Upon hearing references to "Han Li, Tian Nan," the wealthy elder and Bai Yao Yi both expressed a moment of surprise. Yet Han Li merely gazed at the five white figures in the distance, his expression gloomy and silent. After all, he had personally slain a senior mid-stage Yuanqi elder from Yin Luo Sect, even seizing one of the elder's foundational treasures—the Ghost Luo Banner—thus making any prospects of reconciliation utterly unlikely. Moreover, he had originally come to the Sect with the specific intention of obtaining the method to unlock the Seal of Soul, a technique known only to the Sect's Grand Master and the current Grand Elder present. Therefore, he had already made up his mind to pursue further actions against Yin Luo Sect. It was thus no surprise that, when unexpectedly encountering them here, Han Li, unprepared, now found himself quietly considering the possibility of a direct confrontation. After all, given that both individuals were high-ranking figures within Yin Luo Sect, opportunities to find them unattended were truly rare. Yet he had engaged in a fierce battle with a silver-winged night-axe monster of late Yuan婴 stage, who, though lacking a combined divine artifact and bound by inner seals, had narrowly escaped being extinguished. Still, at that time, he had not fully deployed all his means—particularly the humanoid automaton he had not yet used—thus leaving him with a solid chance of victory against the current Yuan婴-stage magic cultivator. Moreover, although the five-son cooperative magic cultivator held a formidable reputation, his Bixie Divine Thunder remained exceptionally effective in countering magical techniques. The true form of the Qian elder wizard had separated from the spirit-bound young disciple and materialized directly before them. Now, not only Han Li, but also the wealthy elder and Bai Yaoyi grew alert, their eyes fixed intently on the old wizard, eager to see what plans he had. Yet the old wizard said nothing—he merely raised one hand to his waist, where a small, dark as ink banner appeared in his grasp. Then, he gently waved it toward Han Li and the other two. The elder's face paled instantly, and he quickly clutched a precious artifact with one hand. Bai Yaoyi's body radiated a strong cold glow, instantly enveloped by a protective spiritual aura. In contrast, Han Li merely raised a slight eyebrow, making no further movements, though the coldness in his expression deepened. "Strange, strange..." murmured the old wizard, speaking to himself as the banner flashed once with a dark shimmer, yet showed no further effects—seeming genuinely surprised. "Qian brother, what is your intention? You've summoned the Gui Luo Banner—do you intend to strike?" Could it be that we're about to spark a conflict between the two sects! Though the Fu elder deeply respects the Qian Elder, his side has three Yuan-Infusion中期 cultivators, especially Han Li, whose abilities are truly profound and incomparable—so they need not be overly intimidated by the Qian Elder. "A conflict between the two sects? That's not something we're inclined to pursue. I merely have a few lingering matters to settle with this esteemed Han friend here. As long as you two remain indifferent and are willing to depart now, I promise to make no further demands," said the Qian Elder, his gaze sweeping calmly over the three of them. "Your words resonate deeply with me, Master Han. I've long heard of the Five-Hearted Magician Sect, and I've actually been looking forward to a chance to spar with you!" Han Li smiled warmly, immediately responding with a composed and relaxed tone. Upon hearing this exchange, the Fu elder and Bai Yao Yi exchanged puzzled glances. The Qian Elder himself was somewhat surprised, his cold gaze circling Han Li several times. "Well... Master Qian! While I am aware that Han Master has some history of disputes with your sect, would it not be "Wouldn't Master Kan wish to first investigate this mountain?" the elder named Fu gently urged. This wasn't truly out of concern for Han Li, but rather, the Kunwu Mountain appeared remarkably perilous, and after so much effort securing a reliable ally, he naturally didn't want to risk an unexpected turn of events. Moreover, only by securing Han Li's support could he avoid being isolated and fear that Master Kan might suddenly turn hostile. "I certainly intend to explore this mountain," Master Kan replied with a cold laugh. "Yet Han Li has been a person of long-standing pursuit within our sect, and we cannot simply let him go unattended. I shall first settle matters with him personally. What do you say, Brother Fu? Would you like to take a hand in this?" Master Kan's tone carried clear skepticism. "Beyond this mountain, I shall not interfere with any grievances between you and Master Han. However, here, where we three must unite to investigate this mountain together, I fear your wishes may not be fully realized," White Yao said, her eyes gleaming with determination. To this woman, she too was equally afraid of losing Han Li, her key support, and being left exposed and in peril here. Of course, most importantly, she and the Fu elder had personally witnessed Han Li's extraordinary prowess, yet they did not believe that Han Li truly feared the Qian Elder. Otherwise, whether or not he would still say these words would be uncertain. Faced with the unexpectedly firm stance of the Fu elder and Bai Yao Yi, the gray-robed figure's eyes flashed with cold light, as though his gaze alone could instantly freeze the very heart and lungs of his listeners. Yet neither the Fu elder nor Bai Yao Yi was an ordinary cultivator. Though internally startled, neither showed the slightest sign of hesitation or timidity on their faces. "Very well," said the