"Master says this is the realm of the Underworld. Does this have any connection with the legendary realm of the Department of the Dead? What exactly is this place? Our magical energies have been sealed—do we have any means to restore them to their original state? Most importantly, I do not wish to remain here. I would kindly ask the Elder to point us toward a clear path forward." Han Li furrowed his brows and then exhaled deeply, asking. "Back? If returning were truly easy, why would we still be stuck here, living day by day in a state of constant uncertainty? After all, most of the people in this place are born and raised here. Only a small number of us, like yourselves, were drawn here by the strange mist. Most visitors entering this realm are swiftly devoured by the shadow beasts. Only those with exceptional fortune survive and make it to the village. Our relatives and friends are likewise scattered beyond this place." The elder shook his head, sighing. Han Li listened silently, at a loss. "As for what exactly this place is—whether it's connected to the realm of the Underworld—how could anyone know for sure? However, many of our predecessors who arrived earlier have speculated on this matter. One theory, quite similar to what the friend mentioned, suggests that this is a spatial rift where the realm of the Underworld meets the human world. That would explain the dense, ethereal aura of the Underworld here, yet the inability to form particularly powerful Underworld beasts. Another theory, however, posits that there is no such realm of the Underworld at all—only a misperception passed down among cultivators. According to them, this place lies within the belly of a legendary beast—Rohu—known to be capable of swallowing the sun and moon and instantly traversing through space. Only such a creature could account for the strange fog appearing in different sea regions and the phenomenon that this place remains isolated from the outside world for several years before reconnecting." To be sure, the legendary Luo Hua dragon-beast is known for its fondness of dwelling deep beneath the sea, feeding only once after a long period of time. "Luo Hua dragon-beast? Impossible! This creature is even less reliable than the Yin Shi realm. I certainly don't believe that such a beast truly exists among our generation." Hearing the elder's assumption, Han Li's face grew pale. "Indeed. When I first heard this account, I was equally astonished as my friend. Though the idea seems far-fetched, it does hold some merit. If spatial fissures were to remain open continuously, they should open at a fixed point on the outside world. Yet in reality, every time the Yin Ming realm connects with the outside, the people drawn in come from several different sea regions. These individuals have never even heard of the names of other sea areas. For instance, myself, I hail from a small island in the southern province of the Da Jin Dynasty." As for the other cultivators, some hailed from the Five-Drake Sea, others from the coastal regions of the Tiansha Continent, and still others from the Chaotic Stars Sea. Before they had ever met, most of them were unaware of exactly where these seas were located. The elder spoke slowly. "Great Jin Dynasty! Is your cultivation journey from the Jin State?" Han Li expressed a moment of surprise. This was precisely the name of the superpower he had heard about during his time in the southern regions. "Then, are you also from our Great Jin Dynasty?" The elder's eyes instantly brightened. "Not exactly. However, I have heard a few things about it. I know it's an extremely large nation. I've always longed to visit it, but unfortunately, never had the opportunity." Han Li shook his head. "Ah, that's quite disappointing. I truly hope I still get the chance to return someday!" The elder looked somewhat disheartened. "Hehe! If you ever visit our Great Jin Dynasty, you'll truly understand what it means to live in a true cultivation realm." As far as I know, while there are many regions where other cultivators dwell, none can compare to our Dajin realm in terms of scale and prosperity. Indeed, it would be no exaggeration to call our Dajin nation the sacred haven of cultivators in this realm. When speaking of his homeland, the elder grew animated and enthusiastic. Han Li rubbed his nose, though he maintained a wry smile on his face—he found himself genuinely moved by the elder's words. "Ah, I've somewhat strayed from the topic. You previously inquired about whether there is a way to restore one's cultivation abilities and divine powers here. I can clearly inform you that, as long as you remain in this Yinming realm, you should not expect your former powers to return. In addition to the Yinming Qi, there exists another substance known as Ju Ling Qi. This Qi is normally deep within the Earth's Lung, but periodically erupts from deep beneath the ground, spreading throughout the entire space. Any cultivator within its influence range will lose all their cultivation abilities