The several Qi-stage cultivators present were either from smaller families or independent practitioners. Seeing Han Li's air of profound mystery, they realized that only a Dao-Stage or higher cultivator could render them unable to perceive their cultivation level—such high-level cultivators typically only glanced at Qi-stage ones from afar, never approaching to speak. Now, each of them stood trembling with anxiety. When Han Li asked about the location, his expression eased slightly. Yet suddenly, he brushed his sleeve, and a series of emerald glimmers flashed out, instantly embedding themselves into the bodies of each person before him. Without a sound, the Qi-stage cultivators immediately rolled over and collapsed, utterly powerless. Han Li raised his hand without hesitation, instantly drawing one of the individuals into his grasp. With his fifth finger firmly gripping the person's head, the green glow flickered continuously. After a brief moment, he gathered the light, and the person slid gently from his hand, remaining unconscious. Han Li then reached out and seized another, performing the same maneuver. Within just a cup of tea's time, he had treated several of them in precisely the same manner. An hour later, these individuals awoke almost simultaneously, and upon seeing each other's condition, all expressed astonishment at the inexplicable nature of their sudden unconsciousness, completely forgetting any encounter they might have had with Han Li earlier. Yet, even as they were stunned, they immediately decided to leave the mountain, no longer willing to gather here. At that very moment, Han Li had already traveled to a location thousands of miles away, and had begun to slow his flight speed, focusing his mind on the white jade scroll that Linglong had left him upon departure. After an indeterminate length of time, Han Li sighed softly, closed the scroll, and sat in quiet contemplation, silent and thoughtful. The information contained within the scroll was divided into two parts: one section detailed the method of establishing the reverse spiritual pathway, including an exceptionally refined and intricate array layout—precisely the kind of array used by spiritual cultivators of the spiritual realm to create such pathways. Naturally, the array itself was profoundly complex; even more striking was the sheer quantity of high-tier spiritual stones required, a need so overwhelming that it left Han Li both breathless and utterly speechless. However, although this array is not well-suited for the Human Realm, with careful study and refinement, a simpler version could certainly be developed—making it feasible for your friend. Only at that point did the cultivators' yuan-ying truly solidify and take a fixed form, becoming immune to the immense pressure exerted by the boundary forces within the spatial nodes. Otherwise, even without any other hazards, cultivators below the Huashen stage would have their yuan-ying crushed and extinguished the moment they entered the nodes due to the interdimensional forces. Now that he has obtained the Peiying Pill and the method to lift the Seal of Soul Preservation, he should be ready to immediately set out and return to Tiannan. Yet, surprisingly, the removal of the Seal of Soul Preservation requires the preparation of a supporting pill as a medicinal conduit before the actual incantation can be performed. This supporting pill, known as the Xuanbing Pill, is a cold-natured pill similar in nature to the Xuepo Pill. Of course, the effects of the two pills are certainly quite different—the primary ingredient for the Xuanbing Pill is a rare medicinal herb called Xuanbing Flower. Though the Xuanbing Flower is exceptionally precious, it is not a substance difficult to find in the world. The only difficulty is that this herb grows exclusively upon eternal pyrite ice, and as soon as it is harvested and removed from the ice, it turns into a pool of clear water within moments—its medicinal properties completely lost. There is no effective method of preservation. Thus, although this herb is an exceptionally rare cold-natured spiritual medicine, it is actually usable by only a few sects that have long flourished in cold, icy regions. Even at the Great Jin auction halls, it rarely appears at all. Moreover, since this pill is specifically effective only for sealing the soul, even the old master Qian has not carried it with him. Naturally, the Yin Luo Sect still maintains several bottles of it internally. Yet, no matter how confident Han Li is, he would never dare to attempt a direct assault on the main hall of the magisterial magian sect. Simply put, with so many magicians already stationed within, and considering the sheer strength of the sect's defensive spells and arrays, he would find it impossible to proceed alone. Indeed, the difference between a spell array without a master and one actively operated is nothing short of fundamental. According to the formula for the Xuan Bing Dan, although other cold-natured spiritual herbs could be used, the medicinal properties would immediately decline significantly. To ensure reliability, Han Li naturally intended to make a trip to the extremely cold region. Therefore, earlier while in Kunwu Mountain, he had already mentioned to Bai Yao Yi his plan to visit the Bei Ye Xiao Ji Palace. This small palace, extending from the