Chapter 1348: An Old Friend in Hometown

"Yes. It's been many years since I left, but there hasn't been much change here." Han Li looked at the Black Wind City before him and said with some emotion.

After the Reincarnation Hall invaded the Northern Cold Immortal Domain, it didn't seem to have much impact on the daily life of this city.

In retrospect, the Reincarnation Hall had lurked in the True Immortal Realm for so many years, gradually growing into a vast underground force capable of rivaling the Heavenly Court, with intricate connections in all aspects. But for ordinary low- and mid-level cultivators, or even mortals, it didn't really make a difference.

Once even these people began to feel it, it meant that this force was ready to surface.

As he pondered, he led Nangong Wan through the city gate, looking at the streets around him with flickering eyes.

"Husband, what are you looking at?" Nangong Wan asked curiously.

"I am now facing the hurdle of severing the corpse, which focuses on enlightenment. I plan to retrace the places I've been since ascending to the True Immortal Realm, step by step, recalling the past to temper my mind." Han Li said.

Nangong Wan's cultivation level was insufficient, and she was confused by Han Li's words, not fully understanding. But since Han Li said so, she naturally believed him and nodded without further comment.

Han Li stayed with Nangong Wan in Black Wind City for two days, recounting some of his past experiences along with the scenery. Nangong Wan listened with great interest.

After leaving Black Wind City, the two crossed the Desolate Gale and arrived at the Huanglan Continent outside, continuing to trace their past footsteps.

Over half a year later, they passed by the Candle Dragon Sect on the Guyun Continent.

This was also the first sect Han Li formally joined after entering the True Immortal Realm. He had cultivated here for a long time, making it his second home in the Immortal Realm.

To his surprise, the Candle Dragon Sect, once renowned throughout the Northern Cold Immortal Domain, now had few disciples and sparse activity. Traces of battle were faintly visible everywhere, and it no longer had its former glory.

Han Li extended his divine sense to investigate and quickly learned the reason.

The Northern Cold Immortal Domain was a small immortal domain, but the Candle Dragon Sect, as one of the three major cultivation forces in the domain, had a deep foundation. However, first, the incident with Baili Yan led to an attack by the Heavenly Court, and then during the expedition to the Minghan Immortal Palace, almost all the Candle Dragon Sect members who entered were wiped out, severely damaging its strength. From then on, it began to decline.

Of course, the Cangliu Palace and Fuling Sect were also affected to varying degrees in that battle.

Later, when the Gray Realm invaded the Northern Cold Immortal Domain, the three sects suffered another heavy blow due to improper responses, leading to their current state.

Han Li sighed inwardly, used an invisibility technique, and took Nangong Wan into the sect, arriving at the Red Cloud Peak where he once lived.

It hadn't changed much since he left, and it seemed to have been abandoned ever since, with no one else living there.

Han Li sat at the peak of Red Cloud Peak, recalling his cultivation days at the Candle Dragon Sect: his single-minded pursuit of the law of time, his anxiety in searching for Crab Daoist, and his worry and fear of the pursuers who might descend at any moment.

He held these emotions in his heart, recalling them repeatedly, and the memories became clearer.

His past self was like a mirror, reflecting his truest self.

Han Li continuously recalled everything from those days, gaining a clearer understanding of his true heart and gradually comprehending what the self was.

Nangong Wan did not disturb Han Li and quietly sat by his side.

This sitting lasted for half a month. On that day, as the sun set and the last ray of light sank below the horizon, Han Li finally stood up, a faint smile on his lips.

Nangong Wan looked at Han Li, a strange glint flashing in her eyes.

Han Li's demeanor and temperament seemed to have changed somewhat, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

"It seems that what my husband said about mind tempering is true. The cultivation of the Great Luo realm is truly mysterious," Nangong Wan thought to herself.

"Let's go." Han Li said lightly, flicking his sleeve to release a golden light that enveloped the two of them, and they shot into the sky.

...

The Yuanhuang City on the border of the Northern Cold Immortal Domain lay like a giant beast crouching at the frontier, blocking everything outside.

Outside the city was a vast desert. As far as the eye could see, there was only a vast, thick yellow. Sand dunes stretched continuously to the horizon.

Han Li and Nangong Wan sat in the void, looking down at the city below and the distant desert.

...

In the desolate border region between the Northern Cold Immortal Domain and the Black Mountain Immortal Domain, two beams of light slowly flew by, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, but overall not seeming to be in a hurry, as if they were enjoying the scenery below.

...

Wild Crane Valley in the Floating Cloud Mountains of the Black Mountain Immortal Domain.

The Black Mountain Immortal Domain, adjacent to the Northern Cold Immortal Domain, was greatly affected by the Gray Realm's invasion.

Wild Crane Valley was now desolate, with no one living there. Mo Wuxue and Yu Ziqing, who had chosen to stay, were nowhere to be seen.

Han Li and Nangong Wan sat by the stone platform where the group often gathered, drinking fine wine.

...

The Illusory Smoke Swamp in the Black Earth Immortal Domain.

Han Li and Nangong Wan walked through it. White mist drifted in the swamp, but it was just ordinary water vapor. As soon as it touched them, it automatically detoured around them.

"This is the entrance to the True Word Sect ruins. It seems there's no hallucinogenic smoke?" Nangong Wan said.