and powers—this phenomenon is entirely unchangeable. "You've just been drawn in by coincidence, haven't you, when the crack opened and the Jueling Qi erupted simultaneously?" the elder smiled gently. Hearing this, Han Li felt a wave of frustration. If it weren't for this unfortunate turn of events, he wouldn't have been captured by such a mere ghost mist. He'd long since been wandering off somewhere, enjoying his freedom. "Once we've entered this place, is there truly no chance of ever leaving? I still don't believe it!" Han Li said, after a moment of silence, with a tone of determination. "It's not quite that simple. There's actually a clear and straightforward method laid out right there—though it still depends on someone being able to achieve it," the elder said, stroking his beard calmly. "What method is that?" Han Li's face lit up with excitement, and he quickly asked. At the side, Mei Ning, who had been visibly uncertain and pale since hearing the elder's earlier words, also felt a renewed sense of energy. "This...," the elder hesitated, his expression showing a moment of thoughtful deliberation, and did not immediately respond. "Wait a moment—do either of you have any difficulty?" Han Li's expression changed, revealing a touch of unusual concern. "I assure you, there's nothing to hide. Though I'd like to see more cultivators join our village, I certainly won't be deliberately obstructing either of you. My only fear is that, eager to leave, you might inadvertently lose your lives!" Observing the subtle shifts in Han Li's and Mei Ning's expressions, the elder narrowed his eyes, speaking with evident depth. Upon hearing this, Han Li was momentarily startled, then smiled lightly. "Rest assured. Though I may appear young, I've been cultivating for many years and am no stranger to careful judgment. Should the situation truly prove insurmountable, I would certainly not rush into danger. Still, I'd like to hear your method of escape first—perhaps that will reveal just where the difficulty lies." After this, Han Li's smile faded, and he asked seriously. "Since you've expressed such confidence, then I shall no longer withhold anything." After a moment's thought, the plump elder finally agreed. …After a while, Han Li walked out of the hall without a word, standing at the doorway and lifting his gaze toward the distance, seemingly deep in thought. "Brother Han, what shall we do now? Are you truly going to climb that Storm Mountain?" Mei Ning stood behind him, biting her lower lip as she asked. At that moment, her face was pale as paper. She had completely lost hope in the method the old man had suggested, believing it utterly impossible to achieve. "I haven't fully decided yet, but I'll certainly make an effort to try," Han Li said softly, gazing upward at the sky. Mei Ning's expression brightened at this, and as she was about to say more, footsteps suddenly approached them. A young boy, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with dark, sturdy features, came forward curiously. "You two must be the newcomers," he said. "I've been sent by the Elder to escort you to your quarters. Since you're both new, you'll enjoy free meals for the first three days. After that, however, you'll need to take on assigned tasks. Otherwise, you'll have to leave the village and seek your own livelihood." The young man stared intently with his dark eyes, speaking fluently. "Well, then, you lead the way!" Han Li said indifferently. Nodding, the young man said no more and immediately led the two of them toward one corner of the village. After a short while, he brought them into a relatively neat stone cottage. When Mei Ning saw that there was only a single stone bed large enough to accommodate both of them, her face turned instantly crimson. "How come there's only one bed here?" she asked the young man hesitantly. "Don't two people sharing a room naturally sleep on the same bed?" the young man blinked, seeming puzzled. Hearing this, Mei Ning's face grew even redder. Though she wanted to explain, she found herself unable to speak. "We usually sleep separately. Just bring another stone bed, please," Han Li said, surveying the outer room and then speaking calmly to the young man. The young man sighed slightly, though somewhat reluctant, and agreed, then stepped out. "You rest a while, I'll take a walk around the village first!" As soon as the young man had stepped out, Han Li didn't hesitate to say this to the woman. Mei Ning's face showed a moment of surprise, but she silently nodded without speaking further. Han Li then stepped out of the room, glanced around briefly, and then walked steadily toward the tall, central stone platform. He was particularly interested in the method of controlling the yin-ming energy. There were no guards stationed around the platform, so Han Li easily approached it. Due to the platform's great height, the steps built along one side were steep and almost daunting. After circling the platform several times, Han Li effortlessly ascended the steps.