After the sharp reprimand, the lingering unease in Han Li's heart since the passing of the Great Derivative Divine Sovereign gradually dissipated. As he prepared to summon the heavenly thunder, he naturally did not wish for the other cultivators present to interfere. Taking a deep breath, he struck his storage sack, and several colored divine banners materialized in his hands. With a single gesture, these banners shot outwards, vanishing instantly as they sank into the ground. Han Li looked up at the constantly flashing lightning in the sky, his lips twitching slightly. Immediately, a cascade of luminous radiance rippled around him, lifting his form into the air until it hovered thirty or more zhang above the ground. He formed a peculiar hand seal, and a series of low, resonant incantations flowed from his mouth. At once, the ground beneath began to glow with various hues. A few dull thuds followed, and several luminous columns erupted from the earth, transforming into massive banners, each as wide as a large bowl, standing upright and motionless. Han Li's incantation did not pause in the slightest. Below, the method flags released threads of spiritual energy, gradually forming a gathering spell array with a diameter of over ten zhang. Within the radiance, various characters rolled continuously throughout the array, indicating that the entire structure was now fully activated. At the very moment the array took shape, the lightning that had previously seemed distant in the upper sky suddenly appeared to be drawn toward it, growing more urgent with each passing moment, its electric flashes steadily approaching Han Li's position. Han Li narrowed his eyes, briefly paused his incantation, then flipped his palm, producing once again a slender jade bottle several inches high—specifically crafted by him to collect heavenly lightning. He gently tossed the small bottle into the air, then cast a pale blue seal that struck it. The bottle spun several times before settling steadily with its mouth facing upward, remaining motionless. At this point, Han Li rubbed his palms together and raised both hands upward, launching two thick golden arcs that simultaneously struck the base of the jade bottle. After a thunderclap, an eerie scene unfolded. The jade vial trembled slightly, and two golden arcs vanished into it. Then, Han Li murmured a low command and pointed upward. "Pffft!" A golden arc erupted from the vial's mouth, forming a spear several zhang long that shimmered continuously on the vial's surface, pointing straight toward the dark, oppressive sky. At that very moment, a silver arc suddenly flashed down from the sky and struck the golden spear. The spear trembled slightly, and the silver arc followed, straightening and swiftly vanishing into the vial within moments. Thus, one after another, electric arcs drawn by the magical array were effortlessly captured and absorbed into the vial. After one hour, when the vial absorbed one particularly thick arc, it began to emit a deep, roaring sound akin to a tidal wave. Hearing this sound, Han Li's face brightened with delight, and he raised his hand, grasping the void above. The golden lightning spear detached itself automatically, and the jade vial fell from the sky, landing into his hands. Han Li swiftly waved his sleeve upward, launching another vial of similar appearance into the air. The golden spear was then reinserted, continuing to gather heavenly lightning into the vials. Only now did he take the time to carefully examine the vials in his hands. He noticed that the vial trembled continuously, emitting a low hum, with vivid silver light flashing within its mouth—seeming ready to burst forth at any moment. With a soft "snap," a golden scroll adhered to the vial, instantly silencing the internal sounds and dimming the silver glow. Han Li sealed the vial carefully and stored it in his storage bag. Then he continued to gaze upward, attentively observing the sky. Half a day later, after collecting four vials of heavenly lightning, the rain still persisted, growing more dense and widespread, as if it would only intensify. Han Li thought to himself that once he had collected the final vial from the sky, he could cease. The lightning was sufficient to transform into Leihuo for refining spiritual materials. At that moment, his expression shifted suddenly, and he swiftly turned his gaze toward one side of the sky. There, in the dim, distant heavens, flashes of light danced, and suddenly a white rainbow emerged, streaking swiftly toward him. His eyes flickered twice, and his expression grew serious. Below, the gathering spiritual array shimmered brightly, with Han Li floating midair, his entire body glowing with a deep blue light, while above his head, silver electric arcs flashed continuously, one after another, converging at a single point. The scene was strikingly vivid. The owner of the white rainbow naturally observed the entire spectacle, and after several glides of her light, she sped directly toward Han Li. A moment later, at a distance of thirty paces, she gently dimmed her radiance, revealing a young lady dressed in imperial robes. The lady was petite in stature, with a delicate appearance, and her bright, clear eyes shimmered with gentle radiance, as though she were at the height of her youth. Yet what was astonishing was that the imperial robe she wore appeared to be made of some rare and precious material—shimmering with a silvery glow, dazzling and radiant—and several trails of pale, cold qi continuously drifted around her, giving her the appearance of a celestial maiden, untouched by the earthly atmosphere. Han Li, upon casting a glance with his divine awareness, was slightly startled. It seemed that the woman before him was no different from himself—a Yuan婴中期 cultivator. After glancing at Han Li, the woman smiled gently. "My name is Bai Yaoyi from Bei Ming Island. Have you also come at the invitation of Fu Daojun?" Her voice was melodious and soft, most pleasing to the ear. "Bei Ming Island—does Daojun Bai not belong to the Xiao Ji Palace?" Han