When Han Li heard this, he was surprised—three Yuan-Stage late cultivators working together had seemingly been unable to defeat the ancient demon in the short term. The demon, now restored in strength, might indeed possess powers comparable to a Hua-Shen cultivator. "Has this demon been completely eliminated in this battle?" Han Li asked calmly. "That's something we younger members are uncertain about," said Huang Yuanming, hesitating slightly. "Some say the demon perished right there under the assault of the cultivators, while others claim it employed an extraordinary secret technique, enabling it to survive and break through the encirclement. Our family's resources are limited, so we can't verify the truth. However, since that campaign, this demon has indeed vanished from our Tiannan region—possibly truly annihilated, both in form and spirit." "Both form and spirit extinguished!" Han Li stroked his chin, pondering briefly, yet remained unconvinced. If the true destruction of this demon were to occur, why would Wei Wuya and the others still remain hesitant and evasive? They would likely have revealed the actual circumstances, deliberately stepping forward to clarify the matter. Yet, the disappearance of this demon seems rather unusual. Could it be that the demon sustained such severe injuries in this battle that it had to retreat to recover, or perhaps it simply decided to leave the southern heavens altogether? Han Li pondered this, finding both possibilities plausible but unable to determine which was more likely, and thus set the matter aside for now. The only event that stood out and stirred up considerable commotion was, shortly after the demon's disappearance, the sudden appearance of an unusual giant vortex on a stretch of the Unbounded Sea near the coast of Xixu Kingdom. From this vortex, vast amounts of spiritual energy surged forth, beginning to purify the surrounding sea surface. Moreover, seven small islands rose from the depths of the sea around the vortex, each radiating an intense aura and possessing rare, top-tier spiritual veins. Over the ownership of these islands, the three master cultivators convened once again for a summit conference—this time a "Island Sovereignty Summit"—with numerous sects participating. Ultimately, seven major cultivation sects secured ownership of the islands. As for the vortex itself, it is said to be profoundly deep and mysterious, with many cultivators having ventured into its heart in search of answers. However, as they descend deeper, they encounter increasingly intense pressure, which grows stronger with depth, ultimately becoming unbearable. It is reported that Zhiyang, one of the three master cultivators, has personally explored the vortex once. "But after penetrating some three thousand zhang, the immense pressure—exceeding ten thousand jin—proved too great, and they were forced to return without achieving any success." Huang Yueming paused briefly and immediately delivered this account. "A great vortex! Is that truly the case?" Han Li's face revealed a touch of surprise and asked in amazement. "How could I deceive my esteemed senior? This matter has been widely reported and widely discussed for several years before gradually settling down. Should you simply inquire with others, you'll easily verify its authenticity," Huang Yueming said with a smile. Han Li nodded, showing clear interest in the matter, yet continued to ask about other topics, especially concerning the recent activities of the Muling people and the Zheng and Mo sects, pressing for detailed information. Huang Yueming and the other two elders answered thoroughly and without any concealment. Huang Yueming primarily addressed the questions, while the other two elders occasionally interjected with additional details, ensuring that Han Li remained fully satisfied. Not long after, Han Li gained a general understanding of the various events that had occurred in recent years, and thus felt at ease. Aside from the matters involving the ancient demons and the vortex, the so-called major incidents were mostly about rare herbs or precious treasures appearing in certain regions, or two immortal sects clashing and engaging in disputes. To Han Li, these matters were entirely insignificant. Yet Han Li remained composed, listening seriously and attentively to each of the three as they recounted their stories. As for the affairs of Luoyun Sect, Han Li chose not to inquire further. After all, the location was too distant from Xiqiu Kingdom, and such a peripheral family would naturally be unaware of specific developments. If they wished to learn more, they would naturally have to go to the market or return to Xiqiu Kingdom to inquire in detail. After hearing all the accounts from the three, Han Li smiled with satisfaction. Suddenly, he brushed his sleeve across the table, and a pair of bright golden short spears materialized on the table, glowing with a soft green light. "Thank you, my esteemed friends, for your detailed explanations." "There's nothing I can offer that's better than this. I'd like to present this pair of golden halberds to you three." Han Li spoke calmly. "Thank you so much, elder, for this generous gift! This... this is indeed a superior-grade artifact?" Huang Yuanming glanced at the pair of halberds with interest, then quickly bowed deeply, his face beaming with delight. While their three families each had