Chapter 2482: Human Realm Phenomena

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Thousands of feet above the ground, hundreds of "righteous and evil" cultivators were battling fiercely, divided into two factions.

One faction pulsed with malevolent energy, manifesting countless ghostly figures, while the other had deployed several small magic formations, unleashing various magical artifacts and treasures, conjuring thunder and lightning that roared through the sky.

The highest-ranked cultivators among them were only two Core Formation cultivators; most others were around the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Indeed, the changes in the Great Jin are deeply connected to the interference of these sectarian powers. Regardless of which side prevails, it seems the Great Jin imperial family will once again change its surname." Han Li observed the battle from a white cloud far above, sighing with a sense of melancholy.

Everything he had experienced in the Great Jin felt as vivid as if it were yesterday. Yet, thousands of years had passed, and it was likely that not only had his old acquaintances vanished, but many of the familiar sects from that era had also disappeared.

The fighting techniques of the so-called "righteous and evil cultivators" below were naturally no longer worth Han Li's attention.

He only lingered for a brief moment nearby before forming an incantation with one hand, then silently vanished from the white cloud.

In a heavily restricted forbidden land in the southern reaches of the Great Jin, teams of cultivators in various sect uniforms regularly patrolled the base of a towering, dark, colossal mountain.

The entire forbidden area was protected by extremely powerful anti-flight restrictions. Apart from the most powerful Nascent Soul Grandmasters in the human realm, these guards had no concerns about anyone directly entering the massive mountain from the air.

Although this colossal mountain had caused significant upheaval in the past, even leading to the deaths of many high-level cultivators, and was subsequently sealed and guarded by several major sects, by today, thousands of years later, any remaining treasures within had long been plundered. There was no longer any reason for high-level beings to covet this mountain.

Consequently, these sect cultivators, despite appearing to maintain a strict guard, were in fact absent-minded, merely going through the motions as part of their routine.

Under these circumstances, a faint, ephemeral shadow, disregarding the numerous restrictions and patrolling guards, flashed and disappeared into the black mountain.

Half an hour later, Han Li appeared instantly, a hundred zhang above the colossal mountain's peak, and looked down, scanning the vast structure below.

With his immense divine sense, even the many remaining restrictions on the mountain could not impede him in the slightest; he instantly surveyed every corner of the colossal mountain.

Upon recognizing some vaguely familiar locations, a complex expression appeared on Han Li's face.

"Since Kunwu Mountain is no longer what it once was, with its people gone, there's no need to remain here. I shall return you to oblivion."

Han Li murmured softly, then his figure suddenly blurred, transforming into a streak of green light that shot straight into the sky.

A moment later, the mountain peak began to fluctuate violently, and a colossal green hand, a thousand zhang long, materialized out of thin air. After it slammed down forcefully onto the mountain below,

An earth-shattering roar echoed high in the sky. Instantly, countless restrictive light auras were triggered, and powerful spatial fluctuations rippled outwards in concentric circles.

The entire colossal mountain then blurred and vanished into thin air.

Only an extraordinarily deep, enormous crater remained in its place.

This sight was naturally witnessed clearly by all the nearby patrolling sect cultivators, who were utterly dumbfounded, almost believing themselves to be in a dream.

Not long after, several Nascent Soul Grandmasters, alarmed by the incident, also hurried to the scene.

However, after their investigation, aside from discovering some residual traces of spatial power nearby, they could find no trace of Kunwu Mountain's whereabouts. Filled with doubt, they could only depart reluctantly.

Later, this incident became one of the Great Jin's ten most incredible legends, and the story of Kunwu Mountain was once again a topic of discussion among countless cultivators.

However, as time passed, the related rumors gradually faded. Ten thousand years later, only a few scattered mentions of Kunwu Mountain could be found in ancient texts.

The colossal island, home to Tianxing City, the sacred ground of the Starfall Sea, was currently bustling with activity. Countless ships of all sizes swarmed towards it like ants.

Innumerable Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators were present in the city. Occasionally, one or two palanquins belonging to Nascent Soul Grandmasters would glide over the city, heading directly towards the Star Palace at the summit.

Today marked the one-thousandth birthday of "Grandmaster Ling," the Master of the Star Palace. For over a decade, powers big and small from across the Star Sea had been preparing lavish gifts, hoping to earn Grandmaster Ling's favor and ensure their continued safety under the Star Palace's protection.

By noon, dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators had assembled in the main hall of the Star Palace, all gazing respectfully at a beautiful young woman in a white palace gown, seated in the place of honor.

Her face, like white jade, was exceptionally alluring, and her beautiful eyes held a subtle crystalline glint. Wherever her gaze fell, the Nascent Soul Grandmasters present lowered their heads in deference.

As the sole early-stage Soul Transformation cultivator in the Starfall Sea and the Master of the Star Palace, Palace Master Ling indeed possessed the authority to command respect from all other cultivators.

"It's almost time; let the ceremony begin," Palace Master Ling stated calmly after several female cultivators, dressed as attendants, had served spiritual fruit tea to each of the Nascent Soul cultivators.

Someone below immediately acknowledged her words, ready to relay the instructions.

But at that moment, a faint male voice drifted in from outside the hall.

