"This boat is rather conspicuous. Once we enter the territory controlled by the Blood Bone Gate, we should put it away," Han Li said after a moment's thought, giving a slight nod. "After we arrive at Blood Crane City, you will separate from us for a time and investigate any leads on the original body. I'll give you two Integration-stage puppets for protection — as long as you don't run into a Mahayana cultivator, they'll be enough to keep you safe."
"This junior is grateful for Senior's generosity. I will do my utmost to locate the relevant leads as quickly as possible," Xue Po said with a pleasant expression upon hearing this.
"Rather, you and I seem to have some fate between us. A small favor like this is nothing," Han Li waved his hand, neither confirming nor denying anything.
……
More than a month later, Han Li and his group finally entered the region controlled by the Blood Bone Gate.
After putting away the Mo Spirit Flying Boat, they immediately switched to an inconspicuous black flying carriage, drawn by several flying wolf puppets at the front, and continued onward.
The rest of the journey passed without incident.
Two more months went by, and Han Li's group finally arrived before an enormous crimson city.
This city was built in a highly unusual style. Not only were there pale-blue lakes flanking each side of the city, but the wall facing the direction Han Li and the others approached from jutted outward a great distance, forming a separate barbican enclosure that resembled a small town in its own right.
Atop the city walls, several guards clad in blood-colored armor could be seen patrolling back and forth in a lackadaisical manner.
Near the city gates, various Blood Sky alien cultivators of wildly differing appearances landed their lights of travel one after another, handed over a quantity of spirit stones to the gate guards, and then walked inside.
"Senior Han, Blood Crane City is one of the most important cities under the Blood Bone Gate. It has several specialty items useful for mid-to-high-level cultivators, so not only does the Blood Bone Gate keep a powerful elite force stationed here year-round, but a Mahayana Supreme Elder also hides within the city at all times. Ordinary people wouldn't dare cause trouble here — it's considered quite a peaceful place. However, prices in this city are far higher than in an ordinary one, and anyone wishing to stay long-term must pay an additional fee in spirit stones," Xue Po respectfully explained to Han Li from inside the flying carriage.
"On the way here, I did see quite a few Blood Bone Gate disciples. Setting aside their cultivation levels, each and every one of them radiates a fierce, sinister aura — the techniques they cultivate must be extraordinarily domineering. No wonder this sect is counted among the great Blood Dao sects of the Blood Sky and can casually build such a massive city. Moreover, Blood Crane City happens to sit right between several enormous mountain ranges, making it a vital nexus of trade. I imagine there's no shortage of outsiders in the city," Han Li said, having already swept his spiritual sense over the terrain surrounding Blood Crane City and formed a clear picture.
"You see clearly, Senior. If nothing has changed, this city should indeed be dominated by outside cultivators. However, the large enterprises within it mostly belong to the Blood Bone Gate, and those with the ability to operate businesses here generally have major powers backing them. There are also frequent appearances of people with mysterious identities who hide within the city on a permanent basis," Xue Po replied after a moment's thought.
"This city truly lives up to its reputation as a place where all sorts mix together. Does the Blood Bone Gate simply ignore these people with concealed origins?" Han Li asked with a smile.
"Blood Crane City is one of the more free cities among the great Blood Sky metropolises. As long as no one engages in open combat within the city that disrupts others, the Blood Bone Gate doesn't concern itself with anything beyond collecting spirit stones on schedule. That may very well be why the city has remained prosperous for so many years. Additionally, there are several large arenas within the city. Those who bear grudges or wish to settle enmities can fight each other to determine victory or even battle to the death in those places," Xue Po said with a bitter smile.
"I see. I now have a rough idea of what kind of place Blood Crane City is. Fellow Daoist Xue, do you still intend to enter the city together with us?" Han Li nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly posed a question.
"This junior will not be entering. Based on the markers the original body left behind previously, she should have entered the nearby Wanyue Mountain Range. I plan to head there directly to search for the clues she left." Xue Po gave a slight bow, her expression solemn.
"Since that's your plan, you should go on ahead alone. During this time, I'll be searching for the other two ancient altars in the vicinity of this city. Take this voice transmission talisman. If you make a discovery or run into any trouble, simply ignite it. I'll sense it immediately and come find you right away." Han Li flipped his hand, producing a pale-gold talisman, and tossed it over.
"Thank you, Senior. With this talisman, this junior can be completely at ease." Xue Po's eyes lit up. She hurriedly snatched the talisman and spoke with gratitude.
The woman then performed a curtsey toward Han Li and transformed into a streak of light that flew away from the carriage.
Han Li watched from inside the carriage until the streak of light vanished entirely, then lightly tapped his foot to send the carriage flying straight toward the enormous city in the distance.
In front of the city gates, seven or eight Blood Sky alien cultivators were queuing up and handing over spirit stones to enter.
During the process, the guards asked more or less the same questions of each person — where they came from, how long they planned to stay in Blood Crane City, and other simple inquiries.
Those Blood Sky natives seeking entry answered honestly enough, though whether what they said was true or false was something only the heavens knew.
The Blood Bone Gate guards paid no mind to any of that. They roughly recorded the information, issued everyone an iron token, and let them pass through.
When it was Han Li's turn, Patriarch Shi stepped forward without a hint of change in expression, released just a sliver of his Integration-stage aura, and tossed a mid-grade spirit stone toward the guards while saying coldly: "Three people. Keep the change."
The dozen-odd blood-armored guards at the entrance — the highest among them at only the Nascent Soul stage — felt their breathing constrict under Patriarch Shi's spiritual pressure and were forced to stumble back several steps, their faces all taking on looks of horror.
The lead guard, upon catching the mid-grade spirit stone, didn't dare ask a single additional question. He hastily produced three iron tokens and handed them to Han Li and his companions, then retreated to the side with a respectful bow.