Han Li glanced at the dispatch order signed by the heads of various sects, authorizing the mobilization of roaming disciples, and felt deeply frustrated. The dispatch was genuine—evidenced by the spiritual seals of each sect's master—yet he truly didn't want to comply so easily. From the others, he had already learned of the six demonic sects' invasion, knowing that a great calamity was inevitable for the immortal realm of Yue. While it was uncertain whether the seven sects could survive this crisis, countless immortal cultivators would surely perish, and many even at the Jading stage might see their essences shattered, dying with their Dan pills. Upon hearing this alarming news, Han Li now most desired to immediately return to his abode, close himself off for several decades, and emerge later. Yet he knew this was merely a dream. As a disciple of one of the seven sects, how could he easily escape such a fierce struggle? Han Li was thinking, when the male cultivator from Yan Yue Sect, who had just announced that he had been assigned, smiled warmly and said: "Have you clearly seen me, Brother? Could you please state your name and cultivation level now? We will surely need to cooperate closely in the future!" Han steadied himself, glanced at the cultivator, and then at the thirty-some cultivators behind him. Only three had reached the Foundation Stage; the rest were merely Qi Stage disciples. This gave Han a sense of reassurance—he didn't seem to be assigned to a particularly demanding task. With that in mind, Han bowed and said: "Han Li, from Huang Feng Valley, Foundation Stage, initial." Though both were Foundation Stage cultivators, their levels were clearly visible. Yet out of courtesy, Han clearly stated his name and level, for the other cultivator was in the late Foundation Stage, significantly more advanced than himself. He didn't wish to offend him lightly. But then, Han Li asked with a touch of hesitation: "How are you certain that my identity is valid and that you have directly summoned me with your dispatch order, based only on this yellow maple valley robe? Surely not just on the clothing itself?" Originally, Han Li had intended to pass by and make a swift retreat, avoiding this group of cultivators from Hua Dao Wu and Yan Yue Sect. Yet, this keen-eyed individual had swiftly intercepted him, halting him right there and announcing his summons. "Ah! During the last Blood-Color Trial, I actually caught a glimpse of your younger brother! I didn't expect that after so many years, your younger brother Han had already achieved the Foundation Stage—what a wonderful achievement!" The man from Yan Yue Sect, in his thirties, smiled gently, uttering a remark that surprised Han Li greatly. "You mean you?" Han Li only now realized that the man was somewhat familiar, as if he had indeed seen him during the Blood-Color Trial. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Xuan Le, one of the external administrators of Yan Yue Sect. Last time, when I accompanied Master Nishang's delegation, I personally witnessed Master Han's impressive display—right there, stunned on the spot!" The man smiled lightly, speaking with evident intention. "Should I say this, I fear I shall be accused of defying the orders!" Han Li thought as he glanced at the three other Foundation Stage cultivators standing behind Xuan Le. With a determined resolve, he replied, "Since Master Xuan has so stated, I shall certainly comply. However, there is one matter I must report directly to the Head of our Sect, and I would kindly ask Master Xuan to dispatch someone to deliver the message!" Han Li then recounted in full detail what had transpired at Yan Ling Fort—though he only briefly mentioned how he himself had managed to escape. Even so, this news left Xuan Le and the others utterly astonished. They immediately sent two Qi Stage disciples to deliver the messages to the respective sects, then, with somewhat troubled expressions, continued on their journey with Han Li. Though they were confident in their own strength, even knowing that the Yan family had allied with the demonic forces, they dared not take action to rescue the individuals involved. Thus, they reluctantly passed the troublesome matter on to the representatives from the other seven sects. Of course, the authenticity of this news would still need to be verified by those who came after. Only then, while advancing, did Han Li finally learn from other cultivators the nature of this mission: to strengthen the garrison of a relatively abundant spiritual stone mine, as the original guards were utterly insufficient to withstand even minor attacks by a small contingent of magicians from the opposing sects. Knowing that he wouldn’t be merely serving as a cannon fodder to face off directly against the six major magisterial sects, Han Li finally breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, even if he managed to return to Huangfeng Valley, he would likely be dispatched immediately again, and the mission assigned might not