Chapter 710: The Cleansing Pool

After the demonic light departed, Han Li sat back down cross-legged, regulating his breath to stabilize his internal energy while wearing a contemplative expression, lost in thought.

Before long, there came a few knocks at the door. It was Shi Chuankong, who had come to see him now that the dust had settled.

Han Li rose and opened the door, letting him in.

“Brother Li, you’ve been holed up all this time troubled by the baleful qi, and I dared not disturb you rashly. During this period, Miao Xiu came twice, but I made up excuses to turn her away. I was just worrying that if you didn’t show yourselves soon, the Sanmiao tribesmen would grow suspicious,” Shi Chuankong said after sitting down.

“What did Miao Xiu want here?” Han Li asked with a slight frown.

“She didn’t say in detail, only that she would be leaving the Heichi Domain in a few days and wanted to visit Jiang Gu—that is, Fellow Daoist Móguāng—once more before she left. But I think it’s more likely they found the earlier baleful qi fluctuations unusual and wanted to probe the situation,” Shi Chuankong said, shaking his head.

“Either way, it doesn’t matter. If she comes again tomorrow, we’ll just meet her. With Móguāng, a Xūhé tribesman, here, they shouldn’t and wouldn’t dare have any other ideas.” Han Li pondered for a moment before replying.

Shi Chuankong nodded upon hearing this.

Having said this, he did not leave, nor did he say anything more, and the room fell silent.

“Is there something else, Brother Shi?” Han Li glanced at Shi Chuankong and asked.

“Brother Li, I actually have a favor to ask, though I’m not sure if I should bring it up…” Shi Chuankong hesitated.

“Speak freely,” Han Li said.

“Could you give me another one of those Suppressing Baleful Pills you used on me before? These days, while constantly resisting baleful qi invasion, my immortal spiritual power is being consumed enormously, and still some strands of baleful qi break through and invade my body…” Shi Chuankong said with a frown.

“That might be a problem…” Han Li raised an eyebrow.

“I know this item is very precious, so Brother Li, just name your price. I’m willing to buy it at a high cost,” Shi Chuankong said hastily when he saw Han Li hesitate.

“Brother Shi misunderstands. It’s not that I’m unwilling to give you the pill. But the last two pills—one was used to save you, and the other was used the day before yesterday to suppress my own baleful qi backlash. Now there are none left,” Han Li said with a light sigh.

“Can the pill be refined again… or is there any other similar pill?” Shi Chuankong’s expression dimmed, but he quickly asked again.

“There are no similar pills, but I still have some materials for refining the Suppressing Baleful Pill. I was planning to refine more in a few days, but it seems I’ll have to do it sooner,” Han Li said with a wry smile.

“Brother Li, once you’ve refined them, you must sell me some. Name your conditions; I’ve already incurred a debt of gratitude on this trip to the Grey Realm, so I don’t mind adding more. When I return to the Immortal Realm, I’ll repay you double,” Shi Chuankong said, overjoyed.

“Rest assured, Brother Shi. We’re in the same boat now, so we must help each other,” Han Li said with a smile.

The two talked for a long while before Shi Chuankong took his leave.

After seeing him off, Han Li sat back down in contemplation for a moment, then closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

…

Night fell, and baleful qi filled the air outside the window, rising into a hazy nocturnal mist.

Han Li slowly opened his eyes, concealed his aura, opened the door, and slipped out.

He passed through stone fortresses and palaces, stealthily searching the vicinity.

After pausing briefly before another stone fortress a few hundred zhang from his own, Han Li moved again, this time darting straight out of Youhe City.

He flew all the way to a pitch-black river outside the city before landing, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing at the wide river.

After a moment, a streak of black light descended from the sky, coalescing into a mass of black flames that twisted, revealing a tall figure.

“Palace Master Baili, long time no see…” Han Li turned to look at the man and spoke slowly.

The figure frowned, looking at Han Li, and asked, “Who are you? Why did you secretly send a message inviting me here?”

“Palace Master Baili, no need to be tense. It’s me. We’ve met a few times before, though we’ve never spoken directly.” Han Li waved his hand, dispelling the disguise on his face.

Baili Yan did not relax his vigilance but carefully examined Han Li, his expression suddenly changing.

“Brother Li? Is it really you? No… How could you be here?” he exclaimed in surprise.

“To be honest, I was exploring a ruin when I was accidentally swallowed by a spatial vortex and ended up here. Palace Master Baili, how did you come to the Grey Realm?” Han Li re-concealed his aura and said with a bitter smile.

He was not surprised that Baili Yan recognized him, given his connection with Huyan Daoist.

“Heh, my method wasn’t as bizarre as yours. I came to the Grey Realm through the Reincarnation Hall,” Baili Yan said, his brow relaxing as he smiled.

“Through the Reincarnation Hall? Palace Master Baili, may I ask what relationship the Reincarnation Hall has with the Reincarnation Domain?” Han Li asked, puzzled.

