Chapter 2232

Original: "It turns out that senior already knew about the matter of the insect mother. If that is the case, junior naturally has nothing to conceal." (The gaunt old man was first startled, but immediately relaxed his expression and replied.

"Regarding the matter of the insect mother, we have known some news for many years. This time coming out into the world, we actually came precisely for this great calamity. But we are not yet clear about the current situation in the Holy Realm, so we came to inquire of you, the lord of one city. Now tell us everything you know." Han Li asked calmly.

"Yes, senior! The information I know is not extensive, and I only truly learned it in the past ten or so years. What I know is that these insect swarms appearing in the Holy Realm now are actually ordinary magic worms infected by the aura leaking from the seal of the insect mother, which caused them to mutate into this ferocious appearance. Once these ordinary magic worms become insect swarms, not only does their strength greatly increase, but their reproductive capacity also surges by dozens of times or more. Otherwise, these insect swarms would not grow more numerous despite being slaughtered, eventually becoming a major scourge of the Holy Realm."

The old man said this, his words pausing slightly, then under Han Li's gaze, immediately continued fearfully:

"According to the information I received, the three primordial ancestors and other holy ancestors should indeed be dealing with that insect mother at the Origin Seal Site. At first, the situation seemed good, and with the help of some otherworldly powerful beings, the seal of the insect mother was continuously being reinforced, making resealing it seem promising. But from over twenty years ago, the Origin Seal Site suddenly lost contact with the outside world, and no further news has come out from within. Now what exactly is happening inside is unknown to anyone."

"Lost contact! With the primordial ancestor power of Yuan Nie and others, plus so many peers helping, how could this be possible! Has no one gone to check the true situation?" Han Li frowned, then asked slowly.

"By the time someone discovered the loss of contact at the Origin Seal Site, it was already too late. Around the Origin Seal Site, countless insect swarms appeared at some unknown time, not only completely occupying several nearby towns, but also high-level insect swarms emerged, said to be no weaker than ordinary Body Integration cultivators. Outsiders cannot penetrate the insect sea to re-enter the Origin Seal Site." The old man replied with repeated nods.

"Body Integration-level insect swarms! Given the terror of the insect mother, the appearance of such high-level insect swarms is not too surprising. But are there not still some holy ancestor Daoists who have not entered the Origin Seal Site in the outside world? Why do they sit idly by and ignore this?" Han Li pondered briefly, then asked again.

"Reporting to senior, I do not know the attitude of the other holy ancestor seniors, but indeed I have never heard of any news of other holy ancestor seniors going to inspect the Origin Seal Site. As for the reason, it is not something a small city lord like me can know." The gaunt old man replied with a worried and bitter expression.

"Somewhat interesting. It seems the other holy ancestor Daoists know something. Otherwise they would not have taken no action until now. Among the remaining holy ancestors, which one is closer to Black Gourd City?" Han Li gave a cold laugh, but immediately asked.

"The holy ancestor closest to our city is the Evil Lotus Holy Ancestor of the Myriad Flower Mountain Range. This senior only made a move three years ago, sweeping away the insect swarms near his mountain range entirely." This time, the gaunt old man did not hesitate at all, and replied respectfully.

"Evil Lotus Holy Ancestor? Where is the Myriad Flower Mountain Range, and do you have a map of that area?" Han Li nodded slightly, asking seemingly casually.

"Yes, I once personally went to Myriad Flower Mountain to pay respects to the Evil Lotus senior, and I have kept a backup of the relevant map." The gaunt old man replied with an apologetic smile, and immediately took out a small stone tablet from his person, holding it with both hands.

Han Li made a single-handed gesture, and the stone tablet flew into his hand. After scanning it quickly with his divine sense, he then revealed a faint smile and said:

"Your answer, Daoist friend, is satisfactory. There is nothing else; you may go attend to your own affairs."

"Yes, then junior will take his leave first." The old man felt relieved in his heart, bowed, and slowly retreated several steps before turning and flying downward.

A group of high-level demons waiting nearby immediately came forward to meet him. They surrounded the old man as he disappeared into the city.

"Let's go, to see that Evil Lotus Holy Ancestor in the Myriad Flower Mountain Range!" Han Li glanced down at Black Gourd City, then said calmly.

Silver Moon and the Crab Daoist naturally had no objection.

Below, Han Li raised his head and released a black, square-shaped demon tribe flying carriage.

After the three of them flew onto it, it immediately transformed into a streak of black light that pierced through the sky and departed.

……

One month later. Han Li and company appeared in the sky above a lush, green mountain range, almost indistinguishable from those of the mortal realm.

"This is the Myriad Flower Mountain Range! The scenery is exceedingly beautiful; that Evil Lotus Holy Ancestor truly found a fine place. However, where exactly does this holy ancestor reside within the mountain range?" Silver Moon stood behind Han Li. After scanning the surroundings, she said with a smiling expression.

"The map marks the residence of that Evil Lotus Holy Ancestor as a place called Morning Heaven Peak, located right at the center of this mountain range." Han Li replied with a smile.

