Even though Han Li was unable to hear the contents of the voice transmission conversation between Elder Yang and Yu Kuohai, it wasn't difficult to guess what they were talking about.

However, he displayed no reaction to this, instead looking around with a contemplative look on his face.

After a brief conversation, Elder Yang and Yu Kuohai turned their attention back to Han Li again.

"Would you be able to point out a way for me to leave this place, fellow daoists? I still have some urgent matters that I have to attend to," Han Li said.

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave, Fellow Daoist Shi? Truth be told, you've stumbled upon a massive stroke of luck! This place is a lost immortal abode with countless treasures and opportunities inside. As long as you come with us, you'll be sure to reap some significant rewards," Yu Kuohai said with a benevolent smile.

"What? A lost immortal abode? I knew something looked a little different about this place!" Han Li immediately exclaimed as he feigned an ecstatic expression.

"That's right, this is the former immortal manor of a Great Encompassment cultivator by the name of Immortal Lord Tai Sui. You must've been fated to stumble into this place, so don't squander this opportunity that fate has bestowed upon you!" Yu Kuohai urged.

"Indeed. We are all cultivators from righteous sects, and the fact that we've met here means that our fates were destined to intertwine, so why not come explore this immortal manor with us together?" Valley Master Fu offered with a smile.

Han Li's heart was full of disdain upon hearing this. If some clueless itinerant cultivator were in his place, perhaps they really would be led astray by this tantalizing offer.

All of the other cultivators from the three sects were looking much more friendly and relaxed at this point, but they still formed a loose circle around Han Li, so it was clear that they weren't going to let him slip away.

Han Li put on a conflicted expression, acting as if he were feeling swayed by the offer.

From Yu Kuohai's perspective, all Han Li needed was a little bit more of a push, and he gave Elder Yang a subtle look, upon which the latter immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Shi, you don't know where to go anyway, so as opposed to stumbling around aimlessly in this secret area, it would be much safer for you to travel with us."

Before Han Li had a chance to reply, a hostile look suddenly appeared on Valley Master Gu's face as he asked, "Why are you so hesitant, Fellow Daoist Shi? Could it be that you don't think very highly of the Spirit Heaven Sect, Blazing Light City, and our Azure Lock Valley."

"Of course not! I have nothing but respect for you all, and I'm flattered that you think highly enough of me to invite me along. I am willing to come with you, and I don't wish for any compensation, all that I wish for is to be useful to you all," Han Li hurriedly replied as he cupped his fist in a salute.

"You know what? He's not so bad. If he really does prove himself to be useful, then we should spare him," Valley Master Gu said to Yu Kuohai and Elder Yang through voice transmission.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Shi. As long as you do your best to help us, you'll certainly be rewarded for your efforts," Yu Kuohai said with a benevolent smile.

Han Li hurriedly nodded in response with a grateful and awestruck look on his face.

After a brief conversation, everyone continued to make their way deeper into the secret area.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, you came from a different direction from the one that we came from, did you encounter anything useful along the way?" Elder Yang suddenly asked.

"I didn't even know that I was in a lost immortal manor, so I didn't have the presence of mind to search for any treasures. Not long after entering this place, I encountered that metal beast, and I was in such a panic to get away from it that I don't even recall what route I took to flee here," Han Li replied with an embarrassed expression.

"Don't worry about it. Now that you're with us, something like that won't happen again," Yu Kuohai assured.

"Thank you, everyone," Han Li said as he cupped his fist in a grateful salute.

Yu Kuohai's trio exchange a glance with one another, and the three of them were all feeling a hint of derision toward Han Li, thinking to themselves that they were going to use him as cannon fodder should the need arise.

The group continued onward down the forest path, and Han Li remained silent as he listened to their conversations, only to discover that the majority of the conversations consisted of verbally denouncing whoever had claimed the treasures in this area before them.

Similarly, they were also expressing disdain and dissatisfaction toward the Heavenly Water Sect and the Almighty Sword Sect.

"Are there cultivators from the Heavenly Water Sect and the Almighty Sword Sect in this secret area as well, Fellow Daoist Yu?" Han Li asked.

Yu Kuohai was about to ignore him, but upon seeing the fearful look on his face, he was worried that Han Li would be too scared to continue onward, so he could only offer some reassurance.

"Do not fear, Fellow Daoist Shi. This secret area is massive. Those two sects may be quite powerful in the outside world, but they haven't sent many people into this place this time, and there's no way they'll be able to claim all of the opportunities in here."

"That's right! If they dare to try any more funny business, then we'll just have to join forces with the Yellow Wind Sect, the Ink Fragrance Pavilion, and the others. Even they will have to be wary of our collective power!" Valley Master Fu chimed in.

