Lady Wan Hua stood motionless, her face as pale as paper. At this moment, not only had the entire array of seals been shattered by the golden giant's massive palm, but even the black giant lion behind the old woman had been compressed into a tight ball, utterly immobile under the overwhelming force. Though several defensive artifacts—such as a jade shield of emerald green—flew out from her body and encircled her completely, she was clear in her mind that with the sheer power displayed by that single palm, these defenses could hardly make a significant difference. The true magical body of her opponent was so formidable that it had defeated her, even after she had summoned all her reserve strengths. This profound defeat shook the usually proud and self-assured Lady Wan Hua, leaving her heart as fragile as paper. "Thank you," the giant form of Han Li said calmly, then gently retracted his outstretched arm. At the same instant, the golden giant's palm vanished from above Lady Wan Hua. This time, the old woman had no recollection of how she had left the light screen, merely returning to the stands in a dazed state. Outside, Qingping Daoren and Xiao Ming exchanged glances, both of them expressing sheer astonishment. Inside the light screen, Han Li called out to Qingping Daoren: "Daojun Qingping, please come out and demonstrate your skills against me." Qingping Daoren had just recovered from the stunning sight of Han Li defeating the old woman in a single strike, and upon hearing Han Li's words, his face instantly turned pale. After a moment of hesitation, he bowed deeply to Han Li and smiled sadly, saying, "My friend, your magical prowess is truly extraordinary. I believe I am no match for you at all. I shall not bother to attempt this move—I hereby yield." Remarkably, this Daoren, who had been rather casual throughout, now willingly bowed to Han Li's authority. Han Li, hearing this, was not surprised at all and showed no further pressure. He simply nodded, then withdrew his Fanzheng True Form, and with a swift movement, stepped out of the light screen as well. "Master Han's divine abilities are truly unparalleled—rarely have I seen such feats in my lifetime. Yet, this has also reminded me of one person. Is it not Master Han, the human from Fengyuan Continent, who entered the Demon Realm and slew the mother of the Mingsheng insects?" Xiao Ming fixed his gaze on Han Li, not blinking a single time, and asked each word with deliberate precision. "Humble indeed—though the tales may have exaggerated, I am indeed Han Li of the human race," Han Li replied calmly, his eyes flickering slightly but maintaining composure. "Ah, truly Master Han! It's no wonder you possess such extraordinary powers. This is a genuine honor—Master Han, you must stay with us for some time, so that we may have a thorough exchange of insights." Undeterred by the expressions of the other two, Xiao Ming burst into hearty laughter. "Since Master Han has kindly extended such an invitation, I shall certainly not decline," Han Li responded, expressing his own interest in Blood Bone Sect's Blood Path cultivation technique. "That's wonderful. Let us invite Lady Wanhua and Qingping Master as well—let's gather at my abode for a brief gathering." Xiao Ming seemed extremely excited and turned to Wan Hua Lady Qingping, saying, "We came on this journey with specific intentions. Until I heard Master Xiao's reply, we would not have left so abruptly. Master Xiao, please lead the way. We have been a bit of a disturbance." After exchanging a glance, Qingping and Wan Hua hesitated slightly before replying, "Earlier, I had instructed my subordinates to prepare a grand banquet within the pavilion. I am certain it will fully satisfy all of your esteemed guests. Please follow me." Upon hearing this, Xiao Ming smiled lightly. Immediately thereafter, the group transformed into several streaks of brilliant light and shot straight toward a massive palace at the heart of Xue He City. Half a day later, when the sky had turned a deep crimson as dusk approached, Han Li calmly took flight from the grand palace and, within half an hour, unexpectedly arrived at a modest inn located on a quiet street, entering a courtyard he had already rented. At the entrance of the courtyard, Flower-Stone Elder and Zhu Guo'er stood respectfully outside. As soon as Han Li approached, they immediately bowed to him. After Han Li waved them aside, he led the two inside, and then a flash of white light sealed the gate tightly behind them. "If both of you also possess the keys to the Tian Ding Palace, and if you can anticipate the approximate location where the keys will be used, then you are equally qualified to propose such terms," the masked man replied calmly, without the slightest sign of irritation. "Of course, we are well aware that Brother Xiao holds