Chapter 996: Raiding the Night Sun Palace at Night

Night Sun City, a shadowy alley branching off from a wide main road.

The alley was remote and empty, with a mottled stone wall at its end, pitted and scarred, bearing the marks of time.

It was dusk, and the lingering rays of the setting sun fell upon the wall, reflecting an orange-red light.

Just then, the void behind the wall rippled, and a figure in a green robe flashed out—it was Han Li.

As soon as he entered the alley, he turned his wrist, took out a Reincarnation Palace mask, and put it on his face. A ripple of light spread, and he transformed into a young魔族 with a short horn on his forehead, then walked toward the alley's entrance.

Exiting the alley, not far ahead stood a lush giant banyan tree, its emerald canopy spreading like an umbrella. Beneath it, seven or eight idlers sat chatting in a circle.

Before Han Li could approach, he heard a loud-voiced man in black shouting:

"Nonsense! I say the Third Prince's governance is excellent. Before, even going to the Maha District required repeated identity checks. Now, with the restrictions the First Prince imposed gone, whether for business or cultivation, everything is much more convenient."

"That's not entirely true. When the First Prince ruled, not just the Raksha and Maha Districts, but even our Dark Heaven District had much better public order. Look now—street fights break out every few days, and once they start, there's no end. They kill and wound each other, destroy houses, and disturb the neighbors for nothing," retorted a gaunt old man, clearly disagreeing.

"If only the two princes could compromise and rule together..." a young魔族 lad, nestled in the old man's arms, said.

The others burst into laughter.

"Excuse me, seniors, I've just arrived from outside the city. What place is this?" Han Li stepped forward, bowed, and asked feigning ignorance.

"From outside the city, eh? This is the southernmost part of the Dark Heaven District. Where are you headed?" The middle-aged man glanced up at the suddenly appearing young man and said.

"I'm planning to go to the Maha District to seek refuge with an elder relative. I thought I was almost there, but it turns out I'm still wandering in the Dark Heaven District. Night Sun City is truly vast..." Han Li said, feigning surprise like a newcomer.

"Heh, first time here? Hurry to the market ahead and rent a beast-drawn carriage before dark. On foot, it'll take forever to reach the Maha District," the gaunt old man said with a slight smile.

Han Li, however, didn't rush to leave. He continued, "Just now, I overheard your conversation and am quite puzzled. Isn't the Holy Lord still in power?"

"Where are you from, so out of touch? The Holy Lord went into seclusion again five hundred years ago. Now the Third Prince rules," the middle-aged man said, startled, then sneered.

"I see. But wasn't it the First Prince who ruled before?" Han Li first showed understanding, then frowned in confusion.

"The First Prince has been missing for over a thousand years. Some say he's in seclusion, some say he's traveling, some say the Holy Lord has him under house arrest. All sorts of rumors," the gaunt old man laughed.

"Thank you."

Han Li clasped his fists in thanks, turned, and headed along the main road toward the market.

...

A few nights later.

In the northern imperial garden, a stretch of connected palaces was brightly lit, with teams of armored魔族 soldiers patrolling with halberds, under heavy guard.

In the shadows of the palace walls, a figure crouched low, darting swiftly through the complex of buildings. Dressed in black, with the appearance of an ordinary young魔族, it was Han Li.

At this moment, his aura was almost completely suppressed. He moved solely by his extraordinary physical strength, without the slightest fluctuation of spiritual power, naturally avoiding the notice of the patrolling soldiers.

The arrays hidden throughout the palace walls were as clear as day to him, and in his rapid movement, he triggered none.

Before long, he arrived outside an exquisite standalone palace.

Before even approaching the palace gate, Han Li wrinkled his nose, catching a strong medicinal scent. Looking at the entire hall, he saw all the windows tightly shut, with faint mist curling out from the roof.

After a moment's inspection, he raised his hand and pressed it against a restriction on the palace gate. A silver electric light suddenly flashed in his palm, and a web of lightning spread, covering the entire door.

The runes hidden on the door were almost instantly destroyed, and the original restriction completely失效.

Han Li gently pushed the gate, and his figure flashed as he entered the hall.

The moment he appeared, before he could see clearly, a sudden gust of wind sounded by his ear.

He had anticipated this. He suddenly crouched, thrust his fists forward, and two clusters of starlight lit up at his fists, instantly striking the two who had ambushed him.

