(Another one has fallen! Lift him up, everyone—don't let him go down! We've broken free!) Guanggui City is located in the southernmost part of Ran Prefecture. Though modest in size with only a population of several hundred thousand—just one-fifth that of the largest city, Jiyuan—it's nestled between mountains on three sides and a lake on one, offering a pleasant environment that makes it a favored retreat for the wealthy and affluent. Moreover, the city is renowned for several rare fruits grown locally, which are not found elsewhere, thus earning it a solid reputation. To the west of Guanggui City lies Ta南山, a mountain standing over three thousand meters high, perpetually shrouded in mist and ranking as the fourth tallest mountain in Ran Prefecture. At its summit stands a small temple—the Ta Nan Temple—known for its exceptionally accurate divination and fortune-telling services. As a result, many high-ranking officials and dignitaries make the journey annually to offer prayers and make generous donations of incense and oil funds, ensuring a steady stream of offerings and establishing the temple's reputation far and wide. Meanwhile, in a grove beneath the foot of Taishan Mountain, a man sat cross-legged beneath a dense, towering tree, holding a glowing red object in his hands, rolling it continuously back and forth against his dantian. Suddenly, his body trembled, and he emitted a low exhalation. The red glow on the object dimmed significantly, revealing its true form—a fine, high-quality jade of a deep green hue. This jade was not only pure and flawless but also subtly radiated a few threads of red light within its depths, immediately signaling its exceptional value and non-ordinary nature. The man gently removed the jade from his abdomen and then raised his head to gaze at the sky, revealing a plain young man’s face—none other than Han Li, who had vanished from Ji Yuan City. With his head lowered, Han Li looked at the jade in his hands and beamed with satisfaction. Since receiving the Warm Sun Jade, he had continuously expelled the cold toxins within his body along the way. It had taken him nearly a month, and only today had he finally completely eradicated them—no easy feat. Moreover, the sharp, itchy sensation that penetrated to his bones when the poison was being expelled proved particularly painful for Han Li, and even now, when he reflects upon it, he still feels shaken. However, this Warm Sun Jade truly is a rare treasure—it has the remarkable ability to absorb and store his own spiritual energy, enabling it to expel the poison much more efficiently and effectively. Otherwise, without this discovery, he would have needed another ten days to fully eliminate the poison from his body. Thinking of this, Han Li placed the jade into a wooden chest beside him and then carefully tucked it close to his body. Afterwards, Han Li stood up, gently stretching his slightly stiff limbs, and recalled the experiences he had over the past two months. The day after he had arranged everything, he had gone to Mo's estate, where he obtained intelligence from Yin Shi regarding the exclusive control of the Mountain Estate and the situation of Ouyang Feitian. Riding a fine steed provided by Mo's estate, he traveled nonstop, eventually reaching the Mountain Estate within just ten days. After several days of persistent probing and infiltration, Han Li seized a favorable opportunity when Ou Yang Feitian was alone, enjoying the moonlight. Seizing the moment, he summoned all his treasures and activated the sword seal, instantly severing Ou Yang Feitian's head and ending his life. The entire process unfolded remarkably smoothly and effortlessly, with no ripple of disturbance at all—so seamless that Han Li initially doubted whether the man he had killed might not have been an impostor. Only after examining several unique injuries and birthmarks specific to Ou Yang Feitian did Han Li confirm that the killing had been accurate. With this assurance, he respectfully carried Ou Yang Feitian's head back to Jia Yuan City. Upon returning to the Mo Mansion and presenting the head to the Yan family for inspection, Han Li learned from Ou Yang Feitian that he had mastered the most advanced horizontal training technique in the martial world—the "Tiger-Blood Armor," which had rendered his body impervious to blades and spears. Even the most refined, sharp-edged weapons were unable to penetrate his defenses. Yet, Han Li had managed to decapitate him in a single stroke. Han Li only then realized that Ou Yang Feitian probably regarded his sword seal as some kind of projectile technique, hence he had failed to dodge and had thus been easily caught. After that, the matter became straightforward. Once Yan's party confirmed the head, they immediately produced the jade and exchanged it with Han Li for the antidote. Upon receiving the jade, Han Li declined Yan's persistent attempts to keep him, showing no interest in further social engagements with the Mo family or others, and promptly set off again from Jia Yuan City toward Ta Nan Mountain. Thus, upon arriving at Taishan Mountain, Han Li began to inquire among the villagers of nearby hamlets about the mountain's odd tales and strange occurrences. To his surprise, he soon uncovered some intriguing patterns. The villagers