The disciples of Du Shengmen, after a brief chat, quickened their flight, hastening forward at a speed faster than before. Reaching a day earlier proved highly advantageous. In the small lake area of Pu Yun Commandery, hundreds of cultivators of varying levels had gathered, forming small clusters of three or five. Many of them had even ascended directly into the sky, gathering around seven luminous pillars, silently searching for something. On the ground, a few cultivators who possessed earth-dwelling seals or had some knowledge of earth-dwelling techniques occasionally emerged and reentered, enthusiastically discussing with their ground-based companions. Clearly, the massive seal hidden beneath had now been discovered. Yet, despite the scale of this seal, the crack that the Ye family had forcibly separated using a spell array had not yet been precisely located. Yet even thus, the cultivators were all exceptionally excited, many already sending sound signals to their respective families or sects, some even taking off at night to personally report the matter. Currently, the cultivators here are primarily at the Foundation Stage, with only a few at the Qi Stage and Consolidation Stage. Most of them had stumbled upon the anomaly by chance and came to see it, while others, driven by word of it, had come specifically to investigate various local powers. As for cultivators at the Yuan Yin Stage, none had yet been seen arriving. This is not surprising—since the small lake has always been in a remote, sparsely populated region, lacking nearby famous mountains or rivers, nor any prominent families or cultivation sects. It is natural that Yuan Yin cultivators would not spontaneously come to such a remote, underdeveloped area. Even the cultivators from the Toxin Saint Sect, who had received the news and rushed out immediately, still had two days’ journey ahead. However, most of the lower-tier independent cultivators, though deeply reluctant, wisely chose to leave in succession upon discovering the immense underground seal—so vast and impressive it was hard to imagine. They were well aware that no matter how great the benefits hidden beneath the seal, such a level of competition would remain beyond their reach. Staying on would only expose them to the turmoil among the higher-ranked cultivators, which could easily prove disastrous. Of course, a few younger, more spirited lower-tier cultivators remained unwilling to depart. They hoped to see what lay beneath the seal, and naturally harbored hopes that, despite their modest cultivation levels, a fortunate opportunity might allow them to emerge unscathed—perhaps even to make a splash. Thus, for a time, the area became a mixed scene, filled with cultivators each harboring their own hidden motives. Yet all of this held no significance for Han Li, who was already deep within the colossal mountain sealed beneath the great seal. At this moment, He and Bai Yao Yi were fixated on the Fu surname elder seated meditatively in the center of the cave, their eyes never blinking. While they appeared to be watching the elder, in truth, they were more focused on the golden cauldron before him—hovering three feet above the ground, slowly rotating in the air. The elder exhaled steady streams of emerald infant flames, while simultaneously pressing intricate, unknown hand seals onto the cauldron, which was enveloped in the green fire. Each seal struck upon the glowing cauldron sent out a shimmering display of five-colored radiance, creating a vibrant and splendid scene. A steady aroma of medicinal fragrance was already rising from within the cauldron, rich and inviting, filling the air and bringing a sense of calm and well-being to those who inhaled it. As the elder's seals grew faster and faster, his expression grew increasingly serious, clearly indicating that the alchemical process had reached its most critical phase. Beside him, Han Li seemed composed on the surface, yet his mind was equally tense. The rare materials, including the Yin Zhi Ma, had already been gradually added into the cauldron over the past few days. Should the alchemical process fail Thus, although the wealthy elder had sounded confident about the preparation of the Pei Ying Pill, now that the medicine was nearly complete, he felt a growing sense of apprehension and hesitation. Beside him, Bai Yao Yi maintained a composed expression, yet the warmth in her bright eyes flashed repeatedly, clearly revealing her own inner uncertainties. Suddenly, the cauldron jolted to a halt, ceasing its rotation, and a resonant hum began to emanate from within. The aroma of the herbs in the cauldron grew even more intense. The wealthy elder's eyes brightened; he paused both his hand gestures and the flow of infant-fire in his mouth, then flipped his hand once more, producing a small crimson gourd—only about four or five inches in size—now resting in his palm. With his other hand, he flicked his middle finger, and a white luminous orb struck the cauldron lid with a sharp "pop." The lid trembled and slid off. As the hum ceased, five luminous orbs, each the size of a clenched fist, burst forth from within the cauldron. Among the white light, each orb subtly contained a green sphere—about the size of a thumb— After circling the steaming cauldron once, the luminous spheres scattered outward, each eager to vanish separately. But the seasoned elder from the Fu family, having prepared in advance, swiftly waved his gourd, spouting a cascade of radiant light from within. A flash of spiritual brilliance followed, and the spheres were instantly drawn into the gourd, safely contained. "Done! The task is complete!" the elder exhaled deeply, then turned to face Han Li with a warm, beaming smile. "Thank you, Fu brother. I never thought we'd actually succeed in producing five pills. I was initially worried the number might be too small!" Bai Yao Yi stood up, her voice filled with delight, a gentle blush rising to her cheeks, making her even more graceful and alluring. "When I first prepared the ingredients according to the recipe, I originally expected to produce between five and six pills—otherwise, I wouldn't have invited only five of my