The purple-robed woman stared at Han Li's true form, her eyes wide and fixed, as if completely absorbed, as though she had been plunged into a state of deep enchantment. At the same time, the thin layer of black mist surrounding her body began to dissipate, revealing a face as ethereal and heavenly as a goddess. Though slightly pale, her radiant beauty was unmistakably that of Han Li's former beloved, Zilin—his beloved from the Human Realm. Yet her aura had undergone a complete transformation; she had now mastered a refined magical technique and possessed an astonishing cultivation level nearing the late Lingxu stage. The familiar silhouette Han Li had first seen upon arriving in Lanpu City was indeed Zilin. It was only her changed aura that had momentarily caused Han Li to miss recognizing her. Although Zilin had once shared a passionate romance with Han Li and then promptly moved away, never to be heard from again, she had not even appeared during Han Li's secret journey to the Spirit Realm or when he entered the spatial nexus. Yet without a doubt, among the many female cultivators that Han Li had known, none stirred his heart more deeply than this one—except Nan Gong Wan. Now, unexpectedly encountering her in the realm of demons, Han Li was not only delighted but also profoundly moved. "I never expected that, after arriving in the Sacred Realm, I would actually meet you again in this lifetime. In fact, I've begun to doubt whether it's simply because I've been longing for you so intensely that I'm now dreaming of you during the day," said Zi Ling, her gentle words soft yet striking—so tender that Han Li felt his heart subtly tighten, almost aching. "Since my ascension, I've made sure to keep your whereabouts in mind, but never received a single word. I never imagined you would end up in the realm of demons. Now it all makes sense!" Han Li finally regained his composure after the initial wave of emotion upon first seeing Zi Ling, his face returning to its usual calm, and he smiled faintly with a touch of wryness. Yet as he spoke, his gaze briefly swept over the young girl in the coarse robe and the 'Aunt Zhu,' a subtle coldness flickering in his eyes. The fairy woman frowned, stepped forward, and instantly blocked Lan Ying behind her. How perceptive the young woman in the hemp robe was! Upon seeing Han Li's expression, she immediately grasped the reason at once. She waved her hand at the woman and smiled lightly, saying, "Master Han, you are indeed the unfaithful one that Lady Zi has spoken of so often! This is your true nature. Yet I never found you particularly handsome or refined—how could Lady Zi have been so deeply attached to you all this time? Had it not been for my divination a few days ago, Lady Zi would never have come today, and you two would never have had the chance to meet again. Now, just as you've gathered together, haven't you even had time to exchange tender words or sweet embraces, and already you plan to eliminate my own contribution?" "You're talking nonsense!" she exclaimed. "What do you mean by 'kissing and hugging'? Your divination last time was pure chance—like a blind cat bumping into a dead mouse. It doesn't count at all. Master Han, you needn't worry about the immortal cultivators of the human realm anymore." Ying'er is my closest friend and will never reveal this secret. Moreover, Guangyuan Zhai is not a native force from the magical realm but rather a vast branch spanning across multiple realms. There are no less than several dozen deputy heads of zhai like her across various realms, and even within the human realm, they maintain a strong presence. Otherwise, how could Guangyuan Zhai have remained standing for so many years, undeterred, under the watchful eyes of numerous holy ancestors of the magical clans? Purple Ling first lightly spat at the young woman in the ma-ji robe, then turned to explain a few points to Han Li. "A force spanning across multiple realms! Yet I've never heard of Guangyuan Zhai in the human realm." Upon hearing this, Han Li, though well-traveled and experienced, could only take in a sharp breath, his expression clearly filled with disbelief. "Han brother is indeed cautious—hesitant even to believe Purple Ling's words. Though our zhai is known as 'Guangyuan Zhai' in this realm, we naturally adopt a different name in other realms. Otherwise, how could a capable being capable of traversing several realms fail to notice the subtle inconsistencies?" The young girl in the hemp robe glanced at Han Li, smiled faintly, and replied. "Ah, so that's it—I must have been rather impetuous." Though Han Li still wasn't fully convinced, his doubts had significantly lessened. Bowing slightly to the girl, he expressed some regret. As the girl's eyes sparkled with intent, about to say more, Zilin interjected, her gaze soft and steady: "Ying'er, don't mind Brother Han being overly cautious. After all, he wasn't aware of our sisterly bond until now—being careful is quite natural." "I never thought, until now, that Sister Zi would one day be someone who values beauty over friendship. Just recently, I've met my former lover again, and now she's already stepping in to defend others' interests." The hemp-robed girl blinked, a sly glint flashing in her eyes before she suddenly shook her head and swayed gracefully. Her demeanor and manner now stood in stark contrast to the composed, calm manner Han Li had first observed. "What nonsense are you making up now? Who's the one who values beauty over friendship?" "Zi Ling listened to this and her face flushed crimson, glaring fiercely at the maidservant. But this time, Lan Ying only smiled gently, neither adding nor interrupting, instead straightening her expression and saying, 'You've not seen each other for so many years—there must be countless things you'd like to share. I and Aunt Zhu won't be in the way. I'll go up to the fifth floor to rest a while. We can come down later, after you've finished talking. By the way, Zi Ling, you're very familiar with the seal of Guangyuan Zhai, aren't you? Why don't you open it now and continue our conversation later? Here is the seal token for this floor!' As the maidservant finished speaking, she rose to her feet, shook her sleeve, and a beam of white light shot forth—revealing a magical artifact in the shape of a token. 