Chapter 573: Infiltration

Volume 4: Winds Rising from Overseas

Han Li mused that at most, only three or four high-level cultivators would arrive on the last day. It was unlikely for Nascent Soul stage cultivators to appear so coincidentally nearby. After all, this wasn't the outer seas; in such a vast expanse, even Core Formation cultivators would be scarce.

If that were the case, with his current cultivation level, he naturally had nothing to fear. Although he didn't want to attract attention, if these cultivators truly didn't know when to back off, he would have to resort to ruthless measures.

Having made up his mind, Han Li emotionlessly closed his eyes again. The group had already flown back to their original position. When the elder named Zhao saw how quickly they had returned, a strange expression appeared on his face.

"What? Have you three fellow Daoists already scouted out the situation on the island?" the elder asked, seemingly probing.

"We were a step too late. Other cultivators have already occupied the area where the celestial phenomenon occurred on the island. They even set up restrictions first. The other party can control high-level puppets and speak with frightening arrogance. We estimate they are Core Formation cultivators, and the three of us are no match for them," the woman surnamed Mei said, a hint of alarm flashing in her eyes as she slightly shook her head.

"Core Formation cultivators? So, the celestial phenomenon on the island is indeed significant and not naturally formed. Could it truly be the appearance of a treasure?" The elder was startled and couldn't help but blurt out the question.

"Who knows? Logically, we should have been the first group to arrive at this island. That person likely reached the island and set up a formation before the celestial phenomenon even appeared. It seems there's something extraordinary happening there," the white-clothed man said, gently stroking the jade flute in his hand without raising his head.

"What does the other party look like? Perhaps if you three fellow Daoists describe them, this old man might know them," the elder surnamed Zhao asked after a moment of contemplation.

Hearing the elder's words, the Mei siblings and the white-clothed man exchanged glances.

"What, you three didn't see what they looked like?" The elder frowned, a hint of suspicion appearing on his face.

Seeing the elder's expression, the white-clothed man suddenly recalled what had happened earlier, and his face instantly darkened.

"Hmph! If Brother Zhao doesn't believe us, he can go and try for himself. Whether they'll show mercy then is hard to say!" he retorted with ill humor.

"Heh heh! Fellow Daoist, you've misunderstood. This old man merely asked out of curiosity. Since there's already a Core Formation stage senior on the island, whether they're cultivating or truly have a treasure appearing, there's naturally no room for us to get involved," the elder said with a dry laugh.

"That's not necessarily true! Even if they are Core Formation cultivators, if we were to unite with a dozen or so Foundation Establishment fellow cultivators, we might not be unable to contend with them," the man surnamed Mei said, pouting slightly with some unwillingness.

"Brother Mei, you jest. Not to mention, we don't have that many Foundation Establishment cultivators here now. Even if we did, who would dare to offend a Core Formation cultivator without knowing if a treasure truly exists on the island or what its value is?" the white-clothed man said, shaking his head dismissively.

Upon hearing the white-clothed man's words, the woman's brother opened his mouth with a grim expression, but found he had nothing to retort. He could only sigh and fall silent.

"Brother, since the waters here are too deep, perhaps we siblings shouldn't get involved. Let's just leave," the woman surnamed Mei said, looking at the man beside her and gently persuading him.

Her brother's face showed hesitation upon hearing this. Although he knew that with a Core Formation cultivator involved, there would likely be no further gains, he was still reluctant to leave after stumbling upon a potential emergence of a rare treasure. After all, for rogue cultivators like them, such opportunities were truly rare and hard to come by.

"Leave? A nice thought! No one is to leave before I say so!"

Before the man surnamed Mei could fully consider, a cold, erratic voice drifted from all directions.

The Mei siblings and the white-clothed man were greatly startled. They immediately pressed their hands to their storage bags and looked around cautiously. Yet, the surroundings were empty; no one else was in sight.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, what's going on?" the man surnamed Mei asked the elder with a pale face, while simultaneously releasing his divine sense to continuously search the vicinity.

"Fellow Daoists, don't ask me. Like all of you, I cannot leave," the elder said with a helpless, bitter smile, explaining.

Hearing this, the other three were stunned. As they wondered whether to believe the elder, a yellow light flashed more than ten zhang away, and a white figure appeared before them.

