Qi Mo Zi paid no heed to the flaming face's words. After contemplating for a moment, he reached into the brazier and made a seemingly casual grabbing motion. The flaming face was pulled out along with a ball of fire.
After it left the brazier, its body gradually materialized into a humanoid figure with wide limbs and fiery hair. Its appearance was identical to Qi Mo Zi's.
As a burst of flames lit up in Qi Mo Zi's palm, the aura of the Qi Mo Zi doppelgänger suddenly swelled explosively. It was on par with Qi Mo Zi's aura.
Qi Mo Zi withdrew his palm and instructed, "I'll be going in person this time. Guard the immortal prison in my stead."
"If there's anyone …"
Before the doppelgänger could finish its sentence, Qi Mo Zi cut it off.
"This is the immortal prison, so no one will say anything.
I'll only be taking one person with me on this trip, and I'll return as soon as possible. "
"You're not even taking me with you? Who are you taking with you?" the doppelgänger asked in a puzzled manner.
"An acquaintance of his," Qi Mo Zi replied with a faint smile.
He strode out of the hall as he spoke. His aura abruptly withdrew, and a vast expanse of flames enveloped his body. He transformed into a fireball and flew toward a patch of golden space adjacent to the crimson clouds in the distance.
… …
Time flew by, and sixty years flew by in the blink of an eye.
Qing Hu City.
Within the city, there was a secluded courtyard, and there was a bluestone path that had been swept clean.
Early morning sunlight shone down from the tall trees on the side of the path, casting a vast expanse of mottled shadows.
There were a few young children holding pinwheels made from colored paper in their hands. They ran back and forth on the path, and the colorful pinwheels spun in a particularly joyful manner.
The sound of the children's laughter could be heard over the walls of the courtyard and into the neighboring courtyards.
In the courtyard, there was a flowerbed and green bamboos. In the middle of the spacious open space, there was a stone table and a chair. A slender girl dressed in black was sitting on one of the stone chairs. She rested her chin on one of her hands and listened carefully to the sounds outside.
This young woman was none other than the Weeping Soul.
Ever since she woke up and gained the ability to look straight into people's hearts, she loved listening to the laughter of children more and more. The joy and simple emotions contained in the laughter made her feel the most happy.
Just as she was secretly smiling, she suddenly had a thought and turned her head to look behind her.
At the entrance of the central room, Han Li walked out wearing a brand-new green robe with a smile on his face.
The Weeping Soul Beast raised an eyebrow in surprise, and said, "Master, you came out of seclusion so quickly? Could it be that you've already made a breakthrough?"
"It really didn't take much effort.
Now that many of my profound acupoints have been opened, I'm able to cultivate the Great Five-elemental Illusionary Arts much more efficiently. As such, it's only taken me over 100 years, which is within my expectations, "Han Li said with a smile.
What he did not say was that as long as he was willing to continue his secluded cultivation, it would only be a matter of time before he broke through to the late-stage of Primordial Immortal realm.
"Congratulations, Master!" An elated look appeared on the Weeping Soul Beast's face.
"Thank you for standing guard for me during this period of time … How is it? Did anything unusual happen in the Green Fox Clan?" Han Li paused for a moment before continuing.
The Weeping Soul Beast shook its head and said, "Nothing unusual. After their clan leader's injuries were completely healed, the entire Green Fox Clan's morale has greatly improved. It's as if they now have a commander in chief, and even the Golden Horse Sect dared not cause any more trouble.
I was worried that you would cause too much of a commotion during your breakthrough, but I didn't even notice it, "the Weeping Soul Beast said with a shake of its head.
"There aren't many difficulties for me to overcome this time, so it's a matter of course.
Besides, I've been cultivating in seclusion in the Flowery Branch Paradise, and I've concealed the aura of the paradise's entrance with a sealing formation, so I didn't cause any commotion.
However, after I break through to the late-stage of Primordial Immortal realm, I won't be able to stay in the Flowery Branch Paradise any longer, so I'll have to move to another place, "Han Li said with a smile.
While Han Li and the Weeping Soul Beast were chatting merrily with one another, a heated argument was taking place in the Green Fox Clan's conference hall.
"Clan Leader, I was already very suspicious when that man came to our clan that day. Surely the information from the Immortal Palace can't be wrong, right?
He's a culprit who slaughters mortals in order to cultivate heretical techniques. We can't allow someone like him to remain in our clan! "Elder Qiu stood in the hall with an anxious expression on his face.
"Indeed!
What Elder Qiu said isn't entirely impossible. There are many humans with ulterior motives, so we … we have to be on our guard … "Another elder chimed in upon hearing this.
Behind him, there were several people who didn't say anything, but they all nodded with grave expressions on their faces.
"There must be some kind of misunderstanding here. Senior Han's demeanor is calm and tranquil, and he doesn't have the aura of a heretical cultivator at all.
