Chapter 1593: Qian Ji Zi

In the corner, Han Li, who was sitting cross-legged, swept his spiritual sense over the newly appeared figure and his expression changed slightly.

This white-robed young man possessed unfathomable spiritual power—he was actually a Body Unity-level existence.

“Did you activate this Moonfrost Token?” The white-robed young man withdrew his gaze, waved dismissively at the armored guards, and then fixed his eyes on Han Li.

“This junior would like to deny it, but that seems unlikely!” Han Li sighed, revealing a bitter smile.

“Deny it? Why would you deny it? A tremendous opportunity has come your way!” The white-robed young man narrowed his eyes, scrutinized Han Li for a moment, and then spoke with a faint, enigmatic smile.

“A tremendous opportunity? Senior, what do you mean—” Han Li’s expression flickered as he prepared to inquire further, but the white-robed young man suddenly frowned and turned his head toward a section of the wall, saying coldly, “Since Brother Cangying has already arrived, why not show yourself? Or do you intend to let our Water Spirit Clan take this Moonfrost Token?”

“The number of Moonfrost Tokens appearing this time is limited, and each is exceedingly rare. How dare your Water Spirit Clan attempt to monopolize one? Without the Ancient Clan to set up the activation array, even if you obtain one, what use is it?” A cold, unfamiliar voice echoed from the wall.

A shadow flickered across the wall where the white-robed young man was looking, and a figure shrouded in gray light silently emerged, clinging motionlessly to the wall as if it were formless.

The voice had come from within the gray light.

“Heh, I’m well aware of that. But if this fellow Daoist is willing to join our Water Spirit Clan, there should be no issue in using this Moonfrost Token to bring a few more of our clansmen into the Moonfrost Realm,” the white-robed young man replied calmly, unperturbed.

“That would indeed be no issue, but this fellow Daoist hasn’t expressed any intention to join your clan. Perhaps he’d prefer to serve as a guest elder in our Shadow Demon Clan?” The figure called “Cangying” spoke without the slightest hint of emotion.

“Is that so? That’s hard to say. If I recall correctly, there’s an unwritten rule among our thirteen clans—if two clans simultaneously take an interest in an outsider, the second clan may only extend an invitation if the outsider refuses the first. Fellow Daoist, I am Bai Yue, an elder of the Water Spirit Clan, formally inviting you to join our clan as a guest elder. What do you think? If you agree, I can guarantee that within a mere hundred years, your cultivation will advance by another stage, and you’ll receive other significant benefits.” The white-haired young man turned away from Cangying and addressed Han Li directly.

As he spoke, his eyes locked onto Han Li’s, and a strange, glass-like radiance swirled within them, as if exerting an invisible pull that sought to draw in Han Li’s very soul.

Han Li’s eyelids twitched. The moment his gaze met the other’s strange light, his consciousness blurred, and his lips parted as if to instinctively voice agreement.

But in the next instant, the Great Development Art within him surged, and his pupils contracted sharply, unleashing a dazzling blue light. A mysterious force emanated from his eyes, countering the white-robed young man’s hypnotic pull.

Han Li’s consciousness snapped back to normal, but his heart was now filled with shock and fury!

This white-haired young man, who had seemed earnest, had resorted to soul-entrancing techniques without hesitation after just a few words. Had it not been for Han Li’s Brightsight Spirit Eyes, he would have blurted out his agreement on the spot.

Bai Yue, however, was stunned, his face betraying surprise.

“Haha, I never thought Brother Bai’s Glass Illusion Eyes would fail against someone below the Saint-level. Bai, don’t waste your efforts. Since you know the so-called ‘unwritten rule’ about inviting outsider guest elders is merely a convention, do you really think the other clans would adhere to any order of precedence when a Moonfrost Token is at stake?” Cangying, equally surprised but unaffected, laughed mockingly.

Bai Yue’s expression quickly returned to normal. He cast a meaningful glance at the silent Han Li before turning back to Cangying and replying indifferently, “Since this fellow Daoist has no intention of joining our Water Spirit Clan, I naturally won’t force the matter. Brother Cangying, won’t your Shadow Demon Clan extend an invitation?”

“Which clan this person joins as a guest elder isn’t for you or me to decide—nor is it something he can choose for himself. I won’t waste my effort on such a thankless task!” Cangying snorted.

Bai Yue smiled faintly at this but said nothing further.

Cangying chuckled a few times before also falling silent.

As for Han Li, he retracted the blue light from his eyes and remained quiet.

The room plunged into an eerie stillness.

The nearby armored guards exchanged bewildered glances.

But this silence was soon shattered.

