Chapter 1216: A New Task

Wu Yang nodded at Han Li's words, his gaze falling on him with a hint of approval.

"Now that you've caught up, let's get down to business," said Jiao San.

"Before that, let's talk about the current news on Gold Devourer. You should know about it, right?" Han Li's gaze fell on Jiao San as he asked.

"For now, I can only tell you that Gold Devourer is safe for the time being. We've also learned where he is being held. As long as you complete your task, we will naturally inform you of his location and provide necessary assistance," said Jiao San.

"So, completing the task is a condition for you to tell me Gold Devourer's location?" Han Li frowned and asked.

"Fellow Daoist Han, it's not that we're using this to coerce you. In truth, your task is a crucial part of the overall plan. Only after you finish it can we proceed with the subsequent steps, and only through those steps will you have a chance to rescue Gold Devourer," Jiao San said calmly, his expression unchanged.

"What is my task?" Han Li asked after a long silence.

"The Celestial Court's messenger immortal has arrived at Nine Yuan City. I believe the selection assembly will be held soon. We need you to participate in this selection and compete for a spot to attend the Bodhi Banquet," said Jiao San.

"Competing for a spot... How will the selection assembly be conducted?" Han Li asked.

"The Bodhi Banquet has a total of one hundred spots reserved for the entire Great Jinyuan Immortal Domain. Nine Yuan Observatory, Hundred Creations Mountain, Jinyuan Immortal Domain, and Sun Moon Alliance will take most of the spots in different proportions. At most, ten to twenty spots will be left for other sects in the Great Jinyuan Immortal Domain to compete for. You need to fight against other candidates to secure a place among these spots," said Wu Yang.

"So, a major difficulty in your participation is that you must win while concealing your identity, ultimately obtaining a Bodhi Token," Jiao San added.

"How is that possible? Although I'm not famous in the Jinyuan Immortal Domain, quite a few people know me. Just now in the city, I saw Chi Meng and the Venerable Wonderful Dharma, both Daluo cultivators. Once I participate in the selection and fight, they will surely recognize me at a glance. At that point, forget about rescuing Gold Devourer; I might not even be able to protect myself," Han Li shook his head and said.

"Fellow Daoist Han, don't worry. The black mask I gave you earlier is precisely for this purpose," said Jiao San.

"How so? Although this item is effective at concealing aura and altering form, once I engage in battle, my techniques and immortal power aura will still reveal clues. That can't be changed," Han Li frowned.

"If you think the mask only has that much ability, you underestimate it. When you wear this mask, you can absorb part of another person's immortal power and aura, and after fusing them with your own through a secret technique, you can achieve a level that is indistinguishable from the real thing. As long as you don't use the law of time, even a late-stage Daluo cultivator might not be able to detect it," said Jiao San.

"Even so, I am not from the Great Jinyuan Immortal Domain. I'm afraid I'm not qualified to participate in this selection, am I?" Han Li said.

"You can rest assured about this. Your identity for participating in this selection has already been arranged; you will compete under the name of an elder of the Xianshan Sect," Wu Yang said.

Han Li had heard of the Xianshan Sect's reputation. It was one of the few medium-sized sects in the Great Golden Immortal Domain that had not joined the Sun-Moon Alliance, aside from super-large sects like the Nine Elements Temple. It wielded considerable power itself, yet there had never been any rumors of its involvement with the Reincarnation Hall.

"So, the Xianshan Sect is a plant of the Reincarnation Hall in the Great Golden Immortal Domain?" Han Li asked.

"You could say that, but only a very few people within the Xianshan Sect know about this. This time, their sect master, Zhou Xianyang, is personally leading the team to participate in the selection assembly and has already set up camp at the sect's villa west of the city. When the time comes, you only need to take this token to find him, and he will naturally know what to do," Jiao San said.

With that, he turned his wrist and produced a white jade pendant, handing it to Han Li.

"What is the ultimate goal of your mission?" Han Li asked, taking the jade pendant in his hand and rubbing it for a moment.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you need not delve into that. You only need to complete your part of the work. Afterward, we will naturally tell you where Jintong is specifically imprisoned and how you can rescue her," Jiao San said.

Upon hearing this, Han Li pondered for a long time before silently nodding.

After that, Jiao San gave a few more instructions about matters to be mindful of in Nine Yuan City, then took his leave along with Wu Yang.

“You have obtained various opportunities from our ancestor, learned the ‘Great Five Elements Illusory World Art,’ and helped our True Word Sect severely wound the traitor Qimozi. You can already be considered half a disciple of our True Word Sect. Since I am presumptuously your senior, I will also give you a meeting gift.” At the moment of parting, Wu Yang suddenly spoke.

As he spoke, he turned his wrist, and a golden inkstone shot out, landing in Han Li’s hand.

Before Han Li could politely decline, the two of them had already dispersed their forms and vanished from the courtyard.

Han Li held the golden inkstone in his hands and examined it carefully. He saw that it was carved with a reclining yellow ox in a state of deep sleep, its lines smooth, its posture naive, appearing lifelike.

