Mortal: I, Zhang Tie, started by joining forces with Han Li to kill a strategist.

The black crow flew for seven days, passing through several prefectures and counties, and finally entered the territory of Yanjiabao.

Yan Family Fortress is located on a plain in the northeast. As a Core Formation power, its territory is not as large as the Seven Sects, but it is still very large.

Although Yanjiabao is called a fortress, it looks like a city, with towering walls and numerous buildings inside.

Zhang Tie landed on a hilltop about four or five miles away from Yan Family Fortress, put the Black Crow into his storage bag, and then boarded a mid-grade magic artifact flying boat to head to Yan Family Fortress.

Riding a level-two flying spirit beast into Yan Family Fortress is too conspicuous and might attract attention. It's best to be careful!

At the entrance of Yan Family Fortress, a Foundation Establishment cultivator and several Qi Refining Grand Perfection cultivators were already standing, checking the identity of the visitors. Zhang Tie stepped forward without making a sound and placed an identity token on the ground.

"I am Tie Feiyu from Spirit Beast Mountain, here to attend the meeting on my master's orders!" Zhang Tie said calmly.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator accepted the token, confirmed it was from Spirit Beast Mountain, and respectfully returned it: "Fellow Daoist Tie, accommodations have been arranged in the fortress; someone will escort you there!"

Zhang Tie followed a Qi Refining cultivator into Yan Family Fortress.

The inside of the fortress was much more lively than the outside. The treasure hunt had decorated the entire Yan Family Fortress with lanterns and colorful decorations. Many cultivators from the seven sects, including Spirit Beast Mountain, Yellow Maple Valley, and Hidden Moon Sect, had already arrived. Zhang Tie scanned the area with his divine sense and sensed the auras of many Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"There are quite a few people from Spirit Beast Mountain this time!" Zhang Tie thought to himself.

He saw several Foundation Establishment cultivators dressed in the robes of the Spirit Beast Mountain gathered together, and their auras were not weak. However, Zhang Tie did not go forward to join the fun. The more people there were, the bigger the target would be. He followed the cultivator from Yan Family Fort to a small courtyard in the city that was specially for the cultivators of the seven sects to live in.

Zhang Tie closed the door, set up a simple warning array, then sat cross-legged inside the room, closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, but his divine sense always covered the surrounding area.

On the evening of the third day, Zhang Tie's divine sense detected a familiar aura, which was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

Zhang Tie's lips curled into a smile. Han Li had arrived!

Under the influence of his divine sense, he had already seen Han Li. Seven or eight years had passed, and this guy had grown taller, and his eyes were no longer as innocent as before. He had obviously gone through trials and tribulations and had become more cautious.

At this moment, Han Li was accompanied by a young female cultivator, who should be Dong Xuan'er.

Zhang Tie didn't rush out to acknowledge them; he waited until nightfall before quietly getting up.

Concealing his aura, he relied on his extraordinary divine sense to silently approach the courtyard where Han Li lived.

There were restrictions in the courtyard, but that was no problem for Zhang Tie. He easily broke through the formation and silently slipped inside.

The lights were still on inside the house, and Han Li was meditating with his eyes closed. Dong Xuan'er wasn't there; she was in the small courtyard next door.

Zhang Tie re-set up the isolation formation, walked to the stone pavilion in the courtyard, and deliberately made a noise.

"Who?" Han Li immediately sensed it, his voice filled with vigilance, and a magical longsword appeared in his hand.

"An old friend has come to visit, why not come out and greet him?" Zhang Tie said casually.

There was a moment of silence in the room, as if they were considering the risks, but after a short while, the door opened.

Han Li stood at the door, looking at the unfamiliar cultivator in the courtyard, his brows furrowed slightly.

"An old friend? He has no recollection of this person's aura or appearance, so where did this old friend come from?!" Han Li subtly shifted his foot and took a step back without making a sound.

Zhang Tie was observing Han Li's every move. Seeing this, he couldn't help but chuckle and stopped teasing the guy. Otherwise, Han Li would probably have turned around and run away!

He reached out and wiped his face, the shape-changing mask fell off, revealing his true face.

Han Li's eyes widened suddenly!

"Zhang Tie?!"

Han Li took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and quickly walked up to Zhang Tie.

"Zhang Tie, you... how did you get here? Your cultivation level..." Han Li scanned Zhang Tie with his divine sense and found that he could not see through his cultivation level.

