Chapter 2246: The Secret of the Spiritual Cauldron

“Though the Nourishing Essence Pill can replenish a small portion of your vital energy, you will still need a period of good rest and recuperation to fully recover,” Han Li said, first smiling, then asking with considerable interest, “However, Blood Gu Worms are extremely rare on our Fengyuan Continent. Why were you subjected to such an ambush?”

Xue Hun replied with a sigh, “Since Senior Han knows about Blood Gu Worms, you must also be aware that they are not native to the Fengyuan Continent at all. I was ambushed on the Xuetian Continent and that’s how I contracted the Blood Gu Worms. If it weren’t for my special physique and my ability to forcibly suppress the worm with a secret technique, I fear I would have turned into a pool of foul blood before I could even make it back to my family.”

“So you did go to the Xuetian Continent,” Han Li said, nodding. “But I heard from Friend Xu Jiao that you initially planned to visit the Leiming Continent. How did you end up in Xuetian?”

“Initially, I did go to the Leiming Continent first,” Xue Hun replied with a bitter smile. “But after recovering some of my memories, I found I had no choice but to go to the Xuetian Continent. That was something I hadn’t anticipated either.”

“I see,” Han Li mused for a moment, looking profound. “But as far as I know, Blood Gu Worms are a top-tier spiritual insect even on the Xuetian Continent, not something ordinary cultivators can control. It seems you stirred up quite a bit of trouble there.”

“It was more than just a little trouble,” the white-robed woman said faintly. “I barely survived this time, and I truly made several formidable enemies on the Xuetian Continent. If I were to set foot on that continent alone again, I fear it would be difficult for me to leave unscathed.”

“Oh, from your tone, you intend to return to the Xuetian Continent?” Han Li’s smile vanished, and he asked, his brow slightly furrowed.

“That’s right. I must go back to the Xuetian Continent,” Xue Hun said with some helplessness after a moment of thought. “Because in my new memories, Ice Soul was last lost on the Xuetian Continent. I found some clues last time, but to truly retrieve my main body, a return trip to the Xuetian Continent is absolutely necessary.”

“Friend Ice Soul disappeared in Xuetian? No wonder the Xu family had no clues earlier,” Han Li said, not showing too much surprise. He smiled and then asked, “But why did you offer the Empty Sky Cauldron as a congratulatory gift this time? Before you truly retrieve Friend Ice Soul, shouldn't this cauldron still be of great use?”

Upon hearing these words, a strange expression flashed across the white-robed woman’s face. She suddenly instructed Xu Jiao and the other Xu family disciples:

“You all may leave first. I have a very important matter that requires a private discussion with Senior Han. If anything comes up, I will summon you back in.”

“Yes, Senior. We will wait outside,” Xu Jiao and the others exchanged glances, then complied without daring to object. They exited the main hall one after another.

“Senior Han, should these friends also…” The white-robed woman’s gaze swept over Yin Yue, Li Rong, and the others, her expression a little hesitant.

“It seems what Friend Xue Hun is about to say is truly important. Yin Yue, you all may also step aside,” Han Li pondered for a moment, then calmly instructed.

Yin Yue, Li Rong, and the others naturally nodded in agreement and walked towards the hall entrance.

The Crab Daoist, though silent, followed behind the others with a blank expression.

In an instant, only Han Li and the white-robed woman remained in the entire main hall.

“Now, if you have any secrets, you may speak freely,” Han Li said, looking at the woman opposite him with a half-smile.

“Please excuse me, Senior Han,” the white-robed woman’s expression turned serious. “Indeed, it is not suitable for others to be present during our discussion. Would Senior like to know the true purpose for which this Empty Sky Cauldron was forged? I intend to use this cauldron to secretly make a transaction with Senior.”

“True purpose! A transaction!” Han Li’s expression showed a hint of interest upon hearing this.

“Precisely. I can assure you that Senior will benefit immensely once you learn this secret,” Xue Hun said solemnly.

“Oh, if this secret is truly as useful as you claim, then a transaction with you is certainly not out of the question,” Han Li replied calmly. “However, first, Friend Xue Hun must convince me.”

“Good. I knew Friend Han would definitely be interested in this,” Xue Hun’s eyes flickered as she slowly began to explain. “Regarding the true origin of the Empty Sky Cauldron, it actually goes back to an opportunity I had when I was in the Human Realm. It is a treasure I painstakingly replicated based on the records of a page from the Golden Pagoda Jade Scroll. Its true purpose is not for combat or fighting, but a key…”

Han Li listened quietly, a faint smile on his face at first, but soon after, his expression gradually turned serious, and finally, a hint of shock even flashed in his eyes!

Half a day later, Han Li finally left the Xu family, courteously seen off by its members. He then boarded a large white flying boat and sped towards the human race's central region.

“Brother Han, what did Friend Xue Hun discuss with you that took so long?” Yin Yue asked, a hint of curiosity in her tone.

“Nothing much, just made an agreement with Friend Xue Hun,” Han Li glanced at Yin Yue and said with a smile.

“An agreement?” Yin Yue blinked her beautiful eyes, a thoughtful expression on her face.

