“Brother, now that the Hall of Sacrifices is under your jurisdiction, do you know when the High Priest will come out of seclusion?” Shi Chuan Kong snorted.

“Thirteenth Brother, you’re wronging me. Although the Hall of Sacrifices is currently under my jurisdiction, the High Priest holds a position of great respect, and his actions are not controlled by me. I have always respected him greatly, and I truly do not know when he will emerge from seclusion. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Priest Qingyang.” Shi Zhanfeng spread his hands, speaking helplessly.

As his voice fell, an old man in a priest’s robe stood up. This person had a thin face, and his hair and beard were a deep blue color, faintly flickering with wisps of blue light, perhaps due to cultivating some kind of technique.

“Reporting to the Thirteenth Prince, the High Priest is indeed in seclusion; otherwise, I would not be attending the Holy Emperor’s emergence celebration today. The High Priest's actions are never discussed with us. We truly do not know when he will come out of seclusion.” Priest Qingyang first bowed to the Demon Lord, then turned to Shi Chuan Kong and spoke.

Shi Chuan Kong frowned upon hearing these words.

Although he still had doubts in his heart, he couldn’t press the issue any further, given how far things had gone.

“Since the High Priest is in seclusion, we’ll wait until he emerges before treating Fellow Daoist Li’s friend. A hundred years is but a blink of an eye for us,” the Demon Lord said upon hearing this.

“It’s not that I’m urging you, but my friend's injuries are currently suppressed by my Violet Sun Warm Jade, but I don’t have much Violet Sun Warm Jade left. It can only support him for another twenty or thirty years at most; I really can’t wait a hundred years,” Han Li sighed softly, cupping his fist toward the Demon Lord.

Shi Po Kong had promised to find him Middle-Grade Violet Sun Warm Jade, but over the years, he had only found him a small piece.

“Violet Sun Warm Jade! I happen to have some, and they’re all Middle-Grade. I’ll give them to Fellow Daoist Li as thanks for his contributions to the Thirteenth Brother and my Holy Region. This Violet Sun Warm Jade should be enough to support your friend for another hundred years,” Shi Zhanfeng said with a smile.

As he spoke, he took out a storage ring and handed it over.

Han Li raised an eyebrow, exchanged a glance with Shi Chuan Kong, accepted the storage ring, and sent his spiritual sense into it. His eyes lit up slightly.

There were seven or eight pieces of Middle-Grade Violet Sun Warm Jade in the storage ring, all of excellent quality.

Shi Po Kong, who was standing to the side, had a hint of gloom flash in his refined eyes at this sight.

“Thank you, Your Highness. With this Violet Sun Warm Jade, I can indeed support him for a hundred years, but after a hundred years, I will still need to trouble the High Priest,” Han Li retracted his spiritual sense, looked at Shi Zhanfeng, and said.

“Fellow Daoist Li, rest assured,” Shi Zhanfeng said with a smile.

Han Li nodded and said nothing more.

Seeing this, the Demon Lord, whose face was usually as still as an ancient well, revealed a trace of a smile and was about to tell them to leave.

“Father, please wait a moment,” Shi Po Kong said, stepping forward.

“If you have something to say, speak freely,” the Demon Lord said, glancing at Shi Po Kong.

“Father, Thirteenth Brother just mentioned the ambush he suffered on his way back to Nightfall Sun City. He also told me some things. Those people were powerful. They…” Shi Po Kong said.

“I have already heard about this matter and am sending people to investigate,” the Demon Lord suddenly raised his hand and interrupted Shi Po Kong, his face slightly cold.

Shi Po Kong paused, his clear eyes flickering.

Shi Chuan Kong's face showed unwillingness, and he was about to say something.

“Father’s powers are vast, and the results of your investigation will naturally be clearer than ours,” Shi Po Kong grabbed Shi Chuan Kong and said.

“You don’t need to worry about this matter. Just focus on your own affairs,” the Demon Lord said, his expression softening.

“Your son obeys,” Shi Po Kong replied.

“...Yes,” Shi Chuan Kong’s jaw tightened, but he lowered his head and said slowly.

Han Li, seeing the scene before him, was surprised but did not say anything, quietly standing to the side.

“Alright, you may all withdraw,” the Demon Lord said, waving his hand indifferently.

The group bowed and withdrew.

The celebration continued, with others seemingly reporting their affairs and offering gifts in order of status.

The emergence celebration continued until the afternoon when all the affairs were finally handled.

The people in the hall stood up to take their leave, and soon the entire hall was left with only the Demon Lord and the shadow.

“Shadow, do you think this Li Feiyu is somewhat similar to that person?” The Demon Lord stared silently at the void before him, seemingly considering something. After a moment, he suddenly spoke.

The shadow stood quietly to the side, not replying.

The Demon Lord did not seem to want to hear the shadow’s answer. After standing for a moment, he chuckled lightly, his figure swayed slightly, and he disappeared into thin air.

The shadow flickered and disappeared with him.

…

“Congratulations, Thirteenth Brother! You just returned to Nightfall Sun City and immediately gained the Holy Emperor’s favor, being granted the title of Marquis. Father even bestowed the Heavenly Rainbow Region upon you. Brother is truly happy for you,” outside the main hall, Shi Zhanfeng stopped Shi Chuan Kong and his entourage, smiling.

Others saw Shi Zhanfeng and his group talking and immediately understood and quickly took their leave, running away as if they were afraid of hearing something they shouldn’t.

