"Hehe. I'm quite curious about how Brother Han has developed such a strong physical body. I must say, though my Blood River Meditative Needle isn't particularly renowned for its sharpness, it can be effortlessly rebounded by sheer physical strength—this is truly astonishing." The voice of Xue Du paused as he asked this, his eyes fixed steadily on Han Li, never blinking. "Ah, so you're asking about this. My physical strength is indeed a bit stronger than average. But that's merely due to a few fortunate opportunities in the past, when I once consumed several medicinal elixirs specifically designed to enhance my physical constitution. How could I possibly compare to your magnificent, dragon-like form?" Han Li replied calmly. "Medicinal elixirs—yes, I suspect that's the case. However, the three-headed, six-armed form that Brother Han successfully absorbed in the final blow appears to be less than a true noble spirit manifestation. It seems familiar to me—somewhere I've seen it before, though I can't quite recall where at the moment. Could Brother Han kindly remind me?" "The Blood Toxin smiled lightly. "Oh, that's a technique I accidentally acquired from an outsider sect. After practicing it haphazardly, I've developed a few minor abilities—though I'm not entirely sure what form it takes exactly." Han Li replied smoothly and indistinctly, making his answers as vague as if he hadn't spoken at all. Upon hearing Han Li's polished response, the Blood Toxin was slightly surprised, yet chuckled and didn't mention it further, continuing to urge him to drink. Thus, the Blood Dragon at the Lingxu stage seemed utterly drunk, staggering slowly before finally bidding farewell and leaving. Han Li stood by the window of his pavilion, his smile fading as he observed the scene outside. He noticed the Blood Toxin wobbling and entering another pavilion not far from his own—only a few hundred paces away. Han Li's brows furrowed slightly. With such close proximity, any movement he made would inevitably be observed by this Blood Dragon. It seems this lady is the one sent by the Mu Qing Sect to monitor him. Han Li silently thought this over and then stepped away from the window. At that moment, the green-robed attendant had already removed the banquet table and neatly rearranged the floor of the pavilion. She then stood respectfully by, waiting for Han Li's next instructions. "You may go down now. I'd like to rest a while on my own," Han Li said without ceremony, waving her hand to send the young woman away. "Yes, Master Han. I'll remain on the first floor, ready to attend to your call at any time." The attendant nodded politely and withdrew gracefully from the floor. Han Li looked calmly as the figure of the woman faded from view at the stairwell entrance, then gently brushed his hand over his storage bracelet. Instantly, a flash of rosy light revealed a stack of green array flags floating in his palm. With a further gesture, several streaks of green light shot out toward the corners of the room, vanishing into the void almost instantly. Han Li then chanted a spell, raising a single green hand seal. A deep, resonant "thud" echoed. A translucent blue light curtain materialized suddenly on the walls of the room, forming a sealed barrier. While this barrier offered no protective defenses, it was remarkably effective at blocking others' spiritual perceptions. Though aware that he was effectively under soft confinement, Han Li absolutely refused to allow himself to be easily observed by anyone around. In the other pavilion, the blood toxin sat motionless on a mat, eyes closed. When his expression shifted slightly and he opened his eyes, a faint cold smile immediately formed at the corner of his mouth before he closed them once more. By this time, Han Li had already settled himself comfortably with his head resting on the pillow, beginning to rest. Though in a place of danger, the recent trials as the Sacred Prince had drained much of his mental energy, and now was the perfect opportunity to recover. Once his body and spirit reached their peak, he would then carefully plan his escape strategy. Thinking thus, Han Li soon fell into deep, restful sleep. He remained asleep for a full day and night, finally waking up slowly from his deep slumber. After rising from the bed, Han Li stretched lazily and then sat down at a wooden chair by the bedside, resting one hand on his chin and quietly pondering. He had never believed the two immortals—Mu Qing and Xue Jiao—when they first mentioned relying on him. Besides, with his years of experience in fierce struggles, how could he have missed the sharp, martial aura they carried as they pursued him with such urgency? It was clear from the start that they had come with the intent to eliminate him. As for why Mu Qing, the female immortal, had suddenly changed her mind, it must be that the other party had unexpectedly discovered something valuable in his presence. Now, reflecting carefully, he realized that the period between when they first approached him and when they suddenly decided to seize him had been only a brief instant. Mu Qing had spoken only a few words—mentioning nothing but the Divine-Exorcising Thunder. Could it be that this very thunder was the key? Han Li's eyes flickered several times, and he felt confident that his speculation was almost certainly correct. Although the Divine Thunder of the Exorcising Deity proved remarkably effective