Chapter 1076: Strange Tales of the Divine Lamp

"The Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blade! How did you come by that blade? Who are you?" The middle-aged man stared at the black-clad youth and demanded coldly.

The black-clad youth smiled at this, muttered something under his breath, and a crimson light emerged from his face, flowing downward.

His figure and features then changed, transforming into a lean youth with silver hair flowing in the wind.

Han Li was taken aback. This person was none other than Hu San, whom he had last seen in the Gray Realm.

Having changed his own appearance, he wondered if the other had discerned anything from the techniques he had used.

"This junior, Liu Sanxing, ninth-generation disciple of the Heavenly Fox Clan, pays respects to the senior!" Hu San bowed respectfully to the green-robed middle-aged man and said.

"A disciple of the Heavenly Fox Clan... I never thought I'd meet a clansman here. So, did that person bestow the Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blade upon you?" The green-robed middle-aged man's expression softened slightly upon seeing Hu San's true appearance and hearing his words, but he still spoke coldly.

"Yes and no," Hu San said respectfully.

"Hmph! I have no interest in playing word games with you. Since you've chosen to side with him, why are you here? Don't tell me you think that because we're of the same clan, I won't kill you? Or do you believe that with the Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blade in hand, you can contend with me?" The green-robed middle-aged man's eyes flashed with cold light, and he spoke with a hint of murderous intent.

"How would this junior dare? Senior's Illusion Law has been cultivated to near perfection. Even if I held three or five more Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blades, I would be no match for you. I have come because the situation outside has recently changed drastically, and our clan has been drawn into it. I specially came to invite Senior to emerge from seclusion and help our clan survive this great calamity." Hu San showed no fear and spoke earnestly.

"When I left back then, I said I would no longer concern myself with the affairs of the Heavenly Fox Clan. Considering your cultivation is not weak and you are somewhat talented, I will not make things difficult for you. Leave here immediately," the green-robed middle-aged man said coldly.

As he spoke, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The distant Likima, who had been fiercely battling the black-clad woman, immediately ceased his attacks, and the several wind dragons circling him also vanished without a trace.

"The Reincarnation Law is indeed extraordinary. Unfortunately, today is not the right time for a full-scale battle. We'll fight another day!" Likima stared intently at the black-clad woman and let out a long neigh.

Then, white light flickered around him, and with a whoosh, he disappeared, reappearing beside the green-robed middle-aged man in an instant, his speed incredibly fast.

Han Li's expression remained unchanged, but his heart stirred slightly once more.

The black-clad woman, seeing Likima stop, did not pursue him. She calmly formed a hand seal and waved her hand.

The dark red circular wheel behind her spun once, then collapsed and disappeared, transforming into over a hundred dark red law threads that merged into her body.

Then, her form flickered and vanished, landing beside Hu San.

The green-robed middle-aged man glanced at the black-clad woman but said nothing. He floated down onto Likima and prepared to leave.

"Senior, will you stand idly by even when our clan faces great disaster?" Hu San's expression turned anxious as he took a few steps forward and asked.

"I have already said that the Heavenly Fox Clan has nothing to do with me anymore. Handle your own affairs as you see fit." The green-robed middle-aged man stiffened for a moment, then after a brief silence, spoke coldly, and urged Likima forward.

Hu San was extremely anxious, but he had already said everything he could and had no other way to persuade the green-robed middle-aged man.

"Wait!" At that moment, a blood light flickered on the Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blade in Hu San's hand, and a figure emerged—it was the blade spirit, Shi Qinghou.

"You! I never thought you were still alive. No wonder the power of the Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blade hasn't diminished. So you've also sided with that person!" The green-robed middle-aged man's expression turned even colder upon seeing Shi Qinghou, even showing disgust, but he did not stop.

"The master did not die; he may still be alive," Shi Qinghou said suddenly, looking at the green-robed middle-aged man's back.

The green-robed middle-aged man abruptly halted, turned around like lightning, and stared at Shi Qinghou, saying, "The master is still alive? Are you telling the truth? No, that's impossible. I witnessed the master's fall with my own eyes!"

"With the master's great divine powers, how could he die so easily? As for what happened back then, what you and I saw may not be the truth. I only recently discovered some clues and investigated along the way, finding some leads. Otherwise, why would I have submitted to him?" Shi Qinghou said proudly.

"I see. So you came to find me this time for..." The green-robed middle-aged man nodded slowly, then after a moment of silence, asked again.

But he stopped mid-sentence, glancing at Han Li and the black-clad woman.

"Exactly. This matter concerns whether the master can be resurrected, so we specially came to ask for your help," Shi Qinghou said.

"Since it concerns the master, I naturally won't shirk my duty. But I am imprisoned here now, and my life tablet is still on the seventh level. Even if I want to leave with you, I cannot," the green-robed middle-aged man's attitude changed greatly, and he immediately said.

"Rest assured, since we came, we have made thorough preparations. I will retrieve that life tablet for you," Shi Qinghou's face lit up with joy, and he immediately promised.

