Ye Yirui frowned and said:
"Not too late. As long as we can get in."
After saying that, she turned into a streak of light and entered the Underground Palace. Aunt Ran followed close behind. The male cultivator who had arrived with them flashed forward, ready to enter as well, but was stopped.
A clear voice reached the male cultivator's ears:
"Friend from afar, why not have a cup of spirit wine with me? This is a trial meant for the younger generation. Spirit Transformation cultivators cannot enter this Underground Palace."
The male cultivator accompanying Ye Yirui paused, then flicked out a ball of light with a raised hand and sent it into the Underground Palace. The ball of light entered in an instant, yet dissipated before it could catch up to Ye Yirui. The male cultivator stood where he was, watching Ye Yirui disappear into the depths of the Underground Palace. Only then did he turn and head into the clouds, where several Spirit Transformation cultivators had already gathered.
Venerable Haohui smiled and asked:
"I am Haohui of the Haoran Sect. You must be a fellow cultivator from Medicine King Valley in the Central Domain, are you not?"
The male cultivator replied slowly:
"I am Zhao He, a Rogue Cultivator from the Central Domain and the Young Valley Master of Medicine King Valley's Dao Protector."
Haohui smiled faintly and gestured with a raised hand.
"So it is Fellow Daoist Zhao He. Please, have a seat."
Zhao He did not refuse the invitation. He sat opposite Venerable Haohui and looked down at the Medicine Immortal Sect beneath them.
Venerable Haohui smiled faintly and pushed a cup of spirit wine toward him.
"Have a taste of the wine I brewed."
Zhao He merely accepted the cup politely and touched it to