No question about it—this little creature must be the "Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng." Han Li stared at the white rabbit with growing excitement. In his eyes, as the Da-Yan Technique ran at full power, the clear and ethereal qi emanating from the rabbit's body shone brilliantly. Truly a marvel born of the harmony between heaven and earth! Though moved by deep admiration, Han Li remained utterly alert, having already formed a precise hand seal and fixated his gaze on the rabbit without blinking. The rabbit, standing outside the array, sniffed around for a while before circling the jade box several times with its two bright red eyes. Clearly, it was not satisfied merely to remain still and sniff, but seemed eager to devise some scheme. Witnessing the rabbit's evident sensitivity and intelligence, Han Li grew even more cautious, his expression subtly tightening. After all, the "Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng" was especially skilled at evading—just one misstep, and all their efforts might be lost. After circling the large array several times, the small creature's long ears kept trembling, as if sensing an unusual flow of spiritual energy in the surrounding area, and it hesitated to enter the array. Han Li grew increasingly anxious, suspecting that the spirit of the ginseng root had detected the trap and would no longer enter. He began to wonder whether he should now immediately summon the golden net to forcibly capture it. However, in doing so, his chances of success would be slim. While hesitating, the white rabbit suddenly leapt and vanished into a patch of wild grass nearby. Han Li, watching from the tree, stood motionless, as if frozen. Just as he was beginning to wonder, a flash of white movement appeared in another grassy area—the white rabbit, moving with swift speed and leaving a trailing silhouette, instantly shot through the grass and reached the jade box. It lowered its head, gently took the object inside, and then turned without hesitation, rushing straight toward the exit. Han Li was left stunned by this series of swift actions. But he quickly regained his composure—how could he let it use such a minor trick and then escape? At once, a yellow beam shot down like an arrow from the tree, precisely striking the path the white rabbit intended to jump back along. Startled, the small creature twisted mid-air, tracing an arc and being projected in a different direction. By then, it was too late. Suddenly, a square yellow light shield rose around the area, sealing it firmly. The white rabbit collided with the light barrier and bounced back. After rolling several times on the ground, it steadied itself, though its eyes were filled with panic. Then, a flash of white light surged through its body, and it instantly transformed into a compact, seven-colored orb of light, which immediately began to sink into the ground. Yet, after a brief flash of yellow light, the orb only penetrated a few inches into the soil before being pushed back out again. This time, it was truly urgent. The colorful light orbs within the luminous wall swarmed around like disoriented flies, constantly colliding against the barrier—each one inevitably stopped. At that moment, a golden beam shot down from the tree, instantly enveloping a light orb that had just leapt into the air, completely unprepared. Then, a figure materialized on the ground—Han Li. The golden beam flew straight to his hands, precisely the golden gauze that Xuan Gu delivered to him earlier. Inside the gauze, the white rabbit revealed its true form, struggling desperately. Its outline blurred and sharpened repeatedly, growing larger and then smaller—yet none of this could break free. The golden gauze, adapting to the rabbit’s shifting form, expanded or contracted in tandem, firmly trapping it within. Seeing this, Han Li smiled with evident satisfaction. He brought the golden net closer, briefly observed the white rabbit, then without hesitation fastened it against his waist, settled himself into a meditative posture at the center of the array, and showed no intention of pausing the spell. Han Li now had to wait patiently for the Xuan Gu to unearth the true form of the "Nine-Curve Immortal Ginseng" before joining him. However, before that, he carefully removed the floral jade relic he had obtained from his storage pouch and placed it before him. Then, he released two golden-munching insects from the spirit-beast bags, allowing them to swirl continuously above his head, forming a magnificent, shimmering aura of gold and silver. Only then did he calmly close his eyes and enter meditation. All these preparations, Han Li hoped, would make the Xuan Gu person more considerate—preferably, without breaking relations, simply handing over the ginseng to him. He was well aware that only by demonstrating his own strength could their alliance continue. Of course, if the Xuan Gu truly decided to take action, he would not hesitate to act first. As for the "Nine-Curve Spirit Ginseng," regardless of whether it truly proves effective in consolidating a true immaterial infant essence, he absolutely had to secure it. After all, the reputation of this rare substance is truly outstanding—though it may not aid in forming the infant essence itself, it must surely possess other remarkable benefits. Thinking this, Han Li unconsciously opened his eyes and glanced at the Nine-Curve Spirit Ginseng, now manifesting as a white rabbit at his waist. To his astonishment, however, the little creature had lost all the vitality it once possessed, now drooping and appearing utterly weak and lifeless. Han Li's mind immediately snapped into action—he realized that the original essence of the ginseng must have been extracted by that figure of玄骨, otherwise it could not have transformed so dramatically. Instantly, his gaze shifted toward the high sky beyond the forest. After a meal's time, the personified shadow-cloud of the玄骨 finally drifted into view, coming to rest at the height of the magical array. Yet, he did not dissipate the cloud; instead, he simply floated there silently, motionless. Han Li stood up without expression, gazing straight at the dark clouds, showing no intention to speak. After a while, a cold voice from within the clouds echoed. "Your demeanor suggests you're preparing for a battle—what does that mean?" The voice was as icy and piercing as frost. "Nothing particularly significant. I merely have a modest level of cultivation, and I'm genuinely afraid that the elder might suddenly turn against me and act." Han Li spoke calmly. "Hmph! You're overthinking it! If I didn't wish to give you any spiritual treasures, why would I have taken the trouble to bring you all this way? Don't forget, I still need you to assist me in dealing with that rebellious disciple!" The voice of Xuan Gu, though firm, seemed restrained, as though suppressing anger. "The elder may not be aware of a saying: 'The circumstances change, and so do the needs.' When the elder first joined the Xutian Hall, it was indeed true that your help was essential. But now, the elder has other allies. As for me, I can no longer be certain." Han Li's eyes flashed with cold intensity, like blades of steel, fixed firmly upon Xuan Gu. "What "Xuan Gu's voice grew colder, and subtly hinted at surprise... "Master, there's no point in pretending any longer. Bring out the other one. I've just witnessed your transformation as you searched for the spiritual root. There's no need to hide anymore!" Han Li furrowed his brows, speaking with growing impatience. "As soon as he finished speaking, a sudden beam of yellow light shot forth from the overcast clouds, striking precisely upon the protective barrier of the array. The barrier's color instantly shifted from yellow to a vibrant crimson, and at the center of the array, it became intensely hot, as if it were a large oven. Han Li observed this scene without changing his expression. He merely sighed lightly and raised his hand, casting a silvery seal upon the barrier. The yellow and crimson hues fluctuated several times before settling back to their original hue, as though the previous intense heat had been nothing but a fleeting dream. As if remembering something, he immediately reached for the golden gauze at his waist, intent on tossing it far away. But as soon as Xu Gu's words fell, the gauze flashed and turned a deep, ink-black. Then it transformed into a delicate, fine black mist that swiftly surged and clung to Han Li's body, weaving him tightly within its embrace, tightening instantly. The rabbit trapped inside, however, was simply ignored and set aside—motionless, as if falling into a deep unconsciousness. Suddenly encased in this predicament, even Han Li's composure faltered, his expression shifting sharply. "Boy," came Xu Gu's booming, satisfied laugh from the clouds above, "how does the essence of the spectral silk taste? Can you still draw upon the slightest bit of inner magical power?" Upon hearing this, Han Li was startled and quickly summoned his inner energy, only for his face to grow pale and stern shortly thereafter.