In the blink of an eye, more than half a year had passed.
In the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun shone upon the earth, turning the entire plain into a dusky yellow color.
On the plain, the two squads of scaled beasts were still maintaining a distance that was neither too far nor too close. Following the gradually rising terrain, they slowly moved towards a strange giant mountain range in the distance.
In the rear of the squad of scaled beasts, Han Li was dressed in a black robe as he sat cross-legged on the roof of a black temple, looking into the distance.
He could see that half of the mountain range in the distance, under the illumination of the setting sun, appeared to be golden-red, while the other half was dim, showing a strange blue color.
After observing for a while, Han Li's brows furrowed slightly. He could sense some strange fluctuations coming from that mountain range, and as he drew closer and closer, the fluctuations became more and more pronounced, and a burst of glacial Qi began to envelop the entire area.
More and more people began to feel the strangeness, and one by one, they came out of the stone temple to investigate.
The distance did not seem far, but the two squads still spent a whole seven days. On the eighth day, when the sky was about to brighten, they finally arrived at the foot of the mountain range.
This time, the Puppet City team did not continue to advance, but stopped at the mountain pass, waiting for the people from Xuan City to arrive.
Han Li and Gu Qianxun both stood side by side on the back of the Black-scaled Elephant, looking at the mountain range in front of them. They could see the black abyss that stretched for tens of thousands of miles, extending all the way into the mountain range, as if it had connected the entire mountain range.
The mountain range in front of them was half crystal blue, and the other half was scarlet red, with both emitting a strange aura.
"This place is really strange. Even with our physiques, we can still feel the chill that seeps into our bones." Gu Qianxun lightly rubbed her arms as she spoke.
"The rocks of this half of the mountain range are as cold as frost, looking like ice crystals. These wisps of cold air are emitted from the mountain range, while the rocks of the other half of the mountain range are like a raging fire.
On the other hand, the rocks on the other half of the mountain range are like a raging fire. Such a strange scene of ice and fire is rarely seen in the Scale Spatial Realm. "Xuanyuan Xing pointed at the other side of the mountain range and said.
Han Li was speechless, and his brows were tightly knitted together.
At this time, the sound of a horn and the sound of a bell rang out at the same time.
Han Li and the other two looked at each other before they flew up and landed in front of the two teams.
Soon, the others also rushed over and gathered in front.
A dozen steps away, the people from the Puppet City also gathered together.
Han Li looked around and saw the handsome Youth with the short halberd on his back, who had controlled the Winged Scale Bird to float in the air, standing at the front of the group.
On his left stood a burly man who was more than 20 feet tall. His head was half bald, and there was a braid on his head, which made him look quite comical. The upper half of his body was exposed, and his muscles bulged as if they were carved from fine steel. Twisted and protruding green blood vessels could be seen on his body, which seemed to be filled with explosive power.
On the right side of the handsome Youth stood a dwarf who was less than four feet tall. His appearance was quite handsome, and he was not much inferior to the Youth with the halberd. He wore a set of snow-white bone armor, and stood upright, looking quite imposing.
Behind the three of them, there were more than ten people, and most of them were women with curvaceous figures. Their clothes were also much neater, and most of them wore black muslin robes, and their faces were covered with a layer of light muslin.
Han Li's gaze swept across them, and finally landed on the three people at the back of the team.
Although the three of them were also wearing black robes, the feeling they gave him was very different from the others.
Just as Han Li was about to investigate carefully, two figures flew down from the sky and landed in front of the two teams.
One of them had a medium build, and an ordinary appearance. It was the Lord of Xuan City, Er Li.
The other was wearing a white muslin dress, and her face was covered with light muslin. She had a graceful figure, and when she landed, it was like a feather landing on the ground. She was extremely light, and every movement she made caused the hearts of people to sway.
Even a woman like Gu Qianxun could not help but be a little dazed.
"She's clearly not using any bewitching techniques, but there's a natural and unpretentious charm flowing around her …" Han Li murmured, and he could not help but think of the purple spirit.
He knew that the woman in front of him could not be the purple spirit, because she was Sha Xin, the City Lord of Puppet City.
"Everyone, the Surpassing Realm of the Great Ruins that we've painstakingly searched for is on the other side of the Black Abyss, and the path through the Black Abyss is in the mountain range where ice and fire intersect.
I know that there have been too many conflicts between our Xuan Bing City, and there have been people who have died at the hands of the other side, "Sha Xin spoke first, and slowly said.
When the people from the two cities heard this, their expressions became slightly unnatural. When they looked at each other, there was obvious hatred in their eyes.
"This kind of hatred … can't be eliminated, and there's no need to eliminate it."
When Sha Xin said this, there was an uproar in the two teams. Many people turned their wrists, and touched the Star Weapons on their waists, and the killing intent in their eyes grew stronger.
"Everyone, please calm down," Er Ge said with a smile, still as gentle as usual.
When the people from Xuan City heard this, they withdrew their hands, but the vigilance in their eyes did not lessen.
