The giant-headed stranger didn't hesitate either. The square-faced cultivator also bowed to the scholar, grasping the Heavenly Band in his hands, and with a few shifts of his form, gradually faded away on the central stone steps. The scholar did not immediately lead the remaining group to depart. Instead, only after witnessing the stranger and the square-faced cultivator vanish into the white mist at the far end of the steps did he turn his gaze back, and calmly addressed an elder standing beside him: "Young nephew Feng, how many sets of array flags and array discs do we still have?" "Reporting to the Grand Elder. As you instructed, after each set of seals is broken, we leave a temporary array in place. To date, aside from the Purple Wei Seven-Star Array, which cost us several hundred thousand spirit stones, we have no other array tools left." The elder replied respectfully. "Very well. Then let's set up this Purple Wei Seven-Star Array right here. Also, include those tiger-headed bees and the two blood-sucking bats in the array." The scholar issued his orders without hesitation. "Understood!" The elder immediately agreed, then slapped his waist and produced a stack of purple-hazy banners in his hands. He then strode steadily toward one side of the plaza. Only then did the scholar turn and glance back toward the mountain's base, his face showing a mixture of emotions, silently pondering. An hour later, the scholar and his companions disappeared into another stone staircase. At that moment, exactly at the point where the mountain's base stretched down countless myriad feet, the group led by Han Li had just passed through the grand archway of the Ten-Thousand-Practice Gate. There, the Ye family cultivators had set up a fairly sophisticated illusion array—sufficient to detain a Jie Dan cultivator for several days. Yet, against this large number of Yuan Yin stage cultivators, the elder, Qian, and others were swiftly dispatched by the hands of the senior cultivators, with barely any delay. Upon seeing the grand archway of the Ten-Thousand-Practice Gate, Qian and the others were now certain that they had reached Kunwu Mountain. Immediately, aside from Han Li and his two companions, everyone else became exceptionally excited. At once, the group hurried up the mountain. As they climbed the stone steps, they inevitably encountered one after another of Ye Family's previously laid restrictions. Far from causing hesitation, these encounters only intensified their eagerness. However, it was evident that the Ye Family's defenses grew progressively stronger. Though relying on their formidable spellwork and sheer strength, the old demons and their companions managed to break through each one, albeit with some delay. After a full day and night of persistent progress, they finally reached the massive stone hall, where numerous stone puppets stood in attendance. "My friends, be cautious here—should there be additional restrictions in place, the situation may become even more challenging. The people ahead clearly invested heavily; they are carrying so many arraying tools. It seems they are not merely ordinary cultivators, but likely from a major power within the realm." Hua Tianqi gazed at the ancient, imposing hall ahead, his expression slightly serious. "Hmm. To have such a grand arrangement—setting up a single seal that even the Ice and Flame Dual-Pole Array can be transformed into a banner-style array disk—is no small feat, something only one of our ten great sects could achieve. I'm curious now about the true identities of those ahead." Qian, the Elder Demon, said coldly. "Besides, on our journey thus far, they've effectively been clearing the way for us by breaking through the seals of Kunwu Mountain. That's quite convenient for us. Even if they momentarily obstruct us with temporary seals, we're certain to catch up." Hua Tianqi spoke with confidence. "I hope so." Qian, the Elder Demon, replied calmly. "I'd guess their array devices have been mostly consumed," the elder named Fu said, chuckling softly. "But what are these things? Haven't heard of stone-made puppets before?" The tall man among the five Yuan-Infusion cultivators scanned the ground carefully, then furrowed his brow. "These aren't ordinary stone puppets. The correct term is 'stone spirits.' It's a secret technique where the essences of certain beasts are forcibly infused into specially crafted stone statues. This method was once very popular during the ancient times, but for some reason, it suddenly disappeared later on." Without a hint of urgency, one person knelt down, picked up a fragment of stone from the ground, and examined it thoughtfully, speaking calmly. It was Han Li—someone who had remained largely silent since leaving the stone pavilion. "Ah, Master Han seems to be well-versed in this ancient technique," Tian Hua remarked, eyes widening in surprise. "Not much, really. I've studied puppetry techniques somewhat. But unfortunately, these are all damaged specimens." Otherwise, I'd really like to study them more closely." Han Li said, then tossed the stone he was holding. It rolled in circles on the smooth stone ground with a solid thud. He had just noticed that these stone spirit remains appeared to be ordinary stone materials, though specially treated. The most notable feature, however, was the strange array of magical patterns and characters engraved on the surfaces of the broken fragments—details that were completely invisible from the fragments themselves. "Han Brother, if you'd like to recover a complete stone spirit, it should be quite easy. There might still be several left in the collapsed sections near the corners!" One of the other cultivators suddenly pointed to a collapsed corridor, his eyes twinkling with a