A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Immortal Realm

All of a sudden, Han Li pointed at a certain spot on the map as he asked, "This should be an unopened water abode, right?"

"That's right, but I should advise you not to attempt to access this water abode," the elderly man replied with a smile.

"Why is that?" Han Li asked.

"Pardon me for being frank, but you're most likely not going to have much luck with that water abode. There have been many cultivators of cultivation bases as lofty as the late-Golden Immortal Stage that have tried to access this water abode, but just the restriction on its gates alone was enough to keep out all of them.

“There were two of them who attempted to breach the restriction by force, only to incur backlash from the restriction, and one of them was severely wounded, while the other was killed on the spot," the elderly man sighed.

"I see. Thank you for looking out for me, but I have a decent understanding of restrictions and arrays, so even if I can't open the water abode, I think I'll be able to at least ensure self-preservation," Han Li replied.

The elderly man could see that Han Li had made up his mind, so he said, "In that case, I wish you the best of luck. Once you issue the payment, I'll send someone to take you there."

From his perspective, he had completed his obligation by issuing that warning to Han Li, and if he were to say anything further, then that would only rouse suspicions.

After the payment was issued, the elderly man called over a red-robed young woman, then issued her some instructions before sending her to take Han Li to the lake.

The young woman wasn't particularly beautiful, but there were a couple of dimples on her round face, making it appear as if she were constantly smiling, so she was certainly very pleasant to look at.

The woman led Han Li and Weeping Soul down Comb Grate Mountain, then made her way down a small path toward the lake.

The young woman seemed to have a very bubbly personality, and she couldn't help but ask, "Why did you pick out Ill Omen Manor, esteemed guest? You don't seem like a foolish person."

"Ill Omen Manor? Why do you call it that?" Han Li asked.

"Ever since this water abode was made public, no one has been able to access it, and many people have died trying, so it's essentially one big ill omen! That's why we named it Ill Omen Manor in private. That's not its official name, so if you can open it, you can give it a more festive and lucky name," the young woman explained.

"Ill Omen Manor isn't bad, I'll call it exactly that," Han Li said with a faint smile.

"I don't mean to rain on your parade, esteemed guest, but you only get to name the water abode if you can open it. If the restriction proves to be too much for you, then come back up to the surface right away. It's not worth losing your life over something like this," the young woman sighed.

"What's your name?" Han Li suddenly asked with a smile.

The young woman faltered slightly upon hearing this. All of the guests that she had attended to over the years had only treated her as a servant, and she had never been asked her name by any of them.

"My name is Hu Xiaocheng," the young woman replied in a slightly embarrassed manner.

"That's a fine name," Han Li replied with a contemplative nod, and at the same time, he couldn't help but think of Ye Susu, who this young woman very much reminded him of.

Last month, he had learned through certain avenues that a natural disaster had befallen Azure Fox City half a year ago, burning the entire city to the ground, and there wasn't even a single survivor.

That was right after he left, so he immediately realized that this had to have been a hoax to cover the Immortal Palace's tracks, and that was why he had come to this Three River Lake.

Hu Xiaocheng could see that Han Li was absorbed in his own thoughts, so she continued to lead the way in silence.

The three of them soon arrived on a plaza beside the Three River Lake, and there was a cool breeze blowing over the lake. It was a very pleasant day, and Hu Xiaocheng couldn't help but stretch lazily as she took a deep breath.

Looking at the rippling surface of the lake, Han Li was also feeling a bit more relaxed, and the dark emotions that had been recently weighing on him abated slightly.

"We've arrived, esteemed guest. Enter the lake from here, and you'll reach Ill Omen Manor after descending for about ten thousand feet," Hu Xiaocheng declared.

"Alright, I'll be back soon," Han Li replied with a nod, then plunged straight into the water before Hu Xiaocheng had a chance to reply.

"Be care..."

Hu Xiaocheng wasn't even able to fully articulate two words before Han Li vanished out of sight.

