"Is that certain? I've heard that the disciples of the Wàn Fǎ Men have been searching far and wide for the 'Golden Silk Silkworm' these past few years—I'm not sure whether they've finally found it. If this rare creature joins their efforts, perhaps the Wàn Fǎ Master himself might indeed take a serious interest in the Xū Tiān Ding." The Jí Yīn Master frowned deeply, his brows drawn together, and unconsciously glanced at Wan Tianming and the others, his expression one of deep concern. At that moment, three Yuan Ying-period cultivators from the Zhengdao sect were seated cross-legged on the pillars, seemingly completely unaware of their conversation. "Hmph! It's not just Wan Tianming who might have the Golden Silk Silkworm—I've heard you personally obtained two unusual fire pythons on Li Huo Island. Perhaps this visit is also a move to expand your ambitions!" The burly cultivator glanced at the Jí Yīn Master with a touch of condescension, speaking frankly and without reservation. The Jí Yīn Master, upon hearing this, instantly changed his expression several times, but quickly regained his composure. Yet within, he was already muttering curses It goes without saying that several of my trusted confidants must have leaked the information, and it has reached the other party's ears. This visit by Brother Bearded, perhaps, is merely a convenient stop—his real intention is likely to keep a close watch on my movements. Though I am somewhat vexed, after a brief moment of surprise, I remain composed and say: "I hope Brother Bearded won't mind. Indeed, I have brought two unusual fire pythons this time. However, their cultivation levels are still quite immature, and their chances of success are truly slim. This will certainly require the combined support of Brother Bearded and Brother Qing." "How can we possibly help you?" the elder scholar murmurs, his mind stirred, yet hesitating in his words. Upon hearing this, the Master of Extreme Yin smiles gently and, without further elaboration, adds: "According to the information left behind by the Master of the Void Sky Pavilion, in addition to the most vital 'Heaven-Completing Pill' within the Void Sky Cauldron, there are several top-tier ancient treasures left behind by ancient cultivators—treasures of the primordial wilderness—whose power is absolutely formidable." "Besides the Xutian Ding and a single 'Bǔtiān Dan,' shall I divide everything else equally among the others?" The elderly scholar, though his eyes flashed with greed, paused briefly, then glanced at the bearded man before replying, "I have no objection, but I'd still like to see what Brother Man thinks. After all, without Brother Man holding the weight of Wan Tianming, I wouldn't dare take this risk." Upon hearing this, the Jíyīn Patriarch showed no surprise. He knew well that this so-called "Qīng Yì Resident," dressed in scholarly robes, was a seasoned player—without involving the bearded man, he would never agree to such an uncertain venture. Thus, the Patriarch turned to the bearded man, smiled gently, and transmitted his proposal verbally before asking, "What do you think of my proposal, Brother Man? Would you be interested in collaborating?" Indeed, the value of the Bǔtiān Dan didn't need to be explained—he knew well that Brother Man was already familiar with it. I believe that beyond this location, the immortal realm has no other place capable of compensating for a person's five elemental spiritual roots. Perhaps after consuming these, Brother Man will find it easier to greatly enhance his cultivation and eventually surpass the limitations of his lifespan! Master Jiyin seemed completely unconcerned about the awkwardness he had just received, persistently encouraging him in a soft, insistent manner. "Hmph! With just two fire serpents, you expect to challenge the Xitian Cauldron? I think you must be suffering from a mental lapse! Back then, countless Yuan-Infant stage cultivators entered the Inner Hall, yet all returned empty-handed. Do you truly believe that taking such a bold risk will yield success? After all, the danger within the Inner Hall is vastly different from that of the Outer Hall. Even if we Yuan-Infant cultivators manage to enter, we cannot hope to emerge unscathed. Throughout the various openings of the Xitian Hall, Yuan-Infant cultivators have perished within the Inner Hall—not just a few, but many." Man with the bushy beard scoffed, speaking with clear disdain. "That need not concern Brother Man at all." I only wanted to ask—should Wan Tianming's faction truly intend to make a move against Xu Tianding, would Brother Man really not care to take a look inside?" The Jiyin Patriarch spoke calmly. The cold smile on Man's face gradually softened after the Patriarch's question. He narrowed his eyes, a glint of frost passing through, before slowly replied, "If Wan Tianming is truly willing to risk everything and enter the inner hall, then even without your urging, I will certainly go with him. After all, even if we Magians cannot obtain Xu Tianding, we must not allow the Celestial Daoists to possess it." His words carried absolute conviction. "Ah, that's all I needed to hear. As long as Brother Man is willing to step in when the time comes, my earlier proposal will naturally count as part of Brother Man's contribution. Of course, if Lady Wen is also willing to lend a hand, then I would be even more delighted." The Jiyin Patriarch smiled gently, glancing at the beautiful woman. "I'm returning with some medicinal herbs this time. The inner hall is too perilous—I simply won't be going myself." "The Wen