Chapter 1312: Secluded Cultivation Beyond the Heavens

Shui Changtian seemed to have long sensed Han Li's presence. He raised a single hand and struck a palm down toward him.

However, although his palm strike was not slow and contained a terrifying force like a tsunami, it still struck empty air.

Han Li's figure vanished like a ghost and silently reappeared behind him.

A divine demonic body, ten thousand zhang tall with three heads and six arms, suddenly materialized. The six massive arms contained terrifying power and swung like a windmill.

In an instant, like the beating of drums, countless fist shadows fell densely, crazily smashing onto Shui Changtian's body.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

A series of thunderous roars that deafened the ears came. Fist energies that shook the heavens exploded. Under this rain of fist shadows, Shui Changtian could not even escape. His blue water armor immediately shattered, and his massive body toppled like a mountain, raising clouds of dust.

Between heaven and earth, there was a killing stillness. Apart from the sound of falling fist shadows, no other sound could be heard.

Shui Changtian's body steamed violently, emitting white mist that covered an area of hundreds of thousands of miles.

Zi Ling and the others, who had long fled far away while fighting, heard the terrifying commotion. Both sides involuntarily stopped and looked over.

After a long time, the drumming sound gradually faded.

Amid the vast white mist, Han Li's figure had returned to normal. At his feet lay a broken corpse, barely recognizable as human, completely mangled.

Shui Changtian's Daluo body was so fragile before Han Li's physical power of fully opened mysterious apertures.

After a flurry of wild punches, the pent-up frustration that had accumulated in Han Li's heart over recent days finally dissipated somewhat.

He bent down to pick up a storage bracelet under the corpse, glanced at the spreading mist around him, and suddenly laughed:

"I didn't expect you to have this mirage trick."

As soon as he spoke, the surrounding void twisted, and narrow streets began to appear before him. Shops and tall buildings rose layer upon layer, rows of brothels and entertainment venues emerged, and figures appeared among them.

In an instant, Han Li found himself in a mortal prefecture city.

On the surrounding streets, people came and went, bustling with activity. All kinds of noisy hawking sounds filled the air. Even the aroma of meat from a steamer basket at a bun shop a dozen paces away, emitting thick white steam, reached Han Li's nose.

"The great hermit hides in the city. This half-lingering soul of yours knows how to hide well," Han Li laughed.

With that, he suddenly opened his mouth and inhaled, then blew fiercely forward.

A whirlwind swept through, and all the houses, tile-roofed buildings, streets, and brick-and-wood structures shattered like dream bubbles, dissipating into a stream of smoke.

Han Li saw at a glance that Shui Changtian's remnant soul had already fled tens of thousands of miles away.

He raised his hand and waved. A golden sword light wrapped in the power of the laws of time immediately shot out, disappearing at the edge of his vision.

With a miserable cry, Shui Changtian completely fell.

Seeing this, the supervising and patrol celestial envoys who had followed him dared not linger and scattered in all directions.

Shi Chuankong and Zi Ling did not stop them but immediately flew toward Han Li.

At this moment, the divine ability of Dharma Word Heaven and Earth also reached its time limit. The yellow sand for ten thousand miles gradually receded, and the seabed scene reappeared.

The seawater, which had been blocked by the battle's aftershocks, finally began to flow back, refilling the newly formed deep trenches and canyons on the seabed.

Han Li moved and flew over to meet Zi Ling and the others.

"After today's battle, I finally realize how powerful you have become..." Seeing Han Li uninjured, Zi Ling felt relieved but sighed sincerely.

Han Li was silent for a moment, then said, "Not enough."

"I didn't expect to be ambushed by the Heavenly Court as soon as I returned to the True Immortal Realm. It seems the days ahead won't be peaceful either," Shi Chuankong said with concern.

"Didn't we already anticipate this? What are your plans next?" Han Li smiled and changed the subject.

"Now that things have settled, next... I plan to return to the Demon Domain," Shi Chuankong sighed.

"The True Immortal Realm is in turmoil lately. Given your status, it's safer to return to the Demon Domain," Han Li nodded.

"Fellow Daoist Han, the Heavenly Court is relentlessly pursuing you in the True Immortal Realm. Why not come to the Demon Domain to lie low for a while? You don't know, but Uncle Crab has left the Scale Prison Realm and invaded the Demon Domain, occupying nearly half the world. Once you're there, you won't have to worry about being hunted," Shi Chuankong said.

"No need. I don't take the Heavenly Court's pursuers seriously. I don't want to get involved in other conflicts right now; I just want to find a place to cultivate quietly," Han Li said, glancing at Shi Chuankong with a meaningful look.

Shi Chuankong felt a bit embarrassed. His invitation for Han Li to return to the Demon Domain was indeed intended to enlist Han Li's help.

"Since Fellow Daoist Han has his own plans, I won't force you. Miss Zi Ling, what are your plans? Will you return to the Demon Domain, or..." Shi Chuankong turned to look at Zi Ling.

