Chapter 1326: Parting

"Father didn't say, but Feng Qingshui is after all a Dao Ancestor level existence. Your cultivation..." Jiao San hesitated.

Upon hearing this, Han Li no longer suppressed his aura. An immense pressure instantly radiated from him, golden light swirling around his body as if cast in metal.

Though he deliberately confined this pressure to within a hundred zhang of himself, the flow of heaven and earth's spiritual energy within this realm seemed to be at his whim.

He appeared as the sovereign, standing motionless, yet a single glance at him would shake one's mind and spirit.

His cultivation at the late Great Luo stage was fully revealed in that moment.

Jiao San felt an invisible pressure bearing down on her, involuntarily stepping back two paces. Shaken, it took her a long while to recover.

"I never imagined that in just a few years, you could change so much. No wonder... no wonder Father..." Jiao San took a deep breath and said slowly, but her words trailed off as if she hesitated to continue.

"He is confronting the Heavenly Court, drawing most of their attention. Seeking out Feng Qingshui would be a breakthrough. I only hope he is not in the Heavenly Court right now." Han Li suppressed his aura again and said.

"He is currently not in the Central Earth Immortal Domain, but in another large immortal domain, the Dragon Abyss Immortal Domain, in seclusion at the Mist Dragon Sect he founded. He has been there for some time." Jiao San said.

"That's perfect. Prepare the things I need, and I'll set out tomorrow." Han Li said.

"Alright. When do you plan to leave? I'll go with you." Jiao San said.

"You cannot go." Han Li said immediately.

"Why can't I go? Mother, she..." Before Jiao San could finish, Han Li interrupted her.

"Since she chose to be Nangong Wan, she is not your mother. Besides, she definitely would not want you to go." Han Li looked at Jiao San and said.

"I don't care how you see it or say it. In my heart, she is my mother, and I must go." Jiao San said.

"With your current cultivation, going would be of no help. Moreover, I need you to help me send Zi Ling to the Demon Realm." Han Li said without any euphemism.

Hearing this, Jiao San's expression indeed dimmed.

"Forget it. With my cultivation, I would only hold you back. But Zi Ling... why must she go to the Demon Realm?" Jiao San looked puzzled and asked hesitantly.

"What's wrong?" Han Li sensed something amiss and asked quickly.

"Don't you know about the Demon Realm? If Zi Ling is going to find Shi Chuankong and the others, there's no need." Jiao San frowned and said slowly.

Zi Ling's expression changed slightly, a bad feeling rising within her.

"What exactly happened?" Han Li's gaze sharpened as he asked.

"The civil war in the Demon Realm has been raging for over a thousand years, becoming especially fierce in the last century. In the final battle seven years ago, the entire Ye Yang City was destroyed, and a Ji Lin Kong Jing was completely wiped out. The faction of Shi Kongjie, whom Shi Chuankong followed, suffered a crushing defeat." Jiao San sighed and said softly.

"What about Shi Kongjie and Shi Chuankong? Do you have any news of them?" Han Li asked.

"The Demon Realm is now sealed shut, making it hard for news to leak out. The last information I received said that Shi Kongjie was no match for the Demon Lord and had already perished. As for Shi Chuankong, it wasn't said that he died, but he has gone missing without a trace." Jiao San said.

Crab Daoist had fallen in battle, Shi Chuankong was missing...

Han Li felt his sea of consciousness sink, momentarily at a loss for words.

"It's been seven years since that great battle, and still no news has come out?" Zi Ling asked.

"The Demon Lord personally ordered the complete sealing of the Demon Realm, with no word on when it will reopen. Now, no news can enter, and none can leave." Jiao San shook her head and said.

"Let's set that aside for now. After I return from the Heavenly Court, I will go to the Demon Realm to find out the truth." Han Li let out a long breath, his expression turning serious as he spoke.

Jiao San said nothing more, only nodded.

"In that case, you stay in the Netherworld first and wait for us to return." Han Li said to Zi Ling.

