Chapter 928: Setting Sail

Seeing Han Li exchanging glances with the people of Puppet City, the expressions of the Xuan City crowd became somewhat subtle.

Some curled their lips in cold sneers, looking disdainful, while others crossed their arms and looked on coldly.

Still others muttered to themselves, “A sycophant, and they still say he’s not a spy from Puppet City?”

“Hmph, can’t wait to run over there, can he? A lackey is a lackey, with no sense of honor!” Feng Wuchen said coldly, his expression hostile.

His voice was not loud, but it was just enough for everyone present to hear clearly.

Han Li could ignore the words of others, but when he heard Feng Wuchen speak, he smiled and said:

“A defeated opponent, and you still have the nerve to spout nonsense? Could it be your skin is itching again?”

“What did you say?” Feng Wuchen’s face stiffened, and he clenched his fist, taking a step toward Han Li.

The other two cultivators from Xuanzhi City also stepped forward in unison.

Han Li grinned, standing with his hands behind his back, adopting a pose that said, “Come at me together if you dare.”

At this, Feng Wuchen and his group were furious. The three of them began to light up their acupoints, ready to move forward.

Gu Qianxun frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, then flashed to Han Li’s side.

Seeing this, the three from Tongyu City also moved, surrounding them with hostile expressions, though Duan Tong’s gaze fell on Gu Qianxun.

Xuan Yuanxing, standing nearby, frowned deeply. After much hesitation, he finally did not move, only casting an inquiring glance at Chen Yang, who was at the front of the line.

Seeing that Qin Yuan beside him showed no intention of stopping him, Chen Yang frowned and was about to step forward.

At that moment, a figure suddenly flashed beside Han Li, and another person appeared.

Han Li’s heart stirred slightly, and even his eyes showed a hint of surprise.

For that person was none other than the pig-faced youth Fang Chan, who always had a greasy animal leg in his hand when not fighting.

Even now, he had not stopped chewing, his face completely indifferent.

Among the top sixteen, the three with clearly superior combat strength now stood together.

This made even the combined forces of Tongyu City and Xuanzhi City have to think twice.

Sun Tu, who had originally planned to sit on the sidelines, could no longer stay put when he saw Fang Chan join in. He stepped forward and scolded sternly, “At this critical moment, you still engage in infighting. Aren’t you afraid of making a spectacle of yourselves? What is the meaning of this?”

Han Li glanced at the Puppet City side and saw that they were indeed all watching, with no lack of mockery in their eyes.

“City Lord Sun’s reprimand is well taken. It is indeed our fault as juniors,” Gu Qianxun said, going along with the flow.

At this point, Qin Yuan and the others also approached with hostile expressions, putting on a show of scolding each of them, and the farce finally came to an end.

“Daoist Li, were you really planning to fight them here?” Gu Qianxun transmitted after everyone returned to their places.

“And you? Were you really planning to stand with me and fight them?” Han Li asked in return.

“I… we are from the same city, we should stand together, right?” Gu Qianxun hesitated slightly.

“Don’t worry, we won’t fight here. City Lord E Kuai won’t stand by and do nothing,” Han Li transmitted with a smile.

“So you deliberately provoked him?” Gu Qianxun raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

“I wouldn’t say that. He clearly came at me himself. But I am a bit surprised—why did Fang Chan side with me?” Han Li said, looking at the pig-faced youth with a hint of confusion.

“Probably because you warned him during that last encounter? This man is born with an incomplete heart, but he understands gratitude better than most,” Gu Qianxun said with a smile.

“There seems to be no other reason,” Han Li nodded and said.

“No wonder they’re picking on you. I’m also curious—what were you looking at while exchanging glances with the Puppet City people?” Gu Qianxun pretended to be serious and asked.

“Nothing, just taking a look…” Han Li said with an awkward smile.

“What, have you taken a fancy to some woman from Puppet City? Don’t say I didn’t warn you—though the women of Puppet City are attractive, they are not only skilled in puppet arts but also adept in seduction techniques. If you’re not careful, they’ll steal your soul, leaving only a shell to be made into an obedient, submissive puppet.” Gu Qianxun curled her lips and teased.

“Daoist Gu, have you heard some gossip from Madam Liuhua and come to make fun of me?” Han Li asked with a helpless smile.

Gu Qianxun smiled, then switched to voice transmission and said:

“My father… Madam Liuhua truly thinks highly of you. He sincerely wants to take you as his disciple, even if it means serving by his side for ten thousand years. For many, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Why must you…”

Although he had already acknowledged Madame Liuhua as his biological father, Gu Qianxun still found it difficult to address him that way.

"How I wish I could do the same, but unfortunately I have urgent matters that cannot be delayed," Han Li replied with a wry smile.

"Alas... However, he also said that opportunity depends on both chance and fate. Even if you are unwilling to become his disciple, after you return from the Great Ruins, given his temperament, he will surely not stand idly by and ignore the Black Calamity Insect afflicting you," Gu Qianxun sighed softly and transmitted his voice.

