(Everyone's voting for us—please keep supporting us! We really need the votes right now!) Han Li found himself quite moved. He was well aware that on the path of cultivation, having a clear and insightful master to guide one would absolutely make a significant difference, helping avoid many detours and greatly benefiting one's progress. Yet, at the same time, Master Li was no easy person to please. He had many secrets of his own, and as their interactions grew longer, he would surely uncover inconsistencies. Once questioned, Han Li knew he would be setting himself up for certain doom. Moreover, based on the advice he had already given, Master Li was clearly not someone who would emphasize the bonds of master-student loyalty. He might very well resort to a case of strong competition—where the stronger claim the treasure and eliminate the weaker. Han Li’s initial enthusiasm settled into cautiousness after this careful reflection. The other disciples from Huang Feng Valley, however, had no such concerns—each one eager and animated, with high morale. They were no longer fighting merely for survival; now they were also striving for their own futures. Han subconsciously glanced at Chen sister, noticing her flushed cheeks, tightly clenched fists, and sparkling eyes, clearly resolute. Taking a deep breath, Han no longer bothered with the others in Huang Feng Valley and simply turned his gaze toward Qing Xu Gate. There, the Taoist was speaking passionately to his disciples, occasionally gesturing with animated expressions that prompted waves of cheers from the younger ones, all of whom appeared enthusiastic and fully engaged—clearly thoroughly convinced. Of course, a few elder Taoists remained calm and unmoved throughout. Han found this quite interesting, fully immersed in the scene, when suddenly someone shouted out. "Look! The Yun Yue Sect members have arrived—there's the Tian Yue Divine Vessel!" Han was startled by this, immediately turning his gaze toward the sky. A bright white light emerged on the horizon and gradually approached. It moved with incredible speed, and soon it reached the lofty peaks of the desolate mountain. There, a vast ship carved entirely of jade gleamed, its outer walls adorned with golden lacquered dragons and phoenixes, opulent beyond measure. A large, luminous white dome enveloped the vessel. On board, a group of white-robed figures—equal numbers of men and women—stood in quiet formation. At the forefront was a captivating young woman dressed in a graceful lady's attire, whose every movement exuded charm and elegance, deeply stirring the hearts of all present. The disciples of Yan Yue Sect had just been assessed. Though clearly superior to their two rival sects' disciples, they didn't seem to boast so boldly! The young woman with her graceful, inquisitive gaze asked a few questions. Upon hearing the details of their wager, she broke into a radiant smile—so warm and charming that her blossoms seemed to tremble, captivating everyone's hearts. That delicate charm left many young male disciples from the three sects spellbound, their eyes wide and their mouths nearly filled with saliva. Yet Li Shenzu and his companion, completely absorbed in their own thoughts, found themselves suddenly uneasy upon seeing the young woman's appearance. A sense of being outwitted settled over them, and their expressions grew pained. Could it be that Yan Yue Sect truly possessed a decisive strength capable of simultaneously outperforming both of their sects? Though deeply frustrated, they were reluctant to approach the young woman to inquire further. As for the young woman herself—the Nishang Immortal—she naturally remained composed, pretending not to know, and instead began to engage in conversation, sharing other delightful anecdotes. Han Li and the other male disciples from Huangfeng Valley had already turned their attention toward the new group of female disciples. They had long heard that the Yan Yue Sect emphasized a dual-attainment system, recruiting at least half female disciples, and refusing to admit any whose appearance fell short. Now, upon closer inspection, they were indeed impressed—these women were all charming and beautiful, radiating grace and elegance. The male disciples found themselves drooling, their imaginations stirred. Han Li fared better; though initially overwhelmed, he managed to steady himself with his strong determination, quickly calming his mind and settling into focus. At this point, he noticed that the female disciples of the Yan Yue Sect seemed accustomed to being watched by so many at once, maintaining their composure and chatting freely, some even casting flirtatious glances at those observing them, causing the latter to feel weak-kneed and bewildered. In contrast, the male disciples reacted sharply, glaring at one another with growing irritation, especially at the young women beside them, and often wishing to return their gaze to every single observer. Han Li smiled slightly. With a glance at the pairs of young men and women standing together, he could clearly see that even if they were not truly in a romantic relationship, they had been deliberately paired during their training exercises. That was why the young male disciples were so furious—they must have already regarded their neighbors as their personal property, even though the female disciples might not have felt the same. Han Li noticed that the male disciples who were glaring back at them were not only from Huang Feng Valley; there were also several from Qing Xu Sect. Curious, he turned his gaze and saw that the young, vigorous Taoist priests were frequently glancing at the young women, then quickly averting their eyes, as if afraid someone would notice, appearing quite shy and embarrassed. Han Li had to suppress his amusement, afraid of breaking into laughter. He couldn’t help but feel, perhaps due to his own impression, that the female disciples of Yan Yue Sect were showing more flirtatious glances toward the young Taoist priests than those from Huang Feng Valley. This observation left him speechless for a while. But upon reflection, Han Li felt a sudden chill in his heart. These disciples had come to the sacred grounds not to chat and flirt, but to fight for their lives in a battle of survival. If the young disciples from various sects encountered female disciples from Yan Yue Sect, they would likely lose three out of every ten points before even beginning the fight—directly confronting such graceful and poised young women with firm resolve was no easy feat for most. What puzzled Han Li even more was that the disciples from Yan Yue Sect were remarkably young, regardless of gender—there was not a single elder among them. This was truly unusual. He simply could not believe that these individuals were ageless, immortal beings who had maintained youthful appearances over time. Observing their carefree and lively demeanor, he concluded they were no older than their twenties, showing absolutely no signs of maturity. Yet, the Blood-Colored Trial was famously a journey to certain death—how could so many young disciples willingly choose to meet such a fate? Even if there were, it couldn't be that every pair was perfectly matched—his (her) emotions were deep enough to be willing to face life and death together. Han Li simply wouldn't believe it. Huang Fenggu and Qing Xu Sect both had several elders among their ranks. These elders, nearing the end of their lives, wouldn't survive much longer even if they didn't join this journey to the sacred realm. Thus, they hoped to make one final effort. Should they succeed in securing the Foundation Pill and, by luck, reach the Foundation Stage, they would be completely transformed. Though they had little hope of advancing to the Consolidation Stage, merely living an additional hundred years would be a great gain. While such elders joining the Blood-Colored Trial were not numerous, combined from both sects, there were still seven or eight of them. Yet, the Yan Yue Sect had none—this indeed seemed rather strange to Han Li. Master Li and the Daoist priest seemed to have also noticed something amiss. Their expressions grew even more serious. Though they still spoke with the Niyang Immortal of the Yan Yue Sect, their distracted demeanor was unmistakable. Not long after, the remaining four sects arrived one after another. The ones that left the deepest impression on Han Li were the members of Ju Jian Sect and Ling Shou Mountain. All the members of Ju Jian Sect were men, dressed in black robes, each carrying a towering, unsheathed giant sword that reached their height, their expressions cold and stern, radiating an intense aura of martial vigor. In contrast, the members of Ling Shou Mountain wore colorful, flamboyant garments, and carried numerous pouches and pockets full of various items—many of which seemed to contain living creatures that subtly moved and pulsed within, causing the disciples from other sects to feel uneasy and even intimidated. The members of Hua Dao Works and Tian Que Fort, while differing in attire, appeared relatively normal to Han Li, much like the disciples from Huang Feng Valley—many of them were engaged in quiet conversations or displaying visible nervousness.