"Ice Demon, just because you don't like someone doesn't mean you should try to provoke me into fighting Ye She!" the big man glared, speaking irritably.
"Hehe! How could I? Don't you want to see the Sect Master? Now is the perfect time—he just finished the blood sacrifice and hasn't started his cultivation yet!" The white shadow was caught out but deflected without care.
The bald big man knew the other wasn't being truthful, but could only snort and stride into the darkness.
After turning several corners and passing through six or seven courtyards, the big man reached an extremely secluded massive rockery, his face taking on an expression of reverence.
"Subordinate Tie Luo requests an audience with the Sect Master!" the big man bowed deeply and called out.
"Tie Luo! Why are you injured?"
A middle-aged man's magnetic voice drifted from the base of the rockery. The Black Fiend Sect Master's secluded cultivation chamber was actually beneath the rockery—something Han Li and the others would never have guessed.
"Thank you for your concern, Sect Master. I merely used the demon transformation technique and suffered some qi depletion!" The bald big man replied carefully upon hearing this.
After the big man spoke, the Sect Master didn't respond immediately. It was a long moment before he spoke again, his voice faint and distant.
"Judging by this, the mission failed! Otherwise, my nominal disciple should have returned with you to report."
"Sect Master, please forgive me! I failed in my protection duties. The Young Master and Protector Wang have both fallen into enemy hands. I am willing to accept whatever punishment you see fit!" The big man gritted his teeth, shame evident on his face.
"Punishment? Why would I punish you? Since you had to resort to the demon transformation technique, it proves the enemy this time was truly formidable—it wasn't due to lack of effort on your part. It was just one disciple and one protector, nothing to worry about. If you had been captured, that would have truly given me a headache!"
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Sect Master! I will work with all my heart and effort to make up for this failure!"
The Black Fiend Sect Master was very skilled at winning people's loyalty. Just a few words had the bald big man thoroughly moved, and he immediately pledged his undying loyalty.
"Mm, very good! Now tell me about the encounter. I want to know which sect's cultivator could be so formidable!" The Sect Master was clearly satisfied with the man's words but still asked with interest about Han Li.
"Obeying your command!" the big man quickly responded.
"The Foundation Establishment cultivator we were tasked to capture had extremely peculiar techniques. He could actually control mechanism beasts like puppets, and they were quite powerful. At the time..." The bald big man slowly recounted the details of his encounter with Han Li, including how he had been forced to resort to demon transformation when things looked dire.
After the big man finished his account, silence fell beneath the rockery. The Black Fiend Sect Master seemed to be contemplating something.
After a while, his cold, emotionless voice came again.
"Based on your description, the puppets this cultivator controlled should be the Thousand Bamboo Sect's puppet techniques. He may well be a cultivator from that sect. I recall hearing recently that a group from the Thousand Bamboo Sect had appeared within the borders of Yuanwu Country—he may have been one of them. However, your instinct to flee immediately after demon transformation was quite wise. Otherwise, you wouldn't be standing here talking to me." The Sect Master said calmly.
"No way! Even if the other party used talisman treasures at the time, I don't believe my demon transformation body couldn't withstand them. If only I could control the demon body freely after transformation—I would have loved to test my strength against him! Even if I couldn't win, I could surely have retreated safely!" The big man said unconvinced.
"Tie Luo, I know you once withstood a talisman treasure unharmed, but the power of talisman treasures varies enormously. Even talisman treasures refined from the same magical artifact can have vastly different powers. Just from the unusual phenomena, I can determine that your current fiend demon incarnation still couldn't withstand a single strike from him. If it were Qing Wen's wood demon incarnation, there might be some hope." The Sect Master seemed to smile gently as he explained.
"Thank you for your guidance, Sect Master!" The big man still harbored some disbelief in his heart but respectfully agreed and expressed his gratitude.
"Sect Master, how should we deal with these cultivators? Since they're not disciples of the Seven Sects either, should we have all four Blood Attendants mobilize to capture this person alive and deliver him to the Sect Master for cultivation?" The bald big man asked eagerly, clearly harboring thoughts of taking revenge on Han Li.
"No need! Saying he's from the Thousand Bamboo Sect is only speculation—we can't be entirely certain. He may even have allies. And I'm in a critical stage of my secluded cultivation, so I don't want to attract powerful enemies. For now, restrain the sect members in the capital and have everyone remain in the imperial palace. All matters can wait until my technique is complete! Even without Foundation Establishment cultivators for the blood sacrifice, it will only delay things by a few months. By then, apart from Golden Core cultivators, no Foundation Establishment cultivator will be worth my notice." When the Sect Master said this, his originally bland tone carried a hint of excitement.
