Even though Han Li was unable to hear the contents of the voice transmission conversation between Elder Yang and Yu Kuohai, it wasn't difficult to guess what they were talking about.
However, he displayed no reaction to this, instead looking around with a contemplative look on his face.
After a brief conversation, Elder Yang and Yu Kuohai turned their attention back to Han Li again.
"Would you be able to point out a way for me to leave this place, fellow daoists? I still have some urgent matters that I have to attend to," Han Li said.
"Why are you in such a hurry to leave, Fellow Daoist Shi? Truth be told, you've stumbled upon a massive stroke of luck! This place is a lost immortal abode with countless treasures and opportunities inside. As long as you come with us, you'll be sure to reap some significant rewards," Yu Kuohai said with a benevolent smile.
"What? A lost immortal abode? I knew something looked a little different about this place!" Han Li immediately exclaimed as he feigned an ecstatic expression.
"That's right, this is the former immortal manor of a Great Encompassment cultivator by the name of Immortal Lord Tai Sui. You must've been fated to stumble into this place, so don't squander this opportunity that fate has bestowed upon you!" Yu Kuohai urged.
"Indeed. We are all cultivators from righteous sects, and the fact that we've met here means that our fates were destined to intertwine, so why not come explore this immortal manor with us together?" Valley Master Fu offered with a smile.
Han Li's heart was full of disdain upon hearing this. If some clueless itinerant cultivator were in his place, perhaps they really would be led astray by this tantalizing offer.
All of the other cultivators from the three sects were looking much more friendly and relaxed at this point, but they still formed a loose circle around Han Li, so it was clear that they weren't going to let him slip away.
Han Li put on a conflicted expression, acting as if he were feeling swayed by the offer.
From Yu Kuohai's perspective, all Han Li needed was a little bit more of a push, and he gave Elder Yang a subtle look, upon which the latter immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Shi, you don't know where to go anyway, so as opposed to stumbling around aimlessly in this secret area, it would be much safer for you to travel with us."
Before Han Li had a chance to reply, a hostile look suddenly appeared on Valley Master Gu's face as he asked, "Why are you so hesitant, Fellow Daoist Shi? Could it be that you don't think very highly of the Spirit Heaven Sect, Blazing Light City, and our Azure Lock Valley."
"Of course not! I have nothing but respect for you all, and I'm flattered that you think highly enough of me to invite me along. I am willing to come with you, and I don't wish for any compensation, all that I wish for is to be useful to you all," Han Li hurriedly replied as he cupped his fist in a salute.
"You know what? He's not so bad. If he really does prove himself to be useful, then we should spare him," Valley Master Gu said to Yu Kuohai and Elder Yang through voice transmission.
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Shi. As long as you do your best to help us, you'll certainly be rewarded for your efforts," Yu Kuohai said with a benevolent smile.
Han Li hurriedly nodded in response with a grateful and awestruck look on his face.
After a brief conversation, everyone continued to make their way deeper into the secret area.
"Fellow Daoist Shi, you came from a different direction from the one that we came from, did you encounter anything useful along the way?" Elder Yang suddenly asked.
"I didn't even know that I was in a lost immortal manor, so I didn't have the presence of mind to search for any treasures. Not long after entering this place, I encountered that metal beast, and I was in such a panic to get away from it that I don't even recall what route I took to flee here," Han Li replied with an embarrassed expression.
"Don't worry about it. Now that you're with us, something like that won't happen again," Yu Kuohai assured.
"Thank you, everyone," Han Li said as he cupped his fist in a grateful salute.
"Alright, I'll give it a try."
Han Li knew that Elder Yang was trying to test him, and he rolled up his sleeves, looking as if he were eager to meet the challenge.
Upon arriving at the palace gates, he discovered that there was a round metal slab embedded into its surface. The metal slab carried a design of a pair of beasts with their heads and tails interconnected to one another, as well eight lightning runes.
Han Li was immediately able to identify the eight runes as ones that represented the legendary Eight Thunder Gods, while the two beasts at the center were the Bipolar Lightning Beasts.
However, he didn't immediately say anything. Instead, he began scratching his own head while feigning a puzzled expression.
"Can you break this restriction or not, Fellow Daoist Shi? If you can't, then speak up, and I'll break it by force," Yu Kuohai called out in a slightly disgruntled manner.
"I can recognize the Bipolar Lightning Beasts on this metal slab, but I don't recognize all of the surrounding runes. All I can tell is that this is a lightning restriction, and that if it's broken by force, then the restriction will be activated, and the entire palace will be destroyed by lightning," Han Li replied with a hesitant expression.
"Really?" Yu Kuohai asked with a skeptical expression.
"If you don't believe me, then you can give it a try, Fellow Daoist Yu," Han Li replied with a wry smile.
A contemplative look appeared on Yu Kuohai's face upon hearing this, following which he smiled as he said, "Of course I believe you, Fellow Daoist Shi. Do you have any way to break this restriction?"
"I can only give it a try. Would any of you like to do the honors?" Han Li asked.
Everyone looked back and forth at one another, following which all of them turned collectively to Han Li.
"You're the one breaking the restriction, so it would naturally be best for you to test out your own methods yourself," Elder Yang said with a smile, and everyone else nodded in agreement.
A wry smile appeared on Han Li's face as he said, "In that case, please step back a little, everyone. I don't know how powerful this restriction is going to be."
Everyone did as they were told, retreating to over a thousand feet away.
Han Li turned to face the palace with his back to everyone, and a faint smile appeared on his face as he began working on the restriction.
Breaking this restriction wasn't a difficult task for Han Li at all, and it only took him less than a minute to open it by using the Divine Devilbane Lightning in his body.
However, he didn't say anything. Instead, he released his Essence Fire Raven discreetly into the palace.
Some time later, a burst of silver lightning suddenly exploded in front of Han Li, sending him flying back through the air.
Everyone was quite alarmed to see this, and no one noticed a burst of silver flames flying out of the lightning before vanishing up Han Li's sleeve.
In order to sell the act, Han Li flew back over a thousand feet before tumbling heavily to the ground with his clothes in tatters.
Yu Kuohai and the others only took a glance at him before noticing that the palace gates had been opened, and all of them immediately rushed inside, but it didn't take long before a chorus of angry voices rang out from inside.