The morning dew in Green Bamboo Courtyard had yet to fully evaporate when Han Li packed the restoration diagrams for the Void Positioning Formation and the Pill Pavilion's monthly assessment report into his Storage Bag. Elder Mo's message from three days earlier still echoed in his ears-"Spiritual power at the core nodes of the Mist Islands' Warning Formation is weakening. There may be a risk of the space rifts expanding." Not daring to delay, he requested leave from Dan Chenzi, then set off toward the southwestern sea aboard the Flowing Cloud Shuttle.
The Flowing Cloud Shuttle cut through the morning mist. Standing at its prow, Han Li rubbed his fingertips over the packet of low-grade spirit food Zi Ling had sent him. More than half a month had passed since they parted on Hundred Herb Island, but he had never forgotten her account of the Blood Fiend Sect plundering star-tear grass. Now, as he passed the edge of the Shattered Star Sea, the sea breeze carried a faint scent of blood, exactly like the aura of demonic cultivators Zi Ling had described.
"It seems she spoke the truth." Han Li swept his Profound Yin Spirit Eye across the sea and extended his spiritual sense beneath the water. Sure enough, a hundred zhang down, he discovered several wisps of dark red baleful energy-the lingering power of a Blood Soul Banner, commonly used by Blood Fiend Sect cultivators. He took out a Mind-Cleansing Pill and swallowed it, tamping down his unease. If the Blood Fiend Sect truly was operating near the Mist Islands, maintaining the Warning Formation would be no simple task.
Three days later, the gray-white outlines of the Mist Islands finally emerged. Unlike his last visit, the mist now bore a crimson tinge. Space rifts spread like spiderwebs along the