Chapter 793: Black-robed Youth

"However, to risk one's life for a woman... I overestimated him." The black-robed man muttered again, turning his head to look at a spot not far away.

It was an exceptionally simple teleportation array, and the black-robed man's eyes flickered.

When he sensed that Han Li was only a few dozen miles away, the black-robed man suddenly stood up and strode towards the teleportation array.

Moments later, he disappeared in a flash of white light.

Han Li had also sensed the black-robed man's movement and was carefully flying towards the location. When he suddenly sensed that the opponent's presence had vanished, he was bewildered.

"Did this person use a遁法 (escape technique) to hide, intending to ambush me from the side?" With this thought, Han Li's heart tensed, and he naturally became extra cautious.

"This is..."

But when he cautiously approached the peak of Heavenly Pillar Mountain and saw the conspicuously unusual small teleportation array, his expression changed. He then noticed a newly erected bluestone slab next to the array. Carved into it with a sharp blade were four clear characters, each about an inch in size.

"過时不候" (No waiting after time)

Han Li read out these four words softly, and his expression became somewhat grim, secretly cursing the other party's cunning.

Although with his array mastery, he could tell at a glance that such a simple teleportation array couldn't transport him to a very distant place. But even so, if it randomly transported him to a place where the other party had set up an ambush, wouldn't that be walking straight into a trap? What was worse, if he teleported, he had no idea if the silver-haired old man and others would still be able to find him.

Yet, judging by the message on the stone tablet, the other party clearly did not wish to meet him now. Nor did they give him any chance to negotiate.

If he delayed for too long, the other party might simply leave, and that would be a huge problem.

He dared not gamble on whether the other party would truly do so.

After all, he had killed the Yin Luo Sect Master's dual companions. If the person who came was indeed this demonic sect master, then such an action was not impossible.

It seemed that if he wanted to find a way to break the Soul Sealing Curse, he would have to take the risk.

Han Li's face alternated between cloudy and clear for a while. Finally, he made up his mind.

He first scanned the surrounding area with his divine sense to confirm that no other demonic cultivators were hiding there. Then, he pulled out a sound transmission talisman, whispered a few words into it, raised his hand, and it shot back the way he came as a red light.

Then, Han Li no longer hesitated. He plucked a spirit beast bag from his waist and conjured it into mid-air. Three-colored Gold Devouring Insects swarmed out, forming a three-colored battle armor that appeared on Han Li's body.

He then flicked his sleeve, and a small blue shield shot out, blocking in front of him. With a flip of his other hand, a flash of white light revealed a piece of brocade cloth, thin as gauze, in his hand.

Han Li lowered his head to look at the brocade cloth, a strange look flickering in his eyes.

This brocade cloth was the protective treasure Nan Gongwan had given him that day. Han Li gently stroked the smooth surface of the brocade cloth with his fingers, standing silently in place.

After a short while, Han Li raised his hand and cast several more layers of protective barriers upon himself. With a flicker of his figure, he stepped into the teleportation array.

Taking a deep breath, Han Li raised his hand and cast a magic art onto a corner of the teleportation array.

A bright white light erupted. Han Li vanished without a trace within the teleportation array.

Several thousand miles from Heavenly Pillar Mountain, in a lake, on an unnamed island at its center, white spiritual light shone at a certain spot on the island. Han Li's figure appeared along with it.

The moment he was teleported out, despite the physical discomfort from the teleportation, he immediately urged the blue shield in front of him without thinking. The shield instantly expanded, blocking most of his body behind it.

However, Han Li didn't sense any attack, so he somewhat relaxed and began to look around.

"Don't worry. To deal with a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator like you, I wouldn't resort to a sneak attack. Though I hear you're no ordinary early-stage cultivator." An unfamiliar voice came from not far opposite Han Li.

Han Li's heart stirred upon hearing this voice.

This was definitely not the voice of the Yin Luo Sect Master. Could it really be another demonic cultivator who did this? Han Li's eyes flashed with surprise as he looked towards the source of the voice.

He saw a black-robed young man, in his early twenties, standing about thirty feet away, hands clasped behind his back, calmly observing him. Although Han Li had never seen the true face of the Yin Luo Sect Master, neither in physique nor voice, this person was definitively not the black-robed man who fought against the old demon of Hehuan during the border war that day.

"Hmph! No sneak attack, yet you use such methods to place a Soul Sealing Curse on my companion." Han Li's gaze swept over the man, and he found himself unable to discern the other party's cultivation level, which made his eyes narrow slightly. His vigilance dared not slacken, yet he spoke with cold sarcasm.

At this moment, everything nearby had entered his view.

This was the edge of a swampy area, with mud pits everywhere. It was extremely humid, and not far away was a patch of stunted trees. The sound of lake waves could faintly be heard.

Han Li frowned, then immediately relaxed his brow. He sensed abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations around him, indicating that some restriction had indeed been set up.

While he estimated it wouldn't be too powerful an array, being teleported here meant he had completely lost any geographical advantage.

