Chapter 2252: Evil Lotus Saint Ancestor

"So, Senior, you already know about the Mother of Insectoids. In that case, I naturally have nothing to hide," the thin old man replied, his expression relaxing after a moment of surprise.

"We learned about the Mother of Insectoids many years ago. Her emergence this time is indeed tied to the current great catastrophe. However, we are not entirely clear about the present state of the Saint Realm, which is why I'm inquiring with you, a city lord. Please tell me everything you know," Han Li asked calmly.

"Yes, Senior! The information I possess isn't extensive, and I've only truly understood it within the last decade or so. What I know is that the insectoids currently appearing in the Saint Realm are ordinary demonic insects that mutated into their current ferocious form after being infected by some aura leaked from the Mother of Insectoids' seal. Once these common demonic insects transform into insectoids, their power not only increases significantly, but their reproductive capacity also surges by dozens of times. Otherwise, these insectoids wouldn't be growing in number despite eradication efforts, ultimately becoming a severe threat to the Saint Realm."

The old man paused briefly, then, under Han Li's watchful eye, nervously continued:

"According to the information I've received, the three Ancestral Masters and other Saint Ancestors are indeed supposed to be confronting the Mother of Insectoids in the Primordial Seal Land. Initially, the situation appeared favorable; with the assistance of powerful individuals from other realms, the Mother of Insectoids' seal was steadily being reinforced, and her re-containment seemed very promising. However, beginning over twenty years ago, the Primordial Seal Land suddenly lost all contact with the outside world, and no further news has emerged from it. No one knows the current circumstances within."

"Lost contact! With the Ancestor-level power of Yuan Yan and the others, along with so many helpers of equal standing, how is that possible? Has no one gone to investigate the true situation?" Han Li asked slowly, his brow furrowed.

"By the time anyone realized the Primordial Seal Land had lost contact, it was already too late. Around the Primordial Seal Land, countless swarms of insectoids appeared at some unknown point, not only completely taking over several nearby towns but also including extremely powerful high-level insectoids. Their strength is reportedly not inferior to that of typical Integration-stage cultivators, making it impossible for outsiders to breach the sea of insectoids and re-enter the Primordial Seal Land," the old man replied timidly.

"Integration-stage insectoids! Given the terrifying nature of the Mother of Insectoids, the emergence of high-level insectoids of that caliber isn't particularly surprising. However, aren't there still some Saint Ancestor cultivators outside who haven't entered the Primordial Seal Land? Are they simply standing by and doing nothing?" Han Li asked after a moment of contemplation.

"To answer you, Senior, I am unaware of the attitudes of the other Saint Ancestors, but I have certainly heard no news of any of them going to investigate the Primordial Seal Land. As for the reasons, that is beyond the knowledge of a minor city lord like myself," the thin old man replied with a troubled expression.

"That's quite interesting. It seems the other Saint Ancestor cultivators know something, otherwise they wouldn't have remained inactive until now. Among the remaining Saint Ancestors, who is the closest to Black Gourd City?" Han Li asked, a cold sneer briefly crossing his face.

"The Saint Ancestor nearest to this city is the Evil Lotus Saint Ancestor of the Myriad Blossom Mountains. That Senior only intervened once, three years ago, when she cleared out all the insectoid swarms in the vicinity of her mountain range," the thin old man replied respectfully, without a moment's hesitation this time.

"The Evil Lotus Saint Ancestor? Where are the Myriad Blossom Mountains, and do you possess a map of that region?" Han Li asked, nodding casually.

"Yes. I once personally visited Myriad Blossom Mountain to seek an audience with Senior Evil Lotus, and I have a backup of the relevant map," the thin old man replied with a conciliatory smile, promptly and discreetly producing a small stone tablet from his person. He presented it with both hands.

Han Li beckoned with one hand, and the stone tablet flew into his grasp. After a quick mental scan, he replied with a faint smile:

"I am very satisfied with your answers, fellow Daoist. There's nothing more for you to do here. You may attend to your own affairs now."

"Understood. I shall take my leave then." The old man felt a surge of relief. He bowed deeply, slowly retreated several steps, and then turned to descend.

A group of high-ranking demon cultivators, who had been waiting nearby, immediately approached from a distance. They surrounded the old man and disappeared with him into the city.

"Let's go. We'll head to the Myriad Blossom Mountains and meet the Evil Lotus Saint Ancestor," Han Li said calmly after a final glance at Black Gourd City below.

Silvermoon and Daoist Crab, of course, offered no objection.

With a glance downwards, Han Li then summoned a dark, square demon flying carriage.

Once the three were aboard, it transformed into a streak of black light and shot through the sky.

A month later, Han Li and his companions appeared above a lush, verdant mountain range, one almost indistinguishable from those found in the Human Realm.

"This is the Myriad Blossom Mountains! The scenery is truly exceptionally beautiful. That Evil Lotus Saint Ancestor certainly chose a lovely location. But where exactly in this mountain range does she reside?" Silvermoon remarked with a smile, standing behind Han Li and scanning the surroundings.

"The map indicates the Evil Lotus Saint Ancestor's residence is a place called Chaotian Peak, situated in the heart of this mountain range," Han Li replied with a smile.

