Chapter 846: Taking Risks

Han Li’s pupils constricted sharply upon hearing this, and he stood there in silence.

“The Scale-Scale Void Realm is no good place. Fellow Daoist Ziling has only just ascended, so she should be at the True Immortal stage at most. I’m afraid…” Shi Chuankong said hesitantly.

“Besides his Dao companion Lady Ju, Black River Senior has over a dozen concubines who constantly vie with each other, much like the imperial harem of a mortal emperor. Fellow Daoist Ziling has managed to survive peacefully in the palace for so many years, which shows her extraordinary intelligence. Moreover, before going into seclusion, Black River Senior feared she might be bullied by the other concubines and bestowed her with several powerful demonic artifacts for self-protection. So even if she enters the Scale-Scale Void Realm, she should be able to protect herself,” Shi Pokong said slowly.

“I hope so, Third殿下. Your wisdom is truly unmatched; to have gathered so much information in such a short time makes me feel ashamed,” Han Li sighed, changing the subject.

“That’s right, Third Brother. That tigress is so difficult to deal with. How did you manage to get this information?” Shi Chuankong asked curiously.

“I have known Lady Ju for many years and understand her nature well. In fact, before I even asked her, I had roughly guessed how she would deal with Fellow Daoist Ziling. Then I just probed indirectly. Lady Ju is not very meticulous, so it wasn’t hard to figure things out,” Shi Pokong said calmly, as if recounting a trivial matter.

“What Third殿下 finds easy, we could never accomplish no matter what,” Han Li said with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

“These are just underhanded tricks, not worth mentioning. What does Fellow Daoist Li plan to do next?” Shi Pokong looked at Han Li.

“This is not a good place to talk; walls have ears. Let’s leave here first and discuss it at length,” Han Li said, his eyes flickering slightly.

Half a month later, in a detached courtyard within the Blackwater City城主’s mansion.

In an elegant, antique-styled hall, a round table made of Wusu wood stood, on which was a red clay stove with blazing charcoal inside. A purple clay teapot on top was billowing steam, its lid jumping up and down.

Shi Pokong stood by the table, lifting the teapot and pouring the water into another celadon porcelain pot to rinse the tea leaves inside. Then he discarded the water and added fresh water.

After brewing the second infusion, he filled three delicate teacups on the table with tea and pushed them in front of the other two people sitting at the table.

One of them wore a purple robe with snow-white hair, and the other had an ordinary face with star-like eyes. They were none other than Shi Chuankong and Han Li.

“Fellow Daoist Li, you may not fully understand the dangers of the Scale-Scale Void Realm. Do you really have to go in?” Shi Pokong said, placing the teapot back on the stove.

“Third Brother, that Fellow Daoist Ziling is more than just a close friend to Brother Li. So don’t bother trying to dissuade him. If persuasion worked, I would have stopped him already,” Shi Chuankong said with a smile.

“Since Fellow Daoist Li has made up his mind, I won’t say more. And you, when will you return to the Tianhong Domain to take up your post?” Shi Pokong turned to look at Shi Chuankong.

“Third Brother, Brother Li is a friend who has shared hardships with me. You know how great his kindness is to me. This time, I naturally have to accompany him to the Scale-Scale Void Realm. As for managing the Tianhong Domain… I’ll have to trouble you to handle it for me,” Shi Chuankong said with an awkward smile.

“Nonsense! Father’s order for you to manage the Tianhong Domain is no joke. Besides, how could I let you take such a risk!” Shi Pokong’s expression turned stern as he scolded softly.

“Brother Shi, Third殿下 is right. I can go to the Scale-Scale Void Realm alone,” Han Li said, feeling warmth in his heart.

“Third Brother, you know I always distinguish between kindness and enmity, and in running the Guangyuan Firm, I value fairness and reciprocity. Brother Li has saved my life, not just once. Now that he needs my help, how can I stand by and do nothing?” Shi Chuankong waved his hand at Han Li, then looked seriously at Shi Pokong.

Shi Pokong hesitated after hearing this, but ultimately could only sigh and say, “Alright, I know I can’t stop you. If not for the clan affairs that I cannot set aside, I would accompany you on this journey.”

“Haha, the clan could do without a hundred Shi Chuankongs, but if it were missing you, Third Brother, wouldn’t it fall into chaos?” Shi Chuankong laughed heartily.

“Alright, stop joking. Although I know something about the Scale-Scale Void Realm, I’ve never set foot there myself, so my knowledge is not very detailed. I’ll tell you as much as I can,” Shi Pokong shook his head and said.

“Thank you,殿下,” Han Li nodded sincerely.

“It’s nothing. Just listen carefully,” Shi Pokong shook his head and said.

Then he began to recount what he knew about the Scale-Scale Void Realm.

