(First update on the shelves ^^)

"It seems you two friends have also noticed that the previous map seemed fine, but it didn't include the major rivers on the island, because the maps sold publicly in the city don't have these water flow markers. We've come across many major rivers along the way, and I've marked them all," Han Li said with a smile.

Hearing this, the others looked at the map again, as if they had realized something.

Indeed, as Han Li had said, the map was detailed but had very few rivers. Even those present were just small rivers.

Earlier, everyone's attention had been drawn to the cities, and they hadn't noticed this.

"In the past few days, I've collected some geographical information about the island in every city I've visited, especially some old maps. I finally found some information about the major rivers," Han Li said, pointing his finger.

The water mirror shimmered, and several rivers appeared on the map in certain areas.

"This is..." The expressions of everyone watching the water mirror changed.

"Due to the short time, I only collected these water source data. As the saying goes, 'seeing a spot can reveal the whole leopard.' You should have also noticed that the Red Moon Cities we passed by, as well as some larger cities, are located near major rivers. What we've seen these past few days has verified this," Han Li explained slowly.

The others recalled the cities they had visited before. Each one was indeed near a large river or lake, and the Red Moon City they were in now was the same.

"There's nothing special about that. Transportation is naturally much more convenient near large rivers. Not just Red Moon Island, but cities on other islands also often consider building near rivers," Jiao Thirteen said.

"That's true, but I just used a mind control technique on a shopkeeper selling books in this city. I learned from him that all books on the island are strictly prohibited from showing the main river courses on maps. And this order was issued by the Holy Lord, namely Gongshu Hong himself, obviously to conceal something," Han Li continued.

"This..." Jiao Thirteen was speechless.

"Although I don't know why this Red Moon Island Lord wants to do this, judging from the distribution of the rivers that have been drawn, all the waterways converge here." Han Li pointed to a city on the map.

That place was the Red Moon City of Kunzhou.

"These are just speculations. Can you be sure that Gongshu Hong is there?" Jiao Twenty-five also questioned.

"I certainly can't be sure, but instead of searching aimlessly, it's better to go there and take a look first. The possibility is always higher," Han Li said slowly.

Jiao Twenty-five's lips moved, as if wanting to refute, but he couldn't find any words to do so.

"That makes sense! Friend Jiao Fifteen, thanks to you for discovering this, otherwise we would still be at a loss." Jiao Nine laughed heartily and clapped his hands.

After working together, he always felt overwhelmed by Jiao Eight, but now he finally felt proud and happy.

"That's right. If we really searched through all twenty-odd Red Moon Cities, Gongshu Hong would probably get the news early and hide somewhere we don't know!" Jiao Sixteen also said with some self-satisfaction.

"You're too kind. It was just a chance discovery," Han Li said modestly with a smile.

"Friend Jiao Fifteen's deduction is very reasonable. Then let's go to Kunzhou." Jiao Eight hesitated for a moment, then chuckled.

...

A few days later, one night.

In the central part of Red Moon Island, above a vast plain, two thick beams of light tore through the night sky and landed on the edge of a forest below.

The light dissipated, revealing two strangely shaped flying boats. Six or seven figures walked down from them, each wearing a bizarre animal mask. It was Han Li and the others.

"Kunzhou Red Moon City is ahead. It looks like a pilgrimage ceremony is also underway in the city," Jiao Eight said, pointing to the night sky in the distance.

Han Li followed the direction he was pointing and saw a huge city brightly lit in the darkness ten miles away.

The city was lit everywhere with crimson lights, and the light reflected on the clouds in the night sky, dyeing it blood red, which looked quite strange.

The entire city was still shrouded in a layer of blue enchantment, but under the illumination of the lights, the color changed slightly, appearing faintly dark red.

"This city is quite large. It seems that it may really be Gongshu Hong's lair," Jiao Nine said slowly, his eyes flashing.

"Time is of the essence. Let's enter the city first. As before, everyone should avoid using your spiritual sense on a large scale after entering the city," Jiao Eight said.

Faced with his words commanding everyone, Jiao Nine naturally chose to ignore them, while the others nodded silently without saying anything.

A moment later, everyone changed their appearances with masks, put on night-walking black cloaks, and silently headed towards Red Moon City.

At this time, the four gates of Kunzhou Red Moon City were wide open. Both sides of the main roads leading to the central square were hung with red lanterns, illuminating the entire city.

Outside the four city gates, there were still thousands of pedestrians rushing into the city. They were all pilgrims coming to participate in the Red Moon City's pilgrimage, but they were a little late for various reasons.

