Amidst these ethereal vessels, three towering pillars rise as high as a hundred zhang, each with a pale yellow body radiating shimmering cyan-red light waves that continuously pour into the upper sky, blending seamlessly with the "light gauze" enveloping the entire island. Han Li, witnessing this scene, knew these pillars must be the legendary Feng-Huo Pillars—the guardians stationed by the Nixing Alliance, naturally the cultivators aboard the semi-precious vessels. At first glance, there appear to be roughly two or three thousand such figures. Though he had not carefully scanned them with his divine awareness to avoid startling them, he was certain that among them, at least some were Yuan-Ying cultivators—this was beyond doubt. As for whether or not the Master of Wanfa Sect was present, only the heavens could know. There are a total of one hundred and eight Feng-Huo Pillars—would it truly be a coincidence that only three of them were located right here at the front? Han Li mused silently. Yet, if indeed they were stationed here and actively obstructed him, then either his fortune had turned against him, or perhaps the Master of Wanfa Sect had simply been unlucky. As for the famed Feng-Huo Tian-Jue Array, though its reputation is considerable, based on Han Li's understanding, it was specifically designed to assault large fortified strongholds of cultivator sects—primarily targeting ordinary mid- and lower-level cultivators and large-scale seals. It proved less effective against individual cultivators possessing extraordinary abilities. With Han Li's capabilities, passing through the array would be somewhat troublesome, but he would certainly not be truly trapped within it. After careful consideration, Han Li decided without further hesitation, slightly adjusting his direction of flight, bypassing the numerous spiritual boats and three bronze pillars directly facing him, and instead heading straight toward the remote area where the shimmering layers of azure and crimson light were radiating. At this moment, beneath the three towering pillars where they plunged into the sea, a three-story floating pavilion rested, though remarkably large, it was entirely crafted from delicate pale green jade, making it exceptionally magnificent. On the highest level of this pavilion, several cultivators were gathered around a square jade table, engaging in cheerful conversation. Several rare and unusual spiritual fruits were arranged on the jade table, and all the guests appeared relaxed. "Master Long, I've heard that the Chancellor of the Ten Thousand Sects has promised to grant the Jinlian Sect one of the Three Spiritual Isles of the Wanfa Sect—specifically, Tianrui Island—if we successfully capture the Star Palace this time. Is this truly so?" The scholar in a white robe, facing off across from an elder whose complexion was slightly pale, smiled and inquired. "Ning nephew indeed has excellent information. Wan, my friend, mentioned that the spiritual energy flow of Tianrui Island is notably stronger than the one where I currently reside. For the long-term development of our sect, I can hardly refuse." The elder glanced at the scholar across from him, speaking with a seasoned, composed tone. "Master Long is truly joking. The quality of the spiritual veins on Ru Island that day was exceptional—well known throughout the Star Sea. Moreover, the island produces numerous rare spiritual flowers and herbs. Should Jinlian Sect acquire this spiritual island, it is certain that their further advancement will be within reach in no time." The middle-aged Taoist, dressed in gray robes, smiled lightly. "Hua, you're not alone in this. Didn't you also obtain over ten rare and exceptional materials? Otherwise, how would this usually reclusive elder have come all the way to support Master Wan so eagerly?" The elder chuckled, responding with ease. The middle-aged Taoist, upon hearing the elder's reply, smiled slightly, just about to say something more, when suddenly the massive copper pillar standing before their pavilion emitted a deep, resonant hum. The vibrant cyan-red glow radiating from it instantly trembled, as though disturbed by some invisible force. "Unfortunate! Someone has breached the array!" the Taoist exclaimed, instantly rising to his feet. The elder Llong and the scholar also stiffened, their faces pale, and turned toward the great pillar. "From the southwest! Wait—seems like they came from outside. Those guards on the outer perimeter are truly incompetent; they can't even stop a single person." With a gesture, the Taoist produced a ritual disk from his hands, pressed several hand seals, and quickly tapped it several times before looking up in fury. "Come, Huai! Since they've managed to penetrate the outer defenses and have the courage to enter the Wind-Flame Heaven-Extinction Array, they must be no ordinary person. The location of the breach is not far from here. The Wind-Flame energy will impede their immediate entry into the Tianxing City. The elder named Long flashed a green glow across his face, then smiled grimly. "Very well. This person may indeed be a cultivator of our own level. Let us both step in and handle this