Chapter 2241: Black Owl King

"The Demonic Ancestor."

Hearing these four words, which seemed to possess immense demonic power, both the human cultivators and high-level demon beasts present had a drastic change in their expressions. Having just experienced the Demonic Tribulation, they naturally felt an unspeakable dread toward the Demonic Ancestor, who symbolized the greatest power of the demon race.

The Spirit Race member, shrouded in purple light, heard this and their expression subtly changed, though they didn't seem surprised by the answer. After exhaling a long breath, they respectfully bowed and said:

"Thank you for your reply, Senior. If I was presumptuous just now, I hope you will not take offense. This junior will faithfully convey your answer to His Majesty the Holy King."

Han Li nodded and said nothing more.

After the Spirit Race member in purple light sat down, other envoys from various races present began to appear one after another, each presenting their congratulatory gifts and expressing their race's goodwill towards Han Li. This notably included envoys from the Wood Race, who had already split into several factions and pledged allegiance to other races. Facing these envoys, each representing a different race, Han Li smiled and thanked them one by one.

However, after these foreign envoys presented their gifts, a graceful woman, who had been wearing a yellow cloak, stood up from a corner of the square. After removing her hood, she revealed a face of breathtaking beauty, like a figure stepped out of a painting.

"Fairy Rong, this is impossible!"

"It truly is Fairy Rong! Didn't Holy Island declare three thousand years ago that Fairy Rong ventured deep into the wilderness and vanished without a trace?"

Some human cultivators who clearly saw the woman's face immediately stirred into a commotion. Many involuntarily cried out in surprise, their faces filled with disbelief. This woman seemed to be extremely famous, and her appearance instantly caused a stir.

Seeing this, Han Li's heart stirred. His gaze swept over the woman, and he found that although she only had a mid-Body Integration stage cultivation, her aura was strangely unique. Faint crystalline light seemed to emanate from her skin, making her appear as if she were not of the mortal world. Evidently, the cultivation technique this woman practiced was extraordinary; she was not an ordinary Body Integration cultivator.

"And you are...?" Han Li asked, his expression unchanged.

"This junior is Li Rong. On behalf of Holy Island, I congratulate Senior Han on achieving the Grand Ascension stage and becoming the second Grand Ascension cultivator of our race. We specially present a top-tier flying ark, ten first-class maidservants, one hundred top-tier spirit beasts, and one thousand armored puppets as a congratulatory gift." After the beautiful woman curtsied to Han Li, she smiled sweetly, her voice melodious and sweet, like heavenly music.

"So it is an envoy from Holy Island. Such a grand gift, Han Li thanks you. I had already intended to visit Holy Island after the celebration." Han Li nodded, his eyes flickering slightly as he spoke.

"If Senior would grace Holy Island with your presence, it would naturally be something we eagerly desire," Li Rong said with a charming smile. "The fellow daoists on Holy Island have long intended to invite Senior to the island, as there are some very important matters that need to be discussed with Senior."

"Very well, I will certainly go." Han Li nodded, appearing noncommittal.

"This junior has one more matter..."

"Who's there? Hiding furtively outside!"

Li Rong was about to say something more when Han Li's expression suddenly darkened. He abruptly flicked his sleeve towards the distance, simultaneously letting out a low roar.

With a "boom," an invisible force directly passed through the forbidden formation outside the giant mountain, reaching the void several miles away. It seemed to have heavily struck something. A black halo burst open in response. A figure flashed within it, revealing a giant man clad in black armor.

The giant man had a fierce countenance, but a trace of astonishment appeared on his face. He was clearly surprised that Han Li had discovered him from such a distance. However, after his surprise faded, he laughed heartily, not caring at all.

"Haha... Fellow Daoist Han," the giant man boomed. "This Ye came uninvited. You don't mind, do you?"

As soon as the black-armored giant finished speaking, he clasped his fist towards Han Li from afar. After taking a huge stride, he somehow flashed across several miles, appearing directly above the three-colored giant mountain, then swaggered downwards.

With a "fwoosh," the formation, composed of several layers of light barriers, shattered like paper upon contact with the giant man's body. The giant man, enveloped in black light, landed directly in the lower air above the square. With his arms crossed, he faced Han Li from a distance.

The cultivators present were initially stunned by this sight, but some hot-tempered human cultivators immediately began to shout angrily. However, some more seasoned and steady individuals, seeing the giant man's utterly unconcerned expression even in front of Han Li, a Grand Ascension stage cultivator, couldn't help but feel a shock in their hearts.

"King Owl... it's King Black Owl of the Yaksha Race!" Li Rong exclaimed, gasping sharply after scrutinizing the giant man from head to toe.

"King Black Owl?"

Han Li's brow furrowed slightly, and a strange glint flashed in his eyes. The other cultivators who had been berating the giant man had evidently heard of his name. Their shouts of reprimand instantly ceased, replaced by expressions of terror.

"Oh, have you seen me before, little girl?" the giant man asked, glancing at the woman with considerable surprise.

"This junior, several millennia ago, once met Senior with Teacher Mo," Li Rong quickly replied, her face slightly pale and a hint of fear in her voice.

"So you're the girl who was with that old devil Mo back then," the giant man said. "After all these years, you've actually become a Body Integration cultivator. Not bad, not bad!" As he spoke, his gaze towards Li Rong revealed an unconcealed hint of lewdness.