A resigned pout appeared on her face as she grumbled under her breath, "I didn't even get a chance to tell him about the layout of the lakebed in this area..."

In her eyes, there was no way that Han Li would be successful in this endeavor. After all, this was the notorious Ill Omen Manor that had kept out even many a Golden Immortal, so how could this unremarkable-looking guest succeed where countless others had failed?

"I hope he returns safely, at least," Hu Xiaocheng murmured to herself, and as soon as her voice trailed off, a figure flew out of the lake before landing beside her.

Hu Xiaocheng was stunned to discover that it was none other than Han Li, and she exclaimed, "You're back already? I thought you'd at least be down there for a few hours before you give up. I suppose it's a good thing that you know your limits."

Han Li was rather amused to hear this, and he tapped her on the forehead as he said, "Go and fetch that administrator. Tell him that I've opened this water abode."

Hu Xiaocheng's eyes immediately widened in incredulity upon hearing this.

"What? You're saying you've already..."

"Go on," Han Li prompted with a smile, and Hu Xiaocheng was still in a state of disbelief, but she did as she was told, flying straight back to Comb Grate Mountain.

Shortly thereafter, she returned with the bewildered elderly administrator from before.

The administrator descended down to the lakebed to take a look for himself, and only then did he finally believe Han Li's claim. He was stunned beyond belief, and he emerged from the lake with an ecstatic expression as he said, "You can stay in this water abode for the next three years, Fellow Daoist Han. As per what I said earlier, you can claim all of the treasures in the abode as long as it doesn't impact the abode's structural integrity."

"You have my thanks," Han Li said as he cupped his fist in a grateful salute.

"Also, please give the water abode a name," the elderly man said.

Han Li took a glance at Hu Xiaocheng, then said, "I'll call it Ill Omen Manor."

The elderly man faltered slightly upon hearing this, but then merely nodded in response before departing.

Prior to his departure, he instructed, "Stay with Fellow Daoist Han for now. If he needs anything, come to the sect to inform me right away."

Hu Xiaocheng hurriedly gave an affirmative response.

Following the elderly man's departure, Han Li turned to Hu Xiaocheng and asked, "Do you want to come down and take a look around in the manor?"

Hu Xiaocheng nodded eagerly in response.

Han Li laid a hand onto her shoulder, and a layer of azure light appeared over both of their bodies as they descended into the depths together.

The deeper they went, the darker the environment became.

Hu Xiaocheng had guided guests to other water palaces before, but she had never been this deep in the Three River Lake, and she was eagerly looking around with a curious expression.

The lakebed was riddled with broken mountains, some of which were still somewhat intact, while others displayed varying degrees of destruction.

There were light barriers of different colors spread over these mountains, encompassed within which were individual water abodes that had already been opened.

Most of these water abodes were extremely far away, giving them the appearance of stars in the night sky.

Han Li led Han Li all the way to the lakebed, arriving before a small hill that was only several hundred feet tall.

Hu Xiaocheng could see a light barrier on the summit of the hill, within which was a long courtyard.

Han Li led her by the arm as he rose up through the water before entering the light barrier, and upon arriving on a plaza in front of the courtyard, Han Li immediately withdrew the azure light barrier around them.

"Ancestral hall... This is the sect's ancestral hall?" Hu Xiaocheng exclaimed at the sight of a plaque hanging above the entrance of the courtyard up ahead.

"Why else do you think no one has been able to break through the restriction here even after so many years?" Han Li chuckled.

"If that's the case, then how were you able to break the restriction?" Hu Xiaocheng asked.

"I've read a lot of books," Han Li replied with a smile.

It was actually true that he had seen the protective array here in an ancient scripture, and with his powers and extensive knowledge in arrays and restrictions, it was an easy task for him to open the water abode.

"You're so lucky! I've heard that the ancestral hall is usually where a sect's best scriptures and treasures are kept, so you're going to make a massive haul!" Hu Xiaocheng said with an envious expression.