A shadow of gloom flickered across Xiao Ming’s face. After a light cough, he was about to speak when suddenly, the silver inscriptions on the stone tablet before them buzzed and shimmered, coalescing into a faintly glowing silver array.
The entire array brightened, and at its center, a ripple appeared, revealing a massive hole.
From within, two figures emerged side by side—a man and a woman.
“Oh? So it’s the three of you. What a coincidence,” the young man remarked, scanning the trio with a brief look of surprise before adopting a faintly mocking smile.
The woman beside him, however, regarded Xiao Ming and the others with evident surprise and deep wariness.
These two were none other than Han Li and Bingpo Fairy, who had just emerged.
Xiao Ming and his companions exchanged glances, their expressions darkening.
This was precisely the worst-case scenario they had anticipated.
“Brother Han, have you obtained the legacy of Tian Ding Zhenren?” Xiao Ming asked coldly.
“No, but my companion here has. Do the three of you have any objections?” Han Li replied with a faint smile, his tone casual.
Even if he denied it, they wouldn’t believe him, so he might as well admit it outright.
“What? This fairy? Hmm, something seems off…”
The trio was taken aback, their gazes instantly locking onto Bingpo.
But Xiao Ming soon frowned, a trace of confusion crossing his face.
Clearly, he had mistaken Bingpo Fairy for her blood incarnation, Xuepo, and immediately sensed the disparity in their cultivation levels.
Qingping Daoren and Wanhua Furen noticed this as well, their eyes flickering with doubt. However, compared to the fact that Tian Ding Zhenren’s legacy had already been claimed, this minor confusion seemed trivial.
Xiao Ming sighed, sounding somewhat resigned.
“This complicates matters. The three of us ventured here at great risk precisely for Tian Ding’s legacy. But since this fairy has already obtained it, out of respect for Brother Han, we won’t resort to force. How about this—we propose a trade. We won’t covet the treasures Tian Ding left behind, but we’d like copies of his cultivation techniques, secret arts, and methods for transcending tribulations. Naturally, we won’t ask for them without offering fair compensation.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Bingpo?” Han Li turned to the woman beside him, his tone neutral.
“I did obtain several of Tian Ding’s techniques, but they were directly imprinted into my consciousness through a soul-bound secret art, complete with restrictive blood oaths. Until I master them fully, I cannot pass them on to anyone else—doing so would either scatter my consciousness or cause my Nascent Soul to explode. As for tribulation-transcending methods, there are none. According to Tian Ding’s records, the reason he survived so many great tribulations was because he once consumed a seed of the Tanlei Immortal Fruit, a treasure from the Immortal Realm.” Bingpo smiled bitterly, her words leaving Han Li and Xiao Ming momentarily stunned.
“The Tanlei Immortal Fruit? That’s a legendary fruit said to exist only in the Immortal Realm. If Tian Ding Zhenren truly consumed its seed, it would explain how he weathered so many tribulations. But how can we be sure you’re telling the truth?” Qingping Daoren frowned, his voice slow and measured.
“How would you like me to prove it?” Bingpo countered coldly.
“I possess a secret art that can explore another’s consciousness without harming their soul. If you’d allow us to examine your sea of consciousness—”
“Out of the question! No cultivator would ever open their consciousness to outsiders. That’s no different from handing over your life.” Bingpo’s expression turned icy as she flatly refused.
She would never agree to such a perilous demand.
“Brother Han, what do you think? Even with your formidable abilities, you can’t expect the three of us to leave empty-handed, can you?” Qingping Daoren took a deep breath and addressed Han Li with a dark expression.
“If my companion refuses, then the matter ends here. If Fellow Daoist Qingping feels unsatisfied, you’re welcome to search the ruins yourselves. Perhaps you’ll find something else of value. We won’t linger any longer—farewell.” Han Li’s eyes glinted faintly as he replied with deliberate nonchalance.
“What? You think you can just walk away without—”
“What explanation do you want?”
Before Wanhua Furen could finish her furious outburst, Han Li’s expression darkened, and he took a single step forward.
