Chapter 845: Exile

"Since the Thirteenth Prince has spoken, how could I refuse? But Zi Ling is not in the Black River Water Palace at the moment. Even if I wanted to summon her, I couldn't." Lady Ju frowned slightly, putting on a troubled expression.

"Not here? Where did she go?" Han Li's heart sank, and he pressed immediately.

"There are many cultivators who have submitted to the Black River Water Palace, and we do not forbid them from leaving. That vixen has received special favor from my husband and can come and go as she pleases. How would I know where she went?" Lady Ju showed no kindness toward Han Li and spoke bluntly.

"Lady Ju just said that before Senior Black River went into seclusion, he entrusted you with managing the affairs of the Black River Water Palace. You should have some idea where Zi Ling went," Han Li said, his voice heavy with rising anger as he worried about Zi Ling's safety and Lady Ju's repeated rudeness.

"Who do you think you are? For the sake of the Thirteenth Prince, I allowed you, a rogue from the Immortal Realm, into the Black River Water Palace. Yet you dare to interrogate me repeatedly? The Black River Water Palace does not welcome such unwelcome guests. Get out!" Lady Ju suddenly turned hostile, waving both hands.

The walls on both sides of the hall rumbled loudly, and two thick black beams of light shot out, wrapping around Han Li's body with lightning speed, forming a black vortex.

A powerful force of teleportation surged from the vortex, enveloping Han Li's body, ready to fling him out.

Han Li frowned slightly. Golden light blazed from his body, and the Truthful Word Wheel appeared behind him, spinning rapidly.

Countless golden ripples surged from the Truthful Word Wheel, spreading out instantly and enveloping the black vortex.

The black vortex immediately froze, trapped in place.

Lady Ju's expression changed. She quickly formed hand seals, trying to activate the black vortex.

But no matter how she cast her spells, the black vortex remained motionless.

"Lady Ju, I have no intention of making trouble for you. I only ask that you tell me where Zi Ling is, and I will reward you handsomely," Han Li said, calming his emotions and cupping his hands in a bow.

"Hmph! Don't be arrogant, boy. Don't think I have no way to deal with you. Black River Water Palace, empower me!" Lady Ju cried out, chanting incantations and forming hand seals rapidly before raising her hand.

With a thunderous roar, the entire Black River Water Palace trembled. Thousands of black lights seeped through the void, gathering in Lady Ju's hand and forming a miniature image of the Black River Water Palace, several feet in size.

"This is..." Han Li's pupils contracted at the sight.

Before he could react, Lady Ju pushed her hands forward. The miniature palace shot out and struck the golden ripples around Han Li.

With a tearing sound, the golden ripples around him shattered like paper.

The black vortex immediately returned to normal, spinning wildly like a giant black mouth, swallowing Han Li.

His vision blurred, and the next moment, he found himself outside the Black River Water Palace.

Han Li frowned. The time patterns on the Truthful Word Wheel had only recovered a small part, unable to exert much power.

But regardless, since Zi Ling was in the Black River Water Palace, he had no retreat.

He took a deep breath, his eyes blazing with purple light as he stared at the black light barrier surrounding the Black River Water Palace.

At the same time, golden light flickered on Han Li's body, and the Truthful Word Wheel spun rapidly again, sending countless golden ripples surging toward the black light barrier.

"Fellow Daoist Li, so you are here," a gentle voice came from beside him at that moment.

Han Li was startled and turned to look. A purple figure stood not far away—it was Shi Pokong.

"Third Prince, why are you here?" Han Li stopped and asked in surprise.

Shi Pokong smiled faintly and was about to speak when the nearby void suddenly rippled, and a large amount of black light emerged out of thin air, forming a black vortex.

The black vortex did not last long and quickly dissipated. Shi Chuankong's figure flashed out, seemingly also thrown out by Lady Ju.

"Third Brother, why are you here?" He looked at Shi Pokong in surprise.

"I heard you two left Yeyang City and headed toward the Black Water Region, so I guessed you came to the Black River Water Palace for Fairy Zi Ling. The matter with the Vial Spirit has yet to be resolved, and I feel ashamed. This time, Fellow Daoist Li wants to rescue Zi Ling, and I must contribute, so I rushed over immediately," Shi Pokong said apologetically.

"Excellent! With Third Brother here, we will surely rescue Fairy Zi Ling. Fellow Daoist Li, rest assured," Shi Chuankong said joyfully upon hearing this.

"Thank you, Third Prince," Han Li said gratefully, cupping his hands.

"What is the situation now? Your efforts seem to have encountered difficulties," Shi Pokong waved his hand and asked.

Han Li smiled bitterly and recounted in detail what had happened in the Black River Water Palace.

"Lady Ju is the Dao companion of Black River Superior. She has considerable cultivation but is narrow-minded and prone to jealousy. Presumably, because Black River Superior valued Zi Ling... greatly, Lady Ju was jealous. And since you are Zi Ling's friend, Lady Ju's hatred extends to you, so she is unwilling to tell you Zi Ling's current situation," Shi Pokong said after a moment's thought.