Zi Ling looked worried but still nodded.

"By the way, what about Ti Hun? Do you have any news of her?" Han Li asked.

"She... she went to the Luohun Abyss." Jiao San replied.

"Luohun Abyss... What place is that?" Han Li asked.

"It is a true forbidden land in this Netherworld, a place even Father has never set foot in. She said that there lies the true path she seeks. I tried to dissuade her but couldn't stop her." Jiao San said.

"How long has she been gone?" Han Li asked.

"She left over a hundred years ago and has not returned since." Jiao San said.

Han Li closed his eyes, a white light flickering at his brow. It shimmered faintly for a moment before he opened his eyes again.

"What is it?" Zi Ling asked.

"The divine sense connection has been severed..." Han Li murmured.

"It is said that the Luohun Abyss is a place where wandering souls roam. Not only is it far away, but even if one were inside the abyss, they could not sense each other." Jiao San said.

"This is the path Ti Hun chose for herself. You must trust her." Zi Ling tugged at his arm and persuaded.

Han Li was silent for a long time, then nodded.

Ti Hun, like Jin Tong, had her own path to walk, just as he had his own path to face the Heavenly Court.

"I will set out for the Dragon Abyss Immortal Domain tomorrow morning. Then, compile the information about Feng Qingshui for me." Han Li looked at Jiao San and said.

...

That night.

On the main hall of the island in the lake, Han Li and Zi Ling lay on the sloping roof, leaning against each other, gazing at the starry sky they had not looked up at for countless years.

Unfortunately, the night sky was pitch black, with few stars. Even the waning moon was obscured by dark clouds, everything shrouded in a hazy light.

Han Li withdrew his gaze and stared at the woman nestled beside him. In the dim light, Zi Ling's exquisite face was still as pure as jade, reflecting a faint glow.

The outline of her profile was somewhat blurred under the moonlight, yet possessed a unique beauty.

"Zi Ling, I..." Han Li couldn't help but call softly, raising his hand to caress her cheek.

Han Li felt a measure of guilt toward Zi Ling.

When they first met and came to know each other, they had a mutual appreciation, more like kindred spirits. Their encounter was like a golden breeze and jade dew, surpassing countless worldly joys.

However, due to various reasons, they had always remained like strangers.

"You don't need to say anything. I am content just to enjoy this moment of tranquility." Zi Ling did not turn around, her gaze still fixed on the distant sky as she spoke softly.

Hearing this, a smile curled at the corner of Han Li's mouth.

After a moment, Zi Ling reached out, took one of Han Li's arms, and placed it behind her head as a pillow.

"You must be extremely careful on this journey. Bring Sister Wan'er back safe and sound. I won't go anywhere; I'll wait here for you both to return." Zi Ling tilted her head slightly to look at Han Li and said.

Han Li looked down at Zi Ling, who had buried her head in his chest, and suddenly felt a bit unaccustomed. In his memory, Zi Ling had always been a spirited and decisive woman, rarely acting like this.

"Do you know what my previous life was like, as seen in the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk?" Zi Ling asked.

"What was it like?" Han Li immediately asked.

He had wanted to ask this question before, but had held back because Zi Ling's condition was not good at the time.

"Actually, there were no great storms or perilous circumstances. On the contrary, in that life, I was merely a mortal woman in the human world without spiritual roots, living only a short lifespan of a hundred years. In that life, I kept waiting for someone, from my youth to my old age, waiting my whole life, but that person never appeared." Zi Ling said slowly.

As she finished, her bright eyes gazed into Han Li's.

Han Li's heart stirred slightly, vaguely hearing a call, as if from a graceful figure in a dream many years ago, but he could no longer recall her face.

In a daze, his arm around the back of her neck gently slid down her smooth hair, softly holding her shoulder.

Zi Ling's body trembled slightly, then relaxed, nestling in Han Li's arms, murmuring:

"So... in this life, I am already very satisfied. To meet is already not easy, to form this bond, what more could I ask for? What regrets could there be?"

