How did Xiang Zhi Li know he possessed another Xutian Ding besides the Ba Ling Chi? Yet, upon a moment's reflection and careful consideration, he felt a growing sense of clarity. This information might have come from Xiao Ji Gong. When Han Li was still young, he had already sensed that Xiang Zhi Li carried a Xutian Ding—likely having mentioned it to other cultivators within the various palaces beforehand. Alternatively, it could have been news he received directly from Luan Xing Hai. Given Xiang Zhi Li's elusive nature, it would not be surprising at all if he had visited Luan Xing Hai. The spiritual treasures required immense spiritual energy to activate, and would rarely be used unless it was a matter of life and death—lest they disrupt the primordial qi of the heavens and instead severely deplete their own vital energy. Observing韩立's hesitation, Xiang Zhi-li seemed unconcerned and said calmly, "Ah, so that explains it—I had overthought this!" Upon hearing this,韩立's expression eased. While Xiang Zhi-li's words held some merit,韩立 naturally did not fully believe them. If such treasures were easily accessible, surely no one would willingly give them up. Indeed, when the Wind Elder had glanced at his Eight-Spirit Ruler earlier, his eyes clearly still gleamed with greed. However, Xiang Zhi-li's tone toward him had been notably kind. Whether this was due to recognizing his own strong abilities and seeking to gain his favor, or for some other reason, remained unclear to韩立. He found himself uncertain. "Hmph, Brother Xiang, what's your intention? Why are you favoring this young man from the Han family so particularly?" Though he possesses two immortal treasures, as long as he sacrifices over ten years of his life force, he still fears I can't subdue him." Feng, the old monster, sneezed, sounding somewhat displeased. "Sacrificing over ten years of life force? Feng brother is being rather dismissive of Han's younger brother. If Feng brother insists on fighting, he might indeed be able to kill Han. But it would certainly be a hard-fought battle—requiring a loss of several decades, or even over a century of life force. Does Feng brother really intend to end up with mutual defeat over such a trivial matter?" Xiang Zhilǐ shook his head, his expression growing serious. "A century of life force? Xiang, the old ghost, you truly hold this young man in such high regard?" The man with a horse-like face was startled, his gaze shifting as he reevaluated Han Li, looking almost incredulous. "The young man named Qian, Hán Lí, and the recently vanished abbot of Yin Luo Sect—all of them fell at your hands, didn't they?" Xiang Zhilǐ smiled lightly and suddenly asked Han Li. "Indeed, they were all extinguished by me," Han Hearing Li Han say this, the old wind spirit furrowed his brow. "Li brother, during your time at Kunwu Mountain, you must have already witnessed the feats of a Huashen cultivator. Now, what do you think the outcome will be when you fight against Brother Feng?" Xiang Zhi-li continued to ask with a gentle smile. "If we truly fight with all our might, there's perhaps a one-in-ten chance of victory, a three-in-ten chance of both of us falling together, and over half a chance of being severely wounded and escaping." Li Han thought carefully and stated this with surprising confidence. Upon hearing Li Han's response, Xiang Zhi-li was momentarily stunned, then broke into quiet laughter. "Li brother, I know you possess considerable abilities, but this seems rather exaggerated. Just consider—how can you be so certain of a three-in-ten chance of sharing a fate with Brother Feng? Where does this confidence come from?" Upon hearing Li Han's bold statement, the old wind spirit also only smiled and remained silent. Li Han calmly gazed at Xiang Zhi-li, then flipped his hand, producing a crimson orb that rotated smoothly in his palm. "The Immortal Immortal Pearl!" Indeed, these two had simultaneously recognized this treasure—no small feat for cultivators at the Stage of Transformation. Feng, the old monster, now looked visibly concerned. Han Li said nothing, but with a simple gesture of his other hand, another similar black orb appeared. Even Xiang Zhi Li, who had been stroking his beard, paused momentarily, his expression now filled with surprise. "I have by chance obtained several of these Immortal Immortal Pearls. Should Feng friend truly insist on a battle in the near future, and if we are to fight to the very end, there is indeed a reasonable chance of mutual destruction," Han Li said calmly, then with a flash of green light, the two orbs vanished from his hands. Feng and Xiang exchanged glances, each reading a touch of astonishment in the other's eyes. If there truly exists something that even these cultivators at the Stage of Transformation find worthy of concern, then the Immortal Immortal Pearls surely rank among them. Should either of them be struck unexpectedly, they would indeed find themselves hard pressed. Before him, if the young Han had truly possessed four or five of these, claiming that he would join them in total destruction, it would not be an exaggeration at all. "Unbelievable, how Han has managed to obtain such precious treasures. Nevertheless, since I am here, Wind Daoist, I suspect you won't hold against the matter from earlier. These Extinction Immortal Pearls may now prove unnecessary. Han's abilities surpass those of ordinary cultivators, and his friendship with us equals that of peers—this is no slight honor to us. Wind Brother, what do you