A wry smile touched Mo Han's lips as he realized this. He had thought he'd found a treasure, but now it seemed he'd picked up a hot potato—one he couldn't even discard. He turned to Bai Ling, his voice laced with genuine distress. "Miss Bai Ling, is there any way to prevent you from seeing my thoughts? This constant scrutiny is incredibly unsettling."

Hearing his question, Bai Ling nodded with a smile. "Indeed, there is a method."

Mo Han instantly brightened. "What is it?"

Bai Ling continued, "Your cultivation must surpass mine. Only then will I be unable to perceive your thoughts."

Mo Han's excitement evaporated. This was nonsense; it was stating the obvious. If his power exceeded hers, she wouldn't have been able to read his thoughts in the first place. However, her words confirmed his suspicion: Bai Ling's strength was indeed greater than he had estimated. It was only due to his own fortuitous encounters that his power seemed disproportionate to his age. Just how had this girl cultivated? And what level had she reached? Mo Han truly couldn't discern her true depth.

With that realization, Mo Han decided to probe gently. "May I ask about your current strength, Bai Ling?"

To his surprise, Bai Ling answered readily. She smiled at him. "It's decent. Only a little higher than yours, perhaps. I should be at the Third Tier of Saint Magister now."

Upon hearing this, Mo Han nearly swooned. Being at the Third Tier of Saint Magister wasn't just 'a little higher' than his current First Tier.

One had to remember that at the Saint Magister level, even a single tier difference was immense. Furthermore, Saint Magisters were the mages closest to the rank of Archmage; reaching that level required not just diligence and talent, but a touch of luck. Countless cultivators labored their entire lives without ever achieving it. And she called this state "decent"? Wasn't she deliberately provoking him? Mo Han groaned, his voice heavy with despair. "According to you, then, I have no hope of surpassing you, do I?" Seeing Mo Han’s misery,

Bai Ling couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry so much. If you stop thinking frivolous things, I won't see them. Do you think I have nothing better to do all day than spy on people's inner thoughts? This kind of insight actually drains a lot of mental energy. I can't do it many times a day. It's not as effortless as you imagine."

Bai Ling’s explanation brought Mo Han a sliver of relief. If he kept his distance from her, that would solve the issue—he chuckled internally.

Yet, Bai Ling seemed to read his thoughts as well, fixing him with an enigmatic, beautiful smile. But Mo Han was in no mood for appreciation right now. If everything he thought was laid bare, who would have the composure to admire anything? Mo Han was certainly no exception.

Seeing no further discoveries in the room, Mo Han hurried Bai Ling out. He planned to leave the palace and meet up with Daili and the others. Upon reaching the main gate, Mo Han realized the sky had turned completely dark. Having been inside the palace, he hadn't noticed the passage of time, but a whole day had clearly passed. Daili and the others must be worried sick.

With that thought, Mo Han quickly led Bai Ling forward. Just then, he noticed the giant squid that had brought him here was still waiting. As Mo Han emerged, the squid greeted him with affectionate, low calls. Then it saw Bai Ling behind him. The creature seemed terrified of her. Mo Han distinctly sensed its fear and felt a pang of curiosity, scrutinizing Bai Ling again, but finding nothing unusual, he let it drop.

Mo Han climbed onto the squid's back first, patted the empty space beside him, and smiled as he gestured for Bai Ling to join him. Bai Ling merely shook her head with a gentle smile. "No, thank you. I fear if I sit there, this poor creature won't dare move. You lead the way; I'll follow behind."

Mo Han had intended to tell her about the strange land and the bizarre lightning, but he paused. Since Bai Ling could construct a palace here, surely she knew about the volatile conditions. She must have a way to shield herself from the magical attacks that reached this location. He said no more, simply nodding, patting the squid beneath him as a signal to depart. The giant squid, receiving the command, immediately bolted toward the distant darkness, vanishing into the night almost instantly.

Bai Ling, watching them go, murmured a few soft words. A gentle luminescence spread from her body, enveloping her completely before disappearing. Having managed this protection, Bai Ling then cast a flight spell, soaring into the sky to follow the direction Mo Han had taken.

As Mo Han approached the edge of the peculiar land, he spotted faint, tiny sparks of firelight ahead. He guessed it was Daili and the others; they must have been worried and ventured out to wait for him. With this realization, Mo Han urged the giant squid beneath him to accelerate toward the lights.

But just then, Mo Han felt the faint sounds of a struggle emanating from ahead. He could even sense the familiar magical fluctuations in the air—it was Jack casting a spell. Mo Han grew instantly anxious. Based on the magic’s power, it seemed no less than a Ninth-Grade spell. For Jack to cast something of that magnitude would be extremely taxing, relying heavily on the supreme weapon Mo Han had given him. Yet, it was perilous; Mo Han had strictly warned Jack never to deploy such magic unless in mortal danger, lest the uncontrolled energy cause a lethal backlash. The fact that Jack was ignoring this warning meant the situation must be dire.

Still, Daili and the others were not weak, and with Xiao Han, they should be able to handle most dangers. Had they encountered a high-level Magical Beast? Mo Han wondered, but immediately dismissed the thought. In this Magical Forest, the squid was the most formidable beast they had encountered. Given Daili’s strength, plus Xiao Mo, they should at least be able to put up a decent fight against a creature like that, let alone lesser beasts.

These thoughts only intensified Mo Han’s anxiety, yet he felt utterly helpless. The squid was already moving at its limit, and Mo Han himself was constrained by the ancient magic barrier over the land, unable to move freely. He could only fret internally, praying they could hold out until he arrived.

At that moment, a sound ripped through the air from the direction of the fighting—a world-shattering roar that could be heard across half the Magical Forest. Even the giant squid slowed involuntarily, seemingly affected by the sheer force of the sound.

Mo Han’s expression changed drastically when he heard it; he knew that sound too well. It was the unique Dragon's Roar of the Dragon Clan. No other magical beast could emit a sound of such terrifying magnitude. All caution abandoned, Mo Han leaped from the squid’s back and shot forward.

But the moment he left the creature’s safety, a violent surge of magical energy swept down from the sky. His movement must have triggered the ancient barrier, provoking a response. Mo Han ignored the danger, flying desperately forward, hoping to escape the barrier’s range before it could unleash its full power. His hope was in vain.

Several colossal bolts of lightning descended from the heavens, striking precisely where Mo Han was flying and slamming into his protective Battle Aura. Though the lightning didn't injure him, the sheer force sent his entire body spiraling uncontrollably downward.

As soon as his body hit the ground, Mo Han lightly tapped the surface and shot forward, trying to reach the edge of the barrier quickly. This tactic might have worked near the perimeter, but he was far too distant from Daili and the others to escape the field. Another volley of lightning struck him accurately.

Under the relentless assault of the bolts, Mo Han was forced to slow, crashing back onto the earth. The instant his feet touched the ground, an immense suction force gripped him. The surrounding earth seemed to instantly liquefy, offering no purchase for leverage. And then, the tiresome black Man-Eating Vines reappeared, their sharp barbs clearly visible to Mo Han. He leaped...