Coincidentally, just as the woman walked off the formation, it flashed once more to reveal Han Li.
Zenith Yin unconsciously smiled with raised eyebrows. Man Huzi and Layman Qing Yi silently glanced at each other, expressing their relief.
Just as Han Li appeared, he was surprised to find Yuan Yao in front of him.
After glancing at her with a slight smile, he walked towards Grandmaster Zenith Yin and saluted before standing behind him.
Zenith Yin was very pleased to see Han Li behave so dutifully to his ‘revered master’. He turned his head and nodded to Han Li without saying anything else.
As expected, he wasn’t about to embarrassingly raise the topic of having Han Li return the Matron Screen Pearls to him here.
Equivalently, Man Huzi didn’t ask for his treasured armor back. It was as if these people had deliberately forgotten lending these treasures to Han Li.
When Han Li appeared, he saw that the cultivators were all sitting still without any intention to move as if they were waiting for something.
At that moment, Han Li discovered the huge pagoda in front of him and was greatly amazed.
‘So this is the Inner Halls. It’s very different from what I had imagined.’ Han Li inwardly muttered.
He then took a moment to shoot a stealthy glance at the Bone Sage.
He was near the back, sitting in earnest meditation. He didn’t appear to notice Han Li’s gaze.
The Bone Sage’s voice suddenly arrived at Han Li’s ear without warning, “Youngster, turn your sights elsewhere. Take care not to reveal me to my traitorous disciple. Rest assured, I’ve already made plans on how we will deal with Zenith Yin with complete confidence in success. However, the opportunity will only arise after you use the Bloodjade Spider to seize the Heavenvoid Cauldron. I will act after that! Remember, do not send me any voice transmissions. We can’t expose the act!”
Han Li’s expression remained calm as he listened, and then turned his gaze elsewhere.
‘There will be an opportunity after seizing the treasure? What does he mean? Could it be that this old devil also wishes to acquire the Heavenvoid Cauldron?’
Han Li began to feel restless and suspicious!
As the Inner Halls was just about to open, he became worried about how events would unfold after the treasure was obtained. Regardless of whether or not he succeeded in obtaining the Heavenvoid Cauldron, what happened afterwards would be anything but good for him.
As Han Li was inwardly pouring out his grievances, he heard a cold voice from his front, “The Inner Hallss are about to open, and the two Star Palace fellows have yet to appear. It seems they won’t be muddying the waters. Wouldn’t you agree, Brother Man?” Wan Tianming, who sat at the center of the Righteous Dao cultivators, opened his glistening eyes. Staring at Man Huzi with concealed emotion, he slowly spoke while emitting an astonishing pressure from his body.
“Hehe! What, is Old Wan impatient? Let’s wait a bit. After all, those Star Palace fellows are rather crafty. Perhaps they will only appear when they expect us to have already fought amongst ourselves?” Man Huzi disdainfully smiled and lazily stroked his beard.
When Wan Tianming heard this, he appeared somewhat pensive, but he soon nodded his head and shut his eyes once more as if approving of Man Huzi’s words.
Two hours later, a series of violent tremors suddenly shook the ground.
The huge stone doors to the Inner Halls slowly opened to reveal a limestone passage.
Even at a distance, the passage appeared lofty and expansive.
At the same moment the gates opened, the transportation formation at the center faded from a dim light to nothing.
Man Huzi suddenly leapt up and threateningly grinned. Without waiting for Wan Tianming to speak, he fervently said, “Hehe! Good! Good! It seems those two Star Palace fellows won’t be stirring up any mischief. How about this, Wan Tianming? We’ll have a proper battle, and the loser’s party is barred from entering the Inner Halls.”
“No, I don’t wish to fight you. I have different plans.”
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Wan Tianming gave a staunch refusal with a resolved expression.
Man Huzi was initially stunned before wearing a evil grin. He mockingly said, “Different plans? Could it be that you’re taking the initiative to admit defeat and withdraw without fighting?”
