Chapter 700: Acting

"Thank you, Chief, for your hospitality. However, we did not come here to taste the delicacies of your Gray Lizard Tribe." Han Li tasted a few things and then stopped, saying.

"What instructions do the immortals have? Please speak freely." The Gray Lizard Tribe chief was startled and quickly said.

"Does the Gray Lizard Tribe have maps of this area and information on the June Grasslands?" Han Li got straight to the point.

"Yes. Please wait a moment, immortals. I will have someone organize them and bring them over right away." The chief stood up upon hearing this and began to walk out.

"No need to organize. Please trouble the chief to bring all the geographical and cultural records of your Gray Lizard Tribe. We will look through them ourselves." Han Li waved his hand and said.

The Gray Lizard chief was slightly taken aback but immediately agreed and hurried out.

Compared to Han Li's calm and composed demeanor, Shi Chuankong, though seemingly enjoying the fruits and tea, had a faint trace of worry on his brow and kept glancing around, clearly concerned about his disguise.

Before long, the Gray Lizard Tribe chief returned with two people, each carrying a thick stack of books, at least a hundred volumes in total.

Seeing this, Han Li was pleased. With these records, they would no longer be completely in the dark about the Gray Realm.

He had already encountered Gray Realm script in Long Si's storage pouch; it used an ancient script from the True Immortal Realm, so he had no trouble reading it.

"Immortals, all the geographical and cultural records of our tribe are here. Our Gray Lizard Tribe is just a small clan in the Black Tooth Domain, so the materials are limited. Please forgive us." The Gray Lizard chief said with trepidation.

"It's fine. We don't have any major business; we're just passing through and are somewhat interested in the June Grasslands." Han Li raised an eyebrow and said.

The Gray Lizard chief breathed a slight sigh of relief and gestured for the two behind him to set down the books.

"Please take your time, immortals. I have arranged for someone to wait outside the tent. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask." After saying this, he tactfully took his leave with the other two.

Once they had left, Han Li immediately waved his hand and formed a hand seal.

A gray light shot out, then transformed into a gray light barrier that enveloped the entire tent.

Only then did Shi Chuankong relax slightly.

In the following time, Han Li and Shi Chuankong each took a book and quickly flipped through them.

Although there were over a hundred volumes, given their cultivation and memory, they finished reading them all quickly and gained some understanding of their current location.

This place was indeed the Gray Realm, but the Gray Realm was as boundless as the True Immortal Realm. The books did not specify exactly where in the Gray Realm they were.

The Gray Lizard Tribe was a small clan that had lived in the June Grasslands for generations, so their records were limited, mostly about the June Grasslands. For most ordinary Gray Lizard people, this grassland was their entire world.

The June Grasslands were vast, with many underground vein networks, lush vegetation, and abundant ores and materials. Besides the Gray Lizard Tribe, many other clans lived here.

The June Grasslands were located in the northwestern part of the Black Tooth Domain.

As for the Black Tooth Domain, the records were vague, only noting that it was vast and boundless, and the June Grasslands were but a tiny speck within it.

That was all the geographical information they found. As for cultural aspects, the Gray Realm was somewhat similar to the Barbarian Realm, organized by clans. Above the clans were regional lords. The June Grasslands were ruled by a great lord named "San Miao," but the Gray Lizard Tribe's records did not elaborate on him.

Above the lords were domain lords. The records about the Black Tooth Domain Lord were even sparser, consisting mostly of praise.

Han Li looked at a book in his hand, his eyes flickering.

From the lines of praise for the Black Tooth Domain Lord, though lacking concrete information, he could infer from his past experience that this person's cultivation was extremely high, likely not below the Da Luo stage.

"Since the Gray Realm can oppose the True Immortal Realm, its strength must be considerable. It's fine for us to be in a small place like the June Grasslands, but if we go to more prosperous areas, our identities might not be concealed." Shi Chuankong put down his book and said with some concern.

"In that case, let's temporarily stay with the Gray Lizard Tribe. That way, we can hide our identities and learn more about the Gray Realm." Han Li pondered for a moment and said.

"That seems best." Shi Chuankong nodded.

After discussing further, Han Li formed a hand seal to dispel the surrounding barrier and called out.

"Someone."

"Immortals, what are your orders?" A tall Gray Lizard man entered, immediately knelt, and said with great reverence, his voice trembling slightly.

In the Gray Realm, clans had hierarchies, and the caste system was extremely strict.

