Chapter 573: Hot on the Heels

Not long after Han Li's figure disappeared, a whistling sound suddenly came from somewhere in the distant sky. Following it, a golden light emerged, rapidly growing larger as it rushed toward this place.

This golden light was extremely dazzling, like a rising sun, making it impossible for any living creature nearby to look directly at it.

The edges of the light were sharp as saw teeth, like spurting flames of light, causing visible ripples in the void wherever they passed, as if the very space was about to be torn apart.

Finally, the golden light halted in the void where Han Li had been.

As the light gradually dimmed, the figure of a giant golden beetle emerged, its wings fluttering rapidly. It was the Taiyi-stage Devouring Immortal Beetle that had been relentlessly pursuing Han Li and the Gold Devouring Beetle.

Whether because it had burned its source power, its body was noticeably smaller than when it appeared in the Red Snail Valley, but its aura was even fiercer, and its cold eyes were filled with overwhelming killing intent.

Not long ago, it had received news from the insect race that the eight major beast tribes had gathered their forces and launched a massive counterattack. Under the leadership of the Beast King You Hu, all the true spirits of the tribes had come out, driving back the insect army, which lacked its commander, step by step, inflicting countless casualties.

The remnants of the insect army had begun a full retreat back to their territory, and it was inevitable that large swaths of land would be seized by the beast tribes. The favorable situation they had previously established was now completely gone.

Yet even so, it had no intention of returning to the insect race.

Or rather, the life and death of the insect race seemed less important to it than the mere possibility of catching the one of its kind ahead.

Sensing the residual lightning aura in the air, the Devouring Immortal Beetle did not continue the chase but instead hovered in place to rest and recover. Past experience told it that waiting for the little one to reveal its traces again before pursuing was far more reliable than chasing in the wrong direction and wasting effort.

Moreover, it believed that such a space-teleportation escape technique could not be sustained for long.

Soon, it would tear apart and devour the one it had been tracking for so long.

…

Meanwhile.

Somewhere in the wildlands, above a cluster of jagged peaks, the void suddenly trembled violently. Countless electric threads surged out of nowhere, converging into a massive silver lightning array high in the sky.

With a crackling flash of lightning and thunder!

A figure emerged from it, hovering in midair. It was Han Li.

He took a deep breath, calming his heaving chest slightly, then waved his hand and produced a beast-hide map. He focused his gaze and examined it carefully.

After a moment, he put away that map and took out another, examining it again.

After looking through several maps, he glanced around, a contemplative expression on his face.

Soon, as if he had determined his direction, Han Li waved his hand, summoned the jade flying carriage again, and drove it straight ahead.

After about half an hour, he stopped the carriage, waved his hand, and with a flash of white light, summoned the white jade Pixiu.

Soon, the Gold Devouring Beetle also flew out from the Pixiu's mouth.

Her face slightly pale, she looked around and found herself hovering above a snowy peak. She quickly asked Han Li, "Uncle, where are we?"

"This area is not on the maps given to us by the beast tribes. It seems we have left their territory and the insect race's habitat, likely entering deeper into the wildlands," Han Li said, gazing in the direction they had come from.

"We've come that far..." the Gold Devouring Beetle murmured.

"I can no longer sense that creature at all. Try to sense it and see if you can still lock onto its distance and direction," Han Li said, turning to look at the Gold Devouring Beetle.

Hearing this, the Gold Devouring Beetle immediately closed her eyes and concentrated.

"It's very far away now. Although there is still a connection, it's much weaker than before," she said after a long while, opening her eyes with a hint of surprise.

"We must not let our guard down. Based on previous experience, that creature has no intention of giving up. Xiao Bai, do you recognize this place?" Han Li shook his head and asked the Pixiu, who was looking around.

"I think I came here once a long, long time ago, but I don't remember clearly. After all, the wildlands are vast, and there are many similar terrains. But if what you say is true, and we have indeed left the insect and beast territories, then this is truly deep into the wildlands. Traces of humans will become fewer and fewer," the Pixiu said, tilting its head in thought.

"It seems the danger level here will increase considerably. There's no turning back now; we can only continue forward. Based on my estimation, the general direction should be correct. If we keep going, we will eventually reach the Black Mountain Immortal Domain. Gold Devouring Beetle, for now, don't return to Xiao Bai's belly. Keep an eye on that Devouring Immortal Beetle's movements. If it burns its source again and chases after us, inform me immediately," Han Li nodded and said.

