Chapter 552: United in Hatred

"Could it be another boss?" Before Jin Tong could speak, the Pixiu beneath her suddenly said.

"What did you say? Xiao Bai, have you lost your mind?" Jin Tong raised an eyebrow, displeased.

"No... no, I mean, another Devouring Gold Immortal?" Bai Yu Pixiu, realizing its slip, said with an apologetic smile.

"Another Devouring Gold Immortal... what is it doing here? Can you sense its strength?" Han Li asked thoughtfully.

"It seems a bit stronger than me... just a little." Jin Tong paused briefly, then said.

Hearing this, Han Li's expression remained unchanged, but he was startled inwardly.

Jin Tong's current cultivation was even slightly higher than his own, already at the late Golden Immortal stage. If it was stronger than her, could it be a Devouring Gold Immortal at the Tai Yi realm?

"Master, then we should flee quickly..." The Pixiu shuddered at their words, its voice trembling.

Before it finished speaking, a rumbling sound of drums rolled in from outside, like thunder from the sky, shaking one's heart.

The originally quiet valley immediately became noisy. Figures shot out from various dwellings, turning into streaks of light soaring into the sky.

Seeing this, Han Li frowned slightly.

"You two stay in the cave. I'll go out and take a look." He said, then turned and walked out of the cave.

At that moment, more and more Beast Clan members flew out from the Dark Star Canyon, a dense black mass continuously heading outward.

Just then, a streak of light flew over from afar, landed at the cave entrance, and revealed the figure of Nuo Qinglin.

"Fellow Daoist Li, have you been comfortable these past days?" Nuo Qinglin said with a chuckle.

"Quite well, thank you for your hospitality, Chieftain. May I ask what is happening in the valley?" Han Li asked calmly.

"It's the Insect Clan launching a sudden large-scale attack. But we anticipated this and made preparations beforehand; it's nothing to fear." Nuo Qinglin waved his hand confidently.

"That's good. May I ask if the Chieftain has come for something?" Han Li said, then asked.

"To be honest, we will soon need to use the restrictions within the Dark Star Canyon to activate a secret technique. No one can stay in the valley, so I came to ask Fellow Daoist Li to move outside. Please forgive me." Nuo Qinglin said.

"Of course, no problem. I'll pack up and come out." Han Li nodded, turned, and walked into the cave.

Nuo Qinglin stood outside the cave, waiting quietly, not leaving.

Han Li entered the cave, frowned slightly, and walked into the secret chamber.

"Master, the Insect and Beast Clans are at war, and a Tai Yi stage Devouring Gold Immortal is coming. This is no place to stay; we should leave as soon as possible." As soon as Han Li entered the chamber, the Pixiu immediately cried out.

"Jin Tong, what do you think?" Han Li didn't speak but asked Jin Tong.

"Uncle, you should know what happens when Devouring Gold Immortals meet." Jin Tong looked up at Han Li and said slowly.

A faint golden light flickered in her eyes, carrying a hint of killing intent and determination.

Seeing Jin Tong like this, Han Li said nothing.

"Boss, when I followed that Gongshu Jiu in other immortal domains, I had some contact with Devouring Gold Immortals. At the same level, they are far more powerful than our wild true spirits, let alone a Tai Yi stage one. Even if we join forces, we definitely can't fight it; it's better to flee." Bai Yu Pixiu hurriedly said.

"We can't escape... Devouring Gold Immortals have extremely keen senses of each other. Even if we flee, that Devouring Gold Immortal will definitely continue to pursue us." Jin Tong shook her head.

Bai Yu Pixiu opened its mouth as if to say something, but didn't speak.

"As Jin Tong said, even if we leave here, that Devouring Gold Immortal will continue to hunt us, and might even attract other beings. It's better to stay here and wait at our ease." Han Li said.

The Pixiu grimaced at Han Li's words and had to nod.

Han Li waved his hand, emitting a green light that enveloped them, saying, "You two go into the spirit beast pouch to hide for now; don't show yourselves."

With a flash of green light, Jin Tong and the Pixiu vanished.

Han Li then withdrew the restrictions in the secret chamber and walked out of the cave.

"Chieftain, sorry to keep you waiting." He said to Nuo Qinglin.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you're too kind. Please follow me." Nuo Qinglin smiled, and with a flash of light, flew upward.

Han Li turned into a green streak and followed.

While flying, he suddenly turned his head to look deep into the canyon.

Deep in the canyon, a mass of black qi churned like a fountain.

Although the black qi was thick, his eyesight was strong enough to see dozens of huge stone pillars standing within, forming a formation. From time to time, faint spatial fluctuations emanated from the black qi, somewhat resembling a teleportation array.

A hint of surprise flashed in Han Li's eyes, but he didn't ask.

Nuo Qinglin didn't explain either, flying straight upward.

Inside Han Li's spirit beast pouch.

