Chapter 2092: Volume Ten: War of the Demon Realm, Chapter 2667: Plan

Volume Ten: Battle of the Demon Realm, Chapter 2607: Plan

As the rosy light split apart, a maiden clad in five-colored feathered robes suddenly appeared on the mountain peak.

The maiden had snow-white skin and exquisite features—she was none other than the Ye family's Dual Cultivation female cultivator.

"Indeed, it's Fairy Ye, but you've only just arrived now—could it be you weren't staying in Phantom Night City before?" The elder of the Long family smiled faintly and asked.

"I only arrived here half a month ago. I haven't cultivated any demonic arts, so even with a false demon pearl to conceal myself, I dare not easily enter the city. I intended to observe for a few more days before considering entry. However, seeing Long Brother and Fellow Daoist Hui, you seem to have arrived not long ago either. And Fellow Daoist Hui's condition... isn't looking good!" The feather-robed maiden blinked, glanced at the black-robed man, and spoke with some confusion.

"How embarrassing. I encountered many setbacks on the road and only arrived here yesterday—still not as early as you, Fairy. However, Fellow Daoist Han seems to have been here for some time already. Junior Brother Hui, on the other hand, happened to encounter that ant queen while breaking out of the ant sea, and due to a momentary lapse, was poisoned by her. Fortunately, he had taken an antitoxin pill, and I assisted him in circulating his energy to refine it along the way, which caused the delay. Fortunately, Junior Brother Hui is now free of serious harm." The Long family elder sighed and replied.

"No wonder Brother Hui looks like this—he was poisoned by the ant queen. As for my late arrival, I mistakenly entered a dangerous place in the wilderness and was trapped there for months before finally escaping by sheer luck." The feather-robed maiden first seemed to realize something, then, still shaken, briefly explained her situation.

"I, Han, didn't encounter much trouble on the road—I arrived at Phantom Night City several months ago and have been residing there. However, aside from the three of you, there's no trace of the Spirit Clan or Fellow Daoist Lin either! Have they not arrived yet due to some mishap?" Han Li frowned and said.

"That shouldn't be the case. Fellow Daoist Lin is also a Dual Cultivation cultivator and skilled in several top-tier evasion techniques—even if he encounters a stronger foe, escape should pose no problem. And the Spirit Clan acts as a group, so it's even less likely anything has happened to them." The Long family elder's expression darkened slightly as he pondered, then spoke.

"That's hard to say. I used to think the same. But in reality, the Demon Realm's wastelands are far more dangerous than the barbaric lands of our Spirit Realm. Even I was trapped in one place for months. It's not impossible that they encountered some irresistible, non-human trouble in the wastelands." The feather-robed maiden's expression turned serious as she disagreed.

"Forget it—saying more now is pointless. Since the agreed time hasn't yet arrived, we'll just keep waiting. By the way, Fellow Daoist Han, since you've been here so long, you must already know everything about the city—

Could you perhaps explain a bit?

See if we might first obtain that eight-legged magic lizard before proceeding." After a moment of silence, the Long family elder said this to Han Li.

"That's naturally no problem!" Han Li replied without hesitation upon hearing it.

"Phantom Night City is currently controlled jointly by the four great families and forces like the Wan Nu Tower. However, the eight-legged magic lizards are possessed only by the four great families. To obtain one, you must approach one of these families. But these lizards are extremely important to the four great families—they're tied to their foothold in Phantom Night City, so acquiring them through ordinary means is outright impossible. I was fortunate: upon my arrival, I happened to establish a slight connection with the Bai family, helped them resolve a thorny matter, and in return obtained two eight-legged magic lizards from them. However, getting more from the Bai family is unlikely. Still, you three could try your luck with the other families—see if you can exchange some rare treasures for a few magic lizards. As I understand it,

the Ning and Fang families seem to..."

Han Li also had nothing to hide and began recounting everything he knew in detail.

It took him the length of a full meal to explain the situation in Phantom Night City and the status of the major powers to about seven or eight tenths.

When Han Li said he had already obtained two eight-legged magic lizards, the Long family elder and his companions were energized, showing delight. But after hearing more details about the city's situation, they all fell into thoughtful expressions.

When Han Li finally fell silent, the Long family elder, lost in thought, said:

"Congratulations, Brother Han, for solving the magic lizard issue first—but I just heard these eight-legged magic lizards are the very foundation of the four great families' foothold here. Why is that? Could you elaborate? Also, roughly how many magic lizards might each family possess?"

"According to my knowledge, each family has only several dozen of these magic lizards. They value them precisely because they can freely enter and exit the Phantom Howling Desert. With these lizards, the few major demon clans of the Phantom Howling Desert can penetrate deep into its interior to seek rare material sources and continuously transport them out. Consider this: with such great interests at stake, these families would consider these magic beasts far too few to ever lightly give them to outsiders." Lin Li spoke calmly.

