The object was also golden and rectangular, with a dragon’s head carved at one end, resembling a seal.
After glancing at it briefly, Han Li shifted his gaze to Liu Shui’er.
She naturally understood his meaning and calmly raised a hand, revealing a golden-glowing item between her slender fingers.
At first glance, it appeared very similar to the object in the burly man’s hand—similar in size and shape, but with a lifelike golden phoenix head engraved at one end.
After examining it, Han Li’s face showed a trace of contemplation. At that moment, Liu Shui’er explained, “These two items are called ‘Linglong Keys.’ They are likely the only means to open this golden cauldron, and both are indispensable. Although neither of us knows the exact layout of the hall, my master mentioned that whatever the Linglong Keys unlock is almost certainly where the Void Spirit Pills are stored.”
“Indeed, my master said the same,” Shi Kun admitted frankly, seeing that Liu Shui’er had already revealed everything.
“In that case, why don’t the two of you open the cauldron and see if it truly contains what your elders seek? By the way, how many Void Spirit Pills are there? If there are two or more, there’s no need for any dispute—just split them evenly,” Han Li said with a casual smile.
Upon hearing this, Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun exchanged glances, their expressions slightly odd.
“Brother Han makes a fair point. The cauldron must be opened sooner or later. Fellow Daoist Shi, let’s insert our Linglong Keys into the cauldron. Although it seems there should only be one Void Spirit Pill, if there are indeed two or more, we truly won’t need to fight over them,” Liu Shui’er said calmly to the burly man.
“Opening the cauldron immediately is no issue, but I suggest we both hand our Linglong Keys to Brother Han and let him retrieve the treasures inside. Then, we can decide together how to distribute them. What does Fairy Liu think of this proposal?” Shi Kun suddenly suggested, his words startling the cloaked woman, who hesitated for a moment.
“What? Does Fairy Liu distrust Brother Han?” the burly man asked with a strange smile.
“Brother Han is immensely powerful and has assisted us in retrieving the treasure. I naturally have no objections. Brother Han, here is my Linglong Key.” Liu Shui’er reacted swiftly, making her decision with a light laugh before flicking her wrist, sending the phoenix-headed key flying toward Han Li.
On the other side, Shi Kun sneered and immediately tossed his key as well.
With a sweep of his sleeve and a flash of azure light, Han Li caught both keys in his hands. He examined them briefly before smiling wryly. “The two of you truly hold me in high regard.”
“Haha, of course! Only by entrusting the treasures to Brother Han can Fairy Liu and I avoid immediate conflict. Otherwise, no matter who retrieves them first, the other would feel uneasy,” Shi Kun chuckled.
“I also have full confidence in Brother Han,” Liu Shui’er added with a charming smile, her eyes gleaming.
“Tsk, but holding these makes me feel rather uneasy,” Han Li remarked, weighing the two keys with a helpless expression before shaking his head.
Nevertheless, he did not return them. After a brief pause, he strode confidently toward the golden cauldron.
His composure stemmed from his absolute confidence in his own strength, which far surpassed theirs. With overwhelming power, sometimes there was no need for further scheming.
Watching Han Li’s movements, Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun tensed slightly but wisely remained in place.
When Han Li stopped about ten feet from the cauldron, his gaze swept over the grooves on either side. He channeled a surge of spiritual power into the keys before flicking his wrists, sending them flying toward the cauldron. Mid-flight, they emitted a clear chime, transforming into a golden flood dragon and a golden phoenix.
The two creatures circled the cauldron once before plunging into the grooves on either side, fitting perfectly without a single gap.
The moment the keys entered, the cauldron emitted a melodious dragon’s roar. Golden light erupted, and the spiral patterns on its surface began to rotate as if alive, forming swirling golden vortices.
Han Li felt his mind waver slightly, as if being drawn into the whirlpools, but he remained unfazed. With a quick circulation of the Great Development Art and a flash of blue light in his eyes, the discomfort vanished.
He then chanted a low incantation and flicked a spell into the cauldron. The dragon’s roar shifted into a phoenix’s cry, and the dragon and phoenix heads on the cauldron seemed to come alive, lifting and writhing.
Amidst a burst of golden light, the cauldron’s lid shot into the sky and vanished. Thunder roared within, and several golden orbs of varying sizes shot upward, attempting to escape.
But Han Li was prepared. With a sweep of his sleeve, a gray mist surged forth, enveloping the orbs. However, the orbs spun and scattered, effortlessly dispersing the mist.
Startled, Han Li formed a hand seal and spat out a ball of azure light containing a small cauldron—the Void Heaven Cauldron. He tapped it lightly, and the lid flew open, releasing countless azure threads that spread like a net across the sky.
The golden orbs collided with the threads, only to be repelled. With another gesture, Han Li tightened the net, ensnaring all the orbs in a dense web of azure silk.
He then beckoned, and the threads blazed with light, forcing Shi Kun and Liu Shui’er to blink. The trapped orbs descended into the Void Heaven Cauldron, which sealed shut with a snap.
Han Li retrieved the cauldron with a wave and turned to the two. “Fellow Daoists, the treasures are secured. Whether they contain what your elders seek is for you to determine.”
He flicked his wrist, and the cauldron hovered before him. Crossing his arms, he regarded them with a faint smile.
Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun exchanged glances before the cloaked woman stepped forward gracefully. Shi Kun stroked his chin and followed.
They stopped about ten feet away. Before they could speak, Han Li waved his sleeve, and the cauldron’s lid vanished again, revealing a faint azure glow within.
“Brother Han, is this treasure a spirit treasure? Does it have a name?” Shi Kun suddenly asked.
“Oh? Is Brother Shi interested in my treasure?” Han Li replied calmly, avoiding a direct answer.
“Not particularly. I once had the fortune to glimpse a copy of the Chaos Myriad Spirit Ranking, and an item there seemed quite similar to yours,” Shi Kun said thoughtfully.
“The Chaos Myriad Spirit Ranking?” Han Li frowned slightly.
“You’ve never heard of it?” Shi Kun seemed surprised.
“I’ve heard rumors, but I know little of its true nature. Please enlighten me,” Han Li replied thoughtfully.
“It’s nothing extraordinary. Every race in the Spirit Realm that occupies a significant territory receives a celestial stone inscribed with the ranking. It lists all the natural and man-made treasures of this world, constantly updating. Every item on it is extraordinary, and even the lowest-ranked treasures are formidable. I recall seeing something resembling your cauldron, though it was ranked low, so I may be mistaken,” Shi Kun explained frankly.
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