Storm Rising Beyond the Seas; The Rebel Star Alliance

Chapter 508: Storm Rising Beyond the Seas; The Rebel Star Alliance

“What major events? I only came out of seclusion a few days ago. Go ahead, let’s hear it.” Han Li wore a look of utter indifference.

“Since you, Senior, are asking, we juniors would naturally tell you everything. However, may I first dare to ask for your esteemed name?” The old man spoke cautiously, his hands hanging respectfully at his sides.

Hearing this question, Han Li was a little surprised. But after tilting his head in thought for a moment, he smiled—a faint, unreadable smile—and said:

“You seem quite cautious. I am a guest elder of the Sublime Sound Sect. My surname is Han. Does that ring a bell for you?”

“Ah, so you are Elder Han of the Sublime Sound Sect! Then you are certainly no outsider. Jade Snow Flutist of our sect and Fairy Zi Ling of your sect are very close friends! Our two sects have always maintained good relations.” The old man breathed a long sigh of relief upon hearing Han Li’s self-introduced identity. Then he spoke with a beaming smile.

Seeing the other man put on such a display of ‘we’re all on the same side here,’ Han Li was dumbfounded for a moment before breaking into a dry chuckle.

That single laugh, however, froze the old man’s expression and filled him with a growing unease.

‘Did I say something wrong?’ The old man wondered, a little doubtful.

“I have never bothered myself with the affairs of my sect. I don’t care whether what you say is true or false. As long as you answer my questions properly, I won’t cause you any trouble for no reason. Now, tell me the situation. What exactly has happened recently?” Han Li said, his smile vanishing.

“How could I dare to deceive you, Senior? Everything I said before is true. It’s like this…” The old man plastered on a fawning smile, almost ready to swear an oath. But under the cold flash of Han Li’s gaze, he immediately began his recounting.

“A while ago, a rumor suddenly spread across the Chaotic Star Sea. It claimed that the Twin Saint Masters of the Star Palace had achieved mastery over the Primordial Magnetic Light and were about to emerge from seclusion. The Star Palace planned to take this opportunity to begin purging forces that were either disobedient or beyond their control. Most people thought it was just another baseless rumor at first. But no one expected that just a few days after the rumor spread, the Star Palace genuinely issued a ‘Heaven Star Token’ to all major and minor powers. It ordered all sect leaders and island masters to immediately report to the Heavenly Star City upon receiving the token to have an audience with the Twin Saint Masters. Anyone who refused would be branded as disrespectful to the Star Palace and subsequently annihilated.” The old man explained in detail.

“Having all the powers come to pay respects to the Twin Saint Masters? Is that right? Would the Star Palace really issue a command that so obviously invites backlash?” Han Li squinted, a tone of disbelief in his voice.

“Exactly. When the Heaven Star Token was delivered into the hands of all the powers, most people were completely dumbfounded! If this order had been issued at the peak of the Star Palace’s power, it wouldn’t have been a problem. But now that the Righteous and Demonic factions are not inferior to them in strength, such an action was baffling.” A bitter smile appeared on the old man’s face as he spoke.

“So all the cultivators I encountered on my way here are going to pay their respects to the Twin Saint Masters?” Han Li re-examined the group of people, furrowing his brow.

“It’s hard to say for sure…” The old man’s expression turned hesitant, and his reply was somewhat vague.

“Hard to say? What does that mean?” Han Li asked with a flicker of surprise.

“Senior, there are some things I haven’t finished telling you. Not long after the Star Palace issued the Heaven Star Token, the Righteous and Demonic factions suddenly announced a joint alliance called the ‘Rebel Star Alliance.’ They declared their intention to break the Star Palace’s hegemony over the Chaotic Star Sea and completely end their rule. The Chief Protector of the Righteous Path’s Ten Thousand Laws Sect, Ten Thousand Third Lady, and the current number one of the Demonic Path, ‘Sacred Sovereign of Six Paths,’ have both become the two supreme leaders of the Rebel Star Alliance. As soon as the Rebel Star Alliance was formed, countless sects and organizations belonging to the Righteous and Demonic paths joined in. Many other powers also followed suit, and over a dozen rogue cultivators and lone tyrants at the Nascent Soul stage integrated into the alliance, taking up positions as elders. This Rebel Star Alliance even copied the Star Palace by issuing its own ghost token, called the ‘Rebel Star Token,’ to other powers. They proclaimed that any power that went to pay respects to the Twin Saint Masters would automatically become an enemy of the Alliance and would not be spared. Furthermore, they declared they would attack the Star City soon. All other powers are free to come and watch, to make their stance clear.” The old man wore a helpless expression.

When Han Li heard this, his face remained impassive, but his mind was completely stunned.

That such massive events had occurred during his brief confinement in the Void Heaven Palace was far beyond his expectations!

For a moment, Han Li’s thoughts were in a whirl.

Suddenly, Han Li’s mind stirred. He stared at the old man and asked calmly:

“What kind of ghost token is this Rebel Star Token? Do you have one of these tokens on you?”

