Chapter 2345: True Immortal Descends 黄元子

Most of these cultivators were disciples originally recruited by Qi Lingzi and others, while the rest were new members recruited by Hai Dashao and others from the territories of both human and demon races over the past three years.

According to Han Li's plan, he intended to expand the number of his disciples not only during these three years but also every decade or so in the future.

In this way, he believed that within a few hundred years, the number of his disciples would be sufficient to match the size of an average large sect. After thousands of years of meticulous development, disciples at the Deity Transformation and Void Refinement stages on the island would undoubtedly emerge in vast numbers. Some highly potential disciples might even reach the Body Integration stage.

At this time, Han Li had also named his residence "Qingyuan Palace."

He believed the reputation of Qingyuan Palace on Yuanhe Island would soon echo throughout the entire Fengyuan Continent.

At this moment, under the gaze of thousands of Qingyuan Palace disciples, Han Li, accompanied by Yin Yue, Zhu Guo'er, and several of Hai Dashao's direct disciples, slowly emerged from the silver palace.

"Rise, all of you," Han Li said calmly, turning to the few people behind him. "I am about to embark on a distant journey from the island. From now on, all miscellaneous affairs on the island will be handled by Yuetian, and everything within Qingyuan Palace will be managed by your Martial Aunt Yin Yue. Do any of you have any objections?"

"Your disciples respectfully obey Master's command," replied everyone, from Hai Dashao to the newly inducted disciples like Lan Yao, bowing in unison.

"Are you truly not planning to take me with you?" Yin Yue asked, staring at Han Li. "Although I have fallen to the Void Refinement stage, my divine abilities are still intact, and I even have a spirit body incarnation at the Body Integration stage. I would have some self-preservation capability even against an ordinary Grand Ascension cultivator."

"No," Han Li replied, shaking his head without hesitation. "Your spirit body incarnation has just finished transferring its true essence power. It requires about ten years to consolidate before it can be considered truly perfected. During this time, you must remain in Qingyuan Palace; only then can I be at ease." Yin Yue's eyes flickered slightly, and she sighed, saying, "Since Brother Han has truly made up his mind, I will say no more. Please take care on your journey!"

"Don't worry," Han Li said with a soft expression and a slight smile. "If all goes well, I might return in just over a hundred years. It shouldn't take too long. Huashi, Zhu Guo'er, let's go." He then gave instructions to Zhu Guo'er and Elder Huashi.

The next moment, a ripple appeared above the silver palace, and a colossal, ink-black boat instantly emerged.

As Han Li's figure moved, he appeared as a blur directly at the bow of the ship.

Zhu Guo'er and Huashi respectfully acknowledged, then each transformed into a long rainbow and shot towards the giant boat.

A moment later, amidst the renewed prostrations of the cultivators on the peak, the Ink Spirit Holy Boat hummed and soared into the sky.

With a few whooshing sounds tearing through the air, the giant boat completely vanished into the distant horizon.

Above a lush green grassland, tens of thousands of ox-headed, horse-bodied beasts were furiously stampeding forward.

Most of these creatures were ordinary wild beasts, their spiritual intelligence not yet awakened. Only a few had reached the level of low-tier demonic beasts; some flew directly with wings on their backs, while others stirred up bursts of demonic wind to envelop their bodies as they rolled forward.

Suddenly, a strange howl piercing the sky came from behind, followed by a sweep of crimson light across the sky. Three enormous, mountain-like heads immediately appeared above the beast horde.

These three heads were covered in thick, oily green scales, their eyes deep yellow, and their pupils long, thin, and strikingly piercing. They were clearly the heads of giant pythons.

As soon as the three heads appeared, they simultaneously opened their enormous mouths, revealing fangs like giant blades, and fiercely inhaled downwards.

A thunderous roar instantly reverberated throughout the entire grassland.

Three different colored lights — green, yellow, and red — swept down, overwhelmingly engulfing the entire grassland below.

In an instant, the stampeding beast horde below, whether or not their spiritual intelligence was awakened, all trembled violently, shot into the air, and rushed towards the mouths of the three giant pythons like moths to a flame.

In just a few breaths, tens of thousands of ox-headed, horse-bodied monsters were entirely swallowed by the three giant python heads.

The middle head raised itself and let out a satisfied burp. After a sway, it immediately became indistinct, as if it were about to dissipate as it had appeared.

But just then, another giant python head on one side flashed with sharp light in its eyes, suddenly hissed towards a certain void, and then spoke in human tongue with a rumbling voice:

"Which distinguished guest has graced us with their presence and arrived so effortlessly at my Humble Abode of Green Plains?"

The words from this head immediately startled the other two giant python heads, which abruptly turned their four eyes to scan in the same direction, revealing fierce glints.

"Hehe, no need to be alarmed, Fellow Daoist Sanquan," came a light chuckle, as another unfamiliar voice suddenly emerged from the void. "It's been many years; I hope you've been well."

The moment the words fell, a faint spiritual light flickered in the void, and a gaunt, yellow-robed man silently appeared, smiling as he looked at the three giant heads.

"Oh, so it's Fellow Daoist Huang Yuanzi," the middle python head said, its expression relaxing as it spoke in human tongue. "No wonder you could treat the restrictions of my Humble Abode of Green Plains as nothing and break in so easily." Its tone, however, was clearly unusually cold.

