Han Li sighed and said, "Alright, since you insist, then so be it. After all, all good things must come to an end."
The attendant extended a respectful bow toward Han Li before turning to depart.
"Wait, take these with you," Han Li stopped Jin Tong and took out a green bracelet with a phoenix engraved on it and tossed it over.
Jin Tong instinctively caught it.
"There is a map of this wilderness, some spirit treasures and Immortal Essence Stones. It should be enough for you for a while.
In addition, there are a few masks from the Impermanence Alliance.
If you need any help, send me a message at any time, "Han Li said.
He did not know how he felt about Jin Tong. He felt that Jin Tong was like a close comrade who fought alongside him and also like a daughter who grew up under his care.
Jin Tong looked at the phoenix bracelet in his hand with a complicated look in his eyes, but he did not refuse and silently put it on his left wrist.
"Boss, I'll go with you," Pi Xiu suddenly said and flew to Jin Tong's side.
"Xiao Bai?" Jin Tong was startled.
"Boss, you said you would take me in as your little brother. You can't go back on your word," Pi Xiu said as it rubbed its head against Jin Tong.
Han Li raised his eyebrows and said, "It's good to have Xiao Bai follow you. If you encounter other powerful Golden Devourers, you can hide in their bodies."
"Alright, I'll take you with me.
But you have to quickly increase your strength. If you dare to get in my way, I'll kick you away, "Jin Tong said as he rubbed Xiao Bai's head.
Pi Xiu immediately beamed with joy and nodded.
"By the way, I've read about Golden Devourers in an ancient book. It seems that one appeared in the Golden Origin Immortal Realm, but its strength is unknown.
Although that was a long time ago, it may not still be around. If you can't find any other clues, you can go there to try your luck, "Han Li said after a moment of thought.
"Golden Origin Immortal Realm … I understand. Thank you, Uncle. Take care." Jin Tong nodded slightly.
After taking a deep look at Han Li, she moved and turned into a golden rainbow, wrapped Pi Xiu and flew in a certain direction, instantly disappearing at the end of the sky.
Han Li watched Jin Tong's figure disappear into the distance before withdrawing his gaze.
"Let's go too." His expression quickly returned to normal, and he said calmly.
Before long, a green streak of light rose from the ground and flew into the distance.
Moments later, spatial fluctuations erupted in the distance, and two faint figures abruptly appeared, one tall and one short.
It was Golden Boy and Pixiu who had already left.
"Uncle, it is not that Jintong is unwilling to follow you. It is just that what I will have to face next is not something you can imagine … It was not easy to turn danger into safety this time. Jintong is unwilling to be a burden to you …" Jintong looked at the green figure that was gradually disappearing on the horizon and muttered to himself.
"Boss, why are you doing this?
Although I have not followed master for long, as a true spirit of the wilderness, my intuition tells me that master is blessed by the heavens and is definitely not afraid of being a burden to you … "Pixiu Xiao Bai said in a humble voice.
"Are you saying that I am a burden?" Jintong abruptly turned around and glared at Xiao Bai as he asked in an unfriendly tone.
"No … No … I mean … Boss, you are wise and powerful, and your cultivation base is unparalleled. You are not afraid of wandering alone …" Xiao Bai hurriedly corrected itself.
"Although I have recovered part of my memories, there are still some things that I am not clear about. However, I am vaguely aware that I am not as simple as a spirit insect.
Xiao Bai, since you call me boss, I will naturally not treat you unfairly. As long as you properly assist me in retrieving the things that originally belonged to me, you can eat whatever you want in the future. "Jin Tong suddenly sighed softly and spoke with a stern expression.
"Don't worry, Boss. I will definitely follow your lead from now on. I will eat whatever you tell me to eat!" Xiao Bai abruptly stood up straight and said in a solemn voice.
"You have been with that bootlicker Magic Light for a long time. You may not have learned anything else, but your flattery skills are better than yours.
Let's go. According to this map, the Golden Origin Celestial Domain is far away. "Jintong pursed his lips and turned around to fly into the distance.
"Hey, Boss, wait for me … Oh, speaking of that fellow Magic Light …" Pixiu Xiao Bai hurriedly chased after Jintong.
…
In the northern part of the Black Mountain Celestial Domain.
In a deep valley that was covered with green bamboo, there was a clear gurgling stream that meandered through the valley. Smoke rose from the bamboo forest on both sides of the river, and from time to time, the crisp cries of birds could be heard.
In the depths of the forest, one could occasionally see snow-white wild deer with plum blossom patterns roaming around.
The middle section of the stream was located in the steepest part of the valley. The river meandered nine times, and both sides of the river were densely covered with black rocks. At a big bend in the river, the water flow was relatively slow, and the water gathered into a deep green pond.
On the left side of the pond, there was a huge stone platform, and on it sat a middle-aged man in a green muslin robe. He was playing a dark purple zither.
His facial features were regular, and he had a handsome face. His fine black hair was draped over his back, making him look particularly extraordinary. His ten slender snow-white fingers were plucking on the strings of the zither, producing a beautiful sound that was like the tinkling of flowing spring water.