access to superior-grade artifacts, they were not abundant—only a few in total, each cherished as a treasure. Now, having received such a fine offering simply through a few words with Han Li, they were naturally overjoyed. "Though these halberds are only of superior grade, when used together, they perform quite as well as top-tier artifacts. I came across them by chance years ago and found them quite valuable, so I've kept them ever since. Now, by giving them to you, I believe I'm not letting them go unnoticed. Hehe! I've already secured the benefits for you. I won't stay long. Perhaps we'll meet again in the future should the opportunity arise." "Upon slightly explaining the power of Jinuo, Zhou lightly smiled, and his body radiated a brilliant glow. Suddenly, he transformed into a streak of azure light, shooting out through the hall door. After flashing briefly, he vanished without a trace. The three elders were taken aback, never expecting Han Li to leave so promptly, with no hesitation or delay. A host of thanks they had on their lips were swallowed whole. Then, their eyes simultaneously turned to the pair of golden spears resting on the table. "This elder truly demonstrates great generosity—offering such a pair of upper-tier artifacts so effortlessly," the round-faced elder murmured, gazing intently at the spears. "It depends on who one is. For us, upper-tier artifacts are indeed rare and precious. But for this elder, they seem entirely ordinary." The elderly scholar in white robes, who had spoken the least until now, suddenly added with a touch of unusual expression. "Wang brother, what do you mean? From the way you're speaking, it seems as though you've recognized this elder!" Huang Yuanming was intrigued and asked immediately. The round-faced elder also looked at the white-robed elder in surprise. "Brother Huang, you've been wise all your life—yet now you're acting foolish. Since this person has appeared, he's asked about the Fall of the Demon Valley and the demon monsters. He looks so young yet possesses such high cultivation, claiming to be from the Han family. Surely you haven't forgotten who he is, have you? Don't forget—the when the two demons were besieged in the Demon Valley, besides the Yuan-En stage cultivators who perished, wasn't there another renowned figure who vanished?" said the white-robed elder with a wry smile. "You mean that one, the senior Han?" Huang Yuanming exclaimed, his face pale as he was reminded. The round-faced elder also suddenly realized, his expression now filled with astonishment. "Now do you see what I mean, brothers? This senior is second only to the Three Great Cultivators—his generosity in action is truly remarkable." "With Brother Wang's explanation, it truly seems plausible," said the other elder. "But regardless of whether he is indeed the senior Han or not, to us, he makes no difference." Even if we tried to gain favor with them, these cultivators of this rank simply wouldn't regard our families as worthy. To secure two upper-tier artifacts is already a pleasant surprise—likely due to the senior's goodwill, stemming from the damage we caused to the sacred spring water. Now, let's discuss how to handle these two golden spears." After a moment of silence, Huang Yueming sighed, his tone still carrying a touch of resignation. Though such opportunities were rare, figures like Han Li, at their level, were truly out of reach. Thus, though they felt regret, they had nothing to truly lament. Upon hearing Huang Yueming mention the golden spears, the other two elders temporarily set aside the matter of Han Li's status and turned their attention to the spears themselves, since the actual ownership and use of these artifacts were tangible benefits. Immediately, the three elders began lengthy negotiations over the allocation and utilization of the two golden spears. …Not mentioning the discussions among the three family elders regarding the division of treasures, Han Li naturally had no idea that he had already been recognized by them. He had already arrived at a location over a hundred miles away. This time, after finally emerging from the spatial rift, he hadn’t immediately rushed off to the Dongyu Kingdom—this was indeed a fortunate occurrence. After all, the point where the space had ruptured was unstable and constantly shifting. It would hardly be surprising if he ended up thousands of miles away. Can you still wait another seventy or eighty years, Master? If we can't find the materials in the southern lands, then we'll journey to the Great Jin. There, as long as your spiritual stones are sufficient, you'll find any rare materials you seek. I've already made this clear: if the puppet cannot be crafted before my very eyes, I will willingly destroy the method of crafting it—rather than leave it to you after my spirit essence has completely faded. Said the Great Xian King, somewhat exasperated. At that time, your aura of ferocity was still far short of one-tenth of what it should be. Remarkable, isn't it? Why not switch to a magical cultivation path instead? That very aura might actually help propel your cultivation to a higher level. Of course, by the time you reach the Immortal Stage, your ascension won't be to the Spiritual Realm—but to the ancient Magmatic Realm. The Great Yanshan Sovereign clearly seemed both exasperated and amused, his voice and laughter mingling as he teased Han Li.