Chapter 1391: Abandoning the Dao

Just as everyone was inwardly stunned by the immense divine powers Han Li displayed with every move, a sudden change occurred!

Dozens of golden whirlpools abruptly merged into one, forming a colossal whirlpool that blotted out the sky and descended upon the crowd.

Li Yuanjiu and the others' expressions changed drastically, and they immediately tried to activate their laws to resist, but an overwhelmingly powerful Time Law had already enveloped everyone first. Their bodies, along with the law power within them, were completely immobilized, leaving them to watch helplessly as everything unfolded before them.

But the sky-covering golden whirlpool suddenly flickered and dissipated like foam.

The Time Law that had bound everyone also vanished in an instant.

The sky cleared, and the nearby shattered void quickly restored itself to its original state. Everything, everything, was like a dream.

Yet, those present could not truly regard what had just happened as a mere dream.

The overwhelmingly powerful Time Law of the golden whirlpool, crushing all terrifying might, was deeply etched into their minds, even engraved into the depths of their souls.

That seemed to be the most primordial Heavenly Dao!

The divine abilities Han Li casually displayed were no longer comparable to those of Gu or Jin in the past.

They believed that if at that moment they had harbored even a hint of defiance in their hearts, they would have been mercilessly crushed by this Heavenly Dao, leaving not even a trace of residue in the world.

Li Yuanjiu and the other Dao Ancestors looked at Han Li with a kind of heartfelt reverence.

“Each of you, take your people and leave,” Han Li spoke again, his tone devoid of joy or sorrow.

Upon hearing this, the plump woman in the white dress relaxed her expression, bowed deeply to Han Li, and immediately flew off into the distance with the fearful people of the Demon Domain, soon vanishing without a trace.

The desiccated corpse man dared not say anything either and followed the Demon Domain crowd as they left.

“As you command.” Bai Ze and the bald burly man also bowed to Han Li and led the remaining people of the Primordial Wilderness Domain away.

Liu Le'er glanced at Han Li but did not go over to speak with him.

Although the two were only a hundred zhang apart, it felt as if a vast chasm separated them.

“Brother, wait for me. I will continue to work hard, and one day I will stand before you openly and honorably.” Liu Le'er turned and followed Bai Ze and the other two as they left, silently saying in her heart.

Bai Yun Dao Ancestor led his subordinates and came before Han Li.

“Thank you, Fellow Daoist Han, for your assistance earlier.” Bai Yun Dao Ancestor bowed respectfully, as did the other Celestial Court members.

“The great chaos has just ceased; I simply did not wish to add more slaughter. It was not meant to assist you,” Han Li said calmly.

"In any case, I will remember Fellow Daoist Han's kindness today. If there is ever any task you need done, just give the word, and I will do my utmost to help, repaying today's favor." Baiyun Daozu said sincerely, then quickly departed with the remaining members of the Heavenly Court.

"Why aren't you leaving? Is there something else?" Han Li looked at Li Yuanjiu, Chi Rong, and Chen Ruyan, speaking.

"Fellow Daoist Han has saved the True Immortal Realm from disaster, bestowing a second life upon all living beings. Now that Gu Huojin is dead, the position of Heavenly Court's supreme ruler is vacant. Would Fellow Daoist Han be interested in taking it? The three of us can fully support you." Li Yuanjiu and the others exchanged glances, hesitated, then spoke.

Han Li raised an eyebrow, knowing that his act of saving Baiyun Daozu had given them a false impression.

"I have no desire for power. Do not misunderstand." Han Li waved his hand, cutting them off decisively.

Li Yuanjiu and the others were taken aback, standing there stunned.

"In this great calamity, many Dao Ancestors of the True Immortal Realm have fallen, and the various immortal domains will likely be in turmoil for a while. The three of you are Origin Dao Ancestors, drawing much attention. Return to your own sects quickly and stabilize the situation." Han Li flicked his sleeve.