Not far away from him, a black-haired old man and a white-haired old man were sitting opposite each other. There was a square chessboard between them, and they were playing chess on it.
The black-haired old man's clothes were very neat and tidy, without the slightest crease. His black hair was neatly tied up, and he looked neat and tidy, like an unsheathed sword that was displaying its sharpness.
On the opposite side, the white-haired old man seemed to be much more sloppy. He wore a moon white robe that was embroidered with a ball of flame patterns. His shoulders drooped, and he supported his head with one hand. His hair was disheveled, and his eyes were drowsy. He seemed to be exceptionally lazy.
The black-haired old man held a white chess piece in his hand. His style was swift and decisive, and every move he made resounded loudly, causing the chess board to emit crackling sounds. The white-haired old man, on the other hand, was contemplating in a steady manner, and every move he made was gentle and silent.
The black-haired old man seemed to be accustomed to this, and he didn't urge him. After every move, he would close his eyes and meditate on the ninth and tenth move.
"Hot Old Geezer, your slow temperament is really too uncomfortable. If I didn't know your background, I would have suspected that you're a ten-thousand-year-old turtle that cultivated from some river." A brown-robed old man who was watching the battle at the side couldn't stand it anymore. He suddenly gulped down a mouthful of wine and scolded with a smile.
"A dog's mouth can't spit ivory. Fellow Daoist Duan hasn't said anything, so why are you interrupting, old drunkard?
Go, go, go drink your horse piss! "The white-haired old man raised his head and glanced at him, but there wasn't any anger on his face as he reprimanded him.
"How long did you play the last game with Sun Facing Valley's Lu Guanzi?
You've been dawdling for thirty years, haven't you?
In the end, a ninth dan expert couldn't take it anymore, and he threw in the towel … "
Without waiting for him to finish, the white-haired old man raised his voice and interrupted him.
"Lu Guanzi heard that an extremely beautiful True Celestial Maiden had come to the Scarlet Phoenix Valley, so he couldn't sit still. Otherwise, that game would've gone on for at least another twenty years."
"Extremely beautiful my ass!
I personally went to take a look. That chest, that butt, that face … at most, it can be considered above average. Only someone like Lu Guanzi can appreciate it. I don't like it … "The brown-robed old man raised his eyebrows and shook his head.
The white-haired old man rubbed his chin and stared at the chessboard. It seemed that he was gradually losing ground, and began to seriously consider his moves. He no longer paid attention to the brown-robed old man.
The brown-robed old man hiccupped and turned his head to look in the direction of the valley's entrance. He muttered, "Burp … talking to you guys is really boring. I don't know what Fellow Daoist Li is busy with, but he still hasn't shown his face."
The green-robed man who was playing the zither heard this and pressed his hands on the strings. The sound of the zither came to an abrupt stop.
He turned his head to look at the brown-robed old man and said, "I heard that Fellow Daoist Li has been refining a cauldron of 'Five Stone Pills'. I sent him a letter the day before yesterday, but he hasn't replied. I think he's still in seclusion."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a pale-faced young man in a green robe walking out from the depths of the bamboo forest. He was walking slowly along the riverside, and he was walking towards them.
This man was tall and had an ordinary appearance. He didn't seem to have any special temperament. He was the kind of person who would be drowned in a vast crowd.
It was none other than Han Li, who had changed his appearance and put on the mask of the Samsara Temple.
It had been more than four hundred years since he had parted ways with Little White in the Barbarian Domain.
Han Li had lived in the Floating Clouds Mountains for nearly two hundred years.
"Hey, Fellow Daoist Li, you're here … Come on, come on, have a drink with me." The brown-robed old man immediately stood up from the ground and shouted loudly as soon as he saw Han Li.
The two old men also put the chess pieces in their hands back into the jar and stood up one after another. Only the green-robed man who was playing the zither was still sitting cross-legged on the ground, but he also looked over with a smile.
A smile appeared on Han Li's face. His footsteps became illusory, and his whole body turned into a series of residual shadows on the riverbank. His figure had already landed on the flat boulder.
"Fellow Daoist Hot Flame, Fellow Daoist Jing Yang, Fellow Daoist Duan, Fellow Daoist Zi Qi … I've been busy refining pills recently, so I've missed your invitation. Please forgive me," Han Li said with a smile as he stepped forward and greeted the four people on the boulder.
"It's alright, it's alright. You're an alchemist after all, and refining pills is the right thing to do. Unlike us old guys who idle around all day long, we only have time to tinker with these worldly pleasures." The white-haired old man named Immortal Hot Flame waved his hand and said with a smile.
He used to be the Supreme Elder of a local medium-sized sect in the Black Mountain Celestial Domain. Because of his mischievous nature, he really didn't want to manage the affairs of the sect, so he threw all the burdens on the shoulders of his junior brother and hid in the Floating Clouds Mountains to enjoy the leisure.
Although he looked sloppy, in fact, he had the highest cultivation among the four people on the boulder. He had reached the Late-stage of the Golden Celestial Stage.