These colossal objects included enormous palace-like halls and small-mountain-sized honeycomb islands, as well as a hazy green mass of light that had directly transformed into an enormous cloud formation.
These massive structures were also fully loaded with allied forces from various races. After hovering briefly in the sky, they departed from above Wood City in a dense swarm, escorted by flying chariots and war ships, rumbling their way off into the distance.
The departing allied army took with them nearly half of Wood City's elite forces. The three Mahayana cultivators were all among them, and they would rendezvous at the Demon Clan's border with several other reinforcement columns dispatched from other cities, ultimately forming a force truly capable of standing against the Demon Clan's army.
Han Li did not accompany this army. He merely stood atop a pavilion tower in the distance, watching for a while as Mo Jianli and the others led their troops away, then calmly returned to his quarters to continue his cultivation.
Five days later, Wood City — which had already grown quiet — stirred once more. Another allied force, primarily composed of the Wood Clan's own members, began assembling in preparation to depart.
At that moment, Han Li was meditating with his eyes closed on the top floor of the pavilion tower. His expression shifted ever so slightly, and he ceased circulating his technique, opening his eyes.
Moments later, the sound of footsteps came from the staircase, and Zhu Guo'er walked up, offering Han Li a respectful bow.
"Senior Han, the Wood Clan has sent someone to invite Senior over."
"I understand. Your cultivation is still too low for this great battle. Remain in Wood City. After the battle concludes, I'll come back and take you home to our clan." Han Li spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Yes. Guo'er will obey Senior's instructions." Zhu Guo'er was momentarily stunned, but she immediately caught the unmistakable authority in Han Li's voice and lowered her head in compliance.
Han Li nodded slightly, then rose unhurriedly and descended from the pavilion tower.
When he reached the ground-floor hall, Crab Daoist was sitting cross-legged in a corner of the room in perfect stillness, his face utterly expressionless.
In the center of the hall, a green-skinned Wood Clan youth stood looking rather uneasy.
Han Li's gaze swept over him in an instant, discerning that the youth possessed only Nascent Soul stage cultivation and had only recently condensed his Nascent Soul.
"Greetings, Senior Han. This junior has been sent by the Grand Elder to personally invite Senior to set out." The Wood Clan youth hurried forward two steps and bowed deeply upon seeing Han Li appear.
"The Grand Elder? Wasn't your Grand Elder recovering within the Sacred Tree?" Han Li narrowed his eyes and asked slowly.
"In reply to Senior, the position of Grand Elder is currently being held temporarily by Elder Zihan." The Wood Clan youth lowered his head and explained.
"Is that so. Lead the way, then. Brother Crab, come with me." Han Li nodded without expression and called out to Crab Daoist.
Crab Daoist did not speak in reply, but his body flickered and he appeared soundlessly behind Han Li.
The Wood Clan youth was visibly startled by this, but at a glance from Han Li, he did not dare to ask any questions and hurried out the door.
Under his guidance, Han Li led Crab Daoist out of the pavilion tower. His gaze swept toward the sky, and he immediately spotted over a dozen massive azure cloud formations, each roughly a thousand acres in size, hovering motionlessly high above.
Faintly visible atop the cloud formations were various pavilions and terraces, and numerous guards from different races could be seen hurrying back and forth across them, as if transporting supplies from Wood City onto the azure clouds.
Han Li glanced at them briefly, retracted his gaze, and then launched himself into the air, streaking toward the largest cloud formation with the Wood Clan youth in tow. Crab Daoist followed close behind his light-trail.
Moments later, Han Li's streak of light dissipated as he materialized on a platform atop the cloud formation, one constructed entirely from pale yellow wood. At the far end of the platform stood a towering emerald-green hall, well over a hundred zhang tall.
At the entrance to the hall, more than a dozen fully armed Wood Clan guards stood sentinel.
"Senior Han, the acting Grand Elder is waiting inside the hall along with several other senior cultivators." The Wood Clan youth offered this explanation cautiously.
Han Li regarded the hall for a moment and swept his spiritual sense inside. Upon sensing several powerful auras within, the corner of his mouth turned up ever so slightly, and he gestured for the youth to continue leading the way.
The Wood Clan guards before the hall clearly recognized the youth and did not attempt to halt them as they approached. However, a moment later, when these guards sensed the unfathomably deep spiritual pressure emanating from Han Li, their previously stoic expressions all shifted, and their gazes toward Han Li were tinged with unmistakable awe.
When Han Li passed through their midst, the guards even found themselves involuntarily bowing their heads.
Though they were of a different race, the reverence these Wood Clan guards displayed in the presence of a true powerhouse was no less than what they would show toward one of their own great elders.
But just then, Han Li's lips moved slightly as he sent a voice transmission to Crab Daoist behind him.
Crab Daoist's eyes flashed briefly. He abruptly halted mid-stride, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked off to one side of the hall's entrance.
The Wood Clan guards looked on with some surprise, exchanged glances, but said nothing.
Meanwhile, Han Li followed the youth through a corridor and into the main hall, his gaze sweeping casually across the interior.