Chapter 143: Searching for Someone

A few days later.

Han Li was sitting quietly in meditation in his temporary cave dwelling when his expression flickered. He opened his eyes, rose, and went outside, waving his hand to cast a spell.

The cave gate rumbled open, revealing a dark-skinned figure standing outside—it was Mu Xue.

“Senior Liu, the matter you instructed me to investigate has yielded some leads,” Mu Xue said, hastily bowing respectfully to Han Li.

“Come in and speak,” Han Li nodded, letting Mu Xue into the cave.

“Senior, based on the information I’ve gathered so far, there are two official ways to obtain a teleportation slot,” Mu Xue said without delay, getting straight to the point.

“Oh? What are the two methods? Let’s hear them,” Han Li said.

“The first requires cultivation above the True Immortal realm, serving as a guest elder in the Island Lord’s Mansion for a hundred years, after which one can obtain a slot. The second method is to complete certain tasks occasionally issued by the Island Lord’s Mansion, some of which offer teleportation slots as rewards,” Mu Xue explained.

Han Li fell silent upon hearing this.

The first method was naturally out of the question for him.

The bounty from the Ten Directions Tower and the mysterious chains placed on his Nascent Soul had been a constant thorn in his side, which was one of the main reasons he was so eager to leave the Black Wind Sea. A hundred years was too long, and unforeseen changes could arise.

As for the second method, tasks that offered teleportation slots were likely extremely difficult, but compared to the first, it might suit him better. He could keep an eye on it.

“Senior, besides these two official methods, I’ve also heard that teleportation slots are traded on the black market, but the price… is quite steep,” Mu Xue lowered his voice and said, seeing Han Li deep in thought.

“How much?”

“At least five Immortal Origin Stones, and reportedly not easy to buy.”

Han Li shook his head. Including the subsequent teleportation fee, that would be a full ten Immortal Origin Stones.

Even a True Immortal at the early stage, if they didn’t cultivate, would need a full thousand years to refine that many.

He had previously inquired through the Everlasting Alliance, where he could exchange for some Immortal Origin Stones, but one stone cost nearly a hundred top-grade spirit stones, and they were often in short supply—any that appeared were immediately snapped up.

Judging by this, it seemed the Island Lord, who controlled access to and from Black Wind Island, was unwilling to let people leave easily.

“Alright, I understand. Thank you for your hard work,” Han Li said, flipping his hand to produce a high-grade spirit stone and handing it to Mu Xue.

“Thank you, Senior! If there’s anything else, please don’t hesitate to command me,” Mu Xue said joyfully, expressing his gratitude.

Han Li smiled and sent Mu Xue off.

Then he began pacing back and forth in the cave with his hands behind his back, as if contemplating something. After a moment, he left the cave and flew off in a certain direction.

In the central area of Black Wind City, a stretch of black buildings stood.

These black buildings were completely different from their surroundings. Every brick and tile was made of rather exquisite stone, covering a large area with intricate layout. Inside, pavilions, towers, gardens, and flowing water were everywhere, forming an enormous mansion.

The entire mansion emitted a faint black aura, appearing from the outside as if shrouded in a layer of black mist.

Passersby gave it a wide berth, hurrying away, not daring to approach.

This was the “Island Lord’s Mansion,” the residence of Lu Jun, the Island Lord of Black Wind Island.

At the mansion’s entrance was a spacious square, at the edge of which stood a tall black hall. Above the entrance hung a plaque inscribed with three large characters: “Token Hall.”

The place was quite lively, with people coming and going, and their cultivation levels were notably high—at least at the Integration stage, with occasional Mahayana cultivators.

A streak of azure light shot over from afar, landing outside the hall, revealing Han Li’s figure.

He looked up at the hall before him and strode inside.

The hall was quite empty, with only a dozen-zhang-tall green stone wall standing in the center, covered with lines of text.

Two black-robed men stood on either side of the stone wall, their attire suggesting they were from the Island Lord’s Mansion.

At the moment, a dozen or so cultivators stood scattered around the hall, looking up at the stone wall, occasionally whispering among themselves about the tasks’ contents.

Han Li stopped near the stone wall and looked up.

There were quite a few tasks, at least twenty or thirty, with clear descriptions and rewards.

Han Li gave them a brief scan and immediately began searching for tasks that offered teleportation array usage as a reward. He soon found two.

One was to find a spiritual material called Azure Rainbow Jade, and the other was a garrison task requiring cultivation above the True Immortal level, to guard an island for a hundred years.

Han Li frowned.

As for the Azure Rainbow Jade, he had previously seen it mentioned in texts on Wumeng Island. It was a legendary heavenly material imbued with laws of nature—where could he find it on short notice?