Wan Tianming shook his head and unhurriedly said, “Withdraw? Of course not! But, it would be ridiculous to fight without having even acquired the treasure. Would it not be better for our parties to take turns in attempting to acquire the treasure? Before this, we will restrain ourselves temporarily. As such, we can prevent a mutual struggle. After all, our current enemy is the Star Palace, not each other. We may appear brimming with confidence, but odds are that we will both be incapable of acquiring the treasure. In that case, there would have been no point to our battle.”
The Devil Dao cultivators cultivators were somewhat shocked and couldn’t help but exchange a glance with one another. They soon began moving their lips and sending voice transmissions.
Wan Tianming and the other Righteous Dao cultivators seemed to have already discussed this and were calmly waiting for the Devil Dao cultivators’ response.
After a short moment, Zenith Yin spoke with a gloomy expression, “Your words are pleasant, but in the end, what will happen to the side that takes the treasure? If we were to succeed, how could we trust that you wouldn’t then try seize it from us? Are your words merely the result of a silver tongue?”
Wan Tianming grinned in response and said without hesitation, “Zenith Yin, you’re speaking nonsense. If you successfully acquire the treasure, then of course we will fight over it. Likewise, you’d contest us if we were to acquire it. When that time comes, we will rely on skill to decide. All in all, it’s still better than potentially wasting our time fighting now!”
Chapter 474: The Mantis and the Oriole
[1. Old Chinese Idiom: The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the Oriole behind it.]
When Zenith Yin heard Wan Tianming call his words nonsense, a sinister expression appeared on his face, but after hearing what he said after, Zenith Yin forcefully suppressed his fury. He then turned his head to Man Huzi and Layman Qi, and spoke to them in voice transmission.
Not longer after, their discussion was finished. Zenith Yin coldly said, “As per your esteemed suggestion, we will cease fighting for now. We will wait until after the treasure is seized.”
Wan Tianming chuckled, “Good! You’ve made a wise decision. Let us enter together.”
He then walked towards the huge limestone gate closely followed by Tian Wuzi and the old farmer closely.
“Humph!” Man Huzi couldn’t help but snort at their grandiose mannerisms. His gaze then suddenly swept to Yuan Yao and the Core Formation cultivator that Han Li didn’t recognize with an ominous glint in his eyes.
At that same moment, the two paled under Man Huzi’s malicious gaze. They turned into a streak of yellow and red light, rushing towards the stone pagoda.
Man Huzi evilly grinned, “Where do you two think you’re going?”
He rubbed his hands and then waved towards them, shooting out two streaks of gold light in an instant, striking at them from behind.
The male cultivator in the yellow light released a miserable shriek before he tumbled to the ground. He was then swept up by the golden light and was split apart, scattering across the ground as a dismembered corpse.
As for when the golden light neared Yuan Yao’s red light, several bursts of blinding green flames temporarily scattered the golden light. As if spurred on by this, her red light transformed into a scarlet-red bird and became even faster. After shooting past the golden light in a blur, she passed through the stone pagoda’s entrance and disappeared.
“Yi! That’s odd.” Layman Qing Yi softly said with a frown.
Layman Qing Yi and Zenith Yin didn’t care about Man Huzi’s actions, but upon seeing Yuan Yao escape Ma
n Huzi’s attack, they couldn’t help but be surprised.
“Man Huzi, what is the meaning of this? Why did you attack the innocent?” Tian Wuzi turned around and spoke with an angry expression.
Man Huzi gazed at the old Daoist with an uncaring expression and callously said, “I wasn’t in a good mood. What does it matter to you if I kill a few strangers? Could it be that you wish to seek justice on their behalf ,or do you just want to personally test my Heavenbearing Devil Arts?”
“You...”
Without turning his head, Wan Tianming shouted, “Enough, Tian Wuzi! Those two weren’t members of the Righteous Dao. Leave them be! We have more important matters to attend to!”
Tian Wuzi could only hatefully glance at Man Huzi after hearing this and begrudgingly turned around.
Not long after this event, the Righteous Dao walked through the stone gate and entered the Inner Hall.