Zi Ling did not answer but looked at Han Li, as if seeking his opinion.

"Zi Ling, as I just said, the True Immortal Realm is in turmoil. Your strength is not strong; it's better for you to return to the Demon Domain with Fellow Daoist Shi," Han Li said after a moment's thought.

"And you?" Zi Ling stared into Han Li's eyes.

"Wan'er is now at the Reincarnation Hall. Naturally, I must bring her back," Han Li said, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"You want to go to the Reincarnation Hall again?" Zi Ling frowned upon hearing this.

"Fellow Daoist Han, the Reincarnation Hall is so powerful that even the Heavenly Court cannot eradicate it. And we have all seen the divine abilities of the Reincarnation Hall Master. Although your strength is great, you are still far from the Reincarnation Hall Master. Don't act rashly," Shi Chuankong said, also startled, and quickly advised.

"I won't act recklessly. I'm referring to the future. First, I'll improve my cultivation, at least to the late Daluo stage, before making plans," Han Li said.

The three supreme laws were no small matter; challenging higher levels was common.

The Reincarnation Hall Master was only at the late Daluo stage, not yet a Dao Ancestor, yet he could instantly kill Bone Ancestor, a Dao Ancestor.

The deeper Han Li cultivated the laws of time, the more he felt their terror. He had a feeling that once he advanced to the late Daluo stage, his strength would undergo another升华.

"I'll accompany you," Zi Ling suddenly said.

"Zi Ling, it's not safe by my side. You'd better..." Han Li frowned and said again.

"Whether in the mortal world or the spirit realm back then, I couldn't stay by your side. That has always been my greatest regret. Now that I finally have the chance, let me stay with you!" Zi Ling interrupted Han Li, her watery eyes reflecting his figure.

Han Li, stared at by Zi Ling like that, was silent for a moment and then nodded.

Since they first met, he had never been able to accompany Zi Ling, and he felt deeply indebted.

Hearing this, Zi Ling's face broke into a brilliant smile, and for a moment, the surrounding void seemed to soften.

"Since Fellow Daoist Zi Ling has decided to stay, I will return to the Demon Domain alone. I will explain things to Uncle Crab. May you both cherish your journey," Shi Chuankong said, glancing at Zi Ling and then at Han Li, a hint of inadvertent loss in his eyes, as he cupped his hands.

"Take care," Han Li returned the gesture.

Shi Chuankong looked at the two again, pausing a moment longer on Zi Ling, then turned into a silver light and vanished through the air.

Although Shi Chuankong's gaze was subtle, how could cultivators of Han Li and Zi Ling's level not notice?

"Although Fellow Daoist Shi helped me a lot in the Demon Domain, there is nothing between us," Zi Ling said softly.

"Of course. How could I not trust you?" Han Li smiled faintly.

Hearing this, Zi Ling relaxed.

The surroundings returned to calm, with only the gentle ripples of the sea.

"This place is not suitable for staying long. Let's go," Han Li said, looking around.

As he spoke, he waved his hand, emitting a golden light that wrapped around Zi Ling, and shot straight up into the sky, heading directly toward the high heavens.

"Brother Han, where are we going?" Zi Ling asked in surprise.

"Beyond the heavens."

Han Li smiled faintly, the golden light around him intensifying as he accelerated again, soon passing through the Azure Firmament Domain and reaching the Heavenly Wind Domain.

Endless heavenly winds struck, shaking heaven and earth.

Zi Ling's cultivation was not strong; seeing this, her pretty face showed a trace of fear.

But Han Li ignored the heavenly winds, explaining the matter of the three domains as he continued forward.

Golden light flickered around him, and circles of golden ripples spread outward. The incoming heavenly winds, upon entering the golden ripple range, immediately became still and frozen.

Han Li easily traversed the endless heavenly winds, encountering no danger and not slowing down at all.

Seeing this, Zi Ling relaxed and looked at Han Li with a hint of admiration in her eyes.

Before long, the two passed through the Heavenly Wind Domain and arrived at the void beyond the heavens.

The black space, countless meteorites, and various chaotic elemental storms left Zi Ling speechless for a long time, stunned.

"I never imagined the void beyond the heavens to be like this. It's truly eye-opening. But why are we here?" After a long while, Zi Ling recovered, still full of wonder.

"Naturally, to cultivate in seclusion here. The Heavenly Court and the Reincarnation Hall have immense power. If a Dao Ancestor-level being investigates, no matter where we hide near the ground, there is a risk of discovery. The void beyond the heavens lies beyond the endless high sky, infinite and boundless. Only here can we avoid being found," Han Li said.

"I see. But this place seems fraught with danger and very unstable... Can we really find a safe place for seclusion?" Zi Ling understood but then said with some concern.

"No problem. Leave it to me," Han Li smiled, leading Zi Ling forward while spreading his vast divine sense to sense the surroundings.