Actually, if the Seventh Elder was in seclusion attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm, there was no reason he would want to see Ye Han immediately just because he had returned. That was rather strange.
No matter how he looked at it, a mere Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator like him should not have warranted a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator's attention.
However, when the Seventh Elder said he wanted something from him right away, Ye Han's heart tightened...
After all, he had just sensed a reaction from the Purple Cauldron in his Divine Sense Sea. It had detected something of interest inside the mansion where the Seventh Elder was in seclusion.
Still, he answered respectfully, "Master! What do you need?"
The Seventh Elder said mildly, "I can already sense that your cultivation has grown quite powerful. You should no longer need the Protective Ring I gave you, should you?"
Hearing the Seventh Elder mention the Protective Ring, Ye Han immediately removed it from his finger and said respectfully, "Yes, Master! I no longer need this Protective Ring! Thank you for your protection and generous care!"
Indeed, when the Seventh Elder first gave him the Protective Ring, it could withstand one attack from a Golden Core Stage cultivator.
It had proved tremendously useful before, when he fought the Ice Refining Prince in the Burial Ground of the Immortals.
At that critical moment, the Protective Ring had saved his life.
For him, it had already served an enormous purpose.
When he returned the second time, however, the Seventh Elder had used a Secret Method again, dripping several drops of essence blood into it to restore its protective power.
But as Ye Han's cultivation grew higher and his treasures grew better, he no longer feared Golden Core Stage cultivators at all.