Chapter 425: Seeking Treasures

On the ground behind the bronze stone platform, seven or eight square lacquered wooden boxes were scattered about, with talismans affixed to them still intact.

Clearly, when Cold Flame Ancestor had stolen the cultivation techniques twice before, he had been in such a hurry that he had no spare time to take the contents inside.

Han Li swept his gaze around, then stepped forward. Green light glowed on his palm as he wiped it across the surface of one box. The talisman, whose original color was no longer discernible, crumbled like rotten wood into powder.

He lifted the wooden lid with one hand, glanced inside, and immediately a smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Inside the box, neatly stacked in layers, were palm-sized azure crystals, over a hundred of them. They were none other than Heavenly Star Stones, containing extremely pure star power.

With such an abundance of Heavenly Star Stones, cultivating the Great Cycle Star Element Technique afterward would naturally yield twice the result with half the effort.

Han Li took a light breath, suppressing his joy, and opened all the remaining wooden boxes. To his surprise, without exception, they all contained Heavenly Star Stones, totaling nearly a thousand pieces.

He waved his hand and unceremoniously stored all the boxes into his wrist storage bracelet. After surveying the entire rear hall and confirming there was nothing else, he turned and exited through the hidden door, heading toward the front hall.

As he passed the large screen, Han Li suddenly raised an eyebrow and stopped.

He looked up, his eyes fixed on the night sky depicted on it, and a strange sensation arose in his heart. After a moment's deliberation, he pressed his hand against the screen and stored it away as well.

Then, he strode over to Cold Flame Ancestor, pulled open the hall door, and walked out without so much as a glance at him.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Lu Yuqing approaching with an anxious expression.

“Liu… Brother Han, you’re finally out…” Lu Yuqing said hastily.

“What’s wrong? Has something happened?” Han Li asked with a frown.

“Just now, from the square, various colored lights have been flashing continuously, and the commotion is enormous,” Lu Yuqing said, pointing toward the white stone square.

No sooner had she spoken than a thunderous boom came from that direction, followed by a crimson pillar of light shooting into the sky.

“It seems that Blood Han and his group are already breaking the formation. We need to leave quickly,” Han Li said, glancing in that direction.

“We’ve completely deviated from our original path, and the area marked on my map is limited. How do we find our way back?” Lu Yuqing asked worriedly.

Han Li did not answer her immediately. Instead, he leaped into the air, gazed into the distance behind the hall for a moment, then landed back on the ground.

“Since things have come to this, we’ll have to take it one step at a time. After all, you entered this place seeking fortune and opportunity. There are still many palaces and pavilions on the rear mountain; you might not leave empty-handed,” Han Li said slowly, looking at her.

“This… alright,” Lu Yuqing hesitated for a moment, then agreed reluctantly.

“Fellow Daoist Han, may I continue to follow you on the journey ahead?” At this moment, Cold Flame Ancestor walked out of the hall, looking uneasy as he asked.

“I’ve already decided not to dwell on what happened in the hall earlier, but don’t push your luck. From now on, we go our separate ways,” Han Li said coldly, his expression indifferent.

As they spoke, another rumble came from the square, and two pillars of light soared into the sky.

“Fellow Daoist Han, I no longer covet the second half of the Great Cycle Star Element Technique. Could you, for the sake of our past acquaintance in the Spirit Realm, take me along? If I stay here alone, not to mention whether I can leave the secret realm, I’ll surely die if I encounter Blood Han and his men,” Cold Flame Ancestor, knowing he was in the wrong, did not argue but pleaded.

Han Li pondered for a long while, then said, “I will only take you out of this area. Once we reach another place, you’ll find your own way out. After that, we’ll have nothing more to do with each other.”

“Thank you,” Cold Flame Ancestor said nothing more, immediately bowing respectfully.

Han Li sidestepped slightly, not accepting the bow, and led Lu Yuqing down the platform in front of the hall, heading toward the mountain path on the right.

Cold Flame Ancestor looked dejected, sighed softly, and quickly followed.

Along the mountain path beside the hall, there were numerous large and small palaces and pavilions, slightly smaller in scale than the previous three, but covering a vast area.

Han Li knew that the layout here was very similar to that of the Moon Palace, so there was likely a spirit herb garden on the rear mountain. He had intended to go straight there without stopping, but after probing the surrounding pavilions with his divine sense, he hesitated.

“Brother Han, what’s wrong?” Lu Yuqing asked, seeing him stop midway.

