"Indeed, the elder had already planned well in advance—how could I have been so talkative!" Zhu Guo'er blinked her large eyes, speaking with due respect. "Still, what you've said isn't entirely accurate. We can't be overly careless on this journey. After our several battles ahead, we've already become well-known throughout the demonic realm. Entering the Blue Waterfall Lake requires us to transform and temporarily operate separately. Guo'er, you stay close to Crab Master for a while. I'll go alone into Blue Waterfall City to gather information. With my form-shifting technique, as long as I don't face a true Great Immortal directly, I should be safe from being recognized." Han Li seemed to be thinking carefully, giving the instructions without hesitation. "Then, if Master Han has ordered it, Guo'er will comply." Naturally unwilling to contradict Han Li, and even more delighted at the prospect of spending time alone with Crab Master, Zhu Guo'er readily agreed. To this day, she still hasn't fully grasped Crab Master's identity as a puppet—unbeknownst to her, she has grown an unexpected sense of fondness toward him. After nodding slightly, the crab immortal remained in place, silent and motionless. Though possessing a certain degree of spirit, as a "false immortal," he was bound by the pact he had made with Han Li, and had already received substantial advance payments of forged Huilu—thus, he appeared indifferent. Han Li smiled calmly, unbothered by the other's demeanor. He himself was well-versed in puppetry arts, and through his prolonged interactions with the crab immortal, had grown accustomed to its semi-autonomous nature. He understood that while the crab seemed as ordinary as any common person, it was still subject to several restrictions imposed by its original master, making it difficult to act against them freely. Yet beyond these limitations, it demonstrated considerable independence. Otherwise, Han Li could not have relied solely on the mysterious green liquid to lure it out of the Sea of Thunder and transform it into a reliable, temporary bodyguard. Of course, Han Li also recognized that even with the crab immortal at his side, he could not claim to be entirely free of worries in this realm of magic. Had it not been for the several primance elders each being occupied with their own matters and unable to fully concentrate on him, and the other ordinary saintly elders maintaining their dignity and never considering a joint effort, how could he have truly remained undisturbed in the demonic realm for so long? After that, Han Li briefly instructed Zhu Guo'er and Xie Dao-ren before instantly experiencing a series of booming sounds throughout his bones, his body rising by a foot or so, and his appearance transforming dramatically into that of a refined middle-aged man. With a single stomp of his foot, he surged forward as a streak of dark light, swiftly heading toward the depths of the lake. As Xie Dao-ren watched Han Li depart, he remained silent, merely shaking his long robe, and as a wave of golden light swept past, both he and Zhu Guo'er vanished from the hilltop. With Han Li's current cultivation, even without fully unleashing his flight power, his speed was astonishing—within a short while, he had already traveled over fifteen thousand li. At this moment, several small islands emerged on the distant, azure lake surface, each featuring simple structures built upon them, with some magical beings moving in and out of these buildings. On several of the islands, various black wooden boats of different sizes were moored, occasionally carrying groups of magical beings deeper into the lake. Han Li found this entirely unsurprising. Since he had planned to visit the Blue Falls Lake, he had thoroughly investigated its conditions and learned that the elder of the Blue Falls Sect had once invited several other senior sect elders to jointly establish a massive aerial barrier deep within the lake. As long as a magical being's cultivation level did not surpass that of the Magus Sovereign, once entering this barrier, they would instantly lose the ability to fly and would have to travel by boat to the heart of the lake. Although Han Li himself was unaffected by this restriction, he did not wish to draw the attention of the high-ranking magical beings of the region. Thus, after circling the nearby island for a while, he descended to the shore. At the very instant his feet touched the ground, a short, dark-skinned magical race man rushed over from nearby. "My name is Guan Yang. I greet you, elder. You're heading to Blue Water City, aren't you? Though my boat isn't large, its speed is truly unmatched among the hundred islands around here." This seemingly ordinary low-level magical race man bowed first, then opened his mouth to speak, revealing a bright white set of teeth. "Oh, you're only at the Foundation Stage—how bold of you to make such claims! Are you not exaggerating?" Han Li glanced at the magical man and then swept his eyes over the several wooden boats of varying sizes along the island's edge, responding with a neutral tone. "Elder, please rest assured. Should my words prove inaccurate, I shall gladly return twice the magical stones as compensation." Though Guan Yang couldn't discern Han Li's exact cultivation level, he sensed from Han Li's demeanor and presence that he was no ordinary Jin Dan or Yuan Yin cultivator, and thus dared not show the slightest hesitation, firmly pledging his commitment by patting his chest. "Very well. Since you've said that, I'll be your vessel. The magical stone isn't an issue, but speed is crucial—I need to reach Blue Falls City as soon as possible." Upon noticing that the other's words were genuine, Han Li nodded slightly. "Senior, please trust me—I will never fail