necessarily be better than this one. Though this mission carried some risks, with careful attention, the chances of emerging unscathed were still quite promising. After all, this mine was merely one among several dozen larger ones; if the opposing forces intended to strike at the seven sects’ sources, they would likely have to target the largest ones first. With this thought in mind, Han Li’s initial resistance naturally faded, and over the following several days, he grew quite familiar with Xuan Le and the other cultivators. Several days later, the group of cultivators finally arrived at a vast wilderness within the territory of Yue State. The spiritual stone mine lay deep within a gorges stretching over a hundred zhang in depth. Under the guidance of Xuan Le, they directly flew into the gorge, which was concealed by a magical array. At the same time, several cultivators from the seven sects took off from this location to welcome them. The original guards of the mine were led by an elder in his early Foundation Stage, belonging to Tian Que Fort. The other five or six guards were merely at the Qi Stage level. Such a weak defensive force naturally explained why the senior officials of the seven sects had sent reinforcements so urgently. This elder, who introduced himself as Yu Xing, invited them into a large cavern within the gorge, where Han Li and the others listened to his detailed account of the mine's situation. Then, Xuan Le swiftly arranged the defensive preparations. He removed several dozen array flags and array discs, arranging the monastics beneath the illusionary formation into a dual-purpose, offensive-and-defensive Four-Deadly-Points array. He divided the monastics, including himself, into groups, rotating them to patrol and guard the vicinity of the spiritual ore, thus preventing any surprise attacks from external forces. Monastics not on duty could instead meditate and refine their inner energies. Han Li was highly satisfied with Xuan Le's arrangements. Now, he had the precious time to carefully address the gaps in his own strength. After his fierce combat with the junior master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, Han Li clearly realized that his previous reliance on agility and strategic tactics no longer sufficed when facing a significant strength disparity. Against opponents of the caliber of the junior master, all his past strengths appeared feeble and ineffective. Even the magical artifacts and talismans he had trusted so much were nearly seized by the opponent, failing to deliver the decisive, stunning effects he had once achieved. Had it not been for the unexpected efficacy of the "Qinghuo Zhong" toxic clouds, Li would likely have been buried beneath the loam, his spirit possibly seized and subjected to endless torment. Just thinking about such a fate of unbearable suffering sends a cold shiver down Han Li's spine, with a chill rising steadily! The blood spirit, a top-tier esoteric technique of the demonic path, now fills him with growing apprehension. He is certain that should he meet the young master of the Gui Ling Sect again, he would only be able to endure passively, helpless under the power of the other's technique. The Qingyuan Sword, if not cultivated to the Juandan stage, simply lacks the power to stand a chance against him. Amidst this period of turmoil, when the six demonic sects invade Yue State and the seven major sects rise in resistance, conflicts and battles among cultivators will become commonplace. In such times, the pursuit of immortality seems to have taken a secondary role, while rapidly strengthening one's own power—ensuring survival amidst the chaos—has become the primary objective. Consequently, his originally planned cultivation sequence must now be revised. The Qingyuan Sword Technique would have to be put on hold temporarily, and instead, he decided to focus on refining the "Daiyanyan Technique," which could significantly enhance his strength. After witnessing the formidable power of the mechanical puppets, Han Li believed that even if he only achieved the first layer of the Daiyanyan Technique, he would have sufficient defensive capabilities—since he already had dozens of such puppets stationed on his person. Of course, he also intended to study the Puppet Classic thoroughly, hoping to quickly develop a few simple mechanical puppets within a short period. This way, the Daiyanyan Technique could become a sustained combat strength during his Foundation Stage. After carefully considering this decision multiple times, Han Li felt confident it was the right choice, and thus began practicing the Daiyanyan Technique during his spare time outside of his scheduled duties. At the same time, he started experimenting with creating basic mechanical beasts—simple puppets that could climb up and attack by biting and pawing, much like dolls. (There's still one more chapter to go tonight, but given our slow pace, it seems we won't be able to finish it tonight! Please hold on and check again tomorrow morning!)