After hearing Han Li’s words, Venerable Linghu frowned and fell silent for a moment. He slowly picked up his teacup and took a sip.
“How could I not know what you’re saying, Fellow Daoist Han? But I am different from you. I have stayed in the Yellow Maple Valley for over a thousand years, and my attachment to it is far beyond what ordinary people can imagine. Naturally, I do not wish for its legacy to be severed the moment I pass away. It seems you truly have no interest in fame or fortune. However, if you are willing to take up the position of an elder in the Yellow Maple Valley, I am prepared to bequeath to you some of my personal possessions after my passing. Among them are treasures I have collected over the years, which would be of great use to your future cultivation,” Venerable Linghu suddenly said, much to Han Li’s surprise.
“Your possessions to me? If I recall correctly, don’t you have disciples?” Han Li’s heart skipped a beat, but he instinctively narrowed his eyes before calmly asking.
“My highest-ranking disciple has only reached mid-Core Formation stage. Leaving such treasures to them would only invite disaster. Even if you hadn’t appeared, I would have disposed of most of these treasures rather than leaving them in the Yellow Maple Valley,” Venerable Linghu sneered.
Han Li stroked his chin and fell into thought.
It was impossible for him not to be tempted by Venerable Linghu’s offer. However, he was also well aware that accepting the position of an elder in the Yellow Maple Valley would immediately embroil him in a series of thorny issues involving the Six Sects and the Nine Nations Alliance—problems that could not be resolved quickly. Moreover, as the sole elder of the Yellow Maple Valley, while he would wield great authority, he would no longer enjoy the same freedom as he did in the Falling Cloud Sect. More importantly, there were also the complicated matters involving Nangong Wan and the Veiled Moon Sect that he would have to face.
“Thank you for your kind offer, but I must decline the proposal to join the Yellow Maple Valley,” Han Li said after a long moment of contemplation, shaking his head.
Venerable Linghu showed no anger upon hearing this, only a deep sense of helplessness.
“Even such conditions cannot sway you. It seems you truly have no intention of getting involved in the mess of our Six Sects. In that case, how about I modify the terms?” Venerable Linghu sighed.
“How so?” Han Li’s expression shifted slightly, showing curiosity.
“Very well. You need not become an elder of the Yellow Maple Valley. Instead, I will give you three treasures in exchange for your assistance to the sect three times in your lifetime—within the limits of your abilities, of course,” Venerable Linghu said with a bitter smile.
“Three instances of assistance within my capabilities—that is not an unreasonable condition. I can agree to that,” Han Li replied after a brief consideration, nodding in acceptance.
A faint smile appeared on Venerable Linghu’s face as he reached to his waist and produced three items, placing them on the table as if he had prepared them in advance.
Han Li said nothing, his gaze falling upon the three objects: a small, azure crystalline shield, a red jade vial, and a pitch-black jade-like talisman.
Without hesitation, Han Li first picked up the azure shield. The moment it touched his hand, it felt warm, soft, and almost weightless, surprising him. Upon closer inspection, even with his current knowledge, he could not discern what material it was made of.
“This is an ancient treasure I obtained in my early years. It has accompanied me for a long time. I call it the ‘Azure Light Shield.’ It possesses remarkable abilities, especially against fire-attribute attacks. You will see its power for yourself in time,” Venerable Linghu said, a trace of reluctance in his voice as he watched Han Li examine the shield.
Han Li ran his fingers over the shield’s surface before setting it back on the table, convinced that it was indeed extraordinary. Next, he picked up the red jade vial.
“Inside is the core of a seventh-grade Ironwing Eagle demon beast, which I obtained after venturing deep into the Mulan Grasslands alone and slaying it. It is an exceedingly rare material, useful for alchemy or other purposes,” Venerable Linghu explained.
“A seventh-grade demon core?” Han Li’s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he sighed. While such a core was extremely rare in the Heavenly South, to him, it was little more than a mediocre item.
