Chapter 224: Shifting the Calamity to the East

"Forget it. Since this object is a source of trouble, rather than wasting time on it, I might as well sell it." After pondering for a good while, Han Li finally made up his mind and murmured to himself.

Although this black long blade was quite powerful, his own safety was more important in comparison.

Having made up his mind, Han Li no longer hesitated. He flipped his hand and took out the green ox-head mask, putting it on.

Countless green lights emerged, coalescing into a huge green light screen.

Han Li cast his gaze toward the trading area and initiated a trading task.

The Wuchang Alliance had two ways of selling items. One was to display only the image of the item for sale in the task, indicating one's intention to sell. If someone was interested, they could slowly negotiate the price.

The second was to directly set a price, a take-it-or-leave-it deal.

Han Li unhesitatingly chose the second option, setting the price at fifty immortal jade stones.

Given the grade and power of the black long blade, this price was not high; in fact, it could be said to be an absolute bargain.

Under the current circumstances, he only wanted to sell the blade as quickly as possible and get rid of this trouble.

He did not conceal the fact that a lifebound imprint still remained within the blade.

The Wuchang Alliance was originally a gray organization. Such fencing of stolen goods was countless. If he didn't make it clear, it would instead arouse considerable suspicion and misunderstanding. After all, in the world of immortal cultivation, killing for treasure was common. Once one reached a certain level of cultivation, who didn't have a few bloodstained treasures?

Therefore, in the alliance's transactions, buyers would not actively investigate the origin of the items.

Perhaps this was also the reason why many people were willing to pay a price to join the Wuchang Alliance.

Han Li placed the black wooden box on the teleportation array at the center of the light screen. With a flash of light, the box vanished without a trace.

Seeing this, a trace of reluctance flashed through his heart, but more than that, he felt relief.

He was about to take off the mask when he suddenly remembered something. He posted another task in the task area, seeking a recipe for immortal wine.

The Hundred Wine Manor of that old man Huyan had countless fine wines. Finding a good wine that even that man didn't have was no easy task, but he intended to try his luck.

After doing this, Han Li took off the mask and let out a light breath, finally truly relaxing his mind.

After the previous spellcasting, he was indeed somewhat mentally fatigued. He closed his eyes.

After a moment, a faint green light emanated from his body.

Two days passed in a flash.

When Han Li opened his eyes again, he felt refreshed, all fatigue swept away.

He directly took out the Wuchang Alliance mask and put it on to check. As expected, the black long blade had been bought directly.

"This trouble is finally gotten rid of."

Han Li counted the fifty immortal jade stones in his hand while murmuring to himself.

As for whether the buyer of the blade would be tracked down by its original owner, that was no longer his concern.

After all, being able to buy a post-natal immortal artifact of no low grade for fifty immortal jade stones was a great bargain, and one always had to pay a price for that.

Although the black long blade had been sold, the wine recipe he sought still had no news.

Han Li hadn't held much hope for it anyway. He immediately put away the mask and left the secret chamber.

At this time, the sky was just beginning to lighten. A round sun slowly rose from the east, and golden light began to shine upon the earth.

The snow-covered Zhongming Mountain Range was covered in a layer of golden radiance, looking splendid and more beautiful than usual.

He took a breath of fresh air, feeling invigorated once more.

Today was already the third day. It was time to go to the Chaoyang Hall.

Although this escort mission should not be dangerous, given his cautious nature, he still sorted through all kinds of elixirs and items on him, confirming there were no omissions. Only then did he rise into a遁光 and fly away from Chixia Peak.

Half a day later, Han Li emerged from a temporary transmission hall, transformed into a green rainbow, and flew forward. After a moment, he arrived before a golden hall.

The hall was over ten zhang high, majestic and spectacular. On both sides of the gate were sun patterns, and above the door hung a plaque inscribed with three large characters: Chaoyang Hall.

Inside the hall, many people had already gathered. Judging by their attire, they were all inner disciples, standing sparsely in the hall as if waiting for something.

Just as Han Li hesitated whether to enter, a young man with a square face, dressed in steward's robes, walked over from one side of the gate and cupped his hands: "You are Elder Li Feiyu, correct?"

Han Li nodded.

"I am Fang Yu, a steward of Chaoyang Hall. Elder Li, please follow me." The square-faced young man smiled and walked toward a side door of Chaoyang Hall.

Han Li followed, and the two soon arrived at a side hall.

This place had chairs and tables for guests, looking like a side parlor.

A middle-aged man in Confucian robes sat here, sipping a cup of spiritual tea wreathed in white mist.

Hearing footsteps, the Confucian-robed man looked up.

"Brother Su, long time no see." Han Li was momentarily startled, then cupped his hands with a smile.

This Confucian-robed man was a loose cultivator elder who had participated in the sword-forging mission under Deputy Dao Lord Xiong Shan back then. His name was Su Tongxiao, and the two were merely nodding acquaintances.

"Brother Li, it's been years. I heard you've been in seclusion all these years. When did you come out?" Su Tongxiao laughed heartily, put down his teacup, and quickly came over to warmly pull Han Li to a seat.

The square-faced young man deftly brewed a cup of the same white-mist spiritual tea for Han Li.

"It's been a while. Brother Su, have you also taken this escort mission?" Han Li asked with a smile.

"Yes! I've been a bit tight on resources lately, so I have to take on more tasks to earn some contribution points." Su Tongxiao smiled wryly.

