At this moment, waves rose within the secret chamber without wind, and black demonic Qi billowed.

In the very center, two tiny vortexes emerged from nowhere. Under their violent rotation, they transformed into two spiral black Qi pillars, each as thick as an index finger, shooting straight towards Han Li's eyes.

At this moment, a bright blue light shone within Han Li's eyes, resembling the moon reflected in a well. The moment the black Qi pillars surged in, a ripple spread, and his eyes became blurred and indistinct.

These eyes were like two bottomless pits, constantly absorbing the influx of demonic Qi. Before long, they became shrouded in mist, deep and unfathomable, making it impossible to see through them.

Simultaneously, he withdrew his hands in front of him, forming a strange hand seal. He then remained motionless, quietly guarding his body.

Circles of violet-gold light纹 (guang wen) emanated from beneath him, expanding outwards in layers.

…

Time flowed by, and several years passed in a flash.

The secret chamber within the cave dwelling was silent. Han Li, clad in a green robe, sat cross-legged in meditation, still maintaining the posture of guarding with the hand seal.

The violet-gold scales on his body had completely disappeared, and the demonic Qi that had enveloped him was also gone. Only the circles of violet-gold light纹 (guang wen) beneath him continued to spread and enlarge like ripples in water.

Just then, he suddenly clasped his hands together and let out a soft shout.

His eyelids snapped open, and two beams of violet-gold light, as solid as substance, instantly erupted from his pupils, illuminating the entire secret chamber like two bright lamps.

All the powder and dust within the secret chamber became exquisitely visible. Even the many restrictions he had previously set up were now clear at a glance.

Han Li slightly raised his head and looked outwards through a hole in the dome. He saw the white clouds swirling in the vast sky, and the tail feathers of the wild geese were clearly visible before his eyes. He could even see the subtle air currents and spiritual energy changes stirred up by the flapping of their wings.

It seemed that everything in the world was unable to escape his gaze with these pupils.

This was the initial success of the Nine Netherworld Demonic Eyes. However, he was still unable to determine what specific divine powers they possessed and would need to reveal them in special environments in the future.

However, the improvement in his eyesight was obvious, many times stronger than his original Bright Clarity Spiritual Eyes.

After a moment, all the unusual signs in Han Li's eyes began to disappear. The violet radiance gradually faded, and the silver-gray luster returned.

The corners of his mouth slightly curved upwards. He raised his hand and wiped it across his cheek. The "Long Wu" mask flashed briefly, transforming into the face of an ordinary young man with slightly pale skin, and his silver-gray eyes also turned black.

Han Li stood up, stretched his muscles, opened the door to the secret chamber, and walked out.

This seclusion had not been too short. During this time, Jingyang Shangren and Rehuo Xianzun had both come, but they were told by the puppet that Han Li was in seclusion, so they did not disturb him and left on their own.

Therefore, after leaving seclusion, Han Li planned to pay a visit to them first.

It was deep winter in Wild Crane Valley. A heavy snowfall had completely dyed the mountains and forests white. Whether it was the pine forests or the bamboo seas, they were covered with thick snow. The snow on the stone slabs in the forest was more than half a foot thick.

Han Li left the cave dwelling, not traveling by wind, but instead walked along the path towards the depths of the valley, admiring the snow scenery on both sides of the road while stepping on the "crunching" snow.

As he walked halfway, he suddenly noticed some roof corners and eaves faintly visible in the depths of the distant mountains and forests. This had not been there in the past and had obviously been newly built during his seclusion.

While puzzled, a figure emerged from behind a boulder on the mountain path.

Although the snow had stopped, he was still holding a dark red oiled paper umbrella in his hand, walking towards the outside of the valley.

As the two approached, Han Li saw the other person's face clearly. It was an extremely beautiful young man with what seemed to be makeup on his face, which made him look even more pale under the backdrop of his red cloak.

As they passed each other, the man gave Han Li a slight smile and a slight bow, but did not speak.

Han Li returned the bow lightly, also without saying a word.

After passing each other, the two continued on their way, leaving behind only four lines of footprints that gradually faded into the distance on the snow.

"Could it be a newcomer who has entered the valley?" Han Li wondered, shaking his head, and continued towards the valley.

Walking along the mountain path for several miles, when he finally arrived at the cliff where Rehuo Xianzun's cave dwelling was located, he happened to see a figure leaping up from the cliff, about to head towards the valley.

"Rehuo Daoyou, where are you rushing off to?" Han Li quickly called out.

Rehuo Xianzun, who had just leaped up, paused and returned back.

"Li Daoyou, you've come out of seclusion?" Rehuo Xianzun said with a smile on his face.

"I just came out of seclusion today. Knowing that you came to see me before, I came to visit you again," Han Li said with a smile.

"When I went before, you were in seclusion, so I didn't disturb you," Rehuo Xianzun nodded and said.

"Oh, is there anything wrong?" Han Li asked, puzzled.

"It's not a big deal, just to tell you that you should try not to use the Huoyezong Elder token to enter Jukun Inner City recently," Rehuo Xianzun said hesitantly.

"Why is that?" Han Li asked, slightly stunned.

