By the time they reached the outer hall, the inner stronghold of the Fu family had already been completely cleared out. Aside from streaks of blood still smeared on the ground, it seemed as though the core disciples of the Fu family had been utterly wiped out—so thoroughly that even their bodies had turned to ash. However, some of the cultivators had ascended to higher altitudes on their flying vehicles, hovering and surveying the inner stronghold, and soon discovered that the commoners residing in the outer stronghold and several lower-tier disciples from the outer branches of the Fu family remained unharmed and alive. They were entirely unaware of the upheaval unfolding within the inner stronghold and continued with their daily affairs. It appeared that the attackers either regarded these individuals as insignificant or believed that eliminating the core lineage of the Fu family would be sufficient to ensure the family's complete disappearance. Naturally, shaken by such a dramatic event, the cultivators could not remain any longer. Most of the independent practitioners immediately took to their flying vehicles and departed from the scene of turmoil. A smaller group, after exchanging a few quiet words, also began to leave one by one. The demise of the Fu family was undoubtedly a significant event—no matter whether one was a close ally or a rival— This news is bound to cause a stir! Moreover, this time even two of the Mag-Flame Sect's protectors have perished right here. Regardless of whether the cultivator who caused the Pay family's extinction has truly reached the Yuan-Ying stage, the Mag-Flame Sect surely must take action! Their immediate task is to swiftly deliver this news to both the family and the sect, aiming to gain an early advantage or be well-prepared in anticipation of any unfolding developments. However, just as the last few cultivators were hastily departing the Pay family's fortress, several unfamiliar green-robed cultivators arrived late from outside, entering the Zhi Dao Mountain. Upon seeing the Pay family's fortress, its protective seals now open due to the absence of a host, they were utterly astonished. At that moment, the outer academy disciples stationed at the outer fortress finally became aware of the crisis unfolding within the inner fortress, and the entire Pay family's stronghold became chaotic. Observing the lower-level Qi-cultivator disciples shouting and panicking, the green-robed cultivators hovering above the fortress exchanged puzzled glances. The story of the mysterious Yuan婴-period cultivator who wiped out the entire Fu family in a single day, a family of the first rank in Yuanwu Nation, spread swiftly throughout the cultivation circles of Yuanwu Nation within just a few days. Major and minor power factions across the nation were left stunned. Among them, two Life-Protecting Monks from the Mo Yan Gate, who had been invited to celebrate the Fu family's birthday, also suffered the same fate. Outraged, the senior leadership of Mo Yan Gate dispatched numerous personnel to search for this enigmatic killer and announced that their Yuan婴-period master would personally meet with this high-ranking cultivator who clearly didn't regard Mo Yan Gate as anything but a minor player. Yet, those with keen observation quickly realized that Mo Yan Gate's efforts were likely only showy—most of these initiatives would likely end without resolution. After all, as reported by those who witnessed the events firsthand, how could it be otherwise when these two monks from Mo Yan Gate had grown so close to the Fu family, only to insist on standing up and confronting the Yuan婴-period cultivator who was seeking vengeance? It was simply a matter of bad luck for the two monks. To be honest, after the Yuan-Ying stage cultivator eliminated the Fu family and then simply packed up and left Yuanwu Kingdom, where could the Mo-Yan Gate go to find the killer? Once a cultivator reaches the Yuan-Ying stage, it's relatively easy to defeat them, but to completely destroy or imprison one is no easy feat—requiring either three or four Yuan-Ying cultivators of the same level working together, or a powerful array and seal, otherwise it's simply impossible. The Mo-Yan Gate certainly wouldn't mobilize so many Yuan-Ying cultivators merely to avenge their Jie-Dan protectors. Even if they were willing, those ancient Yuan-Ying elders would hardly be eager to intervene for such a matter. Nevertheless, the entire Yuanwu Kingdom's cultivation world still experienced significant ripple effects as a result. Naturally, the various interests previously held by the Fu family—such as the Ling-Kuang and market districts—were once again divided and reallocated among the different factions. However, this has little to do with Han Li. At this moment, instead of leaving the Yuanwu Kingdom as others had expected, he appeared several days later on a modest, unnamed mountain, unremarkable in name. Floating in the sky, his body glowing with a deep jade light, he gazed in quiet wonder at the mountain's mist-wrapped midsection, his face revealing a gentle sense of nostalgia. "Over a hundred years now. The place remains just as it was back then—nothing has changed. Yet, since the seal still stands, could it be that other cultivators have taken up residence here?" He murmured these thoughts to himself, his expression otherwise calm and composed. To his utter surprise, it seemed that other cultivators still occupied Xin