Chapter 2144: Volume Ten: War of the Demon Realm Chapter 2119 Guangyuan Studio

"I checked some special channels and looked into the geological maps around our sī mine, and found that not far from the sī mine is a mineral vein owned by the City Lord's Mansion. 【WM Network】 It's said to be a mineral vein with extreme-grade vein potential, so valuable that even the City Lord's Mansion personnel have been reluctant to mine it, leaving it untouched until now." Wuyou said slowly.

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying the rare ores we discovered actually belong to the City Lord's Mansion?" The demon youth jumped up in alarm, though still somewhat doubtful.

"Exactly. I've thought it over carefully. Given our stolen sī mine, at best it's only marginally connected to a medium-grade vein. Even if we pushed to the limit, we couldn't possibly produce such astronomical amounts of extreme-grade ore. Most likely, during mining we deviated from the original vein direction and accidentally tapped into the City Lord's Mansion's extreme-grade vein. Such intersections of mineral veins have happened before. It's just that we've been lucky, secretly mining for so long without being discovered by the City Lord's Mansion guards." Wuyou said solemnly.

This time, even the other demon men and women turned pale.

Without question, the City Lord's Mansion, backed by the Holy Ancestor of Bluewater Lake, is the largest power in the Bluewater Lake region. Other big and small forces, even if they have some personal affinities behind the scenes, dare not openly oppose the City Lord's Mansion.

They, being existences below the Void Refinement and Spirit Transformation stages, would surely meet a predictable fate if they provoked such a power that one must normally look up to.

Instantly, even the demoness with a delicate face lost any trace of reluctance, instead becoming frightened.

So, don't hold onto any false hopes anymore. This time, simply making it out of Bluewater Lake with your lives intact is already the best possible outcome. That's why I only sought outsiders to buy this batch of ore and sold it at such a low price—it's all based on this reality. The huge sum of magic stones from selling the ore might even become our last lifeline. Of course, if we truly manage to escape safely, this fortune will naturally be shared among everyone. Wuyou seems to have already thought everything through and laid it all out clearly.

Upon hearing Wuyou's final words, the other demons finally regained some color in their faces, naturally agreeing repeatedly.

As for tomorrow's transaction, these people had nothing particular to worry about.

After all, this transaction must remain unseen, and the location is not in the wilderness, so neither side could act otherwise. Otherwise, if other powers were provoked, we'd all suffer together.

But even so, Wuyou had prepared some contingencies and gave detailed instructions one by one, telling his subordinates to follow them precisely. 3∴35686688

Others naturally had no objections, immediately agreeing in turn, then splitting into several batches and continuously leaving the hall.

……

At this moment, Han Li rode a beast cart straight toward the eastern city gate, speeding off.

After several hours, the beast cart exited the city gate and continued along a gravel road for a long time, finally arriving at a patch of lush green dense forest near the shore.

When the cart stopped, Han Li immediately floated down from it and glanced toward the forest.

At the forest's edge, a winding small path faintly visible led straight into a secluded, tranquil place deep within.

Han Li's eyes shifted, and he instantly fixed on a towering ancient tree beside the path.

On the main trunk of this great tree, a nondescript yellow wooden plaque was nailed, inscribed with three exceptionally elegant ancient characters in faint black ink.

"Guangyuan Studio"

Han Li softly read the ancient characters on the plaque, then strode into the forest path with a faint smile.

After walking less than thirty or forty zhang into the forest and making a few turns, the original entrance vanished from sight.

But just then, a tall, gray-robed old man suddenly appeared ahead on the path.

His face was flushed red, his eyes long and narrow!

He held a silver-bound ancient book, leaning against a large tree by the roadside, shaking his head and swaying as he read with great interest.

Han Li merely glanced at the old man, realizing he was only a Void Refinement cultivator or so, frowned slightly, and continued forward.

As he passed the old man, he merely released a hint of Void Refinement-level aura, didn't even turn his head, and flashed past.

Meanwhile, the old man didn't lift his head during this time, simply reading his book to himself, as if lost in delusion.

But when Han Li's disappearing figure vanished around the bend in the path, the gray-robed old man suddenly lifted his head upward—his face was actually covered in hidden cold sweat.

"Such immense spiritual pressure—clearly not an ordinary Void Refinement existence. Must notify the others behind not to intercept; this person has the qualifications to enter Guangyuan Studio." The old man muttered a few words, then a finger suddenly flashed rapidly across the cover of the silver book in his hand.

Several faint black characters appeared, but immediately flashed and vanished into the silver cover, unseen.

After exhaling deeply, the old man's form blurred, then burst into a cluster of green light that flickered once beneath the tree and vanished.