think?" Xiang Zhi-li smiled warmly and then turned to address Wind, the old oddity. "Hmph. Well, I'll follow Xiang Brother's lead. However, even regarding the younger generation's affairs, I may let go—yet concerning the spatial nodes, I must still clarify matters thoroughly." The man with the broad face changed his expression several times before finally responding, somewhat reluctantly. "Ha ha! In fact, even if Wind Brother hadn't mentioned it, I had intended to ask about it myself. Han, you needn't rush to deny anything just yet. I'm certain you also plan to ascend to the Divine Realm via the "If it's so, why don't we collaborate with our older colleagues?" Xiang Zhi-li chuckled, smiling warmly. "Collaboration?" Han Li was momentarily surprised, yet his mind began to take shape with thoughts. "Indeed. I believe Master Brother likely holds some information that we are currently unaware of. However, for the most part, Master Brother will probably spend his time breaking through the stage of Divine Spirit, leaving little time to visit each spatial node individually. Once those nodes are discovered, they will be accessible to all of us. Thus, working together would be mutually beneficial. What do you think, Master Brother Han?" At this, Feng, the old master, continued to gaze steadily at Han Li, eager to see how he would respond. Han Li furrowed his brows, hesitated before replying, and instead began to ponder thoughtfully. Xiang Zhi-li smiled gently, hovering motionless in the air, neither pressing nor rushing, as if confident in his stance. "Master Brother Xiang, are you referring to only you and Master Feng as the partners in this collaboration?" After a moment of thoughtful reflection, Han Li finally spoke. "Besides myself and the two of us, there's also a friend from Tianmo Sect, Hū. Originally, Bai, a fellow from Taimei Sect, could have joined as well, but he currently has other matters to attend to and may not be able to assist us. Thus, when I say we are uniting, I mean you and myself—three of us together. Hehe, don't underestimate me and the others, Han brother. Aside from the old car demon of Wan Yao Valley, these few elderly ones are the only Chusan cultivators who have reached the stage of Huashen." Xiang Zhilǐ smiled and explained. "There are so few Huashen cultivators? I thought, given that Chusan is renowned as the premier cultivation haven of the human world, there should be at least seven or eight." Han Li seemed somewhat surprised. "Indeed, there used to be two more back in the late 300s or so, but as their life spans drew near, they chose to pursue a particularly perilous secret technique in order to make one final stand. Unfortunately, they failed, and both of them were forced to explode and dissolve into their essence." Xiang Zhilǐ sighed with a touch of bitterness. Han Li heard this and sighed lightly as well, yet then asked in a steady voice: "I remember the Linglong Immortal gave my friend several spatial node records previously—there were no fewer than dozens. Has Master Xiang not yet found even one?" For this, the old xiao-yao nearly fainted from anger, yet ultimately managed to suppress his fury and withdrew the Ten-Thousand-Yao Valley. This time, it was the old feng-yao who suddenly spoke up, expressing both regret and a touch of satisfaction at the end. "Ah, now I understand—how there were so many high-ranking yao-beasts attacking the Xiao-Ji Palace that day. But wouldn't the master of Xiao-Ji Palace risk provoking the old xiao-yao to launch a full-scale assault and wipe out the palace in retaliation?" Han Li grew somewhat puzzled. "The old xiao-yao certainly wouldn't dare do that. After all, though this yao has been a legendary yao cultivator since ancient times, the human realm is now firmly under the human dynasty's rule. The number of Chasming cultivators in each generation has consistently been sufficient to keep this yao under constant pressure. Had it not been for the fact that earlier Chasming cultivators often felt that even if they could defeat this yao, they themselves would suffer losses, and that the old xiao-yao himself had always been so tactful as to refrain from interfering in human realm affairs, it would have Yet, even so, the previous Shén-stage cultivators had made a pact with him, stipulating that the old demon's true form should not leave the valley easily, nor commit acts such as exterminating the entire sect or ruthlessly slaughtering ordinary mortal villagers. Otherwise, they would jointly launch an assault to eliminate it." Xiang Zhi-li expressed a faint cold smile. "Ah, now I understand. I had always wondered how such a gathering of demonic cultivators could exist within the Great Jin realm." Han Li replied, now somewhat enlightened. "However, recently I've heard a rumor that the old demon carriage—Car Old Demon—has apparently discovered another spatial node. But I'm still uncertain whether this is true, and whether that node is truly functional." Wind Old Demon suddenly remarked. "This matter need not be mentioned. I and my friend Hú have already inspected that spatial node. Only Car Old Demon can access it; we simply cannot enter. The entrance is blocked by spatial storms. Though slightly stronger than the one we discovered earlier, it remains fatal to us." Hehe, it seems Carold the Old Demon has already decided to rely on the strength of his true form and is preparing to enter this stage. "Xiang Zhi Li, however, delivered a remark far more unexpected than anyone anticipated. (First chapter!)