Chapter 516: Ban Yao Grass

“I wonder if Fellow Daoist Gu knows about this item, Thousand Leaves Dew?” Han Li did not beat around the bush and asked directly.

“Thousand Leaves Dew?” Gu Yu looked momentarily stunned, but after a moment of contemplation, he quickly replied, “This junior has some impression of this item. Coincidentally, if you had asked me a few years earlier, I would have known nothing about it. But two years ago, I obtained an ancient text that mentioned Thousand Leaves Dew. I have copied the text onto a jade slip. Would you like to take a look, Senior?” After saying this, Gu Yu wore a cautious expression.

Han Li was overjoyed and could not help but show excitement in his eyes.

“If there is a text, that would be even better. If it truly is the item I am looking for, I will surely reward you handsomely, Fellow Daoist,” Han Li said, suppressing his excitement with a smile.

Hearing this, Gu Yu was equally delighted. To receive such a promise from a Core Formation cultivator was an incredible opportunity!

Without hesitation, he rummaged through his belongings and produced a pale yellow jade slip, which he handed to Han Li with both hands.

“This is the jade slip, Senior. Please take a closer look!” Gu Yu said respectfully.

Han Li said nothing more and took the jade slip, quickly scanning it with his spiritual sense.

In just a short moment, Han Li’s expression shifted from excitement to confusion, and finally settled into deep thought.

Li Xun, who had been closely observing Han Li’s every move, noticed his changing expressions and could not help but show a flicker of unknown emotion in his eyes.

Gu Yu grew increasingly anxious, fearing that the Thousand Leaves Dew mentioned in his jade slip might not be what this Senior Qu was looking for.

“Indeed, this is the item,” Han Li finally said as he withdrew his spiritual sense from the jade slip, though the excitement in his eyes had noticeably diminished.

“What is it? Is there some complication with the Thousand Leaves Dew?” the old man asked tentatively, his eyes shifting slightly.

“I did not expect this item to be so troublesome. It actually involves an eighth-grade demon beast,” Han Li said with a bitter smile.

“Eighth-grade demon beast?” Li Xun was shocked and looked at Han Li with disbelief.

“Indeed. The so-called Thousand Leaves Dew is actually the sap of the ‘Demon Companion Grass.’ However, this grass must grow beside an eighth-grade demon beast to be effective,” Han Li explained with a sigh, sounding somewhat helpless.

After hearing this clearly, Li Xun fell silent.

He naturally knew what “Demon Companion Grass” was—a type of spiritual grass that grows near demon beast lairs, influenced by their demonic aura over time. Normally, such grass could be found everywhere, but if it grew beside an eighth-grade demon beast, that would be an entirely different matter.

Although it was rumored that even ninth and tenth-grade demon beasts had been spotted in the Outer Star Sea, these were merely legends. At the very least, the highest-grade demon beast he had seen in Blackstone City was a seventh-grade one, let alone an eighth-grade demon beast.

Li Xun looked at Han Li with a hint of astonishment, wondering what kind of precious pill this person was trying to refine that required such an extraordinary ingredient.

“There are some things recorded in this jade slip that I may need to study further. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Gu would be willing to part with it and give it to me?” Han Li asked unexpectedly after a moment of hesitation, playing with the jade slip in his hand.

“If it is useful to you, Senior, please take it!” Gu Yu was momentarily stunned but replied without hesitation.

Pleased with his compliance, Han Li nodded slightly and produced a small vial and a talisman inscribed with a small yellow sword.

“As a senior, I naturally will not take your things for nothing. Here is a vial of pills that can slightly enhance your cultivation and a talisman treasure. Take them,” Han Li said, gently tossing the two items over.

“Thank you for the treasures, Senior!” Gu Yu received the items and repeatedly bowed in gratitude. These items were extremely valuable to a Qi Condensation cultivator like him.

“Since Fellow Daoist Qu has already bestowed treasures, Gu Yu, you may leave for now,” Li Xun said, slightly surprised by Han Li’s generosity but maintaining his composure as he dismissed Gu Yu from the room.

Soon, only the two of them remained in the room.

“I wonder if there is anything else Fellow Daoist needs my help with? If so, please feel free to ask,” Li Xun said with great enthusiasm.

