Han Li tossed the small glow in his palm into the air, where it hovered motionless. Then, he reached to his waist, flipped it over, and revealed a banner of solid crimson, radiating waves of blood-like light, with faint whispers of ghostly wails drifting through. Ling Yulin stared at the object, eyes wide, turning to Han Li in surprise. Yet Han Li had no time to explain—he simply chanted softly, throwing the small banner to the peak of his head. A flash of light caused the banner to swell rapidly, and in moments, it expanded into a massive banner several zhang in size. The surface shimmered with blood-light, as though painted with thick, flowing blood. Han Li pointed at it with a single gesture. Instantly, the great banner unfurled, releasing a mist that surged toward the nearby Yuanmagnetic Mountain. However, at the summit of the small mountain, the mist halted and settled. Then, the blood mist rolled and spread out, gradually covering half of the cave's ceiling, radiating a thick, pervasive scent of blood—like the very blood vaporized into mist. Ling Yuling swiftly scanned her divine awareness and immediately sensed the profound, intangible spiritual force of the shadow souls within the blood cloud, startled, and hastily withdrew her awareness, her mind murmuring in quiet contemplation. At that moment, Han Li stepped forward to the small magnetic mountain, extending a hand toward the floating orb suspended in the air. The orb flashed and shot directly into the mountain, vanishing without trace. Han Li then raised his hand again, reaching out with his palm toward the mountain before him. A shimmer of five-colored spiritual light rippled across the mountain's surface, and after several tremors, a deep rumbling sound echoed through the mountain. Finally, the mountain floated upward, drifting slowly toward the blood cloud above. To Ling Yuling's astonishment, the massive mountain completely disappeared into the blood cloud, leaving no trace. Only then did Han Li raise his hand and cast a series of divine gestures. The blood cloud surged and rolled, then contracted and transformed, ultimately settling into a crimson banner several inches in length, which swiftly vanished into his hands. The cave was empty, as if Yuanmagnetic Mountain had never existed at all. "Space treasures!" Ling Yuling finally regained her composure, her face filled with astonishment. "This treasure possesses space abilities—thank you, Ling, for noticing!" Han Li smiled, then swept his divine awareness over the Chihun Banner, his expression satisfied. "Such a treasure, capable of housing the treasures of Yuanmagnetic Mountain and possessing space magic—how many such items might there be throughout the entire human realm? It's truly a credit to Brother Han that he found one at all." Ling Yuling was deeply impressed, yet a quiet smile of relief played on her lips. Back then, the Heavenly Star Dual Saints had left a method to bind Han Li, requiring him to remain in the Star Palace to cultivate the Yuanmagnetic Divine Light. Otherwise, no matter how clever the subsequent strategies, he would now be completely helpless. With a silent breath, she finally abandoned the idea of keeping Han Li in the Star Palace. A flash of blood light, and the small banner vanished without a trace. After a moment's thoughtful pause, Han Li smiled at the woman and said, "I would like to stay at your court for some time, exchange insights on cultivation with my friend, and also examine the specific issues that have arisen in your cultivation practice. However, during this period, I have one matter that I would like your court to assist with." "Han brother has shown great kindness to this court. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask—there is no need to be so formal with me," replied Ling Yuling, who was momentarily surprised but quickly responded with a light smile. "It's actually just a small matter. I would like to know the recent movements of the Golden Dragon King of the Outer Sea. If I can locate his precise current residence, that would be even better." Han Li spoke calmly, as though discussing something trivial. Yet upon hearing this, Ling Yuling's heart suddenly stirred, and her eyes gleamed with a subtle expression of surprise. "Master Han wishes to inquire about the movements of the Golden Old Demon—does Master intend to...?" The lady hesitated, her words coming out in a soft, uncertain flow. "I have matters to attend to concerning the Golden Dragon King. Master Ling need not worry—once I know his whereabouts, I will ensure the Star Palace is not drawn into this matter. Is it not rather a burden for you?" Han Li glanced at her, his brow slightly arched with interest. "Master Han has rendered the Palace a great favor. Even if the matter proves difficult, I would never hesitate to undertake it. However, over the past few years, our personnel stationed abroad in the Outer Seas have been largely withdrawn. And the Golden Dragon King himself is a cultivator of the Tenth Level, fully accomplished—tracking his movements will surely take some time." Ling Yuling shook her head, her expression growing more serious. "A longer duration is no problem. Even if it takes several years, Master Han will surely be patient." Han Li smiled calmly, his demeanor indicating he was entirely unconcerned. "Since Master Han has expressed such confidence, I will immediately arrange it and you need only wait for further news." Seeing this, Ling Yuling decided without hesitation. Hearing this assurance, Han Li nodded, his expression satisfied. After a few more casual exchanges, the two departed from the cave and vanished into the passage beyond the jade gate... Two years later, above an unnamed remote island in the outer sea of Luan Xing, two figures floated in the air—one man and one woman, both cultivators. The man had an ordinary appearance, yet his eyes shone with