Upon hearing this, Han Li merely smiled faintly without saying much, knowing full well that his senior brother Lü would surely speak up on his behalf.
Sure enough, before the Marquis of Nanlong within the golden light could say anything further, the middle-aged Lü took the initiative to introduce Han Li.
“Marquis, this is our newly joined junior brother Han Li of the Falling Cloud Sect. He has only recently formed his Spirit Infant, and the young lady beside him is his concubine. Junior Brother Han, the Marquis and our master are old acquaintances. Come and greet him.”
“Greetings, Marquis of Nanlong!” Han Li floated gracefully, clasping his hands in a salute, appearing utterly composed.
“Han Li? That name sounds quite unfamiliar. It seems you truly are a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator. I wonder about your abilities—how about letting this marquis test them?” The Marquis of Nanlong spoke casually from within his beast-drawn carriage.
“What? Junior Brother Han has only formed his Spirit Infant a few years ago. How could he possibly be a match for you, Marquis? You are already a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!” Lü Luo’s smiling expression stiffened slightly, his heart sinking. *This old eccentric, despite his odd temperament, why would he suddenly want to test Junior Brother Han’s abilities? It doesn’t seem like they’ve met before!*
“Rest assured, I won’t bully someone weaker just because of my cultivation. I merely wish to test his spiritual sense. Earlier, I noticed that his spiritual sense is unusually strong for someone who has just formed their Spirit Infant. It piqued my interest.”
As the Marquis spoke, the golden light around the carriage dimmed, revealing three figures seated together inside the massive vehicle.
One man and two women. The man wore a purple serpent-embroidered robe, a jade crown atop his head, with a long beard reaching his chest, seated between the two women. The women were clad in snow-white palace attire, stunningly beautiful, leaning against the man.
The bearded man was naturally the Marquis of Nanlong, while the two women beside him were undoubtedly his concubines. Though their cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, they were both graceful and alluring.
“Marquis, you jest. Though Junior Brother Han’s spiritual sense is somewhat stronger, such a test is perilous. How could we engage in it so lightly?” Lü Luo grew genuinely anxious, no longer restraining his apprehension as he outright rejected the suggestion.
“Heh! Why the haste, Brother Lü? Perhaps Junior Brother Han himself is willing to give it a try.” The Marquis chuckled coldly, his narrow eyes glinting with a frosty light as he gazed at Han Li.
“Moreover, if Junior Brother Han truly refuses my goodwill, if I recall correctly, we are already within a thousand miles of Dantian City. The rule of Forced Exchange seems applicable here.”
“Forced Exchange? What do you mean by that, Marquis?” Lü Luo’s expression darkened, a foreboding creeping into his heart.
“Nothing much. Seeing how intimate this Lady Mu is with Junior Brother Han, she must be someone he cherishes deeply, no? Coincidentally, I have two concubines here whom I’ve grown tired of. How about we trade—my two for your one? Both are no less beautiful or accomplished than Lady Mu, clearly meeting the conditions for Forced Exchange. If Junior Brother Han refuses, then we shall test our spiritual senses. If he wins, not only does he keep his concubine, but mine shall be his as well.” The Marquis’s cold gaze swept over Mu Peiling as he spoke impassively.
The two concubines in his arms paled momentarily but quickly regained their composure.
Lü Luo, however, was visibly shocked and enraged, momentarily speechless. Beside Han Li, Mu Peiling’s face drained of color.
“Forced Exchange? Senior Brother Lü, could you explain in detail?” Han Li frowned slightly before asking calmly. To him, the Marquis was merely a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Given Han Li’s current abilities, he harbored little fear.
“It’s nothing much. Forced Exchange is a rule specifically set by the hosting factions for Nascent Soul cultivators.”
“Junior Brother, you must know that any faction is reluctant to offend a Nascent Soul cultivator, and the hosts of the trade fair are no exception. However, in such a large event, disputes or conflicts are inevitable. For those below the Nascent Soul stage, the hosts can suppress them forcefully. But when conflicts arise between Nascent Soul cultivators, the hosts prefer not to intervene directly. Hence, several special rules were established to let Nascent Soul cultivators resolve disputes among themselves. Forced Exchange is the least invoked among them.”
