On the way back, Ling Yuling secretly observed Li Feiyu.
"There's actually such a powerful Core Formation Cultivator in Heavenly Star City, yet he has no reputation at all. Could he be a reclusive Cultivator?"
Li Feiyu didn't even turn his head, saying indifferently, "Although I know I'm handsome, it's not very appropriate for you to keep staring at me like that."
"Excuse me, how should I address you, Fellow Daoist?" A blush flashed across Ling Yuling's face. "My name is Ling Yuling, a Star Palace external affairs law enforcement officer."
"My surname is Li."
"Fellow Daoist Li's Divine Ability is truly impressive. At the Core Formation Middle Stage, he can easily defeat two Early Stage Core Formation Cultivators of considerable strength. Within my Star Palace, there are few at the Core Formation Middle Stage Realm who could be your opponent."
"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Li is interested in joining my Star Palace? Any conditions are negotiable."
Li Feiyu didn't answer, but instead asked, "Fellow Daoist Ling, do you have any special Magic Treasure on you? I actually can't discern your specific gender?"
"Just a minor trick, not worth mentioning. What are your thoughts on my Star Palace, Fellow Daoist?"
"How do you view the alliance between the righteous and demonic factions resisting my Star Palace and inciting a major war?"
Li Feiyu remained silent, flying straight ahead. Seeing this, Ling Yuling stopped asking.
Two days later, the two returned to Heavenly Star City. Before they even got close, a team of Cultivators, four men and one woman, flew over.
The leader was an Early Stage Core Formation Cultivator with a Yellow Face; the rest were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
"Greetings, Protector Ling!" The male and female Foundation Establishment Cultivators recognized Ling Yuling and bowed in salute.
The Yellow Face Cultivator's face lit up with joy upon seeing Ling Yuling. He stepped forward and said, "Junior Brother Ling, are you alright? I heard something happened on Nanming Island, and I was extremely worried, Senior Brother. Who is this?"
The Yellow Face Cultivator's gaze shifted, looking at Li Feiyu with some suspicion for a few rounds.
"I was ambushed by two Inverse Star Alliance Cultivators, but fortunately, Fellow Daoist Li passed by and helped me out in time, so I wasn't injured."
"Fellow Daoist Li's Immortal Cave is in Heavenly Star City, so he returned with me."
"Senior Brother, there's no problem with Fellow Daoist Li entering the city, right?"
"Since he is Junior Brother Ling's benefactor, then of course there's no problem. Today, Elder Wang is on duty; he can enter after his identity is verified."
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I still need to report on the matter of Nanming Island to the inner palace, so I won't stay long."
After Ling Yuling left, the Yellow Face Cultivator withdrew his gaze from him and then shifted it to Li Feiyu, saying, "You are Fellow Daoist Li, right? How should I address you? Are you a Loose Cultivator or affiliated with a School?"
"Li Feiyu, an Elder of the Exquisite Sound Sect."
The Yellow Face Cultivator sent a voice transmission to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to inquire. That Cultivator glanced at Li Feiyu again, then nodded.
The Yellow Face Cultivator said, "So it's an Elder of the Exquisite Sound Sect. I heard the Exquisite Sound Sect recruited two Core Formation Elders who are quite mysterious and possess great Divine Abilities. Now that I've met one, they are indeed extraordinary."
"Fellow Daoist Li, please allow me to take you to register. Heavenly Star City is currently under martial law, and there are many things you need to understand."
The two flew together towards the vicinity of Heavenly Star City's high wall, reaching above a city gate.
Along the way, although no one questioned them, there were at least four or five waves of hidden Cultivators who did not show themselves, mostly Foundation Establishment, but also a few Core Formation Cultivators.
Between the tall wall and the city gate, a faint white glow flickered, indicating that some Restriction had been activated.
The city gate was somewhat deserted. Besides the white-clothed Cultivators, there were no people entering or exiting. As soon as the Yellow Face Cultivator landed, he walked without hesitation towards one of the old men.
"Protector Yu, this is Elder Li of the Exquisite Sound Sect. There's no problem. Please explain the matters after entering the city to him. I still need to patrol the outer perimeter and cannot stay long."
