Chapter 450: Reunion

"Hmph! What if they found us? If we work together, we can always just return to the Ghost Mist. We're no match for Nascent Soul cultivators in a direct confrontation, but when it comes to escape methods, who can compare to the profoundness of our Ghost Dao cultivation techniques?" the deep male voice said, clearly unconvinced.

"What do you know? At least three or four Nascent Soul cultivators here possess magic treasures and unique divine abilities specifically designed to counter our Ghost Dao techniques. If you're eager to die, don't drag me down with you. Otherwise, don't blame me if I go back on my word and eliminate you right now." The young cultivator, Reverend Xuan Gu, reprimanded him with a chilling voice.

"Reverend Xuan Gu, why get upset? I'll stop talking. But you promised to find me a suitable physical body; you mustn't break your word! Otherwise, why would I have entrusted a wisp of my soul essence to you and willingly followed you out of the Ghost Mist?" The person seemed somewhat apprehensive of Reverend Xuan Gu's anger, yet ultimately couldn't resist reminding him of his most urgent concern.

"Rest assured! Since I need your help to deal with Extreme Yin, that rebellious disciple, it will naturally be more convenient to act once I have a physical body. Furthermore, you and I are in the same boat, both having specialized in the Ghost Dao midway through our cultivation. I will certainly keep my promise." Reverend Xuan Gu said coldly.

"Heh heh! Knowing that, I can rest easy." After uttering these words, the deep voice vanished from Reverend Xuan Gu's mind.

Reverend Xuan Gu let out a faint sigh of relief, then leaned against a small tree, sat down, and entered a light slumber.

As time gradually passed, more and more cultivators emerged from the Ghost Mist, looking increasingly disheveled.

Several of them appeared to be severely weakened, as if their vital energy had been significantly depleted. It seemed they wouldn't be able to recover their original cultivation levels without several years of secluded meditation.

Yet, despite their condition, an unmistakable joy was evident on their faces.

After all, successfully passing through the Ghost Mist meant they could acquire rare spirit herbs seldom found in the outside world.

When the steady arrival of cultivators swelled the numbers to sixty or seventy, the rate of new arrivals suddenly dwindled.

More than half a day later, only a handful of individuals sporadically emerged.

Among them was the young cultivator who had initially accompanied Fairy Ziling.

He was disheveled, his face pale, and he looked as if he had suffered a significant setback.

Upon entering the area, the young male cultivator immediately searched around. Seeing no sign of Fairy Ziling, his face showed anxiety, and he appeared restless.

Meanwhile, Patriarch Extreme Yin and Reverend Xuan Gu also grew uneasy, as there was still no sign of Han Li.

Reverend Xuan Gu, though feeling a degree of impatience internally, managed to maintain a composed expression.

Patriarch Extreme Yin, however, was becoming increasingly restless. He would occasionally open his eyes, casting a sinister gaze across the surrounding Ghost Mist, before reluctantly closing them once more.

In truth, given his gloomy disposition, he wouldn't typically display such agitation. However, the item Han Li possessed was absolutely critical to his treasure-seeking mission, leaving him feeling utterly disoriented and unable to decide his next move.

Most people failed to notice this behavior. However, the elderly scholar in the Confucian robe, who was meditating nearby, did. He cleared his throat lightly and then slowly inquired:

"Fellow Daoist Wu, given your current unease, is there someone you're still concerned about among those who haven't yet emerged?"

After speaking, the old man fixed his gaze on Patriarch Extreme Yin, a suspicious expression on his face.

"Not exactly someone I'm concerned about; merely a young fellow I met once, a rather interesting junior, actually!" Upon hearing this, Patriarch Extreme Yin immediately regained his composure and replied nonchalantly.

"An interesting junior, you say? Well then, Fellow Daoist Wu, you must introduce him to me when the time comes. I always enjoy fostering promising newcomers." The elderly scholar's eyes glimmered with an odd light as he spoke, a strained smile on his face.

"That old fox! His suspicions are truly considerable," Patriarch Extreme Yin cursed inwardly upon witnessing this.

Yet, he could only grudgingly agree aloud.

Han Li's continued absence vexed him immensely, so he no longer bothered with mind games. He simply closed his eyes again, forcing himself into meditation.

At the same moment, the deep voice echoed once more in Reverend Xuan Gu's mind, originating from a certain corner.

"Xuan Gu, has the helper you spoke of still not arrived? He hasn't been devoured by that malevolent ghost, has he? What good is such a helper if he's so weak?" There was an undeniable hint of schadenfreude in the voice.

Reverend Xuan Gu sighed, knowing that given the other party's nature, truly silencing him would likely be impossible.

Nor could he genuinely eliminate the other party; after all, this individual was still highly useful to him.

And so far, no one had cast him any strange glances. It seemed that a brief, quiet conversation wouldn't cause any issues.

