Han Li's voice was quiet, yet it resonated like thunder in the elder's ears. "Ah, guests have arrived! I shall immediately find you a superior room." The elder, who had been crouched, jolted upright, startled, and hurriedly pulled out from beneath his body a bright,簿-like, unusual artifact, swiftly flipping through it. Han Li frowned at this. The elder was clearly a cultivator—yet he showed no signs of alertness at all, as if he had truly dozed off, not merely pretending. A thought struck him. He casually glanced at the elder's face, only to gasp in surprise moments later: "You... you're Xiang Shiyi! How is it possible that you're still alive, and here you are?" The elder's complexion was slightly yellowed and frail, but his eyes and features carried a smooth, polished grace—indeed, Xiang ZhiLi, the one who had entered the spatial node earlier in the human realm. His nominal "elder brother" in name. Their spiritual lamps—those of Xū Lǎo Mó, Fēng Lǎo Guài, and others—had all gone out shortly after entering the threshold, and were long believed to have perished. Now, to see them suddenly revived, how could Feng Li not be stunned, his voice altered with surprise? Upon hearing Feng Li’s words, the elder paused mid-motion, bowing low as if searching for something. After a moment, he slowly raised his head to gaze at the other. “Feng Shīdì, it truly is you!” the elder murmured, his expression a mixture of tears and laughter, strangely odd. “Indeed, it is I. But how has your cultivation and aura changed…?” As Feng Li replied, his divine awareness instinctively swept over Xiang Zhīlǐ’s form, only to grow unsettled again. Xiang Zhīlǐ, once a fully Perfected Immortal in the Human Realm, now appeared to have dropped down to only the Jiedan stage, his aura notably weakened and frail, as though greatly depleted in vital energy. “Feng Shīdì, did you also arrive in the Spiritual Realm through the spatial threshold?” Based on your cultivation level, your magical power has greatly improved. However, this isn't the right place to talk. There won't be any guests arriving any time soon. Let me take you to another location—somewhere more suitable for a conversation." Hu Xiangli stared at Han Li for a while, his expression shifting several times before suddenly remembering something. He quickly rose, took Han Li's hand, and hurried them toward a side door in the hall. Han Li hesitated slightly, but eventually followed. After entering the side door, they found themselves in a long corridor lined with unusual flowers and plants. Hu Qinglei did not take them far, but instead opened a nearby stone door and invited Han Li inside. "Brother, please sit," said Xiangli, with a wry smile. "I never thought in all my life I'd be able to see you again, Han Brother. And as for my own current state—how humbled I feel to appear in such a condition!" As soon as they settled down, Xiangli's voice sank low, utterly different from the grand, composed demeanor of the great cultivator he had once been. "Back then, when we passed through the node, what happened to you two? Were they still alive?" Han Li paused briefly and directly asked the questions he had wanted to know. "Feng the Old Wandering Spirit and Hu the Old Demon both perished. When we passed through the node, our luck was truly poor. We encountered spatial storms repeatedly. On the final occasion, two waves of storms overlapped and erupted simultaneously. Out of the three of us, only I survived. Even I, due to constantly employing life-preserving techniques, had nearly lost all my cultivation. My current level is the result of years of painstaking, relentless cultivation." Xiang Zilǐ sighed, speaking with a touch of resignation. "The node truly proved to be extremely perilous—your survival is indeed a great fortune among the unfortunate. However, back then, the lifeline lamps that you had left behind in the Human Realm had already gone out. Moreover, how did you end up on the Thundering Continent? You were not present at the Human Race's ascension site, were you?" Han Li offered a word of comfort, yet remained curious and asked further. "The incident of my life lamp going out is likely due to the life-preserving secret technique I employed. Using that technique truly feels like exchanging one's life for another—almost as if I've been reborn with a new life. As for why I find myself on this continent, I'm not entirely certain. Initially, I was caught in a spatial storm and managed to survive thanks to my secret arts, but once I exited the spatial node, I found myself in Tianyun. Had it not been for the rescue offered by someone, I might not even be alive today. From what my younger brother says, upon exiting the node, we ended up in a human settlement within the spiritual realm. Therefore, the spatial storm at the node must have been unusually strange, shifting our course significantly." Xiang Zhilǐ recalled his experience during the time at the spatial node, his expression growing increasingly grim. The inn's master is a member of the Shijian clan, the very one who once saved my life. He is kind-hearted and possesses strong cultivation, seemingly holding a certain status within his clan. I have both a sense of obligation to repay his kindness and no other place to go, so I can only temporarily assist him. As for returning to the Human Clan—I have long since given up on that. Although the Tianyun Thirteen Clans indeed control a transmission array capable of spanning entire continents, each activation reportedly consumes such immense energy that even the entire Saint Clan may be forced to sell off its assets—far beyond what ordinary spiritual stones can provide. Even if my cultivation were at its peak, I would still lack the qualifications to utilize this array. Moreover, even if I were fortunate enough to