family beauty listened not at all to the conditions put forth by the Jiyin Master, and simply coldly rejected them. The Jiyin Master's expression of disappointment flickered briefly. After all, though the beauty was only at the Yuan Ying initial stage of cultivation, her husband, 'Liudao Jisheng,' was one of the foremost great magi of the Magian path—so powerful that even the bearded, brash ones could not match him in his presence. Without securing her, the Master naturally felt some regret. Yet, he certainly did not dare to forcibly drag her into the inner hall; instead, he merely smiled gently and let it go. For, with the three of them now holding their own against the orthodox factions, there was no need to further upset the beauty. Meanwhile, the Magian delegation had reached a consensus, while the Wan Tianming group remained quietly silent and meditative, their eyes closed, seemingly either confident or already prepared. Han Li, standing in the corner, observed all this. Though the distance was considerable, and most of the conversations between the Jiyin Master and others were conveyed through inner voice transmission. Yet by observing the ill-tempered glances they cast toward the righteous ones, one could readily guess that they were already discussing strategies to deal with the heads of the Wàn Fǎ Mén. This gave Han Li quiet satisfaction. Only when these Yuan Ying-period old beasts were themselves entangled in their own disputes could he navigate through the chaos with greater security. Ideally, the Jade Yin Master would be so preoccupied that he would no longer notice him—what a blessing that would be! As Han Li pondered how to further muddy the waters, figures flashed into view at the hall's entrance, and two white-robed elders stepped in. Both were silver-haired, their robes flowing gently, resembling deities themselves. Upon their arrival, the assembled cultivators instantly turned their attention to them, their expressions instantly brightening with recognition and respect. Several of them, who had been holding their breath in anticipation, finally exhaled in relief. In contrast, the senior figures from both the orthodox and the demonic factions displayed a mixture of admiration, along with subtle resentment and resignation. Among the two, one was a serene and benevolent white-robed elder. Upon seeing that everyone was now turning their attention toward them, he smiled gently and spoke with the utmost courtesy: "During this visit to the Huatian Pavilion, our two Sovereign Masters have been in seclusion, thus unable to personally oversee the treasure-hunting event. Instead, it is we, the two Judicial Elders, representing the Star Palace, who will supervise this grand undertaking." "The rules for this treasure-hunting remain unchanged from previous years. Any participant who acts arrogantly, dominates others unfairly, or attempts to kill and seize treasures will be promptly intervened upon by us two, and will further be pursued and eliminated by the Star Palace. However, our supervision is limited to the outer pavilions of Huatian Pavilion. We shall not enter the inner pavilions, nor will we interfere with any matters occurring within. Therefore, should any of you feel uncertain, it would be wise to remain outside the inner pavilions. Moreover, we shall not extend our assistance to any fellow practitioners merely because the Huatian Pavilion itself poses danger—should a comrade fall and perish right before your eyes, we shall not so much as blink." "I've explained so clearly that everyone should now understand what I mean," said the white-robed elder, his eyes flashing as he swept his gaze over the assembly of cultivators in the hall. Others, upon seeing his intense gaze, respectfully lowered their heads and stepped back slightly. Only Wanh Tianming and the bearded man maintained steady eye contact, meeting his gaze without flinching. This surprised the white-robed elder at first, who then furrowed his brows, murmuring softly to himself, "How come these two oddities have also arrived? Now things have become quite troublesome." The other elder beside him, with his cold expression, also showed a subtle shift in demeanor, before regaining his composure with a quiet laugh. Then, these two senior enforcers from the Star Palace settled themselves side by side at either end of the hall, remaining unmoved despite the commotion stirred by their earlier words. The other Jin Dan cultivators, meanwhile, displayed a range of expressions—some joyful, others concerned—each with a distinct countenance. Han Li, witnessing this scene, could not help but feel deeply impressed. I couldn't quite fathom the intent behind the Star Palace's seemingly unrewarding efforts. Was it merely to establish the Star Palace's authority across the Chaotic Star Sea? Yet at that moment, a voice from Xuan Gu's master reached my ears. "Young man, be cautious! The Star Palace people aren't exactly easy to deal with. As I've observed, whenever the Magic Path grows strong, the Star Palace suppresses it; when the Righteous Path flourishes, it targets the Righteous Path. It never allows either side to grow. Moreover, during each visit to the Virtual Heaven Hall, numerous cultivators from both the Magic and Righteous paths vanish under mysterious circumstances—perhaps even orchestrated by the Star Palace. Though you don't belong to either of these two factions, you'd better watch your step. I don't want the hard-won ally I've finally found to simply fall unexpectedly." Xuan Gu's voice was cold, yet the words struck me with a sudden shock.