When the silver sigil culture dissolved completely, leaving only scattered glimmers, the surrounding scenery and the dense ranks of puppets vanished entirely. The void ahead twisted and blurred, then gave way to a continuous expanse of buildings. "It's broken—excellent! Xiao Xiong truly has exceptional skill," said Wan Hua Lady, beaming with delight. "The seal here is quite intricate; perhaps no one has ever come this way. If we hadn't been rushing, we'd have had to thoroughly search and collect everything," said Xiao Ming, sighing. "Ah, don't worry about that, Xiao Xiong. These outer branch palaces may hold some treasures, but for us, they're not essential. Once we reach the central area and control the central hub of the seal, these palaces' treasures will be at our disposal," said Qingping Daoist, smiling. "I understand that, but seeing such treasures so close yet unable to reach them—it still feels a bit disappointing," replied Xiao Ming, offering a gentle smile. Then the three of them followed a narrow path along the buildings, their lights converging, and sped directly toward the opposite light screen. ...In a region resembling a marsh, a colossal centipede shimmering with blue electric glimmers, a giant scorpion surging with swirling black mist, and a massive serpent whose head was unusually flat, surged through the midst of a vast sea of beasts. Sitting atop the heads of each of the three colossal creatures were three elderly figures, all with unattractive faces and emaciated frames. The beast sea not only contained tigers, wolves, jackals, and leopards, but also featured various bizarre, mutated predators, each possessing combat prowess equal to or exceeding that of mid-to-lower level cultivators, relentlessly charging and biting at the three giant creatures. Yet the three elders remained motionless, seated upon the creatures, utterly indifferent to the surrounding chaos. A sound of rushing through the air erupted, and a cluster of bloodlight shot forth, spiraling before transforming into a faint, humanoid silhouette of blood. The features were blurred, yet the eyes shimmered with a deep jade glow, radiating an indescribable aura of malevolence and eerie energy. "Upon hearing this, the Blood Shadow burst into thunderous laughter, his form blurring as five long streaks of crimson light surged forth, directly heading toward the Blood-Consolidated Five. 'Though the Blood Shadow Technique is formidable, it is not without its countermeasures,' the middle-aged youth sneered, a faint white glow flashing across his body as he summoned his treasure, which instantly expanded into a swirling cascade of radiant light and advanced. The other four young ones, meanwhile, blurred into existence, vanishing simultaneously into the void. Instantly, the void erupted in a roaring surge of crimson light, and a fierce battle of nearly equal strength began to unfold. ...Outside the Great Gate, nearly a thousand high-level beings had gathered—mostly Consolidated and Transcendent Stage practitioners—over thirty of them jointly releasing their treasures, channeling countless bolts of lightning and fire, launching a relentless assault on the gate. Yet the gate itself remained motionless, its golden and silver glyphs merely flickering. The others stood at a distance, observing with cold indifference, as though they had no intention of disrupting their efforts. 'A bunch of useless ones,' the youth exclaimed, 'thinking they can enter the Celestial Ding Palace with such meager abilities? All At that very moment, a tremendous roar erupted from the sky, like a thunderclap from a clear blue heaven, shaking the entire gathering so violently that many listeners heard a ringing in their ears. Some practitioners with slightly lower levels of cultivation even felt their bodies go loose, falling directly from the sky. "Boom!" A massive crimson lightning sphere, about the size of an acre, tore through the void and surged downward, striking directly upon the great gate. Instantly, thick crimson lightning arcs, each as wide as a serving bowl, spiraled around the gate, radiating out a powerful wave of heat in all directions. Dozens of nearby cultivators immediately turned pale and retreated backward to avoid the surge. Several who couldn't escape were engulfed by the heat wave, shrieking in agony before their cries abruptly cut off, as if they had perished right there. Though the gate was struck, it slowly opened a narrow crevice. The crimson lightning arcs swiftly contracted and reformed, then shot back into the gate, vanishing in a flash behind it. After a resounding boom, the great gate slowly closed once more. "Indeed, that person was definitely the Elder of the Crimson Thunder!" Someone exclaimed in surprise. The higher-level