With two dull thuds, "Bam, bam,"

two figures flew backward from before Han Li, heavily crashing into two pillars, then slumped to the ground.

Han Li had no intention of killing, so the force of these punches was precisely aimed at two key acupoints on the two men, disrupting their demonic energy flow and rendering them unconscious.

"Since you're not killing, you must be here to ask for something..." a hoarse voice sounded, accompanied by the sound of splashing water.

Han Li did not immediately speak but looked ahead.

In the center of the hall was a pool like a courtyard well, filled with a black, viscous liquid that churned slowly, emitting layers of mist.

In the pool, a bulky figure slowly stood up, covered in an oversized black cloak that hid both head and body, making his face impossible to see.

"Friend, might your surname be Li?" the figure asked, seeing Han Li silent.

The bulky figure slowly stepped out of the pool, and heat waves rose from him as if flames were rising, quickly drying the black cloak.

Han Li felt a slight surprise and asked noncommittally, "Are you the Grand Priest?"

"What, Friend Li, after traveling all this way, you still can't be sure I'm the one you're looking for?" the figure asked again.

"The Grand Priest lives in seclusion and is always elusive. Today's defenses shouldn't have been so lax, which makes me a bit uncertain," Han Li said with a slight frown.

"Deep within layers of palaces, guarded by two early-Taiyi cultivators as personal attendants—is that not tight security? Heh, I'd say it's Friend Li who is more skilled," the bulky man laughed.

"Time is short, so I won't play word games with you. Since you are the Grand Priest, you should know what I seek, right?" Han Li asked, his expression unchanged.

"I've known for over a thousand years, but unfortunately, what you seek, I cannot do," the Grand Priest sighed.

"Cannot do... If so, I'll have to take your head first and then see the real Grand Priest," Han Li sneered.

"It seems you still don't believe I am the Grand Priest?" the hoarse voice sounded, somewhat helpless.

"If you are the Grand Priest, how can you know it's impossible without even looking?" Han Li asked coldly.

"Over a thousand years ago, I cast a divination. The hexagram showed it cannot be done," the Grand Priest sighed.

"'Cannot be done' is not 'impossible to do.' Why say you cannot do it?" Han Li sneered.

"To do what is known to be impossible is a great taboo," the Grand Priest shook his head.

"Now over a thousand years have passed. Why not cast another divination? Perhaps it can be done now," Han Li suppressed his agitation and asked.

The Grand Priest paused, then laughed, "Very well, I'll cast another divination. If it still shows it cannot be done, will Friend Li cease to press?"

Han Li was noncommittal.

The Grand Priest merely shook his head, rubbed his palms together, produced five divination coins, tossed them casually, then suddenly thrust out his other hand, palm flat, catching the coins.

The five coins lay in his palm in a plum blossom pattern, with two or three facing up and the rest down.

After moving the coins slightly, the Grand Priest's expression changed, and he frowned, "Who are you? Why is your fate so chaotic?"

"Grand Priest, it seems you've calculated something you shouldn't have," Han Li's voice suddenly turned cold.

As his words fell, light flashed around him, and nine Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords howled out, tearing the surrounding space to shreds, their blades pointing at the Grand Priest from all directions.

The latter's eyes showed a strange glint, as if suddenly realizing something, his expression changed drastically, and he asked, "Friend, could your surname be Han?"

"It seems you truly seek death..." Han Li said slowly, his expression unchanged.

"Considering we are both from the Reincarnation Palace, I think you wouldn't do that, would you?" the Grand Priest laughed hoarsely, speaking slowly.

As he spoke, he slowly raised his arm, and from his wide sleeve emerged a pale, bloodless hand holding a palm-sized round token engraved with the words 'Reincarnation Token.'

Han Li's gaze shifted slightly, but he was also puzzled.

"Did you learn my identity through news within the Reincarnation Palace?" Han Li asked, not sheathing his swords.

"That's not important... What matters is that what you seek can be done today," the Grand Priest shook his head and said slowly.

Han Li, without a word, raised his hand, and a silver light gate appeared out of thin air, revealing the interior of a small building's room.

"This... could it be the legendary Cave Heaven treasure?" the Grand Priest asked in surprise.

"Yes, Grand Priest, wait a moment..." Han Li nodded.

With that, he stepped into the building, picked up Weeping Soul in his arms, and turned back into the hall.