No need for Han Li to search hard— the woman who spoke was a young lady dressed in black robes, her hair pinned with a wooden hairpin. She was beautifully poised, though her complexion was pale, with a luminous glow shimmering in her eyes, as though veiled in a soft sheen. What startled Han Li was that one of her sleeves hung empty— clearly, she had a missing arm. Before Han Li could speak, the woman, upon seeing his法宝 released, emitted a surprised, soft exclamation. "I didn't expect you to be a cultivator of Jie Dan stage, not merely a Qi Condensation-level novice. Remarkable indeed— your technique for concealing your energy is quite refined. I almost missed it myself." With a light chuckle, she said, her eyes sparkling. Upon her seated knees, the snowy cloud fox curled contentedly upon her legs, gazing curiously at Han Li with a most lively spirit. "It seems this is where the elder has been practicing all along. I apologize for not having noticed this earlier," Han Li thought, as he scanned her with his awareness. The person seemed as if they were transparent air, allowing the consciousness to pass through effortlessly without detecting any fluctuations of spiritual energy. This indicated either that the person had some rare treasure shielding their cultivation level, or that their cultivation was far superior to his. However, considering the person's tone and the techniques they had just demonstrated, the former explanation seemed unlikely. Han Li grew increasingly alert. "Given your young age, you've already reached the late Jiedan stage—this is truly remarkable." While Han Li was pondering his strategy, the young woman raised one pale, jade-like wrist, gently stroked the snow-cloud fox on her leg, and said calmly. "Thank you for the kind words, Master. I've only managed to reach this stage by sheer luck. But I'd like to know your esteemed name." Han Li exhaled softly and asked calmly. "My name isn't particularly special—once you hear it, you'll likely find it unremarkable. In fact, not even the Yuan婴 cultivators of your generation recognize me." The woman sighed slightly and said. Hearing this, Han Li was first taken aback, then felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Could it be that this young woman was indeed some hidden, ancient master who had long retired? Though his heart grew cold, his face remained calm. With his cultivation deepening and his mastery of secret techniques expanding, Han Li no longer felt as overwhelmingly intimidated by Yuan婴-stage cultivators as before. Especially after recently mastering the "Blood Shadow Evade," his confidence had grown significantly. If he had to engage in combat, he knew he would likely be defeated, but he was certain he could manage to escape unscathed—though at the cost of severe depletion of his vital essence, which would undoubtedly require him to close himself off for several years of rigorous recuperation. After all, such a mysterious figure, concealed right under the watchful eyes of the three great sects, must have some hidden intentions. Was she perhaps just as he was—drawn by the dense ambient qi of this place, and having deliberately come to seek it here? With this thought, Han Li glanced around the stone chamber, and was immediately struck by surprise. This solitary stone chamber stood alone, with no other connecting doors or gateways visible. Aside from the stone platform beneath the young woman, there was not a single table or chair in the entire room. The space felt utterly empty, exuding a cool, crisp sense of stillness. Han Li, being particularly attentive, noticed something subtle—the walls of these stone chambers were extremely rough, far from the smooth, even surfaces typically achieved by the precise slicing of flying swords or magical implements. Instead, they appeared as though hacked out by a massive axe, struck here and there with uneven force, leaving them deeply uneven and textured. Upon observing these details, Han Li's eyes flashed with a subtle expression of curiosity. Seeming to sense his inner doubt, the young woman suddenly smiled lightly and said, "Should you have any questions, why not run your hands along the stone walls? That would surely clarify your thoughts." Moved by her words, Han Li felt a spark of inspiration. "Then, with your kind suggestion, I shall not hesitate." Han Li indeed felt a slight curiosity. He had already used his spiritual awareness to probe the stone thoroughly, finding no unusual features—nothing distinguished from ordinary green stone. He slowly walked toward the stone wall on his left. Yet, to be cautious, Han Li never relaxed his vigilance over the young woman beside him, fearing she might suddenly strike him. Though she had shown no signs of ill will so far, Han Li, having weathered so many trials over the years, was far more cautious than most. Upon reaching the wall, he gently touched it, finding no anomalies. Then, after a moment's thought, he extended one finger. A flash of green light appeared on the tip, forming a blade of green light several inches long. Han Li swiftly stabbed forward, only to be astonished by what unfolded—the green light blade struck the green stone wall with a series of crisp cracks, yet was halted completely, leaving no trace at