Chapter 331: Heavenvoid Hall
After muttering to himself, Han Li slowly replied while Wen Qiang watched expectantly, "Since Brother Wen is also an Exquisite Sound Sect member, he should know I am a member only in name. I have never involved myself with the inner affairs of the sect. However, if this matter is as Brother Wen described and Fellow Daoist Siyue has been greatly wronged, I will mention this matter to Fairy Violet Spirit the next time I see her. But if she doesn't do anything about this, I'm not quite sure what can be done."
Having heard that Han Li was unwilling to personally take matters into his own hands, Wen Qiang felt slightly disappointed.
He also knew that his friendship with Han Li wasn't deep. Even saving him and his daughter could already be considered as cherishing their old friendship. He repeatedly expressed his thanks without any complaints and had Wen Siyue kowtow in respect to Han Li, but Han Li had refused with a smile.
However, Han Li then asked with slight confusion, "Isn't Fellow Daoist Siyue the personal disciple of the Envoy of the Right? Why don't you raise this matter to her?"
Wen Siyue appeared even sadder and explained with a soft voice, "Senior Han doesn't know this but this mission was assigned by a close relative of my master. My master had wished for us to become Dao companions, but my refusal caused her to become very angry!"
With that said, the woman wore a helpless expression, revealing an appearance of tragic beauty. Han LI couldn't help but stare for a moment before forcing himself to turn his head towards Wen Qiang for fear of looking longer. He said, "I am here on an important matter and cannot journey together with you. I will be taking my leave!"
Han Li cupped his hands towards them. The pair naturally refrained from making any unpleasant requests for him to stay and hastily said words of thanks. Han Li then faintly smiled and shot through the sky as an azure streak of light.
The father-daughter pair looked in the direction that the azure streak disappeared. After a long while, Wen Siyue spoke in an angry, cute voice, "Father, you never told me that you were actually old friends with our sect's Elder Han! From your chat, you also seemed to have met him before he entered Core Formation. Could you tell your daughter about it? Elder Han is actually quite a mystery to us!"
Near the end, her angry voice had turned to one of strong curiosity.
Wen Qiang sighed and lovingly said, "Your father and Senior Han had only met several times. We don't have a deep relationship. In addition, I had met him when our cultivations were quite low. When I suddenly saw him in the offerings hall, I was truly shocked, and felt restless several days later. For this person to actually enter Core Formation and become our sect Elder, is a truly inconceivable affair!"
Wen Qiang couldn't help but then recall the moment when Han Li recognized him. He then stopped talking and became absent-minded for a short time.
Wen Siyue saw that her father was thinking of something and silently waited at his side. The father and daughter peacefully floated in the sky with their clothes fluttering in the wind.
……
The nearby empty oceans suddenly flooded with activity. Every few days, cultivators hurriedly flew across this location high above with pleasant surprise.
At this location, there was a huge palace floating in the sky without the slightest movement.
The palace was about four hundred meters tall and was crafted from flawless white jade. It was exquisitely beautiful and released sparkling twinkles of light. Surrounding it was a layer of dense golden light that encompassed about four thousand meters in height.
The cultivators that were traveling to it flew into the palace without any hesitation and easily passed through the barrier with a flash of white light.
One day, a streak of azure light arrived below the palace and came to a sudden stop. The azure light faded away to reveal a youth with a common appearance, Han Li who had followed the direction of his map.
He looked at the embroidered clothed map with slight hesitation and glanced around, ensuring that nothing else was nearby. He had found nothing after looking down at the sea for a long time.
Han Li's hesitation only grew stronger. With a sudden thought coming to mind, he abruptly raised his head.
Upon seeing the exquisite jade palace floating among the clouds, Han Li gasped with surprise.
He blankly stared at the palace for a long while before he recovered from his shock. He didn't immediately approach the palace hall, instead deciding to deliberate for a moment. But suddenly, his expression stirred and his body flashed with azure light, causing him to disappear without a trace.