Han Li looked at her and saw that her bright eyes were glistening with water, shining with tiny lights like two starry skies, beautiful enough to intoxicate.

Just then, the night wind suddenly picked up, blowing a cluster of dark clouds across, blocking the last trace of moonlight.

The entire Yellow Spring Marsh fell into darkness. Faint, ghostly phosphorescent fires rose slowly from various parts of the lake, casting a greenish glow all around.

After a moment of silence, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

Rain in the Netherworld was naturally different from that in the Immortal Realm.

The raindrops carried much yin and gloomy aura, making the rain heavier. Though it did no harm when it fell on one, it was hardly a pleasant thing.

Unwilling to let this rare tranquility be disturbed, Han Li raised his hand to dispel the dark clouds.

Zi Ling reached out and grabbed his arm, whispering in a voice as soft as a mosquito: "Carry me inside."

"Don't you want to stay a little longer..."

Before Han Li could finish, he looked down and saw Zi Ling's cheeks flushed crimson, instantly understanding her meaning.

He stopped mid-sentence, wrapped one arm around her back, and gently slipped the other under her knees, lifting her horizontally and carrying her into the hall.

As the night deepened, clouds and rain gathered over the island, their intensity gradually increasing.

...

The night rain fell like a curtain, lasting the entire night, sometimes pattering, sometimes raging with the wind.

Wind and rain intertwined, pouring down upon the earth in the silent night, making this night in the Netherworld somewhat extraordinary.

At dawn, the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased.

Han Li opened his eyes and gazed at the graceful figure still sleeping beside him, at that face of unparalleled beauty, his eyes not moving away for a long time.

After an unknown time, he opened his mouth as if to say something, but the words died on his lips, finally turning into a sigh.

He rose, changed into a new green robe, stood by the bed for a long while, then finally turned and walked toward the door.

On the bed, Zi Ling's long eyelashes trembled slightly, a crystal tear rolling down her cheek, leaving a thin trail.

Han Li reached the door, suddenly turned back, glanced once more toward the bed, and seeing Zi Ling still asleep, stepped out and gently closed the door behind him.

The flickering candlelight inside paused, then returned to stillness.

When he arrived at the hall entrance, Gan Jiuzhen was already waiting there.

"Is everything ready?" Han Li walked up and asked.

"Where is Zi Ling? Isn't she seeing you off today?" Gan Jiuzhen looked behind Han Li and asked.

"We said our farewells last night; there's no need for more words this morning." Han Li shook his head and said.

Gan Jiuzhen looked suspicious but assumed Zi Ling was reluctant to part and did not press further.

She turned her wrist and produced a palm-sized token and a black jade slip, handing them to Han Li.

"Bodhi Token?" Han Li took them and looked, puzzled.

"The Dragon Abyss Immortal Domain is one of the thirty-six major immortal domains and can lead to the Central Earth Immortal Domain. At this time, carrying the Bodhi Token and saying you are going to the Central Earth Immortal Domain for the Bodhi Banquet will be more useful than any travel permit, saving you a lot of trouble." Gan Jiuzhen said.

"You've thought it through thoroughly." Han Li nodded, turned his wrist, and put them away.

"Father instructed all this before he left. The jade slip contains the route to the Dragon Abyss Immortal Domain and some information about Feng Qingshui. I hope it helps you." Gan Jiuzhen said.

"With these, it's enough." Han Li glanced over and said.

"You must bring Mother back safely." Gan Jiuzhen pursed her lips and said solemnly.

"I will." Han Li nodded and said.

With that, he formed a hand seal and said only, "I'm off," as golden thunderbolts fell heavily from the nine heavens.

After a crackling sound, Han Li's figure had vanished from the spot.

The spatial fluctuations before Gan Jiuzhen still rippled intensely. Her gaze looked into the distance, her eyes full of worry.