Just as Han Li had settled down, a sound of rushing air came from the distant sky. They glanced at Xuan Gu and Qing Yi Monks, then coldly found another spot to gather, whispering to each other as if discussing some secret matter. Master Ji Yin, observing this scene, gently exhaled through his nose and then closed his eyes to meditate. Han Li, however, could not match Master Ji Yin's calm demeanor. Instead, he fixed his gaze on a particular direction, as though observing something. Yet, if one carefully observed Han Li's eyes, one would notice that they were slightly unfocused—clearly distracted, as though preoccupied with thoughts of his own. After a meal, several to six cultivators arrived by flying through the air. Among them, two white-robed senior monks from the Star Palace also arrived without any fuss. The only Yuan-Stage cultivator still missing was the one with the thick beard. Half an hour later, the thick-bearded cultivator had still not appeared. Now, the others—Wan Tianming and the others—cast upon Jiyin and the Rusan elder a look that was distinctly different, yet Jiyin and the Rusan elder remained as composed as ever. Han Li, standing closer to the two, subtly noticed a subtle undercurrent of anxiety subtly seeping through their calm expressions. Clearly, without the bearded warrior, these two master magicians of the demonic path now felt they were no match for the orthodox cultivators and had grown increasingly concerned. Time passed steadily. Eventually, even their outward composure faltered; their expressions grew stern and sharp, and they began to glance frequently toward the heavens. Though this space seemed to lack day and night, always bathed in bright sunlight, Han Li estimated that by now, the passage of one full day had nearly elapsed. Could it be that the bearded warrior—the foremost master of the demonic path at Xutian Hall—had indeed encountered an unforeseen incident? Han Li himself began to wonder. If such a thing had truly happened, he could not yet tell whether it would prove a blessing or a curse for him. Just as Han Li and Ji Yin, along with all the others, could not settle down, and as the expressions of the orthodox cultivators grew increasingly unwelcoming, a piercing, stone-shattering roar erupted from beyond the heavens. This roar surged like a tidal wave, growing ever more powerful and fierce with each wave, shaking the faces of all the seated cultivators with astonishment. Upon hearing this sound, both Ji Yin Master and the scholar-dressed elder immediately displayed signs of ease, exchanging a warm, satisfied smile. Even after the scholar-dressed elder chuckled softly, he added, "It seems Master Huan is in good spirits—perhaps he's secured some unexpected gains." "Hmph! What could be unexpected here? At best, he's just managed to harvest the longevity fruits more smoothly," replied Ji Yin Master, shaking his head with indifference. The scholar-dressed elder smiled slightly, about to speak when suddenly, a golden-yellow orb burst forth from the distant horizon, streaking through the sky like a celestial meteor, arriving directly above the assembly in mere moments. The elder immediately fell silent. Han Li's eyes flashed with unusual light as he gazed at the figure within the luminous orb, his heart racing in quiet astonishment. In fact, it wasn't just him—other cultivators who had witnessed the power of "Tuo Tian Mo Gong" for the first time likewise looked stunned. The image of the bearded man, surrounded by golden light, was so strange and otherworldly that it seemed almost divine, evoking a sense of awe and reverence. At this moment, the man radiated golden spikes all over his body, and on his bare arms, legs, and face, dense clusters of golden scales—each the size of copper coins—had emerged. These scales gleamed like solid gold, shimmering with a cold, sharp luster, conveying an unmistakable sense of strength and durability, as if they could never be broken. "Is this what 'Tuo Tian Mo Gong' truly is? It seems truly impressive!" said Wu Chou, standing on the other side of the elder. He drew in a sharp breath, his expression filled with wonder, clearly deeply impressed by the bearded man's appearance. "Hmph. Just a turtle shell, that's all!" Xuan Yin, when practiced to its highest level, is no weaker than the Tuo Tian Magic Power." The Ji Yin Master listened to Wu Chou's words, coldly glanced at him, and said with slight displeasure. This made Wu Chou suddenly recall that his own grandfather had long been at odds with this bearded barbarian. By praising him so warmly, wasn't he deliberately making the Ji Yin Master feel uncomfortable? He immediately felt embarrassed, nodded several times in agreement, and stopped speaking altogether. At that moment, the bearded barbarian, surveying the scene with a look of superiority, immediately spotted the Ji