Han Li and the others split into two groups and mixed in with these people, entering Red Moon City through the city gate.

Han Li and Jiao Nine entered the city through the south gate and followed the crowd towards the center of the city.

The atmosphere in the city seemed somewhat solemn, and the pedestrians around were also very quiet. They all crossed their hands and held them in front of their chests, silently heading towards the center of the city along the street.

The closer they got to the center of the city, the more they heard a strange chanting sound, continuously rushing into their ears like the waves hitting the shore, echoing with a special sense of rhythm.

At this moment, the huge square in the center of the city and the nearby main roads were already crowded with millions of people. Han Li and the others were blocked outside by the dense crowd in the middle of the south street.

Han Li and his companions, like mud fish, slowly pushed through the crowd, struggling to get to the center of the square, often provoking angry stares from the people around them.

However, since most of the people here were just mortals and were busy chanting prayers, no one really bothered with them. They were forced to squeeze to the square bit by bit, though they were still not in the center, but they were already very close.

Han Li was already tall, and standing in the crowd, he could see the huge statue more than a hundred feet tall standing in the center of the square with a slight lift of his head.

Whether because of the material itself or because of the surrounding lights, the statue appeared blood red, which seemed a little strange.

In front of the statue, in the void near its chest, there were also seven figures floating. They were all wearing dark blue silk robes with a blood-colored crescent moon pattern embroidered on their chests.

Under the illumination of the surrounding light and the backdrop of the statue behind, these figures standing in the air seemed like gods, exuding a strange aura.

However, in fact, the cultivation of these people was not very high. Except for the kind-looking white-haired old man in the middle, who was a Late-Stage Grand Ascension cultivator, the rest were only Body Integration stage.

However, for the cultivators and ordinary mortals below, whose cultivation was at most Core Formation stage, they were supreme gods.

Like all the common people, these seven people were also slightly nodding their heads and chanting prayers in low voices with extremely devout expressions.

As Han Li was looking at the people above, Jiao Sixteen's voice suddenly rang in his heart: "Do you think we should take these people down first?"

He looked back and saw Jiao Nine also looking at him with a pensive expression, seeming a little hesitant.

But just then, the crescent moon in the sky had slowly moved to the middle of the sky, and the surrounding chanting gradually subsided.

The kind-looking old man in the air slowly straightened his body, looked across the square like a secular official inspecting the people, and slowly said:

"The Holy Lord bestows grace and benefits all living beings. Your sincerity is commendable and you should enjoy the glory of the chosen ones. The 'Jiazi Selection' is about to begin. Please pray to the Holy Lord with a sincere heart."

As soon as his voice fell, there was a roar of cheers in the crowd.

But after a moment, it became quiet again. Everyone nodded slightly, with expectant expressions on their faces, and clasped their hands in front of them in a gesture of prayer.

Han Li and the others were confused, so they had to follow suit.

At this moment, the square suddenly trembled slightly, as if some ancient formation had been activated, and a very strange aura rose around it.

Han Li lowered his head slightly, and a blue light flashed in his eyes, looking towards the ground through the gaps in the crowd.

He saw that on the ground paved with white stones, complex patterns invisible to the naked eye suddenly lit up, crisscrossing each other densely and extending in all directions.

With a "buzz" sound.

On the entire square, hundreds of crimson pillars of light suddenly rose from the ground, enveloping each Red Moon Islander.

Han Li's eyes swept over, and he was immediately surprised.

He saw that those people not only had no panic on their faces, but instead each showed a look of ecstasy. Some even cried with joy, constantly wiping away their tears.

And the people around them, if there were any acquaintances, also showed joy. Even those who did not know them were full of envy, even with a hint of jealousy.

Han Li looked back at Jiao Nine and the others in astonishment, and saw that they were also full of doubts, obviously also a little confused.

After all, what they saw and heard here had not happened in the previous Red Moon Cities.

Han Li pondered slightly, as if suddenly remembering something, his eyebrows suddenly raised, and he transmitted his voice to the two of them:

"Could it be that these people are the ones chosen by the Holy Lord to stay?"

"It should be... Following these people, we may be able to find the news of the Red Moon Island Lord. I just don't know where these people have been taken?" Jiao Nine pondered for a moment and said via voice transmission.

Han Li smiled and replied, "That's easy to handle. I don't know if you've noticed, although there are men, women, old and young among the people who were teleported away, and it seems that there is no pattern, but in fact it is not."