"Jukun City has been a bit unsettled for nearly two hundred years. The Heishan Immortal Palace is checking the identities of people entering the city a bit tightly. I'm afraid that if you use it, it will cause trouble," Rehuo Xianzun sighed and said.

"What? Did something big happen in the city?" Han Li subconsciously thought of what happened after the auction, thinking that there was some follow-up, and quickly asked.

"It's a long story. Everyone happened to be gathering today. Since you've come out of seclusion, come with me and we'll talk about it later," Rehuo Xianzun frowned slightly at first, then smiled and said.

"Okay." Han Li had to suppress the doubts in his heart for the time being and nodded.

The two flew together, and soon arrived at an open cliff in the depths of the valley.

The cliff was located on a mountainside on the right side of the deep valley, protruding from the mountain body for dozens of feet. On top of it was built an octagonal pavilion, which was also covered with snow, with a thick layer of snow on top.

Inside the pavilion was a stone table, and there were already three figures sitting around the table. It was Yu Ziqi, Mo Wuxue and Duan Yuzai. When they saw Han Li and Rehuo Xianzun arrive, they all got up to greet them.

After greeting each other, Duan Yuzai looked at Han Li and asked, "Li Daoyou, when did you come out of seclusion?"

"I just came out of seclusion today. It's a coincidence that I caught up with everyone gathering," Han Li said with a smile.

"I heard Jingyang Daoyou say before..."

Before Yu Ziqi finished speaking, he was suddenly pulled by Mo Wuxue's sleeve, stopping him. He was stunned at first, then realized that he had misspoke, and a look of guilt appeared on his face.

"It's okay, what can't be mentioned? The pills I refined before did not achieve the ideal effect, and I will have to find another good prescription in the future," Han Li said with a hearty smile, not caring.

"Li Daoyou's temperament is extraordinary, I was just overthinking it," Mo Wuxue bowed slightly and said with a smile.

"Fairy Mo is thoughtful and considerate of me, I should be thanking you. By the way, why didn't I see Jingyang Daoyou?" Han Li returned the greeting and said.

"Jingyang Daoyou has not returned to the valley for more than a hundred years. He only said before that he had some things to deal with," Yu Ziqi said.

Han Li guessed that Baizao Mountain must have something to deal with, so he didn't continue to talk about it, but instead said: "Then he doesn't have the fortune. Today I just brought some 'Red Mulberry Wine', shall we have a few drinks?"

As soon as this was said, the others' eyes lit up and smiles appeared on their faces.

The few people sat down again, Han Li took out the wine jars and wine cups to pour for everyone, and glanced up at Yu Ziqi. Seeing that he had broken the sky and didn't play the zither today, and Duan Yuzai didn't set up the chessboard early, he couldn't help but frown.

"By the way, I only said half a sentence to Rehuo Daoyou before, can you tell me now, what's going on?" Han Li looked at Rehuo Xianzun and asked.

"Li Daoyou should have also noticed it in the valley, right? Recently, many new residents have entered Wild Crane Valley," Rehuo Xianzun picked up the wine glass and put it to his mouth, but didn't drink it, and said.

"On the way here before, I seemed to have met a young man holding an oiled paper umbrella and wearing a red cloak. He should be the newcomer you mentioned, right?" Han Li nodded and asked.

"That guy is called Feng Qingyuan. He is just one of the new residents in the valley. Like him, five or sixty newcomers have moved into various valleys in Xianyun Mountain in the past two hundred years," Duan Yuzai said.

"So many?" Han Li said in surprise.

Xianyun Mountain is free to come and go, but according to the previous situation, there are only ten or less foreign cultivators who have moved into the entire Xianyun Mountain in two hundred years, or even only one or two people sometimes. After all, there are not many people who see through the immortal path and turn to cultivating their minds.

So the current situation is indeed a bit abnormal.

"If there are just more newcomers, it's nothing. Everyone abides by the rules here, and no one interferes with anyone. But in recent years, strange things have happened in the mountains, and people have disappeared from various valleys," Mo Wuxue took over the conversation and said.

"Last month, the couple of cultivators in the nearby Huayue Valley had their cave destroyed overnight and disappeared from the world at the same time," Yu Ziqi added.

Han Li had met the couple once, and knew that they were a pair of True Immortal Initial Stage cultivators, who were quite affectionate in front of others, so he asked:

"What are the characteristics of the missing people?"

"From Golden Immortal cultivators with profound cultivation to Nascent Soul cultivators with low realms, from beautiful female cultivators with beautiful faces to old men with old age...there doesn't seem to be any characteristics," Yu Ziqi pondered slightly and replied.

"Has no one come out to investigate?" Han Li frowned slightly and asked.

"How to investigate? Xianyun Mountain is full of reclusive people who don't ask about world affairs, and they never form gangs or factions. There is no unified organization at all. Who will investigate? Even if there are, they are all investigating on their own behind the scenes. Moreover, these missing people are of all ages and genders, and their backgrounds are unknown, so it is impossible to judge whether there is any connection between them," Rehuo Xianzun shook his head and said with a bitter smile.

"Yes, who knows if these people have left the valley? However, even if someone leaves in the past, they will inform a friend in the valley. Such a silent and large-scale departure from the valley has never happened before," Yu Ziqi continued.