A bowl-thick azure beam of light shot out from the center of the disc, illuminating Han Li.
Han Li remained calm, allowing the light to flicker over his body.
On one hand, he currently lacked the ability to evade, and on the other, he could tell at a glance that this spiritual light was not offensive—it was merely probing.
The light dimmed, and the beam vanished, while the disc itself began to glow intensely.
The young man lowered his head to glance at the disc, then suddenly exclaimed in shock, turning to shout at those behind him.
The other cultivators stirred at his cry.
Soon, the scar-faced man loudly questioned the youth, and upon hearing the answer, he cast a surprised glance at Han Li on the ground. He then urged his giant wolf forward, stopping beside the youth.
He spoke a few words to Han Li, but Han Li merely blinked, understanding nothing.
The middle-aged man stroked his chin and switched to another language.
Upon hearing this, Han Li’s expression shifted slightly. Though he still couldn’t comprehend it, it sounded vaguely familiar, somewhat resembling an ancient tongue from the human world.
Seeing Han Li’s reaction, the burly man brightened and quickly spoke a few more sentences in the same language. But Han Li shook his head with difficulty.
The man frowned, hung his weapon on the giant wolf, and retrieved a pale yellow wooden box from his robes. Opening it, he revealed a milky-yellow orb the size of a thumb, pulsing with faint spiritual light.
A pained expression flickered across his face as he glanced between Han Li and the orb. After a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth, plucked the orb from the box, and held it in one hand. His other wrist twisted, revealing a peculiar ring adorned with engraved runes and a pea-sized emerald crystal embedded in the back.
Pressing the orb against the crystal, a sudden burst of radiance erupted, dazzlingly bright.
Without hesitation, the man tossed the orb toward Han Li. Upon contact, it vanished into his body as if alive.
Han Li stiffened slightly as a cold sensation surged from the entry point, rushing straight to his mind.
Had his spiritual power been intact, he could have expelled it with a mere thought. But now, powerless and immobile, he could only watch helplessly.
Fortunately, these people didn’t seem hostile, so Han Li maintained his composure.
The chill circled his mind before dissipating, but then a sharp pain lanced through his skull as countless foreign concepts forcibly flooded his consciousness.
Though Han Li could no longer project his divine sense, its innate strength remained.
His expression flickered only briefly before his mind absorbed everything, instantly mastering the unfamiliar language—the same one the burly man had spoken earlier.
Seeing Han Li absorb the orb without issue, the scar-faced man looked astonished again but soon asked gravely, “Now you understand me. Who are you, and why are you here? This is the depths of the Green Luo Desert—ordinary people don’t just appear here.”
“Green Luo Desert? Never heard of it. Truthfully, I arrived here unintentionally, in a rather… unusual manner. I have no idea where this place is. As for my identity, I’m just an ordinary man. Call me Han Li.” Han Li forced a bitter smile.
“Unusual manner? Did you come through a spatial rift? Don’t be surprised—this area is known for frequent spatial disturbances. Strangers often get dragged here from thousands of miles away.” The man spoke as if it were commonplace.
Han Li was momentarily speechless. His carefully prepared excuses now seemed unnecessary.
“Heh! You don’t seem ordinary, but as long as you’re not some shapeshifting monster, your origins don’t matter. However, your situation is dire. Without help, you’ll be dead in a few days when the scorpion tide hits. How about this—sign a contract with our Tian Dong Trading House. We’ll take you with us, but in return, you’ll serve us for ten years. After that, you’re free to go.” The man’s scar twitched as a sinister grin curled his lips.
“Ten years? Fine. I agree.” Han Li’s eyes gleamed briefly before he nodded.
“Good. Then swear a blood oath.” The man laughed and beckoned a rider behind him.
Another rider produced a stack of thick paper, selected one, bit his finger, and scrawled something on it before dismounting and approaching Han Li.
He held the paper up for Han Li to inspect.
Han Li frowned, staring at it silently.
“What? Never seen a blood oath before?” The scar-faced man blinked, suspicion creeping into his tone.
“No, this is my first time. What does it do?” Han Li studied the rune-covered slip—clearly a talisman, not mere paper.
The runes were ancient, familiar from the human world, but their arrangement was new, exuding a faint, eerie bloodlust.
“Never seen one? Are you from the east? Fine, I’ll explain. It’s simple—read the terms, and if you agree, willingly shed a drop of blood on it. The contract takes effect immediately. If either party breaks it, the blood curse will seize part of your soul, leaving you in agony. Heh, this is a specialty of the Blood Curse Sect. Unless you’re an immortal, you’re bound by it.” The man spoke casually, without impatience.
Han Li fell into thought.
Though he hadn’t fully deciphered the curse, he could gauge its complexity.
The talisman wasn’t overly intricate. With his expertise, unraveling it would only take time. Judging by the runes, it likely only constrained Foundation Establishment-level cultivators—useless against Core Formation or above.
Even without spiritual power, his body, infused with the essence of his Nascent Soul, would nullify the curse instantly.
It reminded him of the “River of Darkness Page” from the Netherworld Sect in the human world, though far weaker. That artifact could bind even Nascent Soul cultivators, while this seemed tailored for mortals.
And judging by the man’s tone, such curses were commonplace here.
Han Li’s mind raced as he finished reading the freshly inscribed terms—twenty years of service in exchange for rescue.
“Fine. But I can’t move now. Can we do this later…?” Han Li feigned reluctance, searching for an excuse.
The scar-faced man snorted. “Xiao Qi, assist him.”
The rider named Xiao Qi pressed the talisman to Han Li’s chest, seized his wrist, and drew a razor-sharp dagger. With a swift slash—
*Clang!*
Metal screeched. Han Li’s wrist remained unscathed—not even a scratch.
Everyone, including the scar-faced man, gaped in shock. Xiao Qi froze, dagger in hand.
“You practice the Mystic Armor Art? Or the Vajra Arts? Have you reached the second layer?” The scar-faced man asked gravely.
“The Vajra Arts. Third layer.” Han Li paused before answering, inwardly elated.
This confirmed it—he was indeed in the Spirit Realm, as the Tianlan Beast’s avatar had said. Otherwise, how would a mere mortal know of the Vajra Arts?
“Third-layer Vajra Arts can contend with low-level demon beasts. It seems I’ve stumbled upon a treasure. No wonder Xiao Qi’s blade couldn’t scratch you. Use this ‘Golden Glow Sword.’ It’s a low-grade spirit tool. Unless you actively resist, it should draw blood.” The man tossed a sheathed short sword over.
“Spirit tool?” Han Li’s interest piqued at the unfamiliar term.
Xiao Qi caught the sword and unsheathed it with a *shing*, releasing a burst of golden light. Han Li narrowed his eyes, puzzled.
At first glance, this “spirit tool” resembled a common magical artifact. Could mortals in the Spirit Realm wield such things?
Upon closer inspection, he spotted the difference—a socket in the hilt held a gleaming golden spirit stone. Though only a fifth the size of human-world stones, its quality was mid-grade metal-attribute.
As Han Li pondered, Xiao Qi donned a beast-hide glove studded with tiny, multicolored spirit stones.
The glove’s surface shimmered with runes as he gripped the sword.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage