After a piercing scream, the snake-like monster dissolved into a mist of jade light. Indeed, this spirit-attachment technique, an ancient and particularly cruel secret of the magical arts, is naturally powerfully countered by the divine, pestilential lightning—leaving no chance for the creature to even cast its teleportation spell, and vanishing completely. The bearded man in the distance stood wide-eyed, his mouth open in astonishment, unable to close it. The elder named Ma remained composed in demeanor, though his eyes betrayed clear shock. Seeing their reactions, Han Li had anticipated this development and showed no surprise. Instead, he reached out, picked up the storage bag and the blue spear that had fallen to the ground with a single hand, briefly scanned them with his consciousness, and then suddenly tossed both items to the bearded man. "Though we have eliminated the host, we shall deliver their sacred artifacts and the contents of their storage bag intact to the Yuling Sect. This way, the Yuling Sect will have little to complain about," Han Li said, gazing steadily at the two. "Your suggestion is most sound. We shall follow your words exactly!" "Perhaps the astonishing display of instantly defeating the spirit-serpent monster earlier had yet to fully sink in for the bearded man, who offered no resistance and instinctively agreed. The elder also moved his lips several times before finally speaking, with no objections. A slight sense of embarrassment passed over his face, and he promptly withdrew his staff法宝. When Fr. Han first eliminated the black-robed figure, it might still have been attributed to the latter's carelessness or a bit of good fortune. But now, having single-handedly vanquished a spirit monster whose cultivation level surpassed that of a late Yuan-Stage cultivator—without even using a single hand-held weapon—this feat had made an overwhelming impact on both of them. They had almost unconsciously arrived at the same conclusion: could it be that the newly appointed senior disciple of Luoyun Sect had now surpassed even the level of late Yuan-Stage cultivators in his mastery of Dao and magical arts? Once this thought took root, it became clear why both of them had reacted so unusually. "Since the matter is settled, I shall now return to rest for a while," said Han, his expression calm and composed. "When the Daoist comes again, simply call upon me." "Brother Han, go ahead—there's no need for hesitation. I'll take care of things here with Master Ma." The bald man's words carried an unconscious note of respect. Upon hearing this, Han smiled slightly, bowed once, and turned to walk toward the outer hall. When he used the Dry Blue Ice Flame and the Divine-Defying Thunder to defeat that spirit-serpent monster earlier, it had been a matter of necessity. He knew that if he didn't step in, the bald man and the elder would find it difficult to contain the monster once it had freed itself. After all, the monster's spiritual enhancement had raised its cultivation level significantly; should it escape, it would surely pose a lasting threat. Moreover, since he had condensed his true essence into a prenatal stage, there was no longer any reason to conceal his full range of abilities. The situation now, amidst the Turbulent Star Sea, was vastly different from before. At that time, his cultivation level was still low, and he was unfamiliar with the region—so he had naturally kept his strength hidden, fearing that too much visibility might attract danger or even lead to his demise. Now, having achieved the prenatal stage, he had firmly established himself among This concern naturally diminishes. Moreover, given the current situation of the French army's advance, it would be impossible for him to continue concealing his divine abilities. At the very least, after the last treasure hunt on the Mulin Grassland, the Ghost Spirit Sect and the southern Longhou clan should have already recognized the remarkable nature of his strength. Thus, it would be better to openly reveal part of his capabilities earlier. This would also serve to intimidate some lesser rivals. Otherwise, if other peers perceived his divine powers as inadequate and easily exploitable, it might lead to unnecessary complications. Of course, the several life-saving reserve moves that Han Li still holds back, he would never readily display in public. While pondering these points, Han Li also sensed the unusual sensation of the "Purple Lotus Fiery Flame" gently enclosing his immortal embryo. Earlier, when facing the spirit-attached monster, he had fully drawn upon the dry blue ice flame within the fire, just barely freezing the creature in an instant. Now, as the fire returned and reformed into the original Purple Lotus Fiery Flame, it felt somewhat unstable. It seems that such a powerful magical flame truly depends on a certain level of cultivation. With a touch of self-mockery, Han Li slowly walked toward the small pavilion. "Brother Lu, we truly missed our chance. This friend, Master Han, possesses a depth of ability that far surpasses ours." The elderly man with a horse's surname smiled wistfully after Han Li had fully stepped out of the hall and his figure had gradually faded into the distance. "Indeed. Though his cultivation is only at the early stage of Yuan Ying, merely the golden electric arc and that mysterious blue flame would make even a Yuan Ying mid-stage cultivator retreat in awe." The bearded man flashed a look of admiration. "Besides, this is good news for us. With such a powerful comrade, perhaps we won't have to fear the external attackers any longer." The elder with the horse's surname said with a smile. "That's true. However, while I've never heard of that blue ice flame before, the golden electric arc seems vaguely familiar—though I can't quite recall where I've heard it." "Does Brother Ma have any impression of this?" The man with a bald forehead nodded slightly, then furrowed