"That's hard to say. But if I calculate the days, the blood plasma wine I buried in the Xuan City Villa should be about ready..." Han Li said with a smile.

"Brother Li, Brother Li, are you saying that unless Madame Liuhua relents and removes the Black Calamity Insect, you won't bring out the blood plasma wine?" Gu Qianxun asked, a hint of a smile flickering across his face.

"Haha, how dare I, how dare I..." Han Li laughed freely, noncommittal.

Just as the two were conversing, five figures suddenly emerged from the Star Falcon Flying Boat and stood at its prow.

Among the five, the three in front were Madame Liuhua, E Kuai, and Sha Xin.

Behind E Kuai and Sha Xin stood Shi Chuankong, his face covered in bone armor, and the mysterious woman wearing a bamboo hat.

The moment Han Li saw these people, his expression immediately tightened.

Her gaze swept briefly over Shi Chuankong before settling on the woman in the bamboo hat.

The bamboo hat was already adorned with black gauze, and the woman seemed to have an additional veil over her face, making her features impossible to discern. Only her delicate figure, outlined by the gauze dress, was fully revealed.

"So similar... too similar..." Han Li's heart stirred again, and his brow furrowed involuntarily.

"Fellow Daoists of Xuan and Kui cities, now that the Star Falcon Flying Boat is ready, today is the time for us to ride the wind and waves, straight into the Great Ruins. Although the spatial storms within this canyon are not as perilous as in other places, they are still not to be underestimated. When we enter, we still need everyone to cooperate fully and jointly activate the Star Falcon restrictions on board to achieve victory against the odds." At this point, E Kuai swept his gaze over the crowd and spoke first.

His voice was deep and resonant, like the sound of a bell or chime, stirring the hearts of all present.

"Our journey here has been arduous, and success or failure hinges on this one move. I hope everyone can temporarily set aside past grievances and truly cooperate this once." Sha Xin spoke next, after E Kuai's words fell.

Her voice was the complete opposite of E Kuai's, falling on the ears like a celestial maiden's soft chant, full of inspiration.

Upon hearing this, the people of Xuan and Wei cities felt their spirits stirred, each eager to try, ready to make a concerted effort and charge into the Great Ruins.

"Next, I will teach you the method for activating the Star Falcon restrictions. Once we board the boat, you will need to exert your full strength." Madame Liuhua said.

Upon hearing this, the crowd gradually fell silent, each person concentrating and listening attentively.

Lady Liuhua then began to explain in detail the specific methods for activating the prohibition and some precautions.

After everyone indicated they had remembered, Lady Liuhua, still uneasy, explained it again in detail.

Once all preparations were complete, E Kuai gave the order: "Board the ship!"

"Yes."

The people of Xuankui and Liangcheng responded and leaped up one after another, beginning to board the Star Falcon Flying Boat.

In the center of the flying boat, a high ridge protruded, dividing the hull into two halves. On the left and right sides were two rows of open cabins, each containing rows of seats, all carved with a ring of circular runes.

Under Lady Liuhua's guidance, Han Li and the others came to the seats on the left side of the cabin and sat down in order.

The people of Kuicheng sat on the right side of the cabin, while E Kuai and a few others still stood at the bow.

After everyone was seated, E Kuai gave the order: "Set off."

Lady Liuhua was the first to walk into a circular formation at the bow of the Star Falcon Flying Boat and sat down cross-legged.

E Kuai and the others followed closely behind and sat down in several circular formations beside him.

They simultaneously formed hand seals and activated the formations, which shone with bright light. On the central ridge of the hull, a series of starlight lit up, standing erect like the sails of a sea vessel.

The entire Star Falcon Flying Boat shook violently, then swayed as it rose into the air, slowly ascending toward the sky.

When the flying boat reached over a hundred zhang in the void, Lady Liuhua shouted: "Activate the prohibition."

Hearing this, the people of Xuanwei and Liangcheng activated their mystical arts according to the method Lady Liuhua had taught earlier. Each person's body lit up with dozens of acupoints, and the circular runes beneath them also shone brightly.

As streams of light flowed out, the runes on the hull lit up one after another, spreading from the belly of the ship all the way to the wings on both sides, making the entire flying boat truly resemble a white falcon spreading its wings in the sky.

Han Li, seated within, felt his own acupoints resonate with the prohibition runes on the flying boat. He did not feel his own power being drawn out, but rather felt as if he were in a brilliant sea of stars, with his body being nourished in return, feeling very comfortable.

At this moment, Lady Liuhua changed her hand seals and pressed several times on the deck before her. The two largest runes on the wings of the Star Falcon Flying Boat shone even brighter, emitting a trembling hum.

Han Li sensed something and looked up into the sky. He saw that the stars seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, suddenly becoming brighter. Two thick beams of white starlight fell from the sky, striking the two wings of the Star Falcon Flying Boat, causing the entire ship to shake with a roar.

The people in the cabin cried out in surprise and hurriedly activated the flying boat with all their might.