After listening to Qing Yuanzi’s words, the Golden Flame Marquis’s eyes flickered slightly, seemingly swayed by his words, and he fell into deep thought for a moment.
When Han Li heard the name “Golden Light Annihilation Demon Thunder,” a faint trace of surprise flashed across his face.
No wonder he had felt a sense of familiarity with the auras of these three items—it turned out their main material was the leaves of the Golden Lightning Bamboo he had previously gifted.
These leaves and the stems of the Golden Lightning Bamboo shared the same origin, so even after refinement, their auras naturally wouldn’t differ much.
Although the Golden Light Annihilation Demon Thunder was a formidable weapon against Outer Realm Demons, such demons only appeared during breakthroughs into the Mahayana bottleneck or during tribulations after reaching the Mahayana stage. It wasn’t something he needed to prepare for now.
As for the refining method of this treasure, Han Li had coincidentally stumbled upon it in a foreign race’s market long ago.
At the time, however, the sheer amount of thunder-attribute materials required had shocked him.
He realized that with his means back then, he couldn’t possibly gather all the materials, nor did he have the ability to refine it. Thus, he regretfully shelved the matter.
Now, hearing that even Qing Yuanzi, with his Mahayana cultivation, had spent centuries refining just seven or eight of these thunderbolts, Han Li couldn’t help but inwardly wryly smile.
It seemed that unless he advanced to the late-stage Body Integration realm, the Golden Light Annihilation Demon Thunder was completely out of reach.
“Three Golden Light Annihilation Demon Thunders are indeed enough to exchange for the Soil of Xirang. However, there’s one thing I still don’t quite understand. Shouldn’t you, Fellow Daoist, also possess the River of Styx Milk? Why come specifically to me for this exchange?” The Golden Flame Marquis spoke again, a faint trace of suspicion lingering in his tone.
“My River of Styx Milk was all borrowed by someone over a century ago. Now, Junior Han needs it to break through the Body Integration bottleneck. Due to a past favor involving another matter, I did promise him this. Thus, I had no choice but to seek you out for this exchange,” Qing Yuanzi replied slowly.
“To make Fellow Daoist Jiang promise away even the River of Styx Milk? This favor must indeed be extraordinary!” The Golden Flame Marquis clicked his tongue in surprise, his gaze sweeping over Han Li once more.
Han Li bowed slightly, maintaining a respectful demeanor, but heeding Qing Yuanzi’s earlier advice, he remained silent.
“Indeed, it was a significant favor. Well, I’ve said all I needed to say. If Brother Jin still hesitates, I’ll have no choice but to seek another exchange partner. I don’t know about others, but I’m certain that Old Monster Yan, who also faces impending tribulation, would be more than happy to make this trade with me.” Qing Yuanzi tapped the table with a finger, his words laden with meaning.
“Brother Qing, you jest. When have I ever refused? Given your sincerity and the favor I owe you from the past, I agree to this exchange.” After a brief pause, the Golden Flame Marquis chuckled and finally consented.
“Brother Jin, such decisiveness is commendable. This exchange benefits us both greatly!” Qing Yuanzi replied with delight.
The golden-crowned man smirked and suddenly opened his mouth, spitting out four glowing orbs—three white and one yellow.
They were three white jade bottles and a yellow jade box!
With a flick of his sleeve, the four items flew toward Qing Yuanzi, while his other hand beckoned the jade box and the two remaining Golden Light Annihilation Demon Thunders on the table.
A sharp whistling sound rang out as the items on the table trembled and were drawn into the Golden Flame Marquis’s grasp.
At the same time, Qing Yuanzi caught the incoming bottles and jade box, immediately inspecting them with his divine sense.
Moments later, the old man nodded in satisfaction.
“Everything is in order. I must thank you, Brother Jin. Junior Han, these three bottles of River of Styx Milk are for you.” Qing Yuanzi turned and tossed the three bottles to Han Li.
Han Li was momentarily stunned but quickly accepted them with gratitude.
Originally, their agreement had been for only two bottles, but now Qing Yuanzi had given him all three—likely as thanks for the extra materials he had gathered.
It seemed his decision to offer all the materials had been wise.