But Shi Jingxiu and Shi Mingzhen did not leave but instead came closer.

“Brother, you praise me too much. As for Father’s favor, how can I compare to you? The pills, armor, and weapons that Father bestowed upon you are all top-grade, which truly makes me envious,” Shi Chuan Kong said with a smile.

“If Father agreed, I would be willing to exchange my rewards for Thirteenth Brother’s,” Shi Zhanfeng said with a hearty laugh.

Shi Chuan Kong snorted inwardly but said nothing more.

“Fellow Daoist Li, your cultivation is profound, and I admire you greatly. If you have time in the future, you might as well visit my mansion,” Shi Zhanfeng turned his gaze to Han Li, who was standing to the side, nodded, and smiled.

Han Li cupped his fists noncommittally.

Shi Zhanfeng laughed again, waved his sleeves, and wrapped up the bodies of the Eighth Prince and Tenth Prince. His figure suddenly disappeared, appearing far away in the next moment, and then flashed again, completely disappearing from everyone's sight.

Han Li’s pupils contracted at this sight.

Shi Zhanfeng used something like the Shrinking the Earth to an Inch supernatural power, but his figure changed without any warning. Only now did he detect a trace of spatial fluctuations.

This person's control over the power of space was much more exquisite and profound than Shi Chuan Kong's.

“Big Brother’s ‘Mirror Void Clarity’ has become much more profound,” Shi Po Kong said with a smile.

Shi Chuan Kong also frowned slightly, a trace of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

“Thirteenth Brother, you have been trapped by the Fiend Decay for many years. I didn't expect you to break through the bottleneck after a trip to the True Immortal Realm. I, as your older sister, am truly happy for you. It's a pity that I am busy with affairs and cannot get away, otherwise I would also like to go to the True Immortal Realm to see it,” Shi Jingyan, who was standing to the side, walked over at this moment and said with a giggle.

“Fifth Sister, you praise me too much,” Shi Chuan Kong cupped his fist slightly, his expression somewhat indifferent.

Shi Jingyan smiled lightly again, not minding, and looked at Han Li with her beautiful eyes. She moved her lotus steps and walked over.

Han Li felt a chill in his heart and secretly guarded himself.

A strange fragrance assaulted his senses, like orchids and musk, making people unable to help but become intoxicated.

Shi Jingyan walked to within three feet of him but did not stop. Her pair of soul-stirring eyes looked him up and down, faintly emitting a strange attractive power, seemingly wanting to suck Han Li’s soul into them.

“I wonder what Fifth Princess has to say?” Han Li frowned slightly and took a step back.

“I wouldn’t dare to ‘instruct.’ However, someone who can kill Hua Jing and Zhao Gu Zhenren is naturally extraordinary. Of course, I have to take a good look,” Shi Jingyan stopped and smiled charmingly.

Han Li’s eyes flickered slightly, but his face remained calm.

Shi Jingyan looked at him with a smile, and the fragrance on her body suddenly intensified, swarming in from all directions.

Han Li had already discovered that the fragrance on this woman's body was strange and had held his breath and sealed his immortal apertures. At this moment, his pupils contracted, and the power of the Law of Time instantly covered his entire body.

But this fragrance was like clouds and mist, layered upon layered, penetrating everywhere. His Law of Time was almost useless, instantly being penetrated.

Han Li’s body was immediately filled with fragrance, as if he were lying in a hundred flowers.

This fragrance not only filled his body but also permeated his soul.

Han Li’s soul was instantly numb, and when he looked at the fluttering clothes and graceful Shi Jingyan, the wariness in his heart suddenly disappeared, and he felt a sense of intimacy. It seemed that this woman was his dream lover, and he would not hesitate to die for her.

But then, Han Li’s massive spiritual sense in his mind suddenly twitched and automatically circulated.

A huge sword of spiritual sense emerged, emitting an incomparably fierce aura, like violent winds and waves, easily tearing and blowing away the fragrance in his mind.

At the same time, a trace of green light faintly flashed in his sleeve, and the fragrance that filled his body immediately surged toward it, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Shi Jingyan’s beautiful eyes flickered, faintly revealing a few traces of surprise.

“Cough, Fifth Sister, this is the Holy Emperor’s Palace, so you must be careful of your words and actions,” Shi Po Kong coughed and said in a deep voice.

“Third Brother, what are you talking about? I’m just greeting Fellow Daoist Li, right?” Shi Jingyan smiled charmingly, the fragrance she emitted suddenly disappeared, and she turned to Han Li and said.

“Fifth Princess’s ‘greeting’ is not something that ordinary people can handle,” Han Li said with a wry smile.

“Fellow Daoist Li is naturally not an ordinary person. If you have time in the future, please feel free to sit in my palace and tell me about the Immortal Domain. I am quite interested in the Immortal Domain,” Shi Jingyan looked at Han Li deeply, then turned and drifted away.

“Third Brother, Thirteenth Brother, I’ll take my leave as well,” the round-faced man cupped his fists toward Shi Po Kong and Shi Chuan Kong, glanced at the cold Han Li, and turned to leave.

“Fellow Daoist Li, Fifth Sister’s ‘Heavenly Fragrance Dream Return’ is powerfully domineering. Are you alright?” Shi Po Kong looked at Han Li and asked.

“I’m fine, Third Prince, rest assured,” Han Li said with a smile.

“That’s good. Let’s go back too.” Shi Po Kong waved his hand, called over the beast cart from before, and carried the four of them away, heading toward the Lord of Fallen Balance’s Mansion.