these keys—otherwise, we would not have come to seek you out before entering the Wan Yue Mountain Range. Nevertheless, regardless of how we justify it, securing only a tenth share for ourselves and the Wan Hua Sect truly seems excessive." Qingping Daoist said, his brows furrowed. "What do you think of the Tian Ding Palace? If you do not hold the key in your hands, even if you know the location and arrive earlier, what good would it do? When I first obtained this key, I had to make considerable sacrifices. To leave you and the Wan Hua Sect with a tenth share of treasures is already quite generous," Xiao Ming said, unmoved. "Hmph. The keys to enter the Tian Ding Immortal Palace are not limited to just one. The one you hold is merely one among many, and it is not even certain whether it is the original artifact." When the Tian Ding Immortal Palace first emerged, there were quite a few forged items. Although these forged keys might not allow visitors to enter the palace safely, they were more than sufficient to convey the timing and approximate location of the palace's opening. With a willingness to take some risk of demise, one could certainly attempt to make it through. "Lady Wanhua, looking at Xiao Ming, said coldly. "Forged keys? I am well aware of these. But I can assure you both that the keys I hold are genuine originals—otherwise, how could I have proposed such conditions?" Xiao Ming smiled confidently. "Your confidence is truly commendable, and it's no waste of our personal journey. Yet, when so many forged keys were circulated, it's likely that when the palace opens, not only the lower-tier beings who are merely hoping for a chance—such as the ones who have reached Consolidated and Transcendent stages—but even among our peers of the same level, there will surely be a considerable number." After all, this continent has endured the greatest celestial calamities over a million years, and yet the residual abode of Tian Ding, who ultimately achieved transcendence, remains here—surely harboring countless treasures and medicinal herbs of immense value to us. Simply from the preserved techniques and secret teachings left behind, we can learn the very methods Tian Ding employed to survive each of those great trials. Merely this fact alone would surely stir the hearts of countless ancient immortals. Should Xiao Ming not have our assistance, even if he managed to enter the celestial palace of Tian Ding, could he be certain of securing precious treasures and emerging safely? Furthermore, what if, as you suggested, he were unwilling to cooperate with us upon our return, and instead sought alliances with others who possess the keys—wouldn't that effectively introduce two additional competitors? With these words, Qingping said, his eyes narrowing. "Qingping, are you threatening me?" Xiao Ming's voice suddenly grew cold. "This is no threat at all. I am merely stating the facts plainly." We have personally come here to demonstrate our sincere intent of genuine cooperation with you. Moreover, without our partnership, Brother Xiao would feel at ease traveling with others! As for Mr. Han from Fengyuan Continent—he indeed possesses astonishing abilities. Yet, why did Brother Xiao not invite him to join us in entering Tianding Palace earlier? Could it be that Mr. Han's strength is so formidable that even Brother Xiao feels deeply intimidated by him?" Qingping Dao-ren spoke with composed confidence, his expression fully restored to calmness. "Indeed, I have some reservations about that man and feel I lack the confidence to fully contain him, which is why I did not mention the matter of Tianding Palace. Yet, to ask Brother Xiao to make such a concession solely on this point—this is simply impossible," Xiao Ming replied without hesitation. At this, Qingping Dao-ren's face truly grew serious. "Master Qingping, Brother Xiao is rather inflexible. Let him hear this matter. With these conditions, I doubt he will be able to resist," the elderly woman suddenly said coldly from the side. "What matter is it?" Xiao Ming was clearly taken aback. "Do you know the lineage of Qingping's Daoist tradition?" asked the Lady of a Hundred Flowers, her expression hinting at a touch of mystery. "Qingping, you mean?" Xiao Ming showed a moment of surprise, his gaze shifting immediately to the young Daoist. "I must admit, I'm quite humble—my true lineage is actually..." Qingping sighed softly, then moved his lips slightly, yet no words emerged, only a transmission of sound. Xiao Ming had initially been unconcerned, but after a brief moment, his eyes suddenly brightened with growing astonishment and delight. The blood spirit within the puppet of Tian Ding Palace suddenly spoke to itself, and then a sudden flash of clarity illuminated its mind, instantly unlocking a wealth of memories previously sealed away.