Chapter 2387: Giant Gate

After casually disposing of several waves of self-destructive individuals, as if crushing ants, Han Li and Xue Po finally appeared above a colossal basin two hours later.

This basin was surrounded by an endless expanse of mountains, both large and small, with its center covered in low-lying bushes.

From a pond almost entirely concealed by the bushes, a five-colored pillar of light, about a *li* in diameter, shot forth. Its brilliant glow ascended directly beyond the nine heavens, resembling a colossal column connecting heaven and earth.

Meanwhile, along the basin's edge, three groups of people had already arrived, even before Han Li, and were coldly scrutinizing the others.

With a flash of green light, Han Li and Xue Po appeared side by side in another direction.

Suddenly, all three groups turned their gazes towards them. The terrifying aura emanating from their stares caused Xue Po's beautiful face to change, and she instinctively wanted to retreat a couple of steps.

Just then, Han Li's body subtly shifted, blocking Xue Po from view at an incredible angle, while simultaneously releasing a faint trace of his spiritual pressure.

With a soft puff,

Xue Po felt the overwhelming aura instantly dissipate under Han Li's spiritual pressure. Her face relaxed, and she covertly glanced at the other groups.

Han Li first cast two glances at the astonishing five-colored pillar of light rising from the pond, then calmly surveyed the individuals in the other directions.

The smallest group consisted of a middle-aged couple. The man was a burly fellow with thick eyebrows and dark skin, appearing quite honest. The woman, however, was enchantingly beautiful, exuding an astonishing allure.

Though seemingly entirely different, standing side by side, they created a strangely harmonious impression.

Of the two, the woman clearly exuded Mahayana spiritual pressure, while the man's aura was unfathomable. An invisible fluctuation subtly enveloped his body, preventing even Han Li from discerning the depth of his cultivation with a glance. Clearly, he possessed some secret treasure specifically designed to counter spiritual sense detection.

Han Li was slightly surprised. However, his gaze shifted the next moment, settling on five young men in another direction, all dressed and looking identically.

These five youths appeared to be only in their twenties. Not only did their appearances and clothing seem to be cast from the same mold, but their demeanor and expressions were also remarkably similar, as if they were one person. Their eyes were utterly cold, devoid of any warmth, and all were at the late-stage Body Integration perfection cultivation level.

Upon sensing the aura of these five, Han Li revealed a thoughtful expression. Then, with a flicker of his gaze, he looked towards the last group.

This final group was the largest, numbering over a hundred individuals. Most were at the Void Refinement stage, interspersed with a few Body Integration cultivators. They subtly formed a mysterious formation, encircling a majestic-looking, brocade-robed man.

The burly man's eyes flickered faintly with a bloody glow. His aura was even more substantial and powerful; he was a genuine Mahayana Ancestor.

Han Li merely glanced at the middle-aged man, then shifted his attention to those beside him, seemingly quite interested in the formation they had set up.

The three groups, naturally recognizing Han Li's Mahayana cultivation, each scrutinized him for a few moments with varying expressions. However, none paid any attention to Xue Po behind him.

Evidently, in their eyes, a woman with mere Void Refinement cultivation was not worth considering.

It was Han Li, a Mahayana cultivator with an unfamiliar face and an elusive, rather strange aura, who made all three groups wary.

Currently, the four groups each occupied a spot around the basin's periphery. All were quietly suspended in the air, none showing any inclination to initiate conversation.

Suddenly, a spiritual light flashed on the horizon, and streaks of light appeared simultaneously from different directions, whistling through the air as they shot towards the basin.

When the whistling sounds abruptly ceased, two more groups, riding streaks of light, arrived near the basin and revealed themselves.

Upon seeing the faces of one of the newly arrived groups, Han Li's expression subtly changed, but he quickly returned to his previous demeanor.

This newly arrived group consisted of two men and one woman standing side by side.

One man's face was completely covered by a white mask, while the other man was a young Daoist priest and the woman a white-haired old crone.

It was Xiao Ming, Daoist Qing Ping, and Madam Wan Hua – three Mahayana cultivators arriving simultaneously.

As for the other group, it comprised three thin, unsightly old men.

These three either had blank expressions or looked excited, but their auras were exceptionally powerful. They were also three Mahayana Ancestors.

With the simultaneous arrival of six Mahayana cultivators, the other three groups, excluding Han Li, all showed a change in expression.

At this moment, after Xiao Ming's gaze swept over the others, he immediately spotted Han Li. His pupils slightly constricted, then he chuckled lightly and spoke,

"So, Fellow Daoist Han has also arrived here. Had I known, my companions and I would have come together. Brother Han, were the other important matters you mentioned earlier referring to this Heavenly Cauldron Palace?"

"Indeed. I also didn't expect that what Fellow Daoist Xiao was after would be the same objective as mine. Otherwise, I wouldn't have said those words back then," Han Li calmly replied, not showing too much surprise.

"I believe someone of your status would never deceive with false words. However, this is quite a pity. I felt an immediate kinship with Fellow Daoist, and originally wished to engage in a good exchange." The masked man sighed, seemingly genuinely regretful.