Even if someone could find this material, whether it was worth directly exchanging for a teleportation opportunity would require careful consideration.

As for the garrison task, it required a hundred years, which was out of the question for him.

“Huh?”

Han Li felt somewhat frustrated, but when his gaze swept over, his eyes suddenly brightened.

At the very top of the stone wall was a rather special task.

It was a person-finding task, though it did not specify who was to be found, but the reward for this task was extraordinary—whoever completed it could make a reasonable request to the island lord!

Looking at the posting time of this task, it had been issued not long ago, and there was a note on the task requiring cultivation at the True Immortal realm or above.

Han Li's eyes flickered.

This person-finding task was mysterious, and although it didn't seem easy, it was still more reliable than the other two tasks.

After a moment's deliberation, he walked to the stone wall.

"Senior, are you here to take on a task?" a black-robed man bowed to Han Li and said respectfully.

"I'll take this task. Is there any detailed information?" Han Li pointed at the task.

The nearby crowd all turned to look at him, their gazes varied.

"Yes, please follow me, Senior." The black-robed man's eyes brightened, and he walked out of the hall. Han Li followed.

"A True Immortal cultivator!"

"Nonsense, daring to take on this task, he must be a True Immortal."

"But this person looks quite unfamiliar; he must be from elsewhere."

Han Li and the black-robed man walked out of the hall one after the other, with voices of discussion coming incessantly from behind.

Although Black Wind Island gathered cultivators from all over, True Immortals, as the top-tier cultivators in this region, were still rare. The others had clearly not noticed before that this unremarkable-looking young man was actually a True Immortal.

Han Li paid no heed to the discussions behind him and followed the black-robed man toward the Island Lord's residence.

The guards at the entrance of the Island Lord's residence did not stop them. The two entered smoothly, passed through winding corridors, and arrived at a large hall.

In the hall, more than ten people were already seated, dressed in various styles, both men and women.

Hearing footsteps, most of them looked over, glanced briefly, and then looked away, each attending to their own affairs.

These people exuded powerful auras, and they were also True Immortals.

Han Li's expression remained calm, but inwardly he was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected there to be so many True Immortals on Black Wind Island.

"Senior, please wait here. Someone will come later to explain the task details," the black-robed man said.

Han Li nodded and found an inconspicuous spot in the hall to sit down.

A servant in blue approached and served him a cup of spiritual tea wreathed in white mist, emitting a refreshing fragrance.

Han Li picked up the teacup and took the opportunity to secretly observe the people in the hall.

These people, like him, had apparently all taken on the task of finding the island lord's beloved daughter. Their cultivation levels were similar, and most were alone, sitting scattered without interacting with each other; some even had their eyes closed in meditation.

However, there were also those who came in groups.

In a conspicuous spot in the hall, three people sat side by side.

A burly man, a woman in a black veil, and a lean young man were chatting and laughing as if no one else were around.

"Fellow Daoist, I am Guan Yong. Greetings."

As Han Li was observing the people present, a voice sounded. It was a slightly plump, round-faced young man who approached with a smile.

"I am Liu Shi. You're too kind, Fellow Daoist Guan." Han Li put down his teacup and nodded.

"So it's Brother Liu. You look unfamiliar; have you just arrived at Black Wind Island?" Guan Yong seemed naturally gregarious and immediately started calling him brother.

"Indeed, I arrived at Black Wind Island just a few days ago. How did you know, Brother Guan?" Han Li raised an eyebrow slightly and said.

"I have a restless nature and love visiting friends. There aren't many True Immortal cultivators in Black Wind City, and I know almost all of them," Guan Yong chuckled.

"I see. Brother Guan has a wide circle of friends; I admire that," Han Li nodded.

Guan Yong was quite talkative and chattered on incessantly.

Having nothing else to do at the moment, Han Li chatted with him idly, taking the opportunity to inquire about the people present, and managed to learn quite a bit.

As time passed, half a day went by, and two more True Immortals arrived at the hall.

At noon, footsteps came from behind the hall, and a dignified middle-aged man in a black brocade robe and feathered crown appeared.

As soon as he appeared, the hall fell silent, and even the trio who had been acting as if no one else was there now became silent as cicadas in winter.

Han Li looked at the man before him, his pupils slightly contracting.

This brocade-robed man stood there, like a towering mountain before him, an invisible pressure rushing toward him, making even his heart tremble.

"Island Lord!" Guan Yong was the first to stand up and bow to the middle-aged man in brocade.

Han Li also clasped his hands in salute along with the others, but his eyes carefully scrutinized this man, who was nominally the most powerful in terms of influence and cultivation in the Black Wind Sea region.