Chapter 1267: Nowhere to Hide

"Are you two alright?" the cyan giant bird asked.

"We're fine. The demonic cloud was terrifying—the illusions grew stronger wave after wave, and I nearly couldn't hold out. Luckily you flew out in time, or I might have sunk completely. The consequences would have been unthinkable." Xiao Bai said, still shaken.

"Of course. Otherwise, why would the demonic cloud be called the most fearsome thing in the void beyond the heavens? This cloud is actually small; if we'd encountered a truly large one, I couldn't have flown out so quickly," the cyan giant bird said.

"I never imagined the void beyond the heavens could be so dangerous... I think it's better to stay close to the ground from now on. Slower, but at least safer! By the way, Master, how are you?" Xiao Bai muttered, then turned to Han Li.

Han Li sat cross-legged, brows slightly furrowed, eyes closed, silent, with a faint aura of ferocity lingering around him.

As if hearing Xiao Bai's question, Han Li opened his eyes, a trace of bloodlight flickering in them.

"Your eyes... Have you been possessed by a demon? Damn demon, get out of my master's body now!" Xiao Bai jumped up in alarm and shouted.

"It's nothing. I'm not possessed, just somewhat influenced," Han Li said.

Xiao Bai looked at Han Li with some hesitation, concern on his face.

"Good lad. I thought with your current state, you'd surely be unable to break free from the demon's influence, but you managed on your own. Still, from the look of you, it seems the evil thoughts within have erupted and can no longer be suppressed," the cyan giant bird said with a faint smile.

"Your keen eyes see all, Senior. Nothing escapes you," Han Li said with a wry smile.

The evil thoughts within him had not increased, but neither had they diminished. Moreover, this eruption was different from before; no matter how he urged the laws of time or the隔元法链, he could not suppress them.

"A person's Three Corpses are tied to the very foundation of the primordial spirit—profound and mysterious. I don't know what means or fortune you encountered, but you forcibly summoned the Evil Corpse before reaching the proper cultivation level. Now it has grown strong. Though you used some methods to suppress it, the demonic cloud's influence has made its eruption inevitable. You should find a way to sever it as soon as possible, or it will eventually seize your body," the cyan giant bird said calmly.

Han Li's expression shifted uncertainly, but he said nothing.

He had considered everything Yu Mian said. He too wished to truly sever the Evil Corpse, but his cultivation was insufficient, and he lacked experience in corpse-severing—he had no confidence.

The cyan giant bird said no more and simply continued flying.

After another half day of flight, the cyan giant bird suddenly descended, soon passing through the Heavenly Wind Domain and the Azure Sky Domain to near the ground.

Below lay a lush mountain range—they had reached the Barbarian Realm.

After flying a while longer, a towering peak loomed ahead: the Eight Desolations Mountain.

Han Li marveled inwardly at Yu Mian's speed. It had taken him decades to fly from Eight Desolations Mountain to the Great Golden Source Immortal Domain, yet Yu Mian had returned in less than a day.

His gaze flickered, and he leaped off the cyan giant bird's back, hovering in midair, and said to the bird:

"Senior Yu, thank you for bringing me back to the Barbarian Realm. However, my identity is special; if I go to Eight Desolations Mountain, I might cause displeasure. I'll take my leave here."

As soon as Han Li left, Yu Mian stopped, and with a flash of dazzling cyan light, he resumed human form.

He glanced at Han Li and said flatly:

"As you wish."

"Haha, Young Friend Han has come all the way to Eight Desolations Mountain but won't come in for a visit? That would make us barbarian tribes seem discourteous," a voice suddenly rang out. A white figure appeared out of thin air—it was Bai Ze, smiling as he spoke.

"Senior Bai Ze," Han Li quickly bowed.

Xiao Bai also bowed.

"Young Friend Han's actions were truly remarkable—throwing the Nine Yuan Temple into chaos. Even Li Yuanjiu, a man of great stature, suffered such a loss. How satisfying!" Bai Ze laughed heartily.

"Of course! My master and I charged in and out of the Nine Yuan Temple seven times, sending two of its four great saintly envoys fleeing in panic," Xiao Bai said smugly.

"That was all the work of the Reincarnation Hall. I merely happened to be there and joined in," Han Li said lightly, ignoring Xiao Bai's boasting.

"It's no small feat to step into that great whirlpool of the Nine Yuan Temple and emerge unscathed. Speaking of which, when you left, you were at the peak of Taiyi, and now you're at early Daluo, not far from mid-stage. For a mere human mortal body to achieve such cultivation speed—even you and I weren't that fast in our day," Bai Ze said to Yu Mian with a smile.

"Senior flatters me," Han Li said impassively.

"Young Friend Han is still so modest. Opportunity is also part of one's strength. I thank you for looking after Xiao Bai during this trip to the Nine Yuan Temple and bringing him back safely," Bai Ze said, shaking his head with a smile, then pulled Xiao Bai over, looked him over, and said to Han Li.

"Xiao Bai is my friend; it's only right that I protect him. Besides, Xiao Bai's abilities are formidable—he can protect himself. I didn't do much. As for returning safely to the Barbarian Realm, I have Senior Yu Mian to thank," Han Li said with a smile.

