After a brief pause, Han Li spoke slowly, under Wen Qiang's hopeful gaze: "Since you're also from Miao Yin Sect, you should know that I am merely a titular elder. However, if the matter truly stands as you've described—especially if Si Yue has suffered greatly—I will certainly mention it to Zi Ling when I meet her. Whether Zi Ling will listen, though, remains to be seen." Wen Qiang felt a slight disappointment that Han Li had not taken full responsibility. Yet knowing their relationship was not particularly close, he was grateful that Han Li had managed to rescue both his parents and his daughter to such an extent, and thus had no complaints. With a grateful expression, he thanked Han Li repeatedly. He then asked Wen Siyue to offer Han Li a formal bow once more, but Han Li politely declined. Still, Han Li seemed slightly puzzled and asked one more question: "Isn't Siyue your disciple under Zhu Zuo Shi? Have you not mentioned this matter to Zhu Zuo Shi?" Hearing this, Wen Siyue's expression grew even more somber. She softly explained: "Master, you may not know that the one who commissioned me to come here is a close relative of my master. My master also hoped I could become a dual cultivation partner with that person, but I declined. This has greatly upset my master!" With these words, the young woman radiated a look of helplessness, her graceful and poignant beauty deeply moving. Even Han Li was momentarily stunned. Yet, soon recovering, he turned slightly and said to Wen Qiang: "I have other matters to attend to, and thus I恐怕 will not be able to travel with you all the way. I shall now bid you good day and depart." After speaking, Han Li bowed slightly to both of them. Wen Qiang's father, naturally, did not wish to utter any words of farewell, and quickly expressed his gratitude. Then, with a gentle smile, Han Li faded into a streak of azure light and vanished into the sky. Staring in the direction where the green rainbow had vanished, Wen Qiang and his daughter remained silent for a while. Only after a long pause did Wen Siyue speak, her tone now one of mild impatience: "Father, you've never once told me that you were once acquainted with Brother Han of our sect! Moreover, from the way you spoke, it seems you've known him even before he achieved the Dan Stage. Could you please share this with me? After all, Brother Han has always been quite mysterious to us students!" As she spoke, the initial frustration in her voice gradually transformed into genuine curiosity. Upon hearing this from the young woman, Wen Qiang sighed and then gently said: "Father and Brother Han have only met a few times—there's no deep connection between us. When I first met him, his cultivation level was about the same as mine, not particularly advanced. But when I first saw his portrait in the Office of the Supernatural Attendants, I was genuinely startled. For several days afterward, my mind remained unsettled. It was truly astonishing that he had not only reached the Dan Stage but also become a senior elder of our sect!" "While speaking, Wen Qiang found himself recalling the scene when he first met Han Li, and his words gradually slowed until he paused, momentarily lost in thought. Wen Siyue, sensing her father's inner thoughts, silently waited by his side, and the quiet between them deepened. The only sound was the gentle rustling of the wind flowing through their robes. The cultivators who had come in search of the palace did not hesitate and swiftly flew toward it. With a flash of white light, they easily passed through the luminous barrier and entered the palace. That day, a streak of jade-green light sped toward the scene. Upon reaching the sea surface beneath the palace, it suddenly halted. As the green glow faded, a young man of ordinary appearance emerged—none other than Han Li, who had come according to the map. Han Li glanced at the silk scroll map in his hands and surveyed the surroundings, yet found nothing but an empty expanse. He then stared intently at the sea below for a long while, still finding nothing. His growing sense of puzzlement deepened. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he lifted his gaze sharply. "Huh!" Upon seeing the palace suspended in the clouds, resembling a jade pavilion or a pearl terrace, Han Li drew in a deep breath, his face filled with astonishment. He stared at the palace in silent wonder for a long time before regaining his composure. Yet he did not immediately approach the palace, but stood in place, murmuring to himself for a while. Suddenly, his expression changed, a flash of green light rippled through him, and then he vanished completely. A moment later, a swift crimson cloud sped toward the scene and halted a short distance from where韩立 had disappeared. As the cloud dispersed, an elderly man with full red hair appeared, holding a silk handkerchief