Chapter 1012: A Convergence of Coincidences

Upon hearing the gray-haired elder's words, Dongfang Bai furrowed his brows slightly. With a curl of his five fingers, a beam of golden light flew out from his palm, swept the jade slips back, and placed them against his brow, examining them one by one.

The further he read, the more his brows knitted into a knot, and the look of shock and doubt on his face grew deeper.

"Are you certain? The person described in these jade slips is the same individual?" After a moment, Dongfang Bai set down the last jade slip, his expression grave.

"Reporting to the Palace Master, over the past hundred years, I have dispatched all my spies. Though their strength is lacking, they have some skill in gathering information. We began our investigation from the Northern Cold Immortal Domain. Had we not looked into it, we would never have known that when the Northern Cold Immortal Palace eradicated Baili Yan of the Candle Dragon Dao, this Han Li had already come to their attention, though at that time he used the alias Li Feiyu." Lü Yun's voice was sharp and thin.

"It was during this period that my son Tao Yu was killed by him," Tao Ji said, his face contorted with pain.

"The Candle Dragon Dao houses the time cultivation technique 'True Word Incarnation Wheel Sutra.' It seems his time law power was cultivated from this," Dongfang Bai said slowly, ignoring Tao Ji.

"Indeed. In subsequent reports, the name Li Feiyu appeared a few more times, but each time the information was vague, suggesting he deliberately concealed his tracks. Additionally, a name Li Han also appeared, whose characteristics match those of this Han Li, making it highly likely another alias." Lü Yun nodded and continued.

"How is this possible? If what is presented in these jade slips is true, how many years has this Han Li spent, and his footprints have already spread across several immortal domains: Northern Cold, Black Mountain, Black Earth, Barbarian Wasteland, and Gold Origin. Moreover, chronologically, some major events in these regions seem to have some vague connection to him." Dongfang Bai said in confusion.

"According to my investigation, the fall of the Candle Dragon Dao, the emergence of the Nether Cold Immortal Mansion, and the reopening of the True Word Sect ruins all align with his timeline, and there is some evidence of his involvement. Furthermore, the deaths of Gongshu Tian and Gongshu Jiu of the Gongshu clan seem to be linked to him as well," Lü Yun said unhurriedly.

The more Dongfang Bai heard, the more solemn his expression became. After a moment of deliberation, he asked:

"After the True Word Sect ruins incident, where did he go? Why did he suddenly appear in our Gold Origin Immortal Domain?"

"Palace Master, please take a look at this first." As he spoke, Lü Yun produced another jade slip and handed it over.

"Isn't this the report from Dao Ancestor Feng Qingshui's trip to the Gray Realm?" Dongfang Bai took it, quickly scanned it, and said with a puzzled look.

"During that trip to the Gray Realm, many who had appeared in the True Word Sect ruins also showed up there. So I believe this Han Li likely went there as well, then somehow ended up in the Demon Domain, and later returned to the Immortal Realm, leading to subsequent events." Lü Yun glanced at Tao Ji as he finished speaking.

When his voice fell, the hall fell silent, and everyone sank into contemplation.

Tao Ji's face first turned green, then red, but then, as if struck by a thought, beads of sweat as large as beans rolled down his forehead, and his expression turned to one of lingering fear.

"This man has close ties with the Reincarnation Hall and can travel between various realms without harm, while his cultivation steadily rises. What do you all think?" Dongfang Bai leaned forward, his gaze sweeping over those present, and asked gravely.

"Not to mention his current strength, the speed of his advancement alone shows his identity is no simple matter. To be connected with both the Reincarnation Hall and the demon race, his background is likely... not ordinary," Black Blade said after a long silence.

If Han Li were here, he would probably laugh and cry. How could he have imagined that after their analysis, they would come to such a conclusion?

"So, I have provoked an existence I cannot afford to offend?" After some thought, Tao Ji's face showed regret.

"Palace Master..." Lü Yun bowed and said slowly.

Though Black Blade did not speak again, he was clearly waiting for Dongfang Bai to make a decision.

Dongfang Bai rose from the golden dragon throne and paced slowly, his brows deeply furrowed, his mind racing like an electric current.

After a long deliberation, he stopped and looked at the others, saying:

"Regardless of his cultivation level or background, as long as he is connected to that object, pursue him relentlessly. Once you find his trail, remember not to act on your own; report back and wait for my unified deployment."

"And if conflict arises, what should we do?" Lü Yun asked again.

"If conflict arises, there is no need to retreat. You may refrain from killing first... Of course, try to capture him alive. Once we ascertain the whereabouts of that object, escort him to the Nine Yuan Temple for judgment," Dongfang Bai said.

"As you... command." Lü Yun and the other two hesitated slightly.

