“Gift it to me?” Han Li showed a trace of surprise on his face.
“Exactly! Although the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Liquid is exceptionally precious, it cannot compare to Brother Han’s life-saving grace. Do you think that just because I am a woman, I would not know how to repay kindness?” Yuan Yao tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and lightly bit her lip as she spoke.
“That’s not it, but Fellow Daoist Yuan…” Han Li hesitated slightly.
Seeing this, Yuan Yao’s bright eyes sparkled as she chuckled lightly. “We’ve shared hardships in the Void Heaven Hall, and now you’ve saved my life. Brother Han can just call me Yuan Yao from now on, no need for such formal titles as ‘Fellow Daoist.'” After saying this with a smile, she suddenly remembered something, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks, making her even more radiant.
Han Li, captivated by her charming demeanor, couldn’t help but stare for a moment, his gaze lingering on her face.
Under Han Li’s intense gaze, Yuan Yao’s blush deepened, and she slightly turned her head to avoid his eyes.
“Since Miss Yuan Yao has said so, I won’t stand on ceremony anymore. From now on, I’ll address you directly by name,” Han Li said after a long pause, taking a deep breath.
He then casually picked up the small vial on the table and opened the lid to take a look. Inside was indeed genuine Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Liquid.
A hint of joy flashed across Han Li’s face as he placed the vial into his storage pouch. After a brief hesitation, he took out two small white jade bottles and pushed them toward Yuan Yao.
“What are these?” Yuan Yao blinked her beautiful eyes, somewhat puzzled.
“These are two bottles of pills that enhance spiritual power. They should be of some help to Miss Yuan in your future cultivation. Consider them my return gift,” Han Li said calmly.
“I’ve already said the spirit liquid is a gift. For Brother Han to take out these two bottles of pills now puts me in an awkward position,” Yuan Yao said, taken aback by Han Li’s words, but after glancing at the white jade bottles, she pursed her lips and smiled.
“Miss Yuan, don’t regret it later! These two bottles of pills are refined using sixth-grade demon cores as the main ingredient. Given your current peak early Core Formation cultivation, consuming them will smoothly advance you to mid Core Formation,” Han Li said with a faint smile, glancing at her.
“Pills refined from sixth-grade demon cores!” Yuan Yao’s smiling expression abruptly turned to one of astonishment.
She immediately picked up one of the white jade bottles and quickly opened the lid. A surge of pure spiritual energy wafted out, and Yuan Yao’s face lit up with delight.
“If it were anything else, I might refuse, but these two bottles of pills are exactly what I need. I’ll humbly accept them,” she said, clutching the bottles tightly, her tone slightly embarrassed.
These two bottles of pills could save her over a decade of arduous cultivation. Despite her initial hesitation, she was overjoyed.
“Please keep them, Miss Yuan. In fact, I have another request to make,” Han Li said, relieved that she had accepted the pills, as it made his next request easier to voice.
“With Brother Han’s current abilities, what could you possibly need from me? Feel free to ask. If it’s within my power, I’ll certainly help,” Yuan Yao said with a radiant smile after carefully storing the two bottles of pills.
“Earlier, outside, I saw the Qingyang Sect’s Spirit-Concealing Array technique, which can hide spiritual energy around a cave dwelling. It’s quite remarkable. I wonder if Miss Yuan could provide me with a copy of the array’s setup method? I’d be deeply grateful,” Han Li said slowly.
“The Spirit-Concealing Array? No problem, it’s a simple matter,” Yuan Yao replied, seemingly eager to repay Han Li after the earlier exchange. Without hesitation, she agreed.
She took out a pitch-black jade slip from her storage pouch and handed it to Han Li.
“This jade slip contains the Qingyang Sect’s array compendium. Besides the Spirit-Concealing Array, it includes several other powerful arrays. I’ll give them all to Brother Han,” Yuan Yao said with a charming smile.
Han Li was overjoyed. After expressing his thanks, he took the jade slip and scanned it with his spiritual sense. Indeed, it contained several previously unheard-of arrays, including the Spirit-Concealing Array.
After briefly examining it, Han Li withdrew his spiritual sense with satisfaction. Just as he was about to say something more to her, he noticed Yuan Yao’s hesitant expression, as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t make up her mind.