Han Li nodded with a smile, then suddenly fixed his gaze, scrutinizing Su Tongxiao. A look of surprise appeared on his face as he cupped his hands: "Brother Su, you've actually opened the twelfth immortal aperture? Truly congratulations!"

Although the sect had many True Immortal realm cultivators, most were at the early stage. Not many had reached the mid stage, and as for the late stage, apart from the deputy dao lords, they were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

"Hehe, I was stuck at the bottleneck of the early stage for many years. It was only about a decade ago that I finally opened the twelfth aperture. However, I spent almost all my contribution points on it, which is why I have to take on tasks everywhere." Su Tongxiao said with feigned calm, but his eyes still revealed barely suppressed excitement.

"If one can break through a realm, even if it means exchanging all contribution points or everything one owns, I would willingly do so. Brother Su, you don't know how fortunate you are." Han Li laughed.

"Brother Li, you flatter me. On the other hand, you've been in seclusion for decades, and your cultivation seems to have improved considerably." Su Tongxiao, hearing these somewhat flattering words, couldn't help feeling a bit smug and burst into laughter again.

"Please take a seat here, both elders. The trial mission will begin in a while. Someone will later explain the details of this mission to you." The square-faced young man had been standing obediently to the side. After Su Tongxiao finished laughing, he spoke.

"Mm, you have many things to attend to later. Go ahead." Su Tongxiao waved his hand.

The square-faced man bowed to the two and withdrew.

"Brother Su, do you know this person?" Han Li took a sip of tea and asked.

This tea had a rich aroma upon entry, and after swallowing, a lingering fragrance remained in the mouth, lasting long. It was indeed a rare fine tea.

"I've taken this escort mission a few times before and have met this person a few times." Su Tongxiao said.

"Oh, then I must ask Brother Su for guidance. This mission seems simple, but I feel it's not that straightforward." Han Li put down his teacup and probed.

"Brother Li, you are indeed meticulous. This mission is indeed not as simple as it appears on the surface. Look at those inner disciples in the main hall." Su Tongxiao pointed with a finger.

A blue light shot out and landed on the wall of the side hall.

The wall immediately became covered with a layer of soft blue light, gradually turning transparent.

On the other side of the wall was the main hall, and from here, one could clearly see the situation opposite.

Strangely, the people in the main hall seemed completely unaware of the change in the wall.

"Brother Su's water-driving shadow-penetrating technique is exquisite and subtle. Admirable." Han Li raised an eyebrow and praised.

"A mere trifle, not worth mentioning." Su Tongxiao smiled smugly.

Han Li looked at the inner disciples in the main hall.

These people were mostly young boys and girls, full of vigor, clearly of excellent aptitude and talent. Their cultivation levels had all reached the Void Refinement stage.

Although a cultivator's age could not be judged solely by appearance, with his keen eye, he could tell at a glance that these people in the hall were not old, likely not even a thousand years old.

To have reached the Void Refinement stage at such an age was extremely rare even in the Northern Cold Immortal Domain. This showed that besides their excellent aptitude, they likely had immense resource support behind them.

Han Li's gaze suddenly froze. Among the crowd stood a white-dressed girl with features like a painting, surrounded by several people. It was none other than Bai Suyuan.

Earlier, when he was outside, he had only glanced roughly and hadn't noticed this girl.

Bai Suyuan's appearance had not changed, but her cultivation had reached the mid Void Refinement stage, though it seemed she had just broken through. Still, it was quite astonishing.

However, considering that this girl possessed the so-called Moonlight Immortal Body, with seven immortal apertures naturally awakened, and had a Golden Immortal realm master with a prominent status in the sect to guide her, along with a continuous supply of elixirs from the sect, this progress was not surprising.

"Brother Li, you see it now. These people's cultivation progress is extraordinary. Except for a few, the rest are not ordinary inner disciples but descendants of the sect's various elders, even deputy dao lords." Su Tongxiao said meaningfully.

Han Li nodded noncommittally, showing no expression.

The inner disciples in the main hall carried an air of superiority in their demeanor. Although standing in the solemn Chaoyang Hall, they still looked relaxed, and their bodies faintly glowed with treasure light, indicating they all carried high-quality protective spiritual treasures.

However, not everyone was like that. Four or five inner disciples stood silently at the edge of the hall, with little spiritual light from treasures on them, looking somewhat shabby.

"True disciples are either disciples of the thirteen Golden Immortals, or, if one is a deputy dao lord, they have some quotas. Additionally, one must break through the Nascent Soul stage to become a Void Refinement cultivator and pass this final trial to be officially conferred. These people are the true core of the sect. In terms of techniques, resources, elixirs, territories, and other aspects, they will receive full support from the entire sect, which inner disciples simply cannot match. Otherwise, why would those elders and deputy dao lords be willing to send their precious descendants here to participate in the trial?" Su Tongxiao continued, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"Brother Su, what do you mean?" Han Li glanced at Su Tongxiao.

"Heh, although these people have good aptitude and have undergone centuries of bitter cultivation since birth, they lack true life-and-death experience. That's why the sect arranged today's trial." Su Tongxiao seemed to feel his words were a bit too much and immediately softened his tone.

Han Li nodded silently, then shifted his gaze to Bai Suyuan, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"Brother Li, do you know this Bai Suyuan?" Su Tongxiao noticed Han Li's gaze and asked.