"Hehe! Without such methods, would Fellow Daoist Han willingly come here? Although I possess some minor divine abilities, I'm not arrogant enough to contend with your entire sect." The young man showed no anger, instead speaking calmly and leisurely.

"Are you not the Yin Luo Sect Master?" Han Li stared at the other party, suddenly changing the subject.

"Why, do I resemble the sect master in any way?" The black-robed young man chuckled, speaking languidly.

"No resemblance, but to be able to easily infiltrate my Falling Cloud Sect, injure someone, and leave safely... I truly don't know that my sect has such a master as yourself. I wonder why Fellow Daoist did not appear during the great war." Han Li seemed somewhat puzzled, yet also as if he were talking to himself.

"Although I very much wish to explain a thing or two to Fellow Daoist Han, I didn't lead you here just to tell you my origins. Have you brought your Gold Lightning Bamboo magical treasure?" The young man smiled faintly, revealing a strange look as he spoke.

Upon hearing the young man's words, Han Li stared coldly at the other party, not uttering a word.

"Cough! If Fellow Daoist Han intends to stall for time, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. The teleportation array I set up is a special one that can only be used twice. Once both uses are exhausted, the array on that end will automatically destroy itself. They will absolutely not be able to find this place in less than half a day. I think half a day is enough to settle matters between us." The black-robed young man seemed very confident.

"Hmph! You want to know if the Gold Lightning Bamboo magical treasure is on me, but shouldn't you first tell me how to lift the Soul Sealing Curse?" A cold glint flashed in Han Li's eyes, but his tone softened slightly.

"The method to lift the Soul Sealing Curse is in this jade slip. But first, show me the Gold Lightning Bamboo magical treasure. I am different from the sect master. I only want the Gold Lightning Bamboo; your feud with him over his killed companions has nothing to do with me. I'm also too lazy to interfere." The young man's smile vanished as he flipped his palm. A dark jade slip appeared in his hand.

Then, the young man looked over with a meaningful gaze.

"Of course. Although the Gold Lightning Bamboo magical treasure is very important, I value my companion even more," Han Li said without hesitation, raising his eyebrows.

He then clasped his hands together in front of his chest, then gently separated them. A clap of thunder sounded, followed by faint golden arcs leaping, and a small azure arrow appeared in his hand.

Han Li held the arrow between two fingers, giving the young man an expressionless glance.

Seeing this, the young man's eyes flickered with a greedy glint. After a brief deliberation, he suddenly flicked his wrist.

Immediately, the black jade slip in his hand slowly flew towards Han Li. Its speed was incredibly slow, as if pulled by an invisible thread.

Han Li was initially startled, then understood the other party's intention and said nothing more. He similarly tossed out the small arrow in his hand, which also floated slowly towards the other party, like an ox pulling a cart.

Although both controlled the items in their hands, their gazes were fixed on each other's faces, not blinking.

When the two items passed by each other, Han Li and the young man both secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Their expressions relaxed slightly.

Both simultaneously grabbed the incoming items and eagerly examined them closely.

After a careful examination, both showed a wry smile on their faces.

"Is this your Gold Lightning Bamboo magical treasure?" The black-robed young man gave a cold laugh, then violently rubbed his hands together. A silver-white flame erupted, and the small azure arrow in his hand instantly turned to ash.

"I also haven't heard of the most basic Five Elements cultivation method being able to remove a Soul Sealing Curse," Han Li said expressionlessly as a blue flame rose in his hand. The jade slip instantly froze into ice, then shattered into specks of glittering light, vanishing without a trace.

"Hmph! It seems we don't trust each other. But no matter. I'll ask Fellow Daoist Han one last time. Are you willing to hand over the Gold Lightning Bamboo magical treasure? As long as you give me this treasure, I will turn and leave immediately, and I will also leave behind the method to cure your companion. Otherwise, after I eliminate Fellow Daoist, I can still find this treasure. This isn't an ancient treasure; you will surely carry it with you." The black-robed young man's expression turned grim, emitting faint wisps of malevolent aura, and a ferocious look subtly appeared on his face.

"What a coincidence! Fellow Daoist's thoughts are somewhat similar to mine. Since you cast the Soul Sealing Curse, the method to undo it must be in your mind. Once I kill you, I can similarly search your primordial spirit to obtain what I want to know," Han Li exhaled lightly, speaking with an icy tone.

"Search my primordial spirit? In these past few hundred years, you are the first person to dare speak to me like that. I will leave you a complete corpse." The black-robed young man laughed in extreme anger, raising his hand. Several magic arts flew outwards.

A roar sounded nearby. Seven dazzling white light pillars shot up into the sky. Simultaneously, dragon roars echoed. On each of the seven light pillars, silver-white flood dragons appeared, raising their heads and roaring in unison.

"Oh no, it's the Seven Dragon Pillars! Master, quickly dodge!" Before Han Li could discern the nature of these seven orbs, Yin Yue's terrified voice rang in his ears, sounding extremely frightened.