"Heh heh, it seems I've arrived at just the right moment. With an old friend visiting from afar, I imagine Fairy Ling wouldn't even begrudge me a simple cup of water or wine, would she?" No sooner had the words faded than a figure flickered at the hall entrance. An ordinary-looking man in a green robe entered with a faint smile.

Yet, when the Nascent Soul cultivators present swept him with their divine sense, they were astonished to find no spiritual energy fluctuations whatsoever, as if he were merely a mortal.

"You... No, it's impossible. How can you still be in this realm?" Palace Master Ling, who had previously maintained a calm demeanor, showed a hint of surprise and doubt on her face upon hearing the man's voice. When the green-robed figure walked directly into the hall and she clearly saw his face, she stood up in great shock, her voice trembling slightly.

"It's nothing, merely some matters that necessitated my descent. However, Fairy, after all these years, you've actually advanced to the Soul Transformation stage. That truly is a joyous and congratulatory occasion." The green-robed man was, of course, Han Li. He smiled faintly as he spoke to Ling Yuling.

"Everyone, withdraw. I wish to have a private reunion with this old friend." After Ling Yuling's expression shifted several times, she suddenly gave the order in a cold voice.

Although most of the Nascent Soul cultivators in the hall were utterly bewildered and had no idea about Han Li's origins, they dared not disobey her command. They rose one by one and respectfully took their leave.

In an instant, only Han Li and Ling Yuling remained in the vast hall.

"Fellow Daoist Han, are you truly from the Spirit Realm?" As soon as everyone had departed, Ling Yuling immediately activated a restriction within the hall, completely isolating it from the outside world. Only then did she step down from her seat and ask, a mix of surprise and joy on her face.

"I did indeed descend from a higher realm, but that's a long story. We can discuss it at length later. After many years away from the Human Realm, I also have some matters I need to inquire about from you, the Master of the Star Palace." Han Li smiled, speaking unhurriedly.

"Brother Han, rest assured. Although I haven't traveled extensively in the Starfall Sea in recent years, I am intimately familiar with affairs in other parts of the Human Realm. Feel free to ask whatever you wish, Brother Han." Ling Yuling finally recovered from her shock, her expression becoming complex as she spoke.

"If that's the case, then that would be ideal. On this journey downward, I've searched all along, and besides Fellow Daoist Ling, I haven't encountered any other old acquaintances. The matters I wish to know are not many; most are merely related to people from the past." Han Li also revealed a trace of emotion.

And so, for the next half-day, the Star Palace Master and Han Li remained together in the great hall.

When the restriction enveloping the hall dissipated with a muffled sound, a dazzling green rainbow soared out from within, carrying a faint, lingering voice.

"Fellow Daoist Ling, I hope we may meet again in the Spirit Realm."

With a flash of escaping light, the green rainbow completely vanished from the void.

Inside the hall, Ling Yuling remained seated, a jade slip held in her hand, her face subtly betraying an expression of extreme excitement.

Meanwhile, Han Li was already tens of thousands of miles away from Tianxing City, silently contemplating in the green light some of the information Ling Yuling had shared with him.

The island he and Nangong Wan had left behind in the Starfall Sea years ago had long become the base of a significant power in the region. Surprisingly, among its leaders were several descendants of his former disciple, Tian Qin'er. They had reached cultivation levels around late Core Formation and early Nascent Soul, making them, strictly speaking, his grand-disciples. Moreover, one of them was among the Nascent Soul cultivators who had been congratulating Ling Yuling.

However, once Han Li learned that these nominal "grand-disciples" had developed exceptionally smoothly under Ling Yuling's careful patronage, encountering no issues, he did not feel the urge to meet them.

As for Tian Qin'er herself, over two thousand years ago, she had attempted to forcibly undergo tribulation to break through to the Soul Transformation stage but failed, turning to ash. Fortunately, she had made some prior arrangements, so her divine soul was not entirely annihilated, leaving a chance for reincarnation.

As for Shi Jian, his other disciple who inherited the position of Grand Master of the Thousand Bamboo Sect in the far west, he perished alongside a powerful enemy during his Nascent Soul stage. However, he had accepted several talented disciples, and the lineage of the Grand Divination Divine Monarch, which he had inherited, not only continued but had actually flourished in recent years.

As for Huangfeng Valley and Luoyun Sect, these two sects, which had deep historical ties with him, found themselves in vastly different circumstances after several millennia.

Huangfeng Valley, which had been on the brink of collapse back then, experienced a dramatic turn of fortune over the past few millennia. It successively recruited several "genius disciples," most of whom cultivated to become Nascent Soul cultivators. This propelled Huangfeng Valley to prominence, its influence far surpassing its former glory, establishing it as a considerable major sect in Tiannan.

As for Luoyun Sect, despite the strong foundation Han Li had established, after his ascension, its subsequent Nascent Soul elders succumbed to various misfortunes, and with no new Nascent Soul elders appearing for over a thousand years, it eventually devolved into a third-rate sect within the Yunmeng Mountain Range, long since ousted from the ranks of the three major sects.

Even former major sects like the Ancient Sword Gate and the Hundred Craft Institute had largely been supplanted by newly emerging ones.

Upon hearing this news, even though Han Li knew Ling Yuling would not deceive him in this regard, he was utterly stunned for a long time, ultimately responding with a bitter smile.