"Since you're new here, you should know the rules! Senior Brother Shen told you to scram, are you deaf or pretending not to hear?" The middle-aged man didn't speak, but the gaunt, sharp-mouthed man beside him shouted sharply.

"A mere Core Formation Initial Stage cultivator dares to act arrogantly here, truly courting death!" Another alluring female cultivator beside the man scoffed.

Han Li, however, acted as if he hadn't heard anything, sitting cross-legged in place, unmoving.

"Fellow Daoist, it's said that a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. There's no need to clash head-on with certain people. With such a temperament, the True Immortal will certainly not be pleased." At this moment, the honest-looking youth named Meng Yungui walked to Han Li's side and said, seemingly with a purpose.

Intentionally or unintentionally, he positioned himself between Han Li and the middle-aged man. The round-faced fatty and the other two also followed the honest youth's lead.

"Shen Biao, if I were you, I would never be so eager to stand up for a stranger. Don't think that just because you've luckily advanced to Core Formation Late Stage, I wouldn't dare to do anything to you." The middle-aged man said with an unkind tone.

"Shen Biao, I've long wanted to settle the score with you and Lu Heng for bullying my Meng family's disciples in the past. Today might be a good opportunity." Meng Yungui said without backing down.

"Tsk tsk... how impressive, isn't this Young Master Meng? What's this, meddling in matters that concern Lu?" At this moment, another voice rang out.

Everyone around looked in the direction of the voice and saw a handsome young man walking over, embracing a female cultivator's slender waist, surrounded by more than a dozen people, his Core Formation Late Stage peak aura unmistakable.

"Senior Brother Lu, you've finally arrived..." The middle-aged man's face lit up with joy upon seeing this.

The atmosphere nearby became somewhat tense. Disciples who didn't want to be involved retreated, clearing a space for those involved, adopting a spectator stance.

Seeing this, Han Li reached out and touched his nose, looking somewhat helpless.

He had simply found a place to sit, but it seemed to be causing a commotion.

The people accompanying the Lu-surnamed man all possessed auras above the Core Formation stage. Coupled with Shen Biao and his two companions, they were a considerable force. On Han Li's side, there were only Meng Yungui and his three companions.

The round-faced fatty and the other two looked somewhat frightened, but seeing that Meng Yungui had no intention of retreating, they didn't move their feet.

Just as a lopsided battle was about to erupt, another voice rang out: "What's this, bullying the few with the many? Senior Brother Lu, how about counting me in?"

The speaker was none other than Sun Buzheng, who had just provoked Meng Yungui. With a flicker of his figure, he arrived on Han Li's side, also radiating the aura of Core Formation Late Stage.

"Sun Buzheng, aren't you and this Meng Yungui sworn enemies? What, are you going to meddle in other people's business too?" The Lu-surnamed man's voice turned cold.

"It's not exactly meddling! I'll settle my matters with Meng Yungui myself, but how can I stand by when you openly bully the people of my Meng Chi country?" Sun Buzheng said with a laugh, not at all afraid.

Seeing this, Han Li's heart stirred slightly. He felt it was getting interesting.

But then, he heard Meng Yungui's voice transmission: "Fellow Daoist, we will bear the brunt of this matter. Don't take action later, to avoid injury."

"Let's fight if you want to fight!"

"Hurry up and fight..."

"Haha, bets are open! I'm betting on Lu Heng to win!"

Many of the surrounding onlookers were happy to watch the excitement and began to stir up trouble.

"Charge!"

Lu Heng pushed aside the beautiful woman at his side, raised one hand, and shouted loudly.

Upon hearing this, Shen Biao and the others took out their respective weapons and magic treasures, preparing to launch an attack on Meng Yungui and his companions.

Meng Yungui and Sun Buzheng also took out their magic treasure shields, preparing to meet them.

Just then, Han Li, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly flickered and appeared between the two sides, as if teleporting, with incredible speed.

Amidst the astonished gazes of Meng Yungui and the others, he casually waved his sleeve, and the dozen or so people, including Shen Biao, were sent flying as if they had crashed into an invisible mountain, slamming into the distant cliff wall and passing out.

The crowd that had been clamoring just now was immediately stunned, as if they had been struck by a hammer, and the surroundings fell silent.

Lu Heng was still holding his hand up, his gaze towards Han Li filled with horror.

At this moment, he could no longer sense even a trace of aura from Han Li, as if the person standing before him was merely a mortal.

Even the Nascent Soul stage disciples sitting at the valley entrance were shocked.

After a brief silence, Meng Yungui seemed to suddenly realize something and was the first to react, bowing respectfully.

"Disciple Meng Yungui pays respects to Elder."

Immediately afterwards, a "whoosh" sound echoed as thousands of people around knelt down.

Lu Heng pressed his head tightly to the ground, not daring to lift it even a fraction, his forehead already covered in cold sweat.

Han Li ignored him. Instead, he waved his sleeve, and a gentle breeze lifted Meng Yungui to his feet. He slowly said, "My surname is Li. You will follow me from now on and be my servant."

