Han Li, as soon as he stepped into the third floor, immediately felt several streams of divine awareness sweeping toward him. These individuals all possessed jingli strength at the mid-jingli stage, far surpassing his own as a jingli beginner. During his four years of meditation and seclusion within the dwelling, his jingli strength had approached the mid-jingli level, yet a crucial barrier remained—this left Han Li somewhat disappointed. Still, it was entirely natural, for he had already achieved a pace of cultivation nearing the mid-jingli stage in just four years, which was significantly faster than that of most cultivators. This final barrier—the very first bottleneck he encountered after attaining jingli status—could not be easily overcome merely through the consumption of medicinal elixirs; it would likely require certain favorable circumstances. Otherwise, no matter how many elixirs he took, his jingli strength would deepen, but he would still find it difficult to easily transcend this particular stage. As he pondered these thoughts, he took a broad glance at the surroundings on the upper floor. All the inhabitants on the third floor were cultivators who had achieved jingli status. Yet it was clearly evident that the cultivators had split into two groups: one group wore attire familiar to Han Li, belonging to the seven major sects, while the other group appeared disorganized and varied, composed entirely of foreign cultivators from his nation. The seven major sect cultivators numbered only five, yet they sat together at a single table, engaged in quiet conversation, appearing more intimate. In contrast, although there were several foreign cultivators—around seven or eight—most of them sat alone or in pairs, sipping their tea with a reserved demeanor, showing no signs of exchanging words or discussing matters among themselves. This striking contrast between stillness and activity created a palpable sense of tension and mutual antagonism. Han Li’s arrival naturally drew the attention of the other cultivators. While a few had initially glanced at him, the rest now turned to watch him. Without hesitation, Han Li walked directly toward the group of the seven major sect cultivators, as he himself seemed to belong to that group. Han Li’s background, however, caused the others to turn away and treat him as if he were invisible. Meanwhile, the seven major sect cultivators warmly rose to greet him with smiles. The attire worn by Han Li from Huangfenggully was well known among these five guests without any need for introduction. "Allow me to introduce myself—Han Li from Huangfenggully. It's a pleasure to meet you, senior brothers and sisters!" Han Li bowed slightly, noting that among the five present, three were at the mid-Jiangu level, while only two matched his own initial Jiangu stage. "Ah, Han junior! This is Wu Fei, from Qingxu Sect. This is Wu You, my younger brother. And these three—Wu Sheng from Lingshou Mountain, Ba Senior from Ju Jian Sect, and Fang Sister from Tianque Fort." The elder of the two Daoists at the table, with a courteous bow, briefly introduced the guests. "Since you've arrived, why not try the Xueling tea, renowned throughout the Yan family? It's a special premium tea served exclusively to visiting cultivators at our tea pavilion!" The Wu from Lingshou Mountain, a cheerful middle-aged man, immediately poured a cup of steaming, misty elixir into Han Li's hands as soon as he sat down. Han Li nodded with a smile and then gently sipped the tea. Regardless of whether the person truly intended to brew tea for him, everyone had to maintain the surface appearance. "Good tea!" even Han Li, who wasn't particularly particular about tea, couldn't help but praise it. As soon as the tea reached his stomach, a refreshing coolness immediately rose from within, spreading through his abdomen, followed by an exquisite fragrance that lingered on his lips and tongue, leaving a deep, lasting impression. The Wu-family cultivator smiled even more warmly. "Brother Han looks rather unfamiliar. Is he perhaps a newly admitted disciple of Master Huang from Huang Feng Valley?" asked the younger sister, in her twenties, with a plain but composed appearance. "My master, Li Hua Yuan, only reached the Foundation Stage and was formally admitted into the sect a few years ago. I sincerely hope that all of you seniors can offer me some guidance!" Han Li said with genuine sincerity. "How could we possibly offer any guidance? We're all just exchanging insights and experiences with one another. Master Han has been accepted into the Li's discipleship, and at such a young age, he's been entrusted with leading his own team—this surely speaks to your exceptional qualities. You needn't be so humble about it! This statement came from the middle-aged man from Ju Jian Men, who though appearing earnest and sincere, spoke with remarkable precision, leaving Han somewhat surprised. Han naturally responded with a few modest remarks. As a result, besides the short, quiet figure who remained silent, Han quickly warmed up and became close with the other cultivators. "What were you all discussing a moment ago?" After exchanging a few polite remarks, Han finally steered the conversation toward the main topic, asking it casually. "Nothing really! We're all trying to figure out why so many foreign cultivators have suddenly arrived at Yanling Fort. This is truly unusual! While the Qiankun Tower's seals and treasures are indeed valuable, they certainly can't explain such a strong attraction." Upon