"So Senior already knows about the Mother Mantis? In that case, there is nothing this junior needs to hide." The gaunt old man started in surprise, but his expression quickly relaxed as he replied.
"We learned something about the Mother Mantis many years ago. My coming to this world this time was actually in response to this great calamity. However, I am still not entirely clear about the current state of the Sacred World, which is why I am asking you, a city lord, for information. Now tell me everything you know." Han Li asked with a calm expression.
"Yes, Senior! The information this junior knows is not all that much, and it was only within the last decade or so that I learned the full truth. What I know is this: the Mantis insects that have appeared throughout the Sacred World are actually ordinary demonic insects that mutated into their current fearsome form after being infected by some of the aura leaking from the Mother Mantis's seal. Once these ordinary demonic insects become Mantis insects, not only do their individual strength increase dramatically, but their reproductive capacity surges by dozens of times over. Otherwise, these Mantis insects would never have multiplied faster than they could be exterminated, eventually becoming a mortal threat to the Sacred World."
The old man paused briefly at this point, and under Han Li's gaze, he quickly continued in a panicked tone:
"According to the information I received, the three Founding Ancestors and the other Sacred Ancestor seniors should indeed be at the Primordial Seal Ground dealing with that Mother Mantis. In the beginning, things seemed to be going well — with the help of powerful experts from other realms, the seal on the Mother Mantis was being continuously reinforced, and re-sealing her seemed well within reach. But starting from roughly twenty years ago, the Primordial Seal Ground suddenly lost contact with the outside world, and no news has come out of it since. As for what is happening inside now, no one knows."
"Lost contact! With the Founding Ancestor-level power of Yuan Yan and the others, plus so many helpers of the same rank — how is that possible! Hasn't anyone gone to investigate the actual situation?" Han Li furrowed his brow and asked slowly.
"By the time someone realized the Primordial Seal Ground had lost contact, it was already too late. Countless swarms of Mantis insects had appeared around the Primordial Seal Ground at some unknown point, completely occupying several nearby towns. Among them, there were even extremely powerful high-rank Mantis insects, reportedly not below ordinary Body Integration cultivators in strength. Outsiders simply cannot break through the sea of insects to re-enter the Primordial Seal Ground." The old man replied in a stammering voice.
"Mantis insects at the Body Integration level? Given the terrifying nature of the Mother Mantis, it is not entirely surprising for Mantis insects of that caliber to appear. But are there not still some Sacred Ancestor friends in the outside world who have not entered the Primordial Seal Ground? Are they really just sitting by and doing nothing?" Han Li pondered briefly, then asked another question.
"Reporting to Senior — this junior does not know the stance of the other Sacred Ancestor seniors, but I have indeed not heard any news of other Sacred Ancestors going to investigate the Primordial Seal Ground. As for the reason why, that is something a small city lord such as myself has no way of knowing." The gaunt old man answered with a deeply troubled expression.
"How interesting. It seems the other Sacred Ancestor friends must know something, or they would not have taken no action by now. Among the Sacred Ancestors who remain, which one is closest to Black Gourd City?" Han Li let out a cold laugh, then immediately asked.
"The Sacred Ancestor closest to this city would be Evil Lotus Sacred Ancestor of the Myriad Mountain Range. This senior acted only three years ago, sweeping clean all the Mantis insect swarms near his mountain range." This time, the gaunt old man did not hesitate at all and answered directly with reverence.
"Evil Lotus Sacred Ancestor? Where is the Myriad Mountain Range? Do you have a map of the area?" Han Li nodded and asked in a seemingly casual manner.
"I do. This junior once personally traveled to the Myriad Mountains to seek an audience with Senior Evil Lotus, and I kept a copy of the relevant maps." The old man replied with an ingratiating smile, and immediately produced a small stone tablet from his body, presenting it with both hands.
Han Li reached out with one hand and drew the stone tablet into his palm. After sweeping it with a brief probe of his spiritual sense, a faint smile appeared on his face as he replied:
"Fellow Daoist's answers have satisfied me. There is nothing else — you may attend to your own affairs."
"Then this junior will take his leave." The old man's heart loosened with relief. He bowed, then slowly retreated several steps before turning and descending toward the city below.
A group of high-rank demons who had been waiting nearby immediately approached from a distance, surrounding the old man and escorting him as they vanished into the city.
"Let us go. We will visit the Myriad Mountain Range and meet this Evil Lotus Sacred Ancestor!" Han Li swept a glance downward at Black Gourd City and said calmly.
Silver Moon and Daoist Crab naturally had no objections.
Below, Han Li raised his head and released a dark, square-shaped demonic flying carriage.
The three 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 mountain range covered in lush greenery, remarkably similar in scenery to the mountains of the human world.
"So this is the Myriad Mountain Range! The scenery is truly beautiful — this Evil Lotus Sacred Ancestor certainly found himself a fine place. But where in this mountain range does this Sacred Ancestor reside?" Silver Moon stood behind Han Li and looked around with a smile after surveying the landscape.
"The map marks the Evil Lotus Sacred Ancestor's residence as a place called Heaven-Facing Peak, located right at the center of this mountain range." Han Li replied with a smile.
"Oh, if that is the case, this Evil Lotus Sacred Ancestor should not be difficult to find. However, we came in such a hurry that we have not yet had time to inquire about what kind of person this Evil Lotus Sacred Ancestor is, or what extraordinary powers he possesses. He is not hopelessly fierce, is he?" Silver Moon rolled her eyes and said with a beautiful smile.
"Heh heh, no matter how fierce he may be, we must still extract from him the truth of what happened at the Primordial Seal Ground. Only then can we determine the safest course of action going forward. And of course, if we can directly learn the whereabouts of Seniors Mo Jianli and Ao Xiao, that would be even better." Han Li said with an air of confidence, looking entirely composed.
Upon hearing her grandfather's name, a flicker of worry crossed Silver Moon's face, but she silently nodded in agreement.
"Let us go. The Myriad Mountain Range is not especially large — it should not take us too long to reach Heaven-Facing Peak."
Han Li said nothing more. With a flick of his sleeve, he transformed into a streak of cyan light that pierced through the sky.
Silver Moon and Daoist Crab also rose on their own遁光 and followed close behind.