Chapter 924: The Crab Taoist Pays a Visit

Han Li's gaze swept around as he silently pondered a way to sneak in.

Inside the Puppet City camp, puppets patrolled everywhere, and two Puppet City cultivators stood atop two watchtowers, keeping a high vantage point over the entire camp, making him dare not act rashly.

As Han Li was deep in thought, someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.

This came without any warning; startled, he whirled around while retreating like lightning.

Halfway through his retreat, he suddenly stopped, and his tense expression relaxed slightly.

A figure had appeared behind Han Li without him knowing when—it was none other than the Crab Taoist.

“Don’t make a sound. Follow me,” the Crab Taoist said, waving his hand and heading off into the distant mountains.

Han Li frowned, glanced at the Puppet City camp, but ultimately silently followed the Crab Taoist.

The two soon left the Xuan City encampment and didn’t stop until they had gone a long way.

“You want to sneak into the Puppet City camp at night to look for Zi Ling?” the Crab Taoist asked, looking directly at Han Li.

“That’s right. Earlier, I happened to see someone in the Puppet City camp who looked somewhat like Zi Ling. I don’t know if it was her. I can’t rest easy without clarifying this,” Han Li said without hiding anything.

“Nonsense. In the Scale-Scale Void, you can’t use immortal spiritual power, and concealing your aura is extremely difficult. If you recklessly sneak into the Puppet City camp, do you think you have nine lives?” the Crab Taoist snorted.

Hearing this, a flicker of surprise passed through Han Li’s eyes.

Not because of the Crab Taoist’s scolding, but because the Crab Taoist’s demeanor at that moment was no different from an ordinary person’s.

“How could I not know what you say, Fellow Daoist Crab? But I can’t just ignore matters concerning Zi Ling,” Han Li said calmly after a brief silence.

“You still need to distinguish the situation and occasion. Sneaking into the Puppet City camp now is too reckless. Leave the matter of finding Zi Ling for later. If the person you saw really is Zi Ling, she won’t suddenly run away. There’s no need for such urgency,” the Crab Taoist said slowly.

“What you say is very true, Fellow Daoist Crab. I was indeed reckless,” Han Li sighed and nodded.

“But what marvelous technique are you using now? Your aura is concealed so deeply that even I almost didn’t notice. No wonder you dared to explore the Puppet City camp at night,” the Crab Taoist said, sizing Han Li up again.

“Just a little trick. Yet it was seen through by you at a glance, Fellow Daoist Crab,” Han Li said with a faint smile.

The technique he was using was a concealment method from the *Heavenly Fiend Soul Suppressing Art* called the Ten Thousand Apertures Void Silence Technique.

This technique also had the effect of sealing the body’s apertures, and it was even more exquisite than the one the Crab Taoist had taught him in concealing his aura. But its greatest drawback was that while active, he couldn’t use any of his apertures.

He wondered how the Crab Taoist had seen through it.

The Crab Taoist just looked at Han Li silently, his face expressionless, saying nothing.

“Fellow Daoist Crab, you came to find me late at night. It shouldn’t be just to say these few words, should it?” Han Li asked seriously.

“I do have something to discuss with you. Barring any accidents, the Star Falcon Flying Boat will be completed in another half month. The entrance that E Kui and Sha Xin found is fairly reliable, and entering the Great Ruins shouldn’t be a problem. When the time comes, I’ll need your help,” the Crab Taoist said slowly after a long silence.

“Fellow Daoist Crab, you seem to know a lot about the Great Ruins. Have your memories awakened again? I feel you’re very different from before,” Han Li asked, his expression shifting.

The Crab Taoist didn’t answer Han Li’s question. He glanced toward the direction of the Great Ruins, a complex look appearing on his face.

Seeing this, Han Li’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t disturb the Crab Taoist.

“To be honest, I have recovered many memories, but there are some things I can’t tell you directly right now,” the Crab Taoist said, not looking long before withdrawing his gaze and letting out a light sigh.

“Then you can tell me when it’s convenient, Fellow Daoist Crab,” Han Li nodded.

“Time is short. I can’t leave Chen Yang’s side for too long, or he might notice. The matters I need your help with, Fellow Daoist Han, are all written in this,” the Crab Taoist said, spitting out a white jade slip and handing it to Han Li.

“This…” Han Li took the jade slip and was about to say something, but the Crab Taoist waved him off.

“Fellow Daoist Han, be sure to act according to what’s written. It will definitely be beneficial and harmless to you, and perhaps even bring you a great opportunity.”

The Crab Taoist gave Han Li a deep look, then his form flickered into a black shadow and shot swiftly toward the Xuan City encampment.

Seeing this, a trace of surprise appeared in Han Li’s eyes.

The speed the Crab Taoist had just displayed was not much inferior to his own.

He glanced in the direction the Crab Taoist had gone, then quickly withdrew his gaze. With a thought, a wisp of his divine sense entered the white jade slip.

The next moment, his brow slightly raised, and the surprise in his eyes deepened, his expression turning uncertain.

He stood there for a moment, then suddenly stamped his foot, as if he had finally made up his mind. He pinched the jade slip hard, crushing it to powder, and then headed toward the Xuan City encampment.

