"It's quite simple. Within the Xuanyu Cave, aside from the cold air, take for instance these ten-thousand-year-old Xuanyu stones. Though they appear easily removable, in reality, each one was originally fused together as a single entity through the unknown great technique of ancient cultivators, combined with the entire mineral vein. Over the years, further refined by the cave's persistent cold atmosphere, they have become perfectly smooth and unified. Even with the most sharp and powerful artifacts, none can be dislodged. Otherwise, why would the Empress have kept these stones here unused for so long? If all of them could be extracted and transformed into divine artifacts, her power would instantly rival that of the Taimei Sect and the Tianmo Sect." The middle-aged man in blue robe sighed with a touch of regret. "These Xuanyu stones cannot be removed!" the elderly woman frowned, visibly skeptical. "If Lady Long has any doubts, she need only demonstrate it herself, and then she will see that Brother Ouyang's words are entirely true." The Hanli Master also smiled and said. "Indeed, such a marvel? I would truly like to witness it myself." The old woman, her hair white as crane feathers, suddenly lifted her walking stick and pointed at a pyrite stone the size of a soybean lying among the scattered stones before her. A yellow glow surged from the tip of the stick, flashed briefly, and struck the stone. With a deep "thud," the stone shimmered and then returned to stillness as if nothing had happened. The old woman's expression changed slightly, then grew stern, a aura of intensity rising on her face. Her sleeve fluttered suddenly, and a small, ancient blue hammer appeared in her hands. She gently swung it and then threw it forward—immediately transforming into a streak of blue lightning. A tremendous "boom" echoed as the blue lightning touched the pyrite stone, and it instantly exploded. The stone flashed once, then turned into a soft, milky powder that drifted gently in the wind. The old woman watched in stunned silence. "Don't be surprised, Dragon Friend," said Han Li, smiling gently. "Even with the most powerful treasures, these pyrite stones will only be destroyed—they will never be retrieved intact." The old lady's face looked somewhat displeased, yet she could only remain silent. Meanwhile, the gray-robed monk suddenly spoke: "Master Hanli, if that's the case, then your palace's Xu Yu wouldn't be abundant either. Yet you've just been so generous with us—this truly puzzles the monk." This droplet emitted a faint gray mist, drifting toward another dark jade stone among the pile. Han Li, who had always remained composed, suddenly frowned upon seeing the droplet, then resumed his usual expression—though the shock lingering in his pupils could not be fully concealed. At that moment, everyone else was focused on the scene before them, none of them noticing Han Li's subtle change. As soon as the droplet touched the jade stone, it vanished as if it had disappeared into the ground. The jade stone instantly acquired a gray hue and then emitted a crisp, clear sound, detaching itself from the stone and being caught instantly by Bai Mengxin. The old woman and the monk exchanged expressions of surprise, while Han Li's eyes also reflected astonishment. Han Li the Elder chuckled and explained: "Long ago, my founding patriarch left behind a precious artifact capable of gathering the earth's spiritual negative energy. Over ten years, it accumulates into a single droplet, which then transforms stone into gold—remarkably effective. Only this water can safely extract the jade stones from the cave without causing any damage." Therefore, the Empress has only opened the Xuanyu Cavern once every thousand years, and each time she can only harvest a small amount of Xuanyu. "Ah, I see," the gray-robed monk nodded with sudden comprehension. The old woman, gazing at the countless millennia-old Xuanyu scattered across the cavern, could only silently sigh, her eyes reflecting a quiet sense of regret. Yet, Han Li, having witnessed the liquid droplets falling onto the Xuanyu, felt a stirring of uncertainty within him. "Regarding the other matters, let us first go to the Sun Spirit Chamber and discuss them in detail," said the Cold Li Master, stepping steadily toward the red stone building. Han Li and the others did not object, and followed closely behind. As they drew nearer, they noticed that the stone chamber was semi-transparent, glowing with a steady red light, radiating a warm, intense heat—so vividly reminiscent of a pile of fire spirit stones. "Sun Spirit Stone," Han Li had never heard this term before, yet in his mind, the image of "Sun Spirit Flame" naturally emerged. There must be some connection between the two. He thought this over, feeling somewhat uncertain. But regardless, this seems to be a promising clue in tracing the Sun's refined fire. Perhaps a few gentle inquiries could yield some information from the few members of the Xiao Ji Palace. Upon entering the stone pavilion, it was found completely empty—nothing at all inside. Yet, as expected, the cold, azure qi that had previously surged outside could not penetrate the pavilion and reach within. With this assurance, everyone gradually withdrew their protective cold flames and settled into comfortable positions, cross-legged. As soon as Han Li had settled, the gray-robed monk glanced around with a smile and said, "I never thought that, aside from their millennia-old azure jade, your palace could also discover such a rare treasure—the Sun's refined stone—as exceptional as the azure jade. According to my knowledge, this material forms only deep within the heart of volcanic fires, and only after being refined by the legendary Sun's refined fire. It is truly astonishing how your palace has managed to gather so many such stones." "Heh, Master, you