In an instant, an overwhelming aura erupted from him—one that would make even ordinary Mahayana cultivators tremble—and crashed down upon the trio without mercy.
With a series of staggered steps, Qingping Daoren and Wanhua Furen were forced back, unable to withstand the pressure. Only Xiao Ming, standing in the middle, remained unmoved, though a bloody glow surfaced on his mask.
Han Li narrowed his eyes and took another step, his aura flaring even more intensely.
This time, Xiao Ming felt as though an ancient primordial beast were lunging at him. With a grunt, he too was forced back a step.
“Impressive. Brother Han concealed most of his power during your earlier clash with Wanhua. With such profound spiritual energy, even ancient true spirits might pale in comparison.” Despite his usual composure, Xiao Ming’s voice carried deep wariness.
Han Li chuckled, his terrifying aura unabated as he clasped his hands behind his back and regarded the trio in silence.
Wanhua Furen and Qingping Daoren, torn between fury and fear, cycled through expressions of rage and dread. They were loath to give up Tian Ding’s legacy, yet the prospect of facing Han Li’s overwhelming strength filled them with hesitation.
“Let’s go.”
After a long, measured look at Han Li, Xiao Ming suddenly spoke.
“What? Brother Xiao, are we really abandoning Tian Ding’s techniques?” Qingping Daoren’s face twisted in disbelief.
“Even united, the three of us are no match for Brother Han. There’s no point in humiliating ourselves further—unless you have a way to withstand his wrath.” Xiao Ming’s tone was calm.
“I… of course not.” Qingping Daoren shook his head with a bitter laugh.
“Keke, what if my husband and I join you?”
A woman’s melodious laughter rang out from afar.
Two streaks of light shot across the sky, arriving in the blink of an eye. As the radiance faded, a man and a woman appeared—Wugou Laozu and Huaxi Xianzi.
Bingpo’s heart sank at the sight of two more Mahayana cultivators, but Han Li remained unfazed.
“How did you two get here?” Qingping Daoren blurted in shock.
“That’s not something I can disclose,” Huaxi Xianzi replied with a coy smile.
Xiao Ming’s pupils contracted. “Fellow Daoists Wanhua and Qingping, check yourselves—see if you’ve been tampered with.”
“Tampered with? Impossible! We would’ve noticed.”
Wanhua Furen scoffed but quickly spread her spiritual sense, scanning her body from head to toe. Qingping Daoren, his face grim, also began inspecting his robes and accessories.
Moments later, Wanhua Furen let out a sharp cry, plucking a nearly transparent insect from her hair—a Wuchen Gu, no longer than half an inch and thin as a strand.
“You planted this on me? When?” she shrieked, crushing the bug in her fist.
“Before we entered Tian Ding’s palace. Otherwise, how could we have tracked you here? Blame your own carelessness for leaking your plans.” Huaxi Xianzi smirked, unbothered by the old woman’s rage.
“It seems we’ll need to purge our ranks upon returning. But your presence here isn’t entirely unwelcome. Brother Han, with two more allies on our side, have you reconsidered?” Qingping Daoren, regaining his composure, turned to Han Li with a sly glint in his eye.
“I won’t repeat myself. Either leave now, or prepare for battle.” Han Li’s reply was cool, as if the five Mahayana cultivators before him were of no consequence.
His words stoked the fury of Qingping Daoren, Wanhua Furen, and even Huaxi Xianzi, whose delicate features hardened.
“Brother Xiao, what now?” Qingping Daoren asked through gritted teeth.
Xiao Ming’s gaze flickered uncertainly as he weighed his options. After a long pause, he finally addressed Han Li again.
“Brother Han, your obstinacy leaves me no choice. While I believe your power is unfathomable, under these circumstances, we cannot simply let this fairy walk away. I ask you one last time—is there room for negotiation?”
Han Li chuckled. “If Fellow Daoist Bingpo could freely share the techniques, I’d have no reason to fight. But as things stand, I suppose I’ll have to test your mettle.”
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