“What is it, Miss Yuan? Is there something else?” Han Li asked, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes.
“Since Brother Han knows about the Qingyang Sect, you probably also know a bit about my past,” Yuan Yao said after a moment of hesitation, her jade-like face showing a flash of resolve before she calmly continued.
Han Li’s expression flickered slightly. Though he didn’t know why she was bringing this up, he nodded calmly.
“Indeed, while infiltrating that group, I heard a bit from the Qingyang Sect member. He said Miss Yuan nearly became the Qingyang Sect’s young master’s concubine but later harmed him and fled with treasures. I don’t know if it’s true or not,” Han Li said solemnly.
Hearing this, Yuan Yao’s stunningly beautiful face revealed a faint, bitter smile.
“What he said isn’t wrong. I did nearly become that scoundrel’s concubine, and at the time, I harbored thoughts of climbing the ranks by attaching myself to the Qingyang Sect. Does Brother Han think I was too shameless or lacking in self-respect?” she said self-deprecatingly.
“Not at all! The world of cultivation is like this. Without the backing of a major sect or exceptional spiritual roots, it’s incredibly difficult for ordinary cultivators to advance. Miss Yuan’s actions back then were understandable. Many female cultivators with some charm willingly become concubines or maids to high-ranking cultivators, hoping for guidance. Some, having given up on cultivation entirely, even agree to be cultivation cauldrons for temporary comfort and wealth,” Han Li said, shaking his head impassively.
Han Li’s words seemed to comfort Yuan Yao somewhat. She forced a smile and continued, “Back then, my senior sister Yan Li and I came from a minor cultivation sect. Not only were our talents mediocre, but our cultivation techniques were also utterly ordinary. We knew that if things continued this way, we wouldn’t even reach Foundation Establishment, let alone Core Formation. So we left the sect together, searching for unmarried male cultivators of higher cultivation to see if we could become their dual cultivation partners. Unfortunately, we never met suitable candidates—not even late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, let alone Core Formation experts. Instead, we attracted many unscrupulous men drawn to our looks. These men’s cultivation levels weren’t much higher than ours, so my sister and I naturally refused to submit to them. Later, some minor incidents caused us to part ways, and I wandered alone for a time. Years later, when I reunited with my senior sister, I discovered she had become the Qingyang Sect young master’s cultivation cauldron. I was shocked and furious and wanted to demand an explanation. But then the young master appeared, claiming he had taken a liking to me and wanted to make me his concubine. He promised to release my senior sister and take her as a concubine as well if I agreed. Back then, I was naive. Seeing his high status, profound cultivation, and handsome appearance, I agreed almost without hesitation, despite my senior sister’s vehement objections, and followed him back to the Qingyang Sect.”
As she spoke, Yuan Yao wore a distant expression, as if recalling the past.
Han Li frowned slightly, realizing that the following words were the crux of her story—the earlier parts were merely the preface.
Sure enough, Yuan Yao collected her thoughts and continued in a suddenly icy voice, “On the way back to the Qingyang Sect, my senior sister found a chance to secretly tell me that she, too, had been deceived by the young master. He had promised her a concubine’s position, but within months of arriving, he turned her into a cultivation cauldron, exploiting her ruthlessly. Many other women in similar positions had been tricked the same way. Once inside the Qingyang Sect, whether they became concubines or cauldrons was entirely out of their control. Hearing this, I was horrified. My senior sister and I planned to escape when the young master was off guard. But the young master, a lecherous fiend, forced himself on me during the journey. Left with no choice, my senior sister and I set a trap and ambushed him when his guards were absent. Although we succeeded, my senior sister suffered severe physical damage from his dying counterattack. With no other option, her soul had to leave her body and temporarily reside in a magical tool. However, ordinary soul-containing tools cause spirits to weaken over time. Despite my efforts, I could only slow the process. Soon, my senior sister’s soul lost much of its vitality, making it impossible for her to possess a new body even if one were available.” At this point, Yuan Yao paused, her bright eyes filled with sorrow.
“Did Miss Yuan take the Soul Nurturing Wood to house Fellow Daoist Yan Li’s soul?” Han Li asked, suddenly recalling the matter of the Soul Nurturing Wood.
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