'Thank you so much, Ying,' Zi Ling said, naturally delighted, and reached out to take the token into her palm. 'Then I'll step back and let you two talk. I'll be off now,' the maidservant bowed slightly, and then proceeded with the woman toward the Not long after, they arrived at another room adorned with a simple, ancient atmosphere. The young woman settled herself into a chair in the center and began to ponder thoughtfully. As for the elder woman, she remained standing by the side, motionless. "Madam Zhu, what do you think of this Han friend of ours?" the young woman suddenly asked. "What do you mean, exactly? Which aspect are you referring to?" the elder woman seemed slightly puzzled, not quite knowing how to respond. "Let's talk about his cultivation level and strength. You mentioned he is a Consolidated Stage cultivator—then he must be the human-origin cultivator who has recently caused upheavals throughout the demonic realm, earning the title of 'Pseudo-Immortal'." The young woman replied without hesitation. "Hmm. Given that he bears the surname Han and is a human-origin cultivator, I'm certain it's him. As for his cultivation level and strength—though I haven't faced him in combat, his aura is notably complex. It's far from ordinary for a Consolidated Stage cultivator, and he's exceptionally dangerous. There have been quite a few who have perished at his hands." The elder woman offered her assessment. "So even if we don't count the false immortal, this person is definitely worth cultivating strongly." The young girl with the maids' robe blinked her eyes, speaking slowly. "If possible, this would indeed be the best strategy. However, he's already a close friend of Miss Zi, so it shouldn't be too difficult for the lady to establish a good relationship with him." The woman smiled and replied. "You're mistaken, if you think that." Upon hearing this, the young girl shook her head vigorously. "Why so?" The woman was now somewhat puzzled. "Though I share a close bond with Miss Zi, that doesn't mean this person will easily regard us as friends. Though I haven't spoken much with him, I can clearly see that his resolve is strong and not easily swayed by emotions or external influences. To truly win his friendship, we may need to offer tangible benefits." The young girl offered a remarkably clear and thoughtful analysis. "When the old master was still alive, he often praised Miss Zi's exceptional intelligence. If that's the case, then she must indeed be quite capable." But now, our Guangyuan Pavilion is in a weakened state and can hardly offer much of what's truly excellent. And this person is a late-stage Consolidated Realm cultivator—ordinary items would likely go unnoticed by him." The woman thought for a moment, initially agreeing, but then quickly grew hesitant. "Actually, Lady Zhu is mistaken. What business does our Guangyuan Pavilion really engage in? Didn't we just have a perfect gift to offer just now?" The young woman in the hemp robe smiled. "You mean...?" The woman seemed to be slowly realizing. At the same time, beneath them, Zilin was murmuring to herself, continuously shaking the token in her hands. Suddenly, ripples of energy spread through the surrounding space, and the entire four-story pavilion was gradually enveloped by colorful light screens. At the center of these screens, only Han Li and Zilin remained. After Zilin placed the token into her sleeve and secured it, Han Li couldn't help but ask: "Zilin, the cultivation technique you've been specializing in on the Human Realm—wasn't it a magical technique?" How could he have ascended to the demonic realm so swiftly, and already reached such a level of demonic cultivation in such a short time? As he spoke, he once again used his divine awareness to sense the pure demonic qi radiating from Zilin, his brows slightly furrowed. "This story is quite lengthy, but I'd like to know—hasn't the human cultivator recently causing upheavals throughout the Sacred Realm been your brother, Han?" Zilin smiled gently and asked. "If there hadn't been another human cultivator infiltrating the demonic realm and causing such a commotion, then indeed, it would have been my responsibility." Han chuckled slightly in reply. "It's definitely you. According to the rumors, you not only possess the cultivation level of a late Consolidation stage master, but also have extraordinary abilities, and even a colossal crab automaton whose strength rivals that of the Sacred Ancestor. Is that truly the case?" Zilin asked, her expression filled with genuine surprise. "The rumors are somewhat exaggerated, but the core details are accurate. Though the giant crab automaton currently serves with me, I am not its master and thus cannot directly command it." Han Li smiled and replied. "Though I haven't personally witnessed your cultivation journey after your ascension to the Immortal Realm, achieving such a high stage in such a short time—only one step away from the Great Perfection stage—shows that you haven't slackened a single bit over the years. I'm certain you've endured countless hardships and faced numerous unforeseen perils!" Zi Ling said softly. "The journey after my ascension was indeed turbulent, but I've managed to overcome all the challenges. And now, being able to cultivate to this level, I believe all the struggles have been worthwhile. However, I notice your magical energy is exceptionally refined; I suspect you won't need long to reach the Consolidation stage." Han Li first spoke lightly, then asked with a touch of concern. "I believe it will be no more than ten to twenty years, possibly up to a century—by then, I too will be aiming for the Consolidation stage. Not unlike you!" Since I arrived in the Demon Realm, I have always received unwavering support from others, with no regard for resources—indeed, even the pills necessary for my breakthrough to the Consolidation Stage were all prepared well in advance. Without such support, how could I have reached this level so swiftly, given my own aptitude? "Though she calls me a disciple, I am actually merely her backup incarnation." After several changes in expression, Zi Ling finally spoke, her words causing a noticeable shift in Han Li's demeanor. "A backup incarnation? Has she placed a seal upon you?" Han Li, so experienced and perceptive, immediately asked, his voice filled with astonishment.