Chapter 314: Backhand, Suspicion

Late at night, when it was quiet, Han Li quietly slipped out of the room. Without greeting anyone, he flew toward the Imperial City alone using his magic tool.

Han Li stood on the Divine Wind Boat, looking at the pitch-black behemoth before him—the massive Imperial City gate—and smiled slightly, flying directly over it.

To Han Li, the so-called Seven Sects' ban forbidding any disciple from stepping into the Imperial City was something he didn't take to heart at all. He would only follow regulations that were beneficial to him; otherwise, wanting to restrict his movements with just empty words was simply absurd!

He had never been a person who followed orders blindly.

While Han Li sneered in his heart, he had already flown to an altitude of over a hundred zhang above the Imperial Palace.

Taking advantage of the pitch-black night, Han Li silently looked around, his gaze scanning toward secluded and inconspicuous places.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he flew toward an imperial garden filled with green bamboo.

Above the bamboo forest, Han Li cautiously looked around, then restrained the spiritual energy on his body and slowly descended.

Han Li knew very well that although the Ghost Spirit Sect controlled the entire Imperial Palace, it was impossible for them to arrange eyes and ears everywhere. And even with so many sentries, relying on his perfected Nameless Qi-Restraining Mantra, he didn't fear that the Ghost Spirit Sect people could discover him.

Moreover, from that little Prince's mouth, he had long since figured out the Ghost Spirit Sect's usual sentry arrangements. Even if there were changes now, as long as he didn't break into some heavily guarded vital areas, Han Li felt quite at ease!

And this place clearly belonged to a corner of the Imperial Palace that was about to be forgotten. Not only was the bamboo forest full of dead branches and rotten leaves, faintly emitting a smell of decay, but because no one pruned the branches and leaves, they were extremely dense and lush.

Looking at this bamboo forest, which was about an acre in size, Han Li revealed a look of satisfaction.

He pinched a spell with his fingers, released a sound-insulation barrier, shrouded the entire bamboo forest within it, and then took out a stack of formation flags and a formation plate from his storage pouch with a solemn expression. This was the improved "Inverted Five Elements Array" that Qi Qi Yunxiao had given him.

"With this Inverted Five Elements Array, I think even if that Ghost Spirit Sect Master is powerful, I can remain invincible!" Looking at the magic tools in his hand, Han Li muttered to himself.

Afterwards, he braced himself and walked into the pitch-black bamboo forest.

Two hours later, Han Li walked out slowly with a look of exhaustion on his face. Because time was tight, he had only finished arranging a small part, but this should be enough. Han Li observed the surroundings and saw that no one had been there, so he felt relieved, put away the sound-insulation barrier, released the Divine Wind Boat, and flew away using his magic tool.

The process of Han Li going deep into the Imperial Palace alone to arrange the great array was quiet and did not alarm any Ghost Spirit Sect members.

Under the Ghost Spirit Sect Master's instructions, the four Blood Servants were indeed very vigilant. But just as Han Li thought, they only set up dense sentries at the cold palace where the Ghost Spirit Sect Master was in seclusion. In other places, they were even more lax than before. This was one of the reasons why Han Li could enter and exit so smoothly.

When he flew back to the Qin Mansion, the sky had not yet brightened. Han Li simply didn't sleep and sat on the bed to meditate and nourish his spirit until dawn.

When morning came, he walked out of the room as if nothing had happened, gathered with others in a large hall, talked and laughed as usual, discussed the upcoming great battle, and didn't mention the "Inverted Five Elements Array" at all.

In Han Li's heart, the fewer people who knew about such a life-saving backhand, the better.

If he could win a great victory without using this array, that would make him even more delighted. This set of "Inverted Five Elements Array" could still become his trump card.

Liu Jing and the other fellow disciples of the Yellow Maple Valley naturally didn't know what Han Li was thinking, but when it came to the great battle at night, everyone revealed an eager-to-try expression, with a hint of excitement on their faces.

Among them, except for a few like Liu Jing, most had no experience in fighting Foundation Establishment cultivators, which was the main reason Han Li didn't think highly of this operation.

Han Li had always believed that cultivators who hadn't experienced bloody baptism, no matter how high their cultivation was, would definitely suffer a great loss when facing experienced opponents. It wouldn't be strange if they lost their lives because of this. So, looking at these people talking and laughing, he occasionally revealed a strange look in his eyes.

After all, among the cultivators who could reach the Foundation Establishment stage, who hadn't eaten all kinds of bitterness to have their current cultivation? But after tonight's battle, it was very likely that these people would be buried here. Thinking about it, it was really a great pity!

