Han Li and the others followed Jin Yue to a grand hall at the center of the Holy City, where they took their seats as hosts and guests respectively.
At Jin Yue’s command, several young maidservants entered the hall, carrying spiritual tea and fruits, which they arranged on the tables before everyone.
So far, the Great Elder Jin Yue had treated Han Li as an honored guest, showing no trace of peculiarity on her face.
Han Li, maintaining his courtesy, picked up a cup of spiritual tea with an air of ease, took a sip, and nodded slightly.
“How does Fellow Daoist Han find this tea? It is the Fragrant Maiden Tea, unique to our Holy City, with only a few dozen catties produced each year. This spiritual tea must be picked at dawn, and the pickers must be beautiful maidens of pure virtue. Otherwise, its fragrance would diminish significantly,” Jin Yue remarked with a smile after taking a small sip.
“Excellent. Its delicate aroma is indeed rare and precious,” Han Li praised.
“If Fellow Daoist Han truly likes it, I can gift you some,” Jin Yue said, her eyes flickering with amusement. She clapped her hands and instructed a nearby maidservant, “Go to the tea garden and fetch five catties of the finest Fragrant Maiden Tea.”
“Yes, Great Elder!”
The maidservant bowed and hurriedly left the hall.
“Many thanks for your generosity, Great Elder!” Han Li expressed his gratitude with a slight bow, though he was momentarily surprised.
The other elders were also puzzled by Jin Yue’s gesture but refrained from questioning it.
“Aside from Elder Xu and the others, the rest of you may not know Fellow Daoist Han. Let me introduce him briefly. Without going into details, I’ll simply mention that he is the human cultivator who once helped our Skywing Tribe survive. That should suffice,” Jin Yue explained calmly to the other elders, who still wore expressions of confusion.
“What? It’s him! How is he here?”
“Wasn’t he supposed to have perished in the Earth Abyss?”
The Skywing elders erupted in murmurs, their faces filled with astonishment. Only Elder Xu and the beautiful woman exchanged a bitter smile.
“I had some fortune in the Earth Abyss and managed to escape from the demon kings. Afterward, I returned to the human race instead of coming back to your tribe. I hope Fellow Daoist Jin does not hold this against me,” Han Li replied indifferently, his expression unchanged.
Jin Yue’s eyes flickered as she chuckled lightly. “How could I think that way? If not for Fellow Daoist Han’s efforts, Bai Bi and Lan’er would never have passed the trial and become our Sacred Masters, ensuring the survival of our Skywing Tribe. You fulfilled your promise and regained your freedom. However, it is truly astonishing that in just a few centuries, you advanced from a Deity Transformation cultivator to a Sacred-tier existence. It seems the disappearance of the four demon kings of the Earth Abyss must be related to you. If you don’t mind, could you share the details with us?”
The Great Elder of the Skywing Tribe clearly had no intention of letting Han Li gloss over the events of the Earth Abyss.
The other elders also perked up, eager to listen.
“I only learned of the demon kings’ disappearance after entering your territory. This matter is somewhat related to my return, but I cannot disclose the specifics of what happened back then. However, I can assure you that the four demon kings never returned from the Earth Abyss, and they never will. As for my cultivation progress, it was merely due to some fortuitous encounters in the wilderness. Fellow Daoist Jin has also made significant advancements, hasn’t she?” Han Li replied with a faint smile, though his eyes twitched slightly.
Jin Yue’s expression darkened when Han Li outright refused to elaborate. After a moment of cold silence, she asked sternly, “If Fellow Daoist Han is unwilling to speak, I won’t press further. But your sudden transformation into a giant roc and your dramatic appearance outside the Holy City must have a purpose. Or do you feel your powers have grown enough to intimidate our tribe?”
Her tone turned icy by the end.
The other elders also regarded Han Li with hostility.
“Fellow Daoist Jin, what do you think of my earlier transformation into a Skywing?” Han Li asked with a laugh, unfazed by the tension.
“Hmph. Your transformation was indeed impressive. For an outsider to refine the Kun Peng’s true blood to such an extent is no small feat,” Jin Yue admitted grudgingly, though her expression remained guarded.
“Is that all you think?” Han Li chuckled, his expression turning enigmatic.
“Fellow Daoist Han, what do you mean? Speak plainly if you have something to say,” Jin Yue demanded coldly, her eyes narrowing.
Elder Xu and the others grew even more confused, their faces filled with suspicion.
Han Li’s lips curled slightly as he flipped his hand, producing a white jade slip. Without a word, he tossed it toward Jin Yue.
“What is this?” Jin Yue caught the slip reflexively, her brows furrowing.
“Great Elder, there’s no need for suspicion. Let’s discuss matters after you’ve examined the contents,” Han Li replied calmly.
Jin Yue’s expression remained stern, but after a brief hesitation, she pressed the jade slip to her forehead and infused it with a wisp of divine sense.
“Ah! This is—” she exclaimed in shock moments later.
The others in the hall immediately broke into murmurs, except for Han Li, who remained composed.
Jin Yue, however, was too absorbed in the jade slip to notice, her face alight with excitement.
Han Li watched with a faint smile before leisurely picking up his tea again.
Amidst the varied expressions of the elders, another incense stick’s worth of time passed.
Finally, Jin Yue exhaled deeply and lowered the jade slip, her gaze turning complex as she studied Han Li. After a moment of silence, she asked slowly, “Where did you obtain this cultivation method? Don’t tell me you created it yourself. Though profoundly profound, it is clearly tailored for our Skywing Tribe.”
“Fellow Daoist Jin’s insight is as sharp as ever. But the origin of this method is irrelevant. What matters is its value to your tribe,” Han Li replied with a smile, as if he had anticipated her question.
“You wouldn’t show me only half of this method without a purpose. State your intentions clearly,” Jin Yue said, her aura suddenly flaring with immense pressure.
“Very well. Since Fellow Daoist Jin insists, I’ll be direct. However, this matter is of great importance to me, so I’d prefer to discuss it with you alone,” Han Li said, his tone turning serious as he glanced at the other elders.
“Fine. Elders Xu and Qing, please leave us for now. Return after I’ve finished speaking with Fellow Daoist Han,” Jin Yue commanded without hesitation.
The other elders, though frustrated, dared not disobey. They bowed and exited the hall.
Soon, only Han Li and Jin Yue remained.
“Now, Fellow Daoist Han, speak your mind,” Jin Yue said, her expression softening slightly.
Instead of answering immediately, Han Li flicked his sleeve, releasing over a dozen small five-colored flags.
The flags vanished into the air, and a moment later, a five-colored light barrier enveloped them, sealing off all sound.
“With me here, do you still fear eavesdroppers?” Jin Yue asked, momentarily startled but quickly recognizing the barrier as a simple soundproofing formation.
“Forgive my caution, Fellow Daoist Jin, but this matter is too sensitive,” Han Li replied solemnly.
“Very well. But before we proceed, I must confirm one thing—do you possess the other half of this method?” Jin Yue raised the jade slip, her brows furrowed.
“Rest assured, Great Elder. I wouldn’t dare propose a trade with your tribe if I didn’t have the complete method,” Han Li answered without hesitation.
“Good. Then what kind of trade do you propose?” Jin Yue asked, visibly relaxing.
“I wish to enter the Earth Abyss once more. I need your tribe to arrange my passage. In return, I offer this unique method for refining Skywing blood,” Han Li stated gravely, his gaze fixed on Jin Yue.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage