"According to that person's level of cultivation, he should have had at least seven or eight out of ten chances—yet we can't help but think the worst. It's possible he's already been defeated or captured, and this entire endeavor is merely a trap." The green-robed woman smiled slightly, speaking with cold composure. "Then, Master Le's intention is—" Kuyao expressed his growing confusion. "Whether or not it's a trap, we're here to break through the array. We'll proceed exactly as planned. Should some of our forces be lost or injured, we'll gain valuable insights into its weaknesses—this is well worth it. Our greatest constraint right now is time. Recent intelligence indicates that the reinforcements from other southern powers are gathering, and with just two to three months, they can fully join the Nine Kingdoms Alliance. We must clear all the main arrays surrounding Tien Tian City within one month to secure the initiative. If the reinforcements and the Nine Kingdoms Alliance forces unite, even if we manage to defeat them, we will suffer a significant blow to our strength." The woman spoke calmly and steadily. "Then we shall follow Master Le's instructions entirely," the tall, slender monk said after a brief pause, and agreed. As for Kuo Yao's concern regarding the lives of the junior monks, he showed no hesitation either—there was no objection at all. Seeing this, the woman nodded slightly, then murmured a few words to someone unseen. Instantly, from among the ranks of the cultivators, nearly a hundred monks with similar attire stepped forward, led by a Jin Dan cultivator, and slowly advanced toward the summit of Huanglong Peak. These hundreds of monks, now appearing as mere black dots, gradually entered the area where the mist had once been—no unusual events occurred. Each of them, holding their magical implements, began to boldly ascend toward the peak. Their journey was unimpeded, and by the time they reached the summit, nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The tall monk exhaled deeply, beaming with relief, and said to the green-robed woman, "It seems this place has truly been abandoned by them." Let's have the others join in searching as well. They've been so hurried, there must be plenty they've forgotten to carry. "Wait a moment, let's see first," the woman said, her eyes never lifting, her tone cold and firm. The tall, slender mage was momentarily taken aback and said nothing further. At that moment, the hundred or so mages had already begun sifting through the partially burned pavilions and halls, frequently uncovering valuable items such as spiritual stones and materials. Each mage was delighted, taking them without hesitation and stuffing them into their storage bags. The mage army, originally composed of various smaller Muran tribes, traditionally held that all gains—except for shared public assets like warehouses and mines—belonged to individuals. Witnessing this, the outer ranks of the mage army grew restless. Such an opportunity to secure abundant spoils without having to fight fiercely was truly rare, and naturally, everyone else grew eager and envious. So vast this complex of pavilions and halls—how many treasures might it still hold? "Master Le, look..." After a while, both the tall, slender monk and Kuo Yao grew restless. Kuo Yao hesitated and finally spoke. Since these two were among the leading monks in the group, the majority of the others naturally came from their own tribes. The Mulu Grasslands have always been short on training resources, so they naturally wanted to make the most of this opportunity for their own monks. As for the hundred monks ahead, they hailed from a smaller, less powerful tribe. What they'd found should be sufficient for them. The green-robed woman remained expressionless, as though she hadn't heard their words at all, yet her gaze subtly narrowed, growing slightly hazy and distant. Kuo Yao and the monk exchanged glances, paused, and then, unexpectedly, said nothing further. After no less than a cup of tea's worth of time, the hundred or so monks had only reached one-third of the way up the mountain's peak when the woman finally spoke: "You each send one hundred more to join them, and while you're there, dismantle the remaining seals. I will not allow anyone else to enter this mountain unless I personally scan the entire range with my awareness." "Yes, everything as instructed by Master Le." Both were delighted and immediately transmitted their message to their trusted disciples within the tribe. As a result, another two hundred monks surged into the mountain's summit, and once again, a fierce search began throughout the peaks. "It seems only these people remain. My strength is now utterly spent. Activate the seals." A quiet voice, that