"Hehe, Sister, you've come back quite swiftly this time." As Bai Guo'er stepped out from the jade-colored stone gate halfway up the mountain, a clear, resonant laugh suddenly echoed from within the gate. The stone surface shimmered with a green glow and opened on its own. From inside emerged a scholar dressed in yellow robes, in his thirties, with an exceptionally handsome face—exactly the sea prince who had been sent to the Deep City by Han Li two centuries ago. Though it had been two hundred years since they last saw each other, the sea prince now radiated a subtle brilliance in his eyes, his skin glowing with a fresh, luminous quality, having already attained the stage of a Jian Dan cultivator, and his physical strength was far more robust than before. "Ah! When did Master return?" Bai Guo'er was momentarily startled upon seeing him, then her expression brightened with delight. "Hehe, this young nobleman just completed a particularly grueling assignment in the Heavenly Deep City a few days ago—so much so that he nearly lost his life. Only now, after resting for half a year, has he been able to return to his abode to check on whether Master has finally emerged from seclusion "Buai Guo'er couldn't help asking. "Master's true form hasn't been seen yet, but he did request several vials of elixirs from Master's second immortal embryo. If nothing goes wrong, in another two years, I myself will also begin my journey toward mid-Jie Dan stage. To be honest, it's truly humbling—I, as the senior brother, still fall short in magical power compared to my younger sister. I simply can't hold my head high in front of her." Hai Dashi hummed, speaking half-serious, half-joking. "Hah, how could you possibly be serious, Hai-brother! You're well-versed in both body and spirit cultivation—your true strength far surpasses Buai's. Moreover, Master himself is also a master of dual cultivation. It's likely that only Hai-brother will truly inherit Master's legacy, so it's actually your sister who should be envious of you. And as for magical power, how could my sister possibly match the swift progress of the Spirit-Resonant Brother? In just two hundred years, he has already reached the peak of Jie Dan stage and is now preparing to form his Yuan Yin." Buai Guo'er In Tianyuan City, I can still only serve as an ordinary Body-Forging cultivator, and I dare not let anyone know my relationship with my master, fearing that someone with ulterior motives might take notice. Your instrument spirit disciple is no different—he also acts in a secretive manner each time we visit the master from Tianyuan City. How could a junior sister enter and exit Tianyuan City as a disciple of the master, with such dignity and grace? Hearing this, Hai the Young Lord changed to a look of deep concern and expressed great admiration. "I am required to frequently travel to and from Tianyuan City due to tasks assigned by my master, which is why my master has allowed me to reveal my identity. Unlike the two senior brothers, who must conceal their identities and refine their inner qualities in Tianyuan City, this is quite different. Still, to be honest—your instrument spirit brother has inherited a cultivation method and innate talent so exceptional that even my master has praised him repeatedly. Perhaps in the future, he will advance further on his cultivation journey than we will." Bai Guo'er blinked her eyes and smiled gracefully. "That is certain. However, since Master brought you back to the human race a hundred years ago and established a new abode here, he has immediately entered into seclusion. During our daily cultivation, we have fully relied on the guidance of the second Yuan-Ying and Ice Sister, and we have no idea how Master's own cultivation is progressing! When speaking of Master, Hai the Young instantly grew serious and showed a touch of concern. "Rest assured. Master spent nearly a century searching among both human and spirit clans for the person he sought, and only then, after giving up on the search, entered seclusion to prepare for advancing to the mid-Consolidation stage. If I'm not mistaken, Master will likely remain in seclusion until he reaches that mid-stage, and probably won't emerge at all." Bai Guo'er tilted her head slightly and smiled gently. "Advancing to the mid-Consolidation stage—though Master is extraordinarily capable, it may still take him a thousand years of dedicated cultivation. Does Master intend to remain in seclusion for a full thousand years?" Upon hearing this, Hai the Young stared at her, his eyes wide with astonishment. "I don't know how the other combined-stage elders have been cultivating, but our master has once faced off against a late-stage combined-stage cultivator and possesses divine abilities no less than those of a mid-stage combined-stage cultivator. He must have some special methods to accelerate his cultivation. I believe it won't take more than a thousand years—by the time the magical disaster breaks out, he will surely be able to emerge from his current state." Bai Guo'er thought for a moment, then spoke with confidence. "That makes sense! I suspect the master has made this decision to advance to mid-stage precisely because the magical disaster is approaching." Hai, the young lord, nodded in agreement. Both he and Bai Guo'er were fully confident in Han Li's ability to reach mid-combined stage. This confidence was well-earned. Over the years, Han Li not only passed down cultivation techniques that were exceptionally refined, but also resolved various bottlenecks they encountered in their cultivation with just a few words or a couple of rare pills. This was