"You've reached Foundation Establishment too?!"

"Hmm, you've reached Foundation Establishment. What's with that expression? What? You're allowed to cultivate, but I'm not allowed to break through?" Zhang Tie smiled as he looked at the shock in Han Li's eyes.

Han Li was silent for a moment, then smiled. He still had three Foundation Establishment Pills in his storage bag, which he had originally planned to give to Zhang Tie, but now it seemed...

Han Li did not realize that Zhang Tie had already reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage; otherwise, he would have been even more shocked.

The two exchanged pleasantries in the stone pavilion in the small courtyard. Han Li, having finally met someone he could trust, couldn't help but confide in Zhang Tie about what he had seen and heard in Huangfeng Valley.

Zhang Tie also talked about doing missions, killing monsters and becoming an apprentice, which made Han Li's heart surge with excitement!

The old friends met and chatted until late into the night.

Zhang Tie's smile faded somewhat, and he decided to tell Han Li his plans.

"Han Li, listen to me, we can't stay at Yan Family Fort for long!" Zhang Tie said solemnly.

Han Li frowned, his face filled with doubt: "What do you mean!"

Zhang Tie didn't answer directly, but instead said, "Do you believe me or not?"

"I believe you! But Brother Tie, do you mean something bad is going to happen at Yan Family Fortress?" Han Li's brows furrowed.

"It's not that something bad is about to happen, it's that something bad has already happened!"

"Yan Family Fortress has already sided with the demonic path. Tomorrow's treasure hunt is a trap. The people from the seven factions are all Yan Family Fortress's pledge of allegiance!" Zhang Tie tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

Han Li's pupils contracted slightly as he stared into Zhang Tie's eyes, trying to find any trace of a joke, but Zhang Tie's gaze remained calm, showing no hint of a joke.

How dare the Yan Family Fortress do such a thing, given the legendary demonic cultivators who strike fear into the hearts of all!

"Don't ask any more questions. You'll find out later. We'll leave the fortress at dawn tomorrow!"

After processing this for a while, Han Li ultimately chose to trust Zhang Tie.

Zhang Tie got up, walked to the door and was about to leave when his expression suddenly froze, and he turned back to look at Han Li.

Han Li's expression changed slightly. He quickly walked to the door, opened it, and Dong Xuan'er was standing outside. Her pretty face, naturally alluring, appeared, and her eyes seemed to be able to hold water.

"Han Li, is there someone in your room? Are you keeping a mistress?" Dong Xuan'er, acting without restraint, curiously peered into the room.

Zhang Tie had already put on the shape-changing mask, restoring his previously disguised appearance. Dong Xuan'er only saw a silhouette in the stone pavilion.

"A friend, it's so late, is something wrong?" Han Li stepped aside to block her view.

Han Li was also troubled by Dong Xuan'er. He knew what his master Li Huayuan and his uncle Hong Fu meant; they were intentionally trying to bring the two together.

However, Dong Xuan'er's cultivation of seductive arts and her flamboyant personality made her unsuitable for him. Furthermore, Han Li was focused on pursuing the Dao and had no interest in romantic relationships!

Dong Xuan'er pursed her lips when she saw Han Li's actions. She wasn't very interested in Han Li, who was plain-looking and had mediocre strength.

"The Yan family has prepared many good magical artifacts for tomorrow's conference, and I heard there's even a top-tier one. Are you sure you don't want to try your luck?"

Han Li had already made it clear when he arrived that he was just here to go through the motions and had no intention of going on stage to compete for the treasure. Why is Dong Xuan'er bringing this up again?!

Han Li's face immediately darkened: "I have something to do first thing tomorrow morning, so I have to leave first!"

Dong Xuan'er was taken aback, then burst out laughing: "Leave! The Treasure Hunt is filled with countless treasures. Are you leaving now because you're scared?"

Dong Xuan'er was surprised by Han Li's cowardice, and a look of disdain flashed in her eyes.

Han Li's expression was somewhat unpleasant, but he opened his mouth without saying anything.

Zhang Tie didn't get involved; Han Li could handle this himself.

However, this Dong Xuan'er is a problem. She has a naturally alluring body and a special constitution. It seems that she has been targeted by the cultivators of the Hehuan Sect. Zhang Tie doesn't want to have too much entanglement or interaction with her.