Han Li had become so well-known throughout the Heavenly South cultivation world that there was virtually no one who did not know his name. After their initial shock, the cultivators all showed expressions of awe and reverence.
"If it's Senior Han, then naturally there's no need for any announcement. Lord Zhiyang gave instructions long ago that Senior Han is to be admitted upon arrival. I will escort Senior Han to Spirit Tortoise Island at once." The woman in palace robes said respectfully, not daring to show the slightest negligence.
Han Li nodded, his expression blank, and said nothing more. The robed woman then issued a few instructions to the cultivators behind her before leading Han Li in a flight toward the rear.
The black specks in the distance gradually grew larger, and sure enough, it was a small island of modest size, roughly twenty to thirty square kilometers in area.
"Senior Han, this is Spirit Phoenix Island, occupied by our Joyful Harmony Sect. The True Origins Sect's Spirit Tortoise Island is on the adjacent island nearby." The woman seemed to know this was Han Li's first visit and explained carefully.
Han Li glanced in the direction the woman indicated, but the distance was apparently too great to spot the other island right away. However, in the other direction, the enormous spiritual source's astonishing fluctuations in spiritual energy were even more clearly perceptible. The spiritual energy was so powerful — this had to be the location of the legendary maelstrom that spewed forth massive amounts of spiritual energy.
As Han Li pondered this, he followed the palace-robed woman and continued flying into the distance.
When the so-called Spirit Tortoise Island finally came into view, it had been about an hour's flight.
This island was slightly larger than Spirit Phoenix Island, which was held by the Joyful Harmony Sect. Viewed from above, its outline did indeed bear a passing resemblance to a spiritual tortoise.
Before they had even approached the island, the palace-robed woman had already sent out a sound transmission talisman. So the moment the two of them reached the island's shores, a streak of white light flew out from the island to meet them.
"Is that Lord Zhiyang? For you to come greet me in person, I'm truly unworthy of such courtesy!" Recognizing the familiar streak of light, Han Li immediately halted and sent his voice across from a distance.
"Heh heh, Fellow Daoist Han is a man of his word. I should naturally come far to welcome you." Zhiyang Shangren seemed quite pleased to see Han Li, and his hearty voice traveled back just as clearly.
Then the white light flew to within ten-odd zhang of Han Li before the radiance contracted, revealing the figure of a Daoist priest.
Han Li smiled faintly and cupped his fists in greeting.
"Come with me to my cave dwelling first. I've already informed Fellow Daoist Wei Wuya. As for that old monster from Joyful Harmony, he's caught up with important business and couldn't make it here." Zhiyang instructed the palace-robed woman to return first, then turned to Han Li with a smile.
"That works. I'll follow your lead." Han Li had no objections, and the two immediately flew toward the island.
Along the way, Han Li swept the entire island with his spiritual sense, only to furrow his brow slightly without realizing it.
There was indeed an excellent minor spiritual vein on the island, stretching roughly ten li in size. The number of cultivators on the island was small, but every single one appeared to possess high cultivation — yet the low-rank cultivators Han Li had expected to find were nowhere in sight. This puzzled him somewhat.
Before long, under the Daoist's guidance, Han Li entered a cave dwelling that had been recently opened. It was built into an unremarkable stone mountain, yet proved spacious and well-kept.
Han Li followed Lord Zhiyang into a main hall, and they both took seats. Two Daoist attendants served spirit tea. After taking a sip, Han Li began conversing in low tones with Lord Zhiyang.
This old Daoist, one of the three great cultivators, seemed in no hurry to mention the reason for inviting Han Li here. Instead, he leisurely introduced the situation of the surrounding seas and the various sects that occupied the Seven Spirit Islands, appearing quite content to simply talk about other matters.
It seemed that before Wei Wuya arrived, he had no intention of letting even a hint of the purpose slip to Han Li.
Han Li felt somewhat displeased inwardly, but outwardly pretended not to notice, engaging in what appeared to be casual conversation with Zhiyang.
Yet after no more than the time it took to finish a meal, Wei Wuya also arrived outside the cave dwelling. With the Daoist going out to greet him, his figure soon appeared in the hall as well.
Upon meeting Han Li, there was naturally another round of pleasantries. From appearances, Wei Wuya's skin looked crystalline and his complexion ruddy — he seemed to have fully recovered from the severe depletion of vitality he had suffered during the battle at Devilfall Valley, looking bursting with energy.