……

After the time it takes to eat a meal, Han Li followed the path to the center of the forest, where a five-story high pavilion stood.

The pavilion was entirely carved from a type of milk-white wood, and from its slightly yellowish hue, it appeared quite ancient, having existed for many years.

Yet before the pavilion stood a green-robed maiden quietly waiting.

The maiden had a beautiful face, about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed as a maidservant.

Upon seeing Han Li appear, she immediately approached without panic, performed a clasped-hand salute, and said to him:

"Xī'ér, greets Senior. Please follow me; my mistress awaits your arrival upstairs."

"Your mistress? I didn't expect the owner of Guangyuan Studio to be a fairy maiden. If so, then lead the way!" Han Li didn't think much of it, nodded, and followed the green-clad maiden toward the pavilion's main gate.

Upon entering the gate, Han Li immediately felt a layer of inexplicable chill, nearly making him shiver, but his internal spiritual power soon circulated, dispelling the strangeness.

However, after extending his spiritual sense around, he detected faint, intermittent fluctuations of a restrictive barrier in the void.

Clearly, a powerful restriction had been laid here—one that could make even him sense danger, indicating the barrier was no trivial matter.

On the first floor of the pavilion, aside from a few simple tables and chairs and several ancient paintings hanging on the walls, there was nothing else.

Han Li glanced at the painting nearest him, then scanned the others a few times, when a faint smile crossed his face, and he lightly nodded.

On the ancient painting, a rust-streaked, mottled bronze mirror was vividly depicted, lifelike, yet somewhat incomplete.

The other three paintings respectively depicted a blue sword flashing with cold light, a golden spear, and a black tablet—three items in total.

"What, Senior has already seen something? If so, to discover the profundity of this Four Symbols Diagram so quickly—your eyesight is exceptional, enough to rank among the top hundred visitors of this studio!" The green-clad maid Xī'ér flashed a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"Only top hundred?" Han Li heard this, his expression noncommittal.

"Senior, don't underestimate this top hundred—most are cultivators of your level, Void Refinement seniors. As for those slightly lower in cultivation, they are still renowned figures." The green-clad maid hurriedly explained.

"Top hundred, heh heh! If outsiders truly thought these four paintings were just an ordinary Four Symbols Formation, once trapped in this restriction, falling and dying would only be a matter of time. You've hidden another formation elsewhere—this is the real killing move of this place. I don't know how many of your studio's guests have also seen through this." Han Li coldly chuckled, then suddenly spoke out.

"Senior's eyes are like torches! Those who can see through the false Four Symbols Formation are naturally few—fewer than ten. Moreover, most of them are Demon Lord-level seniors. Since you've reached this point, by regulation you need not undergo the second trial and may directly see my mistress. My mistress awaits guests on the third floor." The green-clad maiden, this time truly startled, blinked and replied.

"Good, I also wish to meet soon the owner of Guangyuan Studio, said to be omnipotent in the Bluewater Lake region." Han Li naturally had no objection, nodded in agreement.

Thus, under the guidance of the green-clad Xī'ér, Han Li easily entered the second floor of the pavilion.

This level differed from the first: aside from a few simple wooden chairs, everywhere were placed colorful flowerpots, containing many unknown spiritual grasses and flowers.

Before these flowerpots stood a maiden with white hair but an exceptionally youthful face, a demon woman.

When Han Li entered, the woman was holding a green jade bottle in one hand, from which a stream of clear spring water flowed, as she watered a plant whose entire body was bright red.

"Aunt Zhu, this senior is the guest the Young Lady wishes to see today. He has already recognized the second restriction on the first level, so Xier brought him directly to see the Young Lady." The green-clad young lady said respectfully to the woman.

"Oh, being able to discern the second restriction as well is indeed extraordinary. Aunt, you have concealed part of your cultivation, haven't you?"

The woman originally had a calm expression, but upon hearing the green-clad young lady's words, she glanced at Han Li lightly, only to have her expression change slightly in an instant, her face turning stern as she asked.

Han Li, upon seeing this woman, instantly recognized her as a demon venerable, and moreover one who had achieved great completion in the late stage. Upon hearing that she had seen through his concealed cultivation, he narrowed his eyes, and after a moment, slowly said:

"I also did not expect to meet someone of your cultivation here, Fellow Daoist. However, please rest assured, I concealed my cultivation not for any other reason, but merely for convenience in conducting affairs."

"I do believe that. Those of our cultivation level indeed find it unsuitable to frequently reveal themselves before too many people. But since you, Fellow Daoist, have come personally to this studio, I shall now take you to see the Young Lady. Xier, you may withdraw first." The demon woman's expression quickly regained composure; after saying these two lines, she suddenly commanded the green-clad young lady.

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