“What does Brother Han wish to ask?” The face on the Spirit Rhinoceros Peacock glanced at the humanoid puppet and Lin Yinping, who was now in Gui Ling’s grasp, hesitated for a moment, then could only reply with a bitter smile.
“From your tone, it seems the final evolution of the Gold Devouring Beetles into their mature form isn’t something they can achieve on their own. That is rather peculiar. As far as I know, these legendary insects were infamous in ancient times, appearing in the cultivation world as mature specimens without any masters. Their ability to devour anything and near-indestructibility made them a terror for a long time. The Gold Devouring Beetles of your Heavenly Prairie Shrine must have been hatched from eggs left over from ancient times, giving you the chance to control them.” Han Li swayed slightly before returning to Gui Ling’s side, his expression unreadable as he gazed at the illusory face. Meanwhile, the humanoid puppet shimmered with silver light, its figure blurring before vanishing entirely from the spot.
“If left to their natural course, the Gold Devouring Beetles would indeed evolve into their mature form over tens of thousands of years. But how long is a cultivator’s lifespan? Even if passed down through generations, few clans or sects could endure such a span of time. Especially when the beetles are on the verge of their final evolution—the sheer length of time required would deter even the most patient. And since you also command these insects, you must be well aware of the vast difference between mature and immature forms. To call it a world of difference would be no exaggeration,” the young man surnamed Xu said gravely.
“Your words hold truth. My own Gold Devouring Beetles have reached their current stage, yet in recent years, they’ve shown almost no growth. For the Heavenly Prairie to cultivate mature specimens, there must indeed be some secret method. I wonder just how much your technique can shorten the evolution time?” Han Li exhaled lightly, his tone indifferent.
“It can be reduced to a third. And if you’re willing to spare no expense on rare materials, focusing on nurturing just a few, the time can be shortened even further,” the young man replied without hesitation.
“A third—that certainly makes it worth the effort. But how do you plan to share this secret with me? Aren’t you afraid that once I possess it, you’ll have even less means to oppose me?” Han Li suddenly chuckled darkly.
“You jest, Brother Han. I’ve heard of your swarm of Gold Devouring Beetles. Though they’ve reached the final stage, they clearly haven’t begun evolving into their mature form. Even with our cultivation method, it would take millennia of painstaking effort to succeed. And what happens millennia from now is hardly our concern,” the young man said frankly, hiding nothing.
“You speak candidly. Indeed, millennia from now, whether these beetles remain in the hands of my descendants is uncertain. And your shrine may well have devised countermeasures by then.” Han Li’s lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile.
“If that’s how you see it, so be it. What then? Do you no longer desire this technique? If you have other conditions, I—”
“Of course I want it. Even if I can’t cultivate them to maturity in my lifetime, there’s still much to learn. I’ve always had a keen interest in nurturing spirit insects.” Han Li licked his lips and folded his arms.
“Very well. Give me a moment, and I’ll copy the method onto a jade slip. Given your years of experience with these insects, you should be able to discern its authenticity at a glance.” The face conjured by the young man showed a flicker of surprise but no hint of hesitation.
A flash of white light later, the face vanished back into the Spirit Rhinoceros Peacock.
Han Li smiled faintly, seizing the moment to glance toward the distant palace. The three demonic creatures had entered earlier, yet the interior remained eerily silent, as if still deserted.
Frowning at this strangeness, Han Li suddenly sent a sound transmission to Gui Ling, asking something. The ugly woman blinked in surprise before replying in kind. Han Li nodded, his expression darkening.
“Here you go, Brother Han.” The spirit bird opposite suddenly opened its beak, shooting out a streak of white light.
Han Li’s eyes gleamed as he flicked his sleeve, releasing a burst of azure mist that caught the object midair. The light faded, revealing a palm-sized white jade slip.