With this thought, Reverend Xuan Gu reluctantly said:

"This person is quite mysterious! Though not old, and his cultivation is only at the early Core Formation stage, he absolutely won't be killed by any malevolent ghost. Even if you were to encounter him, you'd likely end up either with your soul scattered or fleeing in disarray. Do not underestimate this individual."

"Early Core Formation? Xuan Gu, you're severely underestimating me. A cultivator like that? I could drain his essence and blood with a single breath!" the deep voice stated, clearly disbelieving.

"Didn't you already suffer from my Demon-Slaying Arrow made of Golden Thunder Bamboo? Do you truly have a way to deal with a Golden Thunder Bamboo flying sword made from the same material?" Reverend Xuan Gu retorted with a cold laugh.

"A Golden Thunder Bamboo flying sword? Are you joking? Wasn't the *only* piece of Golden Thunder Bamboo refined into that Demon-Slaying Arrow? How could there possibly be another Golden Thunder Bamboo magic treasure?" The deep voice fell silent at these words, then questioned with profound skepticism.

"Heh heh! You'll find out whether it's true or false when the time comes. But don't say I didn't warn you! Besides the Golden Thunder Bamboo artifact, this person possesses several other very troublesome abilities. Otherwise, given my reputation as Reverend Xuan Gu, why would I bother joining forces with an ordinary Core Formation cultivator?" Having said this, Reverend Xuan Gu ceased to pay attention to the other party, closing his eyes to rest, seemingly deaf to anything further.

The deep voice, showing discretion, asked nothing further, leaving it unclear whether it was pondering the veracity of Reverend Xuan Gu's words.

After several more hours, Reverend Xuan Gu also began to show signs of impatience, suspecting that something had indeed happened to Han Li. Suddenly, on one side of the Ghost Mist, the fog began to churn. Then, large swathes of the mist abruptly parted, and three figures emerged side by side.

It was Han Li, Fairy Ziling, and another woman.

The strikingly beautiful woman, Yuan Yao, still had her head shrouded in a black robe, concealing her radiant, flower-like countenance.

Seeing so many people, Han Li paused, then showed a hint of surprise. After a quick scan, he unhesitatingly moved towards an unoccupied area.

Fairy Ziling and Yuan Yao exchanged a knowing glance, and without a moment's hesitation, intended to follow him.

Just then, a figure flashed.

A handsome young man in green robes rushed forward and eagerly asked Fairy Ziling:

"That's wonderful! Ziling, you're safe. I've been so worried about you!" Having said this, he quickly stepped closer, wanting to carefully examine her for any injuries, his concern evident.

"Brother Li, I'm fine," Fairy Ziling said, her steps halting involuntarily upon seeing him. After a forced smile, her expression became hesitant.

Yuan Yao, after casting a meaningful glance at the two of them, drifted away and followed Han Li on her own.

Han Li, who had just found an isolated spot, turned and was somewhat surprised to see the woman named Yuan Yao following him.

He immediately frowned and said:

"Miss Yuan, we've already exited the Ghost Mist. Is there something else you need by following me?"

While Han Li was certainly impressed by the woman's stunning beauty and felt a slight attraction, he had no intention of associating with outsiders in this place. He promptly spoke words that kept her at a distance.

Han Li's blunt words did not anger Yuan Yao. Instead, she sighed softly and said:

"Brother Han, please don't be offended; following you, Fellow Daoist, is merely a last resort for me, Yuan Yao! As you may know, my magic treasure was severely damaged during the battle with the Ghost King and can no longer be used. Furthermore, this Celestial Palace is fraught with dangers. I, a humble woman, know only you here, so I had no other choice. You wouldn't stand by and watch me die here, would you?"

As she finished speaking, the black-robed woman's eyes reddened slightly, and she appeared on the verge of tears, which only caused Han Li's brows to furrow more deeply.

"Miss Yuan! Since you've put it this way, I must first clarify a few things. I am no righteous gentleman, nor do I possess a benevolent heart, and I certainly don't wish to be unknowingly exploited." Han Li asked calmly, as if oblivious to her sorrowful gaze.

"Fellow Daoist Han, please feel free to ask anything. As long as it doesn't concern any private matters, I, Yuan Yao, will certainly satisfy Brother Han!" The woman, noticing Han Li's complete lack of sympathy for her plight, secretly felt a surge of annoyance. However, there were indeed things she absolutely had to obtain on this journey, so after a moment of hesitation, she nodded and softly agreed.

"My questions are simple: Fellow Daoist Yuan, what is your clear objective for this journey? How many levels do you intend to clear? Also, please explain the hidden reason behind your startled reaction when you first saw me, and what significant trouble you're currently facing? I have no desire to get entangled in any disputes." Han Li asked slowly, his hands behind his back, staring at the woman without blinking.