cultivators observing the scene exchanged glances, puzzled. Compared to the previous time when the Tian Ding Palace was opened, when mostly Consolidation Stage cultivators had entered, this time there were clearly far more Masters at the Multiplication Stage. It seemed the dispersal of the Palace's key had finally drawn these ancient beings to gather here. ...Three days later, within the Tian Ding Palace, Han Li stood along a long corridor, yet two colossal, golden and silvery automata stood before him, blocking his path. Each automaton stood seven to eight zhang tall, each holding a massive hammer of the same hue, yet both were heavily scarred, as though they had fought fiercely against human beings many years ago. Han Li merely glanced at the two figures with a calm expression, then turned his gaze toward the gently rose-colored wooden door behind them. With a simple step, he moved forward and approached steadily. "Boom!" "Boom!" As Han Li stepped close, the gold and silver puppets immediately moved their arms, and four massive hammers crashed down with a resonant hum. A flash of emerald light surged, and countless strands of hair from Han Li's body spiraled out, instantly turning the two puppets and their four hammers into fragments that collapsed in a heap. After a swift step back, Han Li gently shook his sleeve against the crimson wooden door, releasing an invisible surge of potential energy that pushed it open. Inside the hall, a series of long, rectangular stone platforms stood in orderly rows, each bearing various enchanted items—some glowing brilliantly, others dim and faded—numbering well over a thousand. Han Li smiled slightly and strode in. Not far from the two of them, Xiao Ming sat in meditation with his eyes closed, one hand supporting the array disk while the other trembled slightly, as though calculating or casting a spell. "Never expected that even at the second location, the illusion would be so powerful. We've been trapped here for nearly two full days, haven't we?" Wan Hua Lady suddenly said to Qingping Daoist. "Indeed, I hadn't anticipated such a powerful illusion in this area—something even Brother Xiao has been unable to break within a short time. It's not surprising, though. While this may be only the second division for us, due to our chosen route, it's actually deep within the entire Tian Ding Palace. Once we overcome this region, we should be close to the central area." Qingping Daoist said, frowning slightly. "Let's hope so," Wan Hua Lady replied, still uncertain in expression. At that moment, Xiao Ming remained seated in meditation, motionless, as if completely unaware of what was happening around him. Seven days later, at the entrance of a hall within a certain region of Tianding Palace, the young woman with the blood spirit stepped out slowly, her face filled with thoughtful expression, as though she had gained little from her stay inside. At that moment, however, a surge of crimson lightning suddenly shot toward her, flickering and instantly transforming into a tall elder dressed in a crimson robe, with golden lightning patterns etched upon his face. The blood spirit was startled and, without hesitation, shook her sleeve, sending two beams of jade-green light soaring forth. After a gentle spiral, they each transformed into armored attendants stationed before her. One wore a green battle armor and held a giant bow, towering over a person's height. The other wore black armor, his hands gripping a slender blue spear. "Hmm, a combined-grade automaton—rare indeed. Young lady, state your name. Who did you come with?" The elder scanned the two attendants with a look of mild surprise, then immediately asked sharply. "The junior's blood essence indeed came with a Master Han. Could you tell me the Master's name?" The blood essence immediately recognized the other's stage of Great Perfection, his heart suddenly filled with awe, and he nearly stammered. "Master Han—though I've never heard of a Master Han at this level. Could it be a recent ascension? Well, regardless of who he is, hand over everything you've gathered inside, including your key. Don't try to deceive me with empty words—should I employ the Soul-Searching Technique, I'll find out right away." The tall elder's face darkened, and he spoke directly and firmly to the blood essence. "I didn't find anything inside, and the key was actually on the Master who brought me in. Such a gesture seems rather excessive." Upon hearing that the elder was determined to take a firm stand, the blood essence was naturally startled and indignant, managing to force a smile. "If you won't give it, then I shall have to come personally and retrieve it myself." The tall elder nodded, then took a step forward with a solemn, eerie smile.