"Heh heh, when did the renowned Mad Demon Ancestor of the Blood Bone Sect become so melancholic? Could it be that after not seeing you for so many years, and such a long period of seclusion, your temperament has changed drastically?" The woman from the Daoist couple suddenly said with a charming smile.

"So it's Ancestor Wugou and Fairy Huaxi, the esteemed couple. I heard Brother Wugou encountered a wicked dragon back then and returned injured after a great battle. I wonder if your vitality has recovered now?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Ming turned to glance at the charming woman and the man beside her, then similarly chuckled and retorted.

"Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Xiao. Not only has my husband long recovered his vitality, but he also had another fortunate encounter these past few years. His strength has increased rather than decreased compared to before," Fairy Huaxi replied, preempting the man beside her.

Ancestor Wugou merely gave a 'simple and honest' smile, showing no intention of speaking further. Seeing this, Xiao Ming secretly frowned, his gaze lingering with a hint of strangeness on this well-known Mahayana Daoist couple from the Blood Heaven Continent. However, after a quick thought, he dismissed them and looked towards the brocade-robed man.

"Sect Master Feng, I didn't expect you, the founder of your sect, to personally brave such dangers and bring so many disciples along. Aren't you afraid of burying all your sect's elites here again, making your sect a fleeting phenomenon?" Xiao Ming asked, his tone turning cold, seemingly quite hostile towards the other party.

"Hmph, if you can come, why can't I? Could it be that True Monarch Tianding originated from the Blood Bone Sect? Furthermore, I founded my sect based on the path of formations. This time, to acquire treasures from the Heavenly Cauldron Palace, it's only natural to bring enough disciples to set up formations. As for whether my sect will become a fleeting phenomenon, there's no need for Brother Xiao to concern himself," the brocade-robed man snorted, speaking impolitely while surrounded by his disciples.

Hearing the burly man's retort, a sharp glint flashed in Xiao Ming's eyes, but he said no more, turning his gaze to the five identically dressed and looking youths.

"The Five Sons of Blood Convergence greet Fellow Daoist Xiao." Without waiting for Xiao Ming to speak, the five youths stepped forward, cupped their fists, and spoke simultaneously with expressionless faces, their actions and demeanor remarkably uniform, as if they were one person.

"I have long heard of Fellow Daoist Blood Convergence's esteemed reputation. To be willing to forsake your original Mahayana cultivation, split your Nascent Soul into five, simultaneously cultivate five major avatars, and intend to advance to the Mahayana realm together—your willpower is truly astonishing, something I deeply admire," Xiao Ming said, facing the five youths who were only at the Body Integration stage. For the first time, an expression of apprehension flashed in his eyes, and he returned the greeting with unusual politeness.

"Our actions are merely a desperate attempt to find life amidst death. As for the Mad Demon's great name, Blood Convergence has also long heard of it; your renown has resounded like thunder," the five youths replied coldly, their expressions unchanging, as if they had truly lost all other emotions.

Xiao Ming offered a faint smile, and just as he was about to speak further, his face suddenly changed drastically. His gaze instantly fixed on the towering five-colored pillar of light.

The next moment, the already astonishingly large pillar of light suddenly began to hum loudly, and its diameter expanded outwards in all directions at a visible speed.

Its speed was so rapid that in almost a single flash, the pillar transformed into a dazzling five-colored light screen, enveloping the entire basin.

By this time, Xiao Ming, Han Li, and the others, without needing any warning, had already retreated beyond the basin, their expressions grave as they observed everything before them.

A tremendous rumbling sound emanated from within the five-colored light screen. Following this, intense fluctuations appeared in the sky above the thousand-mile radius, and a milky-white fissure tore open out of thin air. It rapidly widened with time, faintly revealing the ethereal silhouettes of exceptionally intricate pavilions and palaces within the gap.

The rumbling suddenly ceased, and the five-colored light screen abruptly flickered, transforming into countless streams of brilliant light that swept towards the fissure's entrance, completely sealing it with a shimmering glow.

Following this, the sky above the basin violently trembled once more, and a colossal, ten-thousand-foot-tall gate appeared out of thin air. It was five-colored, its surface covered in countless gold and silver runes, as if it did not belong to this world.

Upon seeing the gold and silver runes on the gate, Han Li's pupils subtly constricted.

These gold and silver runes were precisely the Golden Seal Script and Silver Tadpole Script unique to the Immortal Realm.

True Monarch Tianding was truly worthy of being the one who successfully ascended back then, mastering these two unique spiritual scripts of the Immortal Realm.

"This is the gate to the Heavenly Cauldron Palace. As long as one has the ability to open it and enter, they can use a key to break the subsequent seals and gain access to the palace itself," Fairy Huaxi said, her beautiful eyes fixed on the colossal gate, a hint of fascination appearing on her face.

"Hmph, now that this gate has appeared, I fear others will arrive in an instant. Since that's the case, I won't stand on ceremony; I shall enter first," the brocade-robed man declared impolitely, a flash of greed appearing on his face.