Chapter 2361: Black Charred Peak

Suddenly, a spiritual light flashed on the black giant boat, and a streak of white light shot down from it. After just a few blinks, it stopped above the head of a white-haired elder of a different race, revealing a beautiful young woman, no older than fifteen or sixteen.

“Is this the Crimsonmelt Mountain Range, fellow Daoist?” the seemingly young woman asked the elder gently, after glancing around.

The elder, whose cultivation was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, happened to be one of the highest-cultivated individuals present.

“Yes, Senior, this is indeed the Crimsonmelt Mountain Range,” the elder replied tremblingly. He couldn't sense the young woman's specific cultivation level, only feeling that her aura was unfathomably deep.

“So I've found the right place,” the young woman said, delighted. “Since this is the Crimsonmelt Mountain Range, do you know the location of Black Scorch Peak, fellow Daoist?” she quickly asked.

“You wish to go to Black Scorch Peak, Senior?” the elder replied, surprised. “That's one of the central regions of the Crimsonmelt Mountain Range, extremely dangerous, and it was designated a forbidden zone long ago.”

“A forbidden zone? That's even better,” the young woman chuckled. “You don't need to worry about the dangers, fellow Daoist; just tell me how to get there.”

“Very well, these spirit stones are your reward,” the young woman said, nodding. She raised her hand and tossed several high-grade spirit stones to the elder, then transformed into a white light and shot upwards. After a few flashes, she returned to the giant boat.

A moment later, the black giant boat flashed with a divine light and roared as it flew deeper into the mountain range.

Below, the elder of a different race held the high-grade spirit stones in his hands, his face filled with ecstatic joy.

While these high-grade spirit stones were nothing to high-level cultivators, they were naturally an incredible fortune for someone at the Foundation Establishment stage.

However, when the elder sensed the envious and jealous gazes of others around him, his heart immediately sank. He quickly put away the spirit stones in his hand and promptly soared into the air, flying away from the area.

Not long after the elder departed, several other cultivators of different races, whose cultivation levels were similar to his, silently left the area as well.

The other low-level Qi Condensation cultivators of different races looked somewhat strange upon seeing this, but no one said much. They all bowed their heads and continued searching for fire-attributed spiritual treasures.

The black giant boat was naturally Han Li's Demonic Spirit Holy Ark, and Han Li himself was standing at the front of the boat, gazing into the distance towards the center of the mountain range.

Beside him stood Xue Po, Zhu Guo'er, and others, with their hands respectfully clasped.

“It's quite unexpected that the Helian Merchant Guild's auction would be held in such a conspicuous location,” Han Li suddenly remarked. “These low-level cultivators of different races here seem to be completely unaware of it.”

“Senior Han, only cultivators at the Void Refinement stage or above would know about this auction, so these local cultivators of different races naturally wouldn't be privy to it,” Xue Po replied, stepping half a pace forward and speaking respectfully. “However, calculating the time, the auction should be held within the next month or two. I believe many powerful cultivators from various races have already arrived. Perhaps you might even have some unexpected gains at the auction, Senior.”

“Unexpected gains, I hope so,” Han Li nodded, speaking casually. “However, at my cultivation level, there's little that can catch my eye. But if other Mahayana cultivators are willing to put out some good items at this auction, that would be a different story.”

“Rest assured, Senior,” Xue Po said with a soft chuckle. “Based on my past experience, many Mahayana cultivators like yourself will surely attend. Besides participating in the auction, these seniors will likely engage in private exchanges afterwards. Even if you don't gain anything at the guild's auction, I'm confident you'll find something at such gatherings.”

“Private exchanges, that's certainly something to look forward to,” Han Li said, his expression subtly changing.

Half an hour later, three peculiar mountain peaks, each approximately ten thousand feet tall, finally appeared in the mountain range ahead.

The three peaks stood in a 'pin' character formation amidst a jumble of black and red stones, and a pungent sulfurous smell drifted on the hot winds.

As soon as the black giant boat approached within a hundred miles of the three peaks, it was immediately intercepted by a team of guards of a different race, riding giant eagles.

Each of these guards wore black armor, carried bows on their backs, and had blades at their sides. Their faces were completely concealed by visors, but their figures were tall, almost two heads taller than ordinary humans.

The giant eagles they rode were entirely black, exceptionally massive, and created gusts of wind as they flew, appearing exceptionally majestic.

“Seniors, the area ahead is a forbidden zone of our guild,” the leading guard said in a low voice, after respectfully bowing. “Without a token, I'm afraid you cannot proceed.” Although he led the team in blocking the way, upon seeing the giant boat's immense size and the numerous visible puppet armored warriors on it, he naturally knew that the people on board were extraordinary and dared not show any disrespect.