"Remember, this matter is to be kept among yourselves. If anyone leaks information and the Heavenly Court's Inspectors learn of it, do not blame me, the Gold Origin Immortal Palace, for not tolerating you," Dongfang Bai said sternly, his expression hardening.

"Yes!" This time, the three responded swiftly, without hesitation.

After the three left, Dongfang Bai paced back and forth in the hall, a vague unease stirring in his heart.

This was the first time he had encountered someone as peculiar as Han Li—someone whose strength and background were likely astonishing, who had been involved in so many major events, yet managed to conceal his tracks so well.

Moreover, the traces revealed before him were likely only a small part of Han Li's activities.

That such a person had not yet been truly noted by the Heavenly Court was the truly frightening aspect.

…

Central Earth Immortal Domain.

In an unknown void space, clusters of blood-red clouds floated in the emptiness.

The pervasive clouds exuded a bloody aura. From afar, one could see black buildings with curved, sinister eaves protruding from the blood-red cloud clusters.

The blood clouds resembled a forest canopy, layered and dense, becoming thicker the higher one went.

At the base of the blood clouds stood a white stone archway hundreds of feet tall, inscribed with two striking blood-red characters in ancient seal script: "Immortal Prison."

"Ding-dong..."

Not far from the archway, within the blood clouds, stood a black hall with eaves that seemed to fly upward.

On each protruding eave corner hung an ox-head-sized octagonal bell. Though no wind blew, they occasionally swayed on their own, emitting a crisp chime.

Where the bell sound rippled, a faint golden halo spread through the void, with talismanic symbols shimmering, dispelling some of the dense bloody aura around the hall.

At the entrance of the hall stood two black-armored warriors over ten feet tall, both with green faces, fangs, and tiger-like backs and bear-like waists. One wielded a heaven-splitting giant axe, the other a halberd, their eyes bloodshot, exuding a fierce aura.

The hall they guarded had its doors tightly locked. Above the lintel hung a large horizontal plaque with black background and red characters, inscribed with three golden seal-script characters: "Judgment Hall."

Inside the hall, two rows of vermilion pillars stood side by side, hung with iron plaques bearing beast motifs, each inscribed with fist-sized characters in seal script, all beginning with the words "Punishment Initiated."

For example: "Punishment Initiated: Decapitation, for the crime of rebellion." "Punishment Initiated: Soul Extinction, for the crime of indiscriminate killing of mortals." "Punishment Initiated: Lighting the Sky Lantern, for the crime of practicing forbidden arts."

The hall was dimly lit, with braziers hanging high, their dark red flames flickering faintly.

At the far end of the hall, before a large black iron desk, stood a tall figure with his back to the door. His appearance was strange: his limbs were much longer than ordinary, and his hands and feet were unusually large, resembling palm-leaf fans.

One hand rested on the desk, the other held a jade slip. His upper body was bare, his skin a fiery red, as if cooked, covered with rings of strange patterns.

On his head grew a shock of flame-like red hair, from which bursts of fire would occasionally leap.

If Han Li were here, he would surely recognize this person as one of the five disciples who attended Patriarch Maitreya during his sermon, and also the rebellious disciple Qimozi who had betrayed his master.

"Rehuo, Rehuo, have you finally understood your master's good intentions back then?" Qimozi slowly set down the jade slip, sighed, and murmured to himself.

"It seems your most cherished disciple is still him..." At that moment, a flame-formed human face rose from a nearby brazier, clicking its tongue in praise.

"I had hoped he would stay away from this vortex, but in the end, he got involved. Though Chirong never pleased me, his trip to the True Word Sect was ultimately for my sake as his master. I never expected that both of them would end up in the Gray Realm by chance and perish there," Qimozi sighed.

"What does death matter? They still failed to retrieve the 'Great Five Elements Illusory World Technique.' Dying meaninglessly is foolish..." The flame face showed no regard for his feelings, sneering.

"No! After my subsequent investigation, they did not come back empty-handed. Before entering the Gray Realm, Chirong sent back a message mentioning a person... a very peculiar person. He is likely the one who benefited the most from the True Word Sect ruins exploration, and the complete Great Five Elements Illusory World Technique is probably in his hands," Qimozi said calmly, unperturbed.

"Who is that person? Where is he now?" The flame face asked eagerly.

"His name is Han Li. In the last hundred years, he has appeared in the Gold Origin Immortal Domain," Qimozi said, his eyes flickering.

"Hehe... It seems it's time for me to make a move. Staying in this Immortal Prison for so long, I do miss the outside air. Let's make a deal: this time, if I help you capture this person, you'll let me boil rivers and seas to my heart's content? Don't worry, I've already picked a place—an insignificant spot in the lower realm. It won't cause you any trouble." The flame face soared high, hovering near the ceiling, letting out a strange cackle.