He is definitely not the person on the wanted list. If he really was that evil person, he wouldn't have saved me first and then my mother. "Ye Susu, who was wearing a green robe, heard this and her face turned red as she argued.
After all, Han Li had saved their lives before, so the Green Fox Clan members couldn't help but feel conflicted when they heard this.
"The young master is still young, so he doesn't know how cunning and treacherous humans can be. No one knows what he's planning.
If he's plotting something big, why wouldn't he show mercy first and then kill us later?
Even if he doesn't intend to do evil, it's still a disaster for us to come to the Green Fox Clan. How can we bear the consequences of shielding a wanted criminal from the Immortal Palace? "Elder Qiu sighed with a shake of his head.
"Yes, if the members of the Immortal Palace were to investigate this place, then how could our Green Fox Clan bear the responsibility? It's even to the extent that the entire Green Fox City would probably be destroyed." Another elder sighed.
"Indeed, we can't let that happen …"
"We can't abandon the lives of the entire clan for an outsider …"
"Clan leader, please reconsider!"
The hall was filled with discussions and cries of anguish.
"Uncles and elders, we owe Senior Han a debt of gratitude. Are you telling me that we, the Green Fox Clan, are going to be ungrateful and bite the hand that feeds us?" Ye Susu yelled after seeing that the majority of the crowd was in favor of her proposal.
The hall finally quieted down after her cry, and a hint of guilt appeared on everyone's faces.
At this moment, a gentle voice suddenly sounded, "I understand what everyone is trying to say."
When the crowd heard that, they all turned to look at the dignified lady sitting on the large chair.
It was Ye Susu's mother, the clan leader of the Green Fox Clan, Ye Luo.
"Regardless of whether the information on the Immortal Palace's wanted list is true or not, the Green Fox Clan is indebted to Senior Han. We can't bite the hand that feeds us," Ye Luo said calmly.
"Mother, you are wise …" Ye Susu nodded her head.
"However, since Senior Han has been targeted by the Immortal Palace, we can't allow him to stay in the clan. Otherwise, it will be a disaster for both us and him." Ye Luo waved her hand and interrupted Ye Susu.
Ye Susu's expression darkened when she heard this.
Although she was grateful to Han Li for saving her life, she was actually quite intelligent and knew that her mother's words weren't false. She simply hadn't been willing to admit it before. Now that her mother had spoken, she could only remain silent.
Everyone else nodded their heads in agreement. Many of them let out a sigh of relief.
"Susu, you were the one who brought Senior Han to the clan. Only you can discuss this with him." The clan leader lowered her eyes and looked at her daughter.
Ye Susu opened her mouth but didn't say anything. She nodded her head in silence.
"We don't know who that person is. I don't feel comfortable letting the young master talk to him.
Let me handle this matter. "Elder Qiu's expression sank as he hurriedly said.
"Elder Qiu, Senior Han is the benefactor of the Green Fox Clan. He has a good relationship with Susu.
Since it's all because of her, then it's all because of her, "Green Fox Clan Leader said as she shook her head.
"Elder Qiu, don't worry. Let Susu settle this." Ye Susu bowed and said.
"This … forget it, I'll go with you." Elder Qiu sighed and said.
About a quarter of an hour later, two escape lights arrived together and landed outside the secluded courtyard. The young children on the path beside the courtyard shouted "Sister, Sister" and surrounded them.
Ye Susu didn't have time to joke with them today. She and Elder Qiu went to the door of the courtyard and knocked on it.
As soon as the sound of "Du Du" rang out, a gentle male voice sounded from the courtyard, "Please come in."
Ye Susu and Elder Qiu entered the courtyard, and they were greeted by the sight of Han Li and the Weeping Soul Beast sitting at a stone table in the courtyard. The two of them were holding a cup of tea, and they were appraising them with a smile on their faces.
"Senior Han …"
Ye Susu greeted Han Li, but when she thought of the purpose of her visit, she felt even more ashamed and unconsciously lowered her head.
Elder Qiu walked past Ye Susu and stood in front of her. His eyes scanned the surroundings and finally fell on Han Li with a guarded expression.
"Since Miss Ye and Elder Qiu are here together, I don't think it's for a private matter. Also, this matter has something to do with Han, right?
Han Li didn't pay any attention to Elder Qiu. He looked at Ye Susu and said calmly.
Elder Qiu's expression darkened and he was about to say something, but Ye Susu raised a hand to stop him.
"Senior Han, please forgive my rudeness.
It's like this … "Ye Susu stepped forward and told Han Li about the arrest warrant issued by the Immortal Palace. However, she didn't mention that he had to leave Qing Hu City immediately.
Han Li listened with a serious expression and couldn't help but laugh. "Since when has the Immortal Palace become so secretive?
Why would they come up with such a baseless accusation to find trouble with Han? "
The Weeping Soul Beast was speechless.
Ye Susu let out a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on her face. "I knew Senior Han wasn't a cruel person."