Chapter 155: Departure

"What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist?" Han Li asked unhurriedly.

"As far as I know, the Candle Dragon Sect has strict control over its cultivation techniques and scriptures, which are only open to inner sect disciples and elders. To gain access, one needs a recommendation from an inner sect elder. Otherwise, even with a True Immortal cultivation, one can only toil as an outer sect guest elder, and only after an extremely long period of testing is there a slim chance to enter the inner sect," the phantom said.

"So, Fellow Daoist, you can find someone to recommend me?" Han Li raised an eyebrow.

"To be honest, I cannot do that. However, I happen to know a method that can help you obtain an inner sect token from a Candle Dragon Sect elder. With that token, you can directly join the inner sect," the phantom shook his head and said.

"Since you know, please speak frankly. This information is enough to pay my reward," Han Li said with a smile.

"Earlier, I accepted a mission from the alliance, which required helping the descendants of a Candle Dragon Sect inner sect elder's family solve a major problem. The reward is precisely that elder's Candle Dragon Sect inner sect token. Now, I can transfer this mission to you," the phantom said, looking at Han Li.

"With such a high reward, the difficulty must not be small either," Han Li said after a moment's thought.

"To tell the truth, the mission did not reveal the specific task, only that it requires a True Immortal cultivation to complete. As for the details, one must go to that family and find the descendant to know," the phantom said, vaguely revealing some information he knew.

"Is there a time limit for this mission?" Han Li thought for a moment and asked again.

"No. Anyone who accepts the mission will receive a jade slip. As long as the jade slip does not shatter on its own, the mission remains valid," the phantom shook his head and said.

"Alright, I accept this mission. Please trouble Fellow Daoist to transfer the jade slip and other items to me," Han Li said after careful consideration for a while.

With that, he raised his hand, and a water-blue storage pouch rose into the air, flying into the center of the green light formation plate.

At the same time, a white jade slip slowly flew out from the formation plate.

After taking the jade slip, Han Li briefly examined it and then immersed his divine sense into it.

The description of the mission in the jade slip was indeed as brief as the man had said, and it also included a map.

According to the markings on the map, it was a map of the Ancient Cloud Continent.

However, after browsing carefully for a moment, he found the map quite simple, showing only the area near Bell Cry Mountain on the Ancient Cloud Continent, with the rest blank.

"This is a tracking map. When you arrive near Bell Cry Mountain on the Ancient Cloud Continent, it will show the shortest route from the holder to the target location," the phantom reminded after checking the storage pouch Han Li had sent.

"I see. Thank you, Fellow Daoist," Han Li nodded.

The phantom briefly cupped his hands toward Han Li, then his figure blurred and disappeared. The formation plate floating above the sea also trembled slightly, its green light fading and then dissipating.

After putting away the mask, Han Li's figure blurred and transformed into a long rainbow, shooting straight toward Black Wind Island.

A few days later.

The residual excitement of the once-in-a-century auction had not yet faded, and the entire Black Wind Island was still bustling with activity. Many shops seized this opportunity to attract customers, drawing in cultivators who gathered and traveled here.

The city streets were crowded with traffic, and countless figures flew in the air, shuttling between the ground and the floating buildings in the sky.

On the wide avenue leading to the center of the city, a young man in a green robe with an ordinary appearance was walking slowly, accompanied by an equally ordinary-looking dark-skinned youth. They were Han Li and Mu Xue.

"Senior Liu, I always felt you were no ordinary person. I didn't expect you could actually obtain a teleportation qualification from the Starfall Tower," the dark-skinned youth said with a grin, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

Han Li smiled but did not explain.

Seeing this, Mu Xue did not continue. He held genuine reverence and awe for this good-natured senior, along with a trace of deep-seated admiration and longing.

"Have you ever thought about leaving Black Wind Island one day to see the outside world?" Han Li asked suddenly, glancing at the various people on the street.

"The outside world? Black Wind Island is already the richest place in the entire Black Wind Sea. If a rogue cultivator like me went elsewhere, I'm afraid it would be hard just to make a living," Mu Xue said, startled at first, then somewhat wistfully.

"The world is vast, not just limited to the Black Wind Sea. Your cultivation aptitude is not bad; you just lack resources," Han Li said with a smile.

"My meager aptitude is hardly worth your attention, Senior. I only hope to encounter more employers like you in the future, save up more spirit stones, and perhaps climb a bit further on the path of cultivation," Mu Xue said with a self-deprecating laugh.

