Chapter 1206: Making an Exception

A moment later, Ti Hun frowned, and the blood-colored crystalline threads flew back, withdrawing into her vertical eye.

The remnant soul of Elder Xitang then flashed with blood light and dissipated completely.

"What's the result?" Xiao Bai asked, somewhat curious, immediately.

"This fellow held something back even when self-destructing. Most of the memories in his soul have already dissipated on their own, and what remains is also incomplete. However, the parts about Qu Lin are still clear. To be honest, they aren't targeting Qu Lin alone." Ti Hun said with a frown.

"What do you mean?" Han Li asked.

"According to his memories, the Celestial Court seems to be gathering and capturing cultivators who possess special law powers. Qu Lin's true form is a Gold Devouring Immortal, and he cultivates the rare Devouring Law, which is why they targeted him." Ti Hun said thus.

"Does he know why they are capturing these cultivators?" Han Li asked.

"There is no content about this matter in Elder Xitang's memories. It seems he most likely didn't know either; he was probably just following orders." Ti Hun said.

Han Li's face showed a contemplative expression.

Weeping Soul turned her wrist, and a black storage bracelet appeared in her palm. After refining it, she began searching inside.

"Hehe, it's back in my hands after all." Before long, Weeping Soul took out the black ghost flute from the storage bracelet, played with it for a while, and said joyfully.

"Fellow Daoist Han, Fellow Daoist Weeping Soul, I have a request..." At this moment, Lan Yan suddenly knelt down and prostrated herself, speaking.

Weeping Soul was somewhat surprised at the sight and took a step back.

Han Li knew what Lan Yan was asking for, so he did not move and accepted her bow.

"You want Fellow Daoist Weeping Soul to use the yin soul secret technique to save Lan Yuanzi, right?" Han Li looked at her and said.

"Please, Fellow Daoist Weeping Soul, help me... I am willing to do whatever it takes." Lan Yan remained prostrate, her voice trembling with supplication.

Weeping Soul frowned slightly upon hearing this and turned her head to look at Han Li.

Han Li did not speak, only nodded to her and silently transmitted a few words.

"It's not that I can't help you, but I've never done anything like this before, so I can't guarantee success." Ti Hun thought for a moment, organizing her words, then said.

Lan Yan heard this, looked up at Ti Hun, and a flicker of hesitation passed through her already moist eyes.

But soon, her expression became resolute again, and she spoke: "As long as Fellow Daoist Ti Hun is willing to help, I will be endlessly grateful. As for success or failure, I leave it to fate."

"Good. Since you've said that, I'll lend you a hand. But if my master ever needs something from you in the future, you know what to do, right?" Ti Hun nodded and said.

"I've already made it clear: no matter what it is, even if it costs me my life, I won't hesitate," Lan Yan said solemnly.

"Fellow Daoist Qu Lin, what are your plans now?" Han Li asked.

"The reason I came to this Great Jin Yuan Immortal Domain was because I sensed the presence of a kindred spirit. Although I nearly met with disaster this time, I have no intention of leaving just yet. After recuperating, I will continue on to the Jiuyuan City area," Qu Lin said.

"In that case, we are heading the same way. Why not travel together?" Han Li said.

Qu Lin heard this and did not reply immediately, but silently pondered.

Han Li did not say more, simply waiting for an answer. With a temperament like Qu Lin's, who was naturally suspicious and wary, the more he urged, the more counterproductive it might be.

"Master, why invite him to travel with us? This fellow has a wolfish look about him; keeping him close might not be wise," Xiao Bai frowned slightly, transmitting his voice in confusion.

"This guy showed up here surely because he was drawn by Jin Tong's aura. Keeping him by our side will make it much easier to track down Jin Tong later," Han Li transmitted back.

"So it's for the boss. Then no problem," Xiao Bai nodded to himself.

"Traveling together would allow us to look out for each other, but wouldn't a larger group make it easier to expose our whereabouts? Besides, Chi Meng already has a way to track me. Fellow Daoist Han, aren't you afraid of being implicated by me?" Qu Lin seemed to weigh his words, asking tentatively.

"Fellow Daoist Qu need not worry about that. If you travel with me, you only need to hide inside my cave heaven treasure, and I guarantee Chi Meng won't be able to detect you," Han Li said with a smile.

"If that's the case, then I will indeed impose on Fellow Daoist Han and travel with you," Qu Lin said.

"Excellent. My cave heaven space has many formations set up, so it's not suitable for random movement. Fellow Daoist Qu may rest and recuperate in the bamboo building; I hope you'll forgive the inconvenience," Han Li said.

"No matter, no matter," Qu Lin immediately nodded.

Han Li waved his hand, and a silver light gate appeared in the void, facing the second-floor room of the newly built bamboo building by the spirit medicine garden.

Qu Lin clasped his hands in a salute and stepped inside.

Entering the room, he looked around and found it filled with spiritual energy, with what appeared to be restrictive formations arranged around it.

These formations naturally could not stop him, but once he acted to break them, Han Li would immediately sense it. Given the strength Han Li had displayed, Qu Lin could not guarantee that he would definitely prevail over him.

As his thoughts turned, he walked to a soft couch in the room, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing.

