“I have also heard about the Asura Spiders from a great master. The moment they are born in the Asura Realm, their young already possess terrifying strength surpassing that of a Nascent Soul. As they grow, their powers continue to soar. By the time they reach full maturity, their strength is nearly on par with a Mahayana-level existence. Some exceptionally gifted Asura Spiders may even evolve into beings comparable to True Spirits. The Asura Spider you mentioned, capable of refining Time Threads, must at least be an adult, correct?” Mo Jianli said slowly.
“Brother Mo seems exceptionally knowledgeable about these creatures from the Asura Realm. I won’t hide it from you all—only adult Asura Spiders can yield Time Threads. Moreover, it typically takes three spiders to refine a single strand. Of course, if we encounter the powerful variant you mentioned, a single core might suffice,” the Spirit King replied with a hint of peculiarity in his expression.
Mo Jianli gave a bitter smile and asked no further.
Upon hearing this, Xueran and Heilin’s expressions darkened.
After a long silence, Xueran finally spoke coldly:
“The Lesser Asura Realm is already perilous, and adult Asura Spiders possess bizarre time-manipulating abilities. Even without Mahayana-level cultivation, they are no easier to deal with than ordinary Mahayana beings. To refine Time Threads, each of us would need to slay at least three spiders. Spirit King, don’t you think it’s unfair to offer just a single Thunderbolt Talisman in exchange for risking our lives?”
“Unfair? I don’t see it that way. Besides the Thunderbolt Talisman, I’ve also offered two Asura Hearts. Their rarity and value are only slightly inferior to the talisman. Moreover, the Lesser Asura Realm has been renowned for its treasures for countless millennia. Even if you fail to find the Asura Spiders, you’ll likely return with other rare resources. You may keep all such finds—I won’t take a single piece!” The white-robed elder replied impassively.
“That’s not the same! The Asura Hearts are essential for entering the Lesser Asura Realm. No matter whom you enlist, you’d have to provide them. How can they be counted as part of the reward? Besides, once the Asura Hearts are split, we’ll only have about ten days in that realm to focus on hunting the spiders. When would we have time to search for other treasures? Heh, Brother Spirit King, there’s no need to placate us with empty words. Even if we do stumble upon some treasures, how could they compare to the risks we’re taking? At our level of cultivation, personal safety is paramount. The only reason my brother and I want the Thunderbolt Talisman is to avoid perishing in future tribulations,” Xueran retorted bluntly.
Mo Jianli’s eyes flickered, clearly agreeing with the foreign Mahayana’s words.
Han Li wore an enigmatic smile, while Heilin sneered coldly.
The white-robed elder frowned, scanning the faces of the others before speaking thoughtfully:
“Since the four of you find this trade unfair, here’s my final offer: aside from the Thunderbolt Talisman, you may each choose three additional treasures from the catalog I showed earlier—but only if you return with the Time Threads. This is my absolute limit. If you’re still dissatisfied, you may leave. I’d rather seek other helpers.”
His expression grew solemn as he finished.
“Three extra treasures? Done! Is the cross-realm formation to the Lesser Asura Realm ready? My brother and I cannot linger here,” Xueran agreed instantly, his face brightening.
“Rest assured, Blood Daoist. The teleportation array is prepared atop the Sacred Mountain. You may depart immediately if you wish. Brother Mo, Daoist Han, what are your decisions?” The elder replied confidently, a faint smile crossing his lips.
After a long internal struggle, Mo Jianli gritted his teeth:
“I must obtain the Thunderbolt Talisman. I’ll enter the Lesser Asura Realm.”
“Since Brother Mo is willing, I’ll join as well. But I have one condition: I’ll set the return coordinates myself—no need for the Spirit King’s assistance,” Han Li added casually, stroking his chin.
“Daoist Han, what do you mean by this? Do you distrust me?” The elder’s gaze sharpened, displeasure evident.
“Nothing personal. I simply prefer to control all variables. I’m quite familiar with teleportation arrays—adjusting the return coordinates with a tool shouldn’t be difficult,” Han Li replied calmly.
“Han Daoist speaks my mind! I, too, know a thing or two about arrays. I’ll set my own return coordinates. If you refuse, Spirit King, I might question your sincerity,” Xueran chimed in with a hollow laugh.
“You overthink this. Very well, you may set your own return coordinates—just ensure they’re within our Spirit Clan’s territory. If you delay, I might assume misfortune has befallen you and redistribute the Thunderbolt Talismans. You know how coveted they are. Once word spreads, others will come knocking—I can’t hold them indefinitely,” the elder conceded, a glint in his eyes.
“Haha, no worries! With our bloodline abilities, we’re 70-80% confident of finding the spiders. In just over ten days, we’ll both have what we want,” Xueran laughed heartily.
“Han Daoist and I will do our best,” Mo Jianli added with a sigh.
“Excellent. Since all is settled, rest here tonight and prepare. At dawn, I’ll send you to the Lesser Asura Realm.” The elder clapped his hands, and several graceful maids emerged to escort the guests.
Xueran and Heilin promptly followed two maids out. Soon after, Mo Jianli bowed and prepared to leave with Han Li.
But Han Li lingered, suddenly asking:
“One more question, if I may. Rumor has it that since the Spirit Clan’s founding, all Spirit Kings have been the same person. Is this true? How old are you, really?”
Mo Jianli stiffened at the bold query.
The elder chuckled. “Such baseless tales! Our clan has existed for a million years. Even with longer intervals between tributions, no one could live that long. A few past kings ruled exceptionally long reigns, likely sparking these rumors.”
“Of course. The Spirit Realm is no True Immortal World—how could anyone live a million years?” Han Li smiled, then followed Mo Jianli out.
Once they vanished, the elder’s smile dropped.
“True Immortal World? Has he guessed something? But many have asked me this directly,” he murmured almost inaudibly.
With a spell, he vanished in a flash of light.
Deep within the mountain’s core, in a dark void, a milky-white array flashed, and the elder reappeared.
After illuminating the space with floating orbs, he revealed a towering ice peak, its base encasing a golden-robed youth bound in chains, a matching sigil on his brow.
The elder pressed his palm against the ice, unleashing torrents of white light.
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