"Junior Martial Brother Han, can you accompany me for a walk?" Chen Chen Qiaoqian, who was chatting and laughing with Zhong Zhong Weiniang, suddenly opened her mouth to invite him when her gaze swept over Han Li's face just now.

This sentence not only stunned Han Li, but the other fellow disciples of Chen Chen Qiaoqian were even more dumbfounded.

They all looked at Han Li and the Junior Martial Sister who had always been cold as ice to male cultivators with unbelievable gazes.

Seeing Han Li looking somewhat foolish, Zhong Zhong Weiniang's eyes rolled, not knowing what she was thinking. She suddenly leaned into Chen Chen Qiaoqian's ear and whispered a few words.

Immediately, this "Junior Martial Sister Chen's" face turned crimson. After glaring at her fiercely, she walked out of the hall generously first, looking as if she was waiting for Han Li to follow.

"Junior Martial Brother, what are you still stunned for! With a beauty like Junior Martial Sister Chen waiting outside, what are you hesitating for?" Liu Jing walked over with a smile, patted Han Li on the shoulder, and said jokingly.

Han Li rubbed his nose hard, wanting to smile bitterly, but for some reason, he couldn't. He had no choice but to chuckle a few times and followed her out under the envious eyes of those male cultivators.

If he hesitated any longer, wouldn't it show that he was too guilty! He didn't think there was anything to fear from the other party.

Walking out of the hall, Chen Chen Qiaoqian was looking at the direction of the garden in a daze, looking charming. After hearing Han Li's footsteps coming out, she said coldly without looking back:

"Accompany me for a walk in the garden; I have a few things I want to ask you, Junior Martial Brother."

After saying this, Chen Chen Qiaoqian walked over on her own without waiting for Han Li's answer, as if she was sure Han Li would definitely agree.

Han Li looked at her charming back, frowned unconsciously, and after thinking about it, followed with a silent smile.

Taking a walk with a charming beauty was indeed a pleasing thing.

Han Li walked a few steps behind Chen Chen Qiaoqian, admiring her graceful figure, and felt that this trip was well worth it. Moreover, once he thought of the romantic encounter this great beauty had with him back then, he felt a strange feeling in his heart that he couldn't describe.

"I didn't expect that back then, my brother and I both misjudged you, always thinking that your ability to win the Blood Trial was just good luck. I didn't expect that Junior Martial Brother Han was actually a master of playing the pig to eat the tiger back then! Not only did you deceive our brother and sister, but even those high-level experts present at the time were probably kept in the dark." Just as Han Li was letting his imagination run wild, Chen Chen Qiaoqian said faintly with her back to him.

Han Li had expected this long ago and didn't show any surprise. After scratching his head, he said with a light smile:

"Senior Martial Sister Chen is joking. What playing the pig to eat the tiger? Junior Martial Brother really had good luck back then to pass the test by chance!"

When Han Li said this, there was no abnormality on his face, as if it were really the case.

"Junior Martial Brother Han, do you still want to deceive me now?" Chen Chen Qiaoqian seemed to be angered by Han Li's words, her voice turned cold, and she suddenly turned around, her bright eyes cold.

Seeing this scene, Han Li revealed a look of astonishment, as if he didn't know why she was angry at all.

This "Junior Martial Sister Chen" from back then became even more annoyed when she saw Han Li's expression.

"Good, I won't ask you about the Blood Trial anymore. But there is one thing you must answer me honestly!" Although her tone was colder, there was an unusual expression on her face.

"What is it? Senior Martial Sister Chen, just ask. I will definitely answer truthfully." Han Li faintly realized something, and his heart became even more uneasy, but on the surface, he made a look of extreme sincerity.

"Seven or eight years ago, did you go to the east side of the Taiyue Mountain Range and encounter anything?" When Chen Chen Qiaoqian asked this, a blush rose on her cheeks, and her whole person was slightly shy. Then she waited nervously for Han Li's reply.

"Seven or eight years ago..." Han Li lowered his head and pondered, as if he was recalling something.

In fact, Han Li was drumming in his heart.

"How come so many years have passed, and she still hasn't extinguished the idea of finding me? And looking at her shy expression, could it be that she really fell in love with the person who saved her!" Han Li thought with great confusion.

It wasn't that Han Li didn't understand romance, but he had never had the idea of forming a dual cultivation partner with this woman.

For some reason, although Han Li had normal thoughts about this woman, once it involved emotional problems, Han Li automatically excluded her. Perhaps the scene of her being intimate with that "Senior Martial Brother Lu" back then made him unable to accept this woman even now!

===== CHAPTER 315 =====