cheerful smile. Han Li glanced at the speaker and recognized him as a middle-aged cultivator with a sincere and earnest appearance—none other than Zheng Wei, the Dispersed True Man. Han Li, not being from the Great Jin region, was unaware of this cultivator's reputation for being less than stellar. Yet, given his experience in judging people, he certainly wouldn't have judged someone solely by their appearance. At that moment, just as he was about to speak, the old Qian Magus suddenly roared, "You rogue creature, you want to die!" Then, simultaneously, five figures raised their hands, and ten gray beams of light shot forth from their palms, striking a spot nearby where no one was present. A thunderous roar followed, and there, a purple glow flashed—suddenly, a four-winged monster with a lion's head and an eagle's body materialized, glaring fiercely at the group. It was the very lion-eagle creature that had previously attacked the Ye family's cultivators! This fearsome beast had quietly approached without anyone noticing, seemingly poised to strike at Qian Magus's five grandchildren. Yet surprisingly, the claw that had been severed by the senior elder of the Ye family had fully healed, now appearing as strong and unscathed as ever. Though it had learned from its earlier defeat, it had clearly grown wiser. As soon as the lion-fowl's form was exposed, it immediately扇ed all four wings simultaneously, instantly transforming into a cluster of purple light and shooting straight backward. Old Qian the Magistrate did not summon his five magical offspring to pursue—it was enough to startle the other cultivators with the beast's fierce appearance. After a brief hesitation, the creature had already vanished out of the stone pavilion, leaving no trace. "Lion-fowl! How come there's such a creature here!" Hu Tianqi exhaled deeply, murmuring in a somber tone. He was certain that if he were alone and encountered this fierce bird, he would surely meet with grave danger. The wealthy elder and Bai Yao Yi exchanged glances, each reading a hint of fear in the other's eyes. They were well aware that another, even more formidable creature—the silver-winged night-herald—was also roaming the mountain. Yet, for their own reasons, Han Li and both of them had kept this matter completely silent, so that the other cultivators remained entirely unaware of the existence of this monster. The other large-bodied cultivators likewise grew pale. This ancient, fearsome bird creature—comparable in stature to a late-stage Yuan Ying stage cultivator—is naturally extremely difficult to deal with. However, after the Lion-Beast appeared, the initial spark in Han Li's mind to investigate the corridor faded and was set aside. Since there were already silver-winged night warriors on the mountain, and now with such a monstrous presence, it seemed wiser to proceed together with the group. Han Li and the others were unaware that, immediately after emerging from the stone pavilion, the creature had spiraled down toward the mountain's side, flying for nearly half an hour before suddenly alighting on a towering, unusually emerald-green tree, where it emitted a most unpleasant cry—like a ghost in agony. "What's the matter with you? What do you want? You only asked me to avenge your cause! Do I have to do all these tedious things? For years, I've been trapped beneath the endless darkness of the water—hardly an easy escape—and I certainly don't want to get into any more trouble. Besides, those two waves of human cultivators—every one of them is at the Yuan Ying stage—none of them are easy to handle." A hoarse voice echoed, and then a flash of green light revealed a tree cavity several zhang high. A woman dressed in black robes stepped out, her face clearly impatient. Her waist was as stout as a water barrel, her skin dark, and her hair coiled neatly at the top—deep black, indeed—but two slender white streaks of hair protruded from it, making her appearance utterly strange and grotesque. The lion-like creatures heard this and were visibly angered, their eyes flashing with red light, their mournful cries growing even more piercing. "Think you've done well? It's your own carelessness—you've had half your claw severed by those cultivators. How can I possibly repay you for that? Besides, back when the descendants of Kunwu's three sons confined us within the Confining Spirit Array, didn't they intend for us to guard this mountain for them? I simply can't take advantage of their good intentions," the woman said, crossing her arms and speaking with gritted teeth. "Yet if we fail to eliminate those who have entered the mountain, and if these cultivators breach the Kunwu Hall and seize our four-spirit tablets, we may find ourselves once again under their control." Suddenly, a man's voice echoed from the air, and with a flash of emerald light, the silver-winged yaksha materialized there. "Hmph! How could they possibly breach the Kunwu Hall? Do you think its defenses are mere formalities? Especially the North Polar Luminescence—utterly impervious. If they actually attempt to enter the Kunwu Hall, they'll surely perish." The hag, however, showed no surprise at the yaksha's appearance, responding with an unusually composed and cold demeanor. "Master Gui, this isn't certain. Though the North Polar Luminescence is formidable, these intruders may well possess cultivators at the late Yuan-Stage of human cultivation, each equipped with artifacts or treasures capable of withstanding the Luminescence. Moreover, wouldn't you like to seize this opportunity to recover our vital tablets?" Otherwise, even if we break through the Spirit-Trap Array, we still won't be able to take a single step away from Kunwu Mountain." The Silver-Winged Night Monkey spoke calmly.