"Fellow Daoist Sanquan, you're mistaken," the gaunt man named Huang Yuanzi chuckled lowly. "The restrictions laid out in this Humble Abode of Green Plains are truly extraordinary; even if I could break them, it would certainly not be done in a mere few days. The reason I could appear here so easily is entirely due to this treasure." With a flick of his palm, a misty white light cluster immediately appeared, within which a mini archway, a few inches in size, was faintly visible, exquisitely carved and sparkling.

"The Nine Illusions Ruyi Gate!" the middle giant python head exclaimed, finally losing its composure upon seeing the archway. "Old Monster Jiuhuan considers this treasure as his very life; how could it have fallen into your hands?"

"It's very simple," Huang Yuanzi said with a laugh. "Naturally, I persuaded him to lend it to me with my eloquent tongue."

"Hmph, persuaded!" the middle giant python head snarled, its face immediately darkening and its voice becoming somewhat sinister. "Do you take me for a three-year-old child? If such a treasure could be borrowed merely by words, I'd immediately pluck off my head and give it to you as a plaything."

"Merely by words, perhaps not," Huang Yuanzi replied, narrowing his eyes. "But what if a huge benefit was added?"

"What benefit?" the last giant python head, which had remained silent, asked coldly.

"Three Longevity Yuan Pills!" Huang Yuanzi said with a yawn. "Each one can postpone a heavenly tribulation for over three thousand years. Three are enough to give Old Monster Jiuhuan an additional ten thousand years of preparation time for his next heavenly tribulation. Perhaps he could even save his life with them in the future."

"You are quite generous," the middle giant python head snorted, a hint of menace in its voice. "Longevity Yuan Pills are the sacred medicine of your Changyuan clan; countless outsiders seek even one but find no way. Yet you offer three at once. No wonder Old Monster Jiuhuan was willing to lend you his natal magic treasure. But what are you doing here? I don't have much interest in Longevity Yuan Pills, so don't expect to impress me with them."

"Fellow Daoist may not care for Longevity Yuan Pills," Huang Yuanzi said, showing no anger but instead a hint of cunning on his face. "But I wonder if you might be interested in taking a look at the Underworld Prison True Scripture?"

"The Underworld Prison True Scripture!"

"You have such a thing in your hands?"

"That's impossible!"

This time, the three giant python heads simultaneously hissed, their expressions changing drastically.

It seemed as though this item was extremely important to them.

"What kind of treasure is this Underworld Prison True Scripture?" Huang Yuanzi said with a faint, unreadable smile. "How could I possibly possess such a thing, nor would I dare to. However, I do know some clues about half of it. I wonder if Brother Sanquan is still interested?"

"Half of it? Is that true?" the middle giant python head pressed, its pupils flashing with cold light.

"I have stated it clearly to Fellow Daoist in person," Huang Yuanzi said, his expression unchanged. "How could it be an empty lie?"

"Alright, how will you be willing to truthfully disclose the clues regarding this half of the Underworld Prison True Scripture?" the middle head finally asked coldly, after a long moment during which all three giant python heads had worn thoughtful expressions. "Don't tell me you've only come to see me to reminisce."

"Fellow Daoist Sanquan is truly discerning," Huang Yuanzi said with a long breath, his voice suddenly turning cold. "I indeed have something to ask of you on this trip. I need your assistance in dealing with a formidable enemy. Besides you, Fellow Daoist, I have also invited the Undying Celestial Venerable from Undying Cave."

"The Undying Celestial Venerable!" The three giant python heads simultaneously flickered and vanished from thin air. In their place, a young Daoist priest with a face full of snake patterns materialized. His eyes had vertically slit pupils, identical to those of a giant python, and he stared at Huang Yuanzi, his eyes flickering with fierce light. "You've even managed to persuade that ominous figure. The cost of inviting him must be no less, perhaps even higher, than what you offered me. Who is this formidable enemy that has caused you such meticulous planning?"

"Do you know of this person, Qingyuanzi?" Huang Yuanzi asked, his mouth twitching as he uttered the name somewhat through clenched teeth.

"Never heard of him," Daoist Sanquan replied, his expression hardening. "But your name is Huang Yuanzi, and his is Qingyuanzi. Could it be that this person has some connection to you? He must also be a Grand Ascension cultivator, right?"

"You don't need to ask about my connection with this person," Huang Yuanzi replied slowly, his face grim. "You only need to know that the enmity between him and me is irreconcilable, and that only after killing him will you get what you desire. Furthermore, this person is not only a Grand Ascension cultivator but also one of the more formidable among us Grand Ascension cultivators. At least in a one-on-one situation, I admit I am not his match."

"He's such a troublesome fellow," Daoist Sanquan said, frowning. "If this Qingyuanzi is truly that formidable, it won't be difficult for the three of us to defeat him by joining forces. But to kill him, I'm afraid it might be impossible. If he can't defeat us, won't he just escape?"

"Since I've paid such a high price to invite you two Fellow Daoists to emerge, I naturally have some certainty," Huang Yuanzi said with confidence. "He is about to undergo a major heavenly tribulation. Whether he can overcome it or not, it is at least a rare opportunity to eliminate him."