Han Li looked at this youth, who resembled himself in some ways, and thought that when he first entered the path of cultivation, his aptitude was far worse. If not for the accidental acquisition of the small bottle, he might not even be as good as him.

He smiled faintly and said no more. Under Mu Xue's guidance, he headed toward the Starfall Tower.

About half an hour later, the two reached the end of the main city road, where a white stone square covering a thousand zhang appeared before them.

On the square, only a few scattered people were hurrying toward a round stone pagoda at its center.

Han Li looked up and saw that the pagoda was over a hundred zhang tall, pure white, and covered with lines of varying depth and shape, which seemed to be some kind of special array patterns.

"Senior, ahead is the Celestial Star Pagoda. This junior will see you off here," Mu Xue said respectfully, bowing deeply to Han Li.

When he straightened up, he found that the space before him was empty, and a trace of melancholy flashed in his eyes.

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly rang in his heart:

"Mu Xue, do not belittle yourself too much. The spirit stones and that cultivation technique in your storage pouch are parting gifts. If you practice diligently in the future, you may yet have a day to rise above."

The dark-skinned youth was stunned for a moment. Touching his waist, he found that a storage pouch had somehow appeared there.

He looked around and finally spotted the tall, azure figure near the round pagoda.

The youth gazed at the figure from afar, a surge of warmth flooding his heart. He bowed again, unwilling to rise for a long time.

Han Li did not look back at him. He strode straight toward the round pagoda.

The round pagoda was perfectly cylindrical, and as far as the eye could see, there was no entrance such as a door.

Just as he was wondering, a strange fluctuation of spiritual power emanated from within the pagoda. A flash of light came from his sleeve, and an object flew out.

He glanced at it and saw the black token given to him by Island Lord Lu Jun fly gracefully into the pagoda's body, flash once, and disappear.

As a ripple of spatial fluctuation spread, his figure vanished from the spot.

The next moment, he was already inside the pagoda.

Han Li looked around and saw that the interior of the round pagoda was hollow, like an inverted cup.

The inner walls were densely engraved with array runes, and at the nodes where the lines connected, high-quality spirit stones were inlaid.

On the white jade floor, circles of ring-shaped array patterns were carved, from which faint spatial fluctuations emanated.

At this moment, outside the array pattern, thirty or forty people had gathered, including both ordinary humans and other alien races, each with varied expressions, yet all exuding a not-weak aura.

Han Li's gaze swept over these people, and when it fell on a woman in a red long dress, he couldn't help but pause for a moment.

This woman possessed a breathtakingly beautiful countenance, and her fiery red dress, like flames, complemented her slender figure, outlining her curves almost perfectly.

Although her facial features were delicate, her eyes and brows were slightly elongated, exuding a cold and indifferent aura that contrasted sharply with her fiery and enchanting figure, yet without any sense of incongruity.

Many around were secretly sizing her up, their eyes carrying lascivious intent, yet none dared to be too presumptuous.

Although Han Li couldn't help but take a few extra glances, it wasn't due to any romantic thoughts, but because he found himself unable to sense her cultivation aura, which made him somewhat wary.

The woman in red remained oblivious to the open and covert glances of others, merely folding her arms in front of her, slightly lowering her head as if pondering something.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, she raised her head and glanced toward Han Li, but seeing that his gaze was directed elsewhere, she silently looked away.

"Fellow Daoists, you have waited long. The time for teleportation has arrived. Hold this talisman in your hand, and then you may enter the array." Just then, an aged voice suddenly rang out.

Han Li looked over and saw that an old man in gray robes, who had been sitting cross-legged at one side of the formation, had already risen from his spot, holding in his hand a circular formation plate that had appeared there at some unknown moment.

Then, with a flick of his other sleeve, dozens of blue streaks shot out, each flying unerringly toward one person present.

Han Li raised a hand and caught the incoming blue streak. The blue light faded, revealing a rather profound talisman, on which a dozen or so silver runes flickered faintly—they were Silver Tadpole Script.

The others also caught their talismans and, without saying much, began walking toward the circular formation pattern on the ground.

Naturally, Han Li followed the crowd and stepped into the formation as well.

Once everyone was in position, the old man, holding the formation plate in one hand and forming a hand seal with the other, pressed heavily on the plate and began chanting an incantation rapidly.

A buzzing sound rang out!

The runes on the walls of the circular tower blazed with light, and all the spirit stones burst into brilliant radiance, the spiritual power within them surging out like a flood.

The formation pattern beneath everyone's feet reflected a dazzling white light, which, with a flash, swallowed them all and then vanished without a trace.