In the days that followed, the construction of the Star Falcon Flying Boat was left to the people of Puppet City. Han Li and the other four had nothing to do and rested in their own tents.

However, they did not rest completely. Lady Liuhua occasionally summoned the four of them to explain some key points of the Star Falcon restrictions.

More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and the people of Puppet City finally completed the Star Falcon Flying Boat.

A silver-gray flying boat sat quietly on the ground, its hull emitting a cold metallic gleam that made it look indestructible.

The entire boat appeared extremely sleek, with two silver wings raised upward, making it resemble a silver swallow about to take flight.

The interior of the flying boat was hollow, with people staying inside the hull. Windows were opened on both sides, sealed with a transparent material, allowing a clear view of the outside from within.

All the people of Xuan City had now gathered in the open space. E Kuai reached out and patted the hull; the flying boat buzzed and trembled a few times, but there was no hollow echo, as if the boat were solid, giving a sense of rock-solid stability.

“The skills of the fellow daoists from Puppet City are truly superb. In just a month or so, you have built such a sturdy and exquisite puppet flying boat,” E Kuai praised.

“You flatter me, Fellow Daoist E. If this boat were elsewhere, relying on puppet power, it could indeed lift off the ground. But here above the Black Abyss, it simply cannot withstand the suction force below. We must ask Fellow Daoist Liuhua for assistance,” said Sha Xin, who was also standing there with seven or eight people from Puppet City, smiling as he spoke.

Han Li glanced at the Puppet City crowd, a trace of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

Among the Puppet City crowd, there was no sign of the woman in purple robes.

“Fellow Daoist Liuhua, we leave it to you now,” E Kuai said to Lady Liuhua beside him upon hearing Sha Xin’s words.

Lady Liuhua’s expression was somewhat grave. She looked at the flying boat, strode over to it, reached out and felt it for a moment, then frowned.

“Fellow Daoist Liuhua, is there a problem?” E Kuai asked, seeing her expression.

“Fellow Daoist Sha Xin, has the boat’s hull been infused with silver amalgam?” Lady Liuhua looked at Sha Xin and asked.

“Indeed. Silver amalgam is a secret concoction of our Puppet City. I didn’t expect Fellow Daoist Liuhua to know of it. Infusing with silver amalgam allows different materials to fuse more tightly, increasing the hull’s defensive strength,” Sha Xin said with a flicker in his eyes.

Lady Liuhua remained silent upon hearing this.

“Fellow Daoist Liuhua, is something wrong?” E Kuai asked.

“Nothing much. The main ingredient of silver amalgam is silver amalgam stone, which conflicts considerably with the star liquid I prepared. With the hull infused with silver amalgam, carving the Star Falcon formation array on it will be more difficult. But it will only take a bit more effort; nothing serious,” Lady Liuhua said with a snicker.

Han Li frowned slightly, glanced at Lady Liuhua, and opened his mouth as if to speak.

Lady Liuhua turned her head and looked over, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

Seeing this, Han Li held his tongue.

“Oh, if it’s nothing serious, that’s fine. Fellow Daoist Liuhua, please begin quickly. Finish the boat as soon as possible. We don’t know how long the low tide of the Black Abyss will last, and delays might lead to changes,” E Kuai nodded and said.

Lady Liuhua agreed readily, then immediately led Han Li and the other three into the boat’s interior.

The onlookers from the two cities saw this and dispersed.

Whether it was due to the unique materials of the Star Falcon Flying Boat or its inherent special properties, once inside the hull, all outside sounds vanished completely, as if a soundproofing restriction had been set up.

“Senior Liuhua, is it really all right?” Han Li asked with a grave expression, watching through the window as the people from the two cities walked away.

What they were about to do next was different from before. Previously, the array patterns drawn on the main frame were only the first half of the Star Falcon restrictions, requiring only the carving of patterns. But now, they were truly beginning to set up the Star Falcon restrictions.

Not only did they need to carve the array patterns, but while doing so, they also had to add various array props and materials, making it much more difficult than before.

Now, with the silver amalgam issue, it would be even harder.

Han Li thought that if he gave his full effort, he could barely handle the current situation, but it was hard to say for the other three.

The three—Xuan Yuanxing and the others—clearly realized this as well, showing signs of unease.

“Hmph, how could it be all right? Next, we truly begin constructing the great formation. If you make a mistake while carving the array patterns, not only will the patterns collapse, but the array props and materials will also be ruined. Damn that Sha Xin woman, causing me such trouble at this time,” Lady Liuhua said angrily, her face turning green and looking very unpleasant.

Han Li and the other three changed expression upon hearing this.

“Senior Liuhua, could it be that you don’t have many array materials with you?” Han Li asked tentatively, his eyes shifting.

“I brought two sets of materials. I thought it would be enough, but now it seems uncertain,” Lady Liuhua snorted coldly, glancing at Xuan Yuanxing and the other two.

The three quickly lowered their heads, looking ashamed.

“In that case, Senior Liuhua, why not inform City Lord E Kuai? With everyone’s input, we should be able to think of a solution,” Han Li said again.

“It’s just a small matter; why trouble them? Don’t worry, just do your best. I have my own ways to handle this,” Lady Liuhua’s expression froze slightly, a strange glint flashing in her eyes. Then her attitude suddenly changed, and she waved her hand dismissively.