The Ghost King Beckons

Chapter 446: Storms Beyond the Seas – The Ghost King (1)

Fairy Zi Ling understood the implication of Han Li’s words, and her pretty face instantly grew even paler.

The old man stared at the bones on the ground in silence. His gaze flickered as he seemed to be deep in thought.

Han Li, acting as if he hadn’t noticed, glanced around before continuing his analysis in a calm voice:

“Since even a cultivator on the verge of Core Formation’s mid-stage fell here, it means this fierce ghost’s strength is absolutely terrifying. Even if it hasn’t reached the Ghost King realm, it’s likely very close. I don’t know if Fairy Zi Ling and Brother Ge are mentally prepared for the possibility of perishing here. If you two choose to turn back now, you can avoid this extreme danger. As for me, I will still risk pressing forward.”

Han Li’s voice was very calm, but the two of them exchanged a look after hearing this.

After a long moment of deliberation, Fairy Zi Ling spoke with determination: “Senior Han! If I cannot form my Core in this life, then even if I am forever bound to the ghostly path, I will accept it. I will not turn back.”

Her voice was utterly resolute, making it clear she had made up her mind.

Han Li could only offer a bitter smile inwardly. He turned his head to look at the old man.

Ge Li’s face was clouded with indecision.

After a long while, he finally spoke, dejected: “I came here this time simply to see if I could pluck a few Longevity Fruits. There’s nothing I absolutely must fight for. Since the danger ahead is so great, this old man had better turn back as I came. After all, passing away peacefully through meditation is far better than being eternally condemned to the ghostly path.”

Having said this, the old man revealed a hint of shame.

He then clasped his hands in a bow to the two of them, flicked his sleeve without further hesitation, and vanished back into the mist along the path he had come.

Han Li stared expressionlessly at the direction where the old man had disappeared, saying nothing for a long time.

Fairy Zi Ling revealed a look of disappointment, feeling their chances grow even slimmer without a Core Formation cultivator accompanying them through the Ghost Mist.

“Elder Han, should we be on our way?” Fairy Zi Ling glanced at the eerie, dense fog around them and spoke to Han Li with a forced smile.

Though her decision had been resolute, deep down she herself didn’t know whether it was the right choice. Her heart was now full of doubt and unease.

Han Li gave a flat “Mn” in response, then lowered his head to look at the skeleton.

Suddenly, he reached out with one hand, and the “Flame Repelling Garment” flew into his palm with a whoosh. He then stored it in his storage pouch without changing his expression.

Fairy Zi Ling was startled by this, opening her lips as if to say something, but after a moment’s thought, she kept silent.

What Han Li did next surprised her even more.

He flicked his finger, and a streak of azure sword-light shot out, striking the ground and creating a large pit over three meters deep.

Then, with a light brush of his sleeve, Han Li swept the skeleton and the remnants of the magic treasure into the pit, burying them.

Seeing this, Fairy Zi Ling’s expression was incredibly strange.

“Do you find my actions odd?” Han Li suddenly turned to her and said calmly.

“A little,” Zi Ling hesitated, then answered honestly.

Han Li let out a soft laugh upon hearing this.

“The reason I buried him is simply because we are fellow cultivators on the path. I myself don’t know when I might end up as nothing but a pile of bones. Since I encountered him, I thought I’d lend a hand to spare him from rotting in the wilderness. If I ever meet with misfortune, I hope I will encounter someone who would do the same for me. As for taking this garment, naturally, the dead have no use for it, and it would be a waste to bury it with him. I’ll take it as payment for burying the bones.” Han Li said slowly.

After hearing this, the surprise on Fairy Zi Ling’s face gradually faded, and she fell into contemplation.

Meanwhile, Han Li had already begun walking forward.

Seeing this, Zi Ling glanced at the freshly turned mound of earth, let out a soft sigh, and followed slowly.

“Fellow Daoist Zi Ling, how much do you know about the origins of the Void Heaven Palace? Could you share a little about it?” Since they were the only two now, Han Li slowed his pace and walked side by side with her, looking quite relaxed.

Zi Ling glanced at Han Li’s calm face, her feelings somewhat complicated.

For someone at merely the early Core Formation stage to remain so composed in such a dangerous place was completely unexpected to her.

Yet, this also reassured her greatly. It meant he surely had some kind of reliance.

