Chapter 2413: Great Battle About to Begin

**Volume One: Storm of the Seven Mysteries Sect**

On the Blood Sky Continent, above a vast lake in the renowned monster-beast territory of the Ebb Tide Grasslands, Han Li and his group were rapidly traversing the sky aboard an unassuming flying boat.

Han Li stood at the very front of the flying boat, his face devoid of emotion, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

A little behind him, Zhu Guo'er and Old Ancestor Huashi appeared somewhat dejected. Not long ago, they had finished investigating the last ancient altar on the grasslands, but found nothing, which greatly disheartened them.

Suddenly, a distinct buzzing sound emanated from Han Li. His expression shifted. With a flick of his sleeve, a pale blue formation plate flew out, its surface displaying a dozen silver characters and pulsing with a faint spiritual glow.

"Let's go to Tianma City, it's nearby," Han Li commanded without hesitation, his eyes narrowing slightly. Though Old Ancestor Huashi was somewhat surprised, he immediately formed a hand seal, turned the flying boat around, and shot off in another direction.

"Senior Han, what's happened? Is the 'Battle of the Strongest' about to begin?" Zhu Guo'er couldn't help but ask directly, blinking her large eyes. Although Han Li hadn't revealed everything about the Battle of the Strongest to the two of them, he had shared some minor details. Even though Zhu Guo'er didn't fully understand what this so-called Battle of the Strongest entailed, she knew that Han Li was scheduled to engage certain powerful individuals at a specific time and place, hence her question.

"Indeed, the time has come. Heh heh, since I accepted some benefits from the Merchant Alliance back then, it wouldn't be right to go back on my word," Han Li replied nonchalantly.

"Even the Helian Merchant Alliance, an organization with many Grand Ascension cultivators, needs your help, Senior. This 'Battle of the Strongest' must be quite significant. Please be careful," Zhu Guo'er said with some concern.

"Don't worry," Han Li replied confidently with a smile. "With my current abilities, there are few in this world who can truly threaten me. Even if I were to be outmatched, escaping safely would be no problem at all." Seeing Han Li's confidence, Zhu Guo'er and Old Ancestor Huashi exchanged glances and felt considerably relieved.

Half a month later, Han Li and his group finally flew out of the grasslands and arrived at a colossal city on the edge of the prairie. Unlike typical cities, this one was surrounded by rows of thick, dark-green giant bamboo outside its tall walls, forming a continuous bamboo barrier that completely enclosed the city. On the city walls, every *li* or so, a dozen-zhang-tall grayish-white flying horse statue stood, incredibly lifelike, with each one displaying a unique pose and expression.

The flying boat Han Li and his group were on did not land at the city gate. Instead, it swept majestically over the city walls, and to the astonishment of many low and mid-level cultivators, it directly struck the city's seemingly invisible restriction barrier. However, after dipping slightly, the flying boat merely shuddered and then shot straight towards the center of the massive city.

"A Grand Ascension Ancestor!" several people below exclaimed in unison. The guards on the nearby city walls, who had initially worn vigilant expressions, were shocked and immediately replaced them with respectful looks, watching the flying boat soar into the distance. Only a Grand Ascension cultivator, or someone even more powerful, could possess such great divine abilities to allow a flying boat to completely disregard a city's aerial restriction. Ordinary Body Integration cultivators could not achieve this. While all cities generally had strict prohibitions against outsiders flying in the air, these rules were usually ignored by Grand Ascension cultivators and even some powerful Body Integration stage cultivators. Of course, regulations could vary between cities, depending on the rank and number of powerful cultivators garrisoning them.

Although Tianma City was not small, the powerful cultivators managing it did not include any Grand Ascension Ancestors, only a few Body Integration stage cultivators. These guards certainly wouldn't dare to offend a Grand Ascension Ancestor. Thus, being able to fly directly with their artifact, Han Li and his group arrived in front of a large building displaying the Merchant Alliance's emblem in the city center a short while later.

As Han Li put away his flying boat and descended from the air, two rows of respectful men and women immediately emerged from the building. They all bowed deeply to Han Li, and the grey-haired old man, appearing to be sixty or seventy, who led them, spoke respectfully: "Greetings, Senior Han. We received word from headquarters several days ago and have already prepared the teleportation array. Would Senior like to rest here for a while before departing?"

"Your Merchant Alliance is quite efficient," Han Li said indifferently after his gaze swept over the old man's face like a knife. "There's no need to rest; please prepare for the teleportation immediately."

"Yes, I will lead the way for Senior now," the old man replied without hesitation, bowing his head again. Han Li nodded and strode first towards the large door in front of them. Zhu Guo'er and Old Ancestor Huashi naturally followed closely behind.

