Chapter 2402: True Immortals Descend Ice Soul Appears

"Fellow Daoist has already discovered me."

Behind the giant tree, a faint ripple appeared, and a pleasant voice emerged. Then, a figure flickered, and a beautiful woman in a yellow robe stepped out from behind the tree, looking at Han Li with a wary expression.

Han Li smiled faintly upon seeing the woman's face, which was almost identical to Blood Soul's. However, after sweeping his divine sense over her body, a peculiar expression appeared on his face.

"You must be Fellow Daoist Ice Soul," Han Li said unhurriedly. "I didn't expect to meet the fairy immediately upon entering this place. And you have already advanced to the Grand Ascension realm." The woman, who looked exactly like Blood Soul, indeed exuded spiritual pressure characteristic of a Grand Ascension cultivator. However, it seemed she had only advanced a few years prior, as her aura was still slightly unstable.

"How do you know me, esteemed sir? This is our first meeting, isn't it?" the yellow-robed woman asked back, startled but not denying her identity, instead asking with extreme caution. Although she was also a Grand Ascension cultivator, the woman knew her cultivation was not yet stable and couldn't compare to other beings of the same stage. Being in a secret place like the Heavenly Cauldron Palace naturally made her even more vigilant.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to worry. I am the helper your Blood Soul avatar invited, and I am also a Human Race cultivator. As for how I recognized you, it was naturally through the sensation of this item." Han Li said calmly. With a grab in the air, a small, crystal-clear bottle emitting faint blood-red light appeared in his hand, which he then tossed directly towards the woman.

"Fellow Daoist Han is a Grand Ascension cultivator of the Human Race, and he carries the essence blood of my Blood Soul avatar. No wonder, upon meeting you, Senior Han, I subtly sensed something extraordinarily familiar about you." The yellow-robed woman, who was Fairy Ice Soul, finally became both surprised and delighted after taking the small bottle and briefly examining the essence blood within.

"Have you been trapped here all this time, Fellow Daoist? Haven't you considered a way to leave after so many years?" Han Li asked thoughtfully, taking the opportunity to look around again.

"How could I not have thought of a way to escape? But this place is the core of the Heavenly Cauldron Palace, an independent space arranged by True Monarch Tianding with immense effort. Besides the teleportation formation you used, there is no other way to enter or exit this space. When I and several fellow Daoists broke in back then, all the other fellow Daoists perished, and the outer formation was accidentally destroyed along with them. My cultivation level wasn't high at the time, so I was left with no choice but to be trapped here helplessly. Fortunately, I managed to obtain some of True Monarch Tianding's cultivation methods and legacy here. Furthermore, I've diligently cultivated over the years and finally, by chance, advanced to the Grand Ascension realm a few years ago. Oh, right. Where is my Blood Soul avatar now? Since Fellow Daoist Han teleported in, I vaguely sensed that she should also be within the Heavenly Cauldron Palace," Ice Soul explained after a sigh.

"To allow you to advance to the Grand Ascension stage so quickly, it's clear that True Monarch Tianding's legacy is indeed extraordinary, truly befitting someone who ascended to the Immortal Realm back then," Han Li replied with a smile. "As for Fellow Daoist Blood Soul, she should still be searching for you in the outer regions. Fortunately, you left this contingency plan back then; otherwise, even with the desire to help, I would likely have been powerless."

"It truly was difficult for Blood Soul, but her being able to invite a powerful individual of our race like Fellow Daoist Han for assistance is quite beyond my expectations. Originally, I left her outside intending for her to seek out a few non-human friends I knew in the past for some help," Ice Soul smiled charmingly.

"Heh heh, perhaps Blood Soul felt it would be more certain to ask for my help," Han Li said with a chuckle, stroking his chin.

"Given your Grand Ascension status, it's normal for Blood Soul to think that way. When I left the Human Race back then, it seemed there were only two Grand Ascension seniors in our race: Ao Xiao and Mo Jianli. Senior Han, you must have advanced to the Grand Ascension stage not long ago, right? Additionally, I knew some of the famous Integration stage cultivators in our race back then. Senior Han, your face is quite unfamiliar. Could it be that you are a reclusive cultivator who has always hidden within our race?" Ice Soul mused, then asked with a hint of doubt.

"It's true that I haven't been in the Grand Ascension stage for many years. As for you finding me unfamiliar, Fairy, that's not surprising. Because you and I both came from the same Human Realm, and I ascended to the Spirit Realm only after your disappearance. Speaking of which, you and I share quite a bit of destiny. Back then, I once entered the Void Heaven Palace and obtained the Void Heaven Cauldron and other benefits you left behind," Han Li replied with a half-smile.

"You... you obtained the Void Heaven Cauldron I left in the Human Realm? And if you only ascended after I disappeared, then Senior Han, you must have cultivated from the Deity Transformation stage to the Grand Ascension realm in merely a few thousand years!" Fairy Ice Soul's beautiful eyes widened slightly upon hearing Han Li's reply, completely stunned.

