“Friend? Could it be the person you’re searching for spiritual medicine to save?” Han Li asked casually, though inwardly he was pleased. He had been struggling to steer the conversation toward the formation master, and now that this opportunity had presented itself, he wasn’t about to let it slip.
Qi Xiaoyao was taken aback by Han Li’s question and hesitated for a moment. But then, as if remembering something, he nodded resolutely and said, “Senior is correct. This spiritual tea was indeed made by that dear friend of mine. In fact, it was all thanks to the millennium spiritual herb you provided as a catalyst that saved their life. However, although their life is no longer in danger, the injuries have been slow to heal. So… I must shamelessly ask if you have any more aged spiritual herbs? Even if not a millennium herb, one of seven or eight hundred years would greatly increase my friend’s chances of recovery. I am willing to exchange any of my formation flags for the herb.”
After saying this, Qi Xiaoyao looked at Han Li with hopeful eyes, his full attention fixed on him.
Hearing this, Han Li was somewhat surprised but inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Since the other party still had a request for him, it seemed that asking them to repair the teleportation formation would be a natural progression. However, he still needed to put on a somewhat troubled expression to make the other party feel indebted to him!
With this in mind, Han Li adopted a contemplative expression. After a long while, he reluctantly said, “I do have a few spiritual herbs left. But these… I had planned to use them to refine a batch of pills. It’s really…”
Although Han Li didn’t finish his sentence, his hesitant expression made it clear to Qi Xiaoyao how difficult this matter was. After all, the other party should well understand what a batch of high-quality pills meant to a cultivator.
Upon hearing that Han Li indeed had more spiritual herbs, Qi Xiaoyao’s face lit up with ecstasy. But as Han Li continued, his expression turned to extreme anxiety. Before Han Li could even finish, he immediately pleaded in a half-begging tone, “I know it’s asking too much for Senior Han to part with the spiritual herbs, but seeing my dear friend in constant pain truly breaks my heart! If you are willing to yield the herbs, I will let you choose any of my formation tools. Even if you take them all, I will have no complaints.”
Hearing this, Han Li was greatly tempted. Even if Qi Xiaoyao’s other formation tools weren’t as extraordinary as the “Inverted Five Elements Formation,” they were likely rare treasures. Having a few more sets would undoubtedly significantly enhance his defenses. Moreover, some formations were highly offensive; trapping a powerful enemy within one could be a deadly tactic.
However, Han Li’s main goal for this trip was to have the other party repair the damaged teleportation formation. If he took the formation tools now, it would be difficult to bring up the matter later without leaving the impression of being greedy. Han Li had no intention of antagonizing these two.
After weighing his options, Han Li decided to decline the exchange and instead bring up the teleportation formation. But just then, a young woman’s frantic shout came from outside.
“Young Master Qi! It’s terrible! Something has happened to my lady! Please, go save her!”
As soon as the voice reached the room, Qi Xiaoyao’s face turned pale. He hurriedly stood up and rushed out without even bothering to excuse himself to Han Li. The shopkeeper, who had been standing nearby, also panicked and ran out.
Han Li’s eyebrows twitched slightly. His expression remained unchanged, but he was inwardly puzzled. He slowly walked out with his hands behind his back.
In the open space outside, Qi Xiaoyao and the shopkeeper were listening intently to an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old woman. She had fair skin and a pretty appearance, and as she spoke, her face was full of anxiety. But when she saw Han Li, a stranger, emerge from the room, she immediately fell silent, a wary look flashing in her eyes.
Seeing this, Han Li smiled indifferently and stopped where he was, not approaching further.
However, when Qi Xiaoyao turned and saw Han Li, he rushed over as if grasping at a lifeline. With an agitated expression, he begged, “Senior, my dear friend has been trapped by a group of malicious cultivators. Only you can save them now. If you are willing to help, I will surely reward you handsomely!”
“Brother Qi, could you explain in more detail? Could it be that the lady this young woman speaks of is your formation master friend?” Han Li frowned slightly and asked slowly, somewhat surprised.
“Exactly! The Inverted Five Elements Formation tools you used were made by Miss Xin and me together!” Qi Xiaoyao stared at Han Li anxiously and hurriedly explained.