Zenith Yin glanced at the Righteous Dao cultivators as they left and applauded Man Huzi with a sinister smile, “Brother Man did well in attacking them! We don’t want any annoying rats scurrying around us before the big event. Those two Core Formation cultivators actually wished to enter the Inner Hall and take advantage of the chaos for their own gain. The living are always so impatient. Unfortunately, there is still one person here who Brother Man hasn’t killed.” Having said this, his gaze fell upon the Bone Sage.
The Bone Sage was calm and indifferent, appearing as if Zenith Yin was talking about someone else entirely.
Man Huzi expressionlessly said, “This person has somewhat of a connection with me. As he had done me a favor, it is natural that I do not attack him. You two are also forbidden from disposing of him.”
Zenith Yin narrowed his eyes and carefully examined the Bone Sage, confirming whether or not he recognized this person. He then ambiguously said, “Since he is a junior with relation to Brother Man, it is only natural that we won’t dispose of him. Although, it is quite surprising that Brother Man would accept a favor from someone.”
Man Huzi’s face grew cold and he intensely glared at Zenith Yin, “Hehe! Zenith Yin, you dare to interrogate me?”
“How could I possibly? I was merely a bit curious! If Brother Man doesn’t wish to answer, then so be it. But, it seemed the black robed woman who escaped should have significant origins. Brother Man has best be careful!” Zenith Yin conceded the matter with a chuckle, but his last words seemed to carry a heavy meaning.
Man Huzi was silent for a moment before gloomily saying, “I am not blind. Did you think I didn’t see her use Old Devil Three Yang’s Azure Flameblast? Apart from his most intimate disciples, no other disciples of the Azure Yang Sect could possibly acquire such an item. How else could that young woman have possibly escaped death?”
“Hehe, it seems I was needlessly meddling!” Seeing that Man Huzi’s expression was far from good, Zenith Yin tactfully said nothing else.
“It is no matter. Even if that woman is important to Old Devil Three Yang, Brother Man has nothing to fear, given his cultivation. However, it is currently a crucial period of conflict in the Scattered Star Seas between the Star Palace and both the Righteous and Devil Daos. The Old Devil’s abilities are significant, and despite originating from the Devil Dao, he isn’t aligned to either of the sides involved. As such, we had best avoid having this man become our enemy. Let’s spare the girl!” The Confucian-robed old man smoothed the matter over from the side.
Man Huzi stiffly nodded his head and said no more. It was clear from his actions that he held great fear in his heart towards Old Devil Three Yang.
The stream of events left Han Li with heavy, complicated feelings. All sorts of distracting thoughts began to flood his mind.
A Core Formation cultivator had been killed right in front of him as easily as one would step on an ant, yet how did Yuan Yao manage to avoid such a fate?
Since when did the Bone Sage force a relationship between him and Man Huzi, one of the top figures among the Devil Dao? It was no wonder why he was so calm.
As for Yuan Yao, she seemed to have some sort of relationship with that Old Devil Three Yang, someone who could inspire fear in a hegemon such as Man Huzi.
These thoughts simultaneously bounced around in his head and he was unable to clearly arrange them for the time being.
He could only wordlessly pay attention to what Man Huzi and the others were saying in that hopes that he could gather some information that would allow him to form a dependable plan.
But unfortunately, Layman Qing Yi next words ended the conversation.
“Let’s quickly enter the Inner Hall! The Righteous Dao fellows won’t wait for us. We can’t let them stealthily leave us behind.” Layman Qing Yi glanced at the huge passage beyond the stone gate and wrinkled his brow.
Man Huzi glanced in the direction of the stone gate and sunk into thought for a moment before silently setting off.
Zenith Yin and Qing Yi glanced at each before following after them with relaxed expressions.
Han Li, Wu Chou, and the Bone Sage naturally followed behind.
Han Li and the others slowly entered the passage until they eventually disappeared from sight.
...
Three hours later, the darkened transportation formation suddenly shone with dazzling light, followed by the emergence of two silhouettes from the formation.
They were the Star Palace elders!
At that moment, the two were cautiously looking around. After they saw that no one was around, they wore looks of relief.