“Since Fellow Daoist Li says so, there is indeed one more matter I would like to trouble you with. Does the Inch Gold Pavilion have any Horned Agate Beast horns for sale?” Han Li asked after a moment of consideration.

“Haha, you’ve come to the right place! Although Horned Agate is extremely rare, our shop acquired two last month. If you need one, I will have someone bring it to you immediately,” the old man said with a light laugh, clapping his hands and giving the order without hesitation.

Han Li was naturally overjoyed and repeatedly expressed his thanks.

Before long, a servant entered the room carrying a silver tray.

On the tray was an exquisite wooden box.

“Please take a look, Fellow Daoist. I hope this Horned Agate meets your expectations.”

Han Li nodded solemnly, picked up the box, and opened the lid. A blue light shimmered as a half-foot-long, spiraled horn appeared inside. It was crystalline and translucent, with a blue glow shimmering on its surface.

“Excellent! This one will work perfectly. How many spirit stones does it cost?” Han Li asked, looking satisfied as he closed the box.

“Our shop acquired this horn for five thousand spirit stones. Since you truly need it, we can offer it to you at cost,” Li Xun said with a smile, showing his business acumen.

Han Li naturally did not bargain further. After expressing his thanks, he counted out enough mid-grade spirit stones and pushed them toward the old man.

With a sweep of his wide sleeve, the old man collected the spirit stones and then asked with a smile, “Does Fellow Daoist Qu have any specific plans now that you are here? Although your cultivation is profound, the high-grade demon beasts here are not easy to deal with. Many Core Formation cultivators have been severely injured after encountering them alone. Perhaps I could introduce you to some fellow cultivators of similar cultivation level? If you go out to sea together, it would be much safer.”

Han Li smiled slightly. The other party had been showing goodwill all along and had finally revealed his intention to recruit him.

“Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist Li. However, in the near future, I plan to refine some pills and will likely need to go into seclusion for a while. I am in no hurry to go out to sea to hunt demon beasts,” Han Li said, not outright rejecting the offer but also unwilling to venture out to sea with unfamiliar cultivators.

“That makes sense. It is more prudent to first improve your cultivation and familiarize yourself with the local situation. However, if you ever need companions in the future, please do not forget to come to me!” the old man said, though a flicker of disappointment crossed his face, he continued as if nothing had happened.

Han Li naturally agreed readily. After chatting for a while longer, he took his leave.

The old man saw Han Li out the door before returning to the room.

“So? Can this person be of use to us?” a faint voice suddenly rang out in the room as soon as the old man sat down. A blurry figure eerily drifted out from a landscape painting on the wall. Unbeknownst to Han Li, another person had been in the room all along.

This person wore white robes, with a blue light obscuring their face, giving off an extremely mysterious aura.

“Don’t worry. Although our conversation was brief and his face seems unfamiliar, this cultivator named Qu is undoubtedly a lone wanderer. Once he ventures out to sea alone and encounters danger a few times, he will naturally understand the benefits of my suggestion and will eventually come back to us,” the old man said confidently.

“Hmph! That’s not necessarily true,” the white-robed person said coldly, pouring cold water on the idea.

“What? Do you think a early Core Formation cultivator can truly hunt demon beasts alone in the sea abyss?” Li Xun shook his head, unconvinced.

“He is likely no ordinary Core Formation cultivator. While you were talking earlier, although he never once glanced in the direction where I was hiding, I inexplicably felt as if he was watching me. I suspect he discovered my presence long ago but simply did not expose me,” the white-robed person said after a moment of silence, speaking gravely.

“Are you sure? Even a cultivator a level higher than you would be unable to detect your concealment technique. Don’t tell me this guy named Qu is actually a late Core Formation cultivator,” the old man said, startled and suspicious.

“Hard to say! It’s also possible that he practices a unique technique or possesses some special treasure,” the white-robed person said somewhat uncertainly.

“Never mind. Whether this person is ordinary or special, we have already done our best to befriend him. That can’t be wrong!” Li Xun said after pacing around the room for a few moments, frowning slightly.

The white-robed person nodded in agreement and said nothing more.