you. Senior, come this way. My boat is right over there by the shore." Guan Yang was delighted and immediately bowed, pointing with a finger toward a small wooden boat several zhang long on the shore. Han Li glanced at the boat twice, said nothing, and then strode steadily toward the shore. Guan Yang naturally followed with great enthusiasm. After a meal, the black wooden boat departed the island, gliding forward like an arrow. Han Li sat quietly on the bow, gazing steadily at the magical race man at the stern, his arms swiftly moving the two dark iron oars. The two iron paddles shimmered with a faint blue glow, and each time they broke the water's surface, they surged large volumes of lake water behind the boat, creating two long, creamy white waves. "Indeed, I can see why you're so confident in your claims—you must have two suitable low-tier magical artifacts," said Han Li, who watched them with growing interest before suddenly smiling and asking. "Senior, you're mistaken. These two low-tier artifacts of mine are actually family heirlooms. Our ancestors have relied on them for generations to earn their living. While there may be better artifacts available, how could someone possessing such superior magical items take on the work of serving customers and ferrying them around? I merely make a living from this." Guan Yang, vigorously rowing, replied earnestly. "Oh, from the way you speak, it sounds as though you're a native of the region—so you must be quite familiar with the local situation in Blue Falls City, wouldn't you say?" Han Li's mind stirred, yet he kept his tone composed and asked gently. "If you'd like to know something that's common knowledge among the locals, I'm certain I can provide you with the details." If it comes to something particularly secretive, then I can't say much. After all, as a junior, my cultivation level is limited, and I simply can't access matters of the highest caliber." Guan Yang replied without hesitation, clearly indicating that this type of question was quite common. "Hehe, don't worry. The most secretive matters won't even be something you can answer." Han Li, seeing Guan Yang's composed and reserved response, couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "Then, please go ahead and ask anything you'd like. I'll certainly speak without reservation." Guan Yang felt a sense of relief and quickly responded. "Hmm. I'd like to know where blood-tooth rice is sold in Blanpu City. Something like this, one would expect general shops wouldn't sell it casually." Han Li paused thoughtfully before gently asking. "Hehe, it seems you've come specifically for blood-tooth rice. You've indeed found the right person. Would you like to purchase just a few pieces, or are you planning a larger quantity?" Upon hearing Han Li's question, Guan Yang's face lit up with excitement and asked back. "Just a few pieces? How so?" "What if I wish to purchase in large quantities?" Han Li furrowed his brow and asked again. "Should the senior buy only a small amount, then he may find the rice at a few designated shops within the city. However, these shops offer daily limited supplies, exclusively to senior cultivators at the Stage of Spiritual Transformation or above, with each senior entitled to purchase no more than two grains at a time. To be eligible for another purchase, a senior must reside in Bluestream for over a year. Of course, this is the official policy. Should the senior truly wish to acquire large quantities, there are still certain behind-the-scenes arrangements that allow him to purchase several grains at once. Naturally, if the senior is overly particular about the quality of the Blood-Tooth Rice, then greater quantities may not be feasible." Guan Yang's smile grew even warmer as he quickly explained. "But what if I wish for not just this amount, but the very finest grade of Blood-Tooth Rice?" Han Li remained calm and spoke slowly. "Ah, if the senior has such a purpose in mind, then it will likely be quite difficult to achieve." The city strictly controls the supply of premium blood-tooth rice, never allowing any surplus to seep out. Upon hearing this, Guan Yang's face immediately fell with a look of concern. "I fully understand this point. If I could easily procure enough premium blood-tooth rice outside the city, then what would be the point of my personal journey to Bluestream Lake? Moreover, I've always believed that nothing in the world is impossible—only that the price you're willing to pay is high enough." Han Li stared steadily at the magical race man, speaking calmly and without expression. "I'm afraid this is truly beyond my ability. However, I recommend that you inquire further within the city—perhaps someone else has a different solution." After a moment's hesitation, Guan Yang finally smiled faintly and replied. Upon hearing this, Han Li's lips curled slightly, nodded thoughtfully, and then quietly closed his eyes. Meanwhile, the small boat, propelled swiftly by Guan Yang's vigorous oars, continued racing toward the center of Bluestream Lake. After another two hours, a dark shape finally appeared on the lake's surface, growing larger as the wooden boat passed by, eventually forming a massive island that gradually came into clear view. Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly, the blue glow in his pupils flickering briefly, and took in every detail of the island. Along its perimeter, a substantial great city stood proudly built. From the outside, the city's walls were composed of a pale blue stone, otherwise resembling no different from a typical magical race city—just as tall, at several dozen zhang, with armed guards stationed throughout. At the main gate facing their direction, an additional group of warriors with spears stood on guard, alert and vigilant.