Han Yi's interest was piqued, and he relentlessly bombarded the Cosmic Pouch's restriction with his divine sense.
With each probe, he could feel the pouch's original seals weakening.
"Based on the strength of this divine sense restriction, it should only take seven days to completely erode it," he mused.
"By then, this Cosmic Pouch will be mine."
Han Yi's heart burned with anticipation, partly for the treasures within and partly for the pouch itself.
He had seen Cosmic Pouches for sale in the Inner Peak market, where even the cheapest ones rivaled Top-Grade Magic Artifacts. Selling this pouch alone would fetch enough to buy a Top-Grade Sword Artifact—an incredibly tempting prospect for Han Yi.
With this in mind, Han Yi tirelessly continued to erode the pouch's restriction with his divine sense. When his mental energy flagged, he would meditate to recover, then resume his efforts.
Three days later, Han Yi emerged from his courtyard, fatigue etched on his face, yet a hint of elation tempered his exhaustion.
"It's faster than I expected," he thought. "Instead of seven days, it should only take another three to break the seals."
Leaving his courtyard, Han Yi descended Azure Dragon Peak and made his way to White Tiger Peak. Today was the day he had agreed to meet with He Fengdi, Chu Jinmo, and Shen Ru.
As Han Yi descended the lower peak, he happened to encounter Luo Yunzhou ascending the mountain.
Luo Yunzhou's expression turned knowing as he saw Han Yi. "I knew Junior Brother Han would be safe and sound. Just as I expected."
Han Yi chuckled. "Luo Senior Brother, your expectations of me are far too high."
He still felt a lingering unease as he recalled the perilous moment when he had emerged from the Myriad Demon Mountain Range forest and approached the Transcending Calamity Immortal Ship. If he had been just three breaths slower, Han Xuxiao would have caught up, and he would have been in serious trouble.
Even with all four Wind Demon Daggers unleashed simultaneously, victory had seemed impossible. Adding to the danger, he had just emerged from a fierce battle, leaving him with only twenty percent of his mana remaining, far from his optimal condition.
Luo Yunzhou took Han Yi's words as modesty, smiled, and didn't press the matter. Instead, he asked, "Junior Brother Han, when might you have time to share your experiences with us? We'd love to exchange insights."
Han Yi agreed, setting a meeting for seven days later. After bidding farewell to Luo Yunzhou, he descended the mountain and headed straight for White Tiger Peak.
Upon reaching White Tiger Peak, he noticed a group of over thirty people approaching the White Tiger Palace and the path leading down the mountain from the outskirts of the White Tiger Market.
A flicker of interest crossed Han Yi's eyes.
This group of disciples was likely from the second or third batch transported back by the Transcending Calamity Immortal Ships.
Three such ships had ventured into the Myriad Demon Mountain Range. Han Yi's ship had likely been the first to gather a full complement of one hundred disciples and return, followed by the other two Immortal Ships, which had docked on the outskirts of the mountain range.
Suddenly, a familiar figure caught Han Yi's eye. His expression shifted slightly as he approached.
"Senior Brother Guan," Han Yi called out.
The man before Han Yi stopped, revealing himself to be Guan Di, whom Han Yi hadn't seen in quite some time.
Guan Di's condition was far from good. His face was pale, and his robe was torn, revealing glimpses of the Body-Protecting Inner Armor beneath. Dried bloodstains mottled the fabric, a testament to the fierce battles he must have endured.
Yet a chilling killing intent flickered in his eyes as they met Han Yi's. Only when he recognized Han Yi did his gaze soften.
"Junior Brother Han," Guan Di greeted with a nod.
"Senior Brother Guan, is this the second or third ship?" Han Yi asked.
"The third," Guan Di replied. "The first two Transcending Calamity Immortal Ships returned to the Sect long ago. These disciples here should be the last of us."
Guan Di turned to look at his fellow sect members, and Han Yi followed his gaze. The disciples around them were in a similar state to Guan Di, clearly having endured fierce battles. It occurred to Han Yi that this final group must have borne the brunt of the Blood God Sect's attacks.