The pretty young woman, realizing that with her Qi Condensation fifth layer cultivation she couldn’t discern Han Li’s depth, gaped in astonishment and looked at him with fear.
Han Li turned to the woman and said solemnly, “Miss, could you recount what happened? I need to understand the details.”
Although Han Li knew this was the perfect opportunity to gain favor, he needed to know the number and strength of the enemies. He had no intention of getting himself captured while trying to rescue someone else.
“Oh! It’s like this… Today, my lady and I went to a nearby…” The flustered woman repeated the story upon Han Li’s request.
It turned out that the lady had run out of the high-quality tea leaves used for brewing spiritual tea. Following her usual habit, she went to Biyun Mountain nearby to gather more. There, they encountered a group of male cultivators also at the Qi Condensation stage. Sensing something amiss with so many cultivators present, the two women decided to leave immediately.
However, one of the cultivators recognized the lady as a formation master from having seen her set up formations for a minor clan. He informed his companions, and the group immediately developed ill intentions, planning to capture her alive and force her to teach them her formation knowledge.
The lady, however, was exceptionally quick-witted. Before the others could act, she and her maid fled the mountain and headed back. But halfway down, they realized the pursuers were closing in rapidly. Left with no choice, she used a set of formation flags she carried to hastily set up a simple formation in a forest to protect herself. She then sent her maid ahead to seek help from Qi Xiaoyao before the enemies arrived.
As Han Li listened, he remained silent and thoughtful. According to the woman, the enemies were only seven or eight Qi Condensation cultivators. It seemed there was nothing to worry about, and he decided he must help.
With this in mind, he nodded and said, “Miss, please show us the way. We’ll leave immediately!”
Under Qi Xiaoyao’s grateful gaze, Han Li flicked his sleeve, and a small white boat appeared, growing in size before them.
“Everyone, get on! Saving someone is like putting out a fire. Although this vessel is small, it flies extremely fast and can carry four or five people without issue.” Han Li swayed slightly and landed at the front of the boat, then turned to address the others.
Qi Xiaoyao and the young woman snapped out of their daze and jumped onto the boat together. When the shopkeeper also tried to board, Qi Xiaoyao stopped him, saying, “Uncle Lin, your cultivation is too low. It might be dangerous if you come. Please stay here. We’ll return as soon as we rescue them!”
The shopkeeper hesitated but, knowing Qi Xiaoyao had his best interests at heart, reluctantly stayed behind.
Thus, Han Li and the others drove the small boat, which transformed into a streak of white light and vanished into the horizon.
The Divine Wind Boat flew south at high speed. Under Han Li’s full control, its velocity left the other two wide-eyed and speechless. In no time, they reached the forest where the formation was set up.
On one side of the forest, the seven or eight cultivators were still there, relentlessly attacking with various magical tools. The thin layer of cyan light protecting the forest was on the verge of collapsing.
Seeing this, Qi Xiaoyao’s eyes reddened, and he prepared to jump down immediately. But Han Li grabbed him and said calmly, “Don’t rush! Look at the quality of the tools these people are using. They seem to be from a cultivation family. Since they already know this lady is a formation master, even if we repel them now, they might cause trouble later. How about I help you eliminate them once and for all?”
Hearing that these people might continue to be a nuisance, Qi Xiaoyao, in his anger, nodded involuntarily.
Han Li smiled faintly, then glanced at the oblivious cultivators below, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
He raised both hands simultaneously, and two black beams and six golden beams shot out, reaching the cultivators in the blink of an eye. Before they could even activate their protective shields, the beams encircled them lightly, and they all fell to the ground—instantly killed by Han Li.
Qi Xiaoyao and the maid stared in horror. Although they knew Qi Condensation cultivators were no match for a Foundation Establishment expert, they never expected Han Li to eliminate them all so effortlessly. It was worth noting that the highest among them was at the eleventh or twelfth layer of basic cultivation, while Qi Xiaoyao himself was only at the ninth layer.
Ignoring their awe-struck expressions, Han Li descended with his magical tool.
Before the Divine Wind Boat even fully landed, Qi Xiaoyao leaped out impatiently and rushed into the forest, shouting anxiously, “Yin’er!”
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