Chapter 487: Golden Cloud Tribulation

Han Li's sudden appearance startled both Hu Yan and Yun Ni. Clearly, they could not fathom how, after only a few months, Han Li had become a Golden Immortal and acquired a Golden Immortal-level Devouring Gold Immortal, with whom he seemed unusually close.

"Uncle, why are you so late?" Jin Tong complained with a look of disdain.

Jin Tong showed no concern about being coveted by a group of Golden Immortals with ill intentions.

"Alright, since you've eaten your fill, take a rest." Han Li turned to her and said with a wink.

"These are all mine, no one is allowed to snatch them. I haven't finished eating yet..." Jin Tong, after all, was not truly a naive child; she naturally understood Han Li's meaning and pointed her little finger at the remaining formation.

"I'll put them away for you, and you can eat them slowly when we get back." Han Li said with a smile.

"Fine." Jin Tong hesitated for a moment before reluctantly agreeing.

Han Li nodded and waved his hand, casting several spells at the four half-white stone pillars. Right before everyone's eyes, he calmly shrank them and put them away.

"If you have good stuff, remember to call this fairy." Finally, Jin Tong glanced provocatively at Feng Tiandu and the others, and said boldly.

With that, a golden light flashed on her body, and she transformed into a thumb-sized golden beetle. It flew around in the air and landed on the ring finger of Han Li's left hand, clasping onto it like a golden ring.

The crowd watched this scene, their expressions growing increasingly complex.

Just a moment ago, Xiao Jinhan had been on the verge of unleashing his last resort. Although it might not have turned the tide completely, it would certainly have caused considerable trouble for everyone in the valley. At the very least, a few would have died, and the plan to encircle and annihilate him might not have succeeded.

It was this sudden intrusion by the Devouring Gold Immortal that ultimately led to the lord of the North Cold Immortal Palace, the great immortal Xiao Jinhan, meeting his end in the Minghan Immortal Palace, completely subdued.

And Han Li's sudden appearance now, calmly collecting the Devouring Gold Immortal as its master, naturally aroused their suspicions even more.

Feng Tiandu's expression darkened slightly, a strange look in his eyes as he sized up Han Li.

Qi Tianxiao and the others from Fuling Sect were also on high alert, with varying degrees of hostility in their eyes.

The ancient-looking elder and the white-haired crone from the Nanli tribe exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of confusion.

Before entering the Minghan Immortal Mansion, they had briefly interacted with those from Zhenyan Sect, and most of them still had some impression of Han Li's current appearance.

However, in their previous memory, this person was merely a late-stage True Immortal cultivator with no outstanding features. They never expected that now, when he appeared again, he would be so extraordinary.

"Tianyu, where have you been? I've been looking all over for you." At that moment, the black-robed elder disguised as Hu Yan suddenly spoke.

Hearing this, Han Li smiled at him and walked over unhurriedly.

The others showed a hint of surprise again.

"Uncle, I was trapped in a palace earlier. When I came out, I noticed something unusual here and rushed over." Approaching, Han Li followed Hu Yan's lead.

Hu Yan said nothing more aloud, but secretly transmitted a message: "Brother Li, what is going on? Your cultivation level..."

Han Li had no choice but to reply via transmission: "I'll tell you the truth. I was trapped in a palace, and after a moment, I came out as a Golden Immortal. Do you believe me?"

"Of course not." Hu Yan was taken aback and replied.

At that moment, Yun Ni suddenly transmitted to Hu Yan: "Perhaps this person has cultivated some reincarnation secret technique. He might have concealed his cultivation before to obtain the sect's True Wheel Sutra."

Feng Tiandu and the others naturally did not believe Han Li's words, so instead of relaxing their vigilance against him, they extended their hostility to both Hu Yan and Yun Ni.

After a moment of hesitation, Ouyang Kuishan and his two companions slowly walked to a spot not far from Hu Yan's side.

They clearly knew Hu Yan's true identity.

Whether they intentionally sided with their former sect mates or feared Fuling Sect's power, their choice changed the situation in the valley.

The group that had just been cooperating now became tense again.

Seeing this, Feng Tiandu curled his lips into a sarcastic smile and looked at the two from Nanli tribe with a playful gaze.

The septuagenarian man looked at the old woman with a complex expression, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes. The latter gently shook her head, choosing not to join either side.

Just as the atmosphere in the valley was becoming somewhat delicate again, a loud rumbling sound suddenly came from high in the sky.

Everyone's expression changed, and they all looked up toward the sky.

They saw wind and clouds suddenly stirring in the heavens, countless golden lights converging to quickly form an enormous golden cloud mass.

Within the cloud mass, golden light churned, nearly covering half the sky, causing the entire firmament to radiate dazzling golden light. Waves of immense, powerful aura emanated from it, stirring the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for dozens of miles around.

A tangible, powerful pressure rolled down from the high sky, accompanied by blinding light pressing down on the entire valley, turning everything within it golden, as if cast from molten gold.

