Chapter 174

After listening to the lecture and encouragement from Sect Master Zhong Lingdao, two deacon disciples walked into the hall, each holding a tray. 【Web】

On one tray lay a gold-rimmed storage bag, and on the other was a small pile of colorful mid-tier spirit stones. It seemed it was time to fulfill the promises made beforehand; this could also be considered a kind of pre-battle encouragement! Han Li thought with a bit of malice.

The mid-tier spirit stones were generally taken freely according to each person's needs. Han Li already had one earth-attribute and one fire-attribute spirit stone, so he took a blue water spirit stone from the tray, and no one competed with him for it.

But when it came to drawing magic tools from the storage bag, the disciples' expressions became solemn.

This storage bag was not quite the same as an ordinary one. For other storage bags, one only needed to extend their spiritual sense inside and then input spiritual power to extract items, whereas this bag blocked the spiritual sense of cultivators and did not require inputting spiritual power. One only needed to reach a hand inside to take out a magic tool that had been shrunk dozens of times. However, what exactly was taken out was hard to say; it all depended on the tactile sensation of the hand to judge.

It seemed this storage bag was specially refined for drawing magic tools; otherwise, its practical utility would be far less convenient than an ordinary storage bag, and who would use it!

Although they were all top-grade magic tools inside, defensive magic tools were clearly rarer than offensive ones, and whether they were all offensive or all defensive top-grade magic tools, their quality and utility still varied significantly.

Being able to draw a suitable magic tool would give one an extra chance of survival in the Blood Trial, so those people, especially disciples who were severely lacking in magic tools, were even more concerned.

Han Li did not pay much attention to this.

During his last trip to the marketplace, he had swept away all the treasures that the Myriad Treasure Pavilion had kept for many years. He had obtained two top-tier magic tools, not to mention that he had later obtained the Green Flood Dragon Flag and possessed several other top-grade magic tools.

Adding another top-grade magic tool was not enough to make him so excited.

By the time Han Li stepped forward, most people had already drawn theirs. As for what magic tools they had obtained, everyone tacitly did not speak, and certainly would not show them to others.

Han Li reached a hand into the bag and grabbed around randomly. A strangely shaped object appeared in his hand. His heart stirred, and without thinking, he grabbed it out of the storage bag and took a secret look. After being slightly stunned, he immediately put it away.

At this moment, the person behind him was already impatiently crowding forward. Seeing this, Han Li very tactfully gave up his place and returned to where he had been waiting.

Just as the drawing of magic tools ended, some people entered from outside the hall. Many were stewards that Han Li had seen when he first entered Yellow Maple Valley, and Uncle Wang and the Ye-surnamed old man whom Han Li despised extremely were also among them.

These people, contrary to their usual haughty demeanor, were all respectfully crowding around an old man with a square face in the middle, and not a single one dared to whisper to each other.

The old man looked to be in his fifties or sixties, with somewhat gray hair, but he was full of spirit and had a healthy complexion. His tiger-like eyes were imposing without anger, and one could tell at a glance that he was a person of unyielding character.

After his gaze swept over the disciples, Han Li immediately felt as if his internal organs were being seen clearly by this person, which made Han Li feel terrified in his heart.

At this moment, when Sect Master Zhong saw the old man enter, he hurriedly went up to greet him, calling him "Uncle-Master Li" repeatedly with great respect, even faintly bringing a hint of flattery, which left the disciples extremely astonished.

But the other stewards had normal expressions; not only did they not show any contempt, but after seeing the old man respond casually to Zhong Lingdao a few times, they showed great envy and jealousy, as if being able to speak to this old man and call him Uncle-Master was a rare honor.

Under the surprised gazes of Han Li and others who were in the dark, Sect Master Zhong introduced this old man to the disciples. It turned out that this "Uncle-Master Li" in his mouth was one of the few Core Formation ancestor-level figures whom Han Li and others had long heard of but had never seen—Ancestor Li.