"Then I'll leave it to you. The spatial gate to the sixth level is ahead. I don't know who is imprisoned on the sixth level either. But the higher you go, the more powerful the prisoners are. You need to be careful," the green-robed middle-aged man nodded and then warned.

"With me, Hu San, and the Young Steward, plus Fellow Daoist Han, no one can stop us. Don't you agree, Fellow Daoist Han?" Shi Qinghou suddenly turned to look at Han Li and said with a smile.

Han Li raised an eyebrow at this.

"What! You are Fellow Daoist Han?" Hu San looked at Han Li in shock and exclaimed.

The black-clad woman, however, remained calm, as if she had known Han Li's identity all along.

"Oh, this person is also one of your group? It seems the Heavenly Fox Clan has made some progress over the years, befriending many talents," the green-robed middle-aged man glanced at Han Li and then at the black-clad woman, saying indifferently.

"These people were all befriended by Hu San; they have little to do with the old stubborn ones of the Heavenly Fox Clan," Shi Qinghou said.

The young middle-aged man looked surprised and appraised Hu San anew.

"Senior Shi, Fellow Daoist Hu San, and Fellow Daoist Jiao San, it's been many years," Han Li flew forward, his gaze sweeping over Shi Qinghou and Hu San before finally resting on the black-clad woman.

"Hehe, I knew I couldn't hide it from Brother Han's eyes," the black-clad woman formed a hand seal, and red light flickered on her body as she also reverted to her true appearance—it was indeed Jiao San.

"Are you really Fellow Daoist Han?" Hu San looked at Han Li, still a hint of doubt in his eyes.

This was understandable. When they parted in the Gray Realm, Han Li was only at the peak of the Golden Immortal stage. Now, just over a thousand years later, he had transformed into a being at the peak of the Tai Yi stage, which was truly hard to believe.

"Seeing that all three of you already know my real name, back then I was pursued by the Heavenly Court and, to avoid trouble, had no choice but to use the alias Li. Please don't hold it against me," Han Li smiled apologetically, formed a hand seal, and red light flickered on his body as he reverted to his original appearance.

"It really is Fellow Daoist Han! I can't believe your cultivation has advanced so quickly—it's almost unbelievable! Back then, when the Gray Realm underwent drastic changes, you and Shi Chuankong were captured and taken away. I worried about you for a long time. Seeing you safe and sound, I'm relieved. By the way, how is Brother Shi?" Hu San greeted him joyfully, firing off questions like a string of firecrackers.

"Back then, a great power from the Demon Domain reached out across space and summoned Brother Shi and me back to the Demon Domain. Brother Shi is doing well now, so rest assured, Fellow Daoist Hu San," Han Li said with a smile.

"That's good," Hu San breathed a sigh of relief.

"If you want to catch up, it's not too late after we leave the Age Tower. The important matter comes first," Shi Qinghou stepped forward and said.

"Senior Shi is right," Hu San said, seeming very respectful toward Shi Qinghou.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you and I crossed paths in the Gray Realm back then, and now we meet again here. It's fate. How about we join forces from now on?" Shi Qinghou turned to Han Li and invited.

"To be honest, I stumbled into this immortal mansion by accident and know nothing about it. But from what you've said, it seems you know quite a bit about this Tai Sui Immortal Mansion. Please enlighten me," Han Li was silent for a moment before looking up, not directly responding to Shi Qinghou's question but asking instead.

"Of course. This Tai Sui Immortal Mansion is the legacy of a Daluo existence named Tai Sui Immortal Lord. He cultivated the same Time Law as Brother Han and was once the master of the Heavenly Court's Immortal Prison. Later, for some unknown reason, this Tai Sui Immortal Lord suddenly betrayed the Heavenly Court and fled, taking many prisoners from the Immortal Prison with him and making off with several of the Heavenly Court's treasures. Among them, the most famous is the Age Divine Lamp, said to be a treasure of the Time Law. That lamp is probably on the seventh level now. The Heavenly Court has been pursuing him all these years, but no one expected that Tai Sui Immortal Lord was hiding in the Jinyuan Immortal Domain, close to the Central Earth Immortal Domain, and had secretly built this immortal mansion," Shi Qinghou, knowing that Han Li wanted to understand the situation before deciding, chuckled and spoke eloquently.

"The Age Divine Lamp!" Han Li's heart stirred.

Ever since he entered this Age Tower, he had faintly sensed a powerful Time Law force emanating from above, which had been his motivation to keep moving forward. Now it seemed that force should be the Age Divine Lamp Shi Qinghou mentioned. He wondered what kind of treasure it was.

"So this immortal mansion is extremely secret. How did you all come to know about it?" Han Li then thought of something and asked.

"You'll have to ask Fellow Daoist Jiao San about that. Hu San and I came here following her," Shi Qinghou said.

Han Li was surprised and looked at Jiao San.

"This matter involves the secrets of the Reincarnation Hall. Although Brother Han is honored as the Son of Reincarnation, you still don't have the authority to know," Jiao San's beautiful eyes flickered, and she shook her head.

Han Li did not press further, but his eyes flickered as he fell into contemplation.