"If the original broken-junction pearls were sufficient, yet Brother Long may not be aware that those scattered outside were never fully refined—they are merely half-finished products. Genuine broken-junction pearls require the addition of several exceptionally rare materials and are difficult to craft, yet they prove remarkably effective in overcoming high-level seals. Naturally, due to their limited applications, our sect has not previously invested much effort in refining them. However, now, in order to support the guests participating in the bidding contest, we have managed to gather ten such pearls. As long as they carry these pearls and promptly activate them when the situation turns unfavorable, they can break through any seals and emerge unimpeded—thus eliminating any concerns about future contingencies." Master Zhiyang spoke with confidence. "I had thought Brother Zhiyang was aware of the impracticality and yet remained unconcerned about the contest tomorrow. It turns out he has this contingency plan. With the broken-junction pearls, even if the opponents deploy any unexpected strategies, they need no longer fear." However, to be safe, our Magian Sect, the Tiansha Sect, has a specially formulated pill known as the "Hui Sha Pill." When taken, it awakens the true energy within the body, restoring nearly half of the depleted spiritual power and even enhancing one's cultivation level slightly. Of course, after the effects wear off, a certain amount of vital energy will be compromised. It would be wise for each of these guests to carry one pill. Should the situation become truly critical, they may take it suddenly as a last-resort move." After glancing at Zhiyang the Elder, the Huhuan Elder added. "Excellent! With these two backup options, I feel confident about the duel." Long Han smiled lightly. Yet, shifting the topic, he continued: "Now I need to consider how to handle these cloaked figures. These individuals practice magian cultivation techniques. Perhaps we should draw a group of our own disciples from the Zhengdao Alliance to confront them. After all, several of the major sects under the Taishen Sect have specific techniques that counter magian practices. These should likewise prove effective against these magians." "Long Han said, glancing at Zhiyang, to see how he would respond. "No problem—these magi will be handled by our Zhengdao Alliance. But the senior masters among the shamans? Those will largely fall to you." Zhiyang didn't hesitate at all; he immediately agreed. "Of course! The shamanic side will be taken care of by our three major factions. As for specifics—..." Seeing Zhiyang so readily commit to handling the magi from Jin Guo, the others were thoroughly satisfied. After lengthy discussions, they finally dispersed with peace of mind at dusk. At once, the cultivators who had been well-prepared sent urgent transmission scrolls. Shortly thereafter, a long, resonant bell sound rang out across the southern sky, and then, after having rested and strengthened for a long time, numerous cultivators stepped out of the camp, transforming into countless streaks of brilliant light that surged skyward, converging toward the same destination. Throughout the heavens, a myriad of luminous glimmers spread, with clear chimes and prolonged roars rising and falling in succession. Compared to the formidable army of magistrates advancing fiercely from the other direction, it seemed as though two vast tidal waves were meeting head-on. Yet, when they came within fifteen miles of each other, both forces suddenly halted. Whether magistrates or cultivators, at the distance where they could just make out one another, they all paused their flight and stood in mutual confrontation, gazing across. One side had no choice but to fight to the last, determined to break through and secure an escape for the entire clan. The other side, rooted in its homeland, refused any incursion by outsiders, and was equally animated and resolute. Though they had not yet engaged in combat, an overwhelming aura of martial intensity already surged between the two armies. At this moment, Han Li floated above a column of more than a thousand cultivators, observing coldly the vast army of magicians in the distance. To the eye, the opposing ranks shimmered with patches of radiant mist, each patch housing hundreds of magicians. These patches stretched for over ten miles. Clearly, both sides had fielded their main forces—though the exact numbers remained uncertain. At this gathering, there were at least sixty or seventy thousand cultivators present. Moreover, high-level cultivators, who were rarely seen under normal circumstances, were now abundant. Despite the roughly equal numbers, clear differences between the two sides could still be observed. Among the magicians, although their attire varied, the basic tools carried by the lower-level magicians remained limited—mostly simple round bowls glowing with soft light, or round orbs the size of a clenched fist. The most common, however, were flags of various colors. Weapons such as swords and spears were notably scarce. In contrast, among the cultivators, the lower-level practitioners wielded a diverse array of tools, with swords and spears being the most prevalent. Yet these artifacts shone with crystalline brilliance, radiating vibrant qi, clearly surpassing the practitioners in rank and quality. Although the artifacts held by the practitioners were less refined than those of the Tiannan cultivators, the practitioners maintained a well-ordered formation even while flying through the air, remaining silent and exchanging only cold, hostile glances. In contrast, the cultivators on the other side appeared clearly undertrained—though they managed to maintain a semblance of formation, they were disorganized and chaotic, constantly whispering among themselves and occasionally straying from their ranks to attend to other matters. This often compelled the senior cultivators to descend and issue stern