Chapter 2385: Key

In a small valley on the edge of the Myriad Moon Mountain Range, over a hundred high-level cultivators, dressed in various robes, were gathered, performing an unknown grand formation.

Beside them, a burly, stern-faced man in brocade robes watched impassively.

In a strange marsh teeming with venomous insects, a small, hazy blue cauldron rested on a pale blue stone platform.

Near the platform, three extremely ugly old men sat cross-legged, each facing a different direction, their expressions solemn as they cultivated with closed eyes.

“The eight nations near Qiyun Mountain Range, including the Yu Guang Kingdom and the Cloud-Piercing Nation, have all been annihilated. How is this possible?”

In another massive city, countless miles away from Blood Crane City, a green-robed old man stared disbelievingly at a yellow-robed man in front of him and roared.

“Lord Biying, what I say is absolutely true. From rulers to common folk, everyone in these eight nations mysteriously vanished a month ago. Not a single survivor has been found,” the yellow-robed man replied hesitantly.

The green-robed old man was Biying, who had previously encountered Han Li.

“What about the sects, big and small, within the Qiyun Mountain Range then? With such astonishing events, surely the sect members must have noticed something?” Biying asked, his face grim.

“Your subordinate specifically investigated that as well. All nineteen sects, large and small, in the Qiyun Mountain Range are also completely deserted. It seems they met the same fate as the people from the eight nations,” the yellow-robed man replied with a bitter smile.

“They vanished in the same way? Although these nineteen sects are insignificant on the Blood Sky Continent individually, together they represent a force that cannot be underestimated. Even if our alliance were to act, we couldn’t annihilate them all without a trace. This matter is so bizarre; have you found any clues?” Biying asked slowly, his eyes flickering slightly.

“It’s not to say there are no clues at all. Immediately after our alliance discovered this, we dispatched people to investigate the eight nations and these sects. We found no traces of fierce resistance in the cities of the eight nations or within the sects. This suggests that either these people were willingly taken, or the perpetrator’s power is so incredibly immense that the eight nations and the dozens of sects didn’t even have the chance to resist,” the yellow-robed man replied, lowering his head slightly.

“Which possibility do you think it is?” Biying counter-questioned.

“Your subordinate believes it’s most likely the second scenario,” the yellow-robed man replied without much hesitation.

“Why?”

“Because, setting aside the mortals from the various races in the eight nations, the members of the nineteen sects, being cultivators, would never voluntarily abandon their sects. Our alliance’s investigators discovered residual traces of blood dao aura in the Qiyun Mountain Range. Lord Bi, you know that only Blood Dao cultivation methods possess the means to rapidly increase cultivation through blood sacrifice. If these populations were truly taken for such a purpose, a blood sacrifice of this scale would be extremely rare even on the Blood Sky Continent. Furthermore, the residual blood dao aura in the Qiyun Mountain Range is terrifying, undoubtedly left behind by a Blood Dao expert of the Grand Ascension stage. Only such a ruthless individual would dare to commit such an act without restraint,” the yellow-robed man explained, analyzing each point.

“That makes some sense. It was likely done by the master of that blood dao aura. This matter is no small affair. However, our alliance is currently fully focused on preparing for the war of powerful cultivators and cannot spare too much effort on other matters. But since two of the eight nations belong to our alliance, we cannot completely ignore this. Here’s what we’ll do: inform the Crying Blood Sect and the Wind Serpent Clan, who are closest to the Qiyun Mountain Range, about your investigation findings. These two factions are the largest nearby, both have Grand Ascension stage ancestors presiding over them, and they also have considerable interests in the Qiyun Mountain Range. They won’t truly ignore this matter. Later, I will also invite True Person Yan Yu to investigate this alongside the ancestors of these two major powers,” Biying finally instructed, having made his decision.

“Yes, your subordinate understands what to do. I will arrange everything promptly,” the yellow-robed man immediately bowed in submission, accepting the order.

North of the Qiyun Mountain Range, a massive lake gleamed with an emerald green surface. As the spring breeze swept over it, ripples spread across the water, and fish and shrimp swam ceaselessly beneath the surface. Everything appeared perfectly normal.

However, above an unfathomably deep underwater canyon at the bottom of the colossal lake, layers of profound restrictions were laid out, completely safeguarding the seemingly immense canyon.

Beneath these restrictions, dense, unscattering blood mist permeated the area, dyeing the entire canyon a vivid crimson, making it impossible to discern anything within.

Underneath the blood mist, a black and red blood river, reeking of gore, flowed. It was a hundred zhang wide and stretched as far as the eye could see, winding deeply along the canyon towards a distant point.

On the surface of this gurgling blood river, a blurry figure sat cross-legged.

The figure performed a hand seal with one hand and held a shimmering object in the other. Streams of viscous blood flew out from the river, one after another, merging into the object.

