Upon hearing the man's voice, Han Li was slightly taken aback. The surface of the water beneath shimmered, and then, with a flash of white light, a cultivator emerged slowly from within. He wore the white robes of the Star Palace, his black hair flowing to his shoulders, a jade-encrusted green headband resting on his forehead. He gazed at Han Li with composed calm. Yet, as Han Li studied the man's face more closely, he was struck with surprise and wonder. The man's face was as smooth and pure as jade, his dark brows arched over his temples, his eyes like phoenix eyes, his nose refined, and his lips rosy and delicate—indeed, a stunningly beautiful figure. What was even more astonishing to Han Li was that he could not determine whether the man was male or female. If he thought of him as a woman, the relaxed smile at his lips and his graceful manner spoke clearly of a womanly elegance. If he thought of him as a man, the sheer beauty and charm of his features, especially the subtle allure in his expression, were utterly captivating to any man. "My good friend, may I ask your name? I am Ling Yuling, the external affairs magistrate "The person's voice was pleasant, yet neutral—something that caused a slight frown on Han Li's brow, who murmured to himself continuously. Han Li found himself immediately recalling Tiannan's Mochuan Sect's Tian Buxie. Yet upon closer examination, the two seemed quite different. Though Tian Buxie was exceptionally handsome, his mannerisms and voice clearly revealed his identity as a man. In contrast, the one now facing him—self-proclaimed Ling Yuling—though moving with all the grace of a man, carried an unmistakable feminine elegance beneath. Moreover, her voice was deep and resonant, with a magnetic quality, making it difficult to determine whether she was male or female. "My name is Han Li. What I did earlier was merely a small favor. Had it not been for your persistent insistence, I would never have taken such decisive action," Han Li said, visibly surprised, yet with no outward sign of it. "Regardless, Ling, I am truly grateful to you." Ling Yuling smiled gently, a touch of charm subtly radiating from her. Han Li looked on, a cold shiver running through him. Without knowing whether the person before him was male or female, he could only overlook their graceful appearance. "Master is so eager to proceed—does he intend to go to Tianxing City? It should now be on high alert, difficult to enter. If Master does not mind, Lin will be honored to escort Master into the city and report his gratitude for the rescue." Lin Yuling set aside her smile, her eyes sharpening as she spoke with serious gravity. "Very well. Since you were able to act decisively and eliminate those two without hesitation, you naturally have the right to enter the city without any further proof. We at the Star Palace are most delighted to welcome you! However, the cultivators being pursued this time are not just these two—there are several others with strong inner powers as well. Therefore, we should make haste and depart from here." Upon hearing this, Ling Yuling immediately smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling with grace and charm, her gaze shifting with elegance. Could this possibly be the kind of cultivation technique you're referring to? Han Li found himself thinking with a certain sense of curiosity. Noticing Han Li's attention, the stunning woman suddenly offered him a graceful, seductive smile, which made Han Li feel momentarily embarrassed and turned to look back. "Your possession of two ancient treasures suggests you are indeed a truly fortunate individual. Might I ask, what is the origin of the bronze ring treasure? I have had the privilege of seeing several other ancient artifacts, but never encountered anything quite like this before." Ling Yuling advanced through the space, occasionally drawing attention to Han Li's treasures. "Nothing special—just a bit more fortune than most people," Han Li naturally brushed off the question, maintaining his composure. "Indeed, it's remarkable that you alone have defeated two cultivators of the same level. Would you be interested in joining our Star Palace? I can personally recommend you." Upon seeing that Han Li was unwilling to respond, Ling Yuling smiled lightly and decided not to press the matter further, then shifted the topic to speak about recruitment. Hearing this, Han Li from Dunguang furrowed his brows. This Ling Yuling seemed quite difficult to handle! Even before bringing him into the city, she had already begun setting him a series of challenges. He firmly believed that the cultivators joining the Star Palace these days were merely becoming expendable—there was no way he would become a mere pawn himself. After a moment's thought, Han Li cleared his throat and said carefully: "Though I have long admired your palace, the Miao Yin Sect once rendered me a great favor. As a guest senior elder at Miao Yin, I have been in this position for several years and may find it difficult to commit at this time. I sincerely apologize for this." Han Li once again brought up the Miao Yin Sect as a shield. "That's quite all right. Han friend's loyalty to his duties is truly admirable. We at the Star Palace welcome guests such as you at any time." In the bright light, Ling Yuling, seeing Han Li gently decline the attempt at alliance, did not show any displeasure. Instead, she smiled faintly and began chatting with Han Li about various anecdotes and curiosities from the Chaixing Sea. Later, she tactfully avoided mentioning anything about the Star Palace or the Inverse Star Alliance. Han Li naturally appreciated this swift shift in tone and found it easy to keep up with the conversation. The two simply drifted forward in calm, relaxed talk. The yellow-faced cultivator also expressed a touch of surprise and asked in turn, "Ling, are you all right? As soon as I heard about the attack on Nanming Island, I was deeply worried. Oh! Who is this guest?" He glanced at Han Li several times, his expression somewhat doubtful. "I was pursued by two cultivators from the Inverse Star Alliance on my way here, and it was thanks to this Han cultivator who saved me. Since Han's residence is in Tianxing City, I brought him along with me. Would it be a problem to have him enter the city?" Ling Yulin replied calmly. He appeared slightly paler than when he first met Han Li, perhaps due to fatigue from the journey or internal injuries, giving off a delicate, frail impression. "Since he is the one who saved Ling, there's no issue at all. Ling, are you injured?" The yellow-faced cultivator's expression conveyed deep concern. This touched Han Li's heart, prompting a subtle sense of appreciation within him. "No matter." Though struck by the other's divine artifact, I am protected by my Heavenly Fragrance Cord and have only minor injuries." A faint blush rose on Ling Yuling's beautifully fair face, yet her expression grew even more composed and distant. "I have a specially prepared Tianling Pill here. Ling, my younger brother, please take it and consume it first—so as not to lose your vital energy." Upon hearing this, the yellow-faced cultivator seemed even more concerned. After a moment's hesitation, he produced a small bottle from his robes and offered it to her with great courtesy. Ling Yuling, witnessing this scene, immediately frowned, as if ready to speak out in anger. But then, as though remembering something, she suddenly turned from displeased to delighted, her bright eyes sparkling with warmth. "Then, brother, I am truly grateful for your generous gift. Before I proceed, I must first report back to the Inner Palace regarding the affairs of Nanming Island. As for this friend, Han, I would be most grateful if you could escort him into the city. Please treat me, your life-saving guest, with the utmost hospitality." "Lin Yuling extended a delicate, pale hand, smiling warmly as she took the small vial. Instantly, she appeared exquisitely graceful and full of charm, completely transforming into a woman." "No problem," said the yellow-faced cultivator. "Master Wang is on duty today and won't be difficult to our junior. Just hand this over to my senior, and I'll take care of the rest." Seeing Lin Yuling speak so gently and warmly, the yellow-faced cultivator beamed with delight, even clapping his chest firmly to express his confidence. Yet, Han Li noticed a subtle expression of surprise on his face. Could it be that this person was indeed a woman? Otherwise, why would the yellow-faced cultivator be so enchanted? A few questions now stirred in Han Li's mind.