“Lan Yuanzi’s soul is incomplete. Do you have a way to help him?” Han Li closed the silver light door, turned to look at the Soul-Devouring Beast, and said.

“I have a secret technique for nurturing souls. I can first preserve and nourish his soul, but it will take considerable time. Once his soul is restored, he can find another body to possess,” the Soul-Devouring Beast said.

“Thank you, Fellow Daoist Soul-Devouring Beast.” Lan Yan, upon hearing this, wept tears of joy.

“If you want to thank someone, thank my master,” the Soul-Devouring Beast said.

“Thank you, Fellow Daoist Han.” Lan Yan quickly bowed again and said.

Han Li was about to speak when he suddenly sensed something. With a casual wave of his hand, the silver light door reappeared, and within the door appeared the original bamboo building of the Flower Branch Space.

“Soul-Devouring Beast, take them back to the cave heaven to recuperate. The task of nurturing Lan Yuanzi’s soul is left to you,” Han Li said.

The Soul-Devouring Beast nodded and walked into the light door first.

Lan Yan glanced at Han Li and also walked into the main building, with Xiao Bai following behind him.

After they left, Han Li casually closed the silver light door. Twisting his wrist, he took out a crimson mask from the Reincarnation Hall and placed it over his face.

As a crystal light flickered on the mask, a crimson light screen projected before him.

Within the light screen, a graceful figure emerged.

Han Li looked at it and immediately recognized the figure—it was none other than Jiao San.

“Fellow Daoist Jiao San, you’ve finally contacted me.” Han Li saw Jiao San and secretly let out a breath, smiling.

“Sorry, I’ve been too busy with many things and only now have the chance to contact Fellow Daoist Han. Eh, Fellow Daoist Han’s strength has greatly increased—have you perhaps advanced to the Da Luo stage?” Jiao San said, a look of surprise suddenly appearing in her eyes.

"Jiao San has good eyesight. How did you see through my cultivation?" Han Li's gaze flickered as he asked.

"I once learned an art of observing qi from a senior, through which one can roughly judge a person's cultivation by their image and expression. It's just a minor trick, not worth mentioning. Where is Fellow Daoist Han now?" Jiao San smiled, not dwelling on the topic, and changed the subject.

"I have entered the Great Jin Yuan Immortal Domain, as I have some matters to attend to." Han Li recalled Jiao San's earlier warning, and after a brief silence, he told the truth.

"It's fine. The situation in the Great Jin Yuan Immortal Domain is different now. There's no harm in your being there." Seeing Han Li's concern, Jiao San said with a faint smile.

Han Li's eyes flickered. From her words, it seemed Jiao San was also in the Great Jin Yuan Immortal Domain.

"Fellow Daoist Jiao San contacted me—has that mission finally begun?" Han Li composed himself and asked.

"Indeed. May I ask where Fellow Daoist Han is in the Great Jin Yuan Immortal Domain? Can you reach Nine Yuan City within thirty years?" Jiao San's expression turned serious.

"No problem." Han Li calculated the distance between Liu Jin City and Nine Yuan City and nodded.

"Good. One more thing: since Fellow Daoist Han has advanced to the Da Luo stage, please keep this item." With that, Jiao San made a hand seal and waved.

A black light flashed in the transmission array, and a black mask appeared, identical in style to the one Han Li wore, with the same name "Long Wu" written on it.

"The masks of our Reincarnation Palace come in four colors: blue, cyan, red, and black, representing one's status within the palace. The black mask is the mark of a true core member." Jiao San said.

"Is the Reincarnation Palace planning to promote me to a core member?" Han Li took the black mask, his eyes gleaming.

"The Palace Master has long heard of Fellow Daoist Han's reputation and has wanted to meet you, but has been too busy to find the opportunity. He has long intended to promote you to core member. Promotion to core member is no small matter; one must have exceptional talent and have rendered great service to the palace. Fellow Daoist Han has advanced to Da Luo in such a short time, so talent is no issue, but you lack in contributions. The Palace Master originally planned to promote you after the Nine Yuan Temple mission. However, the place we are going to next is Nine Yuan Temple, which is full of experts and guarded by the Nine Yuan Ancestor. The red mask may not be reliable enough to conceal your aura, so he broke protocol and ordered me to give you this black mask first to ensure your safety. After the Nine Yuan Temple mission, the formal promotion will take place." Jiao San said quickly.

"The Reincarnation Palace Master!" Han Li's heart tightened.

He had long heard of the Reincarnation Palace Master. To have created such a vast organization that dared to challenge the Heavenly Court, he must be an extraordinary figure of unfathomable cultivation, perhaps even an Ancestor.

Knowing that such a figure had been watching him made Han Li quite uneasy.

"Then I thank the Palace Master and Fellow Daoist Jiao San for their kindness." He expressed his thanks, then extended his divine sense to probe the black mask, and his eyes immediately lit up.

Although the black mask was in his hand, when he probed it with his spiritual sense, it felt ethereal and intangible, as if there were no mask at all.

He was delighted. The black mask's ability to conceal aura was far superior to the red mask. It must have been difficult to refine, requiring countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures, truly befitting a core member.