“Our sect did receive one, but it is kept with the sect leader. However, I did replicate the token’s pattern onto a jade slip. Would Senior like to take a look?” The old man was momentarily taken aback, but then spoke ingratiatingly.

“Hmm. Let me see it.” Han Li nodded coldly.

Upon hearing this, the old man immediately flipped open his storage pouch and pulled out a yellow jade slip. He didn’t dare to be negligent, quickly presenting it to Han Li with both hands.

Han Li took it without a word of polite refusal. He swiftly probed it with his spiritual sense and scanned its contents. His expression shifted slightly.

It was exactly the same pattern as the ghost-faced token that the elder of the Six Serenity Hall had shown to Wu Chou all those years ago. Although the shape had been slightly modified, it was definitely from the same source.

It seemed the Righteous and Demonic paths had long since secretly colluded. They had been meticulously infiltrating and planting moles within other powers for many years.

Startled in his heart, Han Li maintained a blank expression on his face as he returned the jade slip to the old man.

“So, you’re saying that you’re heading near the Heavenly Star City to observe the upcoming great battle between the Star Palace and the Rebel Star Alliance before deciding which side to pick?” Han Li asked casually.

Hearing this, a look of embarrassment appeared on the old man’s face.

“That’s correct, Senior. Our group was indeed ordered by our sect leader to go and assess the situation. After all, our Three Immortals Sect is not some large or powerful school. We can only adapt to the circumstances. However, during this time, the Rebel Star Alliance has already launched attacks on the Star Palace’s outer islands, gaining a huge advantage. A few islands even directly declared their defection to the Rebel Star Alliance. It’s estimated that the fight for the inner islands will be next. In addition, some individuals with ill intentions are taking this chance to stir up trouble. Not a few rogue cultivators and small sects have met with misfortune—either left dead in the wilderness or completely wiped out.” The old man then worriedly pointed out why all the traveling cultivators were acting so cautious.

“I see. Alright, since the matter is clear, you may go.” Han Li was quite satisfied with the old man’s answers. He waved his hand lightly and spoke indifferently.

“Then I will take my leave, Senior.” The old man’s heart was overjoyed at Han Li’s words. He quickly offered a salute and took his leave.

Even though the old man felt that Han Li did not look like a vicious, ruthless person, being in the company of an unknown Core Formation cultivator still made him nervous and uneasy. Without further delay, he led his men and quickly flew away from the spot.

Han Li, however, stood still on the spot, not moving a muscle, lost in deep thought.

The outbreak of war between the Star Palace and the combined Righteous and Demonic forces was mixed news for him—both good and bad.

On the good side, this war would certainly consume most of the attention of those old monsters. They all belonged to either the Righteous or Demonic sides, so it was impossible for them not to participate in this matter. That would mean they couldn’t focus their entire efforts on hunting him down and chasing the Void Heaven Cauldron. This made him much safer.

On the bad side, the war would bring him great trouble on his return trip to Heavenly Star City.

At the very least, the checks on cultivators entering the city would certainly become much stricter, especially for Core Formation cultivators like himself.

Furthermore, if the great war had already erupted before he could return to Heavenly Star City, his plans to enter the city would be completely ruined. The Star Palace wouldn’t allow just any cultivator to casually enter the city at a time like this.

Thinking of this, Han Li let out a silent sigh.

Over the next few days, he intercepted several more groups of low-grade cultivators, and the answers he got were all more or less the same.

By now, Han Li had fully verified the truth of the news, and it left him in a real bind.

At this very moment, Han Li was floating on the surface of the sea, staring blankly into the distance with a look of deep hesitation on his face.

He raised his head to look at the azure sky. Then, with a turn of his palm, a small green vial appeared in his hand.

It was the bottle containing the ten-thousand-year spirit milk.

Staring at the small bottle, a flash of helplessness crossed Han Li’s face.

To have to use this thing so soon… it’s such a waste!

But if he didn’t do so, he was afraid that the Rebel Star Alliance would launch their offensive before he could even reach Heavenly Star City. Then he wouldn’t be able to enter the city, let alone use the teleportation formation to escape to the Outer Star Seas.

After deliberating for a long time, Han Li finally gritted his teeth. He opened the bottle’s lid, carefullt poured a few drops of the transparent, viscous liquid into his mouth, and swallowed.

He then put the small bottle away, draped the Blood-Colored Cloak over his shoulders, and instantly transformed into a blur of blood-light that shot forth, vanishing from the spot without a trace.

In the following half-month, as soon as Han Li felt his mana reserves were nearly depleted, he would directly drop some of the spirit milk into his mouth and then continue racing forward without pause using the ancient treasure, Blood-Colored Cloak. In this way, Han Li drastically shortened his original travel time, moving at a speed nearly equivalent to that of an average Nascent Soul cultivator.

As a result, a few Core Formation cultivators he occasionally encountered along the way actually mistook the Han Li shrouded in blood-light for some senior Nascent Soul expert, making way for him from afar. No one dared to block his path even for a moment.

Furthermore, no cultivator dared to harbor any evil thoughts against this ‘Nascent Soul senior.’

(The next chapter may be a little later. Everyone can check in tomorrow morning!)

(End of Chapter)