Chapter 481: Unexpected Incident

**Volume One: The Winds and Clouds of the Seven Mysteries Sect****Volume Four: Winds Rise Overseas**

However, when Han Li put away the two slightly deformed bronze halberds, he faintly sensed that Ji Yin glanced at the items a few times, but then skillfully withdrew his gaze, hiding his interest well.

Although this action was extremely subtle, Han Li's heart still tensed.

He knew that these two short halberds were probably valuable items. However, Patriarch Ji Yin still needed to retrieve the main treasures himself, so he naturally wouldn't demand them from Han Li now, risking the greater objective for a minor acquisition.

But this way, Ji Yin would likely have one more reason to attack him later.

Thinking of this, a wry smile appeared on Han Li's lowered face. But when he looked up again, his expression was as calm as before.

And so, with three Nascent Soul cultivators acting together, although the puppets and restrictions on this level were formidable, everyone still passed through unscathed.

They then teleported to the third level. Three people were whispering about something. It was Wan Tianming and his group of righteous cultivators.

Not far in front of them stood a massive structure, a grand and towering stone platform.

This platform was over a hundred zhang in length and width and about thirty zhang high. In the front, a flight of several hundred stone steps led directly to its summit.

The entire platform was constructed from what appeared to be ordinary gray rock and was enveloped, along with its steps, by a white light barrier.

Strangely, within the light barrier, blue light pulsed, growing brighter the closer one got to the center of the platform, with a constant shimmer, making it impossible to look directly at it or discern what exactly lay there.

Thick frost had congealed along the edges of the stone platform, the ice appearing crystal clear and transparent under the reflection of light. This made the platform exceptionally beautiful.

"How is it? Has your magical power almost recovered? If you're ready, let's proceed! Although we used the Heavenly Secret Sect's Creation Instrument to avoid the puppet guards this time, we don't have much time. After all, Barbarian Hu's Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art is incredibly effective against those puppets. They'll only need to spend a bit more effort on the fourth level. The other levels won't delay them for long," Wan Tianming said gravely in front of the platform.

"Brother Wan is right, let's go retrieve the treasure." Old Daoist Tian Wu, opposite him, appeared very much in agreement, a hint of excitement flickering in his eyes.

The black, thin old man, resembling an old farmer, nodded silently. He said nothing.

Wan Tianming didn't mind this. He knew that although the gaunt old man was taciturn, the 'Jade Pill Art' he cultivated possessed considerable power, and his true strength surpassed even that of Old Daoist Tian Wu.

It was just that this person, though from the righteous path, had always practiced in seclusion, rarely interacting or speaking with others, which was how he had developed such a detached demeanor.

After a slight smile, Wan Tianming led the two towards the light barrier.

A thick purple qi flashed and vanished, and with a sharp crack, the white light barrier was effortlessly split open by Wan Tianming's sleeve, forming an opening about a zhang high. The few individuals seized the opportunity and filed inside.

Soon after, Wan Tianming and the others vanished into the blue light atop the platform.

The part of the light barrier that had been breached reverted to its original state, and the steps became quiet once more.

After an unknown period, Wan Tianming and the others who had entered the light barrier had not emerged, but the figures of Barbarian Hu and Ji Yin appeared below the platform.

Han Li, Xuan Gu, and others obediently followed behind them.

"We've finally arrived at this dreadful place. That golden-furred puppet on the fourth level was incredibly powerful; if the three of us hadn't used our signature abilities, we would probably have been entangled for a while longer." The old man in the scholar's robe said, his eyes gleaming, as he gazed at the platform before him.

"Hmph, that puppet wasn't so bad. It was the restriction we encountered on the third level that was truly difficult to break. It made us waste so much time. Otherwise, we would have arrived earlier," Patriarch Ji Yin said with a gloomy expression, his words seemingly tinged with vexation.

"We're already here, why are you still spouting nonsense? Let's first see if Wan Tianming and his group have gone in to retrieve the treasures." Barbarian Hu frowned, saying brusquely, his face filled with impatience.

Hearing this, Ji Yin showed a hint of displeasure. He stopped speaking.

However, the old man in the scholar's robe chuckled, his expression unchanged:

"Don't worry, Brother Hu. According to the secret detection method Brother Wu and I used, Wan Tianming and his group did enter several hours ago. They haven't come out yet. We just need to wait here, because these steps are the only way to enter and exit this Cold Toad Platform."