“Specifically, during the trade fair period, within a thousand miles of the host city, if one Nascent Soul cultivator offers something of significantly higher value in exchange for what they desire and is refused, this rule can be invoked. Both parties may then settle the dispute based on their cultivation and abilities. However, the conditions for invoking this rule are stringent. Even if the challenger wins, they merely proceed with the exchange, gaining no additional advantage. But if they lose, the offered item is forfeited to the challenged party. Moreover, while both sides may severely injure each other, they must not take lives. Otherwise, the hosts will mobilize their experts to hunt down the perpetrator. That said, killing another Nascent Soul cultivator in a one-on-one fight is already exceedingly difficult. Unless the opponent possesses something absolutely vital and is significantly weaker, no one would engage in such a fruitless and enmity-inviting folly.” Lü Luo explained in detail, though his expression remained grim.
For Nascent Soul cultivators, trading concubines was indeed a practice, especially among demonic and unorthodox factions. By all appearances, the Marquis’s conditions were fully met. Even if they summoned the law-enforcing cultivators of the Nine Nations Alliance, it would be futile.
That said, Han Li’s life wasn’t in danger. But suffering severe injuries before the trade fair even began was an unfortunate inevitability.
As for Mu Peiling, in Lü Luo’s eyes, she was inconsequential. Even if traded away, Han Li would receive two stunning beauties in return—hardly a loss.
Both Han Li and Mu Peiling heard Lü Luo’s explanation clearly. Han Li remained unperturbed, but Mu Peiling was filled with regret. Had she known such a rule existed, she would never have begged Han Li to come.
Though she knew little about the Marquis, his demeanor and treatment of his concubines made it clear that remaining a virgin as she had under Han Li’s care would be impossible. She might even be traded like goods at his whim.
The mere thought of such a fate made Mu Peiling bite her lip, a flush of crimson flashing across her pale face.
As for her “Young Master” defeating the Marquis, she held little hope.
“Well? Does Junior Brother Han agree to the trade, or shall we test our spiritual senses first?” The Marquis pressed from his carriage, unmoving.
Silence fell. Not only did Lü Luo and Mu Peiling watch Han Li nervously, but the Marquis’s two concubines also gazed curiously at this improbably young Nascent Soul cultivator.
Han Li stroked his chin and suddenly laughed.
“A spiritual sense test is no issue. Having only recently formed my Spirit Infant, I’ve been curious about how mine compares to others’. However, if I happen to win, I don’t want your concubines. I only wish to know the true reason behind your insistence on this test. Surely it’s not because you dislike me or truly fancy my concubine?” Han Li replied calmly, showing not a trace of concern.
His words made the Marquis’s eyes flicker with an unreadable emotion, while the others were left baffled.
“Very well. I accept,” the Marquis replied after a moment of silence, his dignified face now solemn.
“Young Master…” Mu Peiling called out anxiously, her expression fraught with complexity.
“It’s fine. This is merely a test of skill,” Han Li waved her off.
“Junior Brother, be careful. If it’s too much, concede immediately. I’ll intervene at once,” Lü Luo exhorted with a sigh.
Han Li nodded and said no more.
Opposite them, the Marquis pushed his concubines aside and floated into the air with a flick of his sleeve. Han Li’s body shimmered with azure light as he transformed into a green streak, soaring upward.
Though the rules of Forced Exchange ideally required the presence of Nine Nations Alliance law enforcers, neither side mentioned it, tacitly letting it slide.
“Though I don’t know why you’re so intent on testing my spiritual sense, your motives are clearly deeper. I must admit, I’m rather curious,” Han Li said calmly as they halted fifty or sixty zhang in the air, facing each other.
“You’re sharp, Junior Brother Han. But to learn the reason, your spiritual sense must either match or surpass mine. Had I not sensed its unusual strength earlier, I wouldn’t have stooped to this. That said, I doubt you stand a chance. The gap between early and mid-stage Nascent Soul spiritual senses is no trivial matter.” The Marquis smirked coldly, his tone unsparing.
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