the fundamental reason behind their rapid progress. Thus, after this repeated succession of events, the three disciples of Han Li grew deeply grateful to their master, and in their hearts, he came to be seen as increasingly incalculable and nearly omnipotent. Yet at present, Hai Dashi did not linger any longer with Bai Guo'er. After exchanging a few more words, he bowed and departed from the abode, vanishing into a streak of azure light that surged forward. Meanwhile, Bai Guo'er entered the jade gate of the green stone and proceeded directly along a corridor toward the rear courtyard of the abode. After passing through several layers of strict seals, a sudden vista unfolded—before them lay a vast, level meadow, with drifting clouds in the sky, lush spiritual flowers and green grasses surrounding it, all exuding a vibrant aura of vitality. At the center of the meadow, to the left and right, stood two small mountains each over a hundred paces high—one black as ink, the other emerald green. Between these two peaks rose a luminous, translucent white jade pavilion, three stories in height, gently enveloped by a thick, shimmering five-colored light curtain. Behind this dwelling, someone had used immense power to transform it into a miniature, independent world resembling a small mountain realm, indistinguishable from the outside world. However, at the peaks of two small mountains situated to the left and right, two figures sat quietly in stillness. One stood two zhang tall with emerald skin, radiating a steady purple aura; the other shimmered with golden light, exuding a flowing black mist that circulated throughout his body. From a distance, their appearances were remarkably similar to Han Li's, with both eyes closed. Yet, as Bai Guo'er stepped into the grassland, the golden figure who emitted the black mist stirred slightly and slowly opened his eyes. In an instant, two clear, bright gazes swept toward the silver-robed maiden. "Greetings, Master," Bai Guo'er said respectfully, bowing deeply to the golden figure. Then, she swiftly turned her hand, producing a purple wooden chest, and immediately offered it to him with both hands. "Thank you so much, Guo'er! Let me check if these items are truly suitable." The golden figure smiled gently and spoke kindly, his voice exactly like Han Li's. Then, with a single hand gesture toward where Bai Guo'er stood, the purple wooden chest instantly shot upward with a swift "whoosh," being caught mid-air by the golden figure. With a simple sweep of his hand over the chest, the lid opened of its own accord. Inside lay several black-green immortal essences, each about the size of an egg, emitting a strange, pungent aroma that made one feel nauseous upon mere inhalation. Upon seeing these unusual essences, the golden figure nodded with great satisfaction, closed the lid, and Bai Guo'er smiled slightly. "Guo'er, you've done well. These materials are exactly what I needed. Finally, all the supplies I've requested from the elven race have been gathered!" Later, I will retrieve my second immaterial embryo and activate the protective array to fully seal this place, cutting off all connections with the outside world. As long as you don't face life-threatening dangers or the magical calamity breaks out prematurely, please do not disturb me. For the next one or two centuries, this will be the most crucial period of my cultivation—any distraction will be unacceptable. Additionally, I have already entrusted you with the pills and spiritual stones needed for your cultivation. From now on, simply request them directly from your ice-uncle. Hehe, I hope when I emerge from my retreat, to find both of you have made further progress in your practices. Bai Guo's face was filled with reluctance, yet he knew that Han Li's decision would not change, so he bowed low once more and spoke. "Ha ha! May my words bring good fortune—let's hope that indeed, things will turn out as such!" This hearty laugh came not from the golden figures outside, but directly from within the five-colored light screen encasing the white jade pavilion, resonating with genuine joy. At once, the figures seated atop the two mountain peaks rose to their feet and simultaneously raised their hands in gestures, then faded into the air with a slight blur. In the next moment, the two small mountains emitted a resonant hum, and two vast light arrays materialized from their bases, swiftly spreading outward in all directions. Within a short while, the entire grassland was enveloped in these light arrays, shimmering with concentric rings of five-colored spiritual light. Everything began to warp and transform, and as the glow gradually dimmed, it all dissolved into a vast sea of five-colored mist, completely submerging everything within. At that moment, Bai Guo'er had already withdrawn from the grasslands and was gazing into the misty sea, momentarily stunned, speechless. It wasn't until some time later that the silver-robed maiden sighed softly and turned to leave. Meanwhile, in the white pavilion on the first floor of the Five-Color Mist Sea, Han Li sat upon a pale yellow mat, his eyes slightly narrowed, gazing at a massive golden cauldron floating before him. The cauldron, several dozen feet in diameter and about ten feet high, was surrounded by a lively silver flame that surged around it. A strong, peculiar aroma gradually rose from within the cauldron. From above, one could clearly see that the cauldron was filled to the brim with a mysterious liquid, shimmering in vibrant hues of five colors, with numerous bubbles of the same colors rising from beneath and continuously bursting into splendor.