clarity and brightness, while the woman was graceful and of slender build. Both looked remarkably young and of similar age, yet the woman was now speaking to the man with great respect and courtesy. The man remained composed, his expression calm and composed. "According to your words, the Golden Dragon King will definitely come to this island—will it not change its mind and visit somewhere else?" "The man's voice was not loud, yet the woman immediately replied with due respect: 'Master Han, please rest assured. We have already inquired several times, even soul-searched a high-level immortal cultivator. The information is accurate. Deep beneath this island grows a rare kind of spiritual fruit. While it holds little value for our human race, it is particularly beloved by the crocodile dragon clan. The Golden Crocodile King visits this island every fifteen years, harvesting the fruit when it ripens—almost without fail, regardless of weather. If the fruit were transplanted elsewhere, the island would soon wither. It's likely that the clan has already moved it to other locations. Right now, the fruit is ripening, and under normal circumstances, the Golden Crocodile King will surely come to visit.' The young woman seemed well-informed about the crocodile dragon clan and spoke with great confidence. 'Then, I shall wait a bit longer,' the man said, his voice steady. Since the Golden Crocodile King had been mentioned, it was clear that the man in question was Han Li, and the woman was a disciple sent by Ling Yuling to guide the way." After two years of relentless investigation by the Star Palace, the movements of the Golden Dragon King have finally been traced. It was only because Han Li had remained stationed at the Star Palace that he personally accompanied this woman in leaving Tianxing City, using a hidden teleportation array left behind by the Star Palace to quietly reach the outer sea, where he had been stationed on this island for several months. Yet, despite all efforts, the Golden Dragon King had still not been spotted. Han Li could no longer hold back and asked the female cultivator once again. The woman's immediate and confident affirmation eased his expression slightly. As Han Li cleared his throat, preparing to ask more detailed questions, his face suddenly changed, and he swiftly turned, gazing toward the distant sea. "At last, I've waited long enough," he said with a smile. "By the aura, it's truly the Golden Dragon King. You must leave immediately—don't risk any danger to yourself." Han Li's face brightened, and he turned to the woman, giving her clear instructions. Upon hearing Han Li's words, the young disciple was startled, hurriedly bowed, and then transformed into a streak of white light, shooting off in the opposite direction. At the same time, as the woman departed, Han Li shook his sleeve, and a small black vial materialized, spinning gently in the air. A gust of gray-white magical wind passed, and five human-shaped skeletons slowly materialized. "Go," Han Li mentally urged, and the five skeletons took to the magical wind, dispersing upward into the sky, vanishing without a trace within moments. Then he cast out a spiritual beast bag, and twelve four-winged centipedes hissed as they shot forth, eventually diving downward toward the island and vanishing into the earth beneath. Han Li glanced once more at the distant sea, smiled coldly, and suddenly disappeared from his spot. Though he had executed so many maneuvers in succession, it had all taken only an instant. The sky above the desolate island now seemed utterly empty, as if no one had ever visited it at all. Just after a meal, a flash of light appeared on the distant horizon, and two streaks of golden and jade-colored lightning shot forth, breaking the air above the sea. As the brilliance faded, two figures emerged. One was broad-shouldered, dressed in a rich brocade robe, with thick, dark hair and green beard. The other was slender and wore a silver crown and a green robe. As soon as they appeared, a subtle expression of doubt suddenly appeared on the stern face of the golden-robed man, whose gaze flashed swiftly around, yet revealed no anomaly. "Is there something amiss, Jin friend?" the green-robed cultivator asked, somewhat surprised. "Earlier, when we were far away, it seemed someone briefly scanned us with their spiritual awareness, though the sensation was quite faint—I'm not entirely sure if it was just a fleeting impression." The golden-robed man frowned, speaking with some hesitation. "If such a thing truly occurred, wouldn't that mean the person's spiritual awareness is far stronger than yours? How could that be possible?" The young official smiled faintly upon hearing this. "Wind brother is indeed being overly generous toward Jin. Though I am known as Jin Jiao Wang, my influence is truly limited to the nearby seas—merely a show of strength. Once we step beyond the Star Sea, I shall be nothing special." The golden-robed man shook his head, his divine awareness swiftly scanning the island, finding no unusual signs, and thus grew reassured. Naturally, he was unaware that the Five Demons had already dispersed far into the upper reaches of the sky, while the Six-Winged Frost Serpent had sunk deep underground, hundreds of zhang below. As for Han Li himself, his divine awareness far surpassed his own, making it impossible for him to perceive anything out of the ordinary. "Jin brother is truly modest. Aside from the Dao De cultivators, who could possibly challenge Jin brother? Yet this place is truly remote. Had it not been for my friend guiding Wind brother here, I never would have imagined that the Dragon Scale Fruit grows in such a secluded spot." Although the young scholar in green robes found the elder man in golden robes' caution somewhat unnecessary, he gracefully acknowledged and subtly flattered him with a smile. (Second update!)