A short moment later, a scarlet cloud rushed over and stopped close to where Han Li had just been. The red cloud scattered to reveal a red-haired old man with an embroidered cloth in hand.
He looked at the embroidered cloth in his hand and coldly examined his surroundings. When he turned his head to the sky and saw the palace, he couldn't help but reveal joy. Soon after, the red haired old man flew up into the sky in a red cloud without a second thought.
Then with a flash of white light, the old man passed through the gold light barrier. Han Li reappeared nearby shortly after. With a creased brow, his expression began incessantly shifting.
In the following week, Han Li patiently concealed himself nearby and saw two other Core Formation cultivators enter the palace's light barrier. They also had an embroidered cloth map.
One day, Han Li's patience had finally run dry, and he flew towards the golden barrier. With a flip of his hand, he took out his map and slowly poured spiritual power into it. The map then released a white spiritual light and wrapped Han Li within it. Taking a step forward, Han Li easily passed through the barrier as if nothing was there.
After turning his head back toward the light barrier, Han Li flew towards the beautiful palace without any lingering hesitation.
After flying closer to the palace, Han LI became aware of the huge, silver ancient characters that hung forty meters above the entrance of the palace, "Heavenvoid Hall".
Not only were these characters grand and imposing, but the stroke edges were extremely incisive. After only a quick glance, his eyes felt a faint, dull ache.
He hastily lowered his head in fright, not daring to look any further!
With gritted teeth, Han Li then carefully walked into the palace as he gazed into its depths.
Han Li was amazed once he entered. He saw a straight, narrow passage made completely of translucent, fine jade. He couldn't see its end. It was nine meters wide and twelve meters tall, causing those who walked through it to feel an uncomfortable mental pressure.
Han Li frowned and released his spiritual sense after some thought, but his expression immediately revealed surprise as his spiritual sense met a wall in every direction and was forcibly bounced back. He couldn't even spread out his spiritual sense, let alone search the palace with it.
Han Li's eyes flashed with spirited light, and he attentively examined a jade wall, discovering a flicker of faint sparkling light. He would've missed it had he not been paying close attention. It seemed this entire passage restricted those with great capabilities.
Han Li then extended his finger and lightly stroked the fine jade. Although he couldn't recognize the exact type of restrictions, he knew they contained deep and immeasurable spiritual power, causing Han Li's heart to slightly tremble.
He silently withdrew his finger and pondered for a moment with chin in hand before raising his head and deciding to walk forward.
With narrowed eyes, Han Li calmly looked around the interior of the passage as he walked through.
Since there were restrictions in place, he didn't have to be fearful that someone was concealed nearby and was about to ambush him, allowing him to continue on without fear.
However, this ravine-like passage was truly long. He walked for the time it took to finish a meal, before finally reaching its end where an exit made of water-blue radiance appeared before his eyes.
With roused spirits, Han Li hurriedly walked through it.
Han Li's eyes shrunk and he instantly grew alarmed. The blue radiance revealed huge hall. The hall spanned fifteen hundred meters and was extremely imposing. Even if several thousand people were present, it wouldn't be crowded in the slightest.
But even odder was that several tens of huge jade pillars were evenly distributed throughout the hall. Not only was the jade pillar several meters thick, but it was also exquisitely carved with all sorts of rare, strange beasts that some of which he had never seen before. Each one was vivid and lifelike, containing their own unique Spiritual Qi.
At the very top of these pillars were several tens of cultivators, each wearing their own clothes and standing or sitting at their own volition.
Apart from a few cultivators, each of them were monopolizing a single pillar. Furthermore, there was nobody loudly talking; they were all minding their own business.
Han Li's arrival had lazily drawn the attention of a small portion of the cultivators. However, a few of them revealed shock upon seeing him.
Han Li revealed a bitter smile as he had also recognized them!
Nandato!