all. Han Li was not only startled, but also somewhat unconvinced. Suddenly, he drew upon all his spiritual energy, raising the sword's glow to a length of nearly a foot, and struck it hard against the wall. The stone wall remained undamaged, with not even a trace of a scratch appearing. Han Li's face showed surprise; without further words, he pointed at the flying sword circling above his head. The sword transformed into a streak of jade-green light, plunged straight down, then gracefully returned to its original position. Yet, a shallow hole only an inch deep appeared on the stone wall, which then slowly smoothed out and vanished within moments. "What is this? How can it repair itself automatically? Did the elder perhaps cast some kind of spell or incantation on it?" Han Li gasped, turning to ask, his face filled with astonishment. "You're far too generous in your estimation of me. This is Qingjin Stone—also known as Spirit-Absorbing Stone—a rare material used in crafting artifacts. Aside from being struck with tremendous force, no spell or magical artifact's energy can affect it at all." The young woman spoke calmly. "Qingjin Stone?" "The younger disciple has never heard of such a material," said Han Li, his brows slightly furrowed as he turned away from the stone wall and returned to his original spot, speaking slowly. "Hehe, of course, you wouldn't be familiar with this either. This item was quite rare even back in the age of the wild frontier. Now, those who know of it—there aren't many." The young wife spoke with ease. Han Li found this a bit surprising and was about to speak when the young wife smiled gently and added, "Although your cultivation has nearly reached the stage of a pseudo-infant, I believe your innate potential is rather poor—perhaps even utterly lacking. It must have been some remarkable fortune that allowed you to reach this level. Otherwise, no matter how hard you worked, you'd only manage to reach the Foundation Stage. The fact that you've come all this way to meet me is itself a sign of good fortune. If you don't mind, I'd like to offer you a piece of my treasure that might prove beneficial to your journey." "May I borrow your treasure?" Han Li was taken aback by what she said, and then his expression turned strange. "Of course, my actions come with certain conditions," she continued. "First, this item is merely temporarily lent to you—upon return, you must return it in full. Second, once you possess this treasure, you will be required to accomplish a specific task for me. That will serve as the compensation for the loan." It seemed that the young woman had sensed Han Li's hesitation, and with a serious expression, she said coldly. Then she reached into her sleeve and produced a square jade box. The box was dark in color, only about the size of a clenched fist. Its surface was rough and simple, with a slightly yellowish hue, as though it had been in use for many years. Han Li observed the young woman's expression and then glanced at the dark box, saying neither yes nor no, his face shifting between clouded and uncertain. After a moment of thoughtful silence, he finally asked seriously, "Could my esteemed mentor kindly explain what this treasure is exactly? Then I shall consider how best to proceed." Seeing Han Li's hesitant expression, the black-robed young woman grew slightly impatient, lifting her delicate brows and pointing at the black case. "I'm sure you're familiar with the Spirit-Eye Stone. The precious gem within this case—the Supreme Essence of the Spirit-Eye Stone—is exactly what I'm referring to. With the qi it provides, at least during the period before your infant stage, your false infant state will be stabilized by three parts. This will surely make the process of forming your true infant body much smoother. When the time comes to solidify your infant form, you'll find it significantly easier. This treasure has accompanied me for many years. Had it not been for my current cultivation level—something that cannot be achieved solely through rigorous practice—it would not have been so easily lent to you." As she finished speaking, she gently stroked the black jade case, her face subtly revealing a sense of reluctance. "The Spirit-Eye Jade!" Han Li's expression changed several times. With this item, his journey to the false infant stage would be shortened by at least one-third, and possibly even more. The words he had originally intended to say in refusal now slipped back into his throat. "I wonder, then, what the elder would like me "If even my senior peers cannot manage it, how could I possibly assist you?" After a moment's hesitation, Han Li finally sighed and said. "Don't worry! I'm not asking you to fight battles or save lives. All I need is for you to run a simple errand. Though my cultivation level is extremely high, I've been unable to leave this stone chamber due to certain circumstances. However, there is a letter that needs to be delivered to someone." Seeing Han Li finally agree, the young wife beamed with delight. "Just a letter?" This surprised Han Li greatly. "Of course! Do you really think I'd ask you to fight or save anyone?" The black-robed young wife covered her delicate lips, smiled gently, and her grace radiated in every gesture.