Wuyang nodded upon hearing Han Li's words, his gaze upon him now carrying a hint more of appreciation.

"Now that you've had your reunion, let's get down to business," Jiao San said.

"Before that, let's talk about Jin Tong's current situation. You should know, right?" Han Li asked, turning his gaze to Jiao San.

"Currently, I can only tell you that Jin Tong is safe for now. We also know her exact location. Once you complete your mission, we will tell you her location and provide the necessary assistance," Jiao San stated.

"So, completing the mission is your condition for telling me Jin Tong's location?" Han Li asked with a furrowed brow.

"Fellow Daoist Han, we are not using this to coerce you. Your mission is actually a crucial part of the entire plan. Only after you complete it can we proceed with the subsequent steps. And only with the advancement of the subsequent steps will you have a chance to rescue Jin Tong," Jiao San said calmly, his expression unchanged.

"What is my mission?" Han Li asked after a long silence.

"The celestial envoy from the Heavenly Court has already arrived in Nine Elements City. The selection convention should begin soon. We want you to participate in this selection and compete for a spot at the Bodhi Banquet," Jiao San said.

"Compete for a spot... How is the selection convention conducted?" Han Li inquired.

"This Bodhi Banquet has allocated a total of one hundred spots for the entire Great Gold Origin Immortal Domain. Nine Elements Sect, Hundred Refinements Mountain, Gold Origin Immortal Domain, and Sun Moon Alliance have taken the majority according to different proportions. At most, only a dozen or twenty spots will be left for other sects in the Great Gold Origin Immortal Domain to compete for. You need to fight other candidates to win a place among these spots," Wuyang explained.

"So, a major obstacle for you in this selection is that you must win while concealing your identity to ultimately obtain a Bodhi Token," Jiao San added.

"How is that possible? Although I'm not well-known in the Gold Origin Immortal Domain, I know quite a few people. I saw two Grand Luo cultivators, Crimson Dream and Myriad Dharma Immortal Sovereign, in the city just now. Once I participate in the selection and fight others, they will definitely recognize my identity at a glance. At that time, let alone saving Jin Tong, I will have difficulty even protecting myself, right?" Han Li said, shaking his head.

"Fellow Daoist Han, there's no need to worry. The black mask I gave you earlier is precisely for dealing with this matter," Jiao San said.

"How to deal with it? Although this thing is very effective in concealing aura and changing appearance, once I start fighting, my techniques, divine abilities, and immortal spiritual power aura can also be recognized. This cannot be changed," Han Li said with a frown.

"If you think this mask only has this little ability, you are underestimating it. By wearing this mask, you can absorb part of the immortal spiritual power and aura of others. After fusing it with yourself through secret methods, you can achieve a level of realism. As long as you don't use the Law of Time, even Grand Luo late-stage cultivators may not be able to detect it," Jiao San said.

"Even so, I am not from the Gold Origin Immortal Domain. I'm afraid I'm not qualified to participate in this selection, right?" Han Li said.

"You can rest assured about this. Your identity for participating in this selection has already been arranged. You will be fighting under the name of an elder from the Manifestation Sect," Wuyang said.

Han Li had heard of the Manifestation Sect. It was one of the few mid-sized sects in the Gold Origin Immortal Domain, aside from super sects like the Nine Elements Sect, that had not joined the Sun Moon Alliance. Its own strength was not small, but it had never been rumored to have any involvement with the Reincarnation Palace.

"So, this Manifestation Sect is a hidden stake planted by the Reincarnation Palace in the Gold Origin Immortal Domain?" Han Li asked.

"You could say that, but only a very few people within the Manifestation Sect know about this. This time, their sect leader, Zhou Xianyang, is personally leading the team to participate in the selection convention and has already stationed in the sect's villa in the west of the city. When the time comes, you just need to wear this token and go to him, and he will naturally know what to do," Jiao San said.

With that, he turned his wrist and took out a white jade pendant, handing it to Han Li.

"What is the ultimate purpose of your mission?" Han Li asked, taking the jade pendant in his hand and stroking it for a moment.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you don't need to delve into this. You just need to complete your part of the work. Afterwards, we will tell you where Jin Tong is being held specifically and how you can rescue her," Jiao San said.

Hearing this, Han Li pondered for a long time and could only nod in silence.

Afterwards, Jiao San gave some instructions on the precautions to take in Nine Elements City and then bid farewell to Wuyang and left.

"You were able to obtain various opportunities from the Ancestor and learn the Great Five Elements Illusion World Divine Art. You also helped my True Words Sect severely injure the traitor Qimozi, so you can be considered half a member of my True Words Sect. Since I am an unworthy senior brother, I will give you a greeting gift," Wuyang suddenly said before leaving.

With that, he turned his wrist, and a golden inkstone flew out, landing in Han Li's hand.

Before Han Li could decline, the two of them had already dispersed and disappeared from the courtyard.

Han Li held the golden inkstone in his hands and carefully examined it. On it was carved a reclining yellow ox, eyes closed in peaceful sleep. The lines were smooth, the form was simple and honest, looking lifelike.