commands. Han Li frowned at this sight. It was understandable—how could one possibly train a large number of naturally unruly cultivators into disciplined order within just a few months? Simply getting them to form a neat line was already a significant challenge. The army of the legal officers, however, was different. Though also composed of numerous allied forces from the Mulan tribes, they frequently engaged in sudden, unexpected battles with the Turki people. It was a common occurrence for the martial officers from various tribes to form a united army, which, after a little adjustment, would soon become well-trained. The senior leadership of the monastic order were fully aware of such matters. Yet, they too found themselves powerless. After all, they were cultivators, not ordinary military forces—what truly decided the outcome of battles lay elsewhere, so they simply let it go. Han Li thought this over, then glanced again at the martial forces. What stood out most on the opposite side were not the Mu Lan martial officers, but rather a group of over a dozen enormous, wild beasts—massive and imposing, their bodies resembling small mountains—interwoven among the ranks of the martial troops. These beasts were truly striking. Many of the Nine-Over Alliance cultivators had personally witnessed their power, and thus, numerous eyes were fixed upon them, tinged with a subtle sense of apprehension. Han Li looked up to the sky, clear and cloudless, then down at the disorganized ranks of cultivators beneath, sighed, and shook his head. Then, with a single hand motion, he produced two small items in his palm: a dark, round orb the size of a thumb, and a square pill the size of a walnut, glowing with a bright, sharp red hue. These had been delivered by representatives from the Yangming faction the previous night, accompanied by detailed explanations of their functions and uses. It was said that every participant in the wagering battle would receive such items. Han Li was slightly surprised but accepted them without hesitation. It seemed that in order to defeat the army of the legalists, the three senior cultivators had truly drawn upon all their treasures, unveiling many items previously kept hidden. Yet, how could this be limited to just these three? As this thought crossed his mind, Han Li turned his gaze toward the group of cultivators adjacent to the one below. This group consisted of approximately a thousand people, among whom were men and women dressed in red and green robes, each accompanied by sixteen cultivators. They were carrying two massive coffins—one black, one white—side by side. Numerous scrolls of various sizes and colors were affixed to the coffins, totaling dozens, making the scene remarkably strange. These male and female cultivators, Han Li recognized as disciples from the first great sect of the magical path, the Héhuā Sect. This sparked his curiosity about the two coffins. Though he used his spiritual awareness to probe them en route, the coffins were clearly protected by an extremely powerful seal, rendering it impossible to penetrate their contents. Besides these two coffins, several unusual and striking items appeared among the rest of the cultivator ranks. For instance, a disciple from one of the orthodox sects was gathered around a towering bronze platform, about six to seven zhang high, upon which hung a massive bronze gong, with a diameter of one zhang. The surface of the gong shimmered with golden light, and occasional white characters floated and appeared. Nearby, a massive, bare-chested man sat in meditation with his eyes closed. Further along, several dozen black statues, each about three to four zhang tall, appeared somewhat weathered, resembling ancient fierce beasts, vividly preserved and suspended in mid-air by floating vehicles, whose purpose remained unclear. As for the more distant groups of cultivators, some unusual items also began to appear. Seeing these, Han Li felt significantly reassured. This indicated that all the sects recognized the significance of this battle and had brought forth their most precious assets. As a result, their chances of victory had greatly improved. Moreover, beyond these visible treasures, there were likely countless other powerful items hidden within the cultivators' storage scrolls, unseen and unacknowledged. Among the forces of the Fashis, aside from the colossal beasts, no other anomalies were evident. Han Li could not believe that the Fashis' strategies had come to an end here—he was certain there were more powerful tactics concealed. It was truly difficult to predict whether this great battle would ultimately be a victory or a defeat. Eventually, the steadily arriving cultivators and the entire Fashi army had all gathered in place. Then, except for a few individuals, the majority simultaneously descended to the ground and fell into quiet silence. At that moment, a commotion erupted within the opposing Fengshi army, and three figures burst forth from within. A gaunt elder, a short-statured man, and a middle-aged scholar—these were precisely the Three Divine Masters of Mulan. On the other side, three streaks of brilliant light also surged upward, revealing Zhiyang the Celestial, Wei Wuyi, and Hehuang the Elder Demon. When the two sides came to a distance of several dozen zhang, they both gently folded their light trails and came to a halt. "How about it, my esteemed friends? You still have time to back down. Simply cede half of Tiannan to our Mulan clan, and we will cease hostilities and transform rivals into allies. Otherwise, regardless of the outcome of this battle, your celestial realm of Tiannan will suffer a severe blow!" The scholar of Zhong surname gazed steadily at Wei Wuyi and the others, speaking coldly. "Pah! It's true that Tiannan will be severely affected. But should your Mulan forces suffer defeat in this battle, your very clan will be extinguished. I'd say it's your Fengshi who should be cautious!" Wei Wuyi raised his chin