Han Li hurriedly nodded in response, looking much more reassured.

A mocking sneer appeared on Valley Master Gu's face upon seeing this, but he made sure to hide it from Han Li.

Unbeknownst to him, Han Li didn't regard the cultivators of the Heavenly Water Sect and the Almighty Sword Sect as a threat at all. Instead, what he wanted to know was whether Qi Mozi and cultivators from the Immortal Palace were in this secret area.

With that in mind, he asked, "May I ask if there are any other powers that we should be particularly wary of aside from the Heavenly Water Sect and the Almighty Sword Sect?"

"Why are you asking so many questions, Fellow Daoist Shi?"

Valley Master Fu was beginning to lose his patience.

"Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist Fu. It's just that I don't want to inadvertently make any powerful enemies and bring trouble to everyone," Han Li replied in a sheepish manner.

"That's actually a good thing to consider. Having said that, aside from the cultivators of the Heavenly Water Sect and the Almighty Sword Sect, there isn't really anyone else in here that we have to be particularly wary of," Elder Yang replied.

This response yielded no useful information, and Han Li heaved an internal sigh upon hearing this.

However, it was clear that if Qi Mozi and cultivators from the Immortal Palace were present in the secret area, at the very least, then they had to have disguised themselves. Otherwise, the presence of a Great Encompassment cultivator in this secret area would've been sure to create quite a stir.

At the moment, all he could do was follow this group and see where it took him.

With that in mind, he didn't ask any further questions, and after walking through the forest for several hours, the group arrived at a majestic red palace.

However, Yu Kuokai and the others weren't particularly elated to see this. Instead, they were all trying to temper their expectations in case this place had also been looted in advance.

Upon arriving in front of the hall, a relieved look appeared on Yu Kuohai's face as he declared, "It looks like the restrictions are still intact."

"You're quite skilled at breaking restrictions, are you not, Fellow Daoist Shi? Why don't you come and take a look at this one here?" Elder Yang proposed with a smile.

"Alright, I'll give it a try."

Han Li knew that Elder Yang was trying to test him, and he rolled up his sleeves, looking as if he were eager to meet the challenge.

Upon arriving at the palace gates, he discovered that there was a round metal slab embedded into its surface. The metal slab carried a design of a pair of beasts with their heads and tails interconnected to one another, as well eight lightning runes.

Han Li was immediately able to identify the eight runes as ones that represented the legendary Eight Thunder Gods, while the two beasts at the center were the Bipolar Lightning Beasts.

However, he didn't immediately say anything. Instead, he began scratching his own head while feigning a puzzled expression.

"Can you break this restriction or not, Fellow Daoist Shi? If you can't, then speak up, and I'll break it by force," Yu Kuohai called out in a slightly disgruntled manner.

"I can recognize the Bipolar Lightning Beasts on this metal slab, but I don't recognize all of the surrounding runes. All I can tell is that this is a lightning restriction, and that if it's broken by force, then the restriction will be activated, and the entire palace will be destroyed by lightning," Han Li replied with a hesitant expression.

"Really?" Yu Kuohai asked with a skeptical expression.

"If you don't believe me, then you can give it a try, Fellow Daoist Yu," Han Li replied with a wry smile.

A contemplative look appeared on Yu Kuohai's face upon hearing this, following which he smiled as he said, "Of course I believe you, Fellow Daoist Shi. Do you have any way to break this restriction?"

"I can only give it a try. Would any of you like to do the honors?" Han Li asked.

Everyone looked back and forth at one another, following which all of them turned collectively to Han Li.

"You're the one breaking the restriction, so it would naturally be best for you to test out your own methods yourself," Elder Yang said with a smile, and everyone else nodded in agreement.

A wry smile appeared on Han Li's face as he said, "In that case, please step back a little, everyone. I don't know how powerful this restriction is going to be."

Everyone did as they were told, retreating to over a thousand feet away.

Han Li turned to face the palace with his back to everyone, and a faint smile appeared on his face as he began working on the restriction.

Breaking this restriction wasn't a difficult task for Han Li at all, and it only took him less than a minute to open it by using the Divine Devilbane Lightning in his body.

However, he didn't say anything. Instead, he released his Essence Fire Raven discreetly into the palace.

Some time later, a burst of silver lightning suddenly exploded in front of Han Li, sending him flying back through the air.

Everyone was quite alarmed to see this, and no one noticed a burst of silver flames flying out of the lightning before vanishing up Han Li's sleeve.

In order to sell the act, Han Li flew back over a thousand feet before tumbling heavily to the ground with his clothes in tatters.

Yu Kuohai and the others only took a glance at him before noticing that the palace gates had been opened, and all of them immediately rushed inside, but it didn't take long before a chorus of angry voices rang out from inside.