Han Li tilted his head slightly and cast a cold sidelong glance at the two Core Formation cultivators, instantly causing the words on the man’s lips to be swallowed back in fear.
They were two unfamiliar middle-aged cultivators whom Han Li did not recognize, nor did he know which sect they belonged to.
At this moment, the shopkeeper and two clerks in front of Han Li had already been pressed to the ground by the immense spiritual pressure, unable to move an inch. Their faces were filled with terror, and upon hearing that Han Li was actually a Spirit Infant cultivator, they were utterly petrified. They desperately wanted to beg for mercy, but the weight on their bodies was like a mountain, making it impossible for them to even breathe, let alone speak a word.
The surrounding cultivators also turned pale, and some timid ones, fearing they might be caught in the crossfire, had already quietly retreated.
Sun Huo, standing behind Han Li, was spared any discomfort due to Han Li’s special consideration, aside from being forced to take a few steps back. However, upon recognizing Han Li, his expression changed, and he immediately stepped forward to bow deeply, saying respectfully, “Disciple Sun Huo pays respects to Ancestor Han.”
Han Li no longer paid attention to the three men before him. He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the half-torn talisman in Sun Huo’s hand before nodding slightly. “It seems I don’t need to explain further. You already know my current status.”
“Disciple was unaware of Ancestor’s true identity back then and spoke arrogantly. I beg for your forgiveness!” Sun Huo, recalling his disrespectful behavior toward Han Li in the sacred land, felt deeply uneasy and immediately confessed his offense.
“At that time, I had not yet become an elder of the sect, so naturally, I won’t blame you. However, the torn talisman in your hand seems to have some connection with me.” Han Li stared at Sun Huo and spoke slowly.
“The torn talisman… Could it be that Ancestor is—” Sun Huo was stunned for a moment before joy surged in his heart, but before he could finish speaking, a streak of silver light shot toward them from the distance.
“We’ll discuss this later.” Han Li raised a hand to stop Sun Huo from continuing and narrowed his eyes at the approaching light.
Only the law enforcers of the Nine Nations Alliance could fly unimpeded within Dantian City, as they were responsible for maintaining order during the trade fair.
Sun Huo naturally dared not speak further and obediently stood aside, though he could hardly contain his excitement. His grip on the talisman tightened ever so slightly.
The streak of light dimmed as it reached Han Li, revealing a yellow-haired old man with mid-Core Formation cultivation. Embroidered on his chest was a small golden sword—the emblem of a law enforcer.
The old man had sensed Han Li’s overwhelming aura from afar and, despite knowing an Spirit Infant cultivator was involved, had no choice but to approach due to his duty.
Upon seeing Han Li standing motionless in the street, he clasped his fists and said, “This junior is Wu Fei, a law enforcer of Dantian City. May I ask why the senior is displeased? Is there anything this junior can assist with?” His tone was exceedingly polite in the presence of an Spirit Infant cultivator.
“It’s nothing. I was merely passing by when I overheard this shopkeeper making disparaging remarks about our Falling Cloud Sect. I simply wanted him to repeat those words in front of me.” Han Li clasped his hands behind his back and replied coldly.
“Ah! This must be the shopkeeper’s reckless talk. How could they dare offend the senior? You three, hurry and apologize!” The old man, hearing Han Li’s words, felt a headache coming on. Matters involving sect reputation were delicate and hard to resolve, so he first offered a conciliatory remark before sternly reprimanding the shopkeeper and his men.
Han Li had already withdrawn his spiritual pressure, allowing the three to shakily rise from the ground. The shopkeeper, pale-faced, immediately said, “Senior, this junior merely misspoke earlier and had no intention of disrespecting your sect. As for the damaged Fire Cloud Talisman, this junior willingly forgoes compensation as an apology.”
Han Li frowned at these words, his expression darkening further.
“What? Do you think I’m standing here to take advantage of you? First, let me see if this Fire Cloud Talisman in your box is truly crafted by a master. If it is, I’ll naturally compensate you on behalf of my sect’s disciple. But if it isn’t…” Han Li sneered ominously.