"The only way? Really? Don't tell me those righteous path fellows slipped away from somewhere else. And we're still waiting here foolishly!" Barbarian Hu glanced sideways at the old man, appearing somewhat disbelieving.

"Hehe! There's absolutely no problem with that! This white light barrier isn't an ordinary protective shield. It's the Heavenly Gang Barrier, a highly renowned restriction from ancient times. Apart from this specially opened exit at the steps, there's no way to pass through any other part quickly. Let's rest here for a bit, and then we'll go in to check the situation," the old man calmly stroked his beard as he spoke.

"Mm, that's fine." Barbarian Hu nodded faintly upon hearing this and sat cross-legged on the nearby steps.

Ji Yin and the old man in the scholar's robe huddled together, conversing in low voices.

Han Li took all of this in, a sneer forming in his heart, but his face showed no unusual expression.

While these demonic old monsters might have thought things through well, Wan Tianming was clearly also a man of deep schemes. Their not entering now might actually be exactly what the righteous cultivators wanted.

Thinking of this, he raised his head and looked around. He noticed Xuan Gu alone beneath the platform not far away, gazing at the white light barrier, seemingly lost in thought.

Han Li's expression stirred; this seemed like a good opportunity to discuss things with him again. However, he reconsidered; this old devil was now associated with Barbarian Hu, and Han Li's value to him had diminished considerably. Most likely, he, like Patriarch Ji Yin, was now plotting to use Han Li's Blood Jade Spider for treasure retrieval.

Otherwise, why would he choose the timing to kill Ji Yin after the treasures were retrieved?

If he approached him proactively now, it would only reveal his apprehension to the other party. His situation would only worsen.

It seemed he would have to rely on his own planning to escape.

Having thought this, Han Li's gaze towards Xuan Gu involuntarily turned cold. And Xuan Gu, sensing something, looked back, coincidentally seeing Han Li.

Han Li cursed inwardly and immediately adopted a calm expression, walking nonchalantly to the other side.

Xuan Gu stared intently at Han Li's retreating back, a hint of doubt flickering across his face.

At this moment, Han Li slowly began to circle the huge stone platform, outside the light barrier.

Ji Yin and the others were confident that Han Li, being merely at the early Core Formation stage on this fifth level, couldn't possibly escape alone, and so they were quite at ease. They allowed Han Li to move freely nearby.

Before long, Han Li slipped away by himself to the back of the platform. Corresponding to the light barrier here was a tall bluestone wall.

The wall was carved with images of ancient strange beasts and some runes, but there was nothing unusual about it.

Han Li had seen many such walls in this inner hall and knew they were equipped with profound restrictions.

To break through the wall and escape, even Nascent Soul cultivators like Ji Yin would be unable to.

Thus, even if Han Li knew that beyond the wall was likely outside the inner hall, there was nothing he could do.

Han Li inwardly cursed the ancient cultivators who had made this inner hall as sturdy as a turtle's shell, and, in his frustration, slapped the stone wall hard, then turned to leave.

With a dull thud, Han Li, who had already taken three or four steps away, suddenly froze.

He slowly turned around, his face filled with disbelief.

If an ordinary cultivator had heard that sound, they probably wouldn't have paid any attention and would have left long ago. After all, the sound seemed perfectly normal.

But Han Li had come from a Jianghu gang background and had studied many things like mechanisms and secret rooms in his early years.

The moment that sound entered his ears, he discerned that the bluestone was not solid.

Han Li was somewhat incredulous.

In a place of ancient cultivators, where profound restrictions were everywhere, there was actually a hidden compartment. Han Li truly doubted his own judgment.

Of course, Han Li wouldn't simply walk away.

He only pondered for a moment, then immediately agilely walked back to the wall.

He extended two fingers and tapped each of the bluestones near where he had slapped earlier.

As a result, when his finger tapped the third bluestone, Han Li's heart stirred, his gaze fell upon that bluestone, which was carved with the monstrous, blood-red eye of a winged demonic beast.

Although the beast's image wasn't exquisitely carved, it was incredibly lifelike, fully conveying the creature's savage, bloodthirsty madness.

Han Li merely glanced briefly at the beast's carving, then lightly tapped the bluestone a few more times.

He finally confirmed with pleasant surprise that this bluestone indeed had a hollow compartment, and something appeared to be hidden inside.