"Don't worry, Uncle. Leave it to me," the Gold Devouring Beetle said, patting her chest in assurance.

Han Li waved his hand and summoned the Crab Immortal, instructing, "I'll need you to drive the carriage for a while. I need to rest and then continue cultivating the Divine Refining Art."

The Crab Immortal naturally had no objection and nodded in agreement.

After giving these instructions, Han Li went to the back of the carriage, took out a pill and swallowed it, then sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing.

…

Time passed, and more than twenty days went by.

Han Li was now driving the jade flying carriage over a dense forest of ancient trees, each over a thousand zhang tall.

Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of tall stone structures hidden among the green branches below.

Curious, he stopped the carriage with a single hand gesture and scanned the area carefully. He discovered that there was a huge stone-built ancient city below.

The architectural style of this ancient city was completely different from anywhere in the Immortal Domain and also very distinct from the beast tribes. It was mostly built with giant stone slabs, carved with various strange beast patterns. Among them were bird-beast-human figures with four arms, two-headed snake-human statues with arms growing from their upper bodies, and giant head statues with enormous eyes protruding from their sockets... all kinds, varied and numerous.

However, most of these structures were covered in thick green moss, and many areas had collapsed into ruins. The place was deathly still, with no trace of spiritual power fluctuations or any sign of life, eerily quiet.

After observing from a distance for a while, Han Li decided not to court trouble and continued on his way while the Taiyi-stage Devouring Immortal Beetle had not yet caught up.

But at that moment, the white jade pendant hanging at his waist suddenly flashed with light and transformed into a white jade Pixiu the size of a domestic dog. It opened its mouth and said to Han Li, "Master, there is a heavy treasure hidden in the ancient city below. I can smell the aura of a treasure!"

"A treasure? What treasure? Where?" The Gold Devouring Beetle, who had been listlessly sitting at the back of the carriage, perked up at these words. She scrambled up and asked eagerly.

"Boss... the treasure is hidden somewhere underground in the city. Because of special restrictions blocking it, I can't pinpoint its exact location, let alone what it is. But judging from the unique fluctuations it emits, it's definitely no ordinary item," Xiao Bai said, first sighing helplessly, but then his face lit up with excitement.

The Gold Devouring Beetle didn't really listen to the Pixiu's words and asked again, "You can't find it because of restrictions? How useless! Try harder. Does it seem like something at the level of that furnace I ate before?"

"Whatever it is, we don't have time to deal with it now. If we trigger the city's restrictions and get trapped or delayed, we won't be able to escape when the Devouring Immortal Beetle catches up," Han Li said gravely.

Hearing this, Xiao Bai and the Gold Devouring Beetle both showed disappointment, especially Xiao Bai, whose expression was almost mournful.

"Although there have been no major incidents recently, the more peaceful it seems, the more careful we must be. We can come back to explore the treasure another time. Let's skip it for now," Han Li said with a smile.

"After all this time in the wildlands, I finally get a chance to show off, and it's useless... Master, if you let me enter the ancient city, in less than an... half an hour, I can determine the exact location of the treasure and even find a shortcut to seize it. Can we give it a try?" The white jade Pixiu was still reluctant, standing at the edge of the carriage, looking at the ruins below, pleading.

Han Li's brow twitched slightly.

What cultivator doesn't love treasures of the world? Moreover, this was a treasure that could catch the eye of the white jade Pixiu and make it so eager to dig it up. How could he not be tempted? But now was indeed not a good time to go treasure hunting.

Just as he was about to speak, the Gold Devouring Beetle suddenly changed expression and shouted, "Uncle, something's wrong! Hurry, hurry!"

"Something wrong with master? Master is fine, isn't he?" The Pixiu was momentarily confused.

"What's the matter? Tell me slowly," Han Li said, as if sensing something.

"That thing is coming again! It's burning its source power once more and chasing after us, and it's even faster than before!" the Gold Devouring Beetle said anxiously.

"Take cover first," Han Li said without hesitation, making a prompt decision.

The Gold Devouring Beetle nodded, skillfully took out a soul-armor talisman and applied it, then transformed into a golden beetle and flew into Xiao Bai's belly.

Han Li simultaneously put away the white jade Pixiu and the jade flying carriage. Electric threads surged around him, forming a massive lightning array again. With a loud boom, he teleported away from this place.