identical to the one韩立 had. He glanced down at the handkerchief, then coldly surveyed the surroundings before turning without hesitation toward the sky, where he immediately spotted the celestial palace, his face lighting up with joy. Then, without a thought, the red-haired elder transformed once more into a crimson cloud and ascended toward the heavens. Only after the elder's body shimmered with a white glow and he entered the golden light shield did韩立's form reappear nearby. He frowned deeply, his expression shifting between gloom and uncertainty. Over the following seven or eight days,韩立 patiently remained concealed, and later witnessed two cultivators at the Dan stage entering the light shield and ascending into the palace. They each held a silk scroll map. Finally, Han Li could bear it no longer. That day, he himself had flown to the golden dome and, with a single hand motion, retrieved the map. He slowly infused spiritual energy into the map, and instantly, a bright white glow emanated from the scroll, enveloping Han Li within it. Then, with a gentle step, he passed through the golden aura as if it were nothing at all. Turning back to gaze at the dome and then at the magnificent palace, Han Li immediately took off, without hesitation. As he approached the hall, he noticed, high above the entrance of the palace, three large silver characters inscribed in ancient script: "Xutian Hall." These characters not only exuded an imposing presence, but their strokes were sharp and incisive, radiating a keen brilliance. Simply gazing at them for a moment, Han Li found his eyes gradually aching—so intense that he was startled. He quickly lowered his head, unable to look at them anymore, his heart filled with astonishment. He glanced at the deep, grand entrance and, with a determined breath, stepped carefully inside. Upon entering the hall, Han Li was startled. Before him stretched a narrow passage that was straight and seemingly endless. The passage itself was constructed from translucent, exquisite jade. If that were all, it would have been merely ordinary—but this passage was only two or three zhang wide, yet soared to thirty or forty zhang in height. As he stepped inside, a profound sense of pressure settled upon him, making him feel deeply uncomfortable. Han Li furrowed his brows, then extended his awareness outward. Yet immediately, his face flushed slightly. As soon as his awareness touched the walls, it was forcefully pushed back, unable to penetrate even a fraction, let alone explore the hall's layout. A flash of keenness passed through his eyes as he focused intently on one of the jade walls. Only then did he notice a faint, shimmering glow pulsing subtly across the surface—so delicate that it went unnoticed without close inspection. Clearly, the entire passage had been sealed by a great adept's spell. Han Li then gently traced the surface of the jade with his fingertip. Though he could not discern the exact nature of the seals, the profound and incomprehensible spiritual energy within them still caused a subtle tremor in Han Li's heart. He silently withdrew his fingers, held his chin with one hand, and pondered quietly in the passage for a moment before resuming his steps forward. Han Li narrowed his eyes, calmly glancing left and right throughout the corridor. Since there were seals in place, he needn't fear anyone lurking nearby to launch a surprise attack—he could proceed with confidence. Yet, it seemed the corridor of this small gully was indeed quite long. Han Li walked steadily for the duration of a meal before finally reaching the far end. Before him now stood an exit glowing with a water-blue light. Han Li stirred slightly, quickening his pace and hurrying toward it. Yet, upon seeing what lay before him, his eyes narrowed and his mind suddenly startled. Within the blue glow, he found himself facing a vast, square hall. The hall was no less than three or four hundred zhang in width, magnificent and imposing, so vast that even thousands of people entering simultaneously would not feel crowded. More astonishingly, evenly spaced throughout the hall stood dozens of thick jade pillars. These pillars required several people to embrace them, meticulously carved and polished, each bearing various rare birds and beasts—some familiar to Han Li, others entirely new—each lifelike and full of spirit, none of them identical. At the tops of certain pillars, stood or sat a group of several dozen cultivators, dressed in varied attire. Except for a few individuals, each cultivator occupied a single pillar alone, and none spoke aloud, each engaged in their own pursuits. Han Li's arrival drew only a modest, languid attention from a small number of them, though a few expressed clear surprise. Han Li himself could only offer a faint, wry smile, for he recognized these very individuals as well.