No wonder! Given Han Li's heaven-defying cultivation speed, even True Monarch Tianding, who ascended to the Immortal Realm back then, would probably be dumbfounded upon seeing it.

"I also had some fortuitous opportunities to advance so quickly. It's fortunate that I obtained the Void Heaven Cauldron back then; without it, Blood Soul and I would likely have expended much more effort to enter the Heavenly Cauldron Palace. Furthermore, I am not the only Grand Ascension cultivator who entered the Heavenly Cauldron Palace this time. It would be best for us to leave this place early. Although I tampered with the formation outside, I can't guarantee that others won't discover it later. If Fellow Daoist Ice Soul still has any questions, you can wait until we're outside and meet Blood Soul; everything will naturally become clear then," Han Li said with a serious expression after looking up at the sky.

"Leave now..." Much to Han Li's surprise, Fairy Ice Soul showed a hint of hesitation upon hearing this.

"Do you still have unfinished business here, Fellow Daoist?" Han Li, knowing her well, quickly understood her intentions after a swift thought.

"Since Senior Han is also a Grand Ascension cultivator of our race and we share some destiny, I shall no longer hide it. Although I found True Monarch Tianding's cultivation methods and legacy and retrieved many treasures, there is still a most important treasure vault that I have been unable to open. Several invaluable treasures left behind by True Monarch Tianding remain there, unreachable. These treasures are extremely important to me because they complement True Monarch Tianding's cultivation methods," Fairy Ice Soul hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and spoke truthfully.

Although it was always better for fewer people to know about such matters, if she were to leave now, these treasures would naturally become even more out of reach.

"Where is this treasure vault? If it won't cause too much delay, I'll take a look. If it's within my power, I will naturally help you retrieve the treasures," Han Li said indifferently.

"Don't worry, Senior Han, the location of the treasures is very close to here. If Fellow Daoist can help me break the restriction, I am willing to only take the treasures related to the cultivation methods, and give the majority of the other invaluable treasures to you," Fairy Ice Soul said, naturally overjoyed.

Han Li smiled faintly but said nothing more.

So, led by the woman, the two immediately shot down from the mountaintop. After a few flashes, they arrived before a section of stone wall at the edge.

Ice Soul extended her jade-like hand and gently pressed a certain spot on the wall. Immediately, a flash of light appeared, and a hazy, glowing hole materialized out of thin air on the stone wall. After their figures flickered, the two silently entered.

After the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, Han Li and Ice Soul appeared in a grayish-white hall. The entire hall was constructed from massive white stones, appearing ancient and mysterious. In the center of the hall, another statue of True Monarch Tianding stood prominently, continuously emitting a faint silver light. This statue also had a sword on its back, but in its hand, it held a radiant, golden miniature pagoda.

"True Monarch Tianding's final treasures are all within that small pagoda," Ice Soul said with a somewhat solemn expression, pointing at the golden pagoda. "Unfortunately, my divine abilities are limited. Even after staying here for so long, I haven't been able to break the restriction on it. Be warned, Senior Han, the restriction on it possesses an incredibly powerful rebounding force. When I was previously injured by it, I had to recuperate for over a decade."

"Oh, allow me to give it a try first," Han Li said, raising an eyebrow without showing much emotion.

With a stroke of his finger in the air, a hazy green sword qi flashed into existence and slashed directly towards the golden pagoda. With a "bang," a crystalline light circulated on the pagoda, manifesting into a smooth, mirror-like, translucent light screen. When the sword light struck it, it vanished into it in a flash. Then, a cold light appeared, and an identical hazy green sword light shot out from within the light screen, aggressively sweeping towards Han Li. Han Li's eyes flickered. With another slight movement of his finger, another green sword light shot out, shattering the incoming sword light with a single blow.

But the next moment, thunder crackled around him as several golden electric arcs emerged, then condensed amidst the rumbling, transforming into several golden electric snakes that lunged at the pagoda. With a "sizzle," as the golden electric snakes touched the light screen, they also vanished into it in a flash. However, moments later, a roar erupted from within, and the same number of electric snakes shot out.

"A reflection restriction, quite interesting. However, such restrictions usually have a limit to what they can withstand. What if I try a powerful attack?" Han Li finally chuckled. With a grab in the air, he instantly extinguished all the incoming golden snakes. Then, with a flick of his wrist, a miniature green mountain appeared in his hand. Simultaneously, Han Li let out a low roar, and a golden light suddenly burst forth from his body. Golden scales shimmered on his skin, and his arms instantly swelled by several sizes. With a squeeze of his five fingers, and then a fierce swing, the green miniature mountain was hurled forth with a whistling sound. After blurring, it suddenly vanished into thin air. The next moment, a sudden ripple appeared before the golden pagoda. The green miniature mountain flashed into existence with an explosive sound, smashing fiercely onto the light screen protecting the pagoda, instantly sending ripples outwards.