Bei Ming Ice Island, is renowned as a particularly cold locale, and it is certain that its cultivators would easily find the Xuan Bing Flower. After pondering for a long time, Han Li finally made up his mind and immediately changed direction, flying northward. Travelling northward across more than ten prefectures, Han Li eventually reached a major prefecture named Bingzhou. Though not the northernmost prefecture of the Great Jin, Bingzhou was quite comparable in size. The region was now covered in snow, with nearly seven or eight days out of every ten days featuring thick, fluffy snowfall. As a result, the human settlements in Bingzhou were sparse and spread out, and the number of spiritual mountains and mountain veins was relatively few, with their quality also falling short of those in other regions. Therefore, major cultivation sects and monasteries of the Great Jin rarely established branches here, while smaller noble families and numerous independent cultivators had gathered in significant numbers. Despite the harsh conditions, Bingzhou was exceptionally vast in territory—its land area could rank among the top five prefectures of the Great Jin—and it was particularly renowned for producing several well-known cold-natured spiritual herbs and materials. Moreover, most of the monastic cultivators in this prefecture specialize in cold and chilly-based cultivation techniques, as numerous practitioners of yin-cold styles have gathered here to benefit from the region's abundant cold and chilly qi to enhance their cultivation. Of course, when engaging in combat with cultivators practicing other elemental techniques, they would naturally hold a slight advantage. Whether in the southern heavens or in the later visited region of the Chaotic Star Sea, such places are typically characterized by temperate, year-round spring-like climates—thus, encountering a land of snow and ice is truly rare. However, once a cultivator reaches the level of Han Li, their physical constitution has long since adapted to withstand extreme cold and heat. Thus, although initially intrigued by the endless snowfall, after several consecutive days of travel, he soon grew accustomed to it and treated it as ordinary. Along the way, he encountered other cultivators, but due to his current level of cultivation, he would instantly vanish before they even noticed him. Finally, on the fifth day of entering the Frost Prefecture, Han Li came to a halt at an unremarkable, desolate mountain range. Though this pulse is not particularly strong, it does possess a decent spiritual vein. Floating above the summit of a mountain, Han Li sensed the density of spiritual energy at this location and nodded with a satisfied expression. Then, with a cold exhalation, a powerful surge of aura erupted from his body, rising upward and then descending, ultimately enveloping the entire mountain peak. The immense spiritual pressure generated instantly caused the flowers, grasses, and trees across the mountain to tremble slightly, while smaller animals and birds even flipped over and fell unconscious. For the cultivators practicing on this mountain, the scene turned chaotic—those with lower levels of cultivation felt as though their bodies were weighed down by a thousand pounds, forcing them to kneel; those with greater修为 suddenly found it difficult to breathe, as if bound by a seal, and their cries and exclamations rose continuously throughout the mountain. At that moment, three beams of light simultaneously rose from various points on the mountain and shot directly toward Han Li. Han Li sensed someone approaching, and at once his protective glow flashed, causing his facial features to blur and transform within a moment—soon taking the form of an elderly man with a beard like that of a mountain goat, his expression fierce and stern. During this time, due to the shimmering light radiating from his body, Han Li did not fear that the arriving cultivators would notice anything unusual. As the light settled, two black-robed elders and one gray-robed man appeared before him. The younger man in gray robes flew ahead, while the two elders trailed behind. Han Li raised a brow slightly, finding nothing strange about it—clearly, the gray-robed man possessed mid-Jiadian cultivation level, while the two elders were merely late-stage Foundation-level cultivators. Yet their cultivation techniques appeared remarkably similar, suggesting a close connection or shared lineage. Before Han Li could speak, the gray-robed man suddenly reacted with shock and anger, scanning Han Li with his spiritual awareness. Immediately, his face changed, the initial fury vanishing as he quickly adopted a warm, smiling expression. "Young servant Li Zhongtian, son of Li Jia, now serving as the head of the Li family, I do not know what your elder has to say, but I will certainly do my utmost to comply!" The sturdy man spoke with great deference, yet his heart grew increasingly uneasy upon making eye contact with Han Li's fierce, threatening expression. "As for my Li family—what matters? I have decided on this mountain. I shall have you all vacate immediately. Give yourselves half a day to prepare. By the half-day mark, I shall take possession of this land." Han Li's voice was rough and hoarse, cold and penetrating, as if even colder than the wind sweeping across the sky. (Second update!)