Storms Arise Overseas; The Soul-Stealing Howler

Chapter 444: Storms Arise Overseas; The Soul-Stealing Howler

This woman was not stunningly beautiful by classical standards, yet the smile she had just revealed possessed a thousand charms and ten thousand graces.

It caught Han Li off guard.

If the Great Derivative Art within his body had not remained completely unresponsive, he would have almost suspected her of using some high-level charm technique. In that case, his momentary lapse would have been quite strange indeed.

Han Li silently pondered this and could not help but glance back at Fairy Zi Ling.

She had already resumed her modest, unassuming appearance. That breathtakingly captivating quality from just moments ago had vanished without a trace.

Just as Han Li was wrestling with his confusion, the gray-robed elder walked over to him.

“I am Ge Li of Tiantai Island. May I ask how I should address the two of you?” The old man cupped his fist in a polite and courteous greeting.

Suppressing the lingering doubt in his mind, Han Li returned a smile and replied, “I am Han Li. This is Fairy Zi Ling of the Sublime Sound Sect.”

When the old man heard Han Li’s name, his expression remained unchanged. But upon hearing “Sublime Sound Sect” and “Fairy Zi Ling,” a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

“I have long heard of Fairy Zi Ling’s reputation. To see your true face today is truly a great honor,” the old man said, though a thick layer of doubt lingered in his eyes.

Clearly, Fairy Zi Ling’s appearance did not quite live up to her storied beauty as the rumors described it. This left the old man somewhat bemused.

Fairy Zi Ling, naturally, understood the pleasantry. She merely pursed her lips in a faint smile and said nothing.

The old man, however, was not an ordinary character. He recovered his composure in an instant and addressed Han Li with a genial expression.

“Since the four of us have been transported to the same location, it could be considered a significant stroke of fate. Why don’t we join forces to pass through this trial? This ghostly domain before us is not easily crossed. I have heard that quite a few Core Formation cultivators were devoured by the horde of specters and met their end here, their bones and souls annihilated.”

As Ge Li spoke, his expression grew serious, suggesting he knew a fair amount about the Void Heaven Palace.

When Han Li heard him mention the ghostly domain, he turned his gaze to survey the distance.

Beyond the small earthen mound they stood on, about a dozen yards out, the world was nothing but a uniform gray. Endless, roiling gray-white mist drifted everywhere. Chilly gusts of wind blew back and forth within the fog, accompanied by faint wails and sharp cries from hidden specters—a sound that sent a chill down the spine.

This ghostly mist was stopped just at the edge of the mound by a layer of faint white light, unable to penetrate even a fraction of an inch further. Otherwise, Han Li and the others would not have had the leisure to calmly discuss tactics; they would have already been swarmed by wandering ghosts.

Seeing this, Han Li could not help but look up.

The same dense fog obscured everything above. It hardly felt like being inside a great hall at all. He was half-convinced he was standing out in some desolate wilderness.

At this point, Fairy Zi Ling, who had been listening to the old man’s words, interjected with a worried tone.

“I have also heard that this first trial, the Ghostly Domain, was originally not difficult to pass. But as more and more cultivators fell into the ghostly mist over time, it has become far more dangerous. The resentment of those fallen cultivators is extremely heavy. After death, they transform into powerful vengeful spirits, holding a deep grudge against those of us who dare to enter the palace. Once encountered, the conflict is absolute—no survivors. In the last few openings of the Void Heaven Palace, even more cultivators have fallen at this stage. And I heard that during the previous opening, a team of cultivators encountered a Ghost King with fully awakened intelligence within this very domain. The entire team was annihilated, and only one person managed to escape.”

“A Ghost King?” Han Li stroked his chin, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Though he was not entirely familiar with the hierarchy of ghostly beings, he knew that a Ghost King was roughly equivalent to a late-Core Formation cultivator. And with such a creature’s intelligence fully awakened to match a human’s, dealing with it would naturally be extremely troublesome.

Seeing the contemplative look on Han Li’s face, Ge Li immediately pressed on.

“I know the chances of meeting a Ghost King are low, but it is still safer for us to act together. I may be old, but I have no desire to fall into this ghostly mist and become one of those vengeful spirits myself.”

The old man was being remarkably candid.

Fairy Zi Ling listened to this exchange but did not add anything more.

As sharp as she was, she understood perfectly well that the old man’s suggestion of an alliance was not aimed at her, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. It was directed squarely at Han Li.

