Chapter 1205: Battle of the Star Palace (V)

The blue 'color' light curtain radiated brilliantly, and immediately a strange circular passage about ten feet wide appeared in the middle.

Han Li glanced at it indifferently, then transformed into a green rainbow and flew into it; after a few flickers, he appeared inside the restriction.

The light curtain trembled again, and the passage vanished just like that.

"Daoist Han, you have finally arrived." The green rainbow flashed on the city gate, and after Han Li's figure appeared strangely, the female-dressed Ling Yuling pursed her red lips, and a hint of joy 'appeared' on her face.

"Since Fellow Daoist Ling invited me with a ten-thousand-li talisman, how could I possibly break my promise and not come?" Han Li replied with a smile.

"I thank Fellow Daoist Han for your great assistance. With you here, I believe the jumping clowns of the Nixing Alliance are nothing to fear. However, this is not the place to talk; Fellow Daoist, please come with me to the Shengshan. Elder Sun, go summon all the elders of our palace who are not on duty to gather in the Holy Hall; I have important matters to discuss." Ling Yuling invited while turning to the yellow-robed cultivator beside her and giving instructions.

"Yes, Palace Master!"

The yellow-robed cultivator had early Nascent Soul cultivation; when Han Li just appeared, he kept glancing over. After sweeping with his spiritual sense, he only felt that Han Li's magic power was unfathomable, and he could not see through Han Li's realm, which greatly shocked him, and a look of reverence appeared on his face. Upon hearing Ling Yuling's command, he immediately clasped his fists in agreement, then took out a stack of transmission talismans from his body and began sending talismans to those Holy Palace elders.

At this moment, Han Li's gaze shifted and fell upon the white-haired old man, and he said lightly to him.

"I did not expect that after so many years apart, Fellow Daoist Zhao not only retains his former grace but has also greatly increased his cultivation—this is truly a cause for celebration!"

The old man was none other than the Zhao-surnamed elder who had proposed dual cultivation with him on Silver Shark Island years ago; after only over a hundred years apart, this elder had, like Ling Yuling, advanced to the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

"Hehe, how could I possibly have such ability to advance to this realm? It is entirely due to the great assistance of the two former palace masters that allowed this old man to make further progress in his cultivation." Upon hearing this, the Zhao-surnamed elder gave a bitter laugh, as if there were some hidden matter involved.

"Oh, I see!" Han Li's eyes flickered a few times, and a thoughtful 'color' 'appeared' on his face.

"It turns out Elder Zhao and Brother Han are old acquaintances—this makes things even better. Let us first go to the Holy Hall, and then we can chat in detail." Ling Yuling pursed her lips and laughed lightly.

Han Li naturally had no objection and nodded.

Thereafter, the few of them rode their escape light, heading straight for the Shengshan in the center of Tianxing City.

Under Ling Yuling's guidance, Han Li flew directly to the highest level of the Shengshan and descended his escape light before what appeared to be an ordinary blue stone hall.

Han Li surveyed the stone hall a few times, and an unexpected 'color' 'appeared' on his face.

"What, Brother Han, do you find our palace's Holy Hall too ordinary?" Ling Yuling turned her head to glance at Han Li, then smiled charmingly.

"It is indeed beyond Han Li's expectations!" Han Li also did not hide his meaning and admitted frankly.

"This hall is indeed somewhat ordinary, but it is the place where our palace's founding ancestor once dwelled and cultivated, so it has always been preserved and has become an important site of our palace. Originally, outsiders were not allowed to enter this place at will. However, Brother Han, you have come from afar to lend aid, so naturally you are not included in that restriction." Ling Yuling explained with a smile.

"Although this hall is ordinary, its spiritual energy is unusually dense—it is indeed an excellent place for cultivation. I fear that throughout the Inner Star Sea, there are hardly any islands that can find such a good cultivation spot." Han Li nodded slightly, indicating his understanding.

Upon hearing this, Ling Yuling's face became even more delighted; she immediately led Han Li toward the stone hall's gate.

The dozen or so Holy Palace disciples guarding the gate hurriedly bowed to them; after glancing at Han Li, they all 'appeared' with a hint of curiosity.

Ling Yuling naturally would not explain anything to these gatekeepers; she took Han Li through the gate, passed a short corridor, and entered an ancient and simple great hall.

The few of them took their seats as host and guest.

"Brother Han, on your way here, you must have already learned of our palace's current situation?" Ling Yuling got straight to the point as soon as she sat down.

"Of course I know a little! Your palace's current situation is not very good!" Han Li replied without changing expression.

"Then Brother Han should also know that our palace originally held a great advantage. The reason the situation suddenly turned for the worse is merely that Wan Tianming suddenly advanced to the late Nascent Soul stage, becoming a great cultivator. This allowed the Nixing Alliance to gradually nibble away at our palace's outer forces, until even Star City was besieged. As long as Brother Han can tie down this person, our palace still has confidence in destroying the Nixing Alliance once again." Ling Yuling's expression became solemn as she spoke, and a hint of killing intent faintly 'appeared' between her brows.

"Does Fellow Daoist Ling want me to oppose that Wan Grand Sect Master?" Han Li's eyes flashed, and he asked calmly in return.

"Exactly, Brother Han, do you have any dissatisfaction?" Ling Yuling was startled and asked hesitantly.

"It is not dissatisfaction, but rather Fellow Daoist Ling may have mistaken something?" Han Li raised his eyebrows and spoke bluntly.