"Xiao Bai, I remember you once said that your internal space is completely isolated from the outside world?" Jin Tong suddenly asked.

"That's right, Boss, you have a good memory!" The Pixiu flattered.

"Good, swallow me." Jin Tong said.

Bai Yu Pixiu was naturally shocked, but then shook its head like a rattle:

"Boss, you want to use my internal space to conceal your aura? No, no living thing can survive in my internal space; anything that enters will be digested quickly..."

"Hmph, with your little ability, you think you can digest me? Stop the nonsense, hurry up. Staying in your space for a short time is definitely fine!" Jin Tong urged impatiently.

The Pixiu shrank its head, and seeing Jin Tong's insistence, had to obey.

It opened its mouth and inhaled, a devouring force enveloping Jin Tong.

Jin Tong immediately turned into a golden light, entered its mouth, and disappeared.

...

Han Li followed Nuo Qinglin and soon flew out of the Dark Star Canyon, arriving outside.

The various tribes of the Beast Clan had long prepared for this battle, so they reacted quickly. Now they had all come out, a dense black mass filling the sky outside the valley, tens of thousands in number.

Han Li glanced around. There were about thirty or forty tribes here. The Xiangjing tribe he had seen before was also here, but standing at the edge.

In midair, hundreds of black war chariots, each hundreds of feet in size, hovered, nearly a thousand of them, also filled with Beast Clan members.

These black war chariots had a metallic luster, engraved with black patterns, emitting black light, and looked indestructible.

In front of the warriors of each tribe were even more numerous beast armies, at least a million.

Somehow, the Beast Clan had managed to arrange these beast armies into several neat squares, without any chaos.

Seeing this scene, Han Li couldn't help but show some surprise.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you are an outsider with broad experience. Does our Beast Clan army meet your standards?" Nuo Qinglin said with some pride.

"Truly impressive." Han Li praised.

Nuo Qinglin laughed heartily and led Han Li flying toward midair.

In front of the chariots, a hundred-foot black platform floated, shimmering with spiritual light, clearly a rare treasure.

At that moment, thirty-four Beast Clan members stood there, judging by their demeanor and attire, they were the leaders of various tribes.

Nuo Qinglin led Han Li straight onto the platform.

"A human desolate-hunting cultivator! Chieftain Nuo Qinglin, why have you brought this man here!" A deep voice sounded, full of anger.

Han Li's expression remained unchanged as he looked up.

The speaker was a burly, dark-skinned man, looking like a big black bear.

This man's cultivation was quite profound, already at the peak of the early Golden Immortal stage, seemingly even stronger than Nuo Qinglin.

The other Beast Clan members also glared at Han Li with hostility.

These people were also not weak; among them were over ten Golden Immortals, but all at the early stage, standing near the center. Others standing around were mostly at the late True Immortal stage.

"Chieftain Wu Lu, and everyone, please calm down. This is Fellow Daoist Li Feiyu. Although he is human, he is not a desolate-hunting cultivator. He merely wants to cross the wildlands, and he has previously helped our Beast Clan and the Xiangjing tribe; he is not an enemy." Nuo Qinglin quickly stepped forward and said.

"My daughter was attacked by the Insect Clan while traveling to contact various tribes. Thanks to Senior Li's rescue, she returned safely to the Dark Star Canyon." Nuo Yifan, who was also there, said loudly.

"That's right. Fellow Daoist Li is forever a friend of the Xiangjing tribe." Tan Shi, though standing at the edge, said in a loud voice.

Hearing this, the people present softened slightly, but their looks at Han Li still held doubt and distrust.

"Fellow Daoist Li, please don't mind them. Our wild clans have a deep hatred for desolate-hunting cultivators; they are not targeting you personally." Nuo Qinglin said to Han Li with an apologetic smile.

"I wouldn't dare. With battle imminent, Chieftain Nuo need not attend to me. Although I have little strength, I can still protect myself." Han Li said with a faint smile.

"Fellow Daoist Li's strength is profound; I am well aware. If our clan suffers a setback in the coming battle, I hope you will lend a hand again." Nuo Qinglin laughed and cupped his hands.

Hearing Nuo Qinglin's words, the other chieftains' expressions changed.

"Nuo Qinglin, we are the noble Beast Clan, and you actually seek help from a despicable and cunning human cultivator!" The dark-skinned man roared angrily.

"Brother Wu Lu, our Beast Clan's mortal enemy is the Insect Clan. To resist the Insect Clan and protect our kin, we should unite all forces we can, united in hatred. Moreover, I have reported this to the 'King,' and he agrees with my opinion." Nuo Qinglin cupped his hands toward a certain direction in the void and said solemnly.

Hearing the word 'King,' the dark-skinned man's expression changed, and his momentum immediately diminished.

The other chieftains also straightened their expressions and fell silent.