"Daoist Jiao Shiwu, don't be surprised. I contacted you today because I have a special mission. I would like to invite you to join me," said the green figure.
"If I recall correctly, I haven't had much interaction with Fellow Daoist Lin Jiu, so why did you invite me?" Han Li asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"Daoist Jiao Shiwu's name has been well-known in the Union for the past few years.
You left a deep impression on me during our first collaboration. I know that you are not an undeserving person. That is why I am inviting you to join me on this mission. "
Although Lin Jiu was full of praise for Han Li, his tone was indifferent as if he were merely stating the facts without any hint of flattery.
"How can I compare to Daoist Lin Jiu in terms of reputation?
Since it is a mission that Daoist Lin Jiu is interested in, it must not be an easy mission, right? "Han Li asked with a smile.
"I'm sorry, but this mission is a little special. Junior members are not allowed to participate, and the other participants must be proficient in Dharma Formations and Escape Techniques.
If you have not decided to accept the mission, I will not be able to tell you the details, "said Lin Jiu slowly.
"I can't tell you the details of the mission, but you can at least tell me the location, right?" Han Li asked after some thought.
"The Dark Frost Continent," answered Lin Jiu.
"If the mission is on the Dark Frost Continent, I will not be able to accept it.
I have some matters to attend to recently, so I cannot travel far. Please forgive me. "Han Li frowned and declined.
To the north of the Ancient Cloud Continent was a vast Frozen Ocean. On the other side of the ocean, there was an icy continent that was covered in ice and snow all year round. This was the Dark Frost Continent.
Although it was not as difficult to cross the Frozen Ocean and there was a teleportation array, it would take at least a few years to get there and back.
"You don't have to reject me so quickly. You can listen to the rewards of this mission before you decide whether to accept it or not," said Lin Jiu, who was not surprised by Han Li's rejection.
"I'd like to hear the details." Han Li nodded and said.
"Other than 300 Immortal Essence Stones, I will add on a piece of Nephrite Cloud Stone," said Lin Jiu slowly, as though he was rather confident in his offer.
"It seems that you have spent a lot of effort to invite me. You know that I am in need of the Nephrite Cloud Stone, so you have come to my liking." Han Li's heart was moved, but there was no joy on his face under the mask as he said coldly.
"Fellow Daoist, the mission to find the Nephrite Cloudstone has already been issued for seven or eight years.
Even now, no one has accepted it. I'm sure you won't give up on this opportunity, right? "Lin Jiu said meaningfully.
After listening, Han Li lowered his head and pondered.
Seven or eight years ago, when he was carrying out a mission for the Anicca Alliance, he inadvertently flipped through the beast skin book he seized from the thin old man who attacked Bai Suyuan in the Mystic Ice Mountain Range, and he saw an extremely strange Metal Smelting Sword Art in it.
This art could greatly increase the power of a flying sword by smelting special metals and other materials.
If many flying swords were smelted at the same time, these flying swords could be fused into one during battle, and the power of the flying swords would be far greater than the original flying swords.
Most importantly, after smelting the flying swords, not only would the appearance of the flying swords be different from the original, but the aura released by the sword would also change due to the addition of a few supplementary materials.
Han Li immediately decided that he was going to use this method to refine his 72 Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords again.
However, the spiritual materials needed to smelt the flying swords using this method were very rare. The most important main material was the Nephrite Refined Metal, and the most important supplementary material was the Nephrite Cloud Stone.
Coincidentally, Han Li had the Nephrite Cloud Stone. It was the dark gold metal that he had obtained from the Mirage Elemental Beast Palace. After the battle in the Mystic Ice Mountain Range, he had obtained a lot of it from the thin old man.
As for the other materials, Han Li had spent a few Immortal Essence Stones in the Torch Dragon Sect to gather them all. The only thing he hadn't been able to find was the Nephrite Cloud Stone. Regardless of whether it was in the Anicca Alliance or the markets outside the sect, there had been no news of it.
"May I know how big this Nephrite Cloud Stone is?" Han Li asked after a long silence.
"You should know how precious this item is. The reward is only the size of a fist.
Even so, it is more than enough to be used as the main material to forge a flying sword, "Lin Jiu said.
"I'll accept this mission." Han Li nodded his head without much hesitation, agreeing to it.
Although the Nephrite Cloud Stone was only the size of a fist, it was enough to be used as a supplementary material to forge the 72 flying swords.
"Good!
With Daoist Jiao Shiwu's help, we will definitely be able to complete this mission successfully. "Lin Jiu's voice was filled with joy.
"Since I have accepted the mission, can you tell me the details of the mission?" Han Li asked.
"There is no rush.
We have not gathered all the members for this mission yet.