"That kind of mist only appears at specific times." Han Li said.

His appearance was the same as before, but the aura he exuded had changed greatly. His expression revealed a sharpness, as if it could cut through everything.

An indescribable pressure emanated from Han Li, causing all living creatures within hundreds of miles to hide in the swamp, trembling.

"Husband, can we still enter the True Word Sect ruins now? I'm quite curious about that place," Nangong Wan said.

"The True Word Sect ruins have been swallowed by spatial cracks and are likely completely destroyed. It will be hard to see them again." Han Li shook his head.

"Then where are we going next, husband? Continue to the Gray Realm? But now that the True Word Sect ruins are gone, how can we go to the Gray Realm?" Nangong Wan said.

"We won't go to the Gray Realm." Han Li shook his head.

Back then, being able to go to the Gray Realm was thanks to the Gray Realm opening a spatial channel connecting here. Now that channel is long destroyed. Unlike the Demon Domain, the Gray Realm is in a very distant plane. Even with his current cultivation, it wouldn't be easy to go there.

Not only the Gray Realm, but the Demon Domain was also inaccessible.

Crab Daoist had been defeated, and the Demon Domain had fallen entirely into the hands of the Demon Lord. If he went there now and was discovered by the Demon Lord, it would likely cause big trouble.

Han Li looked thoughtful. After these days of recollection and refinement, his understanding of the self had deepened, and he was quite confident about severing the self-corpse.

He considered whether to attempt severing the corpse.

At that moment, a beam of light appeared in the distant sky, flying toward them.

Han Li glanced over but wasn't surprised.

The Illusory Smoke Swamp had rich spiritual energy and produced many spiritual materials. When the hallucinogenic mist didn't appear, many cultivators entered to search for treasures. They had encountered many on their way here.

Han Li didn't want to meet outsiders, lest it disrupt his state of mind for self-enlightenment. He was about to leave with Nangong Wan.

But then his eyes flickered with surprise. He waved his hand, releasing a golden light that carried Nangong Wan toward the beam of light.

The cultivator inside the beam was startled by Han Li's imposing golden light and stopped, revealing the figure of a white-robed old man.

With a flash of golden light, Han Li and Nangong Wan appeared.

"Lad Li, it's you!" The white-haired old man showed a stunned expression, pointing at Han Li and exclaiming.

"Friend Hu Yan, long time no see. After parting ways at the Black Wind Sea, I never expected to run into you here." Han Li smiled.

This white-robed old man was none other than Hu Yan Daoist.

"I never expected to meet you here either. Your cultivation has greatly improved; I can't see through it at all. What level have you reached now?" Hu Yan Daoist looked Han Li up and down, clicking his tongue.

"I've been through a lot over the years, and my cultivation has improved somewhat. But you, Friend Hu Yan, your cultivation seems to have regressed. Have you encountered some problem in your training?" Han Li asked.

Hu Yan Daoist's cultivation had dropped to the True Immortal realm, and only at the mid-True Immortal stage.

"Haha! Power and wealth are but fleeting clouds; cultivation and divine abilities are also dust. A small matter." Hu Yan Daoist laughed heartily, seemingly unconcerned about his drop in cultivation.

"Friend Hu Yan, you are still so enlightened. I am ashamed to be inferior. Admirable." Han Li was moved and smiled.

Hu Yan Daoist's remarks were somewhat similar to the insights Han Li had gained during his recent self-enlightenment, and even seemed to be a notch higher in artistic conception.

"What enlightenment? I've drunk too much wine, my brain is pickled, and I don't care about anything anymore." Hu Yan Daoist laughed and cursed.

Nangong Wan watched the two chatting and laughing. Although she wore a smile, she was extremely surprised inside.

In her memory, Han Li had always been quite rigid in his interactions with others and rarely joked around.

And it was clear that the two had a very good friendship.

"Ah, look at me, so caught up in talking that I forgot to ask. Who is this immortal lady?" Hu Yan Daoist looked at Nangong Wan, then at Han Li, and asked with a meaningful tone.

"This is Wan'er, my Dao companion. Wan'er, this is Friend Hu Yan, who helped me a lot back then." Han Li introduced them.

"So you are Friend Hu Yan. I am Nangong Wan. My husband has been in your care before." Nangong Wan performed a curtsy.

"Fairy Nangong, a pleasure to meet you." Hu Yan Daoist winked at Han Li while returning the greeting with a straight face.

"Friend Hu Yan, since we haven't seen each other for so long, how about finding a place to have a drink together?" Han Li asked with a smile.

"Why look for a place? If you two don't mind, why not come to my humble abode for a while?" Hu Yan Daoist said with a beaming smile.

"That works! Then we'll go to your place and trouble you for a drink. I hope your brewing skills haven't deteriorated over the years." Han Li readily agreed. Hu Yan Daoist was one of the few friends he could confide in, and he hadn't seen him for a long time, so he wanted to chat more.

"Haha, I can't say much about my cultivation over the years, but I've been perfecting my brewing skills every day! Let's go quickly!"

Seeing Han Li agree, Hu Yan Daoist was so happy he almost danced. He then led the two out of the Illusory Smoke Swamp. Soon they flew out of the swamp, and a mountain range appeared ahead.