Several more years flew by in a flash.

At this moment, Han Li was making his way slowly into a hall in the underground palace while holding a dark purple incense burner in his hand.

Traces of golden light emerged on the ground in the hall, giving off a faint hint of warmth.

"Please pardon me, Senior, but I'll have to seal this Soul Nurturing Burner for your protection while I break the core," Han Li said as he drew to a halt at the center of the hall.

Perhaps the soul fragment was simply very eager to be finally getting out of this place, or perhaps it was already accustomed to the disrespect that Han Li constantly directed toward it. In any case, it didn't say anything to retaliate, merely sitting with its legs crossed in the incense burner in silence.

With a flick of his wrist, Han Li summoned a pair of golden sealing talismans before plastering them across the incense burner, completely cutting off the soul fragment's connection to the outside world.

After that, he raised his left hand and tucked the incense burner up his sleeve.

He then took a deep breath before making his way over...