This trip to the Forbidden Land would be led by Ancestor Li, and accompanying them would be five other stewards, including Uncle Wang.

As soon as Sect Master Zhong finished the introduction, Ancestor Li very crisply and neatly said the two words "Set off," ending his first meeting with Han Li and the other juniors, and then he was the first to leave the hall.

Han Li and the others stared at each other in astonishment, but urged by the other stewards, they hurriedly followed.

As soon as they walked out of the hall, the disciples gasped.

They saw that in the air outside the hall gate, a silver-glittering, huge monster over twenty feet long was hanging there. The oppressive aura brought by its massive body made everyone feel suffocated, while that Ancestor Li was standing on top of the monster's head, watching them coldly.

Han Li rubbed his eyes, his heart pounding as he took a few more close looks, only then seeing clearly that it was a rare silver giant python, except that this python was unusually large, and there was an extra black giant horn on its head, making it look even more ferocious and terrifying.

"This is the strength of a Core Formation cultivator; even such a demonic beast can be subdued and driven at will. It's too unbelievable!" Han Li was conquered by this ancestor's methods.

Thinking that when he reached the Core Formation stage, he would also have such great magic power, Han Li felt as if the blood in his whole body was flowing backward, and his whole body became excited.

Before seeing Ancestor Li, Han Li had always been vague about his own path of cultivation, without a clear understanding.

But after this shock, the unfathomable power of this ancestor became the clear figure for him to pursue on his cultivation path, and his confidence in achieving the Dao of cultivation became even more rock-solid.

"Everyone get on, stand still! The flight speed of my Silver-Armored Horned Python is much faster than your magic tools; it will only take two days to reach the place!"

Ancestor Li ignored the chaotic situation of the people below him, and after gently stroking the giant horn of the silver python, he ordered calmly.

Just like that, Han Li and the others stood on the giant python with their hearts in their mouths, traveling for two days and two nights, and finally flew to this nameless barren mountain.

This ancestor really didn't lie; the flight speed of this monster was indeed astonishingly fast, far beyond what Han Li and the other disciples could compare to with their magic tools. Of course, this also had a lot to do with them not having good flying magic tools.

Upon arriving here, the disciples learned from several stewards that this was the meeting place agreed upon with other immortal sects. Only when the people of the seven great sects were gathered would they set off together to open the Forbidden Land. Otherwise, relying on the power of a single sect, it would be impossible to enter the Forbidden Land.

The agreed time was tomorrow morning. But because the Forbidden Land was within the borders of Jianzhou, Yellow Maple Valley could be considered half a host, so the sect generally arrived one day early to wait for the other sects on this mountain.

Now the disciples could move freely, and tomorrow they would have to line up and wait together.

Since the stewards had said so, Han Li and the others naturally scattered, each doing their own thing on the mountain, making final preparations for the upcoming battle.

Thus, more than twenty yellow-robed disciples sat cross-legged, conserving their energy; some took out their magic tools and kept wiping them; others were lost in thought, looking worried.

But there were also a few who were calm and chatting as usual, as relaxed as if they were out on an outing. Han Li paid a little more attention to these people.

Just at this moment, footsteps came from behind, and Han Li frowned slightly. In order not to attract attention, he had deliberately chosen an inconspicuous corner to sit alone; how could someone come to this place?

"Junior Brother Han, right! I am Xiang Xiang Zhili, and I would like to talk to Junior Brother about tomorrow's Forbidden Land trip! This concerns Junior Brother's life and death; I wonder if we can talk together?"

A voice that was old but full of smoothness came, making Han Li's brows knit even tighter.

With such posturing, although he hadn't seen the face of the voice's owner, Han Li had already labeled him as a slippery and untrustworthy person, and he guessed that there was definitely nothing good about him looking for him!

But Han Li understood that it is better to offend a gentleman than a villain. Although he was full of reluctance, he still reluctantly turned around and looked at the old and young pair who had come behind him.

【Web】