Mortal: I really didn't want to be reborn as Zi Ling!

"Of course I know how to leave!"

Zi Ling rolled her eyes at Han Li.

Han Li looked down at the other person.

At this moment, the little girl in my arms had a stubborn look on her face and her eyes were slightly red.

Even though she thought about how the other person's parents were still outside facing the Black Crow of the Extreme Yin Island, their fates unknown, her tone of voice didn't sound like that of a twelve-year-old child.

I've seen the Demon-Suppressing Platform Formation once before.

Zi Ling didn't explain much, but pointed in a direction: "The array's central hub is over there. According to the jade slip, there's a hidden teleportation array leading to the outside world there."

Upon hearing this, Han Li immediately changed his escape path and sped off in the direction Zi Ling was pointing.

A strong wind blew in, causing Zi Ling's purple dress to flutter loudly.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on Han Li's ordinary face.

This guy actually believes in himself that much?

"Can you put me down?"

As someone with the heart of a man but the body of a woman, she felt somewhat awkward being held like this by an old man in his fifties or sixties.

Although holding him like this... seems quite comfortable.

But she wasn't a princess, and the other person wasn't her Prince Charming!

"Can your cultivation keep up?"

Han Li did not refuse immediately, but his words still made Zi Ling behave herself.

She had just established her foundation and hadn't even had time to consolidate her cultivation. Those following her were all elite disciples of Jiyin Island, each of them in the mid-to-late stages of Foundation Establishment.

With her small frame, let alone whether she can escape, she'll most likely become a burden.

"I was just worried it would affect your performance—"

Zi Ling muttered something under her breath, trying to save face.

Han Li glanced down at the other person.

The little girl's body was trembling slightly, most likely because she was worried about her parents.

Forget it, it's better not to argue with her.

The wind howled, and the sounds of fighting and screams could be faintly heard behind them.

Han Li and his alter ego Zhang Tie were trailing behind, blocking the pursuers for them.

Each swing of the Blood Fiend Blade was accompanied by a scream, but the number of people from Extreme Yin Island was increasing, like cockroaches, impossible to kill completely.

After a moment of silence, Han Li suddenly spoke up: "Speaking of which, we've become acquainted. I still don't know your name?"

Zi Ling looked up.

Well--

From this angle, he looks even more ordinary!

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking someone's name?"

Zi Ling certainly knew Han Li's name, and not only that, she also knew his numerous nicknames.

Such as "Silly Boy", "Divine Doctor Han", "Fire Demon", "Han the Runner", "Overseas Rogue Cultivator Li Feiyu", "Insect Demon", "Old Demon Han", "Number One Sword Cultivator in the South" and so on - a series of nicknames.

"My name is Li... cough... Han Li."

Han Li opened his mouth to give his usual alias, but stopped himself from speaking.

For some reason, he didn't want to use a pseudonym when facing the little girl in his arms.

"Li Hanli?"

Zi Ling tilted her head, looking innocent and naive: "What a strange name."

Han Li's eye twitched, and he quickly explained, "It's Han Li. I used a different name before; I'm just used to it."

He made a point of explaining, afraid that the other party might say, "It's strange that it's Han Li."

"Han Li?"

Zi Ling repeated, "My name is Wang Ning. But you can call me by another name—Zi Ling."

"Purple Spirit".

Han Li looked down at the little girl in his arms.

Dressed in purple, with skin as smooth as jade, and features as delicate as a finely sculpted porcelain doll.

It really does look like a little elf.

After glancing at it, he looked away, and the more he looked, the more it resembled an old friend.

Then the two fell silent again.

Apart from the occasional sounds of fighting and screams behind me, all I could hear was the whistling wind rushing past my ears, occasionally punctuated by Zi Ling's voices telling me to "turn left," "turn right," or "go straight ahead."

Han Li was puzzled as to why the other party could remember the internal structure of the Demon Suppression Platform so clearly at a glance, and he also wondered why the other party would come here knowing that this place was dangerous.