“There are many buildings here, and most have seal restrictions. Some are crude, others quite intricate. They likely contain treasures sealed within. It would be a pity not to explore them,” Han Li said thoughtfully.

“Brother Han, but… Blood Han and his men are still chasing us. Shouldn’t we…” Lu Yuqing’s eyes showed a hint of worry, hesitating.

“It’s fine. Even if they find a way to break the formation, it will still take them some time to get out. Besides, when they reach the three main halls, can they resist the temptation to explore them instead of chasing us?” Han Li waved his hand and said.

“Alright then… let’s search here for a while,” Lu Yuqing said, her eyes also gleaming with excitement as she looked at the nearby halls.

Having expended so much effort to enter this place, with the chance to seek the opportunities that everyone outside craved, how could she not want to explore?

“Let’s split up and each search for treasures on our own. Meet back here in half an hour. If anything unexpected happens, we’ll leave early,” Han Li instructed.

“Okay,” Lu Yuqing nodded and flew off in one direction.

Cold Flame Ancestor stood by, uneasy, but dared not say anything.

Han Li gave him a cold glance, then flickered and headed in the opposite direction from Lu Yuqing.

After Han Li left, Cold Flame Ancestor sighed silently, flipped his hand to produce a jade slip, examined it with great care, rubbed it gently in his hand, and finally a smile appeared on his face.

This jade slip contained the second half of the Great Cycle Star Element Technique, which he had secretly copied using the stone slab while Han Li was fighting the bronze puppet in the hall.

With this gain, the trip was not in vain.

Thinking this, he put away the jade slip, retracted the light in his eyes, and also chose a direction to fly off.

…

On a small bluestone square in front of a three-story pavilion, a flash of green light appeared, and Han Li’s figure landed lightly.

After steadying himself, he looked up and down at the pavilion. Under each of its eight eaves hung a small golden bell, which, despite the countless years, showed no sign of rust or even fading in color.

Han Li’s heart stirred. He raised his hand and flicked his sleeve, sending a wisp of wind that struck the pavilion’s door.

With a soft “clatter,” the door trembled slightly.

The twenty-four bells under the three eaves swayed gently, producing a clear, pleasant chime.

The sound was beautiful at first, but soon Han Li noticed something unusual.

The bell sounds, which should have gradually faded, instead grew louder with echoes, becoming increasingly resonant… until they were like the booming of great bells, each strike making Han Li’s mind grow drowsy and his vision blur.

“Twenty-four eave bells… a complete soul-restriction set. Quite rare,” Han Li said, his eyes suddenly flashing with blue light, instantly regaining clarity, and he couldn’t help but marvel.

Given his divine sense, which had reached the fourth level of the Spirit Refining Art, even he had briefly fallen victim. Others would likely find it hard to escape.

“If used in battle, even this momentary distraction could decide the outcome…” Han Li thought as he reached out to remove the bells.

However, when he extended his hand and grasped at them from a distance, the objects remained completely still, refusing to come off.

Han Li let out a soft “eh,” then carefully examined the entire pavilion. It dawned on him that this soul-restriction was not just the twenty-four bells, but the entire three-story structure.

He guessed that the bell restriction outside was merely the tip of the iceberg of the pavilion’s power. Inside, there was likely another dimension, and anyone who mistakenly thought they had broken the bell restriction and boldly entered would truly suffer.

After a moment’s thought, Han Li waved his hand. A flash of light appeared, and the Crab Daoist’s figure materialized.

“Summoning me so soon—is there trouble?” the Crab Daoist asked.

“Indeed, there is a matter I’d like to trouble you with, Fellow Daoist Crab,” Han Li said apologetically.

“Please speak,” the Crab Daoist said, frowning slightly.

“This pavilion is a high-grade restriction-type spiritual treasure. I need some time to refine it. I’d like to ask you to search for treasures in the nearby halls. Whatever you find, I will reward you with spirit stones afterward,” Han Li said.

“Alright,” the Crab Daoist agreed without hesitation.

Han Li thought for a moment, his eyes suddenly brightening. He flipped his hand and produced a yellow gourd, handing it to the Crab Daoist, saying:

“You can command the bean soldiers inside. Send them out to search as well.”

“Good idea,” the Crab Daoist said, taking the gourd. With a flash of electric sparks, he vanished from the spot.

Han Li focused his gaze, secretly activating the Spirit Refining Art. Green light gathered on his hand as he pushed open the pavilion door and stepped inside.

This pavilion was clearly extraordinary, and its core mechanisms were surely inside. To refine it, there was no other way but to enter.