Qi Mozi paid no attention to the words of the flame face. After pondering for a moment, he reached out and casually grabbed at the brazier. The flame face, along with a ball of firelight, was pulled out.

After leaving the brazier, its form gradually solidified, transforming into a fire-haired man with large hands and feet, resembling Qi Mozi standing beside him.

As a burst of firelight lit up in Qi Mozi's palm, the aura of the flame-transformed Qi Mozi beside him suddenly soared, nearly matching his own.

"This time, I will go myself. You will guard the Immortal Prison in my stead," Qi Mozi said, retracting his palm.

"If someone..."

Before the flame-transformed doppelganger could finish speaking, Qi Mozi interrupted, "This is the Immortal Prison. No one will be garrulous. I will only take one person with me on this trip and will return as soon as possible."

"You're not even taking me? Who are you taking then?" the doppelganger asked, somewhat puzzled.

"An acquaintance of his," Qi Mozi said with a slight smirk.

Having said that, he strode out of the hall. His aura suddenly converged, and a large expanse of firelight enveloped his body, transforming him into a ball of fire that flew towards a golden space adjacent to the blood cloud in the distance.

...

Time flew by, and sixty years passed in a flash.

Green Fox City.

Inside the city, outside a secluded courtyard, there was a clean-swept bluestone path.

The morning sun shone through the high tree branches beside the road, casting dappled shadows that appeared particularly serene.

Several children of tender age, holding windmills made of colored paper, ran back and forth on the path, making the colored wheels spin with joy.

The sounds of children playing and laughing spilled over the low courtyard walls and into the adjacent courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, flowerbeds and bamboo plants faced each other. In the center of a spacious clearing stood a set of stone tables and chairs. A slender girl dressed in black sat on one of the stone stools, her cheek resting on her hand, listening intently to the sounds outside.

This girl was none other than Ti Hun.

Ever since she awakened and gained the ability to see directly into people's hearts, she had become increasingly fond of listening to children's laughter. The pure, unadulterated joy contained within brought her the most happiness.

As she smiled to herself, her heart suddenly stirred, and she turned to look behind her.

At the doorway of the main hall behind her, Han Li walked out wearing a brand new azure robe, a smile on his face.

"Master has come out of seclusion so quickly? Could it be that you have broken through?" Ti Hun raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

"It didn't take too much effort, indeed. Now that many profound acupoints have been opened, cultivating the Grand Five Elements Illusionary World Art is twice as effective with half the effort. So, it only took me over a hundred years, which was within my expectations," Han Li said with a smile.

What he didn't say was that as long as he was willing to continue his seclusion, breaking through to the late Taiyi realm would only be a matter of time.

"Congratulations, Master!" Ti Hun said, a look of joy on her face.

"Thank you for protecting me during this time... How is it? Has there been anything unusual on the Green Fox Clan's side?" Han Li paused and continued.

"Nothing unusual. After their clan leader's injuries completely recovered, the Green Fox Clan's morale has greatly improved, like an army having a commander. Even the Golden Horse Sect doesn't dare to cause any more trouble and has calmed down. I was originally worried that Master's breakthrough would cause too much commotion and attract the attention of others, but I didn't even notice it," Ti Hun said, shaking her head.

"This breakthrough didn't have many difficulties to overcome. It was a natural progression. Moreover, I was in seclusion in the Flower Branch Grotto Heaven. The entrance to the grotto heaven was concealed by a set of sealing arrays to shield the aura, so it didn't cause much commotion. However, breaking through to the late Taiyi realm afterward can't continue to stay in the Flower Branch Grotto Heaven. The commotion won't be so small then, so I'll have to change places," Han Li said with a smile.

While Han Li and Ti Hun were chatting and laughing, the Green Fox Clan's council hall was in an uproar.

"Clan Leader, when that person came to our clan that day, I found him very suspicious. Now the news from the Immortal Palace can't be wrong, right? He is the culprit who slaughters mortals to practice evil arts! In terms of reason and emotion, we must not keep such a person in the clan!" Elder Qiu stood in the hall, his face full of anxiety, speaking urgently.

"Yes! What Elder Qiu said is not impossible. There are treacherous people among the human race everywhere. We... we have to guard against it..." Another elder said upon hearing this.

Behind him, there were several others who, although they did not speak, had solemn expressions on their faces and nodded in agreement.

"There must be some misunderstanding in this. Senior Han has a calm and unhurried demeanor. How could he have the aura of a deranged evil cultivator? He definitely can't be the person on that wanted list. Moreover, if he were really that villain, he wouldn't have saved me first and then saved my mother," Ye Su-su, dressed in green, argued, her cheeks flushed red.

After all, Han Li had saved their lives, and the Green Fox Clan members couldn't help but show a troubled expression on their faces after hearing this.