"No matter how deep your hatred is, I only hope that you can put it aside for now in the Extreme Ice and Fire Vein," Sha Xin said as she looked at the people calmly.
"The danger of the Extreme Ice and Fire Vein is far greater than you can imagine. There's no doubt about that.
In this mountain range, we can't spread out like before. We have to stay together and move forward carefully.
Therefore, you must put aside your personal grudges for now, and work together to help each other, "Er Ge said.
After a moment of silence, Sun Tu said, "We will obey the City Lord's order."
Thus, with a single call, hundreds of people responded.
"Next, we'll enter from the side of the Extreme Ice Mountain Range. To prevent any accidents, after we enter the mountain pass, the teams from the two cities will mix up and advance separately," Sha Xin said with a slight frown.
"Yes, sir." The people did not hesitate anymore, and shouted.
"Let's go." With Er Ge's order, everyone returned to the Scaled Beast Mountain and began to advance toward the mountain pass.
When Han Li turned around to look at the three people at the back of the Puppet City's team, they had already disappeared.
Er Ge and Sha Xin's Scaled Beast walked at the front, leading the way into the valley at the mountain pass.
Immediately after, a Scaled Beast Puppet carried the people from the Puppet City into the valley, followed by another Scaled Beast carrying the people from Xuan City. The two teams crossed each other and entered the valley one after the other.
As soon as they entered the valley, a gust of wind that sounded like a woman's whimper resounded in the surroundings.
Although there was no ice or snow in the valley, there was a slight chill that made people feel uncomfortable.
Han Li frowned slightly. Looking at the rugged mountain path in the valley, he thought for a moment, then returned to his room and began to cultivate in seclusion again.
After a few days of trekking, as the group continued to go deeper into the mountain, the color of the crystal blue rocks in the mountain range became darker, and the chill that seeped out also became stronger.
In the beginning, Han Li was able to cultivate without being disturbed, but in the past few days, he was constantly enveloped by the chill, causing his mind to be unable to calm down. From time to time, he would wake up, and naturally could not continue to cultivate in seclusion.
That night, he once again woke up from his meditation and walked out of the stone hall.
It was late at night, and the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. The rocks in the valley reflected the cold moonlight, illuminating the mountain path very clearly. However, when combined with the temperature of the valley, it seemed even colder.
As Han Li was looking up at the moon, Gu Qianxun also walked out from behind him.
When he turned his head to look, he found that Gu Qianxun had changed into a new set of clothes in just a few days, with a rather thick beast skin coat draped over her shoulders. She looked a little bloated, but it made her look more adorable.
"Fellow Daoist Li, what are you looking at?" Gu Qianxun was a little puzzled by Han Li's stare and asked.
"Where did you get this beast skin coat from?" Han Li asked awkwardly.
"The day before yesterday, the group was ambushed by a group of scaleless but furry demonic beasts. I killed a few of them and skinned one of them to make this coat.
Why, you don't know what happened the day before yesterday? "Gu Qianxun looked at Han Li and asked.
"I heard the commotion, but I was at a crucial point in my cultivation, so I did not pay attention to it." Han Li hesitated for a moment before replying.
At that time, he was in the midst of opening up one of his profound orifices, so he did not make a move even though he knew that there was an enemy attack.
"No wonder … But speaking of which, Fellow Daoist Li, your mental fortitude is truly extraordinary. Recently, the temperature in the mountains has dropped to such a degree that there are a few people in the group whose skin has cracked from the cold, and they do not dare to stay still. Yet, you are still able to sit in seclusion alone. Amazing …" Gu Qianxun praised.
"Fellow Daoist Gu is too kind.
Oh right, how strong were the demonic beasts that attacked the day before yesterday? "Han Li intentionally changed the topic and asked.
"Very strong … Compared to those we met on the way here, they were more than ten times stronger. Even the most ordinary of them were Profound Realm demonic beasts, and there were many of them.
A cultivator from the Xuan City was careless and was bitten on the calf by the leading Heaven Realm demonic beast. In the end, he was dragged down the back of the Black-Scaled Elephant and was eaten. "Gu Qianxun said after a moment of silence.
"I didn't think that something like this would happen …" Han Li said with a frown.
"So, everyone has been on high alert recently, afraid that these demonic beasts will attack again." Gu Qianxun nodded.
Han Li frowned and looked into the distance. He saw that the front of the group had already reached a steep slope and was climbing up the mountain wall bit by bit, as if they were going to cross a tall mountain ridge in front of them.
"The road ahead is getting more and more difficult." Han Li retracted his gaze and could not help but sigh.
"No matter how difficult it is, we still have to continue.
Since we are already here, we naturally have to investigate and see what kind of treasures are hidden in this legendary 'Great Ruins'. "Gu Qianxun's eyes flickered as she said.
"I hope it doesn't disappoint us.
It would be best if it is not as its name suggests, a ruin. "Han Li smiled.
"Don't jinx it!" Gu Qianxun glared at Han Li and turned back to the stone hall.
Han Li kept his smile and looked into the deep darkness in front of him. His eyes flickered a few times, and no one knew what he was thinking.