He opened the vial slightly, glanced inside, then resealed it and placed it back on the table. His gaze then fell upon the final item. This time, however, Venerable Linghu gave an enigmatic smile and did not offer any explanation.
Han Li stared at the jade-like talisman in silence, his eyes flickering with thought.
“Is this perhaps a jade talisman crafted by ancient cultivators?” Han Li finally asked after a long pause, though he sounded uncertain.
Venerable Linghu’s face showed a flicker of surprise.
“Have you seen such a talisman before, Fellow Daoist Han? To my knowledge, these talismans, unique to ancient times, have long been lost in the Heavenly South. Very few local cultivators would recognize them,” Venerable Linghu inquired curiously.
“I merely happened to know someone who was familiar with them and heard a few things,” Han Li replied lightly with a faint smile.
“I obtained this jade talisman during a near-fatal adventure. It is no ordinary item. Though I have yet to master its true usage and can only unleash a fraction of its power, even that is terrifying. I have used it to defeat formidable enemies on multiple occasions. It must have been crafted by an ancient cultivator highly skilled in talisman arts,” Venerable Linghu said, beckoning toward the black jade talisman.
With a *whoosh*, the talisman flew into his hand. He muttered a few archaic and cryptic incantations before flicking his wrist. The talisman transformed into a mass of black light, and a bone-chilling yin wind swept through the room. A sinister black-and-red claw materialized above Venerable Linghu’s head.
The claw was dark red and glossy, its five fingers spread wide, spanning several feet. Black yin flames flickered intermittently around it. An eerie, oppressive aura filled the tavern as soon as the claw appeared.
Han Li’s expression tightened, and his heart grew wary.
“This is the only ability I have managed to unlock after centuries of studying the talisman. The Profound Ghost Claw it summons can seize almost anything, except for items imbued with extreme yang or righteous energy. Once caught, inferior magic treasures or ancient treasures lose their power instantly, while even top-tier treasures suffer greatly diminished potency,” Venerable Linghu explained. With a thought, the black claw suddenly expanded and reached toward a nearby wooden table.
The black yin flames swept past soundlessly, and the table vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.
Han Li inhaled sharply at the sight.
This technique resembled the profound demonic arts of splitting one’s spirit to attack, but since the claw originated from the talisman, there was no risk of spiritual damage. Moreover, the eerie yin flames suggested additional hidden powers.
“This talisman undoubtedly holds other secrets, but my time is running short, and I will not have the chance to uncover them. You, however, are still young and may yet succeed. Be warned, though—most of its energy has already been expended. Use it wisely,” Venerable Linghu said, pointing at the claw. It dissolved into black light and returned to the table, reverting to its original form.
Han Li smiled faintly, but his interest in the jade talisman had grown. Even if it was not as formidable as Venerable Linghu claimed, studying it could still provide insights into ancient talisman techniques, which would undoubtedly benefit him in the future.
Once Venerable Linghu finished his explanations, Han Li swept his sleeve over the table in a fluid motion. The three items vanished, replaced by three white jade formation disks.
“These three formation disks were personally crafted by me and cannot be replicated by others. Should the Yellow Maple Valley face any trouble I can resolve after your passing, I will not refuse to assist,” Han Li said calmly, meeting Venerable Linghu’s gaze.
“Good. With your word, I can rest assured that I have done my best for the sect’s future,” Venerable Linghu replied with a relieved smile.
With their business concluded, Han Li saw no reason to linger. He rose and bid farewell. Venerable Linghu did not press him to stay, offering only polite words before watching Han Li descend the stairs and depart at a leisurely pace.
Once Han Li was gone, Venerable Linghu’s smile faded. He stared at the teapot on the table, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Han Li did not return to his residence immediately after leaving the teahouse. Instead, he glanced at the sky and found a secluded spot to examine the jade slip given to him by the white-robed elder of the Heavenly Extremes Sect. After scanning it carefully with his spiritual sense, his face revealed a trace of hesitation.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage