A surge of black light flashed, and the cloaked figure suddenly appeared before the five of them. He said nothing, nor did he offer any words of greeting. Han Li found this rather strange, and then suddenly felt a flash of dark light around him, as though an invisible force were gently pulling him forward. The other four companions experienced the same phenomenon. Han Li was first taken aback, then smiled quietly. This guide truly seemed to be fulfilling his role—determined to lead them onward. Yet he couldn't quite understand the secret of the black light emanating from their bodies. As they passed, the streams of black energy that had been flowing around them consistently dispersed and stepped aside, allowing the group to swiftly travel several miles beyond. Suddenly, Han Li focused his gaze on a large expanse of dark mist ahead, and a subtle blue glow flickered within his pupils. Under his perception, concealed within the black mist lay a colossal creature, whose breath and essence were of the same kind as those of the unknown beast creatures far off—yet clearly powerful by at least a hundredfold. Even the combined cultivator, now visibly feeling a significant threat. However, the black mist in the sky itself was no ordinary phenomenon; even with his spiritual sight, he could not fully penetrate it, only vaguely discerning the outlines of a mountain-sized beast, resembling a great serpent. As Han Li felt a sudden sense of alertness, the other four companions likewise noticed the monstrous creature within the black mist ahead, growing increasingly cautious as they gradually approached it. At that moment, the leading guide suddenly plummeted downward, carrying the group with him as they drifted, without actually reaching close to the unknown giant. Han Li naturally relaxed, taking one final glance at the beast, and then chose to pay no further attention. But after a short while, Han Li's face subtly changed again. Under the guidance of the messenger, their group had plummeted downward for tens of thousands of feet, yet still showed no sign of reaching the end. The surrounding void, filled with dark mist, seemed to stretch endlessly into an infinite black abyss. Had it not been for the fact that the other four members had remained completely unchanged in the dark glow, Han Li might have genuinely considered whether to continue being manipulated in this manner. Fortunately, after descending another ten thousand feet, the dense black mist finally began to dissipate, and they broke through the hazy sea of fog. Below lay a strange, azure world. Soft blue light illuminated the vast buildings and the towering black forests surrounding them, making everything clearly visible. This blue light emanated from several large, luminous spheres suspended in the sky—about a dozen in total—each sphere over a zhang in diameter, radiating a cool, steady blue glow that seemed to never fade. After several dull thuds, the black glow that had originally enveloped Han Li and the others trembled and then collapsed in a single heavy sound. The pulling force that had been binding the five of them vanished simultaneously. "I need to go and summon the others. You go to the lower Black Domain Hall—someone will be waiting for you there." The black-robed figure said coldly to the five, then turned without another word and disappeared into the black mist high above. Han Li found this rather bewildering. Yet the Wàn Gǔ True Person seemed completely unconcerned, merely chuckling softly before activating his flight spell and descending toward the lower levels. The figure wrapped in golden light smiled lightly and then immediately surged downward as a streak of golden light. Han Li and the other two exchanged glances and followed suit, drifting downward. Although there were many structures below, each one differed greatly from the outside world. All the houses were constructed from a seemingly rough black stone, each one towering and robust, exuding a primitive, ancient wilderness charm. The Black Domain Hall mentioned by the guide was exceptionally easy to identify—a mountain-sized hall reaching over a thousand zhang in height and spanning several li in area—surely impossible for anyone arriving for the first time to overlook. When Han Li and his four companions landed on the square before the hall, there were already two rows of women dressed in flowing black gauze waiting there. Though veiled in black gauze, each woman was graceful in form, with elegant features and a strong presence of yin energy, all possessing at least Jin Dan stage cultivation. Each of them was an exceptional, top-tier furnace vessel. As soon as Han Li and his companions arrived before them, the five women at the front stepped forward with poised grace. "Our junior sisters bow to the five elders," they said. "From now on, the elders shall be specially attended to by us." Should any of the elder masters have questions or needs, we would be more than happy to fully address and fulfill them. As the Exchange Assembly is still some time away, would the elders like to first rest in the designated quiet chambers? One of