The Gray Lizard Tribe was a low-ranking clan, and the more advanced clans were closer in form to humans. This was why the Gray Lizard Tribe showed such reverence upon seeing Han Li and Shi Chuankong.

"We need to discuss something with the chief. Go fetch him." Han Li said with a proud expression, using an almost commanding tone.

He naturally would not correct the Gray Lizard Tribe's misunderstanding; it was more conducive to their concealment.

"Yes." The tall Gray Lizard man's reverence deepened, and he quickly agreed before retreating.

Before long, the Gray Lizard chief hurried in.

"Immortals, what are your orders?" The Gray Lizard chief bowed, his expression still full of respect.

"Chief, no need to be so polite. We are guests here, and I haven't even asked your name." Han Li put down his book, speaking humbly, but his demeanor was noticeably colder than before.

He had been too gentle with the Gray Lizard chief earlier, which did not fit his current identity. He needed to adjust gradually.

"Reporting to the immortals, I am Xi Yan." The Gray Lizard chief saw Han Li's expression and grew more nervous, his demeanor even more respectful.

"So it's Chief Xi Yan. I called you here for another matter. I see your Gray Lizard Tribe is mobilizing the entire clan. Are you going to the 'Tamuda' Assembly?" Han Li said slowly.

Every hundred years, the major clans scattered across the June Grasslands gather at the Boleng Lake on the border to hold the Tamuda Assembly.

Tamuda means 'harvest' in the Gray Realm language.

This grand assembly is presided over by Great Lord San Miao and includes a magical competition.

Of course, this competition is not without reason. The clans of the June Grasslands mostly rely on herding and mining. To avoid conflicts, Great Lord San Miao decided that the results of this competition would determine each clan's activity area for the next hundred years.

Different areas greatly affect both herding and mining, so every clan takes this competition very seriously.

During the Tamuda Assembly, clans also engage in trade, exchanging goods accumulated over a hundred years for what they need.

The June Grasslands are vast, and the clans are scattered, making material circulation extremely difficult. The Tamuda Assembly is the most important channel, and no clan misses it. Even people from other regions come to attend.

For these two reasons, the Tamuda Assembly is the most important event in the June Grasslands, as detailed in the records.

"Yes." Chief Xi Yan nodded honestly.

"My senior brother and I are not from the Black Tooth Domain, but we have heard of the Tamuda Assembly. We will accompany your Gray Lizard Tribe to Boleng Lake and see it for ourselves." Han Li said.

Chief Xi Yan was stunned upon hearing this.

"What? Does the chief find it inappropriate?" Han Li glanced at him, his gaze turning cold.

"No, no. It is our Gray Lizard Tribe's honor to have the two immortals travel with us. However, our tribe moves very slowly as a whole, and the journey might bore the immortals." Chief Xi Yan dared not refuse, but hesitated.

Chief Xi Yan was actually quite welcoming of Han Li and Shi Chuankong joining the Gray Lizard Tribe, as although they seemed difficult to deal with, they were not violent or bloodthirsty.

Moreover, with them around, they would not have to fear attacks from other Gray Beasts on the road, and they might even borrow their strength at the Tamuda Assembly.

"At your current speed, how long will it take to reach Boleng Lake?" Han Li was slightly surprised by this and then asked.

"Probably four to five years. There are also several places with powerful Gray Beasts that we need to detour around." Xi Yan calculated and said.

"No need to detour. Go straight. If we encounter Gray Beasts, we will handle them for you." Han Li waved his hand and said arrogantly.

"If we don't detour, we can arrive about a year earlier." Xi Yan was delighted, not because of the earlier arrival, but because Han Li promised to deal with the Gray Beasts.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you may leave." Han Li waved his hand in dismissal.

Chief Xi Yan took his leave and turned to go.

"By the way, do you have any other books or records in your tribe? Bring them all over to help us pass the time." Han Li said as if just remembering.

"Yes, I will have someone send them over immediately." Xi Yan was taken aback but quickly agreed and hurried out.

Once Xi Yan left, the cold and proud expression on Han Li's face vanished, returning to his usual demeanor.

"I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Li to have such acting skills. Admirable." Shi Chuankong laughed heartily at Han Li's rapid change in expression.

"When you've experienced enough treachery and life-and-death struggles, as long as you survive, this ability naturally improves." Han Li said indifferently.

"It seems Fellow Daoist Li has many stories. By the way, the Tamuda Assembly is a real opportunity to see the Gray Realm." Shi Chuankong dropped his joking manner and changed the subject.