A little over a year later.

Southwest of Gu Yun Continent, a continuous mountain range stretches for an unknown number of miles.

Whether it was the ground or the peaks, the entire mountain range was a vibrant crimson. It was also dotted with countless craters, spewing forth red magma columns from time to time.

One after another, fire columns soared into the sky, creating a spectacular sight. The rumbling sounds were incessant, and the sky was filled with crimson fire clouds, the air thick with the pungent scent of sulfur.

Deep within the mountains, countless pits, densely packed like a honeycomb, were scattered across the valleys.

This was Fire Cloud Ridge.

A green shadow flashed through the air, and Han Li's figure appeared out of nowhere. He glanced around before flying down towards the mines below.

More than ten days later.

Deep beneath Fire Cloud Ridge, within a giant mine, two figures, one large and one small, were flying up and down, sometimes together, sometimes apart, engaged in a fierce battle.

Each collision produced a deafening sound, causing the entire mountain belly to shake violently, sending countless pebbles raining down.

The smaller figure was Han Li, surrounded by a green aura, striking out with his bare fists, creating a series of afterimages.

The larger figure was a crimson lizard, seven or eight zhang in length. Although seemingly agile and spitting scorching flames, it couldn't land a single blow on Han Li.

On the contrary, each time Han Li's fist landed on its body, it would crack the seemingly impenetrable crimson scales.

Before long, the formidable crimson lizard was riddled with injuries, its scales shattered in many places.

The beast had long since wanted to retreat, but Han Li was like a leech, giving it no chance.

*Bang*

Han Li threw another punch, but this time, the crimson lizard, for some reason, didn't dodge and was sent flying backward, slamming heavily into a cave wall.

A large patch of scales shattered completely where the fist struck its back, and blood gushed out.

As the crimson lizard approached the wall, it suddenly opened its mouth and spat out a stream of crimson flames, instantly melting the wall into flowing lava.

With a blur, the crimson lizard was about to burrow into the lava.

But at that moment, a huge black blade of light shot over, seemingly slow but actually swift, appearing instantly at the wound on the crimson lizard's back. A power of law poured out, turning into an immense force that landed on its body.

Lacking the protection of its scales, the crimson lizard's body was cleanly cleaved in two by the blade of light, plummeting to the ground. Then, with a slight blur of the blade, a dozen black blades flashed past, shredding its nascent soul before it could escape.

With a wave of his hand, Han Li recalled the black longsword.

This crimson lizard was the culprit behind the disappearances in the mine. Its strength wasn't particularly high, but its scales were indestructible, and it could easily melt the cave walls to move on the ground and within the walls, making surprise attacks hard to prevent.

Even for him, it had taken half a month to finally corner the beast here.

From the lizard's abdomen, chunks of crimson crystal, each the size of a head, tumbled out, scattering across the ground.

The crystals were translucent, with a flame-like red glow flickering in the center, radiating an intense heat, like red-hot coals, but thousands of times hotter.

"This is Fire Essence Crystal..." Han Li landed, picked up a crystal, and murmured to himself.

His palm seemed unaffected by the crystal's intense heat.

Han Li glanced at it, waved his hand to collect all the Fire Essence Crystals on the ground.

His gaze then swept over the lizard's body. He lightly swung the black blade a few times, severing its limbs and claws, storing them away before transforming into a streak of cyan light and flying towards one direction in the mine.

...

A little over a year later.

Outside the Tai Xuan Side Hall, a figure hurried over, none other than Han Li, who had traveled back from afar.

Looking at the building before him, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had completed two tasks. As long as he completed one more, he could spend the next hundred years focusing on his own matters.

Han Li stepped inside, about to speak, when he suddenly paused.

The hall was empty. The gray-robed old man was not there.

After a moment's thought, he turned around, stopped a young attendant who was passing by outside the hall.

"Greetings, Elder." The young attendant, seeing Han Li's elder robes, quickly bowed respectfully.

"Do you know where the elder of this side hall has gone?" Han Li asked.

"Oh, you mean Elder Hu Yan? He should be at Hundred-Wine Manor on Hundred-Wine Peak," the young attendant replied, pointing to a nearby peak.

From here, he could vaguely see a cluster of buildings atop the peak.

"Hundred-Wine Manor..."

Han Li muttered to himself, a strange expression flickering across his face. After waving the youth away, he flew directly towards the peak without another word.

He soon landed on the peak, looking at a large manor with vermilion doors and white walls before him. The words "Hundred-Wine Manor" were written on the gate in a flamboyant, spirited calligraphy.

However, the characters were somewhat scattered, as if they had been casually written after a drunken spree.

Han Li hesitated, released his spiritual sense, and raised an eyebrow. The gray-robed old man was indeed inside.

He straightened his clothes, pushed open the gate, and walked in.

In the courtyard was a large patio, with a row of potted plants on either side, just like those in the side hall, planted with various spiritual herbs and flowers, filled with spiritual energy and emitting a rich fragrance.

Han Li's eyes lit up as he scanned the area.