Thus, after her one interjection, she wisely stood by Han Li’s side and did not speak again.

Han Li, after hearing the old man’s words, simply chuckled.

He did not reply directly. Instead, after a glance toward the black-robed figure on the other side, he said in a calm, unhurried tone, “Have you asked that fellow cultivator over there, Fellow Daoist Ge? Is he willing to cooperate as well?”

When Ge Li heard Han Li bring up the black-robed man, his face immediately darkened. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke with some obvious resentment.

“Hah! Don’t even mention that demonic-path cultivator. The moment I was teleported here, I kindly proposed the idea of working together. Do you know what that ice-cold fellow said? He told me to get lost! If my temper were not as good as it is, I would not have let the matter rest so easily.”

The old man was clearly still quite incensed.

Han Li’s expression remained unchanged, but he found himself developing a sliver of interest in the black-robed man.

Turning his head, he called out in a clear voice to the demonic cultivator.

“And what about you, friend? Any interest in sharing a boat through these troubled waters? If we Core Formation cultivators join forces, even if we do run into some Ghost King-level monster, we should still have a fighting chance.”

Han Li’s voice was not loud, but it carried clearly, and it should have reached the man’s ears without issue.

The man, however, merely cast a cold glance in their direction before turning his head away indifferently, completely ignoring Han Li’s suggestion.

“See, Fellow Daoist Han? I told you. This man wouldn’t know good advice if it hit him. Let’s just go with the three of us,” the old man said, snorting coldly at the black-robed figure.

It was clear he still harbored a grudge over the earlier insult.

Han Li was about to offer a light-hearted response when Fairy Zi Ling, standing beside him, let out a soft exclamation of surprise.

Startled, Han Li followed her gaze.

The black-robed man was striding purposefully toward the ghostly mist, clearly intending to brave the trial alone.

All three of them stared, stupefied.

A moment later, Ge Li let out a disdainful sneer.

“This man truly seeks his own death. Entering the ghostly mist alone—there is a nine-in-ten chance he won’t survive this trial.”

Han Li paid no attention to the old man’s ridicule. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and focused intently on the black-robed man’s every move.

He refused to believe the man was simply courting death. Rather, he must possess some special means—a trump card that gave him complete confidence in passing through alone.

The black-robed man had already reached the boundary where the ghostly mist met the white light. With a lift of his loose sleeve, a streak of green light shot out and landed before him.

It was a small, monkey-like spirit beast.

The little monkey was no more than a foot tall, its body covered in glossy, emerald-green fur that seemed to shimmer faintly.

Most peculiar of all was its nose. It was enormously prominent, occupying more than half of its face, and looked bizarre and otherworldly.

Han Li was merely surprised, but before he could react further, the old man beside him let out a sharp cry.

“That’s a Soul-Stealing Howler! So that’s why he’s so arrogant—he has this spirit beast!” The old man’s voice carried a trace of shock.

Fairy Zi Ling was equally stunned at the sight of the little monkey.

Frowning, Han Li asked, “A Soul-Stealing Howler? What kind of strange beast is that? I’ve never heard of it.”

Snapping out of her daze, Fairy Zi Ling quickly explained.

“The Soul-Stealing Howler is not a naturally occurring spirit beast. It is a peculiar creature—half living beast, half ghost—refined through a secret method by a reclusive demonic sect. Though it has little ordinary use, it possesses an innate ability to devour souls and consume specters. No matter how powerful an evil ghost or resentful spirit, if it meets this beast and gets sniffed by that nose, it will be drawn into its belly. Within a short time, it will be completely refined into nothingness. It is truly fearsome.” A hint of envy colored her tone.

“But…” Fairy Zi Ling paused, letting out a soft sigh.

“But what?” Han Li was a little annoyed by her hesitation.

“But the method to refine this beast is known only to that secret sect. Moreover, the process is said to be extremely bloody and rarely successful. It is a vile art that defies the natural order of heaven. Legend has it that whenever this beast appears, it is a sign that chaos is about to engulf the cultivation world,” Ge Li interjected, his eyes fixed on the black-robed man’s retreating back, a complex expression on his face.

“This beast appears, and the cultivation world descends into chaos?” Han Li could not help but let out a cold laugh.

“Even if this beast never appeared, when the Chaotic Star Sea is fated to fall into chaos, it will fall into chaos regardless. You don’t seriously believe this little creature brings disaster, do you?” Han Li said with a dismissive sneer.