"I guessed as much. Whether she is willing or not, I will spare no effort to get her to tell me where Zi Ling is now," Han Li said, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as golden light rose again from his body.

Although Zi Ling was not his Dao partner, she held a special meaning in his heart, much like Nangong Wan.

If he didn't know, it would be one thing, but since he knew she might be in danger, he could not stand idly by.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I understand your eagerness to save your friend, but using brute force is very unwise. Black River Superior is a Da Luo stage cultivator. Even though he is not in his cave now, if he investigates later, you will likely face great trouble," Shi Pokong quickly stopped Han Li and said.

"I know this is very inappropriate, but I have no other choice now," Han Li said with a frown.

"If Fellow Daoist Li trusts me, leave this matter to me. I am now in a cooperative relationship with Black River Superior. Lady Ju is somewhat wary of me. If I ask, she might relent," Shi Pokong said sincerely.

"That's right, let Third Brother try. If that doesn't work, we'll think of another way," Shi Chuankong also said.

"Very well, I'll leave it to you, Third Prince," Han Li said after a brief consideration, cupping his hands.

"You two, retreat a bit," Shi Pokong said after a moment's thought.

Han Li and Shi Chuankong exchanged a glance, then flew backward, soon disappearing into the distance.

Shi Pokong stood there for a moment before flying toward the Black River Water Palace.

Han Li and Shi Chuankong exchanged another glance, retreated far away, and then stopped.

Han Li's eyes flickered with purple light, staring unblinkingly at the direction of the Black River Water Palace.

Shi Pokong took out a blue talisman, waved it, and it flashed into the black light barrier around the Black River Water Palace.

After a moment, the black light barrier flickered, and an opening appeared. Shi Pokong immediately flew in.

Seeing this, Han Li breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fellow Daoist Li, rest assured. Third Brother is endlessly resourceful and eloquent. With him handling it, he will surely find out where Fairy Zi Ling is," Shi Chuankong said with a smile.

"I hope so," Han Li sighed.

The two waited quietly. Time passed, and before they knew it, over half an hour had gone by.

There was no movement from the Black River Water Palace. Han Li's expression remained calm, but Shi Chuankong grew restless. Several times he wanted to say something, but seeing Han Li's grim expression, he swallowed his words.

Just then, the black light barrier flickered again, revealing a passage.

Shi Pokong flew out and headed toward them, quickly arriving nearby.

Han Li and Shi Chuankong hurried to meet him.

"Third Prince, how did it go?" Han Li asked.

"I succeeded. I have found out about Fairy Zi Ling's situation in the Black River Water Palace over the years and where she is now," Shi Pokong said with a faint smile.

Han Li was overjoyed, and the worry in his heart eased.

"Haha, I told you, with Third Brother handling it, nothing is impossible," Shi Chuankong laughed loudly.

"Thank you, Third Prince. May I ask how Zi Ling has been since she came to the Black River Water Palace?" Han Li bowed to Shi Pokong and asked.

"After Fairy Zi Ling ascended to the Holy Realm, Black River Superior was taken by her beauty and talent and intended to take her as a concubine. However, Fairy Zi Ling is strong-willed and would rather die than submit. Black River Superior did not want to use force, and since he was in a hurry to go into seclusion, he handed Fairy Zi Ling over to others for temporary custody," Shi Pokong said slowly, giving Han Li a deep look.

Hearing this, Han Li felt a slight relief.

"Excellent! Fairy Zi Ling was not humiliated; her chastity remains intact. Fellow Daoist Li, you can rest assured," Shi Chuankong said, slapping Han Li's shoulder.

"Thirteenth Brother, what are you saying?" Shi Pokong glared at Shi Chuankong and scolded.

Shi Chuankong realized he had misspoken, scratched his head, and looked embarrassed.

"What the Thirteenth Prince said is not wrong. But Zi Ling is alone; even if something happened, it wouldn't be her fault. What happened next? Is Zi Ling really not in the Black River Water Palace?" Han Li said frankly.

"After Black River Superior went into seclusion, Fairy Zi Ling tried to escape the Black River Water Palace. Lady Ju did not stop her but secretly let her go. So now Fairy Zi Ling is indeed not in the Black River Water Palace," Shi Pokong sighed and said.

"That makes things easier. Although the Holy Realm is vast, finding someone is not too difficult for me. Brother Li, rest assured, when I return and arrange..." Shi Chuankong said with a smile, but before he could finish, he seemed to notice something wrong and stopped.

Han Li's brows furrowed again.

Lady Ju naturally wanted Zi Ling to leave the Black River Water Palace as soon as possible, so she secretly let her go. That way, when Black River Superior emerged from seclusion and asked, she wouldn't be blamed.

But surely Lady Ju wouldn't let Zi Ling leave safely, would she?

"It seems Fellow Daoist Li has guessed as well. Lady Ju did not stop her, but shortly after Fairy Zi Ling left the Black River Water Palace, she sent people to capture her and exiled her to the Scale Abyss," Shi Pokong said, glancing at Han Li and shaking his head.