Deep within the underground world, in a heavily guarded hidden hall, a colossal spell formation radiating five-colored brilliance stood at the center.
Within the formation, over a dozen black-armored guards worked busily, swiftly placing supreme-grade spirit stones into what appeared to be a dense network of slots.
Meanwhile, in the grand hall surrounding the formation, more than fifty men and women of varying auras stood waiting.
Among them, the most powerful possessed Mahayana-stage cultivation, though they numbered only five.
The rest were mostly at the Body Integration stage, with only seven or eight at even lower levels.
Among them, naturally, were Xue Po and Zhu Guo'er.
Han Li brought the two women and Patriarch Shi to a corner of the hall, silently observing the black-armored guards at work.
Those dozen or so fragrant women naturally could not all teleport to Blood Heaven together—they had been entrusted to the Merchant Alliance, who would send these exotic beauties to the human race.
The other Mahayana cultivators in the hall were clearly proud figures in their own right, each occupying their own space with their disciples or alone, with no intention of exchanging pleasantries.
The other alien cultivators, for their part, stayed obediently in place, not daring to glance toward where Han Li and the other Mahayana cultivators stood.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from outside the hall. Ming Zun walked in, bringing Fairy Feiyun with him.
The several alien Mahayana cultivators, who had been silent, felt a chill and looked over immediately.
Han Li touched the green ring that had appeared on his wrist and swept a calm gaze over as well.
This ring, which resembled a storage bracelet, was in fact the transformed Tian Fei'er.
"Fellow Daoists, this teleportation formation can generally only be used once per century. That is why I have come personally this time, to ensure the teleportation proceeds without error," Ming Zun said with a smile toward the Mahayana cultivators, his gaze lingering briefly on Han Li before moving on.
"Heh heh, with Brother Ming personally overseeing the process, I'm sure this teleportation will go off without a hitch," said one alien Mahayana cultivator—a strangely tall, bamboo-pole-thin figure.
The others also offered words of gratitude with smiles on their faces.
None of them dared show the slightest negligence toward this renowned Chief Steward of the Merchant Alliance. Ming Zun greeted each of them in turn before finally cupping his fists toward Han Li and asking: "Brother Han, I have long heard of your great reputation. If not for the little disturbance at the auction, I originally intended to visit you in person after it concluded. Now that we finally meet, I hope you will forgive the delay."
"Brother Ming is too kind. It is I who am quite delighted to meet so many fellow cultivators of the same rank at your Alliance's auction," Han Li replied with a smile, returning the cupped-fist salute.
The other alien Mahayana cultivators could not help but feel somewhat surprised at Ming Zun's attitude toward Han Li.
After all, Ming Zun was himself one of the most renowned powerhouses on the Feng Yuan Continent. Anyone he treated as an equal could not possibly be an ordinary Mahayana cultivator.
"Brother Ming, this Fellow Daoist Han is...?" the tall, thin alien could not help but ask.
"I am Han Li of the human race. Greetings, fellow cultivators." Before Ming Zun could make any introduction, Han Li introduced himself preemptively.
"What?! The one who charged into the demon realm and slew the Insect Mother?!" The tall alien's face changed dramatically upon hearing this.
The other Mahayana cultivators nearby were equally stunned, their gazes toward Han Li taking on a markedly different quality.
By now they understood—Ming Zun had most likely come specifically for Han Li. Otherwise, with just their status alone, he never would have made this extra trip.
"I did indeed participate in the journey to the demon realm. But slaying the Insect Mother was not my effort alone—the rumors have somewhat exaggerated matters," Han Li replied noncommittally.
The alien Mahayana cultivators' attitude toward Han Li became considerably warmer. Each introduced themselves, and they soon fell into conversation.
Ming Zun watched from the side, occasionally chiming in with a word or two.
But before long, a clear ringing echoed through the hall.
The spirit stones had been fully loaded into the colossal formation, and the formation itself blazed to life. Countless five-colored runes surfaced throughout.
"The formation has been charged with spirit stones. Fellow Daoists, you may enter," Ming Zun said after a glance, addressing Han Li and the others.
"Brother Ming, take care. I shall take my leave." Han Li cupped his fists toward Ming Zun, then led the two women toward the colossal formation.