Li Yuanjiu and the others looked at each other, seeing relief in each other's eyes. They agreed in unison, then turned and flew away.

As Li Yuanjiu's figure rose into the air, he seemed to sense something and turned back, only to see Han Li cupping his hands in a distant salute. He paused for a moment, then returned the gesture before turning into a streak of light, shooting off into the distance.

Soon, only Han Li remained between heaven and earth.

"Fellow Daoist Han, why were you so eager to send those people away?" Jintong approached, her large eyes blinking as she asked.

Han Li did not speak. He waved his hand and led Jintong upward, shooting into the sky until they reached the outer realm.

He flew deeper into the outer realm for a while before stopping, a look of pain appearing on his face.

"What are you doing?" Jintong asked urgently.

The void above Han Li rumbled, and beams of golden light shot down, enveloping his body.

Within the golden light, his body seemed to show signs of melting.

After a while, the rumbling in the void ceased, and the golden light disappeared. Han Li's body returned to normal.

"The Heavenly Dao has begun to erode your body?" Jintong said gravely.

"In the battle with Gu Huojin, I used too much law power. Perhaps the next time I make even a slight move, I will be directly assimilated by the Heavenly Dao." Han Li smiled bitterly.

"How could it be so fast?" Jintong was shocked.

She had become a Dao Ancestor some time ago and had fought many battles, but the erosion of the Heavenly Dao, though present, was not yet severe.

"Do you have any countermeasures?" Jintong set aside her doubts and asked another, more important question.

Han Li frowned deeply, remaining silent.

He had only recently become a Dao Ancestor and, unlike Gu Huojin, had not deeply studied the erosion of the Heavenly Dao or created divine abilities like the Dao God Seal. What methods could he have?

Gu or Jin now had no bones left, and the entire Middle Earth Immortal Domain had turned to ashes. It was impossible to find Gu or Jin's previous insights on how to avoid being merged with the Heavenly Dao.

"Han boy, if you want to escape the erosion of the Heavenly Dao, I do have a way." The Bottle Spirit's voice suddenly rang out.

"Senior Bottle Spirit, what method do you have?" Han Li transmitted his voice to ask.

"After advancing to Dao Ancestor, one is gradually eroded by the Heavenly Dao. This phenomenon is irreversible and unstoppable. Although that Gu or Jin created the so-called Dao God Seal, it only slightly delays the erosion of the Heavenly Dao, treating the symptoms but not the root cause." The Bottle Spirit snorted, speaking contemptuously.

"Senior, do you have a once-and-for-all solution?" Han Li's eyes lit up slightly.

"You're lucky to have the Celestial Bottle here. This bottle was born in chaos and can bear any law power. If you truly want to escape the erosion of the Heavenly Dao, you must inject the Dao Ancestor's origin law within you into the bottle. In doing so, your cultivation will fall back to the Da Luo realm, naturally freeing you from the Heavenly Dao's erosion. However, the Celestial Bottle previously accommodated the Chaos Law, and now accommodating your Time Law might exceed the bottle's limit." The Bottle Spirit said thus.

"If it exceeds the limit, what will happen?" Han Li's heart tightened, and he quickly transmitted his voice to ask.

"What will happen if it exceeds the limit? It will dissipate... That is to say, if you use this method, you will lose the Celestial Bottle forever. Consider carefully whether to use this method." The Bottle Spirit's voice carried no emotion.

Upon hearing this, Han Li stood silently, his expression shifting uncertainly.

He had now successfully killed Gu or Jin, the foremost figure of the Heavenly Court, and replaced him as the Time Dao Ancestor. On the path of pursuing the Great Dao, there seemed to be no obstacles left.

As long as he was willing, he would be the undisputed foremost figure of the True Immortal Realm. From then on, all domains of the True Immortal Realm, and even countless lower realms, would be under his control.

He seemed infinitely close to being as eternal as heaven and earth.

Wasn't this the ambition he had set when he first stepped into the immortal cultivation world as a youth?