The Yellow Face Cultivator cupped his fist towards the old man, seemingly quite respectful. Just as he was about to leave, Li Feiyu said, "By the way, my Junior Brother, Han Li, may also return to Heavenly Star City soon. He is also an Elder of the Exquisite Sound Sect. Please, Fellow Daoist, do not make things difficult for him."
The Yellow Face Cultivator smiled, "No problem, no problem."
With that, he soared into the sky.
"I didn't expect the declining Exquisite Sound Sect to still be able to recruit someone like Fellow Daoist Li; it's truly rare."
Li Feiyu merely slightly restrained his aura, but what he displayed was still at the Core Formation Middle Stage level, which is why Protector Yu was quite friendly towards him.
"Fellow Daoist Yu, Heavenly Star City is currently under martial law; just tell me whatever instructions you have."
"Then I'll be direct," Protector Yu said. "Fellow Daoist, you now have two choices. One is to temporarily join my Star Palace faction and assist us in resisting the enemy. This way, you can still move freely within the city without Restrictions."
"For each completed mission, my Star Palace will offer generous rewards, so Fellow Daoist will not exert effort in vain."
"The second is if you are unwilling to participate in the great war and only wish to stay quietly in the city. This is also acceptable; my Star Palace will not force you. However, in this case, except for certain specific time periods, Fellow Daoist must not move around freely within the city."
"Otherwise, if you encounter my Star Palace law enforcement team, they will show no mercy."
"I choose the second option," Li Feiyu said without hesitation. Now that Crimson Crow has advanced to a Level Seven Demon Beast, he can begin Cultivating his Blazing Sun True Fire Divine Ability.
Besides that, he also needs to take this opportunity to refine Medicinal Pills and break through to the late stage Core Formation.
If there are no accidents, he should not be leaving his Immortal Cave for a short period.
"Fellow Daoist, won't you reconsider?"
"No."
Protector Yu felt a little regretful but had no choice but to respect Li Feiyu's decision.
"Then, Fellow Daoist, wear this ring. Starting tomorrow, please do not wander around. The Inverse Star Alliance will likely launch an attack soon."
Li Feiyu nodded and flew towards the direction of the sacred mountain.
Just half a day later, Han Li also came from Nanming Island and arrived near Heavenly Star City. He met the Yellow Face Cultivator, who, upon hearing his name Han Li, asked if he was an Elder of the Exquisite Sound Sect and if he had a Senior Brother named Li Feiyu.
Han Li looked puzzled. "Fellow Daoist is correct. Could it be that Fellow Daoist has met my Senior Brother?"
The Yellow Face Cultivator laughed heartily, "What a coincidence! He entered the city half a day before you and even told me not to make things difficult for you. Your Senior Brother is truly good."
"Senior Brother Li, he is indeed… very good to me."
Han Li's mouth twitched slightly. Leaving me alone and disappearing somewhere, could anyone be more outrageous than him?
Han Li was in the inner hall of the Void Heaven Palace, surrounded by numerous Nascent Soul Cultivators, and almost died.
To say he wasn't annoyed with Li Feiyu was impossible.
But he knew Li Feiyu's character; if he didn't appear, he was probably held up by something.
The trip to the Void Heaven Palace was thrilling but ultimately safe, and the gains were unprecedented. Han Li magnanimously temporarily forgave Li Feiyu, deciding to make a judgment after seeing him.
Han Li's choice was different from Li Feiyu's. Li Feiyu chose to go into seclusion in Heavenly Star City, while he chose to teleport away. However, before leaving, he had to kill a fellow Cultivator of the Inverse Star Alliance during the great war.
Han Li knew that the Star Palace's move was to use them as free labor and, incidentally, to make them hostile to the Inverse Star Alliance, preventing them from easily joining the Inverse Star Alliance again.
However, Han Li found Li Feiyu's actions somewhat strange. Logically, with the great war starting, leaving Heavenly Star City would be the best option, but Li Feiyu chose to stay.
"What exactly does he intend to do?"
Han Li pondered for a while, found no answer, and decided to personally go find Li Feiyu.