah, Dai'er... Please rest assured, Senior. Dai'er's aptitude is among the best in the next generation of our Black Phoenix Clan. So, at the very beginning of the demonic tribulation, I instructed her and several other clan disciples to enter secluded cultivation in our Black Phoenix Clan's forbidden secret ground. She hasn't emerged since," the woman in the black dress said, startled at first, but then with a sense of relief.

"Good, I'm relieved to know Dai'er is safe. Fairy Xiao, please continue to rest." Han Li said nothing more. After a satisfied nod, he swayed his shoulders and inexplicably vanished from the spot again. The escape technique he employed left the woman in the black dress unable to discern any details.

The Black Phoenix King stared blankly at the spot where Han Li had vanished. After a long while, she sighed and resumed meditating, sitting cross-legged on the ground. Han Li's figure flickered again, reappearing in his usual cultivation chamber. Without haste, he sat down in the lotus position.

This time, he had fortuitously broken through to the Grand Ascension Realm. The immense changes to his physical body, magical power, and divine sense truly required thorough consolidation and adaptation before he could genuinely wield the full power of the Grand Ascension stage.

However, before that, there was still one more thing to do.

Han Li's expression remained unchanged. He flicked his sleeve into the air, and with a buzzing sound, three golden flowers flew out. As soon as they reached above his head, they rapidly expanded in the wind, transforming into massive objects several zhang in size.