Chapter 1159: A Transaction

The golden fire dragon circled and danced above the flower branch space, emitting a long dragon roar from its mouth.

The golden light on the dragon's body was dazzling to the point that the naked eye could not look directly at it, and the law power it emitted was like a mountain roar and a tsunami, its might seeming even greater than when it was in the hands of Daoist Daoyin and Qimozi.

The nearby void trembled violently, as if unable to withstand the might of the golden fire dragon and about to shatter.

Seeing this, Han Li was startled.

This was inside the flower branch space; if the space shattered, he did not know what consequences it would bring.

While pondering, he quickly formed hand seals to control the golden fire dragon to restrain its power and fly back swiftly.

The golden fire dragon soon flew back into the lamp flame and disappeared without a trace.

Han Li repeatedly cast spells to stabilize the fluctuations of time law within the Time Lamp.

He looked at the Time Lamp, recalling the immensely powerful golden fire dragon just now, and wondered why his activation of the Time Lamp produced such great power.

In fact, Han Li did not know that the golden fire dragon's might was due to his cultivation of the *Great Five Elements Transmutation World Scripture*.

The *Great Five Elements Transmutation World Scripture* was a time cultivation technique derived from comprehending the passage of time of the five most fundamental elements of this realm, a technique that seizes the wonders of heaven and earth. Although Han Li's current level of cultivation was insufficient, the quality of his time law power was extremely high, far surpassing Qimozi's, and the simulated flame of time was also more powerful, naturally better able to stimulate the might of the Time Lamp.

Han Li thought for a while but found no clue, so he stopped racking his brains and instead held the Time Lamp in front of him, continuing to refine it with spells.

Although he could now control this divine lamp, he was not yet proficient and needed further refinement to manipulate it freely.

However, refining the Time Lamp did not require full concentration; while refining it, he also took out the diagram of the Heavenly Connection Sword Formation and the *True Scripture of Five Thunder Orthodox Methods*.

He first picked up the jade slip containing the *True Scripture of Five Thunder Orthodox Methods*, immersed his divine sense into it, carefully read through it, and revealed an expression of admiration.

This *True Scripture of Five Thunder Orthodox Methods* was indeed a cultivation technique praised by the Black Heaven Demon Ancestor. Not to mention the thunder cultivation methods within, just the detailed descriptions of various thunder techniques from all heavens broadened Han Li's horizons.

According to the *True Scripture of Five Thunder Orthodox Methods*, thunder techniques in the world are divided into thirty-six heavenly thunders, seventy-two earthly thunders, and one hundred and eight cloud thunders.

Most of the thunder and lightning Han Li had seen before were cloud thunders and earthly thunders. Each of the thirty-six heavenly thunders possessed immense power and was extremely rare.

The Evil-Cleansing Divine Thunder that Han Li had previously mastered was one of the seventy-two earthly thunders. The Bone-Washing Golden Thunder from the Gray Realm's Cleansing Thunder Pool also belonged to the seventy-two earthly thunders, but the Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords had merged the two into a new thunder power, which in terms of power was already close to a heavenly thunder.

The *True Scripture of Five Thunder Orthodox Methods* also contained many secret techniques for offering, condensing, and nurturing thunder, which also broadened his horizons.

However, Han Li did not delve into the *True Scripture of Five Thunder Orthodox Methods*. The contents recorded in this jade slip were too exquisite, and since he did not cultivate thunder techniques, he would at most practice a few thunder secret techniques from it in the future.

To be honest, this jade slip falling into his hands was like casting pearls before swine.

Han Li had