Ruyin's ancestral home, casting a subtle doubt in Han Li's mind. After a brief thought, Han Li settled his form and flew directly toward the seal located in the mountain's midsection. With his current cultivation level and mastery of array techniques, this seal posed no obstacle at all. As he stood before the mist, he calmly extended his fingers, and several distinct hand seals flashed swiftly into the seal. The mist then surged and parted, forming a modest passage. Han Li instantly transformed into a streak of azure light and darted through it. Moments later, the mist vanished, and Han Li found himself before a somewhat weathered bamboo pavilion—exactly the old residence that Xin Ruyin had personally built back then. Gazing at the various bamboo houses, their deep yellow hues worn with time, Han Li's face softened with a quiet sense of nostalgia, tinged with the bittersweet feeling of revisiting a place where the surroundings remained unchanged but the people had changed. At that moment, a middle-aged woman stepped out of a bamboo cottage. She had a fairly pleasing appearance, with a faint aura of spiritual energy pulsing around her, though she was only a low-level cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage, roughly levels three or four. Yet, as Han Li glanced at her, his brows furrowed slightly—there was something familiar about her face. "Ah! You... who are you? How did you get inside?" The woman, upon stepping out and seeing Han Li standing before the cottage, was startled and gasped, her expression instantly turning pale. She then frantically fumbled around her waist, producing two crimson talismans, her gaze fixed on Han Li with clear hostility. This was entirely natural! Anyone who believed their residence to be completely secure and inviolable, suddenly finding a stranger among them, would naturally be startled and on high alert. Moreover, given the woman's modest cultivation level, she could hardly recognize Han Li's true rank. Yet even so, she sensed an incomparably profound inner power emanating from him. The sense of hesitation in his heart naturally grew by a few degrees. "Hmm, Senior—do you happen to be from the Han family? Is it Senior Han?" Just as Han Li was about to ask the woman about her background, she suddenly stared at him with renewed intensity and exclaimed his name with great surprise. Han Li was momentarily taken aback, his face showing a touch of astonishment. After a brief pause, he suddenly recalled something and asked, "What relation do you have with the young Mei from years ago? Your appearance bears a striking resemblance to her—about five or six parts alike." Han Li gazed at the woman with a warm, pleasant expression. "Mei? Ah, you mean my grandmother, correct? My grandmother passed away over fifty years ago. Currently, the residence of Xin Xiao is temporarily occupied by my family." Upon hearing Han Li mention her grandmother's name, the woman felt even more certain that she had not mistaken him, and immediately bowed deeply in respect. "Then, are you a descendant of Mei?" It's truly surprising—back then, a mere young girl with tousled hair, has now grown into someone of our grandmotherly age," said the woman. Hearing her words, Han Li didn't hesitate, merely offering a wry smile. "But how did you come to know me?" Han Li still felt a bit puzzled. "When my grandmother used to keep a hand-drawn portrait of an elder, which I had watched me grow up beside. That's why I immediately recognized you," the woman said, her cheeks slightly flushed, a touch of bash in her tone. "Ah! The portrait. I hadn't heard of this before. Could I possibly see it?" Han Li's expression of surprise flickered briefly, then curiosity took over as he asked. "Of course. But would you kindly step inside first? I'll retrieve the scroll right away," the woman said, gracefully inclining her body to invite Han Li in. After a brief hesitation, Han Li finally accepted and entered the bamboo pavilion where the woman had come from. The interior furnishings were far from elegant or refined, yet they were exceptionally clean and neat, which caused Han Li to give a slight nod of approval. After settling into the bamboo chair, the woman hurried to brew a pot of fragrant tea. Though not quite on par with the spiritual tea cultivated by Xin Ruoyin in the past, it still carried a delicate aroma and was quite impressive. Upon seeing Han Li take a sip, the woman bowed politely and then stepped out of the room to retrieve a scroll. With a mere sweep of his awareness, Han Li instantly gained control over every movement of the woman. And there, he saw her proceed directly toward a distant, secluded pavilion. The pavilion was located some distance away and quite remote. Once inside, the first floor was completely empty and bare. However, upon reaching the second floor, Han Li immediately noticed a long table made of yellow wood, upon which two ancient, darkly stained tablets stood side by side, inscribed with the names of Qi Yunxiao and Xin Ruoyin. Upon seeing them, Han Li felt a sense of melancholy, and his mind naturally recalled the faces and expressions of the two during their earlier days—yet both had passed away many years ago. After paying a respectful bow to the ancestral tablet, the woman carefully drew out a round scroll about a foot long from the recessed layer beneath the wooden table. Then she hurried down the stairs and made her way directly to Han Li's bamboo cottage.