Six months later, at a remote ruin in Jingzhou, a province of Tiannan Yue, a young man in a green robe stood at the end of a narrow path, gazing silently at a section of crumbling stone wall before him, lost in deep contemplation. The ruin had clearly existed in this location for a long time—wild grass and shrubs had grown to half a man's height throughout the area, and the stone fragments and walls were covered in layers of dark green moss. Occasionally, patches of pale gray on the stone wall revealed a faint relief carving of the character "Han," partially eroded at one corner. After an indeterminate period, footsteps echoed along the path behind the green-robed man. A moment later, a couple with a young boy walked out from the bend, chatting and laughing. The couple were not particularly old—both in their thirties. The man had a deep brown complexion and broad hands and feet, while the woman, though slightly flushed, possessed a certain grace and charm. Both of them looked weathered, carrying bamboo baskets with some incense and candles, appearing like ordinary rural couple. Yet, as soon as they saw someone approaching ahead, they both paused, startled. The boy, about seven or eight years old, was exceptionally charming, with dark, lively eyes that gleamed with curiosity, gazing intently at the strangers. "Um... sir," the man hesitated slightly, then stepped forward with his wife and the boy, his words a little stammered. "Could you tell me—what is your name?" Though only seen from the back, the man clearly bore the air of someone well-educated and rooted in the land, which naturally inspired deep respect in this rarely-venturing rural man. "I'm not particularly special," he said. "My family name is Han. I've simply come here to pay my respects at the ancestral hall of the Han family from back then." After a quiet reply, the man in the green robe finally turned around. His face was ordinary, yet there was a subtle resemblance to the man among the couple behind him—three parts of similarity, perhaps. "The young lord also bears the surname Han. It seems he is a descendant from one of the branches of the Han family that has been dispersed over the years. I've heard from my grandfather that the Han family once flourished for a thousand years, with many of its members settling abroad. There were even visitors who came to pay homage here not long ago. Yet in recent years, we've seen very few members from other branches making the journey to visit." The man in his thirties didn't seem particularly surprised by this, but instead expressed a pleasant smile. "Indeed, after so many generations passing through, it's likely that the descendants of these branches have almost forgotten that this place is where the Han family first began. How could they come back to pay their respects? On the other hand, your branch has done well—steadfast in staying here, never straying far from the area." The man in the green robe offered a few words of commendation to the couple. "Hehe, according to my grandfather, their generation also didn't lack thoughts of leaving. But they simply couldn't bear to part with the prosperous land where the Han family once thrived. Moreover, they heard that our Han ancestors once produced a heavenly sage. Should our branch ever leave, when the heavenly sage ancestors return, they might truly find no descendants left to trace. That's why they've finally set aside the idea." The Han man spoke sincerely and warmly. "Heavenly sage ancestors, hehe—I've heard this tale before, though it's from several thousand years ago, and I doubt it holds much truth," the robe-clad man replied indifferently. "As for that, I'm not entirely sure, but it's what the elders have always said. Also, during the great ancestral ceremony, my grandfather once presented a sword scabbard, which he claimed was left behind by the heavenly sage ancestors. I'd say that should carry some weight." The Han man smiled and added. "Sword scabbard?" The robe-clad man raised his eyebrows slightly, looking rather surprised. "Yes." My elders have told me that this divine sword was once hung in the ancestral hall, saving our Han family from extinction on several occasions many years ago. Unfortunately, after one use, the sword vanished, transforming into countless golden lights—only the sword case remained, now devoid of any miraculous powers, and has been preserved by our lineage ever since. It was precisely because of this sword’s absence that our family eventually declined rapidly during a subsequent great crisis, forcing the surviving members to scatter and seek new homes. For some reason, this Han man found the person before him particularly familiar and, without hesitation, shared all he knew. Ah, I see. I wasn’t fully aware of these details. However, it’s quite natural for a family to rise and fall—no one can escape that fate. Is this your child? She seems quite bright. What is her name? The young man in green robes listened, sighed lightly, then glanced at the boy beside the couple, and casually asked, "Heh, this is my third son, Han Ming. Come on, quickly bow to your uncle!" Upon hearing the praise, the Han man was delighted and immediately pulled the boy forward. Though still young, the boy was neither shy nor hesitant—he promptly knelt down, gave two crisp bows, called out "Uncle," and then rose again. "Well, truly a promising child. Since he has come to meet me, it's clear we are destined to meet. Allow me to present something to him. If he truly has good fortune, he may find himself in for a great opportunity. Even if not, he will surely live a long and healthy life." The young man in green robes immediately sensed that the boy possessed a latent spiritual root—though ordinary, it still stirred his heart and prompted him to speak so warmly. Then, with a single flick of his hand, a translucent jade plaque appeared in his grasp. After inscribing a subtle spell into it, he tied a red cord through the center and, with a graceful bow, fastened it directly around the boy's neck. No one knew that, months after the boy under Han Ming's care by chance uncovered a hidden secret within the jade plaque, he suddenly left home and, years later, with the power of that very plaque, directly entered the service of a Yuan-Enlightened elder at Luoyun Sect, eventually becoming a renowned grand cultivator and revitalizing the Han family once again. ... Thousands of years passed, and what had once been a lively area outside ZuiMo Valley, now grew increasingly desolate as the various medicinal herbs and rare items were harvested to the last, with few daring to venture in. Yet on this day, a streak of jade-green light pierced through the valley's remaining barriers and perilous obstacles, charging straight into the heart of the valley. Half a day later, a thunderous roar shook the valley, causing the ground outside to tremble. Then, a brilliant streak of jade-green light pierced the sky, breaking through the heavens, and after a few swift flashes, vanished into the boundless clouds beyond, leaving no trace. Such a commotion naturally alerted several smaller and mid-sized sects stationed nearby, who immediately dispatched their disciples to investigate. Upon arriving at the scene within the valley, these disciples were all astonished to find that the mountain peak which had previously blocked the entrance and exit of the Failing Demon Valley had vanished completely, leaving behind only an immense, deep crater. From within the crater, faint silvery filaments of light were gently radiating outward. "Northern Primordial Light," some seasoned sect cultivators immediately exclaimed upon recognizing the origin of these silvery filaments, and many of them, filled with excitement, rushed into the crater, braving the risks to collect Northern Primordial Crystals. However, despite their thorough searches—repeatedly scanning the area hundreds of times—they managed to gather only a handful of about a dozen such crystals. This led to a notable dispute among the sect cultivators. The one responsible for this event was none other than Han Li, who had just arrived from Jingzhou in the Yue State. He used his great magical prowess to lift all the northern primordial crystals hidden deep beneath the Murmuring Valley, leaving no trace behind in the human realm. Immediately, he selected a secluded mountain cave nearby and began setting up an exceptionally intricate magical array. This return journey, requiring him to carry the northern primordial crystals across realms, proved even more challenging than his previous descent, necessitating the aid of the magical array. After several hours, the array was finally completed. Han Li immediately sat at the center of the array, pressing hand seals, and a massive, five-colored disc transformed into a full moon, soaring forth from his body. The entire array vibrated intensely, surging with energy, and waves of luminous light surged outwards, completely engulfing his form. A moment later, a tremendous roar echoed from the center, followed by a colossal, creamy-white light pillar rising skyward—stretching over ten thousand zhang—before vanishing in a flash. At the same time, Han Li, who had been seated within the spell array, suddenly regained his original appearance of a blue-robed scholar as a cascade of green light spiraled around him. As his body relaxed, he fell silent, lying motionless within the array. Han Li silently pondered in his heart, his mind filled with a subtle sense of excitement. (To be continued.)