Chapter 2427: Zhenhai Palace

## Chapter 2388: Zhenhai Palace

"Daoist friend, your insight is truly remarkable! You've seen that something is wrong with my daughter. During our escape, my adversary struck her with a unique secret technique. Although I blocked most of the attack, some of it still hit her. You possess immense power and have discerned her condition; I wonder if you have a way to heal her?" The Human-faced Flood Dragon, discarding all other concerns, spoke urgently.

"Have you not attempted to heal her yourself, Daoist friend?" Han Li countered.

"My adversary's unique secret technique inherently counters my own divine ability. If I were to intervene, my daughter's condition would only worsen. If you are willing to help, I, Tu, will be eternally grateful," Tu Yao said with a bitter smile.

"Your daughter's condition is certainly not a difficult problem for me to resolve. In fact, I can even help you regain your Mahayana stage powers. However, in exchange, I have one condition," Han Li said calmly after stroking his chin.

"Brother Han, please state your request. As long as it's within my ability, I will not hesitate." The Human-faced Flood Dragon's expression shifted slightly at first, but after exhaling gently, he spoke immediately.

"Brother Tu, there's no need to be so serious. My condition isn't difficult to fulfill. I merely hope that afterward, you can help me find a location on the nearby seabed," Han Li said with a light chuckle.

"Is that all?" Tu Yao was taken aback, his expression relaxing immediately.

"Haha, what kind of condition did you expect me to propose, Daoist friend?" Han Li smiled faintly.

"Ah, I was overthinking it just now. With the divine abilities you've just displayed, even at my peak, I would be no match for you. Naturally, there's no need to deceive me with words. Very well, if this is the only condition, I accept." The Human-faced Flood Dragon readily agreed.

"In that case, Daoist friend and your daughter, please come aboard the flying boat. I will immediately cast a spell to restore you both to your original state," Han Li nodded and said without hesitation.

The Human-faced Flood Dragon looked at the enormous black flying boat. Without hesitation, he thanked Han Li and lightly floated onto the vessel with the purple-clad girl.

At Han Li's command, the Ink Spirit Holy Ark immediately resumed its original course, continuing to cut through the air with a slight tremor.

The next day, inside the great hall of the flying boat's cabin, the Human-faced Flood Dragon conversed with Han Li, his face full of gratitude. The purple-clad girl stood behind them, her complexion much improved. Old Ancestor Huashi and Zhu Guo'er also stood respectfully to the side.

"Daoist friend, your divine abilities are truly profound. I originally thought that even if my daughter and I could recover, it would take at least several months. I never imagined Brother Han could accomplish this in just one night. Now, if Zhenhai Palace sends more people, I alone can eliminate them all," the Human-faced Flood Dragon said to Han Li, delighted.

"Such a minor trick is nothing. But what kind of force is this Zhenhai Palace? Those sea beasts are insignificant to us, but for some cultivators at the Integration stage, they are an irresistible presence," Han Li stroked his chin and asked.

"Zhenhai Palace is a major force in the sea domain, established by my great adversary. Besides him, the Great Palace Master, there are two other Mahayana Palace Masters. There are also hundreds of the powerful sea beasts we saw earlier, serving as elders in the palace. As for ordinary sea beasts, their numbers are countless." The Human-faced Flood Dragon's expression shifted slightly at Han Li's question, but he still answered truthfully.

"Oh, Zhenhai Palace is indeed quite a formidable force. Your cultivation has greatly decreased, so why haven't the Mahayana cultivators of the palace personally pursued you?" Han Li nodded and asked again.

"I, Tu, am an enemy of Zhenhai Palace, but I am allied with another major power in this sea domain, the Azure Flood Dragon Hall. After I escaped my adversary using a secret technique, I sent out a distress signal. Thanks to my friends from that Hall, who launched a timely, large-scale attack on Zhenhai Palace, tying down my adversary and the other two Mahayana Palace Masters, I was able to escape until now. However, the sea route to the Azure Flood Dragon Hall has been completely blockaded by Zhenhai Palace's sea beasts, which is why I was forced to flee in this direction," the Human-faced Flood Dragon replied frankly.

"So there are such twists and turns. The Azure Flood Dragon Hall is named after the Azure Flood Dragons; could its leaders be powerful cultivators of the Azure Flood Dragon race?" Han Li blinked and asked.

"Daoist friend Han, you guessed correctly. The two Hall Masters of the Azure Flood Dragon Hall are indeed Mahayana cultivators of the Azure Flood Dragon race, and we are sworn friends. Although this Hall only has two Mahayana cultivators, their divine abilities are superior to those of the three Palace Masters of Zhenhai Palace. The overall strength of both sides is still comparable. By the way, when we met in Cloud City, Daoist friend Han was only at the Void Refinement stage. To think that in such a short time, you've already advanced to the Mahayana stage! This speed of advancement is truly incredible. Your talent is so exceptional that perhaps only those ancient seniors and highly talented individuals can compare," Tu Yao said with a sigh, still somewhat astonished by Han Li's advancement to the Mahayana stage.