in driving away demons and evil forces, when the demonic aura and magical arts reached a certain level of strength, it could no longer be easily dispelled. How could such formidable power be of any significance to Mu Qing, a fully evolved immortal king of the beast realm? As for the monsters or spirits that even Mu Qing found difficult to handle, how could the Divine Thunder of Exorcising Deity be expected to make any impact on Han Li, who remained baffled and puzzled? His thoughts shifted again, and he remembered Lei Lan and the others. Since both Mu Qing and the Blood Serpent demons had come after him, Lei Lan and the others should be able to return smoothly to the ground and complete their trials. Thus, he would have fulfilled the Tian Peng Clan's trust and regained his freedom. The Tian Peng Clan would no longer be able to use the Oath of the Tian Peng to impose further constraints upon him. Yet, he suspected that as long as Lei Lan and the others passed their trials, the Tian Peng Clan would not truly care about his fate as their temporary Sacred Prince. One day, half a month later, the Blood Serpent suddenly seemed refreshed and came over, solemnly stating, "Brother Han, Master Feng has invited you to the Wood Immortal Hall. He would like to introduce you to several other senior disciples." "Thank you, Elder Blood," Han replied calmly, showing no surprise at all. Seeing Han's composed demeanor, the scholarly-looking Blood Serpent felt a certain amount of admiration. He knew that, if he were in Han's position, he could hardly have maintained such composure. After a light chuckle, he led Han toward the outer hall. After a meal, Han reappeared before the original wooden hall, joining Blood Serpent inside the hall. The hall had changed significantly since Han's last visit—three long tables had been added on either side, each seating a group of people. Han glanced at them, taking them all in turn. At one table, only two people sat, completely enveloped in identical crimson robes, their forms and qi indistinguishable—seeming as though one person had split into two. At another table, a tall man clad in a dark cloak stood alone, exuding a cold aura so potent it seemed to make onlookers step back, as if capable of freezing the very air around him. The final group consisted of three women. One was a middle-aged beauty with snow-white hair and pallid complexion, dressed in a jade-green court gown, seated firmly behind the table. Behind her stood two younger women of prime youth. One was petite with a round, sweet face, her eyes bright and delicate, radiating a graceful charm. The other was slender and fair-skinned, yet her expression remained cold and distant. Like the elder woman, both of these young women also appeared unusually pale. The two earlier tables, however, remained calm. Although Han Li was amazed by the profound cultivation levels of these individuals, he showed no visible surprise or disturbance. But when he saw the two young women at the last table, his face could no longer mask his sudden change. Fortunately, his keen intellect allowed him to quickly regain composure, though a subtle surprise still flickered deep within his eyes—something he himself had not fully recognized. "How could it be these two! After they parted ways during the chaos in the Human Realm, he had not heard a single word about either of them since. Yet here they were, unexpectedly reuniting with them in the spiritual realm among the alien races. Looking at their serene demeanor, he was certain the rejuvenation spell that had been cast upon them had indeed succeeded." Though he turned his gaze away, his mind remained agitated, unable to settle. The fair, pale woman with delicate features was none other than Yuan Yao from the time of the chaos in the Star Sea, while the smaller, graceful woman beside her was clearly her senior sister, who had nearly lost her spirit back then. When his powers were still in their early stages, he had only met Yuan Yao briefly. This encounter had been driven both by her earnest request and by his own admiration for her steadfast determination in rescuing her sister. Thus, he stepped forward to administer a resurrection secret ritual for her, serving as her protector. Yet, en route, he encountered the legendary ghost mist, which suddenly drew him into the realm of the阴 and the underworld. After enduring immense effort, he finally managed to escape. However, upon emerging, Yuan Yao vanished without a trace—her whereabouts remained unknown thereafter. Now, encountering her here, standing side by side with the Deep Earth Demon King, Han Li was naturally astonished. As soon as Han Li and Di Xue entered the hall, the gazes of the people within naturally turned toward them. Yuan Yao and the other two women reacted quite differently upon seeing Han Li. Yuan Yao's expression of shock flashed briefly before settling into calm, showing no signs of any unusual reaction. In contrast, the more graceful and beautiful one blinked several times, her face now displaying a touch of bewilderment. Clearly, she had almost forgotten Han Li, who had only met him once before—yet she found him strangely familiar. "Ah, this is the person you've been talking about? Only a spiritual general in rank—can he really be of any use?" "It was a woman with white hair, speaking in a voice unusually frail, coldly stating so. ------------ Last request: moon tickets, please!"