You can prepare yourself. Three years later, we will gather at the Long Arc Island at the northern end of the Ancient Cloud Continent. I will tell you the details of the mission then. "Lin Jiu waved his hand.
"In that case, I will see you then." Han Li nodded and said.
Then, Lin Jiu bade farewell and his figure became blurry before he disappeared.
Han Li kept the ox head mask and left the secret room.
…
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
At the northernmost part of the Ancient Cloud Continent, there was a peninsula that protruded out of the land. It was long and narrow, and it extended into a boundless white sea.
The island was black and covered with a thick layer of frozen soil. There was no vegetation on the island at all.
On a huge black rock at the end of Changdao, there was a tall figure sitting cross-legged. He wore a large black robe that looked like a cloak and wore a green deer mask on his head. He was Lin Jiu.
Beside the black rock beneath him, there was a tall and thin man wearing an ochre yellow robe embroidered with a plum blossom pattern. His face was covered with a rat mask that was also green in color.
Through the two holes in the eye sockets of the mask, one could see that his pupils were extremely small. They were more white than black, just like the eyes of a rat.
"We have waited for seven days. Why isn't that person here yet? He is really arrogant."
The man wearing the rat mask had a sharp voice. He glanced in the direction of the Ancient Cloud Continent and spoke with dissatisfaction.
"Daoist Jiao Shiwu, you and I are early. Since it is not the appointed day, we should continue to wait," Lin Jiu said calmly.
When the man wearing the rat mask heard this, he habitually twisted his neck, sneered a few times in a low voice, and didn't say anything else.
After about a quarter of an hour, a streak of green light flashed in the distant sky and landed in front of the black boulder.
The azure light descended to reveal an azure-robed man wearing an azure ox mask. It was none other than Han Li.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Lin Jiu." Han Li cupped his fist in a salute as a form of greeting.
"Daoist Jiao Shiwu, this is Daoist Jiao Shiwu." Lin Jiu stood up and nodded at Han Li.
"It's an honor to meet you." Han Li nodded.
"Sorry to keep you waiting …" Lin Jiu Shiwu stared at Han Li and said rudely.
Han Li could hear the dissatisfaction in Lin Jiu Shiwu's words. He smiled and did not say anything.
"Since everyone is here, I'll explain the details of the mission." Lin Jiu jumped down from the rock and walked over to the two of them.
Han Li turned to look at Lin Shiqi and Lin Shiqi turned his attention to Han Li.
"According to the information, there is a valley in the Blizzard Forest in the south of the Dark Frost Continent. There is a high-level Restrictive Array outside the valley.
Our mission is to sneak into the valley without triggering the array formation and kill a mid-stage Perfected Immortal cultivator, "Lin Jiu said as he glanced at the two of them.
"Do you know what the name of the Restrictive Array is and what its characteristics are?" Han Li asked after thinking for a while.
"The mission information only contains what I have told you. As for the details, we will only know when we arrive there," Lin Jiu said.
"It seems easy. Why are all the special missions in the alliance like this?
You are always so secretive … "Lin Seventeen pouted and grumbled.
"Alright, let's not waste any more time. Let's set off now," Lin Jiu said.
As soon as he finished speaking, he flicked his wrist, causing an expanse of dazzling golden light to sprinkle down like a field of stars, and then a completely golden three-story treasure ship appeared from within it.
The ship was about three hundred feet long and five feet tall. Both sides of the ship were engraved with dense talismans that could speed up the ship's body. The three-story pavilion on the ship's body was also richly ornamented, inlaid with pearls and jades, looking extremely luxurious.
"We can take the Teleportation Array from Yan Ling Island to the Dark Frost Continent.
Before we reach Yan Ling Island, we will take my golden-patterned spirit ship, "Lin Jiu said as he flew toward the deck of the treasure ship.
Han Li and Lin Jiu Shiwu flew up and landed on the railing on the port side of the spirit ship.
After stepping onto the spirit ark, Han Li cast his gaze around to discover that the pillars, doors, and windows of the three-story pavilion were also engraved with all types of complex runes, and bursts of spiritual power fluctuations were emanating from them.
Outside each pavilion, there were several extremely beautiful young women with slender waists. They were all dressed in either pure gold or rainbow-colored silk robes. Each of them had an otherworldly aura, as if they were celestial concubines.
However, Han Li quickly discovered that these beautiful and alluring women were actually all exquisite puppets.
"Both of you can choose a pavilion to stay in for the time being. If there are any trivial matters, just instruct the puppets to handle them." Lin Jiu flew to the highest pavilion and entered it.
Lin Seventeen glanced at Han Li and didn't say anything. He flew into the air and landed in front of the two-story pavilion. He reached out his hand and touched the face of the female puppet. He clicked his tongue and praised, "Wow, this feels really good …"