Chapter 1349: Still the Same Hu Yan

With Daoist Hu Yan leading the way, Han Li and Nangong Wan were taken to a mountain range with many giant peaks that stretched all the way up into the clouds. However, the world's origin qi in the environment was quite sparse, and there weren't many demon beasts in the area, either, making the entire place feel rather barren and lifeless.

With nothing to be gained, the area was naturally very rarely frequented by any cultivators.

As soon as Daoist Hu Yan entered this mountain range, he immediately became much more relaxed. Occasionally, he would recite some poetry for his own entertainment or point out some noteworthy landmarks in the mountain range to Han Li and Nangong Wan.

Initially, Han Li wasn't paying much attention, but he noticed that Nangong Wan was listening with keen interest, and she would point out some discoveries of her own from time to time, thoroughly impressing Daoist Hu Yan in the process.

Thus, he also became more involved in the conversation, raising some viewpoints and observations of his own to spark discussions between them.

Under this jovial atmosphere, the three of them wandered through the mountain range for close to an entire day before finally descending in front of an obscure mountain.

Even from very far away, Han Li had been able to tell that this mountain was different from the rest.

It wasn't that the mountain itself was different from the other mountains. Instead, the difference was that some very advanced restrictions had been set up around it, ones that would've been undetectable to the vast majority of cultivators below the High Zenith Stage.

Daoist Hu Yan flipped a hand over to produce a white badge, which he waved through the air to send a streak of white light vanishing into the space up ahead.

A white rift appeared amid a burst of spatial fluctuations, and it was impossible to see anything within it aside from a boundless expanse of white light.

"Come in," Daoist Hu Yan invited as he stepped into the white rift, and Han Li and Nangong Wan followed suit.

In the blink of an eye, they had appeared in a peaceful valley, within which several intricate bamboo buildings had been constructed.

On one side of the valley was a bamboo forest and a small creek connected to a pond, with many spirit beasts resting around it.

On the other side were several plots of spirit farmland that were being tended to by two figures.

The two figures looked up from their work before approaching Han Li's trio, and they were none other than Yun Ni and Bai Suyuan.

The former had already reached the late-Golden Immortal Stage, while the latter had also become a Golden Immortal. Furthermore, judging from her aura fluctuations, it was clear that she was using some very profound cultivation arts.

"Long time no see, Fellow Daoist Li! Hu Yan has missed you greatly over the years. Whenever he has a drink, he always brings you up while reminiscing about your time together," Yun Ni greeted with a warm smile.

"It has indeed been far too long, Fellow Daoist Yun," Han Li said as he cupped his fist in a salute.

"I was never able to repay you for taking me to the Blaze Dragon Dao, so please accept this gesture of gratitude from me, Senior Li," Bai Suyuan said as she extended a curtsey.

"No need for formalities, Fellow Daoist Bai," Han Li said with a faint smile as he casually swept a sleeve through the air, and Bai Suyuan was involuntarily returned to an upright posture by a burst of invisible force.

She was clearly quite taken aback by this, and she took a quick glance at Han Li before turning to Nangong Wan with a smile and a contemplative look in her eyes, seemingly guessing at how she had been fortunate enough to have become Han Li's dao partner.

As for Yun Ni, she was stunned by the ease with which Han Li was able to bring a Golden Immortal like Bai Suyuan out of her curtsey. This was something that was beyond the capabilities of even the average High Zenith cultivator.

Han Li introduced Nangong Wan to Yun Ni and Bai Suyuan, and they exchanged some small talk before making their way up to the second floor of one of the bamboo buildings.

The interior of the building was quite spacious, and the furnishings were quite simple, but still elegant and refined. From the vantage point of the second floor, one was able to see the entire valley, and it was quite a pleasant sight to behold.

After everyone had taken a seat, Han Li asked Daoist Hu Yan why they had chosen to settle here.

"It's a long story. We were already residing in a peaceful location in the Northern Glacial Immortal Region, but we were forced to leave due to the Gray Realm invasion. Unfortunately, Fellow Daoist Fengyi met her demise around that time, and it was only after a great deal of hassle that we were able to make it to the Black Soil Immortal Region," Daoist Hu Yan sighed in a forlorn manner, while Yun Ni and Bai Suyuan were also looking rather dejected.

Han Li heaved an internal sigh upon hearing this.

Many immortal regions had been impacted by the Gray Realm invasion, and Bai Fengyi was but one of countless casualties that would've resulted from the invasion.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Court remained focused on preparing for the Bodhi Banquet, and it seemed that no one really cared about what was happening in these small and insignificant immortal regions.

Perhaps in the eyes of the Heavenly Court, the cultivators of these small immortal regions were no more significant than ants.