Upon hearing this, the latter was first stunned, then joy appeared on his face, but a hint of hesitation quickly flashed across it.

"If you have any concerns in your heart, feel free to speak." Han Li said upon seeing this.

"Reporting to Elder Li, this disciple has a younger sister, just turned eighteen, just established her foundation... Can I ask the Elder to take her in as a servant as well?" Meng Yungui said somewhat shyly.

"The Great Dao is ruthless, one must walk alone. If you cannot sever worldly attachments, you will not be able to truly pursue the supreme Dao. Do you understand?" Han Li's face turned cold, and he slowly said.

"This... this junior understands. It's just that my sister is still young. If she were to be alone here, I'm afraid... I know my request is excessive. I don't have enough fortune to serve the Elder..." Meng Yungui quickly cupped his hands towards Han Li, knowing he had spoken out of turn.

Everyone around who heard this felt it was unbelievable that someone would give up the opportunity to become a True Immortal's servant.

One must know that once one becomes a True Immortal's servant, even a small, random gift from the Immortal would be enough for them to reap endless benefits. Not to mention the opportunity to receive guidance from the Immortal, allowing them to walk a hundred times smoother on the path of cultivation.

That person must either be crazy or stupid!

However, upon hearing this, Han Li's expression softened, and he said something that shocked everyone around:

"Although the Great Dao is ruthless, we cultivators are not plants and trees. How many can truly achieve supreme detachment? I'll take both you and your sister. Also, help me choose eight more people from among these people."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yungui was struck by lightning, his whole body shook, and his gaze towards Han Li was filled with disbelief.

The surrounding crowd was like water dripping into a hot oil pan, exploding in whispers.

Almost everyone turned their gaze towards Meng Yungui, their eyes filled with pleas, as if he had suddenly become a god who controlled the fate of all living beings.

After saying these words, Han Li sat cross-legged in place, closing his eyes and resting, seemingly indifferent to who Meng Yungui would choose.

"Meng Xiong..." After a moment of contemplation, Meng Yungui first pointed to a person in front of him and said.

The round-faced fatty who had been following him was flushed red, so excited that he couldn't speak, his eyes reddened, with tears already welling up inside.

"Meng Xiong, go bring Qianqian here. Meng Yu, Meng Guang, Fang Yao..." After instructing the round-faced fatty, he rattled off six more names in one breath. Besides the other two Meng family disciples, there were several others who seemed to be his usual friends.

Those whose names were called couldn't help but burst into tears of joy and walked behind Meng Yungui.

At this moment, Han Li opened his eyes and glanced slightly.

Apart from Meng Yungui's sister not being present, the others, including Meng Yungui, were four women and four men, all Core Formation stage cultivators.

Immediately afterwards, Meng Yungui walked to another person and called out the last name.

"Sun Buzheng..."

When the towering youth heard his name from Meng Yungui's mouth, he could hardly believe it, looking up at his former friend with confusion.

"Sun Hao, I cannot control matters of the country, and there are many hidden secrets. But I have never changed my mind about being your friend." Meng Yungui cupped his hands towards the other party.

Upon hearing this, Sun Buzheng's eyes reddened, and he laughed and cursed, "I changed my name long ago. Call me Sun Buzheng."

After the selection was completed, Han Li didn't say much. He directly led Meng Yungui and the others to the Pu Ling Hall to register. Thousands of people followed behind them, obviously unwilling to give up.

In fact, based on Han Li's status and cultivation, it would not have been impossible to select dozens or even hundreds more people as servants, but he had no such intention.

As a result, as soon as they came out of the Pu Ling Hall, a clear voice rang out from the crowd, "Brother."

A fair-faced girl with a naive air, quick and agile, quickly passed through the crowd, flying like a red sparrow to Meng Yungui's side, grabbing his arm.

Behind her, the round-faced fatty hurriedly followed.

"Elder Li, this is my sister... Meng Qianqian. Qianqian, quickly pay respects to Elder Li." Meng Yungui introduced somewhat embarrassedly.

"Qianqian greets Elder Li." Upon seeing this, the girl quickly let go of his arm and performed a deep curtsy towards Han Li, her big eyes filled with curiosity.

Seeing that she also had a crescent-shaped jade pendant hanging on her waist, seemingly identical to Meng Yungui's, Han Li smiled and nodded.

Looking at the girl in front of him, he couldn't help but think of his own younger sister, and a faint hint of tenderness flashed in the depths of his eyes.

This was also one of the reasons why he agreed to take in the brother and sister.

"This Fire Spirit Jade, it's not exactly an Immortal treasure, but wearing it on your body will greatly benefit those who cultivate Fire Attribute Cultivation Methods. I'll give it to you." Han Li turned his hand over and took out a fiery red jade pendant, handing it to Meng Qianqian.

The latter was first stunned, then hurriedly took it and thanked him repeatedly.

The girl immediately hung the jade pendant and the original crescent-shaped jade pendant side by side, and as she walked, they collided with each other, making a series of pleasant, crisp sounds.

This scene made the surrounding people swallow their saliva, and their hearts were filled with envy.