his brows again. "No, I've never seen such golden arcs before. This technique must be exceptionally sharp—so powerful that even a nearly intangible Yuan婴 cannot instantly teleport out of it." Ma, the elder, murmured, recalling the scene, a subtle chill creeping into his heart. "Well then. Regardless of what great power Brother Han has cultivated, it's good news for us. Let's now discuss matters for tomorrow!" The bald man frowned slightly, clearly unwilling to dwell on the matter further, and gently changed the subject. "Matters for tomorrow? What do you mean, Brother Lu?" the elder was momentarily surprised, puzzled. "Since the Muling people sent their spies to disrupt the array, why not take advantage of the situation and act accordingly?" The man's eyes flashed with a cold gleam, speaking with a quiet, deliberate tone. "Brother Lu means…" Ma immediately grasped the implication, his expression now one of clear understanding. "It's quite simple, we..." The voices of the elder and the tall man in the hall suddenly softened slightly, their words barely audible, as if murmuring something. A moment later, the booming laughter of the bearded man filled the hall, clearly proud of his plans. On the following afternoon, as the sun blazed overhead, scorching the ground with its intensity, the sound of thunderous war drums rolled in, drawing the vast army of magicians closer. This time, however, a massive figure stood prominently in the center of the formation. It was a colossal brown beast, standing over thirty feet tall and stretching twenty feet long. At first glance, it resembled a giant rhinoceros magnified by several times over. Most striking was a towering, luminous blue horn, nearly ten feet long, positioned at the front of its snout. Upon its immense body, a layer of dark, gleaming armor was worn, adorned with faintly glowing incantations and runes that shimmered subtly—clearly of great value. Though this colossal creature appears so vast, it is skilled in flight—its four feet are supported by shimmering blue, strange clouds, allowing it to move with exceptional agility and never seeming clumsy. Upon its body, a young woman in her twenties sits, her feet and arms graceful, with a refined face. Yet a subtle aura of intensity glimmers in her eyes, occasionally flashing with cold light as her gaze shifts. She wears a simple, dark green robe. To the left and right of the creature, the tall, slender mage and the high, slender mage—those who appeared yesterday—follow closely, clearly showing respect and deference. "Ah!" The young woman on the green robe raises a surprised expression as the creature approaches the sky above Huanglong Mountain. "What is it? Has the Master of Harmony discovered something?" asks the tall mage at once. "Hmm. There's something unusual," the young woman replies, her eyes flashing with curiosity. "Could it be that things have changed? That the person didn't succeed?" The slender mage is momentarily stunned, growing concerned. "Not necessarily." "Look for yourselves," the woman said calmly, then closed her eyes and said nothing. The tall, slender mage and Kuyao exchanged glances, slightly puzzled, and extended their awareness forward, slowly probing into the area. A moment later, both of them looked astonished. Kuyao exclaimed in surprise, "What's going on? The mist has already dispersed. Didn't we agree upon that? When we reached the location and were about to launch the attack, the restrictions were suddenly removed—intending to wipe out all these cultivators. Now that the barriers are fully open, surely something else has happened?" "I don't know. We'll have to wait until we reach the scene and examine things carefully," the tall mage replied hesitantly. Hearing their words, the woman on the great beast remained expressionless, silent. Thus, the army of mages continued forward, but under the sharp commands of the tall mage, all of them immediately heightened their vigilance. Throughout the remaining short journey, nothing unusual occurred. The legal scholars smoothly reached the lofty heights where they had stayed yesterday. Yet upon gazing down at the scene this time, all of them could not help but grow agitated. The vast, boundless emerald mist sea that should have stretched endlessly was now entirely gone, revealing the distinct peaks of Huanglong Mountain and the clear, elegant pavilions and towers atop the summit. These once exquisitely crafted structures were now blackened and charred, with wisps of pale smoke rising from several spots, as if engulfed in a great fire—appearing profoundly desolate. The entire summit lay silent, as though the inhabitants had vanished entirely. The scholarly army split to either side, with the young woman guiding the great beasts forward steadily. All the other scholars respectfully gazed upon the graceful figure atop the beasts, and the agitation soon settled. Ku Yue and Yu followed closely behind her. The woman surveyed the scene, her eyes shifting with contemplation. After a moment of silence, she gently brushed a strand of her flowing hair from her shoulder, a subtle cold smile forming at the corners of her lips. "It's impossible." Although the thick fog has lifted, there are still seals that isolate our consciousness, preventing us from thoroughly investigating what's inside." The slender monk spoke with a look of surprise. "Indeed, the scene we're seeing might merely be an illusion. Otherwise, if that person had actually succeeded, why haven't they contacted us by now?" Kuyao also expressed his doubt. "Then, according to the two senior masters' judgment, shall we simply stand here doing nothing?" the woman said with a cool tone. "Of course not. We merely need to remain cautious. It's possible that the person only achieved partial success—discovered and pursued, and thus fled from here. Meanwhile, other cultivators have simply abandoned the site and withdrawn." The slender monk speculated.