In the southwest of the Ancient Cloud Continent, there was a continuous mountain range with a radius of tens of thousands of miles.
The entire mountain range, whether it was the ground or the peaks, showed a bright red color. There were countless volcanic craters in the mountain range, spewing red magma pillars from time to time.
Pillar after pillar of fire soared into the sky. It was a spectacular sight. Loud rumbling sounds rang out incessantly. The sky was filled with scarlet fire clouds, and the air was filled with the strong smell of sulfur.
Deep in the mountain range, there were many densely packed pits, like a beehive, covering the valleys.
This was the Fire Cloud Ridge.
In the air, a green shadow flashed, and Han Li's figure appeared out of thin air. He looked around and then flew down to the mine below.
More than ten days later.
Deep in the Fire Cloud Ridge, in a giant mine, two figures, one big and one small, were flying up and down, fighting fiercely.
Every time they collided, there would be a loud sound, causing the entire mountain to shake violently. Countless rocks of various sizes rained down.
The small figure was Han Li. At this moment, his body was surrounded by green light, and he punched out fist shadows with his bare hands.
The huge figure was a red lizard with a body of seven to eight meters. It looked agile, and there were hot tongues of fire in its mouth from time to time, but it couldn't hit Han Li at all.
On the contrary, every time Han Li's fist landed on its body, it could make cracks on the seemingly hard red scales.
Not long after, this powerful red lizard was already covered in wounds, and many of its scales were broken.
The beast had already wanted to retreat, but Han Li's figure was like a maggot in a tarsal bone, not giving it any chance at all.
"Bang"
Han Li blasted out another punch, but this time, the red lizard didn't dodge. It was directly knocked out and slammed into a cave wall.
A large piece of scales on its back that was hit by the fist was completely broken, and blood was dripping.
As a result, when the red lizard approached the cave wall, it suddenly opened its mouth and spewed out a red flame, instantly melting the cave wall into rolling magma.
Red Lizard's body suddenly blurred, and he was about to drill into the magma.
Right at that moment, a huge black blade-light shot forward, appearing at the wound on Chi Xi's back in an instant. The power of laws poured out, transforming into a huge force that fell on Chi Xi's body.
Having lost the protection of its scales, the crimson lizard's body was instantly sliced in half by the saber projections. The saber projections then blurred and a dozen or so black saber projections flashed past, crushing the lizard's Nascent Soul before it could escape.
Han Li waved his hand, and the black saber flew back to him.
This red giant lizard was the culprit behind the disappearance of the people in this mine. Its strength was not very strong, but the scales on its body were indestructible, and it could easily melt the mountain wall, pass through the ground and the mountain wall, and launch a sneak attack that was impossible to guard against.
Even for him, it took him half a month to finally stop the beast here.
In the lower abdomen of the beast, a piece of crimson crystal the size of a human head rolled out and scattered on the ground.
The crystal was translucent, and there was a flame-like red light flashing in the center, exuding an extremely hot temperature. It was like a red-hot charcoal, but it was thousands of times hotter than the charcoal.
"This is the fire element crystal …" Han Li landed, picked up a crystal, and muttered to himself.
His palm seemed to have no reaction to the high temperature of the crystal.
Han Li glanced at it and waved his hand to collect all the fire element crystals on the ground.
His eyes then glanced at the red lizard. He waved the black saber in his hand a few times, cutting off the claws of the lizard. After that, his figure turned into a green rainbow and flew in the direction of the mine cave.
…
More than a year later.
At the entrance of the Tai Xuan side hall, a figure walked over quickly. It was Han Li who rushed back all the way.
Looking at the building in front of him, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had completed two tasks. As long as he completed one more, he would be able to do his own things with peace of mind for the next hundred years.
Han Li stepped in and was about to speak when he suddenly froze.
There was no one in the hall. The grey-robed old man was not there.
After a moment of hesitation, he turned around and walked out. He stretched out his hand to stop a Youth servant who happened to pass by outside the hall.
"Greetings, Elder." The Youth servant saw Han Li's elder clothing and hurriedly bowed.
"Do you know where the elder of this side hall went?" Han Li asked.
"Oh, you mean Elder Hu Yan. He should be at the Hundred Wine Manor on the Hundred Wine Peak." The Youth servant was startled, and then pointed to a nearby mountain peak.
From here, he could vaguely see a building on the peak.
"Hundred Wine Manor …"
Han Li muttered to himself, and a strange expression flashed across his face. After waving his hand to send the Youth servant away, he flew directly toward the mountain peak.
He quickly landed on the mountain peak and looked at a large manor with vermilion gate and white walls in front of him. Above the gate were written the four big words "Hundred Wine Manor".
It was just that the four words were a bit messy, as if they were written randomly after being drunk.
Han Li hesitated for a moment and released his Spiritual Sense. He raised his eyebrows. The grey-robed old man was really inside.
He tidied up his clothes, pushed open the gate and walked in.
There was a large courtyard in the courtyard. On both sides of the courtyard, there were rows of potted plants like in the side hall. There were all kinds of Spirit Grass and Spirit Flowers planted in it. Not only was the aura exuding a strong fragrance.
Han Li looked around and his eyes lit up slightly.
