Chapter 2346: True Immortal Descends Yuelong

Taoist Sanquan frowned deeply. After a long moment, he replied with a solemn expression, "Dealing with cultivators of the same level is no simple matter. This humble Taoist needs to give it careful consideration."

"That is only natural," Huang Yuanzi said, his expression unchanged. "How about this: I will wait here for you for a few days. If, within three days, you are willing to leave the mountain and lend me a hand, then we will set out together. If not, I will go to Fellow Taoist Chouyuan of Blood Grudge Gorge. His marrow-sucking technique is also remarkably effective against opponents of the same level."

"Very well, I will give you my answer in three days," Taoist Sanquan said, nodding imperceptibly. He then formed a hand seal, and his body blurred before vanishing from above the grassland.

Huang Yuanzi chuckled, then flicked his wide sleeve, and an object flew out.

With a loud "boom," ten thousand rays of golden light illuminated the grassland as a magnificent, resplendent palace materialized out of thin air.

Several beautiful women in palace attire emerged from the palace gates, simultaneously curtsying to Huang Yuanzi and repeatedly addressing him as "Master."

Huang Yuanzi smiled slightly and swaggered into the palace.

A large black boat was soaring high in the sky, in the vicinity of the Flying Spirit Race.

On the front and rear decks of the giant boat stood more than a dozen powerfully aura-ed magic crystal automatons.

Whenever an unsuspecting sea beast leaped out of the water, several automatons immediately moved their arms, unleashing a dense spray of light beams.

These obstructing sea beasts were instantly riddled with holes and dissolved into thin air.

On the topmost level of the giant boat, in an elegantly furnished hall, Han Li sat on a light silver chair, his eyes slightly closed in thought.

Old Ancestor Huashi and Zhu Guo'er both stood respectfully behind his chair.

Although they were traveling by the Ink Spirit Sacred Boat, and it wasn't Han Li's first time entering the Barren World, more than two years had passed since they set out from Boundless Isle.

On another chair nearby sat a cold woman in white robes. Her eyes were slightly reddish, and a strange, vivid red rune flickered faintly between her eyebrows.

Han Li turned to the woman on the chair and said with a smile, "Fellow Taoist Bloodsoul, we will soon enter the Flying Spirit Race territory. The Wind Yuan Continent is vast; I presume this is your first time here?" This white-robed woman was, in fact, the Bloodsoul Incarnation of Ice Soul Fairy.

Two years ago, after leaving Boundless Sea, Han Li had not immediately entered the Barren World. Instead, he had first gone to the Xu family to retrieve this woman.

Upon hearing Han Li's question, the woman immediately bowed and replied somewhat respectfully:

"Senior Han, this junior has indeed never had contact with the Flying Spirit Race. However, I have heard that they possess several renowned divine abilities related to ancient true spirits."

Han Li casually explained, "The Flying Spirit Race region was one of the places I traveled to years ago. A close friend of mine lives in seclusion and cultivates here, so since I'm passing through, I naturally intend to pay him a visit." His tone then suddenly shifted as he asked, "But regarding the transfer slot to another continent you mentioned, is it truly reliable? I hope we won't travel all that way only to be disappointed."

"Senior, rest assured," Bloodsoul explained in detail. "The Helian Merchant Alliance is one of the few secretive forces in the Spirit Realm that spans three continents. It is not much weaker than super-races like the Horned Chi. This is how they possess cross-continental teleportation formations. Due to special reasons, the Alliance auctions inter-continental teleportation slots every few years. If my true body hadn't fortunately become an Alliance VIP back then, gaining the qualification to participate in these auctions, I would have had no way of knowing about this. This year marks the time for this type of auction to be held again. If we miss this one, we might have to wait for decades, or even two or three hundred years. Therefore, there will definitely be no shortage of powerful cultivators from various races attending this auction."

"I do know a bit about the Helian Merchant Alliance now," Han Li said with a light chuckle. "But if I had known about the existence of such an auction back then, when I returned from the Thunderous Continent, I might not have had to go through such trouble. Then again, given my status at that time, I probably wouldn't have been qualified to even approach the Helian Merchant Alliance."

"That is indeed true," Bloodsoul said with a charming smile. "An auction for cross-continental teleportation slots is a significant event, even for the Helian Merchant Alliance itself. For outsiders to participate, besides needing an introduction, they must also be individuals of certain standing within their respective races, or possess cultivation above the Integration stage. In which case, they can directly participate without any conditions. With Senior Han's status, if you were to participate, it would probably be a most welcome matter for those in charge of the auction."

Han Li nodded, a peculiar glint in his eyes as he spoke. "I hope it truly goes this smoothly. Also, at this point, I won't hide it from you. Although bringing you along this time is due to our previous agreement, after teleporting to the Thunderous Continent, we won't be able to continue teleporting immediately. We'll need to stay on this continent for a while to search for something. I hope Fellow Taoist Bloodsoul will be a little understanding then."

"This humble one has already waited for such a long time; what's a little more waiting?" Bloodsoul said without hesitation. "Senior, please feel free to attend to your matters first. This junior has no problems whatsoever."

