"So the Senior already knows about the Mother of the Devouring Insects. In that case, this junior naturally has nothing to hide." The gaunt old man was briefly startled, but his expression quickly relaxed as he replied.
"As for the Mother of the Devouring Insects, we learned of her existence many years ago. My coming into the world this time was actually in response to this great catastrophe. However, I am not yet clear about the current state of the Holy World, which is why I asked a city lord like yourself for information. Now, tell me everything you know." Han Li asked calmly.
"Yes, Senior! What this junior knows is not much, and it was only truly confirmed in the last decade or so. From what this junior understands, the Devouring Insects now appearing throughout the Holy World are actually ordinary demonic insects that have been infected by a trace of aura leaking from the Mother of the Devouring Insects' seal, mutating them into their current fearsome form. Once these ordinary demonic insects become Devouring Insects, not only does their strength increase enormously, but their reproductive capacity surges by several dozen fold or more. Otherwise, these Devouring Insects would not keep multiplying despite being exterminated, eventually becoming the Holy World's most dire threat."
The old man paused slightly at this point, and under Han Li's gaze, he continued in a hurried, nervous tone: "According to the information this junior has obtained, the three Grand Ancestors and the other Sacred Ancestors should indeed be at the Sealing Ground confronting the Mother of the Devouring Insects. Initially, things seemed to be going well—with the assistance of powerful experts from other realms, the seal on the Mother of the Devouring Insects was continuously being reinforced, and re-sealing her appeared entirely within reach. However, starting from over twenty years ago, the Sealing Ground suddenly lost contact with the outside world, and no further news has emerged from within. As for what is happening inside now, no one knows."
"Lost contact! With the Grand Ancestor-level strength of Yuan Yan and the others, plus so many helpers of the same tier—how is that possible? Has no one gone to investigate the actual situation?" Han Li furrowed his brow and asked slowly.
"By the time someone discovered the Sealing Ground had lost contact, it was already too late. Around the Sealing Ground, an immeasurable swarm of Devouring Insects had appeared seemingly overnight. They had not only completely occupied several nearby towns, but powerful high-tier Devouring Insects had also emerged among them—said to possess strength not inferior to ordinary Body Integration cultivators. Outsiders simply cannot break through the sea of insects to re-enter the Sealing Ground." The old man replied hesitantly.
"Devouring Insects at the Body Integration stage! Given the terrifying nature of the Mother of the Devouring Insects, it is not entirely surprising that such high-tier Devouring Insects would appear. But aren't there still Sacred Ancestors in the outside world who have not entered the Sealing Ground? Would they really just sit by and watch?" Han Li pondered briefly, then posed another question.
"Reporting to Senior, this junior does not know the attitudes of the other Sacred Ancestors, but no news of any Sacred Ancestor going to investigate the Sealing Ground has indeed been heard. As for the reason, that is not something a minor city lord like this junior would be privy to." The gaunt old man replied with a troubled expression.
"Interesting. It seems the other Sacred Ancestors know something, otherwise they would have taken action by now. Among the Sacred Ancestors still remaining, which one is closest to Black Gourd City?" Han Li let out a cold laugh, then immediately asked.
"The closest Sacred Ancestor to our city would be Sacred Ancestor Xielian of the Myriad Mountain Range. That ancestor only acted once three years ago, sweeping away all the Devouring Insect swarms near their mountain range." This time, the gaunt old man did not hesitate, replying respectfully.
"Sacred Ancestor Xielian? Where is the Myriad Mountain Range? Do you have a map of the area?" Han Li nodded, asking seemingly casually.
"This junior once personally visited the Myriad Mountains to pay respects to Ancestor Xielian, and has kept a copy of the relevant map." The gaunt old man replied with an obsequious smile, immediately pulling a small stone tablet from his robes and presenting it with both hands.
Han Li waved a single hand, drawing the stone tablet into his grasp. After sweeping it briefly with his spiritual sense, a slight smile appeared on his face: "I'm satisfied with your answers. There is nothing else—go attend to your own affairs."
"Yes, then this junior will take his leave." The old man felt relieved, bowed, and slowly backed away several steps before turning and flying downward.
A group of high-rank demonic beings who had been waiting nearby immediately greeted him from a distance, surrounding the old man as he vanished into the city below.
"Let's go. We'll visit the Myriad Mountain Range and meet this Sacred Ancestor Xielian!" After sweeping a glance at Black Gourd City below, Han Li said calmly.
Silver Moon and Daoist Crab naturally had no objections.
Han Li raised his head and released a dark, box-shaped demonic flying chariot.
The three of them boarded it, and it immediately transformed into a streak of black light, piercing through the sky and vanishing.
...
One month later, Han Li and his companions appeared above a lush, green mountain range that bore almost no difference from the mountain ranges of the mortal world.
"So this is the Myriad Mountain Range! The scenery is remarkably beautiful—this Sacred Ancestor Xielian certainly chose a fine location. But where in the range does this Sacred Ancestor reside?" Silver Moon stood behind Han Li, surveying the surroundings with a smile.
"The map marks the location where Sacred Ancestor Xielian resides. It is a place called Heaven-Facing Peak, situated at the very center of this mountain range." Han Li replied with a smile.
"Oh, if that is the case, Sacred Ancestor Xielian should not be too hard to find. But we came in such a hurry that we have not had time to learn what kind of person this Sacred Ancestor Xielian is, or what great powers they possess. Surely they are not exceptionally fierce?" Silver Moon's eyes darted about as she said with a bright smile.
"Heh heh, no matter how fierce they may be, we need to find out from their own lips exactly what happened at the Sealing Ground. Only then can we know what our next move should be. Of course, if we could also learn the whereabouts of Senior Mo Jianli and Senior Ao Xiao, that would be even better." Han Li said slowly, looking entirely composed.
Upon hearing her grandfather's name, a trace of worry flickered across Silver Moon's face, but she silently nodded.
"Let's go. The Myriad Mountain Range is not too large—it should not take long to reach Heaven-Facing Peak."
Han Li said no more, flicked his sleeve, and transformed into a streak of cyan light that pierced through the sky and vanished.
Silver Moon and Daoist Crab also activated their light and followed closely behind.