“One could also loosely call it a transaction,” Han Li added casually.

Yin Yue smiled charmingly and did not press for more details.

Although Li Rong was also very interested, she knew she couldn’t compare to Yin Yue and wisely refrained from asking further questions.

However, Zhu Guo’er asked without much thought:

“Senior Han, we’ve already visited the Xu family. Where do we go next?”

“Next... it’s the Sacred Island, of course. Friend Li, I’ll need you to lead the way now,” Han Li said frankly to Li Rong.

“Please don’t worry, Senior. I will definitely take Senior to the Sacred Island as quickly as possible,” Li Rong was overjoyed to hear this and quickly assured him.

“Good. I also hope to enter the Sacred Island soon,” Han Li said leisurely.

No sooner had he spoken, the jade boat trembled slightly, and its escape speed immediately doubled amidst a flash of light. It soared into the sky like a long rainbow and vanished in an instant.

Two months later, in a rarely known, remote mountain range bordering the human and demon races, there lay a vast sea of mist.

Its end was nowhere in sight, covering almost a third of the entire mountain range.

However, upon entering the mist sea for over ten thousand miles, a dark island could be found, floating hundreds of feet above the ground in the low sky.

Near the island, hundreds of meteorite-like boulders slowly rotated around it.

On each of these boulders, which were several acres in size, pavilions and high platforms were conspicuously built. On them, faintly visible, were solemn-faced armored guards standing ramrod straight.

Furthermore, flying boats and chariots periodically flew in and out from the giant island, patrolling back and forth in more distant areas.

In the void near the island, layers of visible light barrier restrictions, one upon another, almost completely covered the sky.

The island’s defenses could not be described as anything but watertight, and this place was precisely the “Sacred Island,” the holy land in the hearts of countless members of both the human and demon races.

At the same time, in a hall at the center of the Sacred Island, a dozen Integration-stage elders, dressed in various colored robes, sat on chairs on either side. However, most of them appeared anxious and uneasy.

“Fairy Li and the others should be arriving soon, shouldn’t they?” a man with a fair complexion finally asked an old man, unable to bear the wait.

“Friend Xun, why be so impatient?” the old man slowly replied. “Since Fairy Rong sent a message ahead of time saying they would arrive today, it must be true.”

“I understand that, of course,” the fair-complexioned man said with a sigh. “But it’s already past noon, and I’m worried that Fairy Li and her companions might have encountered some mishap on the way.”

“Heh heh, with Senior Han accompanying them, how could anything happen?” a woman in a white fur coat said with a chuckle.

“Indeed, given the divine abilities Senior Han displayed at the celebration, I fear even Lord Mo and Senior Aoxiao cannot compare,” the white-haired old man said with a bitter smile. “If it weren’t for that, we Sacred Island elders wouldn’t all be waiting here patiently for half a day.”

“However, rumors are still just rumors. None of us have witnessed it firsthand,” the fair-complexioned man still showed a trace of hesitation. “Can Senior Han’s divine abilities truly be so powerful that with just a casual move, he easily severely wounded the hidden Great Ascension Yaksha King of the Yaksha Tribe? That still sounds rather unbelievable.”

“Even if the rumors are slightly exaggerated, Senior Han’s divine abilities are definitely not comparable to those of a newly advanced Great Ascension cultivator; that much is certainly true,” the old man affirmed without hesitation. “Moreover, with Lord Mo and Senior Aoxiao trapped in the Demon Realm, we can only hope Senior Han intervenes to rescue them. From any perspective, we must now do our utmost to assist Senior Han.”

“Since a new Great Ascension existence has appeared in both races, our Sacred Island naturally must do its best to assist,” the fair-complexioned man said with a bitter smile. “It’s just that we had previously greatly offended him because of his disciples. Senior Han wouldn’t be greatly displeased with the Sacred Island because of this, would he?”

Upon hearing this, some of the Sacred Island elders who had not spoken had a slight change in expression.

“Rest assured,” the old man said dismissively. “Senior Han, having advanced to the Great Ascension stage, naturally wouldn’t be narrow-minded. Furthermore, our previous actions were originally for the future of our two races. Senior Han would certainly not hold this against us.”

Hearing the old man say this, the other Integration-stage elders’ expressions visibly relaxed.

After the old man chuckled, just as he was about to say something more, a pleasant, soft laugh suddenly came from outside the hall:

“All you fellow Daoists are indeed here. In that case, this little sister won’t need to announce everyone one by one.”

No sooner had the voice fallen, figures flickered outside the hall entrance, and three women walked in.

They were precisely Li Rong, Yin Yue, and Zhu Guo’er. The one who had just spoken was indeed Li Rong herself, a beaming smile on her face.

Only Han Li and the Crab Daoist were nowhere to be seen.

“Ah, it’s Fairy Li, Friend Linglong. Has Senior Han already arrived…”

A stir went through the people in the main hall. The old man, startled, immediately stood up and asked.

“Senior Han has indeed arrived at the Sacred Island,” Li Rong said with a charming smile. “But he did not come with us; he went to other parts of the island first. But rest assured, Senior will soon be here to meet everyone.”