Chapter 1137: A Colossal Being

At this moment, somewhere in the Gold Origin Immortal Domain, a dark green flying boat streaked across the sky, speeding forward.

The flying boat faintly resembled a dragon, like a dark green long dragon soaring through the sky, its speed so incredible that it covered tens of thousands of li in a flash; cultivators of lower cultivation could not even detect its trail.

Inside the flying boat sat two figures, Han Li and Lan Yan, both with altered appearances.

This Dark Dragon Flying Boat was taken from She Chan's storage device. When She Chan self-destructed his demon core, his body was annihilated, but at the critical moment, Han Li managed to seize his storage device.

This flying boat was a wood and wind dual-attribute immortal artifact of considerable grade, reaching the sixth-grade immortal artifact level. It was not only extremely fast but also highly concealable, far surpassing any flying boat Han Li had owned before.

Lan Yan stood at the front, controlling the flying boat's progress.

Han Li had placed a restriction within her body, allowing him to perceive her every move, so he was not worried about her causing trouble.

He sat at the rear of the flying boat, cross-legged in meditation, with golden light flickering around him and the power of time law surging.

After more than three years of recuperation, Han Li's time law power had recovered by about half, which brought him some relief.

He now held several jade slips in his hand, probing them with his divine sense.

After a long while, Han Li withdrew his divine sense, his expression somewhat somber.

These jade slips contained information about the Gold Origin Immortal Domain and the Nine Yuan Temple that he had gathered through the Reincarnation Palace.

He had collected quite a bit of information on the Gold Origin Immortal Domain, but the Nine Yuan Temple was strictly managed, and little information leaked out. Despite his best efforts, he had only found some fragmentary details, which were of little use.

Fellow Daoist Lan Yan, don't rush to control the flying boat. Han has some matters he wishes to consult you about.” Han Li looked at Lan Yan ahead and spoke.

What does Fellow Daoist Han wish to ask?” Lan Yan stopped controlling the flying boat upon hearing this, walked over, and said obediently.

Throughout the journey, Lan Yan had been exceptionally compliant, saying nothing she shouldn't, doing nothing she shouldn't, and faithfully following Han Li's instructions.

I want to know some information about the Nine Yuan Temple.” Han Li did not beat around the bush and asked directly.

Fellow Daoist Han, please ask. I will tell you everything I know without reservation.” Lan Yan's beautiful eyes flickered as she said softly.

Fellow Daoist Lan agrees so readily. As far as I know, the Nine Yuan Temple has strict rules, and leaking its secrets incurs heavy punishment. Are you not afraid?” Han Li raised an eyebrow and said.

Fellow Daoist Han's strength far surpasses mine. Even if I were determined not to speak, you would surely find a way to extract the information. So why should I waste effort? I only hope that Fellow Daoist Han, in consideration of my cooperation, will not tell others that this information came from me.” Lan Yan said softly.

You and your senior brother share the same temperament. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Lan, as long as you answer my questions well, Han will not make things difficult for you.” Han Li nodded.

When Lan Yan heard Han Li mention Lan Yuanzi, a trace of sorrow flickered across her pretty face, but it quickly vanished, and she nodded gratefully at Han Li.

I heard that your Nine Yuan Temple has a Dao Ancestor in residence. How many Dao Ancestors are there?” Han Li asked.

Dao Ancestors are extremely rare. Although our Nine Yuan Temple is a major sect in the True Immortal Realm, it has only one—the founding patriarch of the Nine Yuan Temple.” Lan Yan said.

And how many Great Ascension stage beings are there?” Han Li nodded and continued asking.

Although my cultivation is not low, I was not personally trained by the Nine Yuan Temple. I am a rogue cultivator who joined later, and I serve as a Shadow Guard on secret missions. My status within the temple is not high, so I don't know much. As far as I know, there are fifteen Great Ascension stage cultivators in the Nine Yuan Temple: the Temple Master, two Deputy Temple Masters, the Four Holy Envoys, and the Eight Venerables. However, the Nine Yuan Temple has many secrets, so there should be other Great Ascension stage beings.” Lan Yan said.

Upon hearing this, Han Li inwardly gasped.

The Nine Yuan Temple had so many Great Ascension stage beings. No wonder Jiao San had advised him to increase his strength. With his current power, rushing to the Nine Yuan Temple to rescue someone would be like throwing an egg against a rock.

How strong is the Miao Fa Immortal Venerable who was sent to capture me? What is his status in the temple?” Han Li pondered and then asked.

The Miao Fa Immortal Venerable is one of the Four Holy Envoys of the Nine Yuan Temple. He has already severed one corpse and is at the mid-Great Ascension stage.” Lan Yan said.

Mid-Great Ascension stage…” Han Li's pupils contracted.

After entering the Great Ascension stage, each advancement in realm brings earth-shaking changes in strength. With his current myriad means, facing an early Great Ascension stage cultivator—unless the opponent was exceptionally formidable—he could contend to some extent by combining his time law power with various techniques. But against a mid-Great Ascension stage cultivator, he was utterly no match.

He then asked Lan Yan a few more questions, and she answered them all in detail, giving Han Li a preliminary understanding of the Nine Yuan Temple.

The more he learned, the more his heart grew cold.

The strength of the Nine Yuan Temple far exceeded his expectations. It was not comparable to the immortal palaces he had encountered before; it was a true colossus. To rescue Gold Boy from within, relying on himself alone would be extremely difficult, if not utterly impossible.