of an elderly man named Ma, echoed from somewhere within Huanglong Mountain. "Ah, what a pity! Not a single senior master of the Mulan sect has fallen into the trap." The man with a balding head sighed, his tone tinged with a clear sense of regret. But shortly after saying this, a deep, resonant roar grew louder and spread across the entire mountain peak, causing tremors to ripple through various parts of the summit. At this sudden development, the three hundred cultivators searching for the treasure on the peak all turned pale, instantly scattering in all directions without any need for orders. Among them, the three cultivators at the Jiadian stage naturally moved the fastest, shooting off several dozen zhang in mere moments. Yet even with their swift flight, they could not immediately escape the protective array. As the mountain's sky shimmered with a variety of luminous energies, the mist that had previously vanished surged forth, swirling into a dense, emerald fog that instantly enveloped the entire region centered on Huanglong Mountain, transforming it into a vast sea of mist. Seeing this, the slender cultivator and Kuyao both grew visibly concerned, their faces turning pale, even stern. In contrast, the green-robed woman seated upon the great beast remained utterly composed, her expression cold and unflinching, her eyebrows unchanged. "It was indeed a trap. A true pity. "If we hadn't asked Gu Valley to intervene, I'm certain we could have continued to remain concealed and exert an even greater influence." The woman with the pleasant surname spoke with cold, unyielding composure. "Master Le, what about those inside...?" Ku Yao clenched his fists, staring intently into the mist, his eyes blazing with fury. The cultivator who had led the team up was not only a close relative but also one of the most cherished descendants of his lineage. Unforeseen, he had now been captured within the enemy's array. Amid his growing anxiety, a strong desire to rescue him stirred within him. "Waste your efforts, then. With the Yuan-Ying cultivator's mastery of the array, how difficult can it be to subdue a few Jian-Dan cultivators? I suspect they've already been eliminated." The green-robed woman glanced at Ku Yao, her tone emotionless. "If that's the case, Master Le, then let me take the lead in breaking through the array! I will release my Fire Spirit Essence, and with one decisive effort, shatter this defense. Then, I will reduce each of the inner cultivators to ashes, one by one!" The woman's face flushed and turned pale several times before settling into a resolute expression. "Fire Spirit Essence? Very well. Since you've made up your mind, I'll have the Giant Rhinoceros beast support you. However, hold off using your Fire Spirit Essence until the critical moments. Also, keep a close eye on the young cultivator who eliminated Tian Ku Sir. I suspect he is precisely the one who destroyed Mu Master of the Tian Feng Sect's physical form. If that's the case, then his abilities must be quite formidable—he employs an unusually strange blue magical flame. Should you not be cautious, you might easily fall into his grasp." She said, her brows arched with emphasis. "The cultivator who destroyed Mu Master's physical form? It's indeed said he possesses the famed Lightning Technique. That's true." The tall, slender cultivator's face paled, and a hint of apprehension flickered in his eyes. "Master Wen, your technique is particularly vulnerable to close-range combatants. Be especially vigilant—avoid facing him directly. Delegate him to me. I practice the 'Soft Wind Technique,' which, in terms of speed, will not be outmatched by his Lightning Technique." Even if the other's magmatic flame and golden arcs are powerful, they serve me nothing if they can't get close. As for the other techniques, he's merely a Yuan-En-Period cultivator—can he really hold his own against me? The woman's eyes flashed with cold determination, speaking with a touch of pride. "Well then. This one can only be handled by Master Le. Master Le has already faced off against the 'Heavenly澜 Saint Maiden' and proven herself equal to her. That woman will surely not be a match." Upon hearing this, the tall, slender monk immediately felt relieved. It was clear he had great confidence in this green-robed woman. "Hmph, Heavenly澜 Saint Maiden!" The woman, who had remained composed all along, suddenly darkened in expression upon hearing the name. At this cold exhalation, the tall monk was startled. He realized then that Master Le had long held the defeat at the hands of the Heavenly澜 Saint Maiden as a deep source of shame and had always been deeply resentful whenever that name was mentioned. “This… actually…” The slender cultivator murmured, wanting to rephrase and