(Strongly recommended—don't forget to vote!) After taking a good look at the two faces, Han Li quietly sighed. To his surprise, they were two disciples just like himself, both with only the eleventh level of cultivation. One appeared elderly, yet his eyes carried a hint of cunning; the other was straightforward and earnest, clearly a young, inexperienced newcomer. Such an unusual pairing coming to him was truly unexpected. However, after a moment's thought, Han Li had already begun to sense the purpose behind their visit. "Senior brothers, is there something I can assist with?" Han Li politely asked, yet his tone remained cold and distant, clearly conveying his reluctance to engage. He hoped this would make them aware of the difficulty and gently push them away. Clearly, the senior brother's composure surpassed Han Li's expectations. Not only did he not mind Han Li's somewhat distant tone, but he warmed up immediately, speaking with genuine enthusiasm: "Hehe, I'm curious—does Han Li have any suggestions for our journey to the sealed sanctuary tomorrow?" After all, we three are the least powerful among the group—there's a good chance we'll engage in a fierce battle with them, and it might very well be us who fall first! Why not gather together and discuss a strategy as a team? That way, we'd be safer and have a much better chance of survival. As for me, I've already sensed the intent behind this suggestion. It seems this seasoned diplomat intends to rally several less powerful disciples, uniting them under a common cause so that they can fight side by side. This would certainly enhance their safety and survival odds. Yet, I'm well aware that this approach comes with both advantages and drawbacks. With everyone gathered in one place, the search area shrinks significantly, resulting in a scarcity of discovered medicinal herbs. Even if some herbs are found, it remains uncertain who will ultimately claim ownership—most likely, it will come down to who holds the strongest power. Han Li naturally had no interest in such an alliance; at best, he would gain no benefit, and at worst, he might well be treated as a expendable asset. As for this seasoned old player, he probably harbored no sincere intentions—his strategy would surely be to navigate through the chaos, seizing opportunities as they arose. Upon seeing that Han Li remained silent after his speech, the elder grew increasingly anxious and, unable to contain himself, added, "I actually have a plan—wouldn't mind if you'd like to hear it. It's certain to ensure everyone's safe passage!" The elder adopted a lofty, enigmatic air, his face full of mystery, his forehead creased so tightly that the lines converged into a single cluster, leaving Han Li both exasperated and amused. Meanwhile, the young man with the yellow hair seemed deeply impressed by the elder, though he said nothing, consistently displaying a clear deference, as if following the elder's lead. Since he would never join the other's alliance, Han Li had no intention of further entanglement and simply declined with clear determination: "I'm sorry, but I've never been comfortable working alongside others, and this time I have no such plans. If Brother Xiang wishes to form an alliance, he should look elsewhere among his fellow disciples." Han Li spoke frankly and clearly. He knew that only by demonstrating he was no novice could he fully reassure the other and end the persistent interest. Otherwise, with so few fellow disciples here, as soon as Brother Xiang perceived even a slight possibility, he would inevitably pursue the same individual relentlessly. Han Li certainly didn't want to be bothered by him indefinitely. Upon hearing this, the elder named Xiang realized he had mistaken his target. Though the man appeared young, his words were seasoned and composed—clearly someone experienced and weathered. Without further words, he sighed slightly and departed. The direction they took was precisely where another disciple was meditating on the rocks. Han Li gave a slight smile, turned his body back, and resumed observing the several disciples of particular interest. This time, however, he noticed "Chen Sister" standing together with another ordinary-looking woman, while a few young and promising disciples gathered nearby, seemingly eager to impress. Han Li's lips twitched a few times as he gazed at them—unaccountably, he found himself increasingly uncomfortable with their presence. In the end, he simply decided to avoid them altogether, seeking out a quiet spot where he could close his eyes and meditate. Thus, by the morning of the next day, all the disciples had gathered once again on the mountain summit, standing in orderly rows, awaiting the arrival of the other immortal sects. What troubled Han Li most was that, seemingly by coincidence, when arranging the standing order, "Chen Sister" ended up right beside him on his right side. The familiar womanly scent emanating from her constantly drifted into his nostrils, making him feel increasingly distracted and dreamy—almost as if he were back to that very alluring night. To mask the discomfort on his face, Han Li was forced to lower his head, pretending to be nervous and uneasy. Yet, deep down, he was deeply frustrated with himself—after all, she was merely a pretty woman—and yet she had managed to make him so visibly ungraceful. Nevertheless, Han Li greatly admired the elder Li, who stood at the very front. The way she maintained her posture, completely still and motionless for such a long time, was truly impressive—whether she was lost in thought or simply daydreaming, he couldn't tell. Suddenly, Han Li felt a wave of commotion ripple through the crowd, as though something significant had just occurred. Unable to contain himself, he raised his head. All the fellow disciples were tilting their heads, gazing toward one side of the sky. Han Li followed their gaze. There, in the azure sky, a few star-like glimmers appeared, gradually growing brighter, and soon a series of dark spots emerged. Below these dark spots, silver light shimmered, as though the dark spots were riding upon these streaks of starlight, arriving from beyond the heavens. Witnessing this marvel, the crowd grew even more agitated. "Be quiet! What have you all done? This is Qingxu Sect's flying vehicle—the Xuehong Ling! Don't be so startled—don't let our Huangfeng Valley lose face!" A middle-aged manager with short, thick limbs turned sharply and reprimanded them. His words immediately calmed the crowd, though occasional murmurs still lingered. Now, the dark spots had become clearly visible—each one was a cultivator dressed in gray robes, most of them genuine Daoists, holding fans and with their heads wrapped in Daoist braids. But a few of them wore only simple robes, the rest of their attire entirely worldly, clearly laymen who had not taken monastic vows. When Han Li and the others observed closely, they noticed that the stars beneath their feet formed a luminous, flawless white arch bridge, dotted with sparkling silvery points, radiating a brilliant glow—its contents seemed to be embedded with some unknown substance. As Han Li was carefully gazing at it, the white arch bridge suddenly carried the members of Qingxu Sect down and settled directly opposite the people of Huangfeng Valley. The leading middle-aged Taoist gently waved his hand, and with a flash of white light, the arch bridge formed from the Snow-Horse Silk vanished, leaving behind a piece of embroidered fabric in his hands. "I didn't expect this time to be once again led by Master Li," said the Taoist, approaching Li's senior master with a warm smile. "It seems we've known each other for some time, judging by your tone." "Hmph! You, a humble old Taoist, can come—then why can't I?" Li's senior master replied, crossing his arms with a touch of impatience. "Hehe, within our respective sects, you and I have been the last to reach the Jiandan stage. So this running errands work—we simply can't leave it to anyone else!" The Taoist didn't seem at all concerned, merely甩ing his fan, his smile remaining unchanged. "You, with your clever tricks—last time you really got me into trouble. This time, don't think you'll pull the same stunt again!" "Master Li, what could be more natural than accepting the outcome of a fair bet? How could anyone say one has tricked the other?" The Taoist chuckled. Upon hearing this, Master Li's eyes flashed with frost, as if he were about to grow angry—yet then he recalled something, and his demeanor softened. With a lingering sense of resentment, he said: "I refined a piece of iron essence over the course of a dozen years, and infused it into your Qingjun sword—now it's even more powerful! For all that effort, I only managed to produce such a modest piece, and you, the clever Taoist, have benefited greatly!" His tone carried clear traces of bitterness, revealing deep concern for that small iron essence. "Ah, now I see—Master Li, the renowned Well, this time I've brought something even superior to that iron essence. As long as we win this round, it will fully compensate for your previous loss," the Taoist said, smiling gently while stroking his beard.