“That question is hard to explain… The Reincarnation Hall is a force in the Immortal Realm, while the Reincarnation Domain is a force in the Grey Realm. But they share one thing in common: the Reincarnation Hall Master is also the Reincarnation Domain Master. That should make it clear,” Baili Yan explained after a moment’s thought.

Han Li was startled. He had thought the Reincarnation Domain was merely a Grey Immortal force cooperating with the Reincarnation Hall, but he never expected they were actually one and the same, and that the mysterious Reincarnation Hall Master was a powerful being capable of controlling both the Immortal Realm and the Grey Realm.

Seeing Han Li silent in surprise, Baili Yan suddenly spoke:

“So you came to the Grey Realm by accident? It’s remarkable that you’ve survived intact in this unfamiliar realm. No wonder Brother Huyan thought highly of you and praised you so much back then.”

“I only managed to hide my identity by sheer luck. It’s hardly a skill,” Han Li said, waving his hand.

“Staying in the Grey Realm is no long-term solution. An immortal body will constantly be eroded by baleful qi. Once the immortal body decays, it will ruin your cultivation foundation. You’ll either die or completely become a Grey Immortal, ending miserably. You should return to the Immortal Realm as soon as possible,” Baili Yan said solemnly.

“It’s not that I don’t want to return to the Immortal Realm; I simply can’t find a way. Otherwise, who would want to stay in this desolate realm teeming with baleful qi?” Han Li said with a wry smile.

Baili Yan frowned deeply, hesitated for a long time, and then said:

“The method to return to the Immortal Realm is originally a secret of the Reincarnation Hall, not to be passed on to outsiders… But back in the Minghan Immortal Mansion, Brother Huyan was able to seize the Taiyi Pill to gather my karmic fire and prevent me from burning to death. Fellow Daoist Han also contributed greatly. I must repay this debt of gratitude. Take this token.”

With that, he turned his hand over, revealing a palm-sized circular token, which he handed to Han Li.

“This is…” Han Li hesitated and did not immediately take it.

“This is my Reincarnation Token. With it, you can go to any lord-level city in the Reincarnation Domain and find a Reincarnation branch hall. They will tell you how to return to the Immortal Realm. Of course, this is only one path; whether you succeed depends on the specifics. That part is up to you,” Baili Yan said slowly.

Han Li took the token and examined it. Its material was very special, containing strands of pure baleful qi within, unlike anything from the Immortal Realm. One side was engraved with the words “Reincarnation Hall,” and the other with “Six Paths” in intaglio.

“This item is too precious. I imagine Palace Master Baili only has this one? If you give it to me, how will you return to the Immortal Realm yourself?” Han Li handed the token back, shaking his head.

“Fellow Daoist Han should know that when I drew the karmic fire into my body back then, my body was already eroded by baleful qi. It was only by relying on that Taiyi Pill to reach the pseudo-Taiyi realm that I barely suppressed it and didn’t completely decay. Now that I’ve come to the Grey Realm, it’s to completely resolve this matter. If I can’t, then I won’t need to leave the Grey Realm…” Baili Yan said with a sigh.

“Pseudo-Taiyi realm… Karmic fire and baleful qi share the same origin, only manifesting differently. Why would Palace Master Baili come to the Grey Realm, where the very heavens and earth are filled with baleful qi, to seek a way to dissolve karmic fire?” Han Li asked, greatly puzzled.

“The wonders of creation are beyond words. In this Grey Realm, where baleful qi abounds, there is a place called the ‘Cleansing Pool.’ It contains the Washing Bone Golden Thunder, the most yang and vigorous thunder in the world, capable of breaking all yin and baleful forces. If one immerses their body in this Cleansing Pool, they can wash away all baleful qi from their body and also temper their body and soul, gaining many benefits,” Baili Yan explained.

“The Grey Realm has such a thing? Does Brother Baili know where it is?” Han Li was overjoyed at Baili Yan’s words and quickly pressed for more.

“The Cleansing Pool is extremely rare. From what I’ve learned, there is only one known location, in the Jiuyou Domain. It is a forbidden sacred site sealed by the various tribes there, not easily entered. What? Is Fellow Daoist Han also interested in the Cleansing Pool?” Baili Yan glanced at Han Li and asked.

“Brother Baili may not know, but I am plagued by the calamity of baleful decline, constantly on the verge of collapse, and have been worrying about how to resolve it,” Han Li said with a wry smile.

Baili Yan then looked Han Li up and down again, especially staring at his eyes for a long time, his expression growing increasingly grave.

“Fellow Daoist Han, your baleful decline backlash is different from my karmic fire possession. Unless it’s a matter of life and death, it’s best you return to the Immortal Realm and seek another method. Don’t consider the approach I mentioned,” Baili Yan said thoughtfully.

“Why is that? I beg Brother Baili to enlighten me,” Han Li frowned and asked hastily.