1098 Chu Li
"This is-?!"
Having just wanted to observe the situation from afar to see how strong Xuan Hao was and if he would be any threat to him, the unknown cultivator could not help feeling a shiver run down his spine as he witnessed the space around the illusory beast collapse. Erasing the illusory beast from existence in the process.
Although part of the reason why the illusory beast had been killed off so easily was due to it being caught off guard by the attack, the unknown cultivator also understood that the power of the collapsing space had far exceeded his comprehension. Reaching a point where it had even left a scar on the world itself. Showing just how powerful it was.
Is this person perhaps an Earth Immortal…?
Recalling that only someone in the Earth Immortal Realm would have the power to damage the fabrics of space to such a degree, the unknown cultivator could not help looking towards Xuan Hao with a somewhat fearful expression on his face. Understanding that even though his strength was close to the Earth Immortal Realm, there was no way for him to compete against a true Earth Immortal Realm cultivator.
Coupled with the fact that he could not sense Xuan Hao's true strength due to the existence of his dao domain making it difficult to grasp while also giving him a somewhat mysterious and unfathomable presence, the unknown cultivator became convinced that Xuan Hao was a senior in the Earth Immortal Realm.
"…"
Because of this, the unknown cultivator didn't know what to do as he decided to remain silent while nervously looking towards Xuan Hao. Not daring to do anything that might end up offending Xuan Hao.
Whoosh~
Seeing the reaction of the unknown cultivator realizing that his plan had worked, Xuan Hao could not help letting out a silent breath of relief before he made his way over with a calm expression on his face. Not daring to show any signs of exhaustion after using the true spatial collapse ability, as it might end up making the unknown cultivator suspicious.
"Greetings senior, this junior's name is Chu Li and I serve under the East Sea General. Is there anything I can help with…?" Feeling even more nervous than before as Xuan Hao arrived in front of him, the unknown cultivator didn't hesitate for a second before introducing himself as someone serving under the East Sea General. Hoping that his identity of being under one of the Blue Sea Empire's four generals would be able to ensure his safety.
Unfortunately for Chu Li, who thought that his identity might help keep him safe, Xuan Hao had no idea who the East Sea General was and showed no reaction upon hearing about him.
Inevitably, this caused Chu Li to grow even more uneasy as he began wondering if the senior in front of him might be one of the terrifying experts who had surpassed the Earth Immortal Realm and stood at the pinnacle of power in the Blue Sea Empire.
"No need to be so nervous, I just wanted to ask you what you know about this place." Seeing the increasingly fearful expression on the face of Chu Li, Xuan Hao decided to jump in before things went out of control.
Although it was good for Chu Li to fear him, it would not be good he ended up becoming fearful to the point where he might end up doing something stupid in an attempt to get out of his current situation alive.
After all, his current strength was nowhere near a level where he would be able to suppress someone like Chu Li who was only a single step away from the Earth Immortal Realm. On the other hand, it might end up exposing that he was not a senior and cause Chu Li to attack him, something he wanted to avoid at all costs considering his current state was far from optimal after having used the true spatial collapse earlier.
"Information about the Valley of Illusory Beasts…? Sure! I have been here for the past five years, I'm sure I will be of assistance to senior!" Hearing what Xuan Hao said, Chu Li sprung back to life as he happily said this with a proud expression on his face.
Considering that Xuan Hao had just asked him for information, it was obvious that he shouldn't have any ill intentions towards him. After all, considering their difference in strength, he would have been able to easily kill him if he wanted to.
"So far, I have been able to explore the outer part of the valley and some of the deeper parts of the…"
With this in mind, Chu Li didn't hold back as he told Xuan Hao everything; he had managed to learn about the Valley of Illusory Beasts during the five years he had spent inside the valley. In the process, also telling Xuan Hao about the different dangerous locations that would be best to avoid due to the possible presence of Earth Immortal Realm illusory beasts in those areas.
In the end, by the time he had finished talking and hurriedly took his leave after a quick farewell, Xuan Hao had managed to learn a lot more about the Valley of Illusory Beast and why the place had been abandoned by the Blue Sea Empire as a place that was open to anyone who found it or bought information about it from the intelligence department.
The reason why the Blue Sea Empire had decided to abandon the Valley of Illusory Beasts was that one of the seniors from the Blue Sea Empire had explored the place and discovered that there was an existence surpassing the Earth Immortal Realm within the deepest parts of the valley. Not only that, but that senior had, according to Chu Li, discovered more than one such existence.
Not only that, but these powerful existences deeper inside the Valley of Illusory Beasts seemed to wander out towards the outer edges of the valley from time to time. Making it far too dangerous to use for training the Blue Sea Empire's younger generation without getting rid of these powerful creatures.
Considering the fact that the Dao of Illusions was already rather rare to begin with, the Blue Sea Empire couldn't be bothered to waste so many resources and time on clearing out the place. Resulting in it being abandoned by them.
With this in mind, Xuan Hao had wondered why someone like Chu Li had decided to come to the Valley of Illusory Beasts even knowing about this danger and return, he had told him that he had found a way to tell when the powerful existences deep within the valley were about to emerge. The method in question was to observe the illusory beasts that normally roamed around the outer edges of the valley.
According to Chu Li, when these weaker illusory beasts in the Domain Lord Realm and earlier stages of the Soul Ascension Realm began hiding away, it meant that the terrifying existences deep inside the valley were about to emerge.
Unfortunately, he had no idea how long it would take for them to emerge. Only having experienced the weaker illusory beasts hiding away two times during his five years in the Valley of Illusory Beasts.
The way he knew it would be safe to return to the Valley of Illusory Beasts being when he could see the weaker illusory beasts roaming around the valley after poking his head out through the wooden gate.
As for seeing any of the terrifying existences normally hidden deep inside the valley… He didn't have the opportunity…
"There is really something wrong with this Chu Li…" Muttering this to himself as he thought about what Chu Li had told him, Xuan Hao could not help feeling that there was something wrong with Chu Li. After all, he had stayed inside the Valley of Illusory Beasts for such a long period of time. Even knowing the danger of the place and that was not mentioning his unique method of making sure that the terrifying existences from deep inside the valley had left…
Well… I guess it should also be because the valley is an opportunity for him to break through to the Earth Immortal Realm…
Shaking his head as he remembered the fact that Chu Li was only a single step away from the Earth Immortal Realm, Xuan Hao felt like he understood why he was willing to take such a huge risk to increase his comprehension of the Dao of Illusions.
Not only would reaching the Earth Immortal Realm improve one's lifespan by leaps and bounds, but one would also be able to finish the Immortal Soul Tribulation.
After all, when reaching the Soul Ascension Realm and officially starting the Immortal Soul Tribulation, one would have a total of five thousand years to prepare between each tribulation, when the time came, the tribulation would descend no matter what.
Because of this, Soul Ascension Realm Experts who were about to run out of time and felt like they were far from capable of transcending the next tribulation would get increasingly anxious for ways to increase their strength. Especially so for Soul Ascension Realm cultivators in the later stages of the realm…