successfully reach Fengyuan Continent, my current cultivation level, combined with my severely depleted vital energy, would leave me utterly unable to make it back to the Human Clan's realm. My current condition has rendered any possibility of advancing to the Lingxu stage completely hopeless. I no longer wish to take risks and have already decided to spend my remaining years here, settling into retirement. Xiang Zhi-li shook his head slightly, his expression dimmed a little. Hearing Xiang Zhi-li's words, Han Li didn't know what to say to comfort him and remained silent for a moment. "By the way, I haven't yet asked my younger brother about his experiences. Though I am unable to return to the Human Race, I would still like to hear about the Human Race in the Spirit Realm. Could my younger brother briefly share some details with me?" Xiang Zhi-li suddenly remembered something, and his expression brightened slightly. "My own experiences aren't particularly remarkable. After reaching the stage of Divine Spirit cultivation, following the coordinates passed down by my senior, I eventually found the corresponding node. Then, I teamed up with the Ice Phoenix, who also advanced to the Divine Spirit stage, to enter the node together. Perhaps my luck was a bit better—though I encountered spatial storms as well, I fortunately managed to use the Ice Phoenix's spatial abilities to tear through the space and escape. As for the Human Race's situation, according to what I know, they are merely able to establish themselves in the Spirit Realm and manage to sustain themselves, barely holding on." The specifics... Han Li briefly outlined his own situation, completely omitting the fact that he had once lost all his cultivation. As for the human race's affairs, which were not particularly confidential, he shared a few key points with the other party. "Three realms, seven lands! Holy Emperors and Divine Kings! I now understand that our human race in the Spirit Realm has many cultivators at the Consolidated Stage. With that, I can finally feel at ease." Xiang Zhi-li listened intently, only after carefully hearing Han Li's account did he finally exhale a long breath. Han Li remained silent once again, but after a while, his eyes flashed several times before suddenly asking, "Indeed, the Thirteen Clans of Tianyun have a grand teleportation array! Brother Xiang, how did you come to know of this?" "Ah, so you're also interested in this array! The existence of such a grand array isn't something we need to keep secret. Not only do the Thirteen Clans of Tianyun have one, but the Jiao Chi Clan and the Ye Clan also each possess one. Among the nearby major clans, only the Bao Ming Clan seems to have failed to build one." If I say, then perhaps it would be better to let go of my younger brother. The intercontinental teleportation array is simply beyond the reach of those below the Consolidated Stage. Moreover, you are not even from among these several clans, so your chances are even more limited. Fortunately, the Tianyun Thirteen Clans are not overly closed to outsiders, so why not have my younger brother settle here and train alongside me? He can even share some of my daily life. When his cultivation reaches a higher level, he can always return to the Dao Clan later. By the way, how far has your cultivation progressed now? I can clearly sense that your aura has grown stronger since you arrived in the human realm, but I still cannot fully perceive your current cultivation level." Xiang Zhi-li smiled slightly and then asked curiously. "Regarding the teleportation array, I will need to think more carefully before making a decision. As for my cultivation level, recently, by good fortune, I have successfully advanced to the Lianxu Stage." Han Li did not hesitate to openly share his cultivation progress. "Lianxu? Your cultivation has progressed so swiftly! That means you no longer suffer from the limitations of your lifespan! Upon hearing this, Xiang Zhi-li's lips twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of envy. "It's officially said that one's lifespan is infinite. Yet with the great celestial calamities occurring once every three thousand years, how could one truly achieve immortality? Each such calamity grows more severe. If one doesn't ascend to the True Immortal realm, they will inevitably meet their end eventually." Han Li smiled calmly. "That's not quite accurate. Since his attainment of the Lingxu stage, his lifespan has now reached tens of thousands of years. From then on, he can finally breathe easier and proceed with his cultivation at a steady pace. Given his natural aptitude, who's to say he won't eventually reach the final stage and ascend to the True Immortal realm?" Xiang Zhi-li grinned, shaking his head vigorously. "Ascend to the True Immortal realm! Over countless millennia, our human and elven clans have produced countless individuals of exceptional talent and potential. Yet how many of them have actually reached the final stage? I myself can only take it step by step, seeing what unfolds." Han Li sighed with a gentle smile. "Ah, let's discuss this matter another time. Now I still need to look after the inn. I'll visit my younger brother's room in the evening when I have a moment. Will he mind my visit?" Xiang Zhi-li glanced out the door, then smiled gently. "Yes, that's fine. When I first arrived in Yun City, I also had several matters that I'd like to discuss with my senior." Han Li nodded slightly, fully agreeing. Xiang Zhi-li then selected a quiet, secluded room for Han Li and personally guided him to settle in. He then returned to the main hall. In his room, Han Li set up a small sealing spell, sat cross-legged, and thoughtfully pondered. It was unexpected to meet Xiang Zhi-li here—this certainly prompted him to reflect more deeply!