From outside Han Li’s sealed door came a series of knocks, followed by a hoarse voice: “This old man is Qian Jizi of the Ancient Clan. May I meet the master of this place?”

At the sound of this voice, Bai Yue’s face paled slightly, and the gray light around Cangying rippled.

Han Li’s eyes flashed, and he immediately responded, “Senior, please enter. For someone of your status to grace this humble abode is an honor beyond my expectations.”

Hearing Han Li’s clearly welcoming tone, the old man outside wasted no time. A flash of spiritual light later, he phased straight through the door and entered.

He was a short, plump elder in a yellow robe, carrying a peculiar basket-like backpack on his back. His expression was kindly and benevolent.

“So, Fellow Daoists Bai and Cangying are also here! This old man greets you both!” The plump elder spoke as if he had only just noticed their presence, his tone warm and amiable.

“Fellow Daoist Qian Jizi is too courteous. We’ve only just arrived ourselves.”

“Indeed, I happened to be nearby on business when I noticed the spiritual light from this Moonfrost Token’s activation and came to investigate.”

Bai Yue and Cangying, who had been at odds moments ago, now behaved almost identically—both cautious and deferential in the elder’s presence.

Han Li found this odd and discreetly swept his spiritual sense over the old man.

The next instant, his heart shuddered.

This “Qian Jizi” possessed a depth of spiritual power as vast as an ocean—utterly unfathomable. At Han Li’s current level of cultivation, he couldn’t even begin to gauge the elder’s true strength.

This likely meant the plump elder was at the peak of the Body Unity stage.

No wonder Bai Yue and Cangying were so wary of him. Given the disparity in their cultivation, even if the two joined forces, they might still fall short of the elder’s power.

“So, it is indeed a Moonfrost Token! Does this token belong to you, Fellow Daoist?” Qian Jizi smiled amiably at the two before turning his gaze to the gold-and-silver token floating in the air. After a long pause, he looked back at Han Li.

“Yes, it belongs to this junior,” Han Li replied promptly, rising to his feet and bowing slightly.

“You are surnamed Han, correct?” Qian Jizi scrutinized Han Li for a moment before suddenly smiling.

“How did Senior know?” Han Li’s expression shifted slightly, though his mind had already leapt to Jia Tianmu.

As expected, Qian Jizi chuckled and said, “I’ve heard about you from Fellow Daoist Jia. He even provided a portrait. I had planned to send someone to invite you for a chat in a couple of days, but it seems we’ll have to move that up.”

“Oh? Fellow Daoist Qian Jizi knows this outsider?” Bai Yue couldn’t help but ask.

“Haha, Master Jia, one of our Ancient Clan’s four top-tier puppet masters, nearly perished in the territory occupied by the Horned Race not long ago. Thanks to Fellow Daoist Han’s intervention, he escaped unscathed. How could I not know of him?” Qian Jizi stroked his beard and replied frankly.

“What? Master Jia ventured into the borderlands?” Cangying blurted out in surprise.

“Indeed. An urgent matter required his presence. We had arranged escorts, but they perished in the border region due to the Horned Race’s invasion. Why, are the two of you so concerned with our Ancient Clan’s internal affairs?” The plump elder sighed at first, but then his eyes twinkled mischievously as he posed the question.

“Not at all! Master Jia’s mastery of puppetry is peerless, and he is indispensable to our thirteen clans. I was merely concerned,” Bai Yue forced a smile, his expression shifting uneasily.

“Indeed, now that Master Jia is safe, we are relieved,” the figure in the gray light also squirmed slightly, discomfort evident.

“Ah, so it was out of kindness. This old man misunderstood. But now that this Moonfrost Token has surfaced and been activated by Fellow Daoist Han, I’d like to invite him to our clan for a discussion. I trust neither of you objects? As for this place, we’ll immediately set up restrictions and station sufficient personnel to seal it off. Our Ancient Clan will soon dispatch experts to prepare the activation array here.” Though Qian Jizi’s tone was polite, it brooked no opposition.

Bai Yue and Cangying’s expressions darkened at this, but under the elder’s imposing aura, they could only nod reluctantly.

Satisfied, Qian Jizi turned back to Han Li with a smile. “Fellow Daoist Han, would you be willing to accompany this old man for a visit?”

Han Li could only offer a wry smile. With a peak Body Unity cultivator extending the invitation, how could he dare refuse? He bowed respectfully. “If Senior doesn’t find it troublesome, this junior would be honored.”

“Haha, Fellow Daoist Han need not worry. After all, you saved Master Jia. Our Ancient Clan does not forget kindness.” Qian Jizi seemed to sense Han Li’s hesitation and laughed heartily.