He infused a little immortal spiritual power to activate it, and immediately, golden ripples rippled across the Recumbent Ox Inkstone, emanating waves of earth-attribute law power. It seemed quite formidable, at least a fifth-grade immortal artifact.

Han Li was delighted inwardly. He examined the inkstone once more, confirming that there was indeed no mark on it, but he did not rush to refine it. Instead, he first stored it in his storage bracelet.

Then, with a wave of his hand, a silver light door appeared before him.

Han Li stepped through the light door and directly entered the Flower Branch Cave Heaven.

He arrived in a room on the second floor of the bamboo building and saw Ti Hun sitting cross-legged on the bed with her eyes closed, her face somewhat pale.

Lan Yan, who had been standing by the window of the bamboo building, immediately came forward as soon as she saw Han Li, bowed, and said:

"Fellow Daoist Han."

"How is it?" Han Li asked, noticing her poor complexion but a faint glimmer in her eyes.

"The soul-planting ceremony earlier went smoothly; my brother's soul has been planted into the Dream Epiphyllum. Now we just need a period of rest. However, Fellow Daoist Ti Hun has exhausted herself too much..." Lan Yan said with some guilt.

Han Li glanced at Ti Hun, then his gaze fell on a black round basin on the round table in the room.

Inside the basin was a pot of loose, dark red soil, in which grew a strange flower stem with a pitch-black stalk, bearing seven black leaves shimmering with a layer of silver crystalline light. At the top was a white flower bud the size of a fist, inside which a fluorescent light flickered on and off.

Han Li swept his divine sense over it and immediately sensed the aura of Lan Yuanzi.

"After all, it concerns the soul; one cannot be too careful. If you need any help, just say the word," Han Li said.

"Fellow Daoist Han and Fellow Daoist Ti Hun have already helped me this much; I am extremely grateful. How could I dare to have any other extravagant hopes? I only hope to repay you in the future, even if it means serving as a beast of burden," Lan Yan said, her expression turning serious as she hurriedly replied.

Seeing this, Han Li said no more. He only spoke a few words to reassure her before turning and leaving.

...

West of Jiuyuan City was the confluence of several rivers that passed through the city. The terrain was low but flat and open.

Due to the distribution of waterways, the vegetation here was lush and the scenery unique. In the Great Jinyuan Immortal Domain, many mid-tier sects had invested heavily to purchase land here for establishing branch estates.

As a leader among mid-tier powers in the Great Jinyuan Immortal Domain, Xianshan Sect was no exception. It occupied an area in the western part of the city with dense waterways and the most scenic views, building a grand Xianshan Branch Estate.

One day, a handsome young man dressed in snow-white robes arrived at the main gate of the Xianshan Branch Estate, lightly shaking a folding fan as he approached the gatekeeper's lodge.

The guard, seeing his dignified appearance and extraordinary bearing, and unable to discern his cultivation level at a glance, wisely did not make things difficult and dutifully reported his arrival.

After a long wait, a long-bearded old man in a plain robe came from the hall.

The old man, having heard the gatekeeper's exaggerated account, thought some great figure had arrived. But when he reached the entrance, he saw only a handsome youth with a cultivation level of merely mid-Golden Immortal, and he became somewhat annoyed.

"Is it you who wishes to see our Sect Leader? Unfortunately, the Sect Leader is not in the estate today. If you have any matters, why not tell me first? After the Sect Leader returns, I will relay the message to him. How about that?" the old man asked, maintaining his composure despite his irritation, thanks to his well-cultivated patience.

The young man frowned slightly, holding a white jade token in his hand and rubbing it gently, before speaking: "Since you are not the Sect Leader, there is no point in discussing it with you. Have your Sect Leader come to see me."

This young man was, of course, none other than Han Li.

Hearing this, the long-bearded old man's eyes flashed with a sharp glint, clearly angered.

"What? Do you think my cultivation level is too low to be worthy of his meeting?" Han Li asked with a frown.

Before the old man could reply, Han Li's aura suddenly changed, surging dramatically, and in the blink of an eye, it reached the mid-Taiyi stage.

The long-bearded old man's expression shifted again, his face full of shock.

Suppressing one's aura was not remarkable, but to do so as seamlessly as this person, to the point that even he had been fooled, was truly rare.

"So it is a senior who has come. This junior was blind," the long-bearded old man hurriedly said, cupping his fist in salute.

As he spoke, he silently transmitted a message to prepare the estate for the possibility that this might be an enemy.

"Rest assured, I mean no harm. I simply have some matters to discuss with your Sect Leader. I know he is in the estate. Take this token of mine to him, and he will see me at once," Han Li said with a sigh.

With that, he handed over the jade token.

"As you command, senior. Please wait here for a moment," the long-bearded old man said, respectfully accepting it.

After speaking, he vanished in a flash, rushing swiftly into the estate.

Not long after, a streak of white light flashed from within the estate, and a towering, iron-tower-like giant of a man appeared. His square face beamed with a warm smile as he approached Han Li.

"Fellow Daoist Han, long time no see, haha..." the giant said in a booming voice that made the gatehouse tremble slightly.