Upon hearing this, the Long family elder and his two companions' expressions darkened—they too felt this was indeed a difficult situation.

After a long pause, the feather-robed maiden softly asked Han Li again:

"Brother Han, what exactly did you help the Bai family resolve that earned you two magic lizards outright!"

"Nothing much—I was merely invited by the Bai family to deal with a demon beast in the desert. But such matters must occur at just the right time to be possible, so they can't be replicated." Han Li gave a faint smile in reply.

"Your luck truly is extraordinary!" The feather-robed maiden said, somewhat enviously.

"Just fortune." Han Li gave a wry smile, adopting an air of nonchalance.

"Here's what I propose: I once cultivated demonic arts, and using them to activate the false demon pearl, I should fear no detection in Phantom Night City. I'll enter the city together with Fellow Daoist Han shortly. For safety, Junior Brother Hui and Fairy Ye should remain outside the city for now, find a place to settle temporarily, and maintain constant contact with us. While we wait for the others to arrive, Fellow Daoist Han and I will see if we can obtain a few more magic lizards. If, in the end, there truly is no other way, we may have no choice but to infiltrate one of the families—or, well, steal—a few magic lizards. However, this method risks provoking powerful enemies and is only a last resort." After a moment of reflection, the Long family elder finally declared his decision.

"Very well. Phantom Night City differs from Blood Raven City—it's teeming with demon lords. If someone truly cultivates a special art and only uses a false demon pearl to conceal it, I'd indeed feel uneasy. I'll stay outside with Fellow Daoist Hui. As for the magic lizards, you two, Long Brother and Han Brother, will need to put in extra effort." The feather-robed maiden nodded in agreement.

The black-robed man had no objections and likewise gave a slight nod.

Thereafter, the Long family elder and his companions began discussing specific plans and steps, considering every possible contingency, and felt there were no major issues. Eventually, each of the four flew away on their escape lights from the mountain peak.

Han Li did not act together with the Long family elder but entered Phantom Night City one after the other.

Half a day later, a mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator appeared in the City's Holy Spirit Institute.

It was the Long family elder, whose cultivation had been suppressed.

The Long family elder not only concealed his Dual Cultivation cultivation but also rented a pavilion far from Han Li's residence.

No one could possibly infer any connection between the two from this outward appearance.

Days passed in this manner. Aside from occasionally sending messages via magical devices to the Long family elder and others, Han Li remained in his residence, alternating between deep and surface-level study, spending each day in closed-door contemplation of the Magic Crystal Puppet Technique.

During this period, the Long family elder thoroughly explored Phantom Night City and attempted to exchange rare treasures with the major families for eight-legged magic lizards—yet, as expected, all attempts failed.

Yet the Long family elder felt no discouragement. In his view, whether in the Spirit Realm or the Demon Realm, nothing in the world is truly unexchangeable—it only depends on whether the offered item holds sufficient value.

Thus, he did not give up but instead seized this opportunity to establish a connection with a senior disciple of the Zhao family, and soon they were in frequent contact.

Han Li, through his message transmissions, naturally understood all this, but had no intention of intervening—he merely observed quietly to see whether the Long family elder's method would truly work.

However, before any results emerged, news came from outside the city that the Holy Spirits had finally arrived at Phantom Night City.

Upon hearing this, the Long family elder was overjoyed. He once again left the city with Han Li to meet the Spirit Clan at a place outside the city and saw again the Thousand Autumn Holy Maiden and other Holy Spirits.

Although the Spirit Clan members arrived somewhat later than the Long family elder's group, several Holy Spirits were present, none missing, and all appeared safe and unharmed.

Yet during their meeting, Han Li couldn't help but glance several times at the Holy Spirit named "Zhi Shui."

Whether it was his imagination or not, he faintly felt that this pale-faced Instrument Spirit Clan Holy Spirit seemed to have a more yin and cold aura than before—just a little closer, and he felt a sense of mental unrest.

Han Li extended his spiritual sense several times toward her, but upon contacting her body, it vanished like a mud cow entering the sea—no effect at all—making him frown even more.

Aside from that, the discussions between the Long family elder and the Spirit Clan proceeded exceptionally smoothly. Immediately, besides the Thousand Autumn Holy Maiden and the old scholar called "Cang Xing" (who had concealed his cultivation to enter the city), the other Spirit Clan members gathered with the feather-robed maiden and remained outside the city, awaiting news.

With two assistants now, the Long family elder continued his plan, eventually locking onto the Zhao family as his target—gradually increasing the exchange value on one hand, while on the other, using various methods to probe the location of the Zhao family's raised magic lizards and the defensive conditions around their residence.

Clearly, the Long family elder and his associates were preparing for the possibility that the exchange might fail, making ready for forceful action as a contingency. (To be continued)

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