Chapter 1207: The Black Mask

"We both belong to the Reincarnation Hall, and Fellow Daoist Han, you were introduced by me. These are things I ought to do. By the way, after you arrive at Jiuyuan City, go to the Fengyun Inn in the outer city. That is a covert location of our Reincarnation Hall, and you can safely stay there." Jiao San said with a smile.

However, Han Li merely turned the mask over in his hand, remaining silent for a moment.

"Fellow Daoist Han, is there anything else you are unclear about?" Jiao San asked, slightly startled.

"Fellow Daoist Jiao San, I naturally understand everything you just said. But now that things have come to this, shouldn't you tell me some details about this mission?" Han Li gave Jiao San a deep look and asked.

Previously, his cultivation was still at the Taiyi realm, weak and lacking confidence, so he had not asked many questions about this Reincarnation Hall mission, fearing that getting too deeply involved in the conflict between the Reincarnation Hall and the Heavenly Court would make it hard to extricate himself.

Now that his cultivation had greatly advanced, his attitude toward matters had become quite different, no longer as timid as before.

"Fellow Daoist Han, it's not that I don't trust you, but I also know very little about the details of this mission. Even if I wanted to tell you, I wouldn't know where to start." Jiao San sighed lightly and explained apologetically.

"Fellow Daoist Jiao San, we have known each other for quite some time. Spare me such excuses. Although I don't know your specific status in the Reincarnation Hall, it must be extraordinary. You can't be completely ignorant about this Jiuyuan Temple mission. Since we are to cooperate, it's better to be candid." Han Li said with a smile, twirling the black mask in his hand like a flower.

"I am not making excuses. I truly don't know. This Jiuyuan Temple mission is of great importance, personally overseen by a high-ranking figure in the Hall. I am merely a small liaison officer; how could I know the specifics?" Jiao San said with a wry smile.

Seeing that Jiao San's attitude did not seem feigned, Han Li mentally contacted Ti Hun: "Ti Hun, is this person telling the truth?"

"Master, this person is only a projection; I cannot sense their soul fluctuations, so I cannot ascertain the truth. However, judging by Jiao San's expression, it doesn't seem like a lie." Ti Hun's voice sounded in Han Li's mind.

Upon hearing this, Han Li's brow furrowed slightly.

"Although I am only a liaison officer and not authorized to know the details of this mission, since Fellow Daoist Han is an ally I invited, I deliberately inquired about the matter you care about." Jiao San said, seeing Han Li's displeased expression.

"Oh, do tell." Han Li asked impassively.

"Jin Tong is still in the Jiuyuan Temple and is not in danger. The people of Jiuyuan Temple captured her to offer her to the Time Dao Ancestor Gu Huojin at the Bodhi Banquet. There is still some time before the Bodhi Banquet, so Jin Tong is temporarily safe. In fact, the Jiuyuan Temple may even try to enhance her cultivation to make this 'gift' more outstanding." Jiao San said.

Han Li's eyes flickered upon hearing this.

He already knew the purpose of Jiuyuan Temple capturing Jin Tong, but having it confirmed by Jiao San secretly relieved him.

"As for you, Fellow Daoist Han, the higher-ups seem to intend for you to accomplish a certain task, after which they will inform you of Jin Tong's location and the method to rescue her. However, I could not find out what that task specifically is." Jiao San continued.

"I appreciate your efforts on my behalf, Fellow Daoist Jiao San." Han Li cupped his hands, but his mind was turning.

He pondered what task the Reincarnation Hall would have him do, but it was impossible to figure out out of thin air, so the thought flashed through his mind and vanished.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you are now considered a core member of our Reincarnation Hall. Although the Hall acts mysteriously, it never schemes against its own people. Do not worry about this matter." Jiao San returned to the main topic.

"Of course, otherwise I would not have joined the Reincarnation Hall." Han Li nodded.

"I'm glad you understand." Jiao San nodded.

After a few more casual remarks, they ended the conversation.

Han Li pondered for a moment, then summoned Xiao Bai and Ti Hun from the Flower Branch Space. He removed the red mask from his face, put on the black mask, and formed hand seals to activate it.

A dark light spread from the mask, enveloping his body, and Han Li's entire form became faint and indistinct.

Ti Hun and Xiao Bai beside him showed shocked expressions, as their spiritual sense could no longer detect any trace of Han Li's aura, as if he were a void.

"The Reincarnation Hall is indeed formidable. The concealment effect of this black mask is even better than my Escape Heaven Talisman." Xiao Bai exclaimed in admiration.

Han Li sensed his own condition and was quite satisfied. He activated the hand seal again.

His appearance rapidly changed, transforming into a dark-faced, bearded man.

"Ti Hun, lend me some of your vital energy." Han Li simultaneously raised his hand and patted Ti Hun's shoulder, sending a devouring force from his palm to rapidly absorb the vital energy within Ti Hun.

Ti Hun's expression shifted, but she did not move, allowing Han Li to absorb her vital energy.

Han Li did not absorb too much and soon stopped, then closed his eyes.

After a moment, a layer of black light appeared on his body, emitting a yin ghostly aura identical to Ti Hun's, flawless. Anyone who saw Han Li would surely identify him as a cultivator practicing ghostly arts.

"This..." Xiao Bai's eyes widened in disbelief.

Ti Hun also showed a shocked expression at the sight.

At this moment, Han Li's body and even the aura emanating from his soul were completely different from before. That black mask could actually alter even the aura of one's soul.