Half a month later, Han Li, who was cultivating with closed eyes in his courtyard, suddenly heard a series of clear, ringing sounds emanating from his body.

Han Li’s expression stirred, and he promptly opened his eyes. With another flick of his sleeve, a golden light shot out.

It was a pale golden talisman.

Han Li narrowed his eyes, observing the golden talisman for a moment, then single-handedly tapped it, causing it to disappear. His figure then blurred and vanished from the room.

Several hours later, Han Li, accompanied by Old Ancestor Huashi and Xue Po, left Blood Crane City. They transformed into several streaks of light and shot directly towards the nearby Myriad Moon Mountain Range.

Soon after, in the palace at the center of Blood Crane City, the masked man exclaimed in surprise:

“What? That human Grand Ascension cultivator has left the city and headed towards the Myriad Moon Mountain Range?”

“Indeed. As per the Grand Elder’s instructions, I immediately came to report as soon as there was news of Senior Han leaving the city,” an Integration stage cultivator reported with extreme deference, standing before Xiao Ming.

“Well done. You may leave,” Xiao Ming said, waving his hand with a hint of a smile after a moment of shifting expressions.

The Integration stage cultivator discreetly withdrew from the main hall.

“Han Li has also gone to the Myriad Moon Mountain Range? With his divine abilities, this could be troublesome.” A ripple appeared beside Xiao Ming, and two faint illusory figures flickered into existence: Lady Wanhua and Daoist Qingping.

The speaker was Lady Wanhua, and her words were filled with apprehension towards Han Li, clearly still reeling from their previous encounter.

“It can’t be a coincidence, can it? Daoist Han also mentioned having other important matters in the vicinity earlier. Moreover, it’s not yet time for the Heavenly Cauldron Palace to appear. If he’s truly coming for this, his departure seems a bit early,” Xiao Ming finally spoke.

“Entering the Myriad Moon Mountain Range at a time like this can hardly be dismissed as a ‘coincidence.’ As for arriving before the opening time, Daoist Han is not the only one waiting in the mountain range. By now, the Myriad Moon Mountain Range has likely already gathered many individuals lying in wait. One more person is hardly surprising,” Daoist Qingping calmly stated.

“It seems both of you believe Daoist Han is also here for the Heavenly Cauldron Palace,” Xiao Ming mused.

“We can’t say for certain, but it’s highly probable. Now that such a formidable adversary has appeared, Brother Xiao, do you have any good strategies?” Daoist Qingping counter-questioned.

“What need is there for a strategy? Even if he is strong, he cannot enter the Heavenly Cauldron Palace without a key. Even if, hypothetically, he manages to seize a key from someone else, the Heavenly Cauldron Palace is filled with numerous restrictions. With your inherited legacy from True Person Tianding, combined with my mastery of formation arts, do you truly think we would be afraid of him?” Xiao Ming replied with a chuckle.

“That’s true; I was a bit confused. Even if this person possesses immense divine abilities, as long as we find the core of the palace’s grand formation first, then even if all other adversaries unite, we won’t have to worry at all,” Daoist Qingping said, first startled, then bursting into a silent laugh.

Lady Wanhua, upon hearing this, also visibly relaxed.

Xiao Ming, however, stroked his chin, a thought-provoking expression flashing in his eyes.

Seven days later, inside a temporary cave dwelling carved into the belly of a tall mountain peak within the Myriad Moon Mountain Range, Han Li sat on a stone chair in the main hall. He listened calmly as Xue Po recounted certain events.

“...And so, as a precaution, before entering the Heavenly Cauldron Palace with the true key, my original body deliberately used a special secret technique to leave this clone of mine and the Profound Sky Cauldron outside. If I didn’t return on time after a certain period, my clone would automatically activate, with most of its memories sealed. According to my original body’s previous calculations, the time for the Heavenly Cauldron Palace’s second appearance is approaching again, and to rescue my original body, I must re-enter it. The Profound Sky Cauldron is a replica key, refined using the Golden Palace Jade Scroll secret technique, for entering the Heavenly Cauldron Palace. Although it’s a replica and only has a fraction of the original item’s effectiveness, directly charging the main entrance of the Heavenly Cauldron Palace would be too dangerous. However, my original body discovered a flaw in the Heavenly Cauldron Palace’s grand formation back then, so even with this replica key, I have a fair chance of infiltrating it…”

Xue Po spoke for the duration of a meal, finally outlining the general events that transpired with Bing Po back then.

“So, Daoist Xue Po has finally recovered all her memories. This is truly cause for celebration. When you came to trade the Profound Sky Cauldron with me back then, although you didn’t know the specific details of True Person Tianding and the Heavenly Cauldron Palace due to your sealed memories—only knowing that this cauldron was a key to a super secret treasure that even Grand Ascension cultivators would desire—you never mentioned that it was merely a replica, not the true opening key. This point is quite different from our original agreement,” Han Li said calmly, without a hint of unusual emotion on his face.