Wan Tianming shot him a look full of disdain.
He never expected Extreme Yin to be so shameless—his soul blood had just been taken, and he was already wagging his tail for them.
Truly born to be someone else's dog.
Before Wan Tianming could finish his internal scorn, Qingyi Jushi stepped forward with a flattering smile.
"Fellow Daoist Wu speaks the truth. We are all willing to guard this place and will absolutely not touch any of the treasures inside the Void Heaven Palace. Please rest assured, seniors."
Mu Tengzi and Tian Wuzi exchanged glances, then quickly echoed the same sentiments.
"Hm."
Wang Lin nodded faintly and shifted his gaze to Wan Tianming, who had yet to speak.
Wan Tianming's heart leapt into his throat. Cold sweat broke out as he hurriedly bowed.
"Seniors, please be assured. I will also guard this place properly."
"Then I'll leave this to you," Wang Lin said calmly.
Withdrawing his gaze, he turned to Zhu Chen and Han Li.
Let's not waste time. We move now."
"Alright—see you inside!"
Zhu Chen didn't stand on ceremony. Spreading his wings, he was the first to rush into the Void Heaven Palace.
He was currently lacking resources to condense his inner world.
He had little interest in the magical treasures left behind by ancient cultivators, but the Yin Spirit Ash from the Spirit Abyss and the fire-attribute spiritual energy of the Lava Path were exactly what he needed.
Since he was already here, how could he leave empty-handed?
"Brother Zhu, wait for us!"
Xiao Yan and Lin Dong immediately followed.
Wang Lin went in after them.
Han Li was about to step forward as well, but suddenly paused, as if recalling something.
He turned around and looked toward the Core Formation cultivators still gathered in the arena.
His sharp gaze swept across them one by one, finally settling on a handsome, refined man in green robes.
This person was none other than Xuan Gu Shangren, who had been hiding among the crowd, waiting for an opportunity.
—Not good. This brat really is the one who broke into my cave back then.
Xuan Gu's heart sank.
He quietly retreated behind another Core Formation cultivator, his hands forming seals, ready to flee at any moment.
"Fellow Daoist Xuan Gu,"
An unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded in his mind.
"May I trouble you for the pill formula of the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng?"
.....He knows me?!
Xuan Gu's expression changed slightly.
Keeping his face calm, he glanced at the Extreme Yin Ancestor. Seeing no reaction, he transmitted his voice back.
"Fellow Daoist, you must be mistaken. I'm merely a rogue cultivator of the Chaotic Star Sea. I know nothing of Xuan Gu or Bai Gu…"
Han Li smiled faintly.
Fellow Daoist, why bother hiding it? I won't inform Ancestor Ji Yin. I only seek the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng Pill Formula. I hope you'll accommodate me."
Xuan Gu fell silent for a moment.
Then he sighed inwardly.
"It seems you already know my identity. In that case, I won't hide it anymore. This is the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng Pill Formula you want."
Xuan Gu was no fool.
Seeing that Han Li knew who he was yet only communicated via voice transmission, he understood immediately—this was a deal.
Without hesitation, he tossed over the pill formula.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Xuan Gu."
Han Li caught the jade slip, smiled, and clasped his fists.
This time, however, he spoke aloud.
"Xuan Gu?"
The moment the name was spoken, the Extreme Yin Ancestor's eyes lit up as if struck by lightning.
"Damn brat—you dared to deceive me!"
Xuan Gu didn't say a word.
In an instant, he detonated his physical body, transforming into a streak of ghostly light and fleeing toward the exit of the Void Heaven Palace in his Xuan Soul form.
But just as he reached the entrance....
Twelve Golden Thunder Bamboo Swords descended from the sky, crackling with dense Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder, sealing off the exit completely.
The Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder was the bane of ghost cultivators.
With his escape route cut off, Xuan Gu was instantly plunged into despair.
"Many thanks, little friend Han," the Extreme Yin Ancestor said coldly. "Master… I never expected you to still be alive—and to have turned to the Ghost Path."
Raising his hand, he released several streams of Heavenly Capital Corpse Fire, trapping Xuan Gu within them.
Xuan Gu struggled desperately, but without his physical body and with only mid–Core Formation cultivation, he was no match for the Extreme Yin Ancestor.
Before long, he was completely refined by the corpse flames.
"Fellow Daoist Ji Yin," Han Li said calmly, "this man is extremely cunning. You should examine him carefully.....lest he find a way to revive again."
Han Li didn't stop him.
After retrieving his twelve Golden Thunder Bamboo Swords, he turned and flew into the Void Heaven Palace.
Xuan Gu had once possessed Jin Qing and even killed some of his Gold-Eating Insects.
Han Li had never intended to let him go.
Today, he had laid this scheme to end their karmic entanglement once and for all.