say something else. But the young woman suddenly raised her hand, her expression regaining its calm: “Enough. The array must be broken. Say no more. Set up the array and launch the attack!” “Yes!” The slender cultivator sighed with relief, and replied aloud to Kuyao. At that moment, suddenly, the drums outside the misty sea roared with thunderous sound, and waves of astonishing spiritual energy surged upward from the drum site, breaking through the sky. Then, a deep, resonant roar, like a thunderous beast's cry, shook the heavens and earth, causing the green mist within the sea to ripple and swirl gently. Han Li's expression remained calm. He glanced coldly at the surrounding anomalies before lifting his gaze toward the outer direction of the misty sea, his eyes flashing a moment of thoughtful contemplation. Yet a short while later, a cold smile played at the corner of his mouth. He raised his hand, releasing a crimson fire orb that turned the bodies beneath his feet into ash. Then he turned and strode toward the center of the misty sea. In an instant, his figure vanished into the mist, leaving no trace. At the heart of the misty sea, the entire mountain peak was mysteriously split in two—the front half still bearing ruins of collapsed buildings and scorched walls, while the rear half presented a completely different scene, with pavilions and towers standing intact. From time to time, cultivators flew out from within, dispersing to various parts of the misty sea. The elder named Ma and the bearded man stood side by side at the lofty height of several dozen zhang above the pavilion, gazing toward the direction of the army of magicians, their faces filled with solemnity. "We can only proceed this way. However, that great beast seems quite troublesome—our attention is fully occupied, and even the Condensed Dan cultivators may find it difficult to handle." The elder, using his divine awareness to sense the colossal creature outside the array, expressed a moment of hesitation. "Cough! This is beyond our capacity. With such limited manpower, we can only temporarily rely on Brother Mu Lan to use the sealing array to hold the beast at bay. Their lightning-based cultivation techniques are among the most potent among Condensed Dan cultivators. Even if the beast is exceptionally tough, it should still prove effective, shouldn't it?" The sturdy man himself seemed somewhat uncertain, having heard from the retreating cultivators how formidable the beast truly was. "We can only proceed this way for now," the elder nodded, slightly concerned, and agreed with the plan. At that moment, a flash of green light rippled through the mist, and a streak of brilliant light shot forth, spiraling slightly before detecting the two figures and swiftly approaching. "Esteemed friends, it appears the Mu Lan forces have indeed decided to launch an assault. Have all their defensive strategies been properly arranged?" "Qinghua gathered, and Han Li stepped forward, smiling at the two of them. "Han brother has arrived just in time—we've just discussed it and planned to..." The bearded man smiled warmly and repeated his words. "The beast! Indeed, it's quite a challenge. It's an ancient, rare species, not seen since the time of the primordial ages. We're not sure where the Mulan people obtained it. Then, everything shall follow Lu Daojun's suggestion." Han Li's brows furrowed slightly at first, then immediately relaxed as he spoke. "This confrontation will greatly rely on Han brother's abilities." The bearded man chuckled lightly, speaking with a touch of respect. "It concerns the very safety of the southern heavens. I will do my utmost. Though, I fear the enemy may be too strong—perhaps I'll find myself more eager than capable!" After hearing this, Han Li stroked his nose and spoke calmly. Now that he had revealed his strength, he no longer felt the need to remain humble. "If Han brother is not strong enough to match the enemy, then it will indeed be our fault. I'm certain the others in the alliance will not object." After a warm smile, the elder named Ma praised, "Ma brother truly holds me in high regard. My abilities, however, are not as profound as you two imagine. Please don't expect too much from me." Han Li glanced at the elder, a half-smiling, slightly reserved expression playing on his lips. "Heh, no matter what. Brother Han is no ordinary early-stage cultivator—his powers far surpass both my own and Ma's. This great battle... Ah! The Mulan forces have begun their assault!" The bearded man, eager to establish a closer rapport with Han Li, had only just begun speaking when his expression suddenly changed, and he hastily altered his words, his gaze quickly turning toward the distance. Upon hearing this, Han Li and the elder both