After a brief moment, Han Li found himself in a hidden underground hall. At the center of the hall was a pale silver formation array, covered with dense spiritual runes. Han Li merely glanced at it, a slight frown appearing on his brow, and asked: "Is this a cross-spatial teleportation array? And is the destination that small world?"

"Senior's insight is truly keen," the old man honestly replied. "Biying did indeed instruct Senior to proceed directly to the small world to rendezvous with other seniors later."

"Since Biying arranged it, I presume preparations on the other side are nearly complete. Let's begin the teleportation," Han Li said with a slight smile, stepping into the formation array without hesitation. A ripple appeared beside him, and Zhu Guo'er and the other person also flashed into it. The old man acknowledged. With a flip of his hand, a pale green jade tablet appeared. He raised and shook it, and a streak of silver light shot out, instantly vanishing into the formation array. The next moment, the entire formation array hummed loudly, silver light flared intensely, and Han Li and the two others blurred and disappeared.

In another realm, within an open-air formation array surrounded by lush green trees, a silver light flashed, and Han Li and the two others were teleported out.

"Brother Han, you've finally arrived as promised. We haven't met in years; I trust all is well?" a hearty voice called out from behind the nearby trees. Then, as if alive, the trees parted to either side, and two people walked out. The first was an old man with a sallow face, dressed in a green robe, and smiling broadly. Behind him was a young woman in brocade robes, cradling a small silver-furred beast. Her face was serene and beautiful, her demeanor unusually tranquil.

"Daoist Biying?" Han Li asked, raising his eyebrows after studying the old man for a moment and sensing a familiar aura from him.

"Indeed, it is I. I hope you won't take to heart my test with the Devouring Buddha Diagram that day. For this Battle of the Strongest, I will largely rely on Brother Han's assistance," Biying said with a smile.

"Brother Biying, you're too kind. Since I agreed that day, it is my unavoidable duty to contribute this time," Han Li replied, also showing a trace of a smile.

Hearing this, Biying laughed heartily. He then turned slightly and introduced the young woman beside him to Han Li: "This is Elder Wen Xinfeng from our alliance's Elder Council. She hails from the Illusory Heart Sect, and her strength is among the very best of our many elders in Blood Sky. She is also one of the chosen participants for this battle."

"The Illusory Heart Sect? I've heard of it," Han Li said, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. "It's said to be the largest sect in northern Blood Sky. Although it doesn't have many disciples, every single one is a top-tier existence among their peers." After wandering through the Blood Sky Continent for several years, he was no longer as unfamiliar with the various forces as he once was. Upon hearing Biying's words, he immediately understood her background and was quite surprised. It seemed somewhat illogical that a sect whose power rivaled the Blood Bone Sect would have its strong cultivators join the Helian Merchant Alliance.

As if discerning a trace of doubt in Han Li's mind, Wen Xinfeng smiled sweetly and spoke to Han Li in a pleasant voice: "Daoist Han, there's no need to be surprised. Our sect's founding patriarch actually originated from the Merchant Alliance. Therefore, since its establishment, our sect has always advanced and retreated with the Merchant Alliance, so it's only natural for me to serve as an elder within the alliance."

"So that's how it is," Han Li said, enlightened. "It seems I'm simply unaccustomed to such things."

"Brother Han, please follow me to a place where you can rest well," Biying said, leading Han Li and his group along the path they had arrived by. "There are only two months until the scheduled Battle of the Strongest. Daoist Lei and Daoist Xuesha should also arrive soon. If you have any other needs, please don't hesitate to mention them; our alliance will do its best to satisfy them."

"Since Brother Biying has said so, if I truly have any needs, I naturally won't be polite," Han Li replied with a smile.

Led by Biying and the other person, the group soon walked out of the surrounding forest and appeared before a massive complex of buildings resembling a fortress. "This is one of our alliance's thirty-six large strongholds established in this world," Biying explained, slowly flying towards the fortress with Han Li and the others, "and it's also the closest stronghold to the areas controlled by the ghostly beings from the Underworld. A million *li* from here is their territory. The duel will be held at the demarcation line between our respective controlled territories. Besides us, the participating strong cultivators, large armies will naturally be deployed as a precaution..."

At the fortress gates, over a hundred mid and high-level armored soldiers stood guard. On the colossal walls, which were over three hundred meters tall, resembling cliffs, dark, half-human, half-beast-shaped puppets patrolled back and forth. Above the fortress, various colored lights shimmered faintly, and dense fluctuations from numerous restrictions permeated the entire area. The entire fortress presented an appearance of strict vigilance. With Biying leading the way, the guards at the gate naturally did not obstruct them in the slightest. Instead, they respectfully bowed and quickly retreated to either side. The group then majestically walked into the fortress.

Half an hour later, Han Li was already inside a small stone tower at the center of the fortress, sitting cross-legged in a secret chamber on the top floor.