The other two cultivators flew off swiftly, far away, while the sturdy man mounted on the giant tiger remained motionless, watching them go with a cold, unyielding gaze—showing not the slightest intention to pursue. Han Li, hidden among the clouds, found this rather strange. Given the cold, resolute demeanor he had just displayed, one would have thought he would not simply let them go unharmed. Was there perhaps another plan in store? As Han Li was still pondering this, a sudden voice of calm authority came from below: "Sir, having watched this scene unfold for so long—have you finally reached the moment when you can reap the benefits? Is it now your turn to act?" Han Li was startled. "Could it be that, despite my lofty vantage point, he has already spotted me?" With this thought, he cleared his throat and felt his heart race. After having witnessed the prowess of these mechanical puppets, Han Li certainly did not wish to meet the same fate as the other cultivators—being precisely struck by the giant tiger's attacks while suspended in the air. That super luminous beam was moving so fast and its power so astonishing! According to Han Li's own estimation, if he faced it directly, he would have to constantly maneuver his divine wind vessel to evade it—otherwise, he simply couldn't safely avoid the massive beam's assault. After a brief thought, Han Li immediately resolved to swiftly retreat from the sky, hoping to avoid a fatal encounter. But upon observing the actions of the sturdy man once more, this resolve vanished instantly. The puppets surrounding the sturdy man had turned their weapons—not toward Han Li's lofty position in the sky—but diagonally toward a small hillock nearby. Han Li was so surprised he nearly bit his own tongue! There appeared to be a third person here, someone he had completely overlooked. A rustling sound of soil shifting followed, and indeed, a person emerged from the hillock—none other than the strange man who had previously faced off directly against the sturdy man. "It's you!" Han Li exclaimed. "Who exactly are you?" "It seems you know something about the secret of these two puppet beasts!" The sturdy man stared at the odd figure with icy, fierce eyes. "Huang Long, it's been years since we last saw you—your temper hasn't changed at all!" After a moment of silence, the bag-like stranger suddenly said something that left both the man and the listener, Han Li, utterly astonished. "How do you know my name? Who exactly are you, a relative or acquaintance of mine?" The sturdy man was visibly surprised when the stranger immediately identified him by name, his face showing clear astonishment. But now that his identity had been revealed, any further concealment was pointless. He simply tore off his cloak and dropped it to the ground, revealing a fierce-looking man with short, sun-yellow hair. "You're supposed to be the guardian patriarch of the Qianzhen Sect—why have you come all the way here, all this distance? Is it really just because of the half-Yan decision hidden within these puppet beasts?" The stranger paid no attention to the man's actions, continuing to speak calmly and unhurriedly. "You keep silent, and I'll have no mercy on you!" Huang Long, seeing the other probe deeply into his most private matters, grew pale and sharply barked out. "Did you forget who first secretly taught you the first verse of the Daxian Decision?" After a moment's hesitation, the stranger finally spoke, a statement that sent Huang Long's face pale and caused him to step back several paces. "Are you Lin's senior?... No, Lin has been gone for many years. How dare you mock me like this! Huang, I'm going to take your life!" The big man was startled, then immediately erupted into fury. With a fierce gesture, he sent the hundred or so puppets forward, who immediately encircled the stranger tightly. "I see you haven't forgotten your old friendship with Huang's younger brother. That brings me great comfort," the stranger said suddenly, his eyes softening. Then he pulled the cloth bag from his head, revealing his true face. "Lin senior!" "Lin senior!" The big man and Han Li, who had been closely observing the situation, both exclaimed at the same time. Yet Han directly voiced it out, while Han Li only silently gasped. This odd man was none other than the Lin elder whom Han Li had once seen in the stone pavilion back when he first entered Huangfeng Valley—the one who particularly loved carving. Han Li remembered him vividly because of the lifelike, endearing little monkey carved by him. That was why he immediately recognized him upon seeing him again. "Indeed, it's Lin-brother! How could he have grown so aged? And isn't he—already—?" Even after calling out, the Han man could not believe his eyes and took a moment to gaze at him again before rushing forward, seizing the elder's hands with both hands, his face filled with overwhelming excitement. "Heh! Huang-brother, back then, I only feigned death—I actually didn't die at all. I merely pretended!" "Master Lin, who had been smiling calmly, suddenly saw his expression shift to one of shock and anger, abruptly flinging open the hands of this yellow junior. On his wrists, however, two deep wounds—each as thick as chopsticks—had appeared, oozing dark, black blood that continued to flow steadily, clearly infused with a potent toxin. "Has Master Lin's mind truly