turned to follow his gaze. There, in the direction of the mage army, faint red glows began to emerge, spreading across the sky like a vast, fiery cloud. Within this red cloud, dozens of massive, sun-like fire balls were gradually forming and coalescing. "What in the world is this?" the elder named Ma, clearly encountering this scene for the first time, exclaimed in astonishment. "This is the Spirit Art Great Array. It allows multiple Spirit Artisans to swiftly form the array by taking turns holding the flag and disk, though typically a senior Spirit Artisan must preside over the array. Given the size of these fire balls, it seems likely that the Spirit Artisan who used the Fire-based cultivation technique yesterday was in charge." The man with a balding head explained, his expression grave. "Spirit Art Great Array!" the elder named Ma murmured, still visibly surprised. Though he had more questions, he realized now was not the right moment, so he simply remained silent. "We'll enter the array together and proceed as we see fit. The more junior Spirit Artisans we can eliminate before facing the other party's Yuan婴 cultivator, the better." Han Li returned his gaze, his expression steady. "Agreed!" The elder and the man with the balding head naturally had no objections. Thus, the balding man summoned several other Jin Dan cultivators, gave them instructions one by one, and then led them all into the misty sea—Ying Ning among them. Han Li silently transmitted a few words of instruction through inner communication. Then, his figure vanished into the mist. On the other side, not far away, the green-robed woman had already descended from the great beast and was now coldly observing Kuyao's every move. A step behind her, the tall and slender mage was equally attentive, watching the scene with deep concern. Even with the mist-sealing spell of the Fire Dragon Mountain meticulously arranged by the master array-forgers of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, several thunderous cracks—like the earth splitting asunder—echoed as the fire balls touched the green mist, and multiple towering pillars of flame, each several dozen zhang high, burst through the mist in succession. A surge of hot wind swept across, clearing the surrounding mist in an instant. Although green and yellow spell glimmers also rose around the perimeter, they proved as ineffective as a mantis attempting to block a chariot—utterly unable to make any impact. In the blink of an eye, from above, a stretch of the mist sea revealed six massive circular formations aligned in a line, each with the mist completely cleared away, leaving an open, spacious expanse. The green-robed woman's eyes flashed with cold resolve; with a simple hand movement, she summoned a golden-yellow circle that materialized in her palm. Raising her hand, the circle transformed into a beam of radiant gold light, aimed directly at the colossal rhinoceros already standing at the edge of the mist. A clear, resonant chime rang out as the golden circle precisely encircled the rhinoceros’s blue single It was either the golden light that had stimulated him, or the green-robed woman had subtly altered the situation. Suddenly, the giant rhinoceros's two emerald eyes blazed crimson like blood, and with a thunderous roar, he stomped the azure clouds beneath him, charging wildly into the misty sea. At that moment, the other fire spheres, drawn by the six-faced flaming banners of Kuyao, one by one descended into the mist sea, aligning themselves precisely with the initial six. After dozens of fiery pillars rose skyward, they directly shattered the array along this line. Kuyao laughed loudly, then stood up with a sharp "crack," extending his hand to the surrounding cultivators. Without a word, he transformed into a blazing mass of fire and surged toward the mist sea. Seeing this, the other array-builders quickly followed suit. In an instant, over a thousand cultivators had gathered in the mist sea, not to mention the hundreds more who were quietly manipulating the seals and waiting in the shadows. Han Li's eyelids fluttered slightly before he slowly opened his eyes, a touch of surprise on his face. "There truly are still a few cultivators at the mid-Immortal stage inside, though I didn't expect them to be female." Han Li murmured to himself. Then, after a moment's thought, he lightly slapped his storage pouch, and with a flash of light, a set of arraying tools appeared in his hands. If all else fails, then that will be sufficient. We'll simply withdraw. There's no need to fight fiercely against them." Han Li issued the instruction calmly. Then, with a single hand motion, he brought forth the "Zi Cheng Dou" and the floral basket relic, and threw them directly to the young fox.