"This black mask of the Reincarnation Palace can absorb others' vital energy, then fuse it with oneself to disguise as someone else. This method is indeed far more sophisticated than mere shape-shifting techniques." Han Li's face showed joy as he nodded.

"With this mask, Master, your safety is greatly improved. Are you heading to Nine Yuan City next? Xiao Bai and I lack such concealment means, so we'll hide inside the Flower Branch Space to avoid causing you trouble," said Ti Hun.

"You two keep an eye on Qu Lin and Lan Yan. Although Qu Lin's physical body is powerful, the Devouring Gold Immortal's soul is relatively weak. Ti Hun, your divine abilities can just counter him," Han Li transmitted with his divine sense.

"Rest assured, Master. I will keep a close watch on that Qu Lin," Ti Hun replied via telepathy.

Xiao Bai also patted his chest in a gesture of assurance.

Han Li smiled at this, waved his hand to collect Xiao Bai and Ti Hun into the Flower Branch Space, then left the underground and emerged outside.

With a contemplative expression, he soon transformed into a streak of black light and flew toward Liu Jin City, quickly entering the city through an entrance on the west side.

Everything within the city was calm. The cultivators in the city were all discussing the auction at the Sun Moon Pavilion, and even the occasional patrols passing by showed no signs of abnormality.

Han Li saw this and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the commotion caused by his battle with Chi Meng and the others had not spread and had been suppressed by the Sun and Moon Alliance.

He then moved his body and flew toward the depths of the eastern city.

In the prosperous areas of Liujin City, shops were everywhere, and most of them were predominantly gold, giving a sense of ostentation, lacking the majestic grandeur of ordinary large cities.

Han Li couldn't help but marvel inwardly that the Sun and Moon Alliance, without any prominent backing, had managed to survive and even thrive among such vast powers as the Nine Yuan Temple, the Hundred Creations Mountain, and the Great Golden Source Immortal Palace, likely precisely because of this harmless ostentation.

Liujin City covered a vast area. After flying for half a day, Han Li stopped inside a golden hall in the eastern part of the city.

A plaque hung at the entrance, inscribed with the four characters "Sun and Moon Boat Travel."

The entrance was bustling with people coming and going, very lively.

Han Li stepped inside. The interior was a space several hundred zhang in size, with crowds of people surging and bustling toward the depths of the hall.

Deep within the hall were dozens of entrances, each with a name written above it, which were clearly names of various places in the Great Golden Source Immortal Domain.

Among them were Nine Yuan City, Golden Source City, and Hundred Creations City, and the entrances to these three had the most people entering.

Han Li swept his gaze across the area and strode toward the passage marked for Nine Yuan City.

The Sun-Moon Boat was a transport enterprise under the Sun-Moon Alliance. The alliance had developed and refined a special flying boat called the Sun-Moon Flying Boat. This boat could harness the power of the sun, moon, and stars, traveling at extremely high speeds, shuttling between major cities in the Great Golden Immortal Domain, transporting goods or carrying passengers.

The Sun-Moon Divine Boat was not only extremely fast but also much cheaper than teleportation arrays, making it popular among many small and medium-sized powers as well as independent cultivators.

Although Glazed Gold City had a teleportation array connecting to Nine Yuan City, all teleportation arrays in the immortal domains were under the control of the Heavenly Court, where the strictest monitoring arrays were in place. Especially with the recent turmoil across the immortal domains, the Heavenly Court had tightened surveillance on teleportation arrays. Even with his black mask, Han Li did not want to take the risk.

Moreover, the Sun-Moon Flying Boat was fast enough; arriving in Nine Yuan City within thirty years was more than sufficient.

Han Li entered the passage for Nine Yuan City, walked through a long corridor, and suddenly found himself in a spacious hall about thirty zhang in length and width.

Several seats were arranged in the hall, many already occupied. Two Sun-Moon Alliance cultivators in blue robes stood nearby.

Seeing Han Li enter, a middle-aged Sun-Moon Alliance cultivator immediately approached and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist, are you here to take the Sun-Moon Divine Boat to Nine Yuan City?"

"That's right," Han Li nodded.

Not wanting to attract attention, he had suppressed his cultivation level to that of a Golden Immortal.

"Fellow Daoist has arrived at a fortunate time. The divine boat bound for Nine Yuan City departs once a month, and the next one happens to leave in one day," the middle-aged cultivator said with a smile.

"Oh, what a coincidence. How much is the fare?" Han Li's eyes lit up, and he asked.

Just as the middle-aged Sun-Moon Alliance cultivator was about to speak, a voice came from the side. "Fellow Daoist, are you also going to Nine Yuan City? Would you be interested in pooling resources with us to buy a large cabin ticket? The five of us can share the cost and save quite a few immortal spirit stones." Four cultivators approached.

All four had reached the Golden Immortal stage. The leader was an old man in gray robes, his face full of smiles.

Among the other three was a young man in black robes, looking at most twenty, with a hint of immaturity on his face.

Beside the black-robed youth was a young woman in a red dress, with a voluptuous figure and pleasant features.

The last person was a beautiful nun in a moon-white monk's robe, but her hair was piled high in a cloud bun, suggesting she was a lay practitioner. She carried a snow-white long sword on her back, which looked somewhat incongruous.

Han Li's gaze fell on the four, and he stood frozen.

The reason was simple: apart from the unfamiliar face of the black-robed youth, he actually recognized the other three.