I'll make you the furnace and the cauldron, so you can refine Yin and Yang and prove the Great

Hehuan Sect, Sect Square.

The teleportation array suddenly lit up in the twilight, and two figures stumbled out, landing unsteadily on the bluestone ground. Li Hanshan supported Ye Shuanghua with one hand, while his other hand still clutched the teleportation talisman, which was now mostly shattered. He looked around—the five familiar mountain peaks stood majestically in the twilight, the pale golden light of the protective array flowing endlessly overhead. They had returned to the Hehuan Sect.

Ye Shuanghua propped herself up from his embrace, blood still seeping from the torn wound on her left arm, her face as pale as paper. But instead of tending to her injury, she took a pure silver talisman from her sleeve, its surface intricately engraved, and crushed it violently. The talisman exploded, transforming into a streak of silver-white light, almost invisible to the naked eye, shooting skyward with incredible speed, as if tearing through space itself, heading straight towards the palace shrouded in spiritual mist at the highest point of the main peak.

"What are you doing?" Li Hanshan asked.

"Inform Master." Ye Shuanghua's voice carried a weak yet resolute steadiness. "News about the Dao artifact will soon spread throughout the entire Hehuan Sect. The elders won't let this opportunity pass. I must get Master out of seclusion before they make their move."

The silvery-white streak of light exploded atop the main peak, transforming into a visible silver ripple that spread in all directions. Wherever the ripple passed, the pale golden light barrier of the mountain-protecting array trembled slightly, like fine ripples spreading across a lake after a pebble has been thrown in. Although the movement wasn't significant, it carried an extremely unique spiritual energy frequency, as if it were a specific signal designed for communication, the meaning of which could only be discerned by the core members of the Hehuan Sect.

High atop the main peak, the Ninth Elder sat sipping tea in a side hall. The moment he sensed the silvery-white ripple, his brow furrowed sharply. He set down his teacup, stood up, and strode to the hall's entrance, his gaze following the dissipating silver light towards the back of the main peak. The Fifth Elder sat on the stone steps diagonally opposite him, also holding a cup of spiritual tea. Her gaze was also fixed in the same direction; her brow twitched almost imperceptibly, but she remained silent.

"What is that girl doing?" The Ninth Elder's voice carried a suppressed coldness. "That's a talisman to notify the sect leader. Why would she use it at this time? Unless—" He didn't finish his sentence, but a sharp, confirmed glint flashed in his lightning-like eyes.

The Fifth Elder finally put down her teacup and stood up. Her voice carried a restrained calmness: "Ye Shuanghua is a steady child; she wouldn't use that kind of talisman without a reason. Since she used it, it means something serious has indeed happened." She paused for a moment, "I'll go take a look." Without waiting for the Ninth Elder's response, her azure figure transformed into a streak of light and flew towards the teleportation array.

In front of the teleportation array, Ye Shuanghua grabbed Li Hanshan's arm and flew towards the back of the main peak.

"Hurry!" Her voice was low, and she even used a sound-masking spell. "Chu Zian and the others will be out of the secret realm soon. The news of the Dao artifact can't be kept secret for long. Master's cave is deep in the back mountain, where there are exclusive restrictions for the sect leader's lineage. Once we enter that area, even the elders won't dare to force their way in."

The two transformed into streaks of light and flew over the Hehuan Sect Plaza.

Within the Hehuan Sect, flying is prohibited in many areas, and ordinary disciples can only walk in 80% of the areas. However, core disciples like Ye Shuanghua, who are also the sect leader's disciples, naturally have some privileges.

For example, she has some talismans that can be used to fly within the Hehuan Sect at crucial moments.

But before the two had flown far, a loud shout suddenly resounded throughout the Hehuan Sect.

"Li Hanshan! Hand over the Dao artifact!"

Chu Zian's furious shout.

This roar, delivered with the spiritual power of a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, resounded throughout the entire Hehuan Sect in an instant.

"not good!"

Ye Shuanghua's expression changed drastically.

The Fifth Elder, who was flying over, heard Chu Zian's voice and his expression changed as well. He flew towards Li Hanshan and Ye Shuanghua at an even faster speed.

The Ninth Elder, who was originally in the main hall, shook his teacup, spilling the tea inside. The next second, without saying a word, he disappeared from the spot.