recounted that on the northern slope of Taishan Mountain, there exists a particularly mysterious hill, perpetually shrouded in dense white mist that renders visibility impossible. While misty conditions on Taishan Mountain are not uncommon, such a consistently thick, year-round mist covering a hill is indeed remarkable. Some braver villagers had ventured into this area several times, only to find themselves gradually lost in the fog—yet, after some time, they would invariably emerge without realizing it, returning to their original starting point, which was astonishing. Given that no significant incidents occurred during these visits, the phenomenon remained enigmatic, prompting many villagers to continue exploring the hill with growing enthusiasm, eager to unravel its mystery. Yet it seemed that the villagers' actions had angered the mist on the slopes. From that day on, any villager entering the strange slope no longer emerged immediately from the mist, but remained trapped for two or three days, growing weak from hunger before finally stepping out. As a result, few dared to venture into the slope anymore. Eventually, the villagers grew accustomed to it, treating it as a mere commonplace. Upon learning this, Han Li felt greatly relieved. He realized that the strange slope was likely the very place he had been seeking. Even if it were not the Tai Nan Valley itself, it surely belonged to another group of cultivators. What brought him even greater joy was that, according to the villagers' accounts, the inhabitants of this place were not particularly harsh or cruel—far from being those who immediately dealt out deadly measures upon meeting them. This suggested ample potential for friendly relations. Even so, Han Li was not planning to simply go visit; instead, he remained within the forest, intending to eliminate all the hidden ailments within himself before going to make the official visit in the best possible condition, so that should anything go wrong, he would have a better chance of escaping. As this thought came to him, Han Li decided to go to the village where he had taken up residence, have a meal, rest overnight, and then make his formal visit to the strange slope the next day. Thus, Han Li stepped out of the forest and headed toward the nearby village. As soon as he entered the village, he noticed a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy dressed in white standing at the village entrance, gesturing and speaking animatedly with several villagers. Han Li was momentarily surprised—any outsider appearing here was likely no ordinary person—and naturally used his celestial vision to observe him. Upon seeing him, Han Li was filled with joy: indeed, the boy radiated a gentle glow, only slightly dimmer than his own, confirming that this young man was truly a cultivator. The young man far off seemed to sense someone watching him. He turned around and looked at Han Li, instantly brightening upon seeing him, then hurried over with eager strides. "Brother, are you also coming to Tainan Valley? I met you at Wan Family Manor on Kuayi Mountain—Wan Xiaoshan, at that! Shall we go together to visit the respective clans?" The young man was out of breath, still gasping as he spoke, eager to get his words out before he could catch his breath. Han Li, now having a clear view of the young man's features, noticed his refined appearance—clear eyebrows, fair complexion, and the poised demeanor of a well-bred noble youth. "Of course, that would be wonderful. But do you know where Tainan Valley is located?" Han Li calmly replied upon hearing the young man's suggestion. "Heh! I only know from my family that Tainan Valley lies to the north of Taishan Mountain, its entrance always veiled by mist. As for the exact location, I'm not sure. I asked several villagers, but they couldn't tell me either! Still, I'm certain you must know, Brother." The young man blushed slightly, rubbing his head, and then looked at Han Li with hopeful eyes. "Have you never traveled far from home before?" Han Li listened carefully, suppressing a smile and asking gently. "Indeed, I've never been this far from home before," the young man nodded, a bit shy. "Very well, then—follow me. I'll show you around." Han Li had originally been uncertain whether the strange slope was indeed the Tai Nan Valley he was seeking, but now, hearing the young man's words, he felt confident. "That's wonderful! Now I can truly experience everything!" The young man's excitement grew at Han Li's words. Seeing the young man's enthusiasm, Han Li smiled faintly—this was also a good opportunity to gather information about the young man and learn more about the cultivators. "What would you like to see in Tai Nan Valley?" Han Li walked slowly toward the slope, a place he had explored several times in secret and knew well. "There are simply too many people there—both to see the spells and secret techniques from other families and schools, and to exchange items that I particularly like." The young man said casually. "Oh!" Han Li responded softly. Yet in his heart, a sense of doubt arose. It seemed from the way the young man spoke that there were already many cultivators gathered in the southern valley—wasn't there something significant about to happen? Han Li felt increasingly uneasy.