Chapter 1357: A Predicament

"Disciple... did you use lightning magic in your dream again?" Yu Menghan's expression shifted slightly as she asked in surprise.

"Alas, you girl, you really are a handful..." The old woman sighed, but her eyes were full of affection.

Although the old woman had founded the Dream Epiphyllum Sect over ten million years ago, she had never been able to find a disciple worthy of her true legacy. It was by chance, guided by a dream, that she discovered Yu Menghan and took her as a student.

Having spent her long life reaching the pinnacle of the Da Luo stage, the old woman had always yearned to break through the final barrier and become a Dao Ancestor of Dreams, but she had struggled in vain, and now hope seemed slim.

However, Yu Menghan's appearance gave the old woman another option, leading her to place all her hopes on the girl.

And indeed, Yu Menghan possessed an exceptional aptitude for this path. As long as she was willing to practice diligently, with the old woman's guidance, her future in the Dao was promising.

But what troubled the old woman was that Yu Menghan seemed deeply entangled with past karma. She could never let go of the "True Scripture of the Five Thunder Orthodox Method" and, while cultivating the supreme Dao techniques passed down by her master, would still unconsciously sneak in practice of this method.

"Enough, the Bodhi Feast is about to begin. Stop dozing off. When you receive the Bodhi Fruit, you must cherish it—it holds opportunities for the Great Dao." The old woman couldn't bring herself to be harsh with Yu Menghan and simply said.

"Master, do I get a share of this fruit?" Yu Menghan asked joyfully.

"You naturally do not. None of the attendants do. Only those formally invited by the Heavenly Court and those holding the Bodhi Token have this immense fortune. But since this fruit does little for me now, I'll let you have a taste." The old woman laughed.

"No, no! If it's your fruit, Master, I cannot eat it." Yu Menghan waved her hands repeatedly.

"Silly girl, you don't know how precious the Bodhi Fruit is. Not only Tai Yi and Da Luo cultivators, but even the Dao Ancestors over there treasure it greatly. Of course, the fruit has grades, and the Heavenly Court distributes them based on cultivation level and closeness to the court." The old woman tapped Yu Menghan's brow and smiled.

"Then Master's fruit..." Yu Menghan started to ask but felt it inappropriate and stopped.

"Naturally, I get the highest grade. So when you receive it, don't consume it hastily. I will seal it with magic and, after returning to the Dream Epiphyllum Sect, gradually divide it for you to take bit by bit. This way, it won't harm your body and will maximize absorption of the fruit's power." The old woman's brows relaxed as she spoke with evident pride.

"Dream Hag, you are quite generous. This Bodhi Fruit was refined by His Majesty using secret methods, condensing multiple laws over eons. And you just give it to your disciple?" A deep voice suddenly sounded from the side.

Without even turning her head, the old woman cursed, "It's my fruit to give as I please. Why should an old wretch like you meddle?"

Yu Menghan couldn't help but turn to look and saw a tall, gray-robed old man. His face wasn't particularly immortal-like, but his aura was impressive.

However, his somewhat shabby gray robe seemed out of place among the others in their fine silks.

"Haha, for those who haven't attained the Dao, the Bodhi Fruit aids in comprehending the Great Dao; for those who have, it slows the erosion of the Heavenly Dao..." The man wasn't angered and continued speaking cheerfully.

"Cangwu, you old dog, shut your mouth! Mind your own business!" Dream Hag turned abruptly and snapped.

The gray-robed elder, whose Dao name was Cangwu Zhenjun, immediately shrank his neck and fell silent.

"Master, is what that senior said true?" Yu Menghan's mind was greatly shaken.

Since following Dream Hag in cultivation, her horizons had broadened far beyond her earlier years. She had learned many secrets of the True Immortal Realm, and hearing Cangwu Zhenjun's words, she realized the Bodhi Fruit was ten thousand times more precious than she had imagined.

"Alas, it's true. Otherwise, why would Dao Ancestor-level beings like that old dog Cangwu bow to the Heavenly Court? It's not just coercion but also this temptation." The old woman didn't speak aloud but transmitted her voice to Yu Menghan via secret art.

Hearing the voice in her heart, Yu Menghan silently resolved not to consume the Bodhi Fruit no matter what.

"Thank you for the hint, Senior." Knowing that Cangwu Zhenjun had deliberately revealed this, likely hoping her master would take the fruit herself, Yu Menghan transmitted back.

Cangwu Zhenjun was momentarily stunned, then smiled at Dream Hag, "Dream Hag, you are fortunate to have such a good disciple..."

With that, a flicker of disappointment passed through his eyes. He silently walked to a low table near the old woman, slowly sat down, closed his eyes, and assumed a serene expression.

Looking at the lively scene around her, Yu Menghan felt a sudden melancholy, and Han Li's figure involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

Where could he be now?

...

