Han Li and the others naturally had no objections. At once, the young man named Yu activated the massive basin beneath his feet and headed straight toward the distant "Heaven Spring Peak." Along the way, they encountered several passing cultivators, mostly early-stage Qi-level practitioners, who immediately bowed and greeted the young man with respect, as though he already enjoyed a certain reputation within the Luoyun Sect. The only cultivator at the Foundation Stage they met was a yellow-robed figure with pointed ears and a round, lively face. He was just descending from the Heaven Spring Peak, riding a flying fork. Upon seeing Yu, he was momentarily startled, then quickly smiled warmly and greeted, "Yu brother, are these new recruits? It seems like there aren't many of them!" He showed great enthusiasm toward Yu, yet barely glanced at Han Li and the other independent cultivators, displaying a distinctly worldly demeanor. "Ah, it's Master Yan! These people still need to undergo the Mind-Truth Test. Only after reporting to the Abbot can they officially be recognized as our sect's disciples." "Right now, I'm merely a candidate." The vigorous young man with the surname Yu, upon seeing the yellow-robed cultivator, slightly furrowed his brow unconsciously, but still replied calmly. "Ah, that's understandable. As you know, I still lack two skilled seal-making disciples for my seal crafting work. Why don't we simply assign two of these candidates directly to my sect?" The yellow-robed cultivator, after a quick glance, immediately smiled warmly. At that moment, his eyes swept over the group of people behind the young man. Han Li maintained his usual composure, though he felt somewhat uneasy. The cultivator's gaze made him uncomfortable—like he was treating them merely as items to be considered. Moreover, the tone suggested he intended to use them as mere laborers. The other several independent cultivators, upon hearing this, exchanged slightly concerned glances, clearly sharing a similar impression of the man. "Master Yan, I'm truly unable to make a decision on this matter. As you know, the assignment of disciples has always been the掌门's responsibility." If Master truly feels that the seal-enscribing disciples are insufficient, he may apply directly to the Abbot. As for me, I have other matters to attend to, and Master Miao is still awaiting us at Yingsong Pavilion. I shall therefore not stay any longer." The young man, well acquainted with the temperament of the yellow-robed cultivator, promptly rejected the latter's overly demanding request and immediately devised a pretext. With a swift motion of his foot, he activated his magical artifact and swiftly transported himself and Han Li, along with the others, toward a pavilion located at the foot of the mountain. Though the yellow-robed cultivator had intended to continue pressing his point, upon hearing the name "Master Miao," a moment of hesitation crossed his face, and he found himself unable to stop the young man's departure. Watching the figures of the young man and his companions enter the distant pavilion, the yellow-robed cultivator remained visibly unsettled. After a moment of thoughtful reflection, he suddenly snorted, and then transformed into a beam of yellow light, flying off toward another mountain peak. At that moment, the young man and Han Li had already entered the first floor of the pavilion, while a stranger appeared across from them. Seeing the slender young man seated in a teak armchair, engrossed in a scroll of bamboo tablets, Han Li was struck with surprise. Though only in his thirties or early forties, the young man's cultivation had already reached the late Foundation Stage. Although still in the early phase of late Foundation, not yet fully consolidated, he was undoubtedly a rare natural talent. At his current age, Han Li himself had a strong chance of forming a Golden Elixir and advancing to the Condensation Stage—hence, it was no wonder that the irritable yellow-robed cultivator, upon hearing the young man's name, had ceased his persistent pursuit. The other accompanying cultivators, upon witnessing such an impressive level of attainment, exchanged startled glances. At that moment, the young man had already set down his bamboo scroll, glanced at Yu, and softly inquired, "Yu brother, thank you for your efforts. The younger brother from Locksmoke Peak intercepted you earlier." "Since you've already known this, why ask again? And is he still pursuing Peilin sister?" The well-dressed young man frowned slightly and asked, "What do you mean by 'that person'? Even if Yan Shizhong is a bit overbearing, he is still one of our fellow disciples from Luoyun Sect. Yu Shizhong's words have been somewhat inappropriate; he should pay more attention to that in the future. Otherwise, if Master hears about it, he'll surely give him a good reprimand." The slightly pale young man spoke with a hint of mild criticism, yet his voice remained calm and without any visible irritation. Yet this calmness unexpectedly made Yu Shizhong feel a sudden sense of alertness. He quickly responded, "Brother's advice is most fair. I will certainly take it to heart." Upon hearing Yu's apology, the thin young man finally broke into a gentle smile. He nodded, then turned his gaze to Han Li and the others, carefully observing each of them one by one. His inspection was thorough and deliberate—slow, methodical, and complete from head to toe—so attentive that most of the people present grew increasingly uneasy. However, perhaps it was a mere illusion of Han Li’s, he noticed that whenever the other’s gaze fell upon the bearded man, it seemed to pause instinctively, then swiftly shift to someone else. Given Han Li’s level of cultivation, it was impossible for the other to detect any flaw. Yet, he quietly noted this observation in his mind. A short while later, the young senior returned his gaze, then calmly ran a hand along his waist, producing a series of shimmering talismans in his palm. "There are only seven of them this time, which is quite close to my expectations. If there had been more, I might have found myself short on my heart-reading talismans. Brother Yu will attach these talismans to each of the guests shortly, and once the effects take hold, he will bring them to my practice room." The senior’s voice remained calm and composed. After placing the talismans into the young man’s hands, he rose and walked toward the second floor without turning back. However, as the thin young man slowly ascended the staircase along the corner, he suddenly bent over and coughed violently, as if in great pain—though the cause remained unexplained. The coughing was sharp and intense, yet soon after, he straightened up and vanished from view at the staircase entrance, leaving the others in surprise. Though his tone sounded a bit eerie and intimidating, no one dared to step forward at that moment. Thus, the young man with the surname Yu relaxed slightly, nodded, and with a sweeping motion of his hands, seven beams of silver light shot out, precisely settling one on each person's right shoulder. After that, the young man sat cross-legged without haste, paying no attention to the seven people who began meditating with closed eyes. Now, the bearded men and others exchanged glances, puzzled. Though each had thoughts of his own, none dared to tear off the inner-guilt scroll, and thus they simply stared at one another, waiting patiently. At this point, Han Li slightly turned his head, glanced at the silver scroll now close to his shoulder, and gave a subtle upward curve to his lips—only to immediately return to his usual composure. Not long after, the scroll on Han Li's shoulder suddenly glowed intensely, then flickered in and out of brightness. The seated young man with the surname Yu sensed something was amiss, opened his eyes, and spoke to Han Li with a neutral tone: "Go up there by yourself. Master Miao is waiting for you." Hán Lì listened to this and glanced at the scroll on the side. Without further words, he lifted his leg and walked off. A moment later, he stood on the second floor of the pavilion. Han Li sighed, nodded seriously, and sat down on the mat before the young man. Yet in his heart, he coldly chuckled. If the art of inner examination could truly reveal his true thoughts, then indeed there must be something magical going on! "Very well," he said, "let's begin. Start with your origins..." The young man from the Miao sect glanced at the silver seal shimmering on Han Li's shoulders and began his questions.