But remembering the other person's repeated reminders, he kept quiet.

Everyone has secrets, and he's no exception.

-

Heading downwards.

The passage narrowed, and the walls on both sides changed from blue bricks to huge bluestone slabs, covered with densely packed restriction patterns.

The air became damp and chilly, carrying a musty smell, as if no one had been here for a long time.

All signs indicate that they are getting closer and closer to the center of the formation.

Finally, a huge bronze gate appeared at the end of the passage.

The gate is about five zhang high and three zhang wide, with a relief sculpture cast on its surface.

A giant thunder roc spread its wings, ready to take flight. Below it, the waves surged, and in the waves, a man and a woman, each holding a long sword, confronted it.

Upon seeing this, Han Li immediately knew that they had arrived at their destination. He quickly put Zi Ling down, took a few steps forward, and braced his hands against the door.

Spiritual energy infused, arms exerted force—

Not moving.

Unconvinced, he used his immense strength technique again, but the bronze gate seemed to be rooted to the spot, and no matter how hard he tried, it didn't even crack open.

Han Li frowned and glanced back at the way he had come.

The sounds of fighting were getting closer.

Although Zhang Tie had stopped most of the pursuers, the cultivators from Jiyin Island kept coming, and they would catch up here in no more than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

"What kind of mechanism is this? Could it be a dead end?" Han Li looked at Zi Ling with a hint of urgency.

"Don't worry!"

Zi Ling walked to the side and pointed to the ground.

"Just look at the ground and you'll see."

Han Li looked down.

On the dusty ground, there was a pair of clear footprints.

The footprints stretched from behind towards the gate, indicating that someone had entered through here not long ago.

"How do we open it?" Han Li was slightly relieved to see this; at least it wasn't a dead end.

"Simple." Zi Ling raised her hand to stroke the relief on the bronze door: "This picture is called 'Two Saints Subduing Demons' and 'Kui Xing Suppressing the Sea.' The way the mechanism is activated corresponds to the position of the constellations."

Her finger moved across the relief, finally stopping at a raised dot beneath Lei Peng's wing.

"Tian Shu" (天枢).

Zi Ling pressed down on the dot forcefully, and then rotated it in sequence according to the positions from Tian Shu to Tian Quan.

A clicking sound came from inside the bronze door, as if some ancient mechanism was operating.

The sound lasted for a few breaths and then stopped, and there was no further movement.

But the door remained closed.

Han Li glanced anxiously at the way he had come, then at Zi Ling, his brows furrowing deeply.

"What's going on? Why isn't it open yet?"

Before he knew it, he had become impatient.

His avatar, Zhang Tie, fought off a group of cultivators from Jiyin Island who followed, but more Jiyin Island cultivators were gathering.

Zi Ling rolled her eyes at Han Li.

"Fool."

Having said that, she stepped forward, placed her hands against the bronze door, and gently pushed it open—

crunch--

The door that Han Li couldn't budge even with all his strength was easily pushed open by this twelve-year-old girl.

Han Li blushed.

He used spiritual power, brute force, and magic to try and push for a long time, but in the end he still pushed.

Was the person who designed this place crazy?

Zi Ling stepped aside to clear the doorway, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Ignoring Zi Ling's mocking expression, Han Li took a deep breath, strode into the gate, and casually took out several array flags from his storage bag. Several beams of spiritual light flashed, and a layer of light blue light screen appeared on the ground.

At this moment, Zhang Tie also slipped inside.

Zi Ling was the last to enter, and she glanced back at the deep passageway outside the door.

Han Li, who was about to close the door, paused and froze on the spot.

As Zi Ling stepped into the room, the bronze door seemed to sense his presence and closed automatically without him having to lift a finger.

Han Li awkwardly withdrew his arm and rubbed his nose.

Sure enough, the person who designed this place must be seriously ill!

For some reason, when faced with this twelve-year-old girl, he, who was usually extremely calm, seemed to easily lose his composure.

Shake your head to clear your mind and look up.