"Wolf-hunter? Indeed, has this esteemed guest frequently entered the Mountain of Magic?" Han Li's expression brightened. "I have entered the Mountain of Magic a total of thirty-seven times, seven of which reached deep into its heart!" Yue Zong's facial scar slightly twisted, yet he spoke respectfully. "Thirty-seven times?" Han Li's face slightly pale. When he had initially agreed to accompany Xian Xian into the Mountain of Magic, he had naturally investigated the mountain's conditions in advance. The dangers within the mountain were certainly far greater than what the crystal-kin maiden had described. Only those of exceptional skill and courage dared to enter it. Even among such individuals, few ventured deep into the mountain, typically only eliminating weaker beasts in the outer regions. Yet this person, with only mid-Stage of Spiritual Form cultivation, had already penetrated the mountain multiple times. Though the depth of his forays remained unknown, such an achievement was truly astonishing. The delicate young lady continued to explain: "Although on this journey, neither the junior nor the senior need to delve deep into the mountain range, the destination lies at a considerable distance from the mountain's entrance. Should powerful beasts suddenly surge out into the outer areas, things could become quite troublesome. Therefore, to ensure safety, I have specially hired Brother Yue as our guide at a premium price. With him leading the way, we can be certain of a successful journey. Brother Yue is indeed one of the few individuals who, even under the interference of magical energy, can anticipate the whereabouts of powerful beasts in advance." "Thank you so much for your kind words! I am truly honored to be called upon to ensure a flawless journey—though I must modestly decline that title. Moreover, it has been some time since I last entered the Magi Mountain Range. I am not entirely certain whether the interior has changed significantly in recent years. After all, my last visit to this mountain was over a century ago." Brother Yue proved remarkably humble. "Only a hundred and some years have passed—how could things have changed much? Given Brother Yue's esteemed reputation in the past, and considering this journey will only take us to the outer regions, I believe the trip should "The delicate young lady may not be aware that the true terror of the Magician's Mountain lies not solely in its fearsome beasts, but also in the constantly shifting terrain and the persistent accumulation of magical qi. Under the influence of this qi, a place that was once utterly empty and safe yesterday might suddenly become a towering mountain, transformed into a lair for some specific beast the next day. For certain beasts, simply lifting a mountain, nurturing ordinary trees, and releasing a steady stream of magical qi is nothing short of effortless. This time, unless explicitly requested, I personally have no intention of venturing deep into the mountain range—indeed, I've recently found myself in urgent need of that bottle of the Eternity-Green Jade Vital Essence. No matter how high a price the delicate young lady offers, I would never risk such an undertaking." Yue Zong said, his expression becoming serious. "My friend Yue, please rest assured. This journey will indeed only extend to a peripheral location, with no intention of delving deep into the mountain range. My cultivation is still far behind yours, and I lack the courage for such an endeavor." Upon hearing the detailed account of the terrifying nature of the Magic Golden Mountain Range, Xin Xin's expression first grew slightly concerned, but then she smiled gently and said, "That will be sufficient. As previously mentioned, aside from the wild beasts encountered along the way, I shall only be responsible for guiding you and Master Han—participating in no other actions. Does Miss Xin have any objections?" With a slight easing of his expression, Yue nodded and added after a moment's thought, "None at all. Should there come a time when further assistance from Master Yue is required, I will gladly provide additional compensation and will never impose any undue demands." The crystal-kin woman agreed, though she did not fully commit to the statement. This time, Yue Zong finally nodded thoughtfully, thus formally accepting the arrangement. Han Li remained silent throughout, observing Yue Zong with quiet attention. Only now, upon seeing the two have concluded their conversation, did he finally speak slowly, "To be honest, Master Han has only a vague understanding of the Magic Golden Mountain Range and its wild beasts. Most of what I know comes from accounts relayed by others and from various written records." It's rare indeed that the immortal maiden would invite someone so well-acquainted with the Mójiān Mountain Range as her esteemed friend Yue Dao-you to join. This is undoubtedly a great advantage. Yet, there are a few questions concerning the Mójiān Mountain Range that she would like to ask Yue Dao-you, hoping he might be able to provide some answers. "Master Han, please go ahead with your questions—I will do my utmost to answer each one thoroughly," Yue Zong replied without hesitation. "Regarding the high-ranking magical beasts in the mountain range, have the mid- and low-ranking ones also awakened their spiritual intelligence? And how does the level of their spiritual awareness compare to that of ordinary spiritual creatures?" Han didn't hesitate, and launched his inquiries directly. Clearly, this Yue Zong possesses a deep understanding of the Mójiān Mountain Range, and upon hearing the questions, he immediately provided detailed and precise answers one by one. The crystal-people woman, listening to the conversation between the two, occasionally interjected with her own remarks out of genuine interest. Under this pleasant and harmonious atmosphere, the three engaged in conversation for nearly half an hour, and by the end, Han had gathered After the last question had been satisfactorily answered, Han Lin smiled slightly and said, "Since you've now learned all