White mist swirled around the figure, making its form indistinct, like a phantom of mist. The appearance of this person startled the Mei siblings and the others. They immediately released their magic tools to protect themselves, staring at the figure with wary expressions.

"Hmph! You youngsters still think you can fight me?" A chilling voice emerged from the white mist, faintly hinting at anger.

"We wouldn't dare. We just don't know how we might have offended senior, and why you won't let us siblings leave," the woman surnamed Mei said, her face paling as she gently explained, even though she couldn't discern the white figure's features. However, the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from the figure allowed her to identify it as a Core Formation cultivator.

"Offend me? You aren't worthy! I simply don't want the events here to become widely known. Until it's clear whether a treasure has appeared on the island, no one is permitted to leave this place by so much as half a step. Otherwise, I will instantly eliminate them," the white figure commanded imperiously, seemingly extremely arrogant.

Hearing this, the Mei siblings and the others were somewhat dumbfounded.

"Since that's the case, when does senior plan to investigate the island?" the white-clothed man asked slowly, exhaling lightly.

"Don't worry, I'll be leaving immediately. But before that, describe everything you encountered on the island to me again, in detail," the white figure said with a cold laugh.

The three exchanged glances upon hearing this. The woman surnamed Mei frowned, then calmly spoke: "Actually, there's not much to say; we were essentially scared off by the opponent's more than a dozen puppets. At that time..." The woman then meticulously recounted everything that had happened on the island.

"Being able to control over a dozen high-level puppets is indeed beyond what a Foundation Establishment cultivator can do. It seems you few are rather clever; if you had truly lingered for some time, you probably wouldn't be standing here now!" After listening, the white figure fell silent, then chuckled after a moment.

Afterward, the white figure said no more, shimmered, and transformed into a streak of yellow light, flying directly towards the small island.

The other cultivators' hearts brightened, thinking they might finally escape, but then a leisurely voice drifted from a distance. "Listen well. Before I return, if anyone dares to leave, don't blame me for hunting you down. I am not a magnanimous person!" The voice faded, gradually diminishing, while the elder and the others exchanged silent glances.

Watching the yellow light disappear into the distance, they naturally all considered sneaking away. However, after carefully weighing the risks, and deterred by the reputation of a Core Formation cultivator, no one truly dared to leave.

Almost simultaneously, Han Li, at the mouth of the valley, opened his eyes, his expression grave.

"I thought this fellow would wait until tomorrow, but it turns out he's impatient too!" Han Li muttered, sounding somewhat displeased.

Just then, Han Li's expression shifted. He turned his head to glance in another direction, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Another wave of people has arrived. It seems I'll have to deal with them one by one. Core Formation cultivators aren't easily scared away," he mused to himself, looking up at the sky with a soft sigh.

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Li didn't hesitate, patting a spirit beast pouch at his waist.

A large swarm of three-colored Gold Devouring Beetles buzzed out of the pouch. After circling once overhead, they quickly coalesced into a giant three-colored spear.

"Go!" Han Li stared at the giant spear and softly called out.

A whistling sound immediately followed, and the giant spear vanished with a shimmer.

"Since they're seeking death, don't blame me!" Han Li's eyes flashed with killing intent as he gazed in the direction the giant spear had disappeared.

The yellow light, formed by the white figure, had already flown onto the small island, but it paused at the island's edge before coming to a stop. Then the white mist dissipated, revealing a middle-aged cultivator in his forties, with a pale face and bloodless lips.

He glanced towards the direction of the celestial phenomenon, a strange glint in his eyes. Following this, white mist surged from his body, blurring his form, and moments later, he vanished into thin air.

Just as the white figure employed a stealth escape technique, intending to sneak in and investigate, on the other side of the small island, more than a dozen streaks of light flew forth. These lights were all red and escorted a magnificent flying beast carriage.

The carriage was about six or seven zhang long, crafted entirely from an unknown fragrant wood, adorned with layers of talismans and emitting a faint white glow. Pulling the carriage were three greenish strange birds, each about a zhang in size, with six eyes and four wings. They appeared fierce and menacing but flew incredibly fast, reaching the high altitude near the island in the blink of an eye.