Chapter 1087

Han Li and the others also stood up, and Han Li Senior took a few steps forward, walking to the side of the giant cauldron, muttering incantations under his breath, and with a single hand raised, a blue 'colored' spell struck it.

The giant cauldron immediately emitted a buzzing sound, blue light blazed forth, its volume rapidly shrinking, and in the blink of an eye it became fist-sized, hovering in midair.

And on the ground beneath the cauldron, a strange black hole appeared, and at the same time a crystalline ice ladder slanted downward, unknown where it led.

Han Li Senior waved a hand at the small cauldron, drawing it into his wide sleeve, and led the way down.

Bai Mengxin and the blue-robed middle-aged man followed closely behind.

The old woman and the gray-robed monk exchanged a glance, then also followed down.

Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly at the hole for a moment, the corner of his mouth 'revealing' a hint of a smile that was not quite a smile, then likewise followed down.

After entering not far, the originally dark passage became bright.

At this point everyone could see clearly, the passage walls on all sides were actually built of black ice, and at intervals, a piece of moonstone the size of a chicken egg was inlaid in the wall, flashing with light, as if one were in a crystal palace.

After walking down over a hundred zhang, they finally reached the end of the ice ladder, and then the passage began to extend straight in a certain direction.

Although Han Li, the old woman, and others were walking this passage for the first time, each was experienced, so none showed surprise, instead each remained calm, as if strolling in their own courtyard.

After walking for the time it takes to eat a meal, everyone finally emerged from the ice passage into an underground hall. This hall was built of ordinary green jade, appearing exceptionally ancient, as if it had existed for a long time.

However, facing Han Li and the others at the far end of the hall was not a wall, but a huge stone gate, 'milky' 'white', twenty or thirty zhang high, its surface covered with layers of runic formations and some unknown strange patterns, flashing with various 'colored' spiritual light.

What startled Han Li even more was that in front of this stone gate stood a group of cultivators, numbering sixteen or seventeen, each at Nascent Soul cultivation, although most were early Nascent Soul, such a large number was still astonishing.

Among them Bai Yaoyi and a gray-haired old man stood at the forefront of the crowd.

Han Li blinked, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the monk and Bai Mengxin and others.

Bai Mengxin and the others remained calm and composed, while the monk and the old woman unconsciously furrowed their brows, a flash of surprise in their eyes, clearly the appearance of so many people here exceeded their expectations.

"Fellow Daoist Han Li, who are these fellow Daoists?" the gray-robed monk could not help but ask.

"Master need not be surprised. These are all elders of this palace; to enter the Xuanyu Cave of the Xu Ling Hall, we must have their assistance! Only by relying on the extreme cold of the Xuanyu Cave within the hall can I break through my bottleneck and gain an additional ten percent certainty." Han Li Senior turned his head, giving a slight smile.

"Xu Ling Hall!" the monk exclaimed in shock.

The old woman's eyes flashed with sharp light upon hearing this, and even Han Li's expression 'moved'.

"Several fellow Daoists outside must have seen the three Xu Ling Halls in the midst of the secret realm. Although they share the same name, each has its own mysteries, and the Xuanyu Cave lies within one of them. Furthermore, the true entrance to the Xu Ling Hall is not the three main gates outside, but each has a secret passage leading directly underground." The blue-robed middle-aged man also said with a smile.

Han Li had already noticed this blue-robed man; although Han Li Senior had not introduced him, he knew the other was a cultivator of the Small Extreme Shared Palace who practiced another cold flame. Though this person appeared ordinary in appearance, his gaze was somewhat gloomy, prompting Han Li to pay him extra attention.

At this time, Bai Yaoyi and the other cultivators who had been waiting long also came forward.

"Grand Elder, you truly intend to open the Xu Ling Hall. Is this not somewhat against the rules? Our Small Extreme Palace has always opened the Xu Ling Hall only when the palace faces imminent disaster and is unable to repel enemies. Moreover, this time allowing outside cultivators to enter the Xuanyu Cave is unprecedented." The gray-haired old man had a large blue patch on his cheek; although he similarly bowed to Han Li Senior, his tone was arrogant and unyielding.

Han Li was startled by these words.

How dare a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator be so rude to Han Li Senior? After all, their cultivation levels differed vastly!

Not only Han Li, but the old woman and the monk likewise showed surprise on their faces.

"Elder Ye, you overthink. Although the Xu Ling Hall is usually unsealed only in times of crisis, our ancestors never said it absolutely cannot be used in ordinary times. Now disciples outside have sent word that demon beasts are pressing in near our island; opening the Xu Ling Hall earlier is reasonable. Moreover, it is not all three Xu Ling Halls opening simultaneously; as Grand Elder, I certainly can make this decision." Han Li Senior said calmly, as if he had expected the gray-haired old man's opposition, showing no surprise.

"Even so, the Xu Ling Hall is a forbidden place of our palace; these three outside fellow Daoists entering it is still highly improper. As the Supervisory Elder, I will not agree to this." The gray-haired old man swept his gaze over Han Li and the three others, refusing to yield.

