"It's not convenient to speak here, so let's go underground first." Daoist Xie looked around, and light flashed through his eyes as he waved a hand through the air.
Han Li was instantly enveloped by a gentle power, following which his vision blurred, and he appeared in the underground palace.
The golden "Daoist Xie" in the crystal coffin had also awakened, and he was standing off to the side.
Not only that, but there were also two humanoid puppets standing beside him.
These two puppets were identical in appearance to Daoist Xie, except that one was completely black while the other was completely white.
The black puppet glared at Daoist Xie with a ferocious look in its eyes, as if it were about to devour Daoist Xie.
In contrast, the white puppet wore a warm and solemn smile on its face, which was quite a reassuring sight to behold.
Han Li faltered slightly upon seeing this, and he turned to Daoist Xie.
However, the three puppets paid no heed to Han Li as they were all focused on Daoist Xie.
The golden puppet didn't say anything, but a peculiar look flashed through its eyes before it averted its gaze.
"Hmph!
You're lucky to have transcended the Dao Heavenly Tribulation, but don't get too cocky; I'll kill you one day and replace you! "the black puppet chuckled coldly.
"Congratulations on attaining the Great Dao, Fellow Daoist.
Do you have any instructions for us? "The white puppet had the exact same appearance, but its expression was completely different. It had a warm smile on its face as it spoke.
"I do indeed have some matters that require your assistance. Fellow Daoist Black Spirit, make a trip to the Puppet City and inform Sha Xin that I've come out of seclusion so that she can make preparations," Daoist Xie instructed.
The black puppet was quite reluctant to do so, but it still departed without any hesitation.
"Fellow Daoist White Spirit, please deactivate the spatial restriction around the Great Ruins and bring everyone from the Puppet City here," Daoist Xie said to the white puppet.
The white puppet gave an affirmative response before also departing.
"As for Fellow Daoist Gold Spirit, go and make some preparations. I'll be activating the essential power of the Accumulated Scale Realm to open up a spatial passageway to the outside world," Daoist Xie said to the golden puppet.
The golden puppet nodded before also departing.
Han Li watched as the three puppets left one by one, a thoughtful look on his face.
"Friend Han seems to be very curious about these three puppets," Daoist Xie said as he sat down on a chair beside Han Li.
"Yes, there are some. These three puppets all seem to have complete intelligence. I wonder what kind of puppets they are?" Han Li nodded and asked.
"With Friend Han's experience, I'm sure you already have an idea, right? Why don't you tell us?" Daoist Xie asked with a smile.
"Looks like I really can't hide anything from you, Fellow Daoist Xie. Could it be that these three puppets have something to do with your three corpses?" Han Li asked with an eyebrow furrowed.
"Haha, Friend Han is right. I have indeed sealed my three corpses into these three puppets." Daoist Xie laughed heartily.
"I heard that cultivators at the Grand Luo Stage and above find it very troublesome to deal with the three corpses. The three corpses cannot be killed as they will harm the host, but keeping them by their side could cause a backlash at any time. This is why the Heavenly Court has tried to seal them into the Dust World.
To think that Fellow Cultivator Xie was able to seal the three corpses into these puppets and keep them by his side is quite impressive! "Han Li exclaimed in shock.
"You're right, Friend Han. The three corpses are indeed difficult to deal with. Most Grand Luo and Dao Ancestors would seal the three corpses that they've severed.
I only dared to keep them by my side because I cultivate the Law of Puppetry, which specializes in control, "Daoist Xie said.
Han Li nodded upon hearing this, feeling that he had learned a lot from this conversation.
The experiences of Grand Luo Stage cultivators were not something that could be easily heard.
"Fellow Daoist Xie, let's get back to business. What did you just say?" He then asked.
"There's no hurry. Let me finish first, Friend Han.
As you've guessed, my identity is related to the Sun Ye Dynasty. Strictly speaking, I'm the younger brother of the current Holy Emperor, Shi Kongyu, so I'm Shi Chuankong's uncle, "Daoist Xie said slowly.
Although Han Li had guessed that Daoist Xie was related to the Sun Ye Dynasty, he did not expect it to be like this.
"If you're the younger brother of the Demon Lord, why are you here in the Scale Realm?
Furthermore, from what I heard from Er Ge and Sha Xin City Lord, you two seem to be enemies, "he asked.
"It's a long story. I'll have to go back to when we fought for the Holy Emperor's throne. I won't go into the details, but in the end, he won while I was defeated. He even extracted the Law of Space that I had painstakingly cultivated. Fortunately, I was still quite capable, and with the help of others, I was able to escape from Shi Kongyu and hide in the Scale Realm," Daoist Xie said calmly.
Han Li's expression remained unchanged, but his heart was in turmoil.