He slightly injected immortal spiritual power to activate it, and golden ripples immediately rippled on the reclining ox inkstone, emitting waves of earth attribute law power. It looked quite powerful, at least a fifth-grade immortal treasure.

Han Li was overjoyed and carefully checked the inkstone again. Seeing that there were indeed no marks on it, he was not in a hurry to refine it and first put it into his storage bracelet.

Then, he waved his palm, and a silver light door appeared in front of him.

Han Li stepped in, crossed the light door, and directly arrived in the Flower Branch Grotto-heaven.

He came to a room on the second floor of the bamboo building and saw Ti Hun sitting cross-legged on the bed with her eyes closed, her face a little pale.

Lan Yan, standing by the window of the bamboo building, immediately greeted Han Li upon seeing him, bowing and saying:

"Fellow Daoist Han."

"How is it?" Han Li asked, seeing that her complexion was not good, but there was a glimmer of light in her eyes.

"The soul-planting ceremony went smoothly. My brother's soul has been planted in the Dream Spirit Flower. After that, it only needs a period of rest. But Ti Hun consumed too much energy and is a little exhausted..." Lan Yan said with some guilt.

Han Li glanced at Ti Hun, then his gaze fell on a black round basin on the round table in the room.

Inside the round basin was a pot of loose soil of dark red color, planted with a strange flower stalk with a black stem. There were seven black leaves growing on it, with a layer of silver crystal light floating on them. The top had a fist-sized white flower bud, with a faint glow flickering inside.

Han Li scanned it with his divine sense and felt the aura of Lan Yuanzi from it.

"After all, this is a matter of the soul, so we must not be careless. If there is anything I can help with, just say it," Han Li said.

"Fellow Daoist Han and Fellow Daoist Ti Hun have helped me this far, I am already endlessly grateful. I dare not have any other extravagant hopes, I only hope that I can repay you someday even if I have to be your slave," Lan Yan said quickly, her expression solemn.

Seeing this, Han Li said nothing more, just comforted her with a few words to ease her mind, then turned and left.

……

The west of Nine Elements City is where several rivers that run through the city converge. The terrain is low, but flat and open.

Because of the distribution of water systems, the vegetation here is lush and the scenery is unique. Many medium-sized sects in the Great Gold Origin Immortal Domain have spent a lot of money to buy a piece of land here to build sect villas.

As one of the leaders of the medium-sized forces in the Great Gold Origin Immortal Domain, the Manifestation Sect is naturally no exception. It occupies a water-intensive area with the most beautiful scenery in the western part of the city and built a huge Manifestation Villa.

On this day, a handsome young man dressed in white and holding a folding fan came to the gate of the Manifestation Villa.

The guards saw that he had a dignified appearance and extraordinary demeanor, and could not see the depth of his cultivation, so they very wisely did not make things difficult for him and honestly made a report inside.

After waiting for a long time, an old man with a long beard in a plain robe came from the hall.

The old man heard the guards' exaggerated descriptions and thought that a big shot had really come. But when he came to the door and saw a handsome young man, whose cultivation was only in the mid-stage of the Gold Immortal Realm, he was a little annoyed.

"Is it you who wants to see our sect leader? Unfortunately, the sect leader is not in the villa today. If you have anything to say, you can tell me first, and I will tell him when he comes back, how about that?" However, the old man's composure was good. When he came to the door, his expression did not change, and he asked.

Hearing this, the young man frowned slightly, holding a white jade pendant in his hand, gently rubbing it, and said: "Since you are not the sect leader, then I have nothing to say to you. Please let your sect leader come to see me."

This young man was naturally none other than Han Li.

Hearing this, a sharp look flashed in the eyes of the long-bearded old man, obviously a little angry.

"What, do you think my cultivation realm is too low and not qualified for him to come to see me?" Han Li asked with a frown.

Before the old man could answer, the aura on his body suddenly changed, soaring rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, it reached the mid-stage of the Grand Prime Realm.

Seeing this, the old man's expression changed again, his face full of shock.

Being able to suppress one's aura was nothing, but being able to suppress it so naturally and completely that even he was fooled was really rare.

"So it was a senior who has arrived, it was this junior's ignorance," the long-bearded old man said quickly, clasping his fists.

While speaking, he was silently transmitting a message in his heart, informing the villa to be prepared in case an enemy had come to the door.

"Don't worry, I have no malice, I just want to talk to your sect leader about something. I know he is in the villa, so, please take this token of mine in, and he will naturally see me when he sees it," Han Li sighed and said.

With that, he handed over the jade pendant in his hand.

"This junior obeys, please wait here for a while, senior," the long-bearded old man said respectfully, quickly accepting it.

After finishing speaking, he flashed away and rushed to the courtyard at top speed.

Not long after, a white light flashed from the courtyard, and a burly giant of an iron tower appeared from it, his national character face filled with enthusiastic smiles as he greeted Han Li.

"Fellow Daoist Han, long time no see, haha..." The iron tower giant's voice was loud, causing the gatehouse to tremble slightly.