Qian Elder, his expression calm, "on the account of these two esteemed friends, I shall not insist immediately. However, our sect has one precious artifact left behind on this person—this must be handed over to me right now. Otherwise, even if it means expending a great deal of vital energy, I shall have to engage in a battle with the three of you today." "An artifact? "Are you referring to that ghostly Luo Fan?" Han Li chuckled, speaking with straightforwardness. "Indeed, it is this item. When our fourth senior abode in the southern heavens perished, I believe the Fan should have come into your hands. As long as you return it now, I shall grant you a temporary reprieve," said the Dry Elder in a solemn tone. "A reprieve? Your tone is quite bold. I am willing to return the Ghostly Luo Fan to you. However, I do have one condition. Would you be so kind as to listen to it?" After a moment of silence, Han Li suddenly raised his head toward the sky, a trace of scorn playing at the corner of his lips. "A condition? You killed our fourth senior, seized our ancestral treasure, and now dare to propose terms before me! Do you truly think I won't take your life?" The Dry Elder burst into laughter, furious. At the same time, five white silhouettes flickered and stepped forward, materializing directly in front of the Dry Elder. The atmosphere instantly grew tense. The wealthy elder standing by, meanwhile, was deeply surprised, his face expressing a touch of bewilderment. The incident of the Fourth Elder of Yin Luo Sect going missing without any apparent reason, the Jiyou Sect—another of the Ten Great Sects of the Magian Path—naturally also knew of it. Yet the elder was utterly astonished to learn that this renowned magus in the Magian Path had perished at the hands of Han Li, and that even the famed Gui Luo Fan of Yin Luo Sect had fallen into the hands of someone else. That was surely the reason why the senior Dry Magus, knowing that the current moment was not the optimal time for conflict, had refused to let go of Han Li so easily. As for Han Li's concealment of his origins—claiming he was not a foreign cultivator but rather from the Tiannan region—this was nothing remarkable. Otherwise, what would become of our Yin Luo Sect's dignity?" the old demon said firmly. "Then it seems Master Qian has not even the slightest intention of listening to my demands!" Han Li's eyes narrowed sharply, revealing a deeply gloomy expression. "Hah! Demands? If you were a Grand Elder of one of the Ten Great Sects, perhaps I would listen to you. But you, a mere cultivator from the southern heavens—how dare you expect to negotiate with me on terms?" With a burst of laughter, the old demon raised his head toward the sky, his body suddenly radiating an astonishing aura of ferocity. In an instant, he vanished into a streak of white light. Immediately, the five figures in white light emitted a strong gray glow, and the ten eyes that had previously been lifeless now burned with a passionate, bloodthirsty intensity, becoming extremely dangerous. "Oh no! I almost forgot. This old demon practices the 'Reverse Sentiment, Sever the Heavens' technique. This method emphasizes spontaneity and naturalness. Our earlier threats have backfired—instead of calming him, they have greatly agitated him." Only upon seeing the old master of the Qian clan go berserk did the wealthy elder suddenly recall something, regretting his words immediately. Upon hearing this, Bai Yaoyi slightly furrowed her brows, but without further thought, raised her hand and launched a blade of ice crystal into the air, which then transformed into a flowing white ribbon spiraling steadily above her head. Han Li, on the other hand, remained composed, narrowed his eyes slightly, and with a subtle movement of his hand concealed in his sleeve, the Three-Flame Fan unexpectedly appeared in his grasp. At the same time, the other hand gently pressed against his storage pouch, and his awareness instantly locked onto the figure puppet. He had decided that as soon as the two parties engaged in combat, he would immediately unleash his decisive moves, taking advantage of the moment when the old master was distracted by the elder and Bai Yaoyi, aiming to deliver a devastating blow in a single instant. Even if he could not kill the opponent outright, he would ensure significant damage to their cultivation, thereby creating favorable conditions for his next confrontation with the senior master of Yin Luo Sect. After all, the sealing spell of Nan Gong Wan remained etched in his memory, never to be forgotten. Only once he obtained the genuine method to expel the curse could he finally feel at ease. Even if it meant he could no longer establish himself in the Great Jin Dynasty and would have to face relentless pursuit and attacks from the Yin Luo Sect's cultivators day and night, he would be willing to endure it. At that moment, the five young disciples of the Five Wicked Ones simultaneously emitted strange, mournful cries, and their forms instantly grew incredibly translucent. From a distance, their white silhouettes seemed to transform into five delicate streams of light mist, gently swaying, before suddenly lengthening and charging fiercely downward. Yet just then, a tremendous explosion erupted at the very spot where the white figures had originally emerged, radiating a brilliant, dazzling silver light that blazed forth with overwhelming intensity. Before the Han Li and others could comprehend what was happening, a series of sharp "whoosh" sounds echoed within the silver glow, and nearly ten colored streaks of flight energy burst out in close succession. After a brief spiral, these streaks gradually faded, revealing a number of distinct human figures around the area.