Daoist Xie had made it sound simple, but the battle back then had to have been extremely intense. On top of that, Daoist Xie's mention of the Law of Space being extracted came as quite a shock to him.
However, this seemed to be related to a secret of the Sun Ye Dynasty, so he did not ask any further.
"I see, but I'm sure that Shi Kongyu won't let you off just like that," Han Li said with a nod.
"Of course, the Stone Space Fish seems to be gentle and magnanimous, but he's actually very vengeful, so he naturally wants to get rid of me. However, the Jilin Space Boundary is a special space that has existed in the Sacred Realm since ancient times. Anyone who enters this space will have their cultivation completely suppressed, and those above the Golden Heavenly Stage won't be able to enter this place. The Stone Space Fish won't be able to enter this place either, so I was able to survive." Daoist Xie nodded.
"Even Great Heavenly Stage cultivators can't enter the Scale Realm … Could it be that someone has set up a restriction here?
But is there really a restriction that can restrict Shi Kongyu? "Han Li asked with furrowed brows in disbelief.
"The Scale Realm is a space created by a primordial Dao Ancestor. That senior set up a strict law here, and it's exactly because the law is so unyielding that it has disrupted the balance of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth here, which is why this place is so barren," Daoist Xie explained.
"Oh? Is that so?" Han Li faltered slightly upon hearing this before looking around with a hint of astonishment in his eyes.
His mastery of the laws of heaven and earth was gradually improving, but he could only affect a certain area around him with the laws of heaven and earth, and everything would return to normal after he withdrew the laws of heaven and earth.
That primordial Dao Ancestor was able to affect the entire Scale Realm with the laws of heaven and earth, and it hadn't changed even after hundreds of millions of years.
"Friend Han, your cultivation base hasn't reached that level yet, so you don't really understand.
However, with your aptitude, I'm sure you'll reach that level soon, "Daoist Xie said with a smile.
"I hope it's as you say, Daoist Xie.
Since there are such laws here, how did you manage to enter this place and reach the Dao Ancestor level here? "Han Li asked.
"Back then, my cultivation base fell to the Grand Unity Stage after the Shi Kongyu extracted the laws of heaven and earth from me, so I was able to enter this place.
Furthermore, after coming here, I was fortunate enough to obtain the legacy left behind by that primordial Dao Ancestor, so I became half the owner of the Scale Realm, which is why I'm not bound by the laws of this place, "Daoist Xie explained.
"I see. Then what happened after that? How did you become a puppet and run to the lower realm?" Han Li asked with a nod.
"Being in this place, I could no longer cultivate the law of space, so I switched to another profound law, the law of puppetry, which is also the law cultivated by that primordial Dao Ancestor.
I'm quite talented in the law of puppetry, and with the help of the legacy left behind by that Dao Ancestor, I was able to reach the pinnacle of the Grand Deity Stage after slaying two corpses.
However, just as I was about to slay the last corpse, I was betrayed by that traitor, and the Shi Kongyu intervened, resulting in my failure and the death of my physical body.
As such, I had no choice but to seal my soul and memories into a puppet, which was that golden crab, and I sent it into the lower realm to prepare for a comeback in the future.
I'm sure Friend Han knows everything that happened after that, so I won't elaborate on it, "Daoist Xie sighed.
Han Li nodded in response. "May I ask what you need my help with, Fellow Daoist Xie?"
"Even though I've become a Dao Ancestor, I'm still more likely to lose than win against the Shi Kongyu. If I want to avenge myself, I'll have to find external help," Daoist Xie said as he looked at Han Li.
"Could it be that you want to join forces with me to fight the Shi Kongyu?" Han Li raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"That's right." Daoist Xie nodded with a smile.
"You think too highly of me, Daoist Xie. Even though I'm quite capable, I'm only a Grand Deity Stage cultivator. I'm far weaker than the Shi Kongyu, so how can I be of any help to you?" Han Li chuckled.
"There's no need to belittle yourself, Friend Han. It's true that you won't be able to pose any threat to the Shi Kongyu in the near future, but with your aptitude and fortune, it's only a matter of time before you reach our level.
Furthermore, with so many openings in your body, your strength will definitely improve by leaps and bounds once you leave this place. I believe that day won't be too far away, "Daoist Xie said with a smile.
Han Li's heart jolted upon hearing this. So this was why Daoist Xie was willing to help him improve his physical body.
However, even though he was friends with Daoist Xie, he had already fulfilled his promise. If he were to recklessly get involved in a battle between two Dao Ancestors, he would be reduced to dust.
With this in mind, a hesitant look appeared on his face.
"Don't worry, Friend Han, I'm not asking you to stay here for now. I just want you to come back and help me in the future when you're powerful enough.
Besides, I won't let Friend Han get involved in my battle with the Shi Kongyu for free. Take this as the interest of our promise, "Daoist Xie said as he took out a jade bottle and handed it over.