One of them spoke with a slight smile, “It appears that they’ve all entered. As cunning as these old eccentrics may be, they couldn’t imagine that our Star Palace had already unraveled this transportation restriction a thousand years ago. We can arrive at this place anytime we want.”
The other spoke with a cold voice, “Let’s go. We must be careful at all times. We cannot allow this secret to be easily revealed, unless they actually manage to extract the Heavenvoid Cauldron.”
“Of course!” The first to speak nodded his head in approval.
With that said, the two shot towards the stone gate as two streaks of white light.
...
Han Li was walking behind Zenith Yin and was unexpectedly beside Wu Chou, much to Han Li’s displeasure.
Possibly due to what Zenith Yin had said to Wu Chou before, Wu Chou acted very cordially to Han Li on the way. He would on occasion talk about some trivial matters with Han Li as to avoid treating Han Li coldly. It was as if his hateful gaze from before had come from an entirely different person.
But the further this fake act continued, the gloomier Han Li felt.
Han Li couldn’t help but bitterly laugh to himself in his mind, “Did Zenith Yin hint to Wu Chou that they would kill me after they acquire the treasure? Is that why Wu Chou is acting so differently?”
Although he was very much worried underneath, Han Li spoke to Wu Chou with a smile, producing a fake atmosphere between the two. Even those over thirty meters away could clearly make it out.
Still, Zenith Yin and the others turned a blind eye to the two as they continued forward. Ever since the three Nascent Soul eccentrics had entered the Inner Hall, they had become solemn in contrast to their relaxed, easy attitude from before.
But what baffled Han Li the most was that even after such a long period of time had passed, nothing had occurred. They had neither encountered any restrictions nor dangers.
Could it be that they had triggered some sort of restriction after entering the stone gate?
With that thought, Han Li couldn’t help but further examine his surroundings.
Chapter 475: Wolf Head Puppets
Han Li and the others were currently walking through a maze-like series of intersecting stone passageways. Each intersection had a stone gate inscribed with strange talisman characters.
These stone gates were identical in size: over thirty meters wide and in the shape of a square. They would always point in the directions of either north
, south, east, or west, seemingly at random. However, they all radiated a faint white light. They were clearly affected by some sort of restriction.
Although he would only encounter a crossroads after a long distance, Han Li reckoned that during their entire time in the Inner Halls, they’d already encountered at least eight different stone gates. Each time, they neither changed direction nor entered the stone gates.
They eventually arrived at an intersection that caused Han Li’s expression stir.
The gate there slightly differed from the other ones. Although the talisman characters and structure was the same, it was completely devoid of light as if the restriction on it had been extinguished. As a result, Han Li further studied it with a strange expression.
Wu Chou saw Han Li’s expression and spoke to him with a familiar tone, “Junior Martial Brother Han, this stone gate has already had its treasure seized by others. What is worth seeing? If it weren’t for the fact that each person could only use a single Heavenvoid map fragment before being teleported out, I would’ve also thought to pick a stone gate and hastily see what was within. Once a Heavenvoid Map fragment was used to open a stone gate, one is unable to leave until the treasure is acquired. As Core Formation cultivators we are only be able to acquire treasures on the first floor. Picking a room on the later floors would be the same as suicide.”
‘Junior Martial Brother Han?’ When Han Li heard Wu Chou address him as such in a voice transmission, he felt disgust spread throughout his body.
When Han Li eventually managed to recollect himself, he replied with a beaming smile, “Then why isn’t Brother Wu choosing a gate on the first floor? Would it not be a waste of an opportunity to wait until you’ve arrived at the second floor or higher?”
“Sigh! I wish I could, but my esteemed grandfather has repeatedly warned me that I must stay by his side on this treasure hunt as I may prove useful.” Wu Chou wore a reluctant expression as he glanced at the stone gate. A trace of greed flickered in his eyes.
Han Li slightly smiled and swept his gaze across the stone gate. So long as he entered and acquired the treasure it contained, he would be teleported outside. He would be keeping this in mind. Who knew whether or not he could use this as a method of escape?
A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality c1-2248 Page 257