“A token, do you mean this?” Xue Po asked Han Li in a low voice, then drifted down from the bow of the boat.

She raised her fair wrist, and a white light shot out.

The leading guard instantly caught the white light. He lowered his head for a careful look and saw a misty white token. One side was inscribed with exquisite, unknown spirit patterns, while the other bore a faint silver character for 'Alliance'.

“It's an esteemed guest elder! You are naturally authorized to enter the forbidden zone,” the leading guard said without hesitation, after a brief check of the token in his hand. He immediately returned it with both hands.

He made no attempt to further question Han Li, Zhu Guo'er, and the others standing at the front of the giant boat.

Xue Po nodded, beckoned with one hand, retrieved the token, and flew back onto the giant boat.

Consequently, all but one of the guards left the vicinity to continue patrolling other areas.

Guided by the remaining guard, the black giant boat slowly flew directly towards the three black mountain peaks.

Along the way, they encountered several other patrolling guard teams, but seeing a giant eagle guard leading the way, none of them came forward to obstruct them further.

For the Demonic Spirit Holy Ark, a distance of over a hundred miles was naturally covered in an instant.

Just as the giant boat was about to fly directly over one of the black mountain peaks, an unusual fluctuation suddenly appeared in the void ahead. After the entire mountain peak blurred for a moment, a colossal milky-white light gate, nearly a thousand feet high, materialized before it.

Near the light gate, hundreds of peculiar buildings of varying sizes floated densely, some circular, others square, with numerous guards riding giant eagles constantly entering and exiting.

As soon as the black giant boat approached the vicinity, it naturally drew the gazes of numerous guards near the buildings.

Just then, the giant boat hummed and came to a halt on its own, several miles away from the light gate.

Han Li frowned slightly. After sweeping his spiritual sense around, he immediately sensed a strange restriction fluctuation and roughly understood what was happening.

At this moment, the giant eagle guard who had led the way reined in his eagle's neck, stopping beside the giant boat. He explained to those on board, “Entering through this Profound Heaven Gate will take you directly into the forbidden zone. However, there's an order strictly forbidding the use of any flying treasures within the forbidden zone, so Seniors will likely need to put away your flying boat before entering the gate. I can only escort you this far; I cannot proceed without official authorization.”

“Understood. You may leave,” Xue Po's calm voice echoed from the giant boat.

Then, with a rumble from the black giant boat, countless runes surged forth, and ten thousand streaks of radiant light swept around, causing it to vanish into thin air in a flash.

Once all the light subsided, only Han Li and his companions remained in the original spot in the void.

The giant eagle guard was startled. After bowing respectfully to Han Li and the others once more, he urged his giant eagle and left the area.

Han Li, accompanied by Zhu Guo'er, Xue Po, Old Ancestor Huashi, and others, confidently flew towards the massive light gate.

Although the giant eagle guards near the light gate watched Han Li and his group with curious eyes, none rashly stepped forward to block them, observing as the group vanished into the light gate in a few flashes.

“What? Another Mahayana Daoist has entered the Profound Heaven Gate? Very well, I understand. I will send someone to greet them immediately. You all continue with your duties,” said a fiery red-haired elder, speaking to a stone wall in front of him that clearly displayed an image of a black-armored guard.

This place was a completely enclosed hall. Aside from the stone wall standing in the center of the hall and a few meditation cushions, there was nothing else.

However, the four walls of the hall were inlaid with various colorful gems, and a faint layer of green mist vaguely drifted in the air, making everything in the hall appear quite mysterious.

After a slight contemplation, the elder flicked his sleeve. A flash of red light vanished instantly, and the guard's image on the stone wall disappeared, replaced by a picture of an imposing black giant boat and some faintly discernible, blurry figures on it.

The red-haired elder's eyes narrowed. After gazing at the giant boat for a moment, he frowned, then suddenly raised one hand and cast a spell, which flashed and disappeared into the stone wall.

With a 'poof,' the figures on the black giant boat immediately zoomed in at an incredible speed, becoming much clearer on the stone wall as if magnified more than tenfold.

The faces of Han Li, Xue Po, and the others suddenly became vaguely visible to the elder.

The elder's gaze merely swept past Xue Po, Old Ancestor Huashi, and the others, quickly settling on Han Li's seemingly ordinary face.

“Hmm, this person's appearance is somewhat familiar. I seem to have seen it somewhere before?” the red-haired elder murmured to himself with a soft 'eh?'.