Not far away, there was a green Spirit Grass in a potted plant. It was as tall as a person and was covered with yellow beans.
These beans were actually quite similar to the Soldier Beans that he had snatched from the two Mahayana Stage cultivators of the Tengui School.
Han Li's heart moved. He looked around for a while before withdrawing his gaze. He walked to the front of a hall in the courtyard and knocked on the door.
"Elder Huyan, Junior Li Feiyu requests an audience."
After saying this, he stood outside the door and waited.
After a moment, the hall door creaked open and a strong fragrance of wine rushed out. Elder Huyan's face was red and his eyes were drowsy. He held a green wine cup in his hand.
"Oh, it's you. You've returned so quickly."
Elder Huyan drank the wine in his cup in one gulp. He smacked his lips before speaking in a careless manner.
After saying this, he turned around and swaggered inside. He lay down on a recliner and picked up a jade wine pot beside him. He filled the jade cup in his hand and drank it again.
"What a good wine …" Elder Huyan let out a satisfied sigh.
Han Li slowly walked into the room and looked at the drunk old man in front of him. He frowned slightly but then relaxed and said, "Elder Huyan, I've already completed my mission.
"Elder Huyan, I have already completed the task. A Scarlet Lizard that is on the verge of breaking through to the True Immortal stage infiltrated the Firecloud Ridge. I have already eliminated it."
"Oh, I've already received the message … You're not bad … You're clean and efficient." Elder Huyan did not even look at Han Li and poured himself another two cups as he spoke.
Han Li cupped his hands at the old man and said, "Thank you for your praise, Elder. I want to take on the next mission."
"Kid, what's the hurry?
You've already cultivated for tens of thousands of years and become an immortal. You've obtained an unparalleled lifespan. What are you after?
Is it to move the mountains and fill the seas?
Or is it to be revered by the world and be free to roam the world?
All of these are but fleeting clouds. They are far inferior to this cup of Carefree Wine in my hand!
Come, come, come. Accompany me for a drink before we talk. "
Elder Huyan laughed heartily and took out another wine cup from somewhere. He filled it up and patted the chair beside him.
Although Han Li was unwilling to waste time here, he seemed to have thought of something. He sat down and picked up the wine cup.
"If that's the case, then I'll have to trouble you."
"That's right. Sing to the wine and enjoy the moment. This is my way of becoming an immortal!
Cheers! "Elder Huyan picked up the wine cup and clinked it with Han Li before draining it in one gulp.
When Han Li saw this, he immediately raised his head and drank the wine in his cup as well.
When this mouthful of wine entered his throat, it was sweet and refreshing. He only felt that it was cool at first and then hot. A warm current instantly arose in his Dantian and spread to his limbs and bones. His entire body instantly felt relaxed and numb.
This feeling was as if he was suddenly riding on the clouds and riding on the mist. Heavenly music lingered in his ears and he felt as if he was floating in the air.
"Good wine!" Han Li blurted out.
"Haha, refreshing!
Ordinary people say that wine can throw one's temperament into disorder, but they don't know that once one is drunk, one can act according to one's nature. There are three thousand Great Daos and a hundred flavors in life. Perhaps it's only easier to understand after being enlightened!
Although you and I are cultivating as immortals, this Dao is something that must be comprehended!
Come, come, let's drink. "Elder Huyan laughed heartily and poured another cup for himself and Han Li.
When Han Li heard this, he couldn't help but be moved.
Old Man Zui's words seemed to be nonsense, but they seemed to contain some sort of deep meaning.
Ever since he returned to the Immortal Dimension, every step he took could be said to be cautious. There was always a trace of vigilance in his heart, and he was unable to calmly face the myriad Daos of the world. This feeling was completely different from the free and unfettered immortals that he longed to be.
But after meeting this old man Zui, this sense of loss and depression seemed to have been suddenly enlightened after a cup of wine and a few words, causing him to unconsciously agree with these words in his heart.
He had cultivated step by step from a mountain village to where he was now, and he was constantly under pressure. Could it be that constantly cultivating with his life on the line was the meaning of his existence?
Since he had already attained Dao and become an immortal, he could live as long as heaven and earth. Now that he was in a large sect with a territory spanning millions of kilometers, it seemed like it was time for him to enjoy himself.
Furthermore, perhaps letting go of some of the shackles would bring him closer to the Great Dao …
"No, that's not right!"
He shook his head violently and tossed these thoughts aside.
When he first entered the Immortal Dimension, it was precisely because he had mistakenly believed that he had attained Dao that he could roam freely in the Immortal Dimension. That was why he was plotted against and suffered severe injuries and amnesia, resulting in him losing his Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword and Daoist Xie. Otherwise, with his cautious personality, how could he have suffered such a huge setback?
He had only just stabilized his footing in the Immortal Dimension, so how could he let down his guard and repeat the same mistake?
The Immortal Dimension seemed to be at peace, but it was actually filled with turbulent undercurrents and dangers. He had to be even more careful in order to have a chance at attaining Dao in the future!
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and at the same time, a certain conviction in his heart had unknowingly become even more resolute.
"Senior, this is Azure Pear Wine; it really is a top-notch wine."
Han Li raised his cup and drank it before heartily praising it again, but his eyes had become extremely clear.