Mo Han opened his mouth with elegant grace, offering a cordial personal greeting to the mysterious figure.

The shadowy form, upon hearing Mo Han’s words, responded with a tone of confusion. “Duàn Xiù Zhī Xuǎn? What sort of ailment is that? I’ve never heard of it, old man.”

How could Mo Han possibly reveal the true meaning of Duàn Xiù Zhī Xuǎn—a concept that filled him with disgust—to this shadowy figure? Instead, Mo Han smiled and replied, “Just remember that you suffer from Duàn Xiù Zhī Xuǎn. Why are you asking so many questions about the rest? Tell me, what fresh tricks have you conjured up today? I’ve been waiting for you.”

Hearing this, the shadow let out a cackle and boomed, “Today, let’s play something a bit more exciting, otherwise, I truly fear I won’t be able to contain you.”

Just then, Mo Han interrupted with a placid smile. “Hold on a moment. Can I discuss something with you? We’ve crossed swords so many times now; even if we aren't friends, we are certainly enemies, right?”

The shadow looked intrigued. “We are inherently enemies, but if you’re willing to join me, then we’d be friends. Go on, tell me what you require. I’m rather curious.”

Mo Han spoke with a faint detachment. “Ultimately, isn’t your only goal to subdue me? If you release my friends, I won't have my attention divided by concern for their safety, and I will fight you to the bitter end. If you resort to such ignoble tactics, even if you win, I will never submit. Just let them go, and I swear I will not leave; I will remain until the final victor is decided.”

Mo Han had correctly gauged that this shadow desperately wished to capture him, using that desire to negotiate the most favorable terms.

Indeed, after hearing Mo Han’s proposition, the shadow paused to consider, then nodded readily. “Fine. I believe you. Let your companions leave, but you absolutely cannot depart, or don’t blame me for turning ruthless.”

After the shadow finished speaking, Mo Han sensed the magical fluctuations ahead vanish, realizing his ploy had succeeded. Yet, apprehension lingered. He pressed on, “I must escort my friends to the edge of the barrier; only then can I be truly at ease.”

The shadow snorted in agreement. Seeing this, Mo Han wasted no more time. He grabbed the wrists of Dali and Toby and led them toward the exit. The shadow made no move to stop them as they reached the barrier’s edge. Mo Han, without hesitation, instructed Dali and the others to proceed with their prearranged plan to depart.

Dali understood that remaining would only burden Mo Han and place him in greater peril. Thus, she hesitated no longer. She simply gazed at Mo Han with deep affection, whispering with unwavering resolve, “You must be careful. I will wait for you to emerge. No matter how long it takes, no matter where you are, I will follow you.”

Her tone conveyed a commitment to face life and death together; though quiet, it warmed Mo Han deeply.

Mo Han affectionately patted Dali’s cheek and smiled. “Rest assured, trust me, everything will be fine. Just wait outside for my good news.”

At that moment, the deep blue light screen at the barrier's exit began to flicker, revealing the opening beyond. Clearly, the personnel from the Church of Light outside had detected Mo Han and his group and had opened the barrier to welcome them.

Dali nodded gently, offered Mo Han a final smile, and led Toby and Natasha out of the barrier. Mo Han, turning back with Xiao Mo and Xiao Han, walked toward the mysterious shadow that still waited there.

As he approached, Mo Han was about to speak when the figure cut him off. “Boy, you’re not in top form today. It wouldn't be a fair fight for me to win against you now. I’ll grant you one day to rest. Next time I find you, I will ensure you submit willingly.”

Clearly, this aged, mysterious shadow genuinely desired Mo Han’s allegiance, which accounted for his repeated concessions. Mo Han offered no thanks, merely giving a noncommittal hum before leading Xiao Mo and Xiao Han back the way they came, leaving the shadow standing alone, deep in thought about some unknown matter.

By the time Mo Han returned to Toby’s original secret chamber, dusk was settling. Gazing at the empty room, a sense of profound loneliness washed over him, and the yearning for home spontaneously resurfaced. Nearly two years had passed since he arrived on this continent from the Mystic Realm, yet his hope of returning remained nonexistent.

Even if a chance to return materialized now, could he truly bear to leave Dali and the others? Mo Han questioned himself internally. Thinking of his friends here, a wave of confusion struck him; he didn't know how to choose. Perhaps he was even fortunate that he still had no clear path home, as he genuinely couldn't decide his true feelings. Six months prior, Mo Han was certain he would choose to return without a second thought, but now, he truly didn't know what his heart desired.

Xiao Mo and Xiao Han seemed to sense Mo Han’s emotional shifts, remaining quietly by his feet, occasionally letting out soft chirps as if trying to comfort him. Seeing this, Mo Han smiled and stroked them. “Do you miss home too? Are you thinking of your families? What should I do? If I had the chance, should I go back? I truly don’t understand, and I don’t want to understand these things…”

Mo Han spoke on, heedless of whether Xiao Mo and Xiao Han could grasp his meaning; he simply needed someone to confide in, and at this moment, they were his best confidants. Time quickly passed into the evening, and Mo Han finally collected his thoughts, focusing on the next day's strategy. His Ring of Concealment was currently unusable; how then could he confront the mysterious shadow tomorrow? If it were only himself, Mo Han could certainly cast a Crystallization Guard to mask his magical signature. Though less effective than the Ring of Concealment, the key difference was that the ring granted invisibility while the spell did not, and this was the best concealment magic Mo Han knew.

However, he couldn’t guarantee its effect on Xiao Mo and the others, as Crystallization Guard had never been successfully used on magical beasts before; he didn’t know if it could effectively hide their auras.

But if he went alone, Mo Han lacked the certainty of victory, given the shadow’s established strength. Mo Han held no absolute assurance of conquering him, and he suspected the shadow hadn't revealed his full power yet. If the shadow unleashed his true might, his strength would surely surge, creating immense trouble.

While Mo Han wrestled with this dilemma, his gaze inadvertently fell upon the Spatial Ring in his hand, sparking a bold, sudden idea: could he place Xiao Mo and the others inside the ring? He recalled Mo Xiuyi telling him that a spatial ring was an independent pocket dimension, lacking the necessary air for survival; anyone entering would suffocate.

But what if he only placed them inside for a brief period? Mo Han pondered, yet ultimately dismissed the notion. Xiao Mo and Xiao Han had been with him for so long; Mo Han could not risk their safety. If anything untoward happened, he knew he would regret it for the rest of his life.

After deep consideration, Mo Han settled on using Crystallization Guard on Xiao Mo and Xiao Han. Despite the risk of exposure, weighed against their safety, Mo Han preferred to bear greater personal risk rather than expose them to danger.

The next morning, Mo Han implemented his plan. He cast Crystallization Guard on Xiao Mo and Xiao Han individually to help hide their magical signatures. After casting the same spell upon himself, he swiftly led them toward the location he and Comos had agreed upon the previous day. Soon, they arrived outside Comos’s house near the red wall.

Just as he was about to knock, Comos emerged, preparing to administer medication to the test subjects within the enclosure. Seeing Mo Han and the two beasts, Comos was initially startled, as Mo Han had worn the Ring of Concealment during their discussion yesterday, meaning Comos had never seen Mo Han’s true face.

However, Comos then recalled the mysterious figure he had encountered the previous day. In this strictly sealed city, entry was not easily achieved; it was virtually deserted. Coupled with yesterday’s events, Comos naturally connected the dots to the mysterious figure.

Thinking this, Comos asked tentatively, “Are you the one from yesterday?” Hearing this, Mo Han smiled and nodded. “Heh heh, it is I. No need to be nervous.”

Leaping to