Upon hearing such impolite words, Han Li and the three others could not help but frown slightly, the old woman even letting out a cold snort, her face showing displeasure.

"Junior Brother Ye, as the keeper of the Supervisory Treasure, you indeed have the qualifications to oppose this elder's decision. But if I gain the agreement of two-thirds of the Guardians, your opposition will be invalid." Han Li Senior said without changing expression, calmly.

But Han Li paid attention and noticed that when mentioning the Supervisory Treasure, this late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator actually twitched the corner of his eye slightly, as if somewhat wary.

Han Li was also startled.

Could the Supervisory Treasure refer to the Heaven-Piercing Treasure or some imitation of a spiritual treasure? If so, a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator would indeed have the capability to fight a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

And this gray-haired old man appears to have formed his own faction within the Small Extreme Palace, vaguely able to contend with Han Li Senior. Otherwise, he would not dare to be so obstinate.

But now, upon hearing Han Li Senior's words, the old man's expression changed abruptly, he turned back to glance at his fellow disciples behind him, and actually several had evasive glances, not daring to meet his gaze directly.

The gray-haired old man's heart sank.

"I say why Junior Brother Jin and others were all dispatched outside—it turns out Han Li Senior had already calculated this. In that case, this elder will not play the villain; I hope Senior Brother truly succeeds in breaking through the bottleneck. Ye Mou will go above to patrol first, to prevent those demon beasts from finding a gap." The old man's expression was somewhat unpleasant, but he still maintained a semblance of composure, then his body moved and he strode out of this hall.

Han Li Senior did not detain him, merely coldly watching his solitary figure disappear at the entrance.

"Fellow junior disciples, prepare to break the seal." The blue-robed middle-aged man no longer hesitated, speaking to the cultivators.

Immediately, among the Small Extreme Palace elders, no one had any objections; they each took out a generally styled jade pendant from their persons, then offered them into midair, emitting spiritual light of various 'colors'.

Han Li saw the jade pendant and was startled, but immediately acted as if nothing had happened. These magical tools were actually identical to the jade pendant Han Li Senior had given him and then taken back. He glanced askance at Han Li Senior, but did not see him take out that prepared one.

And at this moment, under the leadership of the blue-robed middle-aged man, a chorus of incantations issued from the cultivators' mouths, and immediately those jade pendants began to blaze with light, transforming into large or small orbs of light, which, driven by the incantations, flew upward to the same point and 'shot' forth, then condensed together, beginning to elongate and deform, actually transforming into a five-'colored' female light-shadow.

This woman was tall and slender, her features blurred, but a pair of bright eyes sparkled, like stars in the heavens, clear and unforgettable.

And upon seeing this light-shadow appear, all the Small Extreme Palace cultivators, including Han Li Senior, rushed toward it, bowing slightly, their faces solemn and respectful.

Han Li and the others saw this, and no longer remained unaware. This manifested woman is most likely the ancient cultivator who founded the Small Extreme Palace; otherwise, a mere phantom could not inspire such reverence among cultivators.

But she is actually a female cultivator, which greatly exceeded Han Li's expectation. He could not help but ponder, what connection does this woman have with the Xu Tian Hall of the 'Chaotic' Star Sea?

If there were truly no connection between the two, he would naturally not believe it.

Whether it is the similarity between Xu Ling Hall and Xu Tian Hall, or the appearance of the Ganlan Bingyan, it cannot be mere coincidence.

While Han Li was thinking thus, the woman's light-shadow, under the cultivators' urging, slowly flew toward that stone gate.

Then with a "puchi" sound, as soon as the light-shadow touched the stone gate, it burst open on its own, various 'colored' spiritual light flashing on the gate and then vanishing.

The runic spiritual light on the huge stone gate began to disappear, and in the blink of an eye it became plain and unadorned, devoid of any spiritual aura within.

At this moment, suddenly a crackling 'chaotic' sound rang out, and from the void above the stone gate numerous jade pendants appeared, one by one devoid of spirituality, falling down. The Small Extreme Palace cultivators all raised their hands to retrieve them, hurriedly drawing their own pendants back into their hands.

Han Li Senior saw this, a smile appearing on his face, and immediately took a few steps forward, his sleeves aimed at the stone gate, giving a light sweep.

A sweep of blue rosy light rolled out, like a gentle breeze brushing the face, striking the stone gate, and the gate likewise seemed as if made of paper, silently splitting in two and opening inward.

The crowd had not yet had time to look inside the gate, when Han Li Senior suddenly swayed his figure and retreated to a distance, simultaneously letting out a solemn great shout:

"Fellow junior disciples, be careful!"

Han Li was startled, not yet understanding what was happening, when a heaven-shaking, earth-shaking roar came from within the stone gate, followed as if countless fierce beasts simultaneously roared, a white misty cold seal surged out from within, spreading ice wherever it passed, the ground and hall pillars crystal-clear and flashing, while within the cold air came the sound of thunder intermingled.

The cultivators were greatly alarmed; those with weaker cultivation fled backward in disorder, retreating three zhang; those with stronger cultivation either emitted light shields to resist, or offered protective treasures.

The white 'colour' cold wind swept through the entire hall in an instant.

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