Of course, those who survived would be reborn from the ashes, transformed in body and spirit.
Take Guan Di, for example. Though pale and battered, his eyes burned with suppressed killing intent. His combat instincts had undoubtedly been honed to an unprecedented degree.
"I'll keep it brief," Guan Di said, clasping his hands in a farewell gesture. "I need to return to Overturning Sea Peak. I'll catch up with Junior Brother Han when I have time."
Guan Di turned and strode away.
After the group had dispersed, a voice spoke beside Han Yi. "Judging by this, at least sixty fellow disciples must have perished."
Han Yi turned to see He Fengdi standing beside him, his tone filled with a complex mix of sorrow and regret.
When they had first set out for the Myriad Demon Mountain Range, they had deployed three Immortal Ships, each filled to capacity with a hundred disciples. Now, only thirty-odd survivors had returned on the third ship. Combined with the survivors from the first two ships, the total came to just over two hundred and thirty—over sixty fewer than when they had departed.
Unless something unexpected had happened, these individuals had likely met their end within the Myriad Demon Mountain Range, either slain by Demon Beasts or perishing in clashes with cultivators from the Blood God Sect.
Of course, the Blood God Sect cultivators hadn't emerged entirely victorious either. The Profound Pill Sect disciples, having undergone the Cave Heaven Trial, the Inner and Outer Peak Great Competition, and the Joint Great Competition, had significantly enhanced their combat prowess. This was precisely why the Sect had included the "venture forth" provision in its New Policy.
This expedition served as a practical test of their enhanced combat capabilities.
As for the outcome of this trial, Han Yi and his companions remained uncertain and could only speculate.
Shortly thereafter, Chu Jinmo and Shen Ru arrived. The four of them entered the White Tiger Palace together, first submitting their mission reports, then exchanging their points for rewards, and finally distributing the points according to their previously agreed-upon plan.
Between the Seventh-Tier Demon Beast they had submitted and the additional points He Fengdi had generously bestowed upon him, Han Yi received over eight thousand points in total.
According to the Sect's rough conversion rate of seven points per Spirit Stone, this translated to over a thousand Spirit Stones.
A thousand Spirit Stones was equivalent to a low-end Mid-Grade Magic Artifact—a highly enticing reward for ordinary Qi Refining Seventh Layer disciples of the Profound Pill Sect. After all, not everyone could emulate Han Yi's "cheat-like" advantage, accumulating Spirit Stones faster than they could spend them.
Han Yi exchanged all his points for pill refinement and talisman crafting materials. Though he didn't need them immediately, he stocked up just in case, knowing he wouldn't miss the Spirit Stones.
As the crowd dispersed, Chu Jinmo called out to Han Yi.
"Junior Brother Han, you saved me once, and I owe you a favor. If you ever need my help, please don't hesitate to ask."
Chu Jinmo's demeanor was far more solemn than it had been on the Transcending Calamity Immortal Ship. Seeing her earnestness, Han Yi straightened his posture and nodded. "If I ever truly need Senior Sister Chu's assistance, I'll be sure to reach out."
"Excellent," Chu Jinmo replied with a radiant smile, her gentle grace restored.
"I ran into Junior Sister Yan Ru yesterday. She's also on Azure Dragon Peak. When you two meet, please remember to invite me along."
"Also, Junior Sister Yan Ru doesn't have a Dao Companion yet. Why doesn't Junior Brother Han consider her?" Chu Jinmo added, a mischievous glint flickering in her eyes—an emotion she rarely revealed.
Before Han Yi could respond, she feigned sudden realization. "Oh, I understand now! Junior Brother Han is merely an ordinary pill refiner, still only at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining. With such a low cultivation realm and weak strength, you're likely immersed in bitter cultivation, having given up hope of finding a Dao Companion."
"Hmm, that must be it," she mused, nodding gravely as if confirming her own deduction. Ignoring Han Yi's dumbfounded expression, she turned and strode away. Halfway to the exit, she couldn't suppress a soft chuckle—a sound that carried not only ethereal grace but also a hint of youthful playfulness.