“No need for the senior to inspect it. This Fire Cloud Talisman is merely an ordinary one. This junior willingly accepts punishment.” The shopkeeper, quick-witted, immediately admitted the flaw before Han Li could even examine the box.
Hearing this, Han Li said nothing more and merely glanced at the law enforcer.
The old man understood immediately and bowed slightly. “Senior, rest assured. This shopkeeper’s misconduct will be severely punished. We will ensure justice is served.”
“Since you say so, I’ll leave it to you. I have no time to waste on such trivial matters. Sun Huo, come with me!” Han Li spoke indifferently, then flashed to Sun Huo’s side in a burst of yellow light. The two vanished from the spot.
The nearby cultivators gasped in amazement—few had ever witnessed such a profound Earth Escape Technique.
The old man finally relaxed but turned a frosty gaze toward the shopkeeper and his men. “You three, come with me. Explain everything that happened just now. This matter isn’t over.”
The shopkeeper’s heart sank, and his face twisted in despair.
In a secluded stone hut, Han Li and Sun Huo materialized within a yellow glow.
“Here will do. Show me that torn talisman,” Han Li said, giving Sun Huo a meaningful look.
“Yes, Ancestor!” Without hesitation, Sun Huo presented the talisman with both hands.
Han Li took it with one hand, gave it a brief glance, then flipped his other palm to reveal another half of the talisman. Under Sun Huo’s unblinking gaze, Han Li pressed the two pieces together—they fit perfectly, without a single gap.
The last trace of doubt vanished from Sun Huo’s heart, and he immediately prostrated himself before Han Li. “Sun Huo pays homage to his master.”
Han Li’s expression remained unchanged. With a nod, a red glow enveloped his hand, reducing both talisman pieces to ashes. Sun Huo was startled but quickly composed himself, earning Han Li’s silent approval for his composure.
“It seems you truly are a descendant of Sun Ergou. But before you call me master, tell me—which generation are you?” Han Li asked calmly.
“This humble one is the seventh-generation descendant of my ancestor,” Sun Huo replied without hesitation.
“Back then, Sun Ergou swore that his descendants would serve me for generations. However, due to special circumstances, I was not in the South Sky, so your family never truly became my servants, nor did I offer them any protection. Now that you, as his descendant, have entered the world of cultivation, that old oath may no longer hold. But out of respect for your ancestor, I’ll give you two choices.”
“First, I can grant you some immediate benefits—pills, artifacts, or the like—but afterward, we’ll have no further ties. Don’t expect any future assistance from me. The second option is to uphold your ancestor’s oath and continue serving me as your master. However, I’ll place a restriction on you to ensure loyalty. In return, I’ll assign you tasks—some may carry risks—but as compensation, I’ll guide your cultivation, enhance your strength, and provide unimaginable benefits. With decent aptitude, reaching Core Formation won’t be impossible.” Han Li’s lips curled slightly as he spoke dispassionately.
Sun Huo’s face flickered with uncertainty, his eyes betraying confusion. These words had caught him completely off guard, leaving him momentarily at a loss.
After a long silence, a resolute glint flashed in Sun Huo’s eyes. “Ancestor, I—”
“No need to answer now. To prevent regrets, wait until after the trade fair and return to the sect before giving me your decision. Use this time to weigh the pros and cons carefully. Once you’ve truly thought it through, come to my cave abode.” Unexpectedly, Han Li cut him off, speaking coolly.
“Disciple obeys. Thank you for your consideration, Ancestor!” After a moment’s thought, Sun Huo agreed, finding this arrangement more prudent.
“Good. I have other matters to attend to. Take care.” Han Li’s expression softened slightly before he vanished once more in a yellow glow.
Sun Huo did not leave immediately. He stood in place, lost in thought for a long while before finally sighing and walking away slowly.
Meanwhile, Han Li had already reappeared before the pavilion of his residence. Gazing up at the darkened night sky, a peculiar expression flickered across his face.
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