Li was surprised, asking in astonishment. "Indeed, I am the External Affairs Elder of Xiao Ji Palace. Our palace is located in a remote area, and I hadn't expected Daojun to be aware of our sect. May I ask your esteemed name?" The woman smiled lightly. "My name is Han. I am merely a wandering cultivator from overseas. Indeed, I have come at the invitation of Fu Daojun." The name Xiao Ji Gong has long been well-known to me, Mr. Han," Han Li said, his expression settling into calmness. "Foreign cultivators! Do you know the Three Immortals of the overseas realm? Do you have any connection with these three esteemed guests?" Bai Yao, her eyes sparkling with gentle warmth, inquired with a subtle smile. "I'm not familiar with them. I rarely interact with other cultivators, having always focused on my cultivation within the island." Han Li replied without hesitation. "Ah, then I have been somewhat impolite. Would you like me to assist you in collecting the heavenly lightning?" "Thank you for your kind offer. I have already gathered most of the lightning. This is the final one." "Then I shall take my seat and meditate at the summit for a while." Upon hearing Han Li's words, Bai Yao did not press further. She swiftly spun through the air with a shimmer of light and landed directly on the large stone at the summit. As soon as she materialized, she raised her hand and launched a parasol-shaped spiritual artifact into the sky. After a slight rotation in the air, the object immediately emitted a vast expanse of bright, misty light, shielding the rain and wind within a radius of several dozen zhang. Only then did the lady settle gracefully into a meditative posture, her hands folded. A palm-sized object materialized in her hands with a flash of cold light. Han Li glanced at it and instantly recognized it—this was a translucent white jade, shimmering with a cool radiance, distinctly different from ordinary fine jade. "Ice jade," he thought instantly, identifying the rare material. The cold essence he had accidentally obtained was precisely drawn from the ice jade that had formed over ten thousand years. At this moment, the lady laid the ice jade gently upon her palms and closed her eyes, entering a state of meditation. It seemed her cultivation technique was not purely of the ice nature, but rather of a cold, Yin-based type. Otherwise, she would not have relied on the cold energy of this jade to support her practice—this was indeed reminiscent of the way Han Li had been nourished by the Snow Spirit Pills. Yet no matter how excellent the ice jade might be, it could never compare to the remarkable efficacy of the Snow Spirit Pill. Though outwardly composed and calm, Han Li felt an instinctive sense of caution toward this woman. The Northern Night Xiao Ji Palace, willing to engage in fierce battles against high-ranking immortal beasts every few generations, rather than surrender its precious Cold Essence, clearly valued this treasure immensely. Should this woman learn that the palace's most sacred artifact now rested upon her, the consequences would surely be severe. With these thoughts in mind, Han Li turned his gaze back to the small vial floating in the air, maintaining a composed expression. Not long after the fifth vial was filled with thunderbolts, Han Li closed his artifact, slowly descending from the sky and settling at the center of the spirit-concentrating array. Then, several hand seals were inscribed upon the nearby spirit banners, instantly transforming the array's defenses and raising a soft, misty veil of light that enclosed him. Han Li likewise sat within the array, closing his eyes and meditating, facing the palace-dressed woman across the space. Before this young lady's very eyes, he would not concoct any spiritual ingredients. As a result, the mountain grew quiet, save for the sounds of thunder and rain. The downpour lasted for a full day and night before gradually subsiding. When the bright sun reappeared in the sky, the air immediately grew damp and hot, and the mists once again rose slowly from the ground, once again enveloping the entire mountain range. Various insects and ants that had retreated back into their burrows began to emerge once more. Han Li calmly extended his divine awareness, sensing the activities within a radius of several dozen miles. Everywhere his divine perception reached—whether it was insects battling for survival or fruits and blossoms falling to the ground—these events were clearly transmitted into his consciousness. He remained motionless, like an old monk in deep meditation. Occasionally, lower-level cultivators stumbled upon the mountain by accident. Upon seeing the astonishing cultivation levels of Han Li and Bai Yao Yi, they did not need to hear a word from either of them—facing such awe, they instantly grew pale, clutching their heads and fleeing without delay. Thus, Han Li and the dressed-in-royal-gown woman sat together for three days and three nights. On the fourth morning, a senior cultivator finally arrived at the main peak. This time, a towering man came—remarkably unattractive in appearance, with a dark, lustrous complexion. It was unclear what cultivation technique he practiced, as he arrived on the back of a massive green turtle, sweeping a strange, eerie wind with him. Upon seeing Han Li and Bai Yao Yi, the man burst into laughter, then immediately sat down at a new spot on the peak without a word. Yet he did not close his eyes to meditate—he instead pulled out a golden book from his sleeve and began reading it with a shaking, bookish demeanor. This seemingly studious behavior stood in sharp contrast to his imposing physique and unrefined looks, appearing quite comical. Han Li and Bai Yao Yi, however, paid it no attention, simply sitting quietly. In reality, Han Li’s brows had already begun to furrow. This tall man is also at the mid-period of Yuan Ying. It seems the elder named Fu truly has an extraordinary purpose in inviting them here—so extraordinary, in fact, that even the initial stage cultivators are not qualified to participate.