"After we arrived on the Black Soil Immortal Region, we heard that this Illusory Smoke Swamp was home to the True Mantra Sect ruins, but after those ruins were demolished by the Heavenly Court several thousand years ago, the swamp has been largely deserted, so we decided to settle here. What do you think? It's not a bad place, right?" Daoist Hu Yan asked.

"It is indeed a fine place, tucked away from the bothers of the outside world," Han Li replied with a nod, then turned to take a glance at Nangong Wan, who just so happened to have also been looking back at him as a hint of longing flashed through her eyes.

Han Li heaved an internal sigh as he rested a hand on top of hers.

He knew that while the attainment of immortality was one of the main incentives for her ascension to the True Immortal Realm, another major motivating factor was to be reunited with him.

Even though she had never verbally expressed it to him, he could sense the weariness that she felt deep in her heart.

After cultivating arduously for so many years, one could be forgiven for thinking that reaching the True Immortal Stage was the conclusion of one's journey, but who could've imagined that it was actually just the beginning of an even longer and more arduous journey?

Thankfully, she had always been quite strong of will, and she knew that she had no choice but to continue onward if she wanted to be able to remain by Han Li's side.

During this spate of wanderlust, Han Li had been able to clearly sense the depth of Nangong Wan's feelings for him and how much she had cherished their time together, and the thought of this never failed to warm his heart.

Nangong Wan could sense what Han Li was trying to convey to her through his eyes, and she gave him a slight nod as a look of resolve surfaced in her own eyes.

It was only a fleeting shared glance, but it held more meaning than an extensive conversation.

Daoist Hu Yan began asking Han Li about his experiences since they last parted ways. The three of them had been living in seclusion ever since they arrived in the Black Soil Immortal Region, so they weren't aware that Han Li was a wanted fugitive of the Heavenly Court.

Han Li didn't want to involve them in his mess, so he told them that he had been cultivating in the Black Mountain Immortal Region this entire time, and that he had come to the Illusory Smoke Swamp in search of the True Mantra Sect ruins.

"By the way, you mentioned that the Heavenly Court destroyed the True Mantra Sect ruins here several thousand years ago. Why did they do that?" Han Li asked.

Bai Suyuan had been listening in silence this entire time, and she suddenly interjected, "This is something that I found out from a nearby sect. Apparently, several groups of people from different powers, including the Heavenly Court, came to the Black Mountain Immortal Region at the time, and they searched through the entirety of the True Mantra Sect ruins.

“It's unclear whether they found what they were looking for, but in the process, the entire place was demolished."

"That does sound like something the Heavenly Court would do," Han Li mused, then changed the subject as he asked, "Fellow Daoist Hu Yan, why has your cultivation base regressed by so much?"

Yun Ni's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, but she didn't say anything, while Bai Suyuan lowered her head.

"There's not much of a story to tell. Back when we first arrived in the Black Soil Immortal Region, I encountered an enemy of roughly the same cultivation base as myself. I was able to wound him and force him into retreat, but I also sustained severe injuries of my own that resulted in a significant regression in cultivation base," Daoist Hu Yan explained with a smile, seemingly completely unbothered by his current condition.

"I see," Han Li replied with a nod.

He could tell that Daoist Hu Yan was keeping something from him, but he didn't ask any questions as he didn't want to pry.

"That's enough questions from you, kid! Let's get back to what's important. I've collected some spirit ingredients from the Black Soil Immortal Region over the years to brew several types of wine. Let's have a taste together," Daoist Hu Yan said with a wide smile.

"Hu Yan, don't be so rude!" Yun Ni hurriedly interjected.

Han Li's unfathomable cultivation base had not escaped her notice, and she was worried that Daoist Hu Yan's flippant remarks would be met with dire consequences.

"Don't worry so much. If Fellow Daoist Li is the type of person to get hung up on such little things, then he wouldn't have been able to reach such staggering heights in such a short time," Daoist Hu Yan said with a nonchalant smile.

"Indeed, Fellow Daoist Hu Yan. We're all friends sharing a drink here, so why bother ourselves with formalities and social norms?" Han Li said with a wide smile of his own.

Yun Ni was rather taken aback to hear this, but she was naturally very pleased and relieved by Han Li's gracious reaction.

Daoist Hu Yan asked Yun Ni and Bai Suyuan to take Nangong Wan on a tour of the valley, while he dragged Han Li to a short bamboo building situated in a corner of the valley.

It was the most unremarkable bamboo building of the lot, but it was filled with all types of gourds, jars, and flagons, as well as wine cups of all types of different materials.

After entering the building, it was as if Daoist Hu Yan had transformed into an entirely different person, and he began giving Han Li an extensive introduction to his collection of wine and wine-brewing paraphernalia.

It seemed that he derived more joy from talking about his collection than he would from a major increase in cultivation base.

Only now did Han Li feel like the Daoist Hu Yan of old was back.