"The young clan leader is still young and doesn't know the treachery and cunning of the human race. No one knows what his plans are. If he plans something big, wouldn't he do something like bestowing favor first and then striking a deadly blow later? To take a step back, even if he has no intention of doing evil, coming to our Green Fox Clan is also a disaster. How can we bear the consequences of harboring a wanted criminal from the Immortal Palace?" Elder Qiu sighed, shaking his head.

"Yes, if the people from the Immortal Palace find out about this, how can our Green Fox Clan bear it? I'm afraid even the entire Green Fox City will be destroyed," another elder sighed.

"Yes, we can't do that..."

"We can't disregard the lives of thousands of creatures in the entire clan because of an outsider..."

"Clan Leader, think twice!"

Inside the hall, there was much discussion and lamentation.

"Uncles and elders, Senior Han has done us a great service. Could it be that our Green Fox Clan wants to do something ungrateful and repay kindness with hatred?" Ye Su-su shouted loudly, seeing that most people agreed.

After this shout, the hall finally fell silent, and a trace of guilt appeared on everyone's faces.

"I understand what you all mean." At this moment, a gentle voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned to look at the dignified woman sitting on the large chair.

It was Ye Su-su's mother, the Green Fox Clan's leader, Ye Luo.

"Regardless of whether the matters stated on the Immortal Palace wanted list are true or false, Senior Han has done us a great service. We cannot do something ungrateful and repay kindness with hatred," Ye Luo said calmly.

"Mother is wise..." Ye Su-su nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

"However, since Senior Han has been targeted by the Immortal Palace, we naturally cannot continue to keep him in the clan, otherwise, it would be a disaster for both us and him," Ye Luo waved her hand, interrupting Ye Su-su, and continued.

Ye Su-su's expression dimmed upon hearing this.

Although she was grateful for Han Li's rescue, she was actually as intelligent as her and knew that her mother's words were true, but she had been unwilling to admit it. Now that her mother had spoken, she had no choice but to remain silent.

The others nodded in agreement, many feeling a great relief in their hearts.

"Su-su, Senior Han was brought into the clan by you. This matter can only be left to you to discuss with him," the Green Fox Clan leader said, her eyes lowered, looking at her daughter.

Ye Su-su opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing, nodding in silence.

"That person's identity is unknown. I'm not at ease letting the young clan leader go to negotiate in person. I'll go and talk about this," Elder Qiu said with a sullen face upon hearing this.

"Elder Qiu, Senior Han is ultimately an benefactor of our Green Fox Clan and has a good relationship with Su-su. Since it started with her, let it end with her," the Green Fox Clan leader shook her head.

"Elder Qiu, rest assured, let Su-su settle this matter," Ye Su-su said, bowing in return.

"This... well, I'll go with you then," Elder Qiu sighed.

About half an hour later, two rays of light arrived together and landed outside the secluded courtyard. The children on the path beside the courtyard surrounded them, calling out "Sister, Sister."

Today, Ye Su-su had no time to play with them. She told them to play on their own, and she and Elder Qiu came to the front of the courtyard door and raised their hands to knock on the wooden door.

Just as the "knock knock" sound started, a gentle male voice rang out from inside the courtyard: "Please come in, both of you."

Ye Su-su and Elder Qiu pushed the door open and saw Han Li sitting opposite Ti Hun at the stone table in the courtyard, holding a cup of clear tea in his hand, looking at them with a smile.

"Senior Han..."

Ye Su-su greeted Han Li, but then remembered the purpose of her visit. She felt even more guilty in her heart and lowered her head involuntarily.

Elder Qiu stepped past Ye Su-su, blocking the girl behind him. His eyes quickly scanned around, finally landing on Han Li, his face full of vigilance.

"Since Miss Ye and Elder Qiu have come together, it seems that it is not for personal matters, and this matter is also related to Han, right? Feel free to speak frankly," Han Li said unhurriedly, not minding Elder Qiu, after looking at Ye Su-su.

Elder Qiu's gaze sank slightly upon hearing this. He was about to speak when Ye Su-su raised her hand to stop him.

"Senior Han, please forgive Su-su for being presumptuous. The matter is like this..." Ye Su-su stepped forward half a step and told Han Li about the Immortal Palace's wanted notice, but did not mention anything about asking him to leave Green Fox City immediately.

Han Li listened with a serious expression. After hearing this, he couldn't help but smile and said, "When did the Immortal Palace start acting so sneaky? To seek trouble with Han, they even have to fabricate such a trumped-up charge."

Ti Hun also smiled silently upon hearing this.

"I knew it. Senior Han wouldn't be that kind of cruel person," Ye Su-su said, secretly relieved and a smile appeared on her face, after hearing this.