these details, I believe our journey will proceed smoothly. But may I ask, when do you intend to set out?" "Magical Mountain Range isn't too far from our Yun City, though it still takes about a month's journey. Though supplies are ample, we can't afford to delay much. How about setting out three days from now?" The young woman, Xue Xian, paused briefly before asking Han Lin. Yue Zong nodded, showing no objections. "Very well, then. We'll meet at the ground level, ten li outside the eastern gate, three days from now," Han Lin said after stroking his chin. Yue Zong nodded again, without offering any further remarks. "If there's nothing else, I shall now return to prepare," Han Lin added, indicating he had no intention of staying any longer. "All matters I wished to convey have now been explained. I shall see you off." "Fexian respectfully said, then flipped her palm to retrieve the array disk once more. Under the watchful eyes of the two, Han Li stepped onto the transportation array and smoothly vanished into the shimmering light. "Fexian, friend, is this elder Han reliable? You mentioned he is a high-level magical cultivator, yet I haven't sensed any traces of magical energy emanating from him. I've traversed the Magi Mountain Range countless times, and my sensitivity to magical qi is quite confident." As soon as Han Li actually disappeared, Yue Zong unconsciously exhaled a soft breath, then furrowed his brows and asked. "Brother Yue, please rest assured. Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that this elder Han is a high-level magical cultivator, I wouldn't necessarily have been able to win over the other party. Still, had it not been essential to find a magical cultivator for this journey, I wouldn't have waited so many years among our numerous high-level noble clans of Yun City." Fexian sighed, yet affirmed with confidence. "Therefore, it seems this elder Han must be practicing a mysterious technique that conceals his magical energy." Otherwise, it would be impossible to contain the magical qi to such a degree. Moreover, although I don't know exactly what the immortal maiden's purpose is for this journey, since a high-ranking magical cultivator must accompany her, it must surely be no ordinary matter. Also, her decision to enter the Magician Mountain Range this year seems particularly ill-advised. Right now, the mountain range is precisely experiencing its three-century cycle of magical qi eruptions. Over the next ten years, numerous powerful beasts have a good chance of making their way to the outer regions. Why not wait another four or five years instead? After a moment's pause, Yue Zong suddenly asked this. "I'm sorry, but my younger sister has her own pressing reasons that prevent her from openly disclosing them. I must enter the Magician Mountain Range within the next two years—otherwise, the next time, I'll have to wait several hundred years. I simply cannot afford such a long wait, so I've decided to take this risk. That is precisely why I have arranged to hire Brother Yue with a bottle of the Immortal Jade Herb Juice, which has been preserved for ten thousand years." I must not conceal this from you, Brother. When I first sought out several candidates, I had no confidence that we could reach our destination safely during the peak of the magical surge. It was only when I found my friend that I felt assured. After all, I hesitated a moment before offering a wry smile. "Given that you've stated this, I shall have no choice but to risk my life and make the journey. However, let me be clear from the outset: even as we enter the magical surge and reach the Mountain of the Mystic Powers, my confidence in reaching your destination safely is only about seven or eight out of ten. Should any powerful beast unexpectedly block our path, or should any unforeseen incident arise that puts us at risk of falling, I shall immediately turn around and retreat. As for the second vial of Cui Zhi Ling Yin that you promised, I shall certainly still fulfill my obligation." The Yue family member added with a gentle reminder. "Of course. These are all conditions we discussed in advance with Brother Yue, and they will remain unchanged." The delicate, graceful Lin Xian smiled gently. "However, I suspect the Fairy仙 has not yet directly informed Master Han of the incident involving the surge of magical energy. Won't there be any issues then?" Yue Zong nodded slightly and then narrowed his eyes, asking. "The reason I brought Master Han along is to leverage his magical arts from the demonic path—there's no direct connection between this and the surge of magical energy. If even I cannot guide both of us safely in and out of the Mountain Range of the Demonic Peaks, then informing Master Han would make no difference. Moreover, once we enter the mountain range, Master Han will naturally become aware of the matter. It's merely a matter of timing." The crystal-kin woman blinked her beautiful eyes, a touch of cunning in her expression. "That makes sense. Still, if the matter had been communicated earlier, I'm not sure the Fairy仙 could have secured Master Han's cooperation with the current cost." Yue Zong chuckled, revealing a clear understanding. "Feng Feng smiled slightly, remaining silent. Subsequently, after discussing several details with the female member of the Crystal Clan, Yue Zong also stepped onto the teleportation array and was transported away. In an instant, the space was left with only this delicate young lady. The smile on the Crystal Clan woman's face gradually faded, and as her dark brows slightly furrowed, a faint frown formed. Suddenly, she swept her long sleeve sharply, and a cluster of emerald light shot out from the sleeve, transforming into a small creature about the size of a clenched fist—pale green in hue. The creature was covered in scales, had sharp claws on its limbs, and bore two horns on its head with broad, pointed teeth, resembling a true spirit of the Qilin in every way. Yet, this small creature appeared hazy and formless, as if it might dissipate and vanish at the slightest breeze.