Though the River of Styx Milk was incredibly rare, it held little practical value for Qing Yuanzi, who thus had no reason to be stingy with it.
The Golden Flame Marquis, too, seemed pleased with the exchange and began chatting amiably with Qing Yuanzi.
Their conversation touched on obscure secrets of the Spirit Realm and cultivation techniques, which Han Li listened to with great interest.
After nearly an hour, Qing Yuanzi rose and announced his departure.
The Golden Flame Marquis made no effort to detain him but stood to escort him to the palace entrance.
Just then, a deafening boom echoed above the island, shaking the entire palace as if something had shattered the protective barrier overhead.
The two men exchanged startled glances.
Who would dare openly attack this place?
Qing Yuanzi’s earlier sword strike at the barrier had been more for show than actual force, but this disturbance clearly indicated the barrier had been forcibly breached.
Enraged, the Golden Flame Marquis immediately formed a hand seal, preparing to unleash a technique.
But then, a rough male voice boomed through the hall:
“Golden Flame, Qing Yuanzi, are you two brats here? Come out and greet me!”
The voice was crude and domineering, yet both men’s expressions shifted. They exchanged another glance and sighed in resignation.
“What, still not coming out to welcome me? Golden Flame, must I tear your lair apart?”
The voice grew impatient, and another series of explosions erupted outside, accompanied by spatial distortions engulfing the island.
A golden light flashed at the palace entrance as a panicked golden-armored guard appeared before the Golden Flame Marquis.
“Master, outside—”
“I know. A distinguished guest has arrived. You may leave. Brother Jiang, it seems you won’t be departing just yet. Let’s go meet this old monster before he demolishes my island.” The Golden Flame Marquis waved off his subordinate and turned to Qing Yuanzi with a wry smile.
“Since he’s here, we have no choice. Though every encounter with him leaves me with a headache for days.” Qing Yuanzi’s lips twitched in resignation.
The Golden Flame Marquis let out a sigh, then swiftly formed a hand seal. Golden flames burst forth around him, swiftly enveloping his body before disappearing with a muffled explosion—a rare fire escape technique (fire teleportation).
Qing Yuanzi was simpler still. With a flick of his sleeve, he transformed into a golden streak and shot toward the hall’s entrance, disappearing mid-flight.
The hall was now empty save for Han Li.
“An old monster even these two address as such… I can scarcely imagine who it might be. Though I’d rather not meet him, staying behind isn’t an option either.” Han Li murmured under his breath before thunderous wings materialized on his back. With a flash, he vanished as a cyan-white lightning arc.
High above the island, Qing Yuanzi and the Golden Flame Marquis stood facing a colossal creature over a hundred zhang long, their expressions unexpectedly respectful.
The behemoth was a gleaming black giant beetle, atop which stood a gaunt old man in a garish multicolored robe.
The man appeared to be in his sixties, with deep-set eyes, an upturned nose, and a string of silver beads around his neck—each the size of an egg—making for a striking sight.
To Han Li’s astonishment, not only had the island’s protective barrier vanished, but three golden-armored guards were now bound by white silk threads spewed from the beetle’s maw, spinning helplessly in mid-air like tops.
As Han Li materialized behind Qing Yuanzi, the Golden Flame Marquis ignored his subordinates’ plight and forced a smile at the beetle’s rider.
“Brother Xuling, what a rare visit! What brings you here? Now that you’ve come, won’t you join us below?”
“Tch, Golden Flame, your words say one thing, but your heart wishes I’d never come at all,” the old man cackled, his tone blunt.
“How could I dare think such a thing? Though I am curious—how did you know Brother Jiang was visiting me?” The Golden Flame Marquis’s face flickered between pale and flushed as he deftly shifted the topic to Qing Yuanzi.
Qing Yuanzi inwardly cursed the golden-crowned man but had no choice but to force a smile. “I, too, am puzzled. Brother Xuling, how did you know I was with Brother Jin? Have you already been to my abode?”
“Hah! Not just yours—I’ve visited everyone’s dwellings. Yours and Golden Flame’s were the last two. Some even tried hiding in seclusion, but after I dismantled half their lairs, they came crawling out. Serves them right!” The old man, Xuling, laughed uproariously, clearly pleased with himself.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage