Published: September 2, 2025
Chapter 510: Black Stone City
“It’s a bit inconvenient to talk here. Friend Xu, how about we continue the conversation outside?” The brocade-clad burly man glanced around the stone house and at the Star Palace cultivator in the corner, then suggested.
“Outside? Very well.” The scar-faced man agreed indifferently.
The brocade-clad burly man was delighted, but then, as if recalling something, he turned back and even forced a faint smile toward Han Li.
“Brother Qu, why don’t you join us? Perhaps we can cooperate!” The brocade-clad burly man tried to win Han Li over.
Han Li blinked at the words and smiled.
“Alright, Qu was just about to listen.” Han Li said with a smile. Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward and went out of the stone house first.
“What’s this? Isn’t this friend on the same side as you?” The scar-faced cultivator was a little surprised to see this scene.
“He only came with us here; we didn’t know him before!” The black-faced middle-aged man, who still seemed to harbor some hostility toward Han Li, suddenly said.
This remark made the brocade-clad burly man frown slightly but said nothing.
Xu Yun nodded but also made no further comments.
One by one, they all exited the stone house.
At this moment, Han Li was already standing outside, looking around in surprise.
This place was completely different from Ningcui Island that Han Li had visited before.
They had appeared inside a small city.
Although it was neither large nor sophisticated, covering only about twenty miles around, it was indeed a city built with black stones.
The worn stone house with the teleportation formation was located in the center of this stone city, built on a high platform resembling an altar, with steep stone steps on all four sides.
Because of the elevated terrain, standing on the platform offered a panoramic view of the surroundings.
Around the city, a symbolic stone wall about three to four zhang high enclosed it, and a thick white light shield shimmered about a zhang outside the stone wall, protecting the entire city within.
Inside the stone wall were tall stone houses of various sizes.
But strangely, there were no upper floors or attic structures—all were single-story buildings.
At first glance, though the city was packed with houses, there weren’t many independent buildings. Some stone houses connected in clusters, while others took up astonishingly large areas, often dozens of zhang wide.
What shocked Han Li even more was that in this stone city, there were still some mortals and cultivators mingling together, walking back and forth on the rough black stone roads, hurrying in and out of some stone houses.
If that were all, it wouldn’t be so surprising. What amazed Han Li was that most of these mortals were young, beautiful women, each dressed as gorgeously and gracefully as butterflies. The other mortals were robust burly men and some delicate-looking boys and girls.
Just as Han Li was lost in thought, the brocade-clad burly man and others emerged, led by the scar-faced man. They, too, were shocked upon seeing this small city.
They had planned to come to the Outer Star Sea and naturally researched all the demonic beast islands in advance. None of the information they had seen matched this place.
“Friend Liu, take out the Jade Slip with the previous information on Strange Abyss Island and take another look. Did we miss something?” The brocade-clad burly man's face showed a trace of strangeness as he said solemnly.
“Alright, I’ll have another look!” The woman surnamed Liu hurriedly responded and began rummaging through her storage bag.
“Friends, there’s no need to look for any information. Most of the information you’ve seen about Strange Abyss Island before has been forged. Naturally, you find it surprising.” Xu Yun waved his hand to stop the woman from searching the Jade Slip.
“Forged? What do you mean by that?” The brocade-clad burly man’s expression changed.
“It’s simple. This Strange Abyss Island is different from other demonic beast islands. Cultivators returning from this island are strictly ordered to only leak identical information. Otherwise, great calamities will befall them. Friend Yi Dao, when you arrived here, I really don’t know whether to say you’re lucky or unlucky!” Xu Yun said with a half-smile.