the taller, fair-skinned women, bowing gracefully to Han Li and the others, spoke with a warm, captivating tone. "Hmph—your Black Domain still insists on these oddities. I don't need anyone to attend to me—I'll simply be taken directly to the hall." The figure, as ethereal as a mist, suddenly emitted a sharp, dismissive sound. Her voice, equally pleasing, belonged to a female cultivator. "Should the elder prefer not to be accompanied, we won't insist. Nine, please take this elder to the hall." The black-robed attendant smiled lightly and turned to one of the four women, slightly shorter in stature, and issued the instruction. Upon hearing this, the black-robed attendant stepped forward promptly. "Master, please follow me." "Having said that, the black-silk maid named No. Nine bowed respectfully and gracefully walked toward the main hall's entrance. The female cultivator who had turned into mist glanced coldly at No. Nine and followed silently without a word. "Heh, I don't need to rest either—I'll go to the main hall just like that celestial lady," said the figure glowing with green light. Her voice was notably elderly, as though belonging to a seasoned elder. The leading black-silk woman smiled warmly and readily agreed, then instructed another woman to accompany her into the hall. Thus, in a matter of moments, only Han Li and the other two guests remained on the plaza. "Hmph! How can they not take advantage of this opportunity! I, for one, won't be acting like a proper gentleman. My esteemed friends, I shall now head off to enjoy myself," said Wan Guo the True, laughing heartily—her voice now sharp and distinct, quite different from before. Then the old monk didn’t need to say a word to the dark-scarf woman leading the group—he simply stepped forward, embraced the most plump of the dark-scarf women, and strode off with a grand air. “Hah! This one is indeed one of our kind—I’m not sure if I’ve met her before. But since you’re the leader among these five, and clearly the most outstanding, I’ll have you serve under me.” The man radiating golden light scanned the leading dark-scarf woman’s face with a sharp gaze before chuckling softly. “With the elder so kind to appreciate my appearance, I am truly honored. Please, Elder Eleven, take good care of the remaining elder—do not let her down.” The leading dark-scarf attendant showed no surprise at all, only smiling warmly. Then, stepping forward, she leaned against the figure of the golden-lit man and also left the scene. Han Li blinked, glanced at the two rows of black-silk attendants still standing at a distance, and then looked closely at the one nearest to him, stroking his chin as his voice also grew slightly rough. "Are you the one numbered eleven? Does that mean only a few of the guests came before you?" Han Li glanced at the young woman, made no ceremony, and effortlessly embraced her slender waist, then strode toward the palace gate. Just as Han Li and his companions had departed the plaza, four figures, their forms veiled by various streams of light, descended from the sky, greeted by four black-sash attendants who smiled warmly. ...After a meal, Han Li sat half-reclined on a broad chair, his eyes slightly narrowed. The eleventh black-sash attendant had almost fully nestled her body against his, gazing at his blurred face, veiled in a layer of green light. Not only his face, but his entire form was now enveloped in a shimmering veil of jade mist. Han Li had, at some point, shifted to a new divine ability to conceal his form—now even the True Immortal, Wan Gu, could no longer recognize him. And here, it seemed as though a black stone pavilion floated suspended in the void, complete with tables, chairs, and tea—even some rare spiritual flowers and fruits, typically found only in the outer realms, arranged directly upon the stone table before Han Li. In the more distant parts of the surrounding void, similar pavilions could be faintly seen, hovering in perfect unison; upon careful inspection, there appeared to be no less than five or six hundred of them. Most of the floating pavilions were empty, though several dozen housed individuals just like Han Li, each accompanied by a black-silk attendant. Yet Han Li’s gaze did not rest upon these figures, who masked their true identities. Instead, his eyes continually flickered, fixed intently on the central luminous dome—of a creamy white hue—situated at the heart of every pavilion. This dome spanned over a hundred zhang in diameter, and within it, a lofty platform of pure white jade rose. At each of its four corners, red-and-blue stone pillars stood upright, while at the very center, an enigmatic golden array of magic was intricately laid out. And at the center of this array, standing side by side, were two strangely shaped stone tables—one black, one white—identical in every way. The entire high platform now appeared empty, with not a single figure in sight. "As you said, when the exchange ceremony begins, your Black Domain will first present some rare treasures to trade with us," Han Li said, drawing his gaze back and speaking calmly to the woman in his arms.