Yin and his companions. Without hesitation, he descended straight down. A tremendous roar echoed, causing the ground nearby to tremble slightly. The barbarian landed right beside the Ji Yin group. Then, his scales gradually retreated and his golden glow faded, eventually disappearing completely. "It seems that Brother Man has certainly gained much from this visit! Otherwise, he wouldn't be so enthusiastic," said the scholarly elder, who had not yet opened his mouth, as he bowed gracefully with a smile. "Haha!" There were indeed some gains. I slew a snow-ice toad near the longevity fruit tree, and its inner essence is of great benefit to my Tuo-Tian Magic Power. Yet Master Mu still seemed not fully excited, and upon seeing the elder inquire, he spoke without hesitation. This came as a surprise to the others, especially to Elder Jie Yin, who found themselves momentarily uncertain whether what he said was true or not, and exchanged puzzled glances. "Then truly, congratulations to Brother Mu! Should the Tuo-Tian Magic Power continue to advance, I believe Brother Mu will be capable of challenging the Two Saints and even the Six Paths." Elder Qing Yi, after a brief pause, was the first to regain his smile and offer the words. Elder Jie Yin then also composed himself and added a few words of congratulations. As Mu's beard twitched with a chuckle, he seemed ready to say more—yet then his eyes suddenly narrowed, fixed firmly on Han Li. A moment later, a strange expression crossed his face, and then a sudden surge of powerful aura erupted from him. Han Li, who was foremost in the situation, instantly felt a tightness throughout his body. Then, his limbs grew heavy as though burdened by a thousand pounds, and he could not move or stir an inch. Most astonishing of all, under the gaze of the other, he felt an icy chill that penetrated both his body and his mind. Han Li's face turned pale, and without hesitation, the Daxian Technique automatically began to circulate, firmly safeguarding his spirit. As a result, a faint flush returned to his face, and he felt his body resume normalcy. "Huh!" The burly man was momentarily surprised. Yet, as soon as he noticed, a look of genuine delight appeared on his face. Just as he was about to take another action, the Master of Extreme Yin suddenly stepped forward, intercepting Han Li. "Brother Man, what is your intention? Why do you treat your junior disciple with such arrogance?" asked the Master of Extreme Yin, calmly dismissing the aura of the burly man. "Junior disciple?" The burly man was first taken aback, then his expression darkened. "Extreme Yin, are you deliberately mocking me?" Besides the Wu Chou youth, when did another disciple appear in the Xutian Hall? After giving Wu Chou a dismissive glance, he spoke without hesitation, clearly ready to take action if anything were amiss. "Ah, Man Brother, you've misunderstood. This young friend, Han Li, only recently joined Wu's disciples today. It's quite natural that you're unaware of this development," the Qingyi Monastic quickly explained with a cheerful smile. Now, Han Li is of utmost importance to them, so any mistake would be unacceptable. "Indeed, you're receiving a disciple here at Ji Yin Island? I didn't catch that right!" Though he had heard the elder's explanation, Man Brother remained astonished and studied Han Li again and again. "Although Han Li is still only a registered disciple and hasn't yet formally undergone the ceremony of becoming a disciple, he is now officially considered part of Ji Yin Island. I hope Man Brother will forgive him a little!" Jiyin Master smiled gently at Man Brother. The Man with the Wild Beard blinked, gazing steadily at the Elder of Jiyin and the Scholarly Old Man for a moment, then turned to look at Han Li before suddenly bursting into laughter. "Excellent! Truly excellent! Your disciple is indeed a fine choice—besides the obvious, his awareness is at least several times stronger than that of your grandson. With proper cultivation, he has great potential. Hah! Great potential indeed!" The Man with the Wild Beard smiled warmly as he said this, and there seemed to be a deeper meaning in the final words. "You must be jesting!" As soon as the bearded man said this, both the Master of Extreme Yin and the elder were startled. Qing Yi quickly stepped in, taking over the conversation. "Heh! If he's unwilling, that's fine. Honestly, I'd find it rather troublesome to take on a disciple! But, Qing, I'm specifically eyeing your disciple—what's all the fuss you're making about? Does it really seem like there's something unspoken going on with this young man?" The bearded man chuckled, stroked his beard, and then suddenly grew serious. As soon as he finished speaking, the elder's expression slightly changed, but he quickly regained composure and glanced at the Master of Extreme Yin.