High above a stretch of ocean in the Spirit Realm, two swarms of low-grade sea beasts resembling giant whales were locked in a vicious, inexplicable brawl.
Severed chunks of carcass periodically floated to the surface, and plumes of blood churned the surrounding waters into a vivid crimson.
Then, without warning, a horrifying aura erupted from the depths of the seabed.
Both swarms were blasted by the shockwave. Terror seized them instantly, and they abandoned the fight without the slightest hesitation, scattering in every direction like fleeing rats.
In the blink of an eye, the sea surface was restored to its former tranquility — nothing remaining but the scattered limbs and the faint tang of blood.
It was at that moment that the waters of the region suddenly parted in a rolling surge, and from within, a massive black vessel shot forth. A full thousand zhang from bow to stern, it resembled some monstrous dark beast.
Crowded along both ends of the vessel were numerous human cultivators, most of them appearing quite young, yet brimming with excitement, pointing at everything on the sea surface and chattering amongst themselves.
Some of the younger cultivators even had their eyes closed, seemingly meditating quietly in place, sensing something.
This great ship was none other than the Mo Spirit Sacred Ship, freshly returned from the Small Spirit Heaven to the Spirit Realm.
The instant the ship had reached the seabed below, the passageway formed by the seven-colored halo of light had finally collapsed, unable to sustain itself any longer.
The next time Han Li wished to visit the Small Spirit Heaven, who knew how long it would be — and he would need to locate an ancient altar once more and perform a new divination before there was even the slightest chance of success.
At that moment, Han Li and Nangong Wan stood shoulder to shoulder at the very bow of the ship. The surrounding crowd maintained a respectful distance, leaving a vast empty space around the pair, none daring to draw near.
"This is the true Spirit Realm," Nangong Wan murmured after drawing in a breath of the slightly salty sea breeze. "The spiritual energy here is so pure — truly incomparable to the Small Spirit Heaven. Only in a place like this can cultivators like us take another step forward, and ultimately reach the point of ascending to the Immortal Realm."
"The Spirit Realm is indeed somewhat superior to the Small Spirit Heaven," Han Li said with a faint smile. "But even here, those who have advanced to the Mahayana stage are not particularly numerous. For a weak race like us humans, being able to maintain one or two Mahayana cultivators at the same time is normally enough to hold our ground in the Spirit Realm. Some of the truly great races, however, can boast of double-digit Mahayana existences. Of course, even among Mahayana cultivators there is a spectrum of strength. Some of the truly powerful among them can fight True Spirits without giving ground, and slay several cultivators of the same stage single-handedly with ease."
During his time in the Small Spirit Heaven, he had already given everyone a general overview of the Spirit Realm and the situation of the human race, so these returnees were no longer entirely ignorant of what awaited them.
"It seems my husband speaks with such confidence — surely he must be one of these so-called 'powerhouses,'" Nangong Wan said with a soft sigh. "I had no idea the human race's situation in the Spirit Realm was so dire. With you here now, things should improve somewhat."
"I believe I can hold my own against any powerhouse among the Mahayana cultivators in single combat," Han Li said, his expression turning serious. "But I have only advanced to the Mahayana stage recently. Truly revitalizing the human race will require careful long-term planning."
"Of course. I believe that with your strength, you will achieve this one day," Nangong Wan said, gazing at Han Li with a trace of tenderness on her face.
"Let us hope so," Han Li replied, a brief light flickering in his eyes.
"How do we return to Windsource Continent from here? Shall we cross the ocean directly?" Nangong Wan asked after surveying the distant sea once more.
"There is no need. I am acquainted with the person in charge of the Helian Merchant Alliance on the nearby Blood Heaven Continent. Through the teleportation arrays under his control, he should be able to arrange a direct return to Windsource," Han Li said without hesitation.
"That would be best. I truly wish to see the human race's settlement in the Spirit Realm with my own eyes," Nangong Wan said, a bright smile blooming across her face.
Han Li smiled faintly and said nothing more. Beneath them, the great ship had already adjusted its course and, with a thunderous roar, shot off at full speed toward Blood Heaven Continent.
Several months later, the Mo Spirit Sacred Ship had arrived above a massive port city on Blood Heaven Continent, hovering motionless directly over a triangular building in a bold, conspicuous manner.
Han Li and Nangong Wan were currently inside the hall within the belly of that building.
A trembling middle-aged man, drenched in sweat, was hurriedly explaining something to the two of them.
"What? Your alliance has already withdrawn more than half of its forces, and Fellow Daoist Bi Ying has fallen? You had better not be deliberately toying with me. I have been away from the continent for such a short time — how could something like this have happened?" Han Li's face had turned exceptionally dark as he fixed the man before him with a frigid stare and spoke in an icy voice.