Not far away, in one of the pots, was a green spiritual herb, more than one person tall, covered with clusters of yellow beans.

These beans were quite similar to the Soldier Beans he had snatched from the two Grand Ascension cultivators of the Heavenly Ghost Sect.

Han Li's heart stirred. He observed for a long time before withdrawing his gaze, walking to a hall within the courtyard, and knocking on the door.

"Elder Hu Yan, this junior Li Feiyu seeks an audience."

After speaking, he stood outside the door, waiting.

After a moment, the hall door creaked open, and a strong aroma of wine wafted out. Elder Hu Yan, his face flushed, his eyes bleary with sleepiness, held a jade-green wine cup in his hand.

"Oh, it's you. You're back so soon." Elder Hu Yan drained the cup of fine wine, smacked his lips, and said casually.

With that, he turned and staggered inside, lay down on a reclining chair, picked up a jade wine pot from beside him, filled the jade cup, and downed it again.

"Such good wine..." Elder Hu Yan let out a satisfied sigh.

Han Li slowly entered the room, frowning slightly at the drunken old man before him. But then he relaxed and said,

"Elder Hu Yan, this junior has completed the task. A crimson lizard about to break through to the True Immortal Realm had infiltrated Fire Cloud Ridge, and has been eliminated by this junior."

"Oh, I've already received the message... You're not bad... Efficient work." Elder Hu Yan didn't even look at Han Li, taking another two cups as he spoke.

"Thank you for the praise, Elder. This junior would like to take on another task," Han Li cupped his fist toward the old man and said again.

"Boy, what's the rush! You've cultivated for ten thousand years, transcended tribulations to become an immortal, obtained boundless lifespan. What are you seeking? To move mountains and fill seas, to control the clouds and rain? Or to be revered by the world, to roam freely in the heavens and earth? These are but fleeting clouds, far inferior to this cup of Forgetfulness Nectar in my hand! Come, come, keep me company for a drink before we talk about anything else!" Elder Hu Yan laughed loudly, took out another wine cup from who-knows-where, filled it, and patted a chair beside him.

Although Han Li was unwilling to waste time here, he seemed to have thought of something, and sat down, picking up the wine cup.

"In that case, then I shall intrude."

"That's right. Let's drink and sing, seize the moment for pleasure. This is my way of immortality! Cheers!" Elder Hu Yan picked up his wine cup, clinked it with Han Li's, and drank it down.

Seeing this, Han Li immediately drained his cup as well.

The fine wine was sweet and refreshing as it went down, feeling first cool and then hot. A surge of heat rose from his dantian, spreading to his limbs and bones, making his whole body feel relaxed and numb.

It felt as if he had suddenly soared into the clouds, surrounded by celestial music, a feeling of soaring into immortality washed over him.

"Good wine!" Han Li blurted out.

"Haha, wonderful! People say that wine can cloud one's senses, but little do they know that only after a drunken stupor can one truly be oneself. This Great Dao has three thousand paths, and life has a hundred flavors. Perhaps only after being drenched in nectar can one understand them more easily! Although we cultivate immortality, this Dao cannot be attained without enlightenment! Come, drink!" Elder Hu Yan laughed, filling his and Han Li's cups again.

Han Li's heart stirred upon hearing these words.

The drunken old man's words, though seemingly nonsensical, seemed to contain some deeper meaning.

Ever since returning to the Immortal World, he had been treading on thin ice, constantly wary, unable to face the world with ease. This feeling was vastly different from the carefree immortal he had once imagined.

But this sense of loss and oppression, after meeting this drunken old man, seemed to be swept away by his cup of wine, his words, giving him a sense of clarity, making him agree with his words.

He had cultivated from a village boy, step by step, until now, constantly under pressure. Was endless, desperate cultivation the only meaning of his existence?

Now that he had attained immortality, could live as long as heaven and earth, and was within a large sect, possessing millions of miles of territory, perhaps he should seize the moment for pleasure and enjoy himself.

Moreover, perhaps letting go of some shackles would bring him closer to the Great Dao...

"No, wrong!"

He shook his head violently, casting aside these thoughts.

Back when he first entered the Immortal World, perhaps it was because he mistakenly believed that the Great Dao was complete and he could freely roam the Immortal World that he was plotted against, severely injured, lost his memories, and lost the Azure Bamboo Bee Cloud Swords and the Crab. Otherwise, with his usual cautious personality, how could he have made such a big mistake?

He had only just gained a foothold. How could he truly let his guard down and repeat his mistakes, destroying ten thousand years of cultivation in a single morning?

This Immortal World, seemingly peaceful, was actually a whirlpool of undercurrents, fraught with crises. He had to be even more careful to have a chance of achieving the Great Dao one day!

These thoughts flashed through his mind, causing him to break out in a cold sweat, but at the same time, a certain belief in his heart unknowingly became even stronger.

"Senior, this is Green Pear Wine, truly an exquisite wine." Han Li raised his wine cup and drank it down, praising it again, but his eyes had become crystal clear.

At this moment, the enchanting celestial music was no longer audible.