The Black Fiend Sect Master's thoughts aligned perfectly with what Han Li had anticipated.
"Congratulations to the Sect Master on his technique nearing completion! I will immediately arrange for sect members to increase their guard within the imperial palace and ensure no one disturbs you in the slightest," the big man said knowingly.
"Good, go make the arrangements!"
After saying this, the Sect Master seemed somewhat weary, and no further sounds came. The bald big man respectfully retreated several steps before turning and leaving.
This place once again became an unremarkable corner of the cold palace...
Time passed quickly. Over half a month had passed since Han Li sent out the intelligence he had obtained.
During this period, both the Black Fiend Sect and Han Li had simultaneously retreated into hiding.
The Black Fiend Sect made no grand efforts to search for Han Li's hiding place, and Han Li didn't dare breach the imperial palace's inner sanctum. Both sides displayed calm restraint, as if nothing had happened between them.
Meanwhile, the demonic cultivators who should have appeared long ago remained conspicuously silent, providing no related news whatsoever. This allowed Han Li to breathe a significant sigh of relief.
The worst-case scenario he feared—the Black Fiend Sect and demonic cultivators colluding and appearing together to cause trouble—had not materialized. Han Li couldn't help but feel secretly relieved.
According to Han Li's calculations, even if Li Huayuan sent reinforcements, it would take over ten days at the fastest. So he wasn't anxious, spending each day diligently cultivating and no longer venturing out lightly. At Han Li's prompting, Qin Yan had recently declined all invitations to go out, staying focused within the residence and enjoying some family happiness.
But this morning, while Han Li was sitting in meditation on his bed cultivating qi, his tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open, revealing a glint of cold light.
"Which fellow Daoist has come to visit? Stop lurking in the shadows—show yourself!"
After speaking coldly, Han Li slapped the storage pouch at his waist. The White Phosphorus Shield instantly flew out and hovered in the air, blocking before him. At the same time, he gripped a Fire Cloud Talisman in his hand, his entire posture as if facing a formidable enemy.
The reason for Han Li's solemn treatment was that he had sensed with alarm that three or four Foundation Establishment cultivators had suddenly arrived outside, lingering near the door. Though they all used techniques to conceal their aura, Han Li, who cultivated the Nameless Technique, could still faintly sense their existence.
In his shock, Han Li thought to himself: Could it be the Black Fiend Sect's four great Blood Attendants arriving simultaneously?
This thought having arisen, Han Li immediately began planning his escape while cursing inwardly. As for the Four Friends of Mengshan and the people of the Qin residence, he couldn't worry about them—he could only hope they would fend for themselves.
While Han Li's mind was racing with these thoughts, the outside did not erupt into the magical artifact and technique barrage he had imagined. Instead, a clear, laughing voice came through.
"Haha! See? I told you lot you couldn't hide from Junior Brother's notice! Junior Brother has already reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Your little tricks shouldn't be shown off in front of Brother Han."
Han Li found this voice extremely familiar. His heart stirred, and he called out at length:
"Could it be Senior Brother Song? Junior Brother pays his respects!"
Han Li's words were filled with pleasant surprise!
"Junior Brother, you guessed right on the first try!" The owner of the voice finished speaking and boldly pushed open the door to enter Han Li's room—it was indeed the Fourth Senior Brother, Song Meng.
Behind him stood another two men and one woman. While the handsome young man wore a stern expression, the other man and woman both looked at Han Li with smiles.
The refined-looking man said with a smile:
"Eighth Junior Brother, I've long heard your name from Master. It's a pity that Seventh Junior Sister and I have never had the chance to meet you! Now we finally see the real person. But to reach mid-stage Foundation Establishment so quickly—tsk, tsk! There's nothing to say."
The beautiful woman standing beside him giggled softly at his words, her bright eyes studying Han Li with curiosity.
Hearing these words and looking at the appearances of the man and woman, Han Li immediately understood who they were. He hastily got up from the bed and said respectfully:
"You must be Third Senior Brother and Seventh Senior Sister! Junior Brother has long heard of your reputations as well—we've simply missed each other until now! As for cultivation, didn't Senior Brother reach mid-stage Foundation Establishment long ago? What is this small bit of mine?"
Han Li's words were filled with sincerity, leaving a favorable impression on his Third Senior Brother.