"A few days ago, we all witnessed the celestial phenomena as the elder advanced—thus, I come to extend my congratulations on your remarkable progress!" The cow-headed creature finally regained its composure from the astonishment at the two figures named Han Li, and promptly bowed. It now clearly knew that the one before it was the true Han Li. "Oh, how do you know for certain that I will definitely succeed? After all, things might not go as planned!" Han Li chuckled, offering no immediate response. "The elder is jesting—though others may falter, how could such an event occur given your extraordinary prowess?" The middle-headed giant serpent nodded gracefully, smoothly interjecting with praise. Han Li listened to this, laughed lightly, then glanced over at the several beasts. Suddenly, his expression darkened. "Enough with the formalities. I already have a good grasp of your intentions. You claim to come with offerings—then, state plainly what your purpose is. I simply don’t have much time to waste here." "With the cultivation level Han Li currently possesses—more than double that of an ordinary early True Void stage cultivator—though he had not deliberately projected any aura, the celestial and primordial qi in the hall instantly surged and violently churned after his voice turned cold. The four immortal beasts felt the air around them grow suddenly dense, as if weighed down by ten thousand catties, their bodies trembling and nearly collapsing to the ground. "Senior, please don't be angry! We truly came to present our treasures, with absolutely no ill intent!" The cow-headed creature's face turned pale, simultaneously drawing on inner cultivation energy to counteract the pressing force and urgently calling out to Han Li. "Why should you suddenly present treasures without any reason? Very well, let us first examine what you have brought. If you have anything of genuine value, then listen to your further words. Should your offerings prove entirely useless, you may leave immediately." Han Li said calmly. As soon as Han Li spoke these words, the mysterious weight pressing upon the hall suddenly dissipated, relieving the four beasts' minds and allowing them to straighten their postures once again. The little ox-like creature dared not hesitate either, and hurriedly gave a glance to the golden ape beside him! After a brief pause, the ape reached into his robes and surprisingly produced a dark wooden box. Then, taking several steps forward, he respectfully held it out with both hands. Han Li said nothing, simply extending his hand. The wooden box shot upward with a swift "whoosh," instantly being seized in his hand. With a swift gesture of his sleeve, he brushed over the lid, and at once a shimmer of azure mist flashed across the surface—then the box opened on its own, revealing the object inside. A fresh, round fruit, about the size of a clenched fist, was displayed, its surface covered in a network of silvery threads that glowed and shifted in constant motion. Han Li was somewhat surprised, and without needing any explanation from the four immortals, immediately extended two fingers and gently touched the fruit, channeling his divine awareness into it. Within just a few moments, Han Li's expression changed several times—first from surprise to curiosity, then, as his brows furrowed, to a growing sense of wonder and doubt. The four immortals exchanged glances, each After a full cup of tea's worth of time, Han Li exhaled, shifting his fingers away from the box. "This is a Blood Apricot! Truly impressive—how remarkable it is that you managed to find such a rare item." Han Li casually resealed the wooden box, then faced the four immortals with a composed, half-smiling expression. "Your insight is truly remarkable—you immediately recognized the origin of this item. We discovered it during our exploration of an ancient, partially collapsed site within the Black Hidden Mountain Range. We have come especially to present it to you now." Seeing that Han Li had indeed identified the origin of the round orb, the Niu-Shou creature was quietly astonished, yet spoke with the utmost courtesy. "Indeed, I believe this item possesses a unique ability to revitalize and refine the body—rarely available among the immortal beasts' progression stages. It's a truly exceptional find, one that occurs only once in a millennium. Since you've brought forth such a precious item, I suspect your request must be of significant importance. This item does prove useful to me as well. Please, state your wishes." Han Li narrowed his eyes, speaking calmly and composedly. Seeing Lord Han's demeanor, the four immortals exchanged glances, but it was the cow-headed creature who finally cleared her throat and spoke: "Since the elder has perceived all of our subtle intentions, we have nothing more to conceal. Our journey here is indeed life-or-death, driven by necessity!" The creature's expression darkened, and she spoke with a tone of gentle appeal. Han Li, however, remained composed, gazing at her silently without speaking. Seeing this, the creature managed a weak smile and continued carefully: "The obligations we owe to the celestial pheasant people should not escape the elder's notice. Yet the precious spiritual essences within the mountain are dwindling—within a few hundred years, we may find nothing left to offer. Therefore, we have come to seek the elder's assistance, asking that you help us erase the 'marks of servitude' upon our bodies, so that we may regain our freedom and no longer be bound to this island." As long as the elder agrees to this matter, our juniors not only wish to present this blood apricot, but also be willing to offer all other rare treasures we have searched for over the years. Though our cultivation and abilities may not be particularly impressive in the elder's eyes, we do possess certain talents in treasure hunting—surely we will not disappoint you." "Slave Heng? I never thought you would stay so attentive and not flee far away—apparently, the Tianpeng Clan has indeed placed a seal upon you. Let's see first." Han Li's expression brightened suddenly, and he raised his hand, palm outstretched, then