together. Ning, nephew, I shall entrust this place to you for now." The middle-aged Taoist paused thoughtfully before speaking cautiously. "Both seniors, please rest assured—my duty to this site will be absolute. I wish you both great success!" The scholar in white robes readily agreed, adding a well-placed compliment that caused the Taoist and the elder to smile warmly. Then the elder cast a spell upon the vehicle, and instantly it was enveloped in a sphere of emerald light. Shaking slightly, it vanished into the nearby waves of cyan and crimson glow, then flashed once, and disappeared entirely—seeming truly to have merged with the spell array itself. Their swift flight, indeed, surpassed that of an ordinary Yuan-Ying中期 cultivator by a notable margin. With the elder tracking them with his hand-held talisman, the two had already surged out several miles within mere moments. "Take care—the person is just ahead, not far away. This individual truly possesses remarkable abilities; he has broken through half the seals and is now rapidly shedding the wind and fire forces." The elder, gazing intently at his jade disc, for the first time displayed a serious expression. Yet before the Daoist could respond, he immediately pressed his palms together, murmuring incantations. The jade carriage flashed with vibrant azure light, blurring both carriage and rider, and vanished instantly into a shimmering cascade of green and crimson radiance. The elder had employed a secret technique to conceal his own presence—now, he controlled the initiative in both advance and retreat. The middle-aged Daoist nodded silently in appreciation of this maneuver. Without summoning their spiritual awareness, the two ascended on the jade carriage, and its speed slowed considerably. After flying several miles, the two finally spotted the one who had broken through the array, both of them expressing surprise. The cultivator appearing remarkably young—only a young man in his twenties—had not activated a single artifact, relying solely on a layer of shimmering green light to cut through the swirling waves of green and crimson light, drifting steadily forward with an air of effortless ease. "Who is this person? Could he be a cultivator at the mid-Stage of Yuan Ying?" both the elder and the middle-aged Daoist thought simultaneously, their hearts suddenly stirred with concern. It was indeed a fortunate coincidence! If other senior cultivators from the Inverse Star Alliance had been involved, due to the widespread fame of Han Li's true form stemming from the Xutian Ding incident, even after so many years, they would surely recognize him instantly thanks to their exceptional memory. Yet these two were specifically newly recruited senior Yuan-Ying cultivators by Wan Tianming. Although their respective temples held considerable influence, they had long maintained a tradition of seclusion and rigorous cultivation, rarely engaging in affairs related to the Star Sea. This time, if it weren't for Wan Tianming's generous incentives, the two might still have been reluctant to make an appearance. Thus, naturally, they found Han Li rather unfamiliar, filled with surprise and uncertainty. Yet, despite this, neither the elder nor the Taoist truly feared him. With their combined powers, they could easily contend with a mid-stage cultivator. Moreover, they weren't certain that the opponent was indeed a mid-stage cultivator. Even if they were somewhat ignorant, they still knew roughly what a cultivator at the star-sea mid-stage or beyond looked like. Because of the excellent concealment spell accompanying the celestial wind carriage, the elder named Long hesitated only slightly before resuming his journey, and instead quietly drifted toward the young man's head. The entire process was utterly silent! When the jade carriage, carrying the two, arrived silently at a height of thirty zhang above Han Li's head, the elder and the middle-aged Taoist paused, breath held, and carefully studied the young man once more. To the observer's eye, Han Li appeared unremarkable—dressed in a simple green robe, with nothing particularly striking except for the storage satchel at his waist and the spirit-beast pouch. It was hard to imagine any special lineage or background behind him. The elder named Long furrowed his brow, then exchanged a glance with the middle-aged Taoist. The Taoist named Hua hesitated only slightly before slowly nodding in agreement. At once, both of them pressed their palms firmly onto the storage satchel at their waists, took a deep breath, and prepared to deliver a powerful joint strike to the young man below. Yet just then, Han Li suddenly raised his head, smiled gently toward the sky, and at that moment, a pair of feathered wings unexpectedly emerged from his back. With a single flick, he vanished completely from his original position. The hidden technique of the jade carriage instantly vanished, revealing a brilliant streak of cyan light that enveloped both the carriage and the two individuals within. The middle-aged Taoist hurriedly produced an octagonal mirror in both black and white tones from his storage bag and threw it upward toward his head. (First chapter!