"Over these years, I have obtained several great opportunities, which allowed me to advance to my current realm so quickly. In terms of profound foundation, how can I compare with a Mahayana cultivator like Brother Tu?" Han Li said politely.

"Daoist friend, you are too modest. By the way, where do you need my help to find a place, Daoist friend Han? It's no exaggeration to say that while I may not know every inch of this sea domain like the back of my hand, I have been to most of the slightly special areas several times." Tu Yao's expression turned serious as he finally brought up the matter.

"What I'm looking for is just a seabed coordinate. As for the specific location... Huashi, please explain it to Daoist friend Tu. Huashi is a water-attributed spirit beast who has achieved cultivation, so his explanation should make it clearer for Daoist friend." Han Li turned his head and instructed Old Ancestor Huashi beside him.

"Yes, Senior Tu. The seabed coordinate we are looking for actually comes from the revelation given by an ancient altar. The specific characteristics of the location are..." Huashi replied, then respectfully stepped forward and immediately began to explain in detail.

Although the approximate coordinates of the Small Spirit Heaven's entrance were known through the ancient altar, given the vastness of the underwater world, even a slight deviation could mean a difference of hundreds of thousands of miles. Even with Old Ancestor Huashi, a helper proficient in water-attributed divine abilities, finding the entrance would likely not be a simple task. Therefore, when Han Li encountered the Human-faced Flood Dragon, an old acquaintance from the sea domain and a Mahayana cultivator, he did not hesitate to offer his assistance.

With his assistance, finding the precise coordinates should not be too difficult. As for the so-called Zhenhai Palace, it only has three Mahayana cultivators. Even if they are somewhat stronger than ordinary cultivators of the same rank, offending them is of no major concern to Han Li, given his current divine abilities.

After a discussion between Tu Yao and Old Ancestor Huashi, they quickly identified a seabed location that matched the entrance to the Small Spirit Heaven. With a roar, the Ink Spirit Holy Ark's escape speed increased severalfold, and it shot directly towards that location.

Two months later, above a sea area covered with coral reefs, the black flying boat hung motionless in the sky. Thousands of mid-to-high-tier puppets were spread around this sea area, patrolling back and forth. In the deep sea, even more magic crystal puppets were searching for something. Old Ancestor Huashi and Tu Yao also joined these puppets, continuously searching with their divine sense.

Han Li sat cross-legged on the front deck of the flying boat, quietly resting with his eyes closed. Zhu Guo'er appeared to stand obediently to the side, but her occasional peeks towards the sea surface naturally did not escape Han Li's notice.

"Why are you so impatient, girl? This is one of the most probable locations they calculated. Regardless of the outcome, news will return soon enough," Han Li said faintly, his eyes still closed.

"Senior Han, Guo'er is just worried that this time will also be in vain. The previous two locations, which both seniors were so confident about, also yielded nothing," Zhu Guo'er stuck out her tongue and mumbled in reply.

"The sea domain is so vast, and the underwater world is so complex; it's normal to make a few mistakes. But I have a slight premonition that this time, we should have some gains," Han Li replied with a faint smile.

"Senior, your magic power is immense. Since you have a premonition, it's likely not wrong." Zhu Guo'er's heart was filled with joy upon hearing this.

"However, before that, we need to deal with some uninvited guests." Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly gazed in a certain direction.

Meanwhile, a million miles away, an unknown number of bizarre sea beasts had appeared on the sea surface. Some were as large as mountains, while even the smallest were several tens of feet in size. They were densely packed, their numbers almost covering every inch within a hundred-mile radius.

At the very front, a long-bearded man wearing a jade crown stood atop a giant emerald turtle, impassively leading the sea beast army that was surging towards the Ink Spirit Holy Ark. Slightly behind the emerald giant turtle, a huge seahorse beast and a dark blue octopus closely followed on either side.

"Indeed, that person is not far ahead. Hmph, to dare interfere with this Palace's affairs, they must be tired of living. Begin preparing the Myriad Beast Grand Formation; I will use this formation to trap and kill this land Mahayana cultivator inside." The long-bearded old man's face twisted into a sneer as he suddenly gave an order.

From the sea beast army behind, a long horn blared. After a surge among the beasts, they immediately began shifting positions within their ranks as they advanced. After a few breaths, although the beasts were still stirring, a quite profound magical formation was slowly taking shape.

This immense sea beast army naturally quickly alarmed a patrolling team of armored puppets nearby. A moment later, they flew forward aggressively to intercept.

"Stop! My master is handling matters ahead. All outsiders are forbidden from advancing further, or they will be killed without mercy!" As these dozens of puppets blocked the path of the sea beast army, the silver-armored puppet leading them shouted coldly.

"Mere puppets, seeking death!" The long-bearded man on the giant turtle's face darkened.

Almost the instant his words fell, a dozen powerful sea beasts behind him simultaneously opened their mouths. Beams of light and bursts of thunder-fire sprayed out wildly. After just a few flashes, the puppets were all shattered into pieces amidst earth-shattering roars.