"I won't say any words of thanks, but since Fellow Daoist Han has come to the Eight Desolate Mountains, you might as well come in and sit for a while." Bai Ze shook his head with a smile.

"Thank you for your gracious invitation, Senior. However, I am currently unwell and wish to find a place to cultivate immediately. I beg your understanding, Senior Bai Ze." Han Li cupped his hands.

Bai Ze looked Han Li up and down, a hint of surprise in his eyes, then said:

"Since Fellow Daoist Han indeed has matters to attend to, I won't force you to stay. Thirty thousand li east of here lies the Emerald Cloud Mountain Range, where the spiritual energy is abundant and no barbarian tribes occupy it. You can go into seclusion there."

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Bai Ze." Han Li was delighted and bowed in thanks.

"Master, I'll go with you. King Bai Ze, since the Emerald Cloud Mountain Range is not far from here, can I cultivate there as well?" Xiao Bai looked anxious and turned to Bai Ze.

"No. I have already arranged your subsequent training, and you must stay here at the Eight Desolate Mountains." Bai Ze's face darkened.

"Alright." Xiao Bai did not argue this time.

"Two Seniors, Xiao Bai, I take my leave now." Han Li cupped his hands to the three, then transformed into a golden rainbow and flew eastward.

Bai Ze and the other two watched Han Li leave, then descended toward the Eight Desolate Mountains.

Han Li traveled eastward and soon arrived at the Emerald Cloud Mountain Range.

The rocks and ground here were emerald green, quite peculiar. The spiritual energy was, as Bai Ze had said, very abundant and not as restless as elsewhere. It was indeed an excellent place for his current seclusion.

After calming himself, Han Li found a cliff, simply carved out a cave dwelling, and set up restrictive arrays around it.

Having done all this, he raised his hand to summon the spatial gate, turned, and flew inside, arriving at the Flower Branch Space.

Ti Hun and Jin Tong seemed to have been waiting at the entrance. Seeing Han Li appear, they quickly came forward.

"Ti Hun, you already know about the situation with the Heavenly Demon Cloud earlier. Now try to help me and see if you can suppress the evil thoughts." Han Li said, then sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Ti Hun nodded, placed his hand on Han Li's head, and a dark red light blazed forth, enveloping Han Li's head and forming a light screen.

Han Li let out a muffled groan, and all his immortal apertures lit up, flickering unsteadily. Rolling black baleful qi surged out, swirling around him like a solid substance.

As soon as these baleful auras touched the dark red light screen surrounding Han Li, they dissipated with a sizzling sound.

Even so, the baleful aura emanating from Han Li's body did not diminish but instead seemed to grow stronger and more abundant.

Jin Tong had clearly sensed the strangeness in Han Li this time and wisely refrained from saying anything more, merely standing quietly by his side, watching him without blinking, intending to protect them both.

Yet after three full days and nights, the baleful aura swirling around Han Li showed no sign of weakening.

Jin Tong's face was filled with anxiety, her gaze constantly shifting between Han Li and Ti Hun. Several times she wanted to speak but ultimately held back.

She knew that Han Li was at a critical juncture and could not afford any mistake. She could only silently fret that despite her considerable abilities now, she was utterly unable to help him.

"Uncle, you must not let anything happen!" Jin Tong murmured in her heart.

"Ti Hun, stop." Suddenly, Han Li opened his eyes and said calmly.

"Master, the malevolent thoughts within you seem somewhat different from before." Ti Hun withdrew her hand and stepped back, hesitating for a moment before speaking.

"You noticed too." Han Li gave a wry smile. He did not elaborate to Ti Hun and raised a hand to stop Jin Tong, who was about to speak.

The evil thoughts were now clinging to him, seemingly impossible to eliminate. The only way was to burn one's boats and cut them off as soon as possible, advancing to the中期 of the Great Luo stage.

But how easy was it to slay the corpse?

He had no master to guide him. Last time, when Patriarch Milo expounded the Dao to him, due to time constraints, he had not mentioned the matter of slaying the corpse. It seemed he could only rely on his own exploration.

Han Li pondered briefly, then quickly put aside his thoughts and said to Ti Hun and Jin Tong:

"I am about to enter a time-difference space for seclusion, to quickly open the remaining immortal apertures needed to advance to the中期 of the Great Luo stage. Don't worry too much about me; cultivate well. Now, apart from this corner of the wildlands, though the True Immortal Realm is vast, there is no place for me to stay. If you can increase your strength by even a fraction, you will be better able to lend me a hand later."

With that, he unfolded his spiritual domain, enveloping the space of ten-odd zhang around him.

As Han Li activated the True Word Wheel of Dharma, together with the Time Sky璇 Grand Formation, he deployed the time-difference space, and the flow of time around them immediately accelerated ten thousand times.

Though Ti Hun and Jin Tong were still somewhat worried about Han Li's current condition, after a slight hesitation, they sat down cross-legged to the left and right of Han Li respectively and began to cultivate.