After about half a quarter of an hour, Shi Pokong finished speaking. With a flick of his wrist, he produced two items and handed them to Shi Chuankong and Han Li respectively.

Han Li took what was handed to him and saw it was a piece of leather made from some unknown exotic beast, with a roughly drawn topographical map on it, marked here and there with some text.

“This is a map of the Scale-Scale Void Realm found in unofficial histories. Its age is unknown, so whether it will help you inside is still uncertain. Take it,” Shi Pokong said.

Han Li nodded, examined it briefly, and then tucked it into his bosom.

"Third Brother, what is this?" Shi Chuankong held something that looked like a necklace pendant, puzzled.

Han Li looked over and saw it was an exquisite miniature carving shaped like a black cage, inside which a ferocious scaled beast was depicted, gripping the bars with both claws and roaring.

"Wear this around your neck. In a moment of crisis, just crush the cage with external force and throw it out. No spiritual power or demonic energy is needed to activate it. It might save your lives once." Shi Pokong said solemnly.

Upon hearing this, Shi Chuankong put the pendant around his neck as instructed.

"Remember, within the Scale Accumulation Void Realm, not only are heavenly spiritual energy and demonic energy forbidden, but even casting spells is impossible. So your storage rings and bracelets cannot be opened. If there's anything you need to bring, take it out and carry it on your person beforehand. Once inside, you'll have to rely mostly on your physical bodies." Shi Pokong cautioned.

"Since the Scale Accumulation Void Realm has been sealed, how will we return later?" Han Li asked with a frown.

"Originally, there was a special teleportation formation in the Blackwater Territory that could extract people from the Scale Accumulation Void Realm, but it has been out of use for over a hundred thousand years. Restarting it will take some effort. But don't worry, I'll handle it later. These two token seals are key for the formation to locate you. Keep them safe." With that, Shi Pokong took out two leaf-shaped jade tokens and handed them to the two.

"Third Brother, how do we use these?" Shi Chuankong examined the token carefully but couldn't figure it out.

"When you want to return, just drop a drop of your essence blood on it. The formation will sense it and extract you from the Scale Accumulation Void Realm. As for Fellow Daoist Ziling, Fellow Daoist Li can bring her along, and you'll be teleported back together." Shi Pokong explained.

"Alright, we've noted everything." Shi Chuankong nodded.

"Also, here are two Blood Tide Pills. They can temporarily stimulate your physical strength. How effective they are depends on your individual physiques. Of course, the side effects are significant. After the medicine wears off, you'll enter a period of weakness, possibly unable to move at all. So only use them as a last resort." Shi Pokong added.

"Third Brother, don't worry too much. We're not greenhorns. We know what we're doing." Shi Chuankong laughed.

"Don't mind my nagging. That place has been sealed for too long. Alright, I've said everything I need to. Now it's up to you. No matter what, make sure you come back safely." Shi Pokong gave his thirteenth brother a deep look, then patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry." Shi Chuankong chuckled.

Han Li's gaze fell on the two, and a smile couldn't help but appear at the corner of his mouth.

Not long after, Shi Pokong left first.

After a brief rest, Han Li and the other also left Blackwater City, heading straight for the region where the Scale Accumulation Void Realm was located.

...

Within the Blackwater Territory, amidst a stretch of dark green mountains, patches of yellowish-brown sand dunes stood out abruptly. Viewed from high above, they looked like bald spots on the earth.

Han Li and the other flew over and hovered above these ugly bald spots.

Even from over a hundred li away, he could feel the strange spatial fluctuations coming from that area.

He focused his eyes, and a purple glint flashed in them. He saw that above the void there, a nearly transparent hemispherical barrier was laid out, like a large inverted pot covering the earth, enclosing all the sand dune regions.

"Brother Shi, is that the entrance to the Scale Accumulation Void Realm?" Han Li asked.

"Yes. It seems that long ago, Father ordered it sealed and designated it a forbidden area." Shi Chuankong said.

"Oh, to prevent those exiled inside from escaping?" Han Li asked.

"That's part of it, but more to prevent people from the Holy Domain from accidentally wandering in, being sucked into the sand dunes, and getting trapped in the Scale Accumulation Void Realm." Shi Chuankong thought for a moment and said.

"I see." Han Li nodded.

"Let's go. We'll head to the barrier entrance first." Shi Chuankong said.

With that, the two flew down and landed in front of a large hall outside the sand dunes.

"Scale Accumulation Forbidden Area, do not approach. Leave immediately." The demon cultivators stationed outside the hall immediately blocked their way.

After the two identified themselves, a Golden Immortal stage cultivator stationed there immediately came out to greet them.

He was a short, elderly demon with a face full of spots. Upon seeing Shi Chuankong, he immediately bowed respectfully and said:

"Xu Fu, stationed cultivator of the forbidden area, pays respects to the Thirteenth Prince."