"A mistake? Could it be that Brother Han, you did not come this time to assist me?" Ling Yuling's face 'color' began to change.

"Of course not, but..." Han Li was about to say something when his voice suddenly stopped, and he turned his head toward the great hall's entrance.

Ling Yuling saw this and naturally followed his gaze.

The result was that, after only a moment, three cultivators walked in leisurely from outside the hall gate: one mid-Nascent Soul, two early Nascent Soul.

The mid-Nascent Soul cultivator was a purple-robed burly man with a pockmarked face; upon entering the hall, he did not immediately pay respects to Ling Yuling, but instead stared at Han Li with a hostile expression, giving off an air of lawlessness and defiance.

However, when this person's spiritual sense merely circled Han Li once, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his face 'color' became extremely ugly.

At this moment, Ling Yuling laughed and spoke:

"Elder Ma, you have come so quickly. Please take a seat first; we will wait for the other elders to arrive, then our palace will introduce a distinguished guest of the Holy Palace to you all."

"Hmm, this fellow Daoist's cultivation is profound and unfathomable; the palace master's solemn treatment of him is indeed warranted." The burly man's eyes shifted, his expression 'color' returning to normal; after forcing a smile at Han Li, he sat down on a chair to one side, and that lawless aura on him was greatly reduced.

The other two Holy Palace elders naturally could not see through Han Li's cultivation either, but seeing the purple-robed burly man so honest, they were startled and exchanged a glance, then immediately clasped their fists toward Ling Yuling and also sat down.

Ling Yuling saw this, raised her jade wrist, and lightly twirled her black hair with her fair five fingers; her clear eyes flashed with a cold 'color'.

Han Li sat nearby watching all this, yet 'appeared' with a half-smile, not-quite-smile expression.

Clearly, this Elder Ma seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the new Holy Palace Master, while Ling Yuling, this woman, took the opportunity to use my presence to fox-exploit-the-tiger's might. This left him feeling somewhat speechless and amused.

However, since Ling Yuling and he are old acquaintances, he would not mind this matter too much. After all, even if she does this, he will not lose a single hair.

As Elder Ma and his two companions arrived, the remaining Holy Palace elders also came one after another to the Holy Hall; upon seeing Han Li, this unknown great cultivator, they all started in surprise.

But these Nascent Soul elders—who among them is not an old 'crafty' and wily veteran? Although their spiritual senses could not sense Han Li's true realm, seeing that the arriving Elder Ma was extremely honest, their hearts trembled, and they all became exceptionally courteous.

In a short time, over twenty Holy Palace elders gathered in the great hall; aside from the Zhao-surnamed elder, the purple-robed burly man, and Ling Yuling herself being mid-Nascent Soul cultivators, the rest were all early Nascent Soul.

"Since the elders have mostly arrived, I will introduce a distinguished guest to you all. This is the guest elder personally appointed by the former palace master, Han Li, Fellow Daoist Han!" Upon seeing that the attendees were nearly all present, Ling Yuling rose slowly, lightly pointed a jade finger at Han Li, and introduced him with a 'chanting' 'chanting' laugh.

"Han Li! What, is he?" Among the elders present, someone had indeed heard of this name; upon hearing it, there was an immediate commotion, and one person even exclaimed in surprise. "Han Li's eyes flashed, and he looked toward the speaking Holy Palace elder—turns out to be a white-robed old man with a kind and benevolent appearance.

Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, then suddenly recalled something, and his face 'color' sank.

"I was wondering who it was—turns out I met this fellow Daoist in the Xu Tian Hall. I do not know where the fellow Daoist who presided over the opening of the Xu Tian Hall back then is now." Han Li's voice sounded somewhat gloomy.

Meanwhile, that white-robed elder's face had already turned deathly pale.

This person was actually the Holy Palace enforcement elder who, in the inner chamber of the Xu Tian Hall years ago, had nearly been pierced through the heart by his sword. When he first entered the great hall, he felt this person somewhat familiar, but for a moment he could not recall. However, that earlier exclamation suddenly triggered his memory of the Xu Tian Hall, and he naturally recognized him.

"What, Brother Han, you recognize Elder Ximen?" Ling Yuling naturally noticed Han Li's gloomy expression, her heart sank, and she still had to ask.

"Nothing much; back when I had not yet formed my Nascent Soul, I had some entanglements with this Fellow Daoist Ximen." Han Li's face 'color' went through several changes of sun and rain; having figured something out, his expression 'color' instantly returned to normal, and he said lightly.

"I see; if Elder Ximen truly offended you back then, I hope Brother Han, as an adult, will be magnanimous and not hold a grudge. Let us continue discussing how to deal with Wan Tianming." Upon hearing Han Li's light and casual words, Ling Yuling felt relieved, hurriedly brought up the matter with a smile, and then resumed talking about the previous topic.

After all, the Nixing Alliance is currently the Holy Palace's greatest threat!

And that white-robed elder, upon hearing Han Li's words, also felt somewhat relieved in his heart, but his face still hid a fearful 'color', and he could not truly calm down.

"Han Li doesn't know how the two saints spoke to you, Daoist Friend Yuling, back then. But the condition I agreed to at the beginning was only to lend a hand when you yourself faced a threat to your life and within the limits of my ability. I never said I would fight to the death with a fellow cultivator of the same level just for the existence or non-existence of your Star Palace," Han Li said slowly.

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire stone hall fell silent in an instant.

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