TL Note: The Master of Bones, Xiao Cha, will now be referred to as the Bone Sage, Xiao Cha.
Chapter 432: Grandmaster Zenith Yin
Among the people already in the hall was the Bone Sage that he had separated from recently. He was sitting cross-legged at a jade pillar in the corner of the hall, icily staring at him with unconcealed surprise.
At another jade pillar was a woman staring at Han Li with surprise. She was the Exquisite Sound Sect's Fairy Violet Spirit. An elegant man wearing an azure jacket with a composed appearance stood at her side.
When the man saw that Fairy Violet Spirit's expression was slightly odd he couldn't help but take measure of Han Li. Seeing that Han Li appeared youthful, his eyes coldly glinted, and he asked Fairy Violet Spirit a few questions.
As a result, Fairy Violet Spirit gracefully smiled and whispered to the man as if she were explaining Han Li's identity.
Han Li frowned and turned his eyes away from them. His gaze focused on another area where someone had gazed at Han Li with ill intent.
Han Li was baffled to find an old man with a face of fury, looking towards him. Han Li was startled for a moment before recognizing him and feeling annoyed. That person was the Six United Palace's Elder Miao.
Due to the matter of the Infant Carp Beast, Elder Gu had wished to kill him. However, Han Li took advantage of the great damage to his Origin Qi and his wondrous formation spell restrictions to turn the tables and eliminate him. Many years had past since this had occurred, but Elder Miao still recognized him. It seemed he felt rather deeply about Elder Gu's death.
Han Li inwardly muttered to himself, but found he didn't particularly care about it anymore. After observing the rest of the hall, there were no other cultivators he recognized.
Thus after some slight hesitation, he casually found a jade pillar with no one on it and flew to its top. He sat cross-legged before sizing up a few of the other cultivators that he didn't recognize.
Because Han I's spiritual sense was restricted, he wasn't able to make out the cultivation of others. He only knew that a majority of cultivators here were at Core Formation or higher with Foundation Establishment cultivators in a small minority. There may even be a Nascent Soul eccentric or two among them.
With that in mind, Han Li carefully examined the others while he sat on the pillar.
Some time later, he had identified the two that were most likely to be Nascent Soul cultivators.
One was a yellow-robed, thin-faced old confucian scholar. He leisurely held his back with one hand while looking through a shabby jade slip with the other. He occasionally swayed his head with interest. He seemed incredibly bookish.
The other was a beautiful middle-aged woman wearing spotless white clothes. She was surrounded with a bone-chilling aura, preventing any strangers from approaching her.
At the moment, the icy beauty was expressionlessly cleaning her jet-black longsword. She appeared extremely proud. Ever since Han Li had entered the hall, he hadn't seen her look in any other direction.
Although the other cultivators also appeared calm and indifferent, their easy mannerisms seemed somewhat forced when compared to those two.
In addition, a large portion of the cultivators in the hall gazed at these two with a trace of respect that was absent when they looked at other cultivators. It was this slight difference that made Han Li certain that these two were Nascent Soul experts.
Originally, Han Li understood that apart from those two, there were certain to be other extraordinary individuals that couldn't be underestimated. A most obvious example would be the Bone Sage.
Although the old Devil's cultivation was only at late Core Formation, he was far superior to other late Core Formation cultivators in a fight, second only to true Nascent Soul cultivators.
Who could possibly know what other hidden tigers lay in wait amongst the group?
Han Li inwardly muttered to himself for a moment, having seemingly forgotten that he himself could dispatch similar grade cultivators without much effort.
In any case, Han Li grew increasingly cautious after his musings and would occasionally ponder the true strength of those gathered here. This probably wasn't going to end up being a boring meeting of cultivators.
After all, the mystery displayed in the embroidered cloth map fragment and the floating Heavenvoid Hall had even attracted a few Nascent Soul cultivators. This guaranteed that something extraordinary was about to occur.