"Oh, if that is the case, then this Evil Lotus Holy Ancestor is not difficult to find. However, we came in haste and have not yet had time to inquire what kind of person this Evil Lotus Holy Ancestor is, what great divine powers he possesses, and whether he is not abnormally vicious!" Silver Moon's eyes turned, then she said with a charming smile.

"Hehe, even if he is extremely vicious, we must get from his mouth the truth about what happened at the Origin Seal Site. Only then will we know how to proceed in the safest way. Of course, if we could directly learn the whereabouts of the two seniors Mo Jianli and Ao Xiao, that would be even better." Han Li said slowly, appearing confident.

Upon hearing her grandfather's name, Silver Moon's face flashed with a hint of worry, but she still nodded silently.

"Let's go. This Myriad Flower Mountain Range is not too large; reaching Morning Heaven Peak will not take too long."

Han Li said no more, flicked his sleeve, and transformed into a streak of green light that pierced through the sky and departed.

Silver Moon and the Crab Daoist also escaped together in light, closely following behind.

After several hours, the originally continuous mountain peaks in the range separated, and a towering white giant peak suddenly rose into the clouds before Han Li and the three.

This peak is tens of thousands of zhang high, and from its waist upward, the upper half is completely covered in vast white ice and snow, while the lower half is enveloped by layer upon layer of black mist, within which fierce winds roll, and faintly audible are the wails of ghosts and howls of wolves.

"This is Morning Heaven Peak, and it truly has a somewhat sinister appearance."

Han Li and the three stopped their escape ten or more li away from the giant peak. Silver Moon was obviously startled by the peak's strange appearance.

"However, it is merely an illusionary technique, useful against ordinary demons, but how could it truly deceive me and Brother Crab!" Han Li, after gazing at the mountain peak several times with a faint blue light flashing in his eyes, then said with a hint of a smile.

"Illusionary technique?" Silver Moon widened her beautiful eyes, carefully examined the distant mountain peak several times up and down, but still appeared to see nothing amiss.

Han Li saw this, gave a light laugh, then suddenly made a hand seal with one hand, a mass of black air condensed between his brows, and a third vertical eye instantly appeared,

The next moment, Han Li let out a low shout, a thumb-thick crystalline light pillar shot out, flashed once, and then vanished into the distant void without a trace.

With a "Boom!" a strong surge of energy instantly rolled in from afar.

In the void several li away, the surface undulated like water, the image blurred for a moment, and then all scenery suddenly changed.

The originally huge mountain peak actually vanished into thin air.

In its place appeared a basin a hundred li wide, at whose center stood a magnificent mountain peak several thousand zhang high.

This peak differs from the previous giant peak: its surface is covered with various strange flowers and extraordinary grasses, and it is enveloped by a layer of five-colored light halo, making it appear extremely gorgeous.

Han Li's gaze, however, was immediately drawn to a palace at the summit of the mountain peak.

This palace occupies no more than several mu, its entire body is an extraordinary emerald green, as if entirely constructed from fresh timber.

"This is the true Morning Heaven Peak!" Silver Moon stared for a long while, then murmured in disbelief.

Han Li heard this, smiled slightly, was about to speak in reply, when from within the magnificent mountain peak in the distance, a cold female voice suddenly sounded:

"Which Daoist friend honors my Morning Heaven Peak with a visit? Evil Lotus was unable to personally go out to welcome you, and still hopes for your understanding."

The words had just fallen, when a streak of emerald light shot up from the emerald-green palace, circled once, then suddenly shot toward Han Li's side.

After only a few flashes, Han Li and company's front, ten or so zhang away, their escape light retracted, and a woman in icy expression and green palace attire suddenly appeared.

Han Li swept his gaze over the woman's face, then his expression changed, and he involuntarily exclaimed:

"Baohua? No, you are not Baohua!"

This green palace attire woman's face bears a striking resemblance to Baohua, but upon closer inspection, one finds her expression overly gloomy, completely different from Baohua's.

"You three are not people of the Holy Realm, are you? Otherwise, how could you confuse me with 'Baohua'?" The green palace attire woman, upon hearing Han Li's words, had a flash of cold light in her eyes, but after carefully observing Han Li and the Crab Daoist a few more times, her expression eased slightly as she spoke.

Upon hearing the woman's words, Silver Moon's face changed instantly.

Han Li's surprised expression instantly returned to normal, after observing the palace-attired woman up and down twice, he then asked lightly:

"Since we three have come directly to see you, Daoist friend, we originally had no intention of concealing our true origins. It is Evil Lotus Daoist friend who has surprised me greatly; I do not know how you are related to Baohua Daoist friend."

"Baohua is my younger sister, and as for this matter involving a Great Ascension existence, I fear only you otherworldly powerful beings know of it." The green palace attire woman resumed her gloomy expression and said.

"So that's how it is, no wonder you and Treasure Flower look so alike. But your purpose in coming here, Daoist Xie Lian, should be somewhat clear to me as well." Han Li nodded as expected, yet asked with a half-smile.

"You're also here for the matter of the Origin Seal's location, aren't you?" The green-robed palace-dressed woman pondered for a long while before speaking somewhat strangely.