"Oh, if that's the case, then the Evil Lotus Saint Ancestor shouldn't be difficult to locate. However, we arrived in such haste that we haven't had time to inquire about her character or the extent of her divine powers. She isn't exceptionally vicious, is she?" Silvermoon said with a charming smile, her eyes twinkling.

"Heh heh, no matter how vicious she might be, we need to extract information from her about what transpired in the Primordial Seal Land. Only then will we know the most prudent course of action. Of course, it would be even better if we could directly ascertain the whereabouts of Seniors Mo Jianli and Ao Xiao," Han Li said slowly, an air of complete confidence about him.

A flicker of concern crossed Silvermoon's face upon hearing her grandfather's name, but she simply nodded in silence.

"Let's go. The Myriad Blossom Mountains aren't too vast; it shouldn't take long to reach Chaotian Peak."

Saying no more, Han Li flicked his sleeve and transformed into a streak of green light, streaking through the sky.

Silvermoon and Daoist Crab followed closely behind in their own streaks of light.

Several hours later, where the continuous mountain ranges had seemed to stretch endlessly, they suddenly parted, revealing a colossal white peak that soared into the clouds before Han Li and his companions.

This peak stood tens of thousands of feet tall. From its mid-section upwards, the entire upper half was blanketed in vast expanses of white ice and snow, while the lower half was shrouded in layers of black mist. Within this mist, fierce winds roared, and faint, eerie wailing sounds could be heard.

"This is Chaotian Peak. It certainly has a rather sinister appearance," Silvermoon remarked.

Han Li and his companions halted their flight about ten miles from the colossal peak. Silvermoon was visibly startled by its bizarre appearance.

"It's merely a trivial illusion, effective on ordinary demon cultivators, but it can hardly deceive me or Brother Crab!" Han Li remarked with a faint smile, his eyes flickering with blue light as he scrutinized the peak.

"An illusion?" Silvermoon's beautiful eyes widened. She scrutinized the distant peak several times, up and down, but still couldn't discern anything unusual.

Han Li chuckled softly at her reaction. Suddenly, with a single hand seals, a mass of black energy condensed between his brows, and his third vertical eye promptly manifested.

The next moment, Han Li let out a low cry, and a thumb-sized beam of crystalline light shot forth. It vanished in an instant, disappearing into the distant void.

With a thunderous boom, a powerful ripple immediately surged forth from the distance.

The space several miles away rippled like the surface of water. After a brief blur, the entire landscape abruptly transformed.

The massive peak that had been there moments before simply vanished into thin air.

In its place was a basin a hundred miles wide, with a beautiful peak several thousand feet tall at its center.

Unlike the previous colossal peak, this one was covered in various rare flowers and exotic plants, enveloped in a layer of five-colored light, making it exceptionally vibrant.

Han Li's gaze, however, was immediately drawn to a palace situated at the very top of the peak.

The palace covered only a few acres and was unusually emerald green throughout, appearing as if it had been constructed entirely from fresh trees.

"This is the real Chaotian Peak!" Silvermoon murmured in disbelief after a moment of stunned silence.

Han Li smiled faintly upon hearing this. Just as he was about to respond, a cold female voice suddenly emanated from the beautiful peak in the distance:

"Which fellow Daoist has graced my Chaotian Peak with your presence? I apologize that Evil Lotus could not personally come out to greet you. Please forgive my oversight."

No sooner had the words finished echoing than a jade-green rainbow shot up from the emerald palace. After a single circle, it swiftly darted towards Han Li's location.

In just a few blinks, about a dozen yards in front of Han Li and his companions, the light dissipated, revealing a cold-faced woman in a green palace dress.

Han Li's gaze swept across the woman's face, and his expression immediately changed as he involuntarily exclaimed:

"Baohua? No, you're not Baohua!"

The green-robed woman's face bore a striking resemblance to Baohua's. However, a closer look revealed her expression to be too cold, making her distinctly different from Baohua.

"You three fellow Daoists are not from the Saint Realm, are you? Otherwise, how could you have nearly mistaken me for 'Baohua'?" the green-robed woman said, a cold glint appearing in her eyes upon hearing Han Li's words. Her expression, however, softened slightly after she carefully observed Han Li and Daoist Crab.

Silvermoon's expression instantly changed upon hearing the woman's remark.

The astonishment on Han Li's face, however, quickly vanished. After a brief appraisal of the woman in the palace dress, he asked nonchalantly:

"Since the three of us came directly to meet you, fellow Daoist, we had no intention of concealing our true origins. However, fellow Daoist Evil Lotus has quite surprised me. May I ask what your relationship is with fellow Daoist Baohua?"

"Baohua is my biological sister. It seems only powerful individuals from other realms, Grand Ascension stage cultivators among them, would be unaware of this," the green-robed woman stated, her somber expression returning.

"I see, no wonder your face is so strikingly similar to Baohua's. However, fellow Daoist Evil Lotus, you must have some inkling of our purpose here, correct?" Han Li nodded as expected, then asked with a faint, knowing smile.

"You've also come regarding the matter of the Primordial Seal Land, haven't you?" the green-robed woman said slowly, after a long moment of contemplation, a strange note in her voice.