seem well-informed about the Sun's refined stone. That does surprise me somewhat." Nevertheless, these materials have been gathered over the generations by our ancestors; we later generations merely enjoy the benefits without actively contributing. Now, I shall first share with you several other matters of concern regarding Xuanyu Cave, and then provide a detailed account of the specific steps required to break through one's current limitations." Han Li, the Monastic Abbot, gave a dry smile, seemingly reluctant to dwell on the matter, and thus willingly shifted the topic. The monk smiled gently and immediately fell silent. Upon hearing that the matter was indeed related to "Solar Spirit Flame," Han Li felt a surge of initial delight, but as the details unfolded, he found himself quietly dissatisfied. Still, he had no choice but to stay alert and listen intently to what the young Grand Elder of Xiaoji Palace had to say. At the same time, on a grand pavilion at the surface of Xiaoji Palace, a middle-aged, graceful woman dressed in a white robe sat elegantly on a wooden chair. Beside her, on two other chairs, sat a man and a woman—none other than Bai Yao Yi and the elder monitor with gray hair—both of whom were solemnly gazing at the woman. "So it is that the Grand Elder Han Li has truly activated a Huoling Hall and brought three outsiders into it." The elegant woman asked calmly, her voice slightly hoarse yet possessing an undeniable magnetism that made it hard to forget. "Reported to the Palace Mistress, the Grand Elder indeed has done so. However, he has already arranged contingency measures." Bai Yaoyi replied slowly. "Hmph! What contingency measures? Nothing new—still the old method: once the enemy pressure becomes overwhelming and the array can no longer withstand it, he immediately sends his elite disciples into the Huoling Hall, tearing open the space to temporarily shelter them. Originally, there were supposed to be two Huoling Halls, yet now the most important one has been occupied. Should anything truly go wrong, a full third of the disciples might be lost." The gray-haired elder spoke with a touch of dissatisfaction. "That can't entirely be said. What if Brother Han Li truly succeeds in advancing to the Chuan Shen stage? Then, even if the current wave of the demonic beasts proves especially fierce, the situation should be secure." But just to be safe, Ye Shizhong still followed the Grand Elder's arrangement and decided to make preparations. It's said that already several beasts of rank eight or above have appeared on the island, and they're killing off the patrol disciples stationed outside. "The beautiful woman raised her elegant brows, her tone sharp and serious. "That's correct—indeed, several beasts of the Formed-Body stage have appeared. It seems they intend to clear out our outer defenses before advancing toward the palace, which has been their usual strategy. Still, there's one point that concerns me particularly." The gray-haired elder's expression grew serious. "Ah, please go on, Ye Shizhong," the beautiful woman said, her eyes gleaming with interest. "According to our latest information, this time, besides the ice wind beast from Binghai being stirred up, the senior management of Wan Yao Valley hasn't merely dispatched the old gray-backed wolf. There are clear signs indicating that the old beast, Che, will also be involved." After a brief pause, the gray-haired elder spoke with a tone of some hesitation. "Che, the old beast! This simply can't be." The poised expression of the beautiful young woman shifted suddenly, and a serious look settled upon her brow. "Li Sister, I also find it unlikely. However, the reports from our spies stationed within the Ten-Thousand-Beast Valley consistently indicate that this old beast indeed seems to be preparing to take action." The gray-haired elder sighed. "Master Car, a creature of the ancient times, has long resided on the mortal plane. He has already attained the stage of Divine Spirit for countless years. If he truly intended to launch an attack against our small Jiji Palace, why wait until today?" Bai Yao shook her head, clearly unconvinced. "It's true that he has been waiting. Yet during the last incident involving the sealing of Kunwu Mountain, it was reported that not only the Sacred Ancestor of the Ancient Demon Realm appeared, but even the Celestial Queen of the Realm of the Beasts made an appearance. Could this be related in some way?" The gray-haired elder turned to gaze directly at Bai Yao. "The stories about the Ancient Demon Ancestor and the Celestial Queen have only circulated among the various sects. No one knows whether they are genuine or not, nor do we know who exactly has been spreading the word. Although I was also involved in the matter at the time, I had to withdraw midway due to severe injuries and thus could no longer distinguish the truth from the falsehood. By the way, Brother Han has remained steadfast until the end—perhaps he knows some details." Bai Yao Yi furrowed her brows, pondering, and said so. "It's precisely the man you invited!" The beautiful woman's eyes flashed, and she suddenly asked. "Indeed, it is him, without a doubt!" Bai Yao Yi nodded, lowering her gaze. "Well, regardless of what exactly transpired within Kunwu Mountain, the collective assault by the demons will remain unchanged. Master Xie, the Elder Demon, will certainly not personally leave the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons. He probably sent out one of his manifestations instead." The woman regained her composure swiftly, speaking coldly. Bai Yao Yi and the gray-haired elder already had some understanding of the secrets of the Shenshen-period cultivators. Now, seeing her senior sister express such confidence, both of them felt a great sense of relief. ------------ Please help us reach our monthly target!