Li Rong's heart sank, and she almost immediately wanted to turn and flee. Fortunately, she still remembered that she was currently in Heavenly Abyss City and that a newly advanced Grand Ascension cultivator of her own race was also present. Therefore, she suppressed the fear in her heart, barely managed to remain calm and didn't move from her spot, merely lowering her gaze to subconsciously avoid the other party's ill-intentioned look.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Black Owl of the Yaksha Race. For you to appear here in person truly flatters Han Li." Han Li finally spoke, his expression unusually calm, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

"Heh heh, Fellow Daoist, you are the second Grand Ascension being born in the human race, and the only newly advanced Grand Ascension cultivator born among our various races in nearly ten thousand years," the giant man said with a chuckle, turning his head towards Han Li. "How could this old man not come to see you with his own eyes and gather some experience before returning?"

"I see," Han Li said, nodding and giving an order. "Unfortunately, I only advanced to the Grand Ascension stage by chance; I'm afraid I'll disappoint Fellow Daoist Black Owl. However, a guest from afar is always welcome. Someone, prepare a seat for Fellow Daoist Black Owl!"

"Yes, Master!" the Artifact Spirit responded, and was about to carry out the task.

But the giant man waved a large hand, impatiently bellowing directly at Han Li:

"No need for such trouble. This venerable one will not be staying long here. After I finish speaking with Fellow Daoist, I will leave shortly."

"Oh, does Fellow Daoist Black Owl have something to say to Han Li?" Han Li asked indifferently.

"Indeed," the giant man said, grinning widely and speaking with a hint of ferocity. "This venerable one came here, firstly, to see what kind of person Fellow Daoist Han truly is. Just now, you were able to detect my presence from such a distance, which shows your divine abilities are indeed extraordinary and have not disappointed me. Secondly, I wish to request a person from Fellow Daoist. No, I've changed my mind now. I intend to request two people."

"Request two people? Which two?" Han Li's eyes narrowed.

"I hear Fellow Daoist Han has a disciple with a Hidden Lightning Root, and this venerable one intends to borrow them for use in resisting the next Heavenly Tribulation," the giant man's voice boomed. "As for the other person, it is this fairy here. This venerable one has taken a liking to her and intends to take her back to the Yaksha Race to be my personal concubine." The content of his words made almost all cultivators present gasp in disbelief.

"What? He actually wants Senior Han's disciple?"

"And he dares to make Fairy Rong his concubine? He simply doesn't put our two races in his eyes!"

The cultivators instantly erupted in fury, but intimidated by his reputation as a Grand Ascension cultivator, they dared not directly curse him. Most could only stare at this Yaksha Grand Ascension cultivator with fiery eyes.

"King Black Owl, how dare you eye me?" Li Rong's face turned extremely grim after hearing this, and she suddenly spoke sharply. "Have you forgotten Teacher Mo's warning to you?"

"Teacher Mo... Haha, you humans truly are good at deceiving yourselves," Black Owl said, bursting into wild laughter. "Do you really think this venerable one doesn't know that old monster Mo and old devil Ao Xiao have long left your race and their whereabouts are unknown? Otherwise, how would this venerable one dare to come here?" He uttered words that caused all cultivators in the square to blanch in shock.

"Seniors Mo and Ao Xiao... something happened to them?"

"He must be spouting nonsense. How could anything happen to two Seniors with such vast divine abilities?"

"However, indeed, the two Seniors have not sent any news for these past years."

This time, everyone in the square could no longer remain calm; they all became extremely terrified. Hearing this, some of the foreign envoys were equally shocked, while others showed strange expressions.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you wouldn't bring great disaster upon your noble race just for the sake of two mere individuals, would you?" King Black Owl's expression turned cold. Completely ignoring everyone else in the square, he spoke grimly to Han Li. "Although you've also advanced to the Grand Ascension stage, to truly grasp the power of Grand Ascension, you'll need several hundred years—don't even think about it before then. You're simply no match for me."

His words were filled with menace.

"So, Fellow Daoist Black Owl is not here to attend Han Li's Grand Ascension celebration, but deliberately to cause trouble?" Han Li's unchanging expression finally stirred after he heard the giant man's previous words, and he actually chuckled softly.

"Cause trouble?" A ferocious grin appeared on the giant man's face, and he spoke unceremoniously, looking utterly defiant. "If Fellow Daoist Han wishes to think that, it's not entirely wrong."

"Very well. Since you are an unwelcome guest, then as the host, Han Li has no choice but to personally take action to expel you and teach you a lesson." Han Li's expression darkened, and he said icily.

No sooner had he spoken than he lightly formed a hand seal with one hand. The three-colored giant peak hummed, and suddenly, countless strands of five-colored light threads erupted from various parts of the square and swept towards the giant man. At the same time, a roar echoed above the square as golden and silver lightning flashed wildly, transforming into streaks of electric snakes that plunged downwards. Han Li actually activated the giant peak's formation, making his move without holding back.

"You really dare to attack this Black? You truly have a death wish!" The giant man, seeing this, burst into joyous laughter instead of getting angry. "But in that case, it won't be considered that I, Black, violated my oath."

Following this, he suddenly clenched both hands into fists and fiercely slammed them together in front of him.

With a "boom," rings of black sound waves instantly surged forth!