Han's question, Wufa, his expression suddenly serious, replied. But this precisely touched upon Han Li's lingering doubts, prompting him to nod continuously in agreement. "We've discussed this for a while, yet still can't quite grasp the essence." "It's unlikely that the presence of extraordinary treasures here is the reason that drew them. If that were truly the case, one wouldn't expect only Junji-period cultivators to arrive—Jiandan-period masters would have already flocked here in large numbers, wouldn't they? Instead, the scene remains so calm. As for other possible explanations, none seem to fit this situation." The woman from Tian Que Fort continued. "We shouldn't speculate too much. Surely, by the time the treasure-hunting assembly begins in two days, everything will become clear. I, however, feel a certain unease regarding the Gui Ling Sect cultivators who appeared today. There's something distinctly unusual about them! They've consistently defeated Yan family disciples—this is truly surprising. Do any of you know their origins?" The Wu-named middle-aged man furrowed his brows, the playful expression completely gone. It was clear he was genuinely uneasy about these cultivators. Upon hearing the question from the Fang-named cultivator, nearly everyone—including Han Li—stared at one another, puzzled. Most of them had never heard of this sect before. From the name alone, it was evident they were not to be taken lightly—likely from the Magian path. They didn’t know which kingdom’s sect this was, nor why the long-established Yan family, a local powerhouse, was so deeply wary, having sustained so many injuries without immediately taking action. Clearly, the sect’s power was formidable. Yet, among the majority, one person stood out—this was the previously silent Wu Youzi. Only he remained composed, as if he already knew exactly what the Gui Ling Sect was like. This gave others a sense of anticipation. "Brother, do you know anything about the Gui Ling Sect?" asked Wu Youzi, equally surprised. His younger brother had always been rather reserved in social interactions, yet he loved to browse through various books and scrolls, truly knowing something about them—perhaps even more than that! "The Gui Ling Sect, one of the six major magical schools of the Tian Luo Kingdom, specializes in exorcising spirits and commanding demons, and also excels in poison arts and various covert techniques. Though it ranks last among the six sects, it is still three parts stronger than the Yue Kingdom's most powerful sect, Yan Yue Sect." Without missing a beat, Wu Youzi delivered these words with a cold, composed tone and then immediately closed his mouth again. Yet even these few sentences were enough to send the others' faces pale. "A magical sect from the Tian Luo Kingdom? I never understood why the Yan family has been so subdued! That's a truly formidable force—several times larger than our seven sects combined. In our region, aside from the Zheng Dao Alliance of Feng Du Kingdom, no other nation's cultivation powers can stand against their incursions on their own." This time, a man from the Ju Jian Sect spoke with genuine anxiety. "Can you really be serious? How could such a powerful force suddenly arrive at our Yue state, especially to attend such a modest treasure-hunting competition?" The woman with the surname Fang spoke with evident disbelief, her tone naturally carrying a hint of skepticism. "Volume Two, Chapter Four of the *Heavenly Southern Handwritten Records*!" Wu Youzi replied calmly. "Ah..." The female cultivator initially didn't grasp the meaning, but soon understood after a moment. This was a comprehensive collection of texts, held by many sects, detailing the customs and folk traditions of various states in the region, as well as some remarkable anecdotes. While it did touch upon matters within the cultivation world, the sheer volume of books had led her to only skim a few before growing weary of further reading. Could it be that the Ghost and Spirit Sect's affairs were actually recorded in these very volumes? Perhaps sensing that not only she but others had also shown expressions of doubt, Wuyouzi managed to force out, "In this section of Volume Two, not only the Gui Ling Sect, but also the other five sects have been briefly introduced!" Seeing Wuyouzi's confident demeanor, everyone finally believed her. Now, beyond their astonishment, they began to carefully ponder the purpose behind the Gui Ling Sect's sudden appearance at the Yan family's doorstep. Han Li habitually rubbed his nose and fell into thoughtful reflection. Could it be that the Magistrate Sects of the Tian Luo Kingdom were planning a large-scale invasion of the Yue Kingdom? Not exactly—between the Tian Luo and Yue Kingdoms lay two smaller states, Jiang and Che Qi. Even if an invasion were launched, the Magistrate Sects would first need to settle the religious factions of these two nations. Though these two states were relatively small, their spiritual cultivation strength was by no means weak and could match the combined power of the seven sects in the Yue Kingdom. No matter how formidable the Magistrate Sects were, they could hardly achieve this without making a significant sound. Moreover, there's the Zhengdao Alliance of Fengdou Kingdom watching them closely! They surely won't give them the chance to strengthen their forces. After careful consideration, Han Li finally ruled out the most unfavorable scenario! (Book lovers who enjoy this novel—please give a vote if you have a monthly subscription!)