But before that, he had to obtain the method for refining Earth Fiend Yin energy.
Besides, he needed to get his hands on the Blood Fang Rice as soon as possible. He had already obtained contact information from the Broad Source Trading House, so that shouldn't be too difficult.
Han Li pushed his escape light to its limit as he traveled, carefully mulling over his next moves.
Several days later, he returned to Blue Falls City without incident.
But when he arrived at the inn where he was staying, he found Zi Ling already waiting for him there.
"What happened? Why did you come in person?" Han Li asked with surprise, his expression grave.
According to their prior arrangement, to avoid drawing the attention of those with ulterior motives or causing unnecessary trouble for Zi Ling, any truly important matters could be communicated simply by having one of Zi Ling's trusted subordinates deliver a Voice Transmission Talisman.
On the surface, the two of them were supposed to avoid meeting whenever possible.
But now Zi Ling had suddenly appeared in person, and it seemed she had been waiting for quite some time, which naturally caught Han Li off guard.
"I had no choice but to come myself. My master, Liu Ji, has already arrived at Blue Falls Lake, and not long ago she summoned me to bring all of my subordinates to meet with her!" Zi Ling, not bothering with anything else, blurted out words that made Han Li's heart skip a beat.
"Liu Ji is here? Is it her true body?" Han Li asked instinctively.
"Not exactly — it's only a late-stage Body Integration doppelganger. But even so, with her abilities and the treasures she's carrying, it wouldn't be much weaker than an ordinary Sacred Ancestor." Zi Ling shook her head, her voice heavy with wariness.
"If it's not her true body, then I don't need to worry too much. But why would Liu Ji come to this area? She shouldn't be coming for me! I don't believe I've particularly offended this ancestor — if she truly wanted to deal with me, she wouldn't have sent only a doppelganger. Zi Ling, do you know the specific purpose of her trip?" Han Li thought for a moment, his brow furrowed slightly.
"The orders I received weren't very specific. It seems she wants me and my subordinates to help her search for someone in the surrounding area. Beyond that, the orders revealed nothing. I also don't think she's coming for you. But just to be safe, Brother Han, you should still be extra careful." Zi Ling said with great concern.
"Alright, I understand. As an ancestor of the Devil World, Liu Ji's vigilance must be extraordinary. During this time, Zi Ling, don't contact me for now — I don't want her to discover our connection and put you in danger. In a little while, I'll leave Blue Falls Lake as soon as possible and prepare to return to the Spirit World." Hearing this, Han Li gazed at Zi Ling's incomparably beautiful face, warmth stirring in his heart, but his tone remained exceptionally calm.
"I understand. That means the next time we meet, it could be hundreds or even thousands of years from now. Even with the realm-crossing treasure that Sister Lan provided, you won't be able to casually use it to return to the Devil World." Zi Ling's expression dimmed slightly, a barely perceptible trace of wistful sorrow crossing her features.
"That's not necessarily the case. I've recently had another stroke of luck that could spare me some bitter cultivation, allowing me to break through the Mahayana bottleneck sooner than expected. Once I succeed, I'll return to the Devil World immediately and rescue you from under Liu Ji's control. In the meantime, Zi Ling, bear with it for now and focus on keeping yourself safe in the Devil World. If anything unexpected happens — if Liu Ji intends to refine you into a doppelganger before then — you can send word to the Broad Source Trading House and have them use a treasure to notify me. I'll cross over to see you right away." Han Li made his promise without the slightest hesitation.
Hearing Han Li's words, Zi Ling's gaze took on a peculiar quality. After a long moment, she said softly: "Thank you for your promise, Brother Han. Your humble sister is deeply grateful. I believe that with your extraordinary talent, you will surely break through to the Mahayana realm and become one of the most supreme beings in this world. Zi Ling wishes you success in advance. I shouldn't linger here any longer — I'll take my leave now."
The moment she finished speaking, she offered Han Li a graceful curtsey, then turned and left without any further hesitation.
Han Li watched Zi Ling's breathtakingly beautiful figure disappear beyond the gate. His lips moved several times, but in the end he merely let out a soft sigh, said nothing further, and a trace of melancholy settled over his features.
…
Two days later, atop a small hill near the lakeside outside Blue Falls City, Han Li stood on a boulder, silently gazing out at the vast, seemingly endless surface of the great lake, his figure perfectly still.
It was early morning, and the sky had not yet fully brightened. A thin mist hung over the lake's surface, making the air feel unusually damp.
Suddenly, Han Li's brow arched, and without turning his head, he called out: "Since our honored guest has already arrived, why bother hiding? You could be considered half a host here — surely you're not afraid I've set up some sort of ambush?"
"Heh heh — for a deal this big, a bit of caution never hurts." High in the sky, the air rippled, and a gray-robed figure wearing a conical straw hat materialized. After a sly chuckle, the figure replied in a sharp, nasal voice.
"How cautious you are is entirely your business. But have you brought the full amount of Blood Fang Rice I requested?" Han Li finally turned around and spoke evenly toward the figure in the air.