But no matter how difficult, he never thought of backing down. He would rescue him no matter what.

After finishing his questions, Han Li sent Lan Yan back to control the flying boat, then sat cross-legged again, activated the Great Five Elements Illusion World Art, and strove to recover his time law power.

…

In the Central Earth Immortal Domain, countless miles away from Han Li and the others, lay the Heavenly Court.

Countless towering immortal mountains stood here, stretching to the horizon, their number unknown. Almost every mountain housed one or several celestial palaces.

The mountains were connected by rainbow-like immortal bridges, and various colored auspicious clouds and floating palaces dotted the area. Immortal clouds swirled, spirit cranes flew, and immortal qi abounded everywhere.

Dazzling lights of all colors radiated from these immortal mountains and palaces, even overpowering the light from the sky, as if this place gathered all the light in the world, with not a trace of darkness.

In a certain part of the Heavenly Court, thick white cloud qi pervaded the area, shifting into various shapes—sometimes coalescing into dragons fighting each other, sometimes transforming into thousands of white horses galloping past, or turning into a boundless white ocean with raging waves.

Above the white cloud qi sat a massive palace the size of a city.

The palace was pure white all over, with countless runes the size of a bucket inscribed on various parts, and some faintly visible runes swirling and dancing around.

Around the great hall stood many white-armored guards, whose bodies were also formed from white clouds, gently drifting.

Each guard exuded a powerful aura, not inferior to ordinary Tai Yi stage cultivators, and the weapons they held were immortal artifacts of a certain grade, emitting faint law fluctuations.

On the gate of the palace, hundreds of feet high, hung a golden plaque inscribed with the four characters "White Cloud Dao Palace," the script ethereal and dynamic, as if it might detach from the plaque at any moment.

On the main seat of the high platform inside the hall sat a white figure. Although it was right before one's eyes, its face and form were entirely blurred, giving an extremely ethereal impression, as if its true body lay deep in the endless void, and what appeared here was merely a projection.

An aura nearly akin to the Heavenly Dao emanated from the white figure, filling the entire hall. Everything within—time, space—seemed to be under its control.

In the hall stood another person, a phantom formed from golden flames, whose face was unmistakably that of Qi Mozi.

…Your subordinate activated the remnant soul imprint left by Wen Taisui in the Time Lamp, causing him to perish together with Shi Kongmo. The Time Tower also collapsed. I heard that the Tongtian Sword Sect later detonated the entire Taisui Immortal Mansion space, so those people should not have survived. However, Han Li, Liu Zizai, and others are formidable, and with Shi Kongmo, a peak Great Ascension stage being, they might have found a way to escape. I implore you to send people to the Gold Origin Immortal Domain as soon as possible to confirm the life or death of Han Li and others, and to prepare for subsequent matters.” Qi Mozi said with extreme reverence to the white figure on the high platform.

I have already received the report from the Tongtian Sword Sect, but some details were unclear to them. So that's how it happened. But according to you, you were accidentally drawn into the Taisui Immortal Mansion?” A distant voice came from the white figure, its emotion unreadable.

Yes. The Bottle Gourd is an item that the Supreme Being has strictly ordered to be recovered. To retrieve it, I was pursuing Han Li when I happened upon the Taisui Immortal Mansion emerging and was drawn in. However, I truly do not understand why the Taisui Immortal Mansion appeared in the Lesser Gold Origin Immortal Domain and why it held so many prisoners. Wasn't Wen Taisui supposed to…” Qi Mozi asked.

Do not ask further about Wen Taisui.” The white figure suddenly interrupted Qi Mozi.

Yes, I spoke out of turn.” Qi Mozi's heart tightened, and he quickly said.

According to you, Han Li is only at the late Tai Yi stage. With your strength, why did you fail to retrieve the Bottle Gourd?” The white figure paused and then asked again.

Although Han Li is still at the Tai Yi stage, he has mastered the complete Great Five Elements Illusion World Art, which specifically counters my Severed Time Flowing Fire Collection. Moreover, he has comprehended the 'Five Elements Illusion World' divine ability. Additionally, during that time, forces like the Reincarnation Palace and the Wildlands Domain arrived at the Taisui Immortal Mansion. Your subordinate was incompetent, not only failing to retrieve the Bottle Gourd but also having his Dao body destroyed by their combined efforts. I beg you to punish me!” A flicker of light passed deep in Qi Mozi's eyes as he said with pain.

Was it truly because the opponent was too strong? Or did you have other motives that caused you to miss the opportunity? As far as I know, you have been searching for the Great Five Elements Illusion World Art and even sent your disciples out in recent years.” The white figure said slowly, and the temperature in the hall dropped sharply.

I deserve death! I did conceal the fact that I wanted to obtain the Great Five Elements Illusion World Art from Han Li, but I would never dare to delay the Supreme Being's great matters for my own private affairs. This failure was truly because the opponent was too strong. I beg you to investigate!” Qi Mozi's expression changed drastically. He fell to his knees with a thud and said with a face full of fear.

The white figure tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the chair, remaining silent for a long time, letting the silence ferment in the hall.

A tremendous pressure swirled within the hall, like an invisible giant beast.

The fear on Qi Mozi's face grew thicker, and his phantom body began to tremble slightly.