gently grasped the space with his fingers. A shimmering golden crystal glow burst forth from between his fingers and spiraled upward. Before the small creature could react, it suddenly felt its body tighten, and then a strong suction force enveloped it, lifting it off the ground and carrying it uncontrollably toward Han Li. With a startled cry, the creature—already small in stature—was swiftly drawn to within a few feet of Han Li, hovering motionless in midair. The other three creatures gasped in surprise and stepped back several paces, adopting a cautious posture. Yet Han Li didn’t lift his eyelids a single time. He simply went about his own business, his blue-gleaming eyes flashing as his divine awareness instantly pierced through the beast’s body, beginning to examine any anomalies within its form and spirit. The three immortals—the Golden Ape, the Giant Serpent, and the Golden Ape—only then grasped Han Li’s intent. With a sense of relief, they all held their breath, quietly watching his actions. Suddenly, Han Li’s expression turned curious. He then smiled lightly and raised both arms. With a swift series of finger taps, a series of sharp crackling sounds echoed as translucent, silvery threads shot forth from between his fingers, vanishing instantly and fully entering the small creature’s body. Then, Han Li murmured softly, severing one of the threads and casting several seals with his hands. The cow-headed beast suddenly shuddered violently, then straightened its body, and as a shimmering green light danced across it, a slender, crimson insect-shaped shadow was gradually drawn out from between the creature’s brows, wrapped in a strand of green silk. The shadow was several inches long, but upon closer inspection, it appeared merely a faint, ethereal form. But as soon as the insect shadow had withdrawn half a step from the small beast's face, it suddenly twisted and froze in place. Despite the intense flashes of azure luminous nets, the shadow remained immobile, unyielding to any further movement. At the same time, the small beast's face grew increasingly tormented; its mouth was slightly open, yet it could utter no sound at all. Eventually, its head tilted to one side, and it fell unconscious. Han Li observed this, paused thoughtfully, then raised a brow, his eyes flashing with a blue glow, and murmured a low command. A shimmer of azure light appeared behind him, revealing a large, azure peacock spirit. As soon as this peacock spirit manifested, it raised its head and emitted a piercing cry that seemed capable of shattering stone and metal. The three demons, who had been deeply engrossed in their contemplation, instantly felt a numbness spread through their bodies, and collapsed to the ground, their legs giving way. It was no wonder they reacted so dramatically! The celestial peacock was renowned for its habit of devouring other creatures whole, and these three—mere mid-tier demons—were simply unable to withstand the intense pressure of the azure peacock spirit's At that moment, under the impetus of Han Li's decisive command, the large azure feng dove with lightning speed, striking the small creature's head. A strange sight unfolded. The vivid crimson shadow, which had previously remained motionless and utterly immovable, was effortlessly snatched from its form by the feng's hooked beak and then swallowed whole as it raised its head. After one more sharp cry, the feng's ethereal form dissolved into nothingness. The three dragons and serpents only managed to slowly rise to their feet, trembling with fear, their eyes fixed on Han Li with growing apprehension. Han Li paid no attention to the three beings, merely observing the ox-headed creature before him, nodded contentedly, and then extended his hand, palm open. Instantly, streaks of silken hair shot out with a rushing sound from the creature's body and returned to him, being neatly gathered once more. As the silken threads detached from the creature's body, its eyelids fluttered slightly, yet it did not immediately awaken. Han Li furrowed his brow, then shook his sleeve gently, and a stream of pale, misty spiritual light shot out, flowing into the small creature's body before vanishing. The small creature, which had been unconscious, stirred its fur and gradually opened its eyes, awakening slowly. "Now, can you feel whether the servant-mark still remains within you?" Han Li leaned back against the armrest of the chair, speaking calmly to the ox-headed creature. The creature, just awakened, paused, startled by the question, and instinctively followed Han Li's instruction. A moment later, a look of great joy spread across its face. "The servant-mark is gone—truly gone! Thank you so much, Master!" The creature immediately bowed deeply in gratitude. Since it had been marked by the bell, the servant-mark had always made it feel as if something persistent and bothersome were always clinging to it. Now that it had been completely removed, it was overjoyed. The other three creatures also expressed great delight, congratulating the ox-headed one warmly, and then turned their expectant eyes toward Han Li. "Don't worry, one by one." Han Li smiled calmly and casually pointed at the golden ape. The creature immediately jumped with joy and approached eagerly. In just one meal's time, Han Li completely removed the traces of servitude within the four small beasts. The four creatures naturally expressed their deep gratitude, continuously bowing and thanking him. "You may now go. I've merely made a simple transaction with you. By the way, when is your next offering to the Tianpeng Clan?" Han Li suddenly remembered something and asked the four. "Rest assured, Senior, we only recently paid our offering. The Tianpeng Clan won't come back to the island within a few hundred years," the cow-headed creature guessed Han Li's thoughts and promptly replied with due respect. "Ah, then that's settled. You may now go." Upon hearing this, Han Li finally set aside his last lingering concern, and waved his hand to the three creatures. Centuries later, he had long since vanished—how could one possibly find him, even if it meant some trouble?