"The descent of the Pill Tribulation... Could it be..." Han Li's expression shifted slightly. He was not unfamiliar with this scene. Turning to look at Hu Yan, he murmured a question.

"Indeed, this valley should be the location of the Taiyi Hall, and the hall is where the Taiyi Pill is refined. Right now, it is at a critical moment in the pill formation, which has attracted the Golden Cloud Pill Tribulation," Hu Yan said, his expression unchanged, nodding to confirm his conjecture.

Feng Tiandu glanced at the sky, then at the white stone wall inside the valley. He saw that the landscape painting engraved on it was shimmering with light, the peaks trembling, and the rivers flowing, as if it had come to life.

At the same time, the white light curtain covering it began to grow even denser.

"Haha, so it's here. Fellow Daoist Feng, you've arrived quite early..." A hearty laugh suddenly came from above the valley.

A blue water lotus slowly descended from the high sky. When it touched the ground, it flashed with light and disappeared.

Two figures emerged from the light. They were none other than Luo Qinghai and his handsome young disciple, Nan Ke Meng. As for the others from the Cangliu Palace, for some reason, none had followed.

After landing, he swept his gaze over the crowd in the valley, his eyes pausing briefly on Han Li.

"Arriving early is not as timely as Fellow Daoist Luo's arrival. The Pill Tribulation has just appeared, and you are already here..." Feng Tiandu's zombie-like cheek twitched slightly, a true forced smile.

"It seems this is the true location of the Taiyi Hall. Earlier, I found an underwater palace full of traps, spent a lot of effort, and injured many people, only to find it wasn't the right place... By the way, Fellow Daoist Xiao always takes the lead, but why is he nowhere to be seen?" Luo Qinghai was unconcerned, merely surveying the valley's condition before speaking.

Feng Tiandu cursed inwardly, 'Old fox,' thinking that this old scoundrel had probably been lurking nearby all along, watching the previous conflict from start to finish, waiting for him and Xiao Jinhan to wear each other out before reaping the benefits.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinhan died so quickly, and he didn't manage to drain much of the others' strength either.

If not for the sudden appearance of the alchemy tribulation, he probably wouldn't have shown up now, but would have waited until Fuling Sect and the others in the valley had fought to the death before emerging.

"Palace Lord Xiao is a busy man; perhaps he has obtained some other great opportunity and no longer cares for this place," Feng Tiandu said coldly.

Among the many forces in the Northern Cold Immortal Domain, the only one he deemed worthy of regard was Candao Dao, and among all cultivators, although Xiao Jinhan was powerful, he weighed less in his heart than Bai Lian.

As for Luo Qinghai, he had always held some contempt for him from the bottom of his heart.

"If that's the case, it's actually a fortunate thing. Speaking of which, I had a brief encounter with Palace Lord Xiao not long ago," Luo Qinghai said with an obscure expression and a smile.

"Since Fellow Daoist Luo has just arrived here, why not try to break the restriction in this valley? You are a master of formations and should have many methods," Feng Tiandu said with a slightly heavy gaze.

"No need for that trouble. Since it's a restriction guarding the Taiyi Hall, how could I alone break it? I'm afraid it will require the full assistance of all the Golden Immortals in the valley," Luo Qinghai said with a smile, waving his hand.

As soon as he finished speaking, the golden clouds in the high sky suddenly began to contract, condensing into a huge cloud-sea vortex directly above the valley, where light surged and oppressive thunder rumbled.

"The alchemy tribulation is about to descend. After this strike, the pill will likely take shape. We cannot afford to waste any more time here," Luo Qinghai's expression suddenly changed, his smile completely fading as he spoke seriously.

Feng Tiandu's gaze sharpened slightly, and he nodded.

"Everyone, breaking the restriction requires your full assistance. Otherwise, none of us can enter the Taiyi Hall, and we will only waste this tremendous opportunity," Luo Qinghai said loudly, looking at the others.

"In that case, we are willing to help," Huyan Daoist said with an unchanged expression.

"I have no objection to opening the restriction together. But with so many of you, once we enter, we won't be able to compete for opportunities, let alone survive," said the white-haired old woman, one of the two Golden Immortals from the Nanli Clan, unhurriedly.

"Since we came here seeking opportunities, risk is unavoidable. If you only want benefits without taking risks, you might as well stay home and wait for a pie to fall from the sky," Qi Tianxiao spat lightly, displeased.

"Sect Leader Qi, you can't say that. Your Fuling Sect has many members, which inevitably makes others fearful. If you want everyone to work together, you might need to make some concessions," Luo Qinghai said with a smile.

Hearing this, Qi Tianxiao was about to speak again when Feng Tiandu stopped him.

"No matter. Since they, the barbarian clan, have only two people, and Palace Lord Luo also has only two, then let's set a limit: after breaking the restriction, each faction may only send two people into the Taiyi Hall. How about that?" Feng Tiandu said.