Without ceremony, Han Li pressed it to his forehead, immersing his divine sense within. His face, initially calm, soon flickered with surprise before settling into understanding—as if he’d grasped the technique’s essence almost instantly.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Han Li finally withdrew his divine sense, exhaling softly before lifting his gaze. “Fellow Daoist Xu, who among your Uighur clan devised this method for nurturing Gold Devouring Beetles? I must admit admiration. To think of forcibly infusing the insects with the five elemental spiritual energies through infusion and natural forces to accelerate their maturation—such ingenuity is rare. Even if conceived, it would require countless trials and failures to perfect.”
“Since our shrine obtained the beetle eggs, elders skilled in insect control have dedicated themselves to researching maturation techniques. It took over a millennium to develop this viable method. Sadly, the scarcity of eggs and the rarity of required supplementary materials prevent large-scale cultivation,” the young man replied helplessly.
Han Li nodded, unsurprised. Without his mysterious vial and the miraculous effects of the Rainbow Skirt Grass, he too would have struggled to breed and evolve so many Gold Devouring Beetles.
“Now, I’ve freed you both, and you’ve given me the technique. Our initial transaction is complete. Next, Brother Xu, will you self-destruct, allowing your soul to reincarnate, or shall I reduce your spirit bird and nascent soul to ashes myself?” Han Li’s expression turned icy as he fixed his gaze on the Spirit Rhinoceros Peacock, killing intent surfacing.
No sooner had he spoken than thunder rumbled behind him, silver-white wings unfurling. Clenching his fists, a deafening roar erupted as golden lightning enveloped his body, arcs crackling with terrifying intensity.
Simultaneously, behind the peacock, silver light flickered as the humanoid puppet materialized soundlessly, a small bow in hand glowing emerald, aimed squarely at the spirit bird.
The peacock shuddered in fear, spreading its wings to encase itself in a five-colored radiance. From its beak, a yellow orb shot forth—the young man’s nascent soul—landing atop its head before turning to Han Li with a bitter smile.
“Hold, Fellow Daoist! There’s no need for such hostility between us and the Heavenly Prairie. We can surely reconcile. Even if you fear no pursuit from the other three grand mages, what of your sect and descendants?”
“Are you pushing me to eliminate all your grand mages in my lifetime?” Han Li’s expression shifted before turning frigid.
“Why such extremes, Brother Han? Our earlier pursuit stemmed from the law of the strong in the cultivation world. As a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, you slew and wounded numerous high-ranking mages on our prairie—naturally, our shrine had to act. Then you captured the sacred beast’s avatar, violating our shrine’s taboo and forcing our pursuit into the Great Jin. But now things are different. With your ability to command two late-stage cultivators and power rivaling a great mage, you’ve earned equal standing with our shrine. We’d rather avoid mutual destruction and seek peace. Moreover, Kunwu Mountain is perilous—joining forces would serve us both.” Seeing Han Li hadn’t interrupted, the young man relaxed slightly, pouring out his rehearsed arguments.
“Finished?” Han Li listened impassively before asking coolly.
“What? Do you doubt my sincerity?” The young man’s heart skipped a beat at Han Li’s demeanor.
“Ceasing hostilities isn’t impossible. But how do I trust your sincerity? Mere words or empty oaths?” Han Li sneered.
“Of course not! With our shrine’s holy maiden here, we can summon the true spirit of the Heavenly Prairie Sacred Beast to imprint you with its mark, inviting you as an honorary elder. Return the sacred beast’s avatar, and we can justify our actions to others. The shrine would never turn on its own.” The young man spoke urgently.
“The Sacred Beast’s Mark… I’ve heard of it during my travels. Those bearing it are core members of your shrine, forbidden from mutual slaughter lest the curse activate, inflicting unbearable soul-piercing agony.” Han Li mused, appearing intrigued.
“Precisely! Our conflict stems mainly from the sacred beast’s capture. The fallen mages pale in significance compared to your current strength.” The young man pressed his advantage.
Han Li fell silent, brows furrowed in contemplation.
The nascent soul wisely ceased speaking, though unease flickered across its features. It knew survival hinged entirely on Han Li’s whim—against the combined might present, escape was impossible.
Thus, despite being a late-Nascent Soul cultivator, he stood on thin ice, heart pounding like an ordinary mortal facing execution.
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