Behind all of this were countless years of treading cautiously, countless opportunities and fortunes, and the sacrifices of countless people...

But then, scenes of Bone Emperor and even Gu or Jin being devoured by the Heavenly Dao due to using law power flashed rapidly through his mind.

All of this constantly intertwined with the ambition he had set in his youth, pulling at him.

Jin Tong had not heard the transmission between Han Li and the Bottle Spirit. Seeing Han Li's grave expression, he thought he was considering countermeasures and stood quietly aside, not disturbing him.

After a long while, Han Li raised his eyes and slowly spoke:

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Bottle Spirit. Please help me disperse the Dao Ancestor law within me. I am willing to give up the Celestial Bottle."

"The Time Law within you may stir again at any moment. There's no time to lose; let's begin now." The Bottle Spirit's voice showed a hint of joy but quickly returned to calm.

A green light flashed, and the Celestial Bottle flew before Han Li, expanding to the size of a washbasin.

Seeing this, Han Li raised his sword-like brows and flicked his sleeve.

A silver light door flashed beside him, and the figure of Nangong Wan flew out from within.

"Wan'er, Jin Tong, I have some matters to handle. Retreat far away." Han Li said calmly.

Jin Tong was startled but did not ask further. He led Nangong Wan and flew backward.

Although Nangong Wan had been in the Flower Branch Space, she had been paying attention to the outside situation.

She looked at Han Li, sensing that he was about to make a shocking decision. Although she felt some anxiety, out of confidence in Han Li, she did not ask anything.

Han Li formed a hand seal with one hand and pressed it on the Celestial Bottle. The immense Time Law power within him poured out and injected into the bottle.

The Celestial Bottle emitted a brilliant green light. A dark green light mass appeared inside the bottle, rolling violently like a thundercloud.

Inside the bottle seemed to hide a bottomless deep sea. No matter how much Time Law power was injected, it was easily accommodated without any hindrance.

Sensing this, Han Li raised an eyebrow and immediately increased the injection of Time Law. The green light emitted by the Celestial Bottle intensified.

At that moment, the cloud mass inside the bottle suddenly rolled violently, and then a thick dark green light shot out from the bottle's mouth, plunging with a puff into the void ahead.

Rumble!

The nearby void immediately churned, and a golden time-space channel emerged, swallowing Han Li and the Celestial Bottle together.

Seeing this, Jin Tong's expression changed slightly. He immediately dodged and hid to the side.

"Fellow Daoist Nangong, Fellow Daoist Han is immensely powerful. He will surely overcome this problem and be safe. Don't worry." Jin Tong said to Nangong Wan.

"I'm not worried. Since my husband asked us to wait here, we'll just wait." Nangong Wan said with a smile, her expression calm.

Seeing Nangong Wan's demeanor, Jin Tong secretly admired her.

Han Li was inside the time-space channel, with endless time-space forces tearing at him. However, the Celestial Bottle emitted a soft green light, easily isolating the surrounding time-space forces.

"What's happening?"

Han Li had traveled through time and space many times, but this time it felt somewhat different.

"Your Time Law has stimulated the Celestial Bottle's ability to travel through time and space. Ignore it. Now comes the most critical part. I will activate the power of the Celestial Bottle to begin accepting your origin Dao Ancestor law. Do not be distracted!" The Bottle Spirit's voice came, extremely solemn.

"Alright." A light flashed deep in Han Li's eyes. He nodded and fully activated the Time Law within him.

A mass of golden light, brighter than the sun, surged from his palm, containing an incredibly dense Time Law power, which merged into the bottle.

A golden mark suddenly appeared on the wall of the Celestial Bottle, very clear, like a crack.

Han Li's aura immediately weakened significantly, but the constant threat of the Heavenly Dao above his head seemed to ease somewhat.

His eyes lit up with joy, and he continued to inject the origin law within him into the bottle.

As one mass of golden light after another flew from his hand and merged into the Celestial Bottle, the golden marks on the bottle increased, while Han Li's aura rapidly decreased.