Now, hearing his question, she was momentarily stunned before answering obediently:

“The origin of the Void Heaven Palace in the Chaotic Star Sea is impossible to trace. All that is known is that once every three hundred years, it descends from beyond the heavens to a random corner of the Chaotic Star Sea, usually in remote, uninhabited places. The palace contains countless treasures—spirit medicines, ancient treasures, cultivation techniques—all can be found here. It is widely believed to be a secret palace specially constructed by ancient cultivators from the primeval era, for reasons unknown. Thus, every time it opens, a great number of high-level cultivators come to seek its treasures.”

“However, the Void Heaven Palace is filled with layers of intricate mechanisms and formations. The closer one approaches the inner halls at its core, the more precious the discoveries, but also the greater the danger. It is said that the true treasures of the Void Heaven Palace lie within those inner halls. But to reach them, one must first pass through three major trial stages; otherwise, it is nothing but wishful thinking. Among those who can safely pass all three stages, aside from Nascent Soul cultivators, only a small number of exceedingly fortunate cultivators manage it. Thus, to ordinary cultivators, the inner halls remain an even greater mystery.”

As Fairy Zi Ling spoke in her pleasant voice, she kept a careful watch on Han Li’s expression.

But she was somewhat disappointed to find that Han Li’s expression had not changed at all, making him seem quite unfathomable.

“Even if the Void Heaven Palace was filled with treasures, after all these years of openings, there shouldn’t be much left, should there?” Han Li asked casually.

“That’s not entirely clear. However, the time the palace is open is limited, and every treasure is hidden with extreme secrecy, making retrieval no simple task. I imagine there should still be plenty left. It’s said that most cultivators who come here consider themselves lucky to find one or two pieces. It’s quite common for cultivators to leave empty-handed after only gathering some ordinary spirit herbs. It all depends on one’s fortune. Otherwise, the treasures within would have been cleared out long ago by those Nascent Soul cultivators.” Fairy Zi Ling said, sounding somewhat uncertain.

Han Li nodded thoughtfully, asked no more, and slightly quickened his pace.

For the next stretch, the two followed the traces left by the black-robed figure for the time it would take a meal, without any incidents.

This put Fairy Zi Ling somewhat at ease.

Perhaps that fierce ghost had gone to intercept cultivators on another path and was no longer here. This gave her a surge of hope.

But no sooner had this thought arisen in her heart than Han Li furrowed his brow and stopped once again.

“What’s wrong?” Fairy Zi Ling was startled and halted as well, asking uneasily as she probed the surroundings with her spiritual sense, but found nothing.

“It seems the black-robed man has run into that ghost fiend and is fighting it now.” Han Li’s eyes flickered with a strange light as he spoke coldly.

“What should we do? Should we go help, or try to slip past?” Fairy Zi Ling hesitated, then said uncertainly.

Han Li glanced at her, aware that she was likely leaning toward the latter option—slipping away.

That course of action couldn’t exactly be called wrong. If they weren’t inside the Ghost Mist, Han Li would have done the same without a second thought.

But under these circumstances…

Han Li shook his head with a soft sigh and strode forward.

Seeing this, Fairy Zi Ling was taken aback. But after a brief deliberation, she stamped her jade foot and quickly followed.

After chasing him for roughly thirty meters, she began to faintly hear the sounds of spell explosions, along with a thin, sobbing cry.

The sound resembled a woman’s voice—shrill, low, and intermittently broken. It was unbearably irritating, unsettling the mind.

Merely listening to a fragment of it stirred her heart and mind, making her feel a strong urge to dance wildly.

Alarmed, Fairy Zi Ling quickly steadied her Primordial Soul with a mental technique, then dared to wipe the cold sweat from her brow and look up.

By then, she could no longer see Han Li’s silhouette.

Fairy Zi Ling hesitated for a moment, but then gritted her teeth and pressed forward cautiously.

After taking only a short distance further, she unexpectedly caught sight of Han Li standing still, his hands clasped behind his back, his figure heavy with solemnity.

Her heart leapt with joy, and she hurried over.

But before she could reach him, the ghostly sobbing sound in her ears suddenly swelled, causing her to become dizzy and disoriented. Her limbs began to flail uncontrollably.

Her face turned deathly pale with terror!

(There will be another chapter later tonight, though it might be a bit delayed. If you feel you can’t wait, you can read it tomorrow!)

(End of this chapter)