In that unknown realm, within the Ten Directions Ten Thousand Immortals Formation.

Han Li stood suspended in the pitch-black void. Before him, seventy-two Sword Spirit Youths whirled in flight, arrayed in a supremely powerful Heaven-Connecting Sword Formation.

As golden lightning flashed, the seventy-two youths shimmered with golden light, one by one revealing their true forms—golden flying swords entwined with lightning. Their sword qi interwove, crossing back and forth, conjuring a golden celestial gate.

Unlike the celestial gate formed by the usual Heaven-Connecting Sword Formation, this gate appeared much weaker, almost illusory and indistinct, yet the lightning law power within it was genuine.

Even beyond the formation's barrier, Purple Cedar and the others watched in awe.

"How can this fellow defy all reason? He clearly cultivates the law of time, yet his life-bound flying swords contain such pure and domineering lightning law power?" The ugly old woman Zhu Yan asked with a strange expression.

The other three exchanged glances, equally bewildered, but none could provide an answer.

"This set of life-bound flying swords is truly extraordinary. Could it be a primordial divine weapon that seizes the essence of heaven and earth?" Dongli Hu praised, speculating.

As they spoke, the illusory celestial gate that had appeared within the Ten Directions Ten Thousand Immortals Formation suddenly swung open. A golden ocean surged within, and thousands of golden flood dragons swam out, charging straight toward a boundary of the formation.

"Boom, rumble..."

With a thunderous roar that seemed to split the sky, the golden flood dragons, condensed from pure lightning law power of the Thunder Kui, all crashed into the barrier, exploding like golden fireworks.

The entire void within the formation trembled with qi fluctuations. A violent impact force, carrying wisps of golden lightning, surged back and forth, churning endlessly.

Han Li's figure flashed like lightning, dodging the constantly colliding waves of power.

His brows were tightly furrowed, and he was deeply astonished.

What kind of formation was this? It could completely seal off a space. Not only could he and Gold Devouring not pass through with their physical bodies and souls, but even the impact force from their attacks seemed unable to escape, only rebounding within the space until it was fully consumed and dissipated?

A million miles away, in another sealed void, Gold Devouring was also swinging his golden giant fists, continuously smashing against a barrier. Explosions rang out like thunderclaps, booming incessantly.

That void was also filled with explosive sounds and undulating fist force.

At the same time, within the ten immortal domains connected to the Ten Directions Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, dozens of mountain ranges quaked simultaneously, dozens of volcanoes erupted, and vast seas raised unprecedented monstrous waves.

A single move affected the whole; these ten immortal domains gathered all their strength to suppress both Han Li and Gold Devouring.

The thousands of cultivators stationed at the formation nodes across the various domains were also affected. Among them, Da Luo experts could withstand it, but Tai Yi and Jade Immortals struggled greatly, their auras churning uncomfortably.

As for the Golden Immortals, it was even worse. Many could not bear it and collapsed, bleeding from seven orifices.

However, whenever someone in the formation fell, new cultivators immediately replaced them, so the Ten Directions Ten Thousand Immortals Formation remained stable without any sign of collapse.

The four outside the formation checked the casualties among the cultivators maintaining it and breathed a sigh of relief; it was still within controllable limits.

"If it's only at this level, we can manage. Even if they try for ten days or half a month, they may not succeed." The white-haired man Meng Yuan said with a hint of a smile.

"We must not let our guard down. Keep a close watch and immediately fill any gaps." Purple Cedar's expression remained serious as he maintained vigilance.

"Understood." The bearded man Dongli Hu replied first, followed by the other two.

Inside the formation, Han Li had already recalled the Sword Spirit Youths and stood suspended in the air, frowning in silence.

At that moment, a golden light shot over from afar and stopped before him, revealing Gold Devouring's figure.

"This formation is too strange. I can't break it with my strength alone." Gold Devouring sighed, crossing his arms in frustration.

"This space is completely sealed off. My Heaven-Connecting Sword Formation cannot connect with heaven and earth, so I can only unleash part of its power, not enough to break the barrier." Han Li glanced at him and said.

"How about... we stop attacking the barrier and instead strike at each other? See if the resulting force can tear this void apart? If it works, we can escape through a spatial rift into the outer realm." Gold Devouring suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Han Li pondered for a moment and felt the idea was worth a try.

Thus, the two quickly took positions, retreating tens of thousands of miles apart. One threw a punch, the other struck with a sword, colliding with lightning speed.

"Boom, rumble..."

Instantly, a far greater spatial tremor erupted. The void echoed with continuous explosions, and waves of impact surged back and forth throughout the formation, the commotion lasting a long time.

Gold Devouring dodged the residual forces and came to Han Li's side.

They exchanged glances, both deeply disappointed. The astonishingly powerful strike, though causing intense spatial tremors, had failed to create even the slightest spatial rift as they had hoped.