Unfortunately, he was completely ignorant of the details. Otherwise, he would be planning his future actions, thereby reducing his exposure to danger and limiting any disadvantages he might suffer from sudden surprises.
With the situation being what it was, Han Li could only act in accordance to how events played out.
As Han Li was lost in thought, he suddenly heard a sound transmission from the Bone Sage, "Youngster, I didn't expect you'd also have a Heavenvoid map fragment. How about we cooperate in this treasure hunt?"
'Treasure hunt?' Upon hearing those two words, Han Li's heart glowed with joy, knowing that it was correct for him to come. With an unchanged expression, he calmly replied, "How does Senior intend to cooperate with me? Please give me an explanation!"
The Bone Sage's expression brightened after hearing that Han Li hadn't refused. Just as he was thinking about what to say, two people swaggered into the hall.
When Han Li and the Bone Sage saw the two, their expressions greatly changed.
While Han Li's expression had only slightly paled, the Master of Bone's face completely distorted with his eyes revealing a blood-thirsty craze. Fortunately, his mind was quick and this expression only lasted for an instant before his calm expression reappeared.
The two that entered hadn't taken notice of the Bone Sage's abnormality. However, Han Li inwardly grumbled upon seeing the two, as one of them was Zenith Yin Island's young island lord Wu Chou.
Although Han Li was unfamiliar with the pale faced, slender eyed middle-aged cultivator by his side, he had a faint guess about who he was and couldn't help but feel regret for having come here.
At that moment, the middle-aged man brought Wu Chou into the hall and coldly swept his gaze in every direction. Soon, his gaze fell upon a cultivator with a sallow face, and he coldly laughed.
The sallow-faced cultivator paled, and his body slightly trembled. But after some quick thought, he immediately stood straight.
"Good, very good!" After finishing his chilling laughter, his eyes coldly glinted and fell upon Han Li.
When his gaze fell upon Han Li, he felt as if a viper was staring at him and felt his hair stand on end. Despite his calm appearance, his heart was in great disarray!
Han Li immediately felt amazement. The middle-aged man unexpectedly revealed a trace of unconcealed pleasant surprise upon seeing him. Although his expression soon became calm once more, Han Li was able to clearly see it. This caused Han Li to be at a loss with doubts pouring into his mind.
The Bone Sage also saw this and was stunned. But soon after, his eyes shifted several times, and he lowered his head in contemplation.
At that moment, the middle-aged man blankly looked at the old confucian scholar and the beautiful woman for a moment before restraining his cold gaze. He amiably cupped his hands to the two and said, "I didn't expect to see South Crane Island's Brother Qing and White Wall Mountain's Lady Wen. I'm truly sorry for not recognizing you!"
"There is no disrespect. My clan is comparable to your own Zenith Yin Island. We only happened to meet by chance. After all, this is an opportunity that only occurs once every three hundred years. I've also heard that Man Huzi acquired a Heavenvoid map fragment as an offering. He should be coming shortly. When the time comes, us old bastards will gather together once more." The old man put away the jade slip and spoke with an insincere smile.
"Man Huzi is also coming?" The middle-aged man's expression changed as if greatly fearful of that name.
"That's right. I heard that his life is quickly coming to an end. He is coming to Heavenvoid Hall to find life prolonging fruit to refine a few life lengthening pills in hopes he may live a few more years." The old man spoke proudly with a voice containing hints of cold mockery.
The icy beautiful woman continued to look down at her sword treasure as she cleaned it, completely ignoring their conversation.
When Han Li heard their conversation, he couldn't help but take in a breath of cold air. He had acquired quite a bit of information from those few words.
The middle-aged man next to Wu Chou was actually Grandmaster Zenith Yin, and their words revealed that there was yet another Nascent Soul cultivator to come.
There were also life prolonging spirit medicines in Heavenvoid Hall! Inconceivable. It was no wonder that Nascent Soul experts so impatiently rushed here.