Han Li had finally reached the outer edge of the central district after a half-day's journey. To his surprise, he had encountered no further sniper attacks along the way. Naturally, he was unaware that those who had arrived earlier than him had already been wiped out by the so-called "elite" forces, while those behind him had been systematically eliminated by the newly arrived Yue and Duobao. As a result, although a few survivors remained, they now realized their chances of securing the treasure were slim and had all taken refuge in concealed spots, retreating like turtles. This was the established survival strategy of the weaker contestants during the Blood Trial. Han Li, determined to obtain the Three-Flavor Foundation Pills, naturally did not follow this approach. At this moment, he stood before a stone wall several zhang high, gazing at it with a look of unusual curiosity. Not far from this stone wall lies an elegant bronze gate, inscribed with numerous ancient characters that resemble ornamental patterns—many of which Han Li simply cannot read. The gate is currently open, indicating that someone has already entered through it. According to Han Li's mental records, such bronze gates should total four, each aligned with one of the four cardinal directions and serving as the sole access points to the central area. All other regions are enclosed within seemingly modest stone walls. Should any visitor wish to bypass the gates and instead leap directly from the walls into the central zone, they would surely meet with disaster—being sliced into fragments by wind-based sealing spells that cling to the walls. Han Li certainly knows this, and thus naturally avoids the imprudent idea of passing over the walls. His unusual habit of closely observing the walls stems entirely from the fact that this particular wall is indeed distinct—bearing certain features absent in ordinary walls. On this wall, three individuals dressed differently are fastened side by side in a large, upright formation, their limbs pierced through by thick, sturdy ice spears. Their breath has long since ceased—fully dead. Blood seeping from the wounds in their limbs has coagulated into a dark purple-black solid, spreading from the wall to the nearby ground, forming a thick, pervasive layer. Han Li deduced that when they were pinned to the wall, they likely still had breath, but eventually succumbed to excessive blood loss—truly a tragic death on the wall. Near the three corpses, no traces or marks remain. Yet with a little thought, anyone could see it clearly: this was a deliberate display—someone killing chickens for monkeys to watch, asserting authority to future visitors, warning them not to enter this gate again! Han Li studied the expressions of suffering on the three figures' faces with great care, then gently licked his slightly dry, cracked lips before walking steadily toward the bronze door, as if the tragic fate of these three had made no impression at all on him. In fact, Han Li himself knew well what was going on—after witnessing that scene, he truly felt a flutter of unease in his heart! From the manner in which the three had died, it was clear that the person who had orchestrated this was likely someone psychologically somewhat twisted. If such a person were to take him, it would probably be wiser to commit suicide rather than endure the ordeal. Nevertheless, Han Li had already arrived at this place, and thus could not possibly flee in fear of such a mere intimidation. Even if the path ahead were truly a mountain of blades and a sea of flames, he would still press on with determination. Thus, Han Li entered the gate with a full heart of uncertainties and anxieties, yet on the surface, he remained calm and composed—so serene and unhurried, as though strolling through the backyard of his own home. As soon as he stepped inside, a scene of a fairyland filled with birdsong and blossoms unfolded before him, with all kinds of rare flowers and strange trees, many of whose names he could not even identify. A silver flower the size of a bowl, a strange tree with a deep crimson hue like blood, a purple herb emitting a rare fragrance, and yellow bamboo as thick as a human waist—these are all rare treasures seldom seen beyond this realm. Among these precious plants and trees, there lies a winding, uneven path of stones stretching from where Han Li stands, all the way to the distant horizon veiled by foliage, seemingly without an end. "This man paid no attention to Han Li's questions, instead muttering to himself in an odd tone. At the same time, two green silhouettes suddenly burst from the flowerbed on one side, silently advancing toward Han Li's back. Though facing away from them, Han Li, who had been on the alert, could not miss their approach. His expression darkened, yet his upper body remained still—his entire body subtly shifted several feet to the side, allowing the two green forms to glide past him one after the other. In haste, Han Li glanced at the figures, which were slender, straight, and resembled chopsticks, entirely green with faint black streaks—quite unusual in appearance. Nevertheless, in the midst of his flurry, Han Li didn't pause to ponder further. Even though he had easily defused the attack, he maintained a serious demeanor, unwilling to let his guard slip. The grim condition of the three figures outside still fresh in his memory—he did not wish to meet the same fate. Thus, Han Li, frowning, his eyes darting constantly around, searched intently for the hidden enemies on the side. But at that moment, a strange, hissing sound suddenly emerged from the man's mouth, deeply unsettling to the listeners. Han Li was momentarily startled, just as he began to ponder the man's intentions, when his face suddenly turned pale and he was unexpectedly hurled backward—this time, he flew several feet before coming to a stop. It was the two green silhouettes that had just drifted a short distance away from Han Li that caused this dramatic reaction. These figures, which had been positioned not far ahead of Han Li, suddenly twisted and moved fluidly, and simultaneously unfurled a pair of pale, semi-transparent green wings. They were indeed two winged serpents—though when they had first attacked Han Li, their bodies had remained taut and rigid, leading Han Li to mistakenly believe them to be lifeless. Now, with a gentle flick of their wings, they executed a sharp 180-degree turn, moving with such speed that it rivaled even Han Li's own Luo Yan Steps. How could Han Li fail to take this development seriously? Now these two flying serpents arch their heads, their four small green eyes glowing with a cold, piercing chill, their jaws clenched and ready to launch another assault upon Han Li. "Boy, you're certainly swift! But no matter how fast you run, can you outpace these two wild mountain flying serpents? Or shall you simply stay put and let my serpents bite you—then you'll feel nothing at all!" The voice, though slightly surprised by Han Li's speed, speaks with confident scorn, clearly believing in his own serpents' prowess. "Stuff it!" These words are muttered deep within Han Li's heart, yet remain unspoken. He is not hesitant to voice them—he simply cannot, for the two strange serpents have already transformed into two streaks of green light, surging forward with several faint afterimages. On the way, they suddenly split in two, each independently tracing a circular arc and now advancing from either side to encircle Han Li. Han Li, seeing this, naturally no longer bothered with words—aside from silently cursing under his breath—he moved backward with a speed that did not lag behind the green shadow at all. In a matter of moments, he and the green shadow spun several times around the small space, never pausing a single moment on his feet. At this point, he was relying solely on the magical boots on his feet to propel himself forward; neither the Luo Yan Step nor the Wind Riding Technique had been employed yet. This was not due to Han Li's overconfidence or underestimation of his opponent, but rather because of the two intense battles he had just endured, coupled with the extreme training he had received when first acquiring these boots, which had yet to fully restore his stamina. Thus, unless it came to a matter of life and death, Han Li was unwilling to summon the more physically taxing Luo Yan Step. As for the Wind Riding Technique, once he already had the magical boots providing support, adding the extra speed of the technique would place excessive strain on his body, making it counterproductive to his recovery. Of course, Han Li would not allow the two flying serpents to keep pursuing and纠缠 him. Though he dared not casually summon a protective aura to slow his own movements and test which was stronger—the aura or the monstrous serpent—his arsenal of techniques capable of dispatching even two smaller serpents was plentiful. Yet, just now, he had devoted most of his attention to the flying serpent’s master, who had remained hidden on the side and never emerged, thus allowing those two long-bodied creatures to persist all the way until now. Now, seeing that the latter seemed resolute in relying entirely on these two flying serpents to defeat him, Han Li naturally had no intention of being courteous any longer. The two serpents paused momentarily, then reversed course and retreated along their original path, vanishing into the foliage.