friends. Unfortunately, Cheng sister and Yuan brother both fell victim to the poison as a result." The elder's smile softened slightly. It was clear that the elder and the black-robed beauty shared a close relationship. Though immortals generally grew accustomed to life and death, the sight of his usual sister-in-quest falling away while the elixir took shape stirred a deep sense of sorrow within him. Upon hearing the elder's words, Bai Yaoyi's expression of joy softened, and she too sighed gently. Han Li remained composed, yet said nothing, simply silent. "Master Bai, do you have a wooden container at your disposal? Preferably not a common jade box, as the medicinal properties might otherwise dissipate. This elixir is particularly potent—should you take it immediately, you'll need to retreat into seclusion for at least six months to fully absorb its effects. Otherwise, the benefits will significantly diminish," the elder said, his expression of melancholy briefly passing as he gently lifted the gourd in his hand and spoke seriously to Bai Yaoyi. "Of course, I have several wooden containers. Given the rarity of this elixir, I certainly won't take it right away," Bai Yaoyi smiled gracefully, then with a single hand motion, produced a yellow wooden box in her hands. The elder nodded, then, without a word, tapped the base of the gourd with his finger. Instantly, crimson waves surged upward, and a white luminous sphere shot forth, heading straight for Bai Yao Yi. Bai Yao Yi lifted her wooden box with one hand and, with the other, gestured toward the pill in the air as if to grasp it. The pill instantly transformed into a streak of white light and was absorbed into the box. After carefully inspecting the pills inside the box and sensing the remarkable spiritual energy they carried through her awareness, she was overjoyed and closed the box with a satisfied smile. Then, she thanked the elder and politely declined any further thanks. The Fu-family elder smiled upon hearing this, reached into his waist satchel, and surprisingly produced a green wooden chest. To Bai Yao Yi's astonishment, he then drew out a pill from the gourd and placed it into the chest, before promptly closing it. After a few chuckles at the sight of Han Li, he raised his hand and tossed the entire crimson gourd directly to Han Li. Though Han Li instinctively caught the gourd, a subtle expression of surprise still appeared on his face. "May I ask, "I only asked my friend for two Peiying Dan!" Han Li furrowed his brow and spoke slowly. "I am not a greedy man. This time, I managed to survive and obtain these elixirs thanks entirely to your assistance. My sister has already passed away, and one elixir is more than enough for me. If Brother Han doesn't mind, please take all three of these pills." The elder spoke with remarkable seriousness. Upon hearing this, Han Li glanced at the gourd in his hands and studied the elder once again, then couldn't help but smile lightly. He could already guess what plans the elder might be formulating. It seemed that this senior from the Jiuyou Sect, after completing the Peiying Dan, felt his own value had significantly diminished and still feared that Han Li might suddenly turn against him. Thus, he resorted to the strategy of "spending to avoid disaster," willingly offering another Peiying Dan. On one hand, he expressed his sincere goodwill toward Han Li; on the other, he made every effort to minimize the things that might provoke a potential threat from Han Li. As long as Han Li wasn't someone who turned cold suddenly, once he received this pill, he would likely no longer have any unexplained intentions to kill. With such a favorable opportunity presented, Han Li naturally wouldn't refuse. "Since Brother Fu has expressed such a view, I have no further hesitation." Han Li didn't show any formality; with a flash of radiant light, the crimson gourd vanished from his hands. If he truly decided not to accept the pill, he might even leave the two elders suspicious. "Ha ha, Han brother, there's no need for such humility—these are indeed things that your friend deserves." Brother Fu smiled warmly, and his expression visibly relaxed. Bai Yao Yi also clearly understood the subtle nuances, simply smiling quietly by the side. The relationship among the three had greatly improved. Since the spiritual pill has now been successfully prepared, we should make every effort to find our way out soon. Meanwhile, we might as well explore this mountain further—there may be additional rewards to be discovered," the elder said, glancing toward the cave entrance and offering the suggestion. But as soon as the words left his lips, the entire cave suddenly trembled slightly, and then a deep, resonant rumbling sound began to rise from the stone walls around, continuous and unceasing. Han Li and his two companions stared in astonishment, exchanging puzzled glances. "Are there others living in this mountain?" Bai Yao Yi bit her lower lip, speaking in Finnish with evident surprise. "Not necessarily—perhaps it's the noise made by the silver-winged night monkey who escaped!" The elder shook his head, a hint of resentment appearing on his face. Clearly, he had recalled the incident where the black-robed woman had perished at the hands of that very creature. "Regardless of whether there are others or not—we must be especially cautious after we leave. With the three of us working together, we should have no real cause for fear." After a moment of silence, Han Li spoke calmly. Then, he shook his sleeve, and a cascade of emerald light spread out from within it, sweeping across the cave. Where the light touched, the various seals and incantations throughout the cave were gradually lifted, and the array flags and discs that had been embedded in the walls and floor shot upward, vanishing instantly into Han Li "Let's leave here first!" Han Li drew in the glow, then instantly activated a luminous aura around his body, transforming into a streak of jade light and heading out toward the mountain cave entrance without hesitation. The elder and Bai Yao Yi exchanged glances and, without delay, took to their respective means of flight, following closely behind.