not deteriorated during these years of flight? How could he still be so careless, getting injured at my hands? Hmph! That black silk gong he obtained from the Gushi Sect—after so much effort—was no ordinary thing. It would surely not be easy to remove. All this is entirely due to your own fault. You feigned death, so why not simply vanish quietly and remain anonymous? What need was there to contact your old subordinates, attempting to steal the second half of the Daxian Decree? This has greatly displeased the current Golden Master, who now finds it necessary to have me carry out a complete eradication of your influence!" Huang Long chuckled coldly, delivering a sharp, mocking tone. "Excellent! Excellent! Such a truly enthusiastic and devoted junior!" Under the surge of rage, Lin suddenly calmed down immediately. He swiftly circulated his inner energy with both hands, forcing out some of the toxic blood, then produced a green jade bottle, pouring the entire contents of the yellow powder into his mouth. Only then did he fix his gaze firmly on the bearded man, his expression cold and resolute. "I must conclude that the messages my excellent subordinate delivered to me are all false! There is no lower half of the Dàyǎn Sect's Great Derivation Technique among the puppet beasts—this entire scheme has been designed solely to lure me out! The only thing that puzzles me is: how did the secret storekeepers manage to coordinate so seamlessly with you all?" "Wealth moves the heart," a proverb widely known in the mundane world holds true even in the realm of cultivation. "As long as our sect offers sufficient benefits, nothing is beyond our reach," said the yellow dragon, giving a slight dismissive smile. Turning his head, he then called out toward the trees on the side: "Come forth! Everyone, gather to witness the once-talented and handsome son of the late Lin Sect Master—Lin Master!" "Ah-hah!" "Little sister, I've long heard of Master Lin's reputation—only regret that I joined the academy a bit later, and thus feel unworthy to meet him in person!" "Hmph! What 'Master Lin' is he? These days, he's nothing more than a stray dog!" The soft voice of a delicate woman contrasted with the heated, gruff tone of a man clearly pouting, both voices echoing from the woods as the two emerged side by side. "I'd like to introduce you to these two—newly appointed protectors of the academy, the esteemed Buddhist kings—" Master Huang had just intended to tease the ever-pressing Lin, who had once consistently overshadowed him. But before he could finish his sentence, sensing he had been caught in the net, Lin suddenly spun around with a sharp movement, his hands flailing wildly. A cascade of shimmering black spots of various hues burst forth from his body and scattered around him. Instantly, the ground beneath them began to glow with a lively, flickering light. Then, one by one, fully armed and armored puppet soldiers emerged, growing larger and larger, forming a magnificent array—numbering no less than two hundred. "Be on your guard—this man has successfully refined the third layer of the Dàyǎn Decree! He can command so many puppets! Everyone must keep him pinned down and make sure he doesn't escape. As soon as the toxin in his body activates, even if he possesses celestial abilities, he'll be helpless." Huang Long, the tall man, then commanded his puppets to advance. After exchanging a glance, the two young men also deployed over two hundred puppet beasts, launching a coordinated assault. Instantly, a spectacular and unprecedented battle of puppets began. Light arrows and beams of light clashed continuously, while large groups of soldiers and mechanical beasts armed with handheld weapons engaged in close combat with sharp blades. Han Li, observing from above, was left utterly stunned. Though he still hadn't fully grasped the exact nature of what was unfolding, he now had a clear, though somewhat vague, understanding. The elder Lin must have been from the Qianzhu Sect before joining the Huangfeng Valley—indeed, he was the son of the Sect's Master! Yet clearly, he had already lost his influence and thus had been hiding in Huangfeng Valley ever since! Now, because he still hoped to secure the Great Derivation Scroll, he had been abruptly ordered by the new abbot to send his former companions to eliminate him completely. After understanding the full sequence of events, Han Li sighed deeply. Then, observing the intense battle unfolding below, he realized this was no contest that a cultivator at his early Foundation Stage could intervene in and profit from. It was better to leave now, to avoid any unforeseen involvement. With the full grasp of the situation's implications, Han Li immediately withdrew the Qinghuo Miasma and fully activated his Shenfeng Boat beneath his feet, instantly transforming into a long, radiant white arc that surged skyward. Han Li's sudden movements could not be overlooked by the four combatants below, who were startled and momentarily slowed their fighting. They had never expected someone to have been quietly observing their conversation all along—seemingly, much of their secret had already been heard. But upon seeing Han Li skillfully retreat, without any assistance from the other side, these four exchanged glances and, without a word, all entered the fray together. (Hehe! Continuing to seek monthly votes!