Han Li showed a satisfied smile. "Since Fellow Taoist Bloodsoul thinks this way, I am relieved. But rest assured, Fellow Taoist, what I'm looking for isn't hard to find and won't waste too much time on the Thunderous Continent."

With the Ink Spirit Giant Boat's enormous size, its entry into the Flying Spirit Race territory naturally drew the attention of many powerful Flying Spirit cultivators.

However, as soon as any Flying Spirit's divine sense touched the terrifying Mahayana-level aura emanating from the giant boat, they all retreated in alarm and dismay, giving it wide berth.

Wherever the black giant boat passed, all high-ranking Flying Spirit Race members feigned ignorance, not daring to obstruct it in the slightest.

It wasn't until the fifth day, when the black giant boat had already delved deep into the Flying Spirit Race territory and was sweeping over a lake, that a hoarse, ancient voice suddenly came from ahead:

"May I ask which race's fellow Taoist has graced my Flying Spirit Race territory?" the voice said. "I am Yuelong, and I hope Fellow Taoist will emerge to meet with me."

No sooner had the voice fallen than dark clouds rolled across the sky ahead, followed by a gust of fierce wind, and then a monstrous nine-headed bird, over a thousand zhang long, appeared.

All nine heads of this monstrous bird were fierce and hideous, yet its plumage was dazzlingly multicolored and exceptionally vibrant. The terrifying spiritual pressure emanating from its body nearly enveloped half the sky ahead, seemingly no less than the Mahayana aura from the black giant boat.

The booming voice came precisely from the mouth of one of the nine-headed monstrous bird's huge heads.

A green figure flickered on the front deck of the black giant boat, and Han Li materialized directly, speaking calmly to the enormous creature ahead. "So it's Fellow Taoist Yuelong! I am Han Li of the Human Race. I have come to your esteemed territory merely to visit an old acquaintance, with no other intentions. Fellow Taoist need not worry."

"Han Li? Could you be the Human Race fellow Taoist rumored a few years ago to have intercepted and killed the Mother of Devouring Insects in the Demon Realm?" The nine-headed monstrous bird was startled, and its words became somewhat hurried.

Han Li's eyes flickered slightly, but he calmly retorted, "If there isn't a second 'Han Li' in the Human Race, then the person you speak of must be me. But how did Fellow Taoist come to know of my humble name?"

"Haha, it is indeed the renowned Fellow Taoist Han!" The nine-headed monstrous bird was overjoyed upon hearing Han Li's words. A black wind swirled around its body, and it transformed into an ugly old man two zhang tall. "Your visit to my race is truly an honor for us; you absolutely must come to my cave dwelling for a visit! I have a friend who was once invited to the Demon Realm to deal with the Mother of Devouring Insects. After returning, he repeatedly spoke of your life-saving grace and your divine ability to slay the Mother."

He wore a multicolored feather cloak and leaned on a seemingly ordinary yellow wooden staff with one hand, looking at Han Li on the giant boat with surprised eyes.

"So that's how it is," Han Li asked again, his expression shifting slightly. "I wonder which race your friend belongs to? Perhaps I might know him."

"My friend is Fellow Taoist Yuan Fei of the Long-bodied Race," Yuelong replied without hesitation. "I wonder if Brother Han has heard of him?"

Han Li tilted his head and thought for a moment, then seemed to realize. "The Long-bodied Race, Yuan Fei... Now that you mention it, I do have some impression. He was one of those fellow Taoists who were initially trapped in the Primordial Demon Land, wasn't he?"

"Hehe," Yuelong chuckled, then extended an invitation again with extreme enthusiasm. "The Long-bodied Race is a close neighbor of my Flying Spirit Race, and Fellow Taoist Yuan Fei and I have always had a deep friendship and considerable divine abilities. However, after being trapped in the Demon Realm for a while previously, he truly lost some vital energy and is now in a crucial period of secluded cultivation. Otherwise, if he knew Brother Han was here, he would definitely come out to meet you personally. My cave dwelling is not far from here; Fellow Taoist Han must definitely come and visit."

Han Li pondered for a moment on the deck, feeling it would be truly impolite to directly refuse. He then nodded and readily agreed, "Since Fellow Taoist Yue's warm invitation is hard to refuse, then I, Han, will trouble you for a bit."

"Excellent, Fellow Taoist, please follow me!" Yuelong was overjoyed. He stomped his foot in the void and transformed into a gust of wind, soaring away into the distance.

Han Li turned to Huashi, Bloodsoul, and the others who had just appeared behind him and said, "You all wait for me here. I'll be back shortly." A flash of green light erupted from his body, and he transformed into a long rainbow, tearing through the air to pursue Yuelong.

Old Ancestor Huashi and the others naturally bowed in response, remaining in place.

With Han Li's and Yuelong's Mahayana cultivation, their evasion speed naturally reached an incredible degree. Although neither of them used their full power, after more than an hour, they had crossed millions of miles in one breath, arriving above a basin surrounded by lush green mountains.

At the center of this basin stood an enormous stone tower, over a thousand zhang tall, with more than a hundred levels.

Around the basin were also many other types of buildings of varying heights, but all were far away from the giant tower, more than ten li distant, as if they dared not approach it at all.