Above a colossal lake in the Falling Tide Grassland — a renowned beast territory across the Blood Sky Continent — Han Li and his companions were hurtling through the sky aboard an inconspicuous flying boat.
Han Li stood at the very front of the vessel, his expression utterly blank, revealing nothing of what lay behind those eyes.
Behind him, Zhu Guo'er and Ancestor Shi wore rather dejected looks on their faces.
Not long ago, they had finished scanning the last ancient altar on the grassland, yet once again had turned up absolutely nothing — a result that left both of them thoroughly disheartened.
Suddenly, a clear buzzing sound emanated from Han Li's person.
His expression shifted slightly. With a flick of his sleeve, a pale blue formation disc flew out, its surface manifesting over a dozen silver runes that glowed with a faint spiritual light.
"Let's go — to Heavenly Horse City nearby." Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly and issued the order without a moment's hesitation.
Though Ancestor Shi was somewhat surprised, he immediately formed a series of hand seals and spun the flying boat around, sending it streaking off in a different direction.
"Senior Han, what's happened? Don't tell me that so-called 'Battle of the Strong' is about to begin?" Zhu Guo'er blinked her large eyes and couldn't help asking directly.
Regarding the Battle of the Strong, Han Li had not laid everything out for Zhu Guo'er and Ancestor Shi, but he had let slip a few minor details. Zhu Guo'er, even though she had no idea what this Battle of the Strong actually entailed, did know that Han Li intended to go to a specific place at a certain time to exchange blows with a number of powerful figures — which was why she asked.
"The time has indeed come. Heh — since I accepted certain benefits from the Heavenly South Commerce Alliance in the past, it wouldn't do to go back on my word and not show up." Han Li replied casually.
"Even a force like the Helian Commerce Alliance, which commands numerous Mahayana cultivators, must ask for Senior's personal assistance — that alone shows this Battle of the Strong is no simple affair. Senior should still exercise some caution," Zhu Guo'er said with a touch of worry.
"Rest easy. With my current abilities, there are very few beings in this world that could pose a genuine threat to me. Even if I were to face an opponent I couldn't defeat, escaping unharmed would still be no trouble at all." Han Li smiled and replied with complete assurance.
Seeing Han Li so confident, Zhu Guo'er and Ancestor Shi exchanged a glance and felt considerably reassured.
Half a month later, Han Li and the others finally flew out of the grassland and arrived at a massive city on its outer edge.
This city was unlike any ordinary settlement. Rows upon rows of thick, black-green bamboo lined the towering outer walls, each stalk standing close beside the next to form a continuous bamboo barrier that encircled the entire city.
Atop the city walls, a statue of a flying horse rose every li or so. Each stood over a dozen zhang tall, rendered in pale grey stone, astonishingly lifelike, and no two shared the same posture or expression.
Their flying boat did not descend at the city gates. Instead, it swept brazenly over the wall tops, and under the astonished gazes of numerous low- and mid-tier cultivators, plunged headlong into what appeared to be an invisible barrier protecting the city.
The boat dipped ever so slightly, then trembled once before streaking straight toward the heart of the metropolis.
"A Mahayana Ancestor!"
Several people below cried out simultaneously.
The guards who had been standing along the nearby wall with expressions of sharp vigilance turned pale with shock, then immediately adopted looks of deep respect as they watched the flying boat vanish into the distance.
To allow a flying vessel to simply bypass a city's no-fly prohibition required power that no ordinary Integration cultivator could muster — only a Mahayana or above possessed such extraordinary ability.
While virtually all cities enforced strict bans against outsiders flying within their airspace, such rules were generally disregarded for Mahayana cultivators and even some powerful Integration-stage experts.
That said, the degree of enforcement varied depending on the strength and number of the powers guarding each city. Heavenly Horse City, though considerable in size, had no Mahayana Ancestor overseeing it — only a handful of Integration cultivators. The guards would never dare provoke a Mahayana powerhouse.
Thus, with the ability to fly freely through the city, Han Li and his companions arrived in short order before a grand building in the city's center, one that proudly displayed the Commerce Alliance's insignia.
Han Li stowed the flying boat and had just descended from the sky when two rows of men and women strode out of the building, all wearing expressions of profound respect. Every last one of them bowed deeply to Han Li, and at their head, a grey-haired elder appearing to be in his sixties or seventies spoke in a reverent tone: "Welcome, Senior Han. We received word from headquarters several days ago and have long since prepared the teleportation array. Would Senior care to rest here before setting out?"
"Your Commerce Alliance certainly operates with impressive efficiency. There's no need for rest — prepare the teleportation immediately," Han Li said, his gaze sweeping across the elder's face like a blade.
"Yes, this junior will lead the way at once." The elder bowed his head again and agreed without hesitation.
Han Li gave a nod and was the first to stride through the towering gate before him.
Zhu Guo'er and Ancestor Shi naturally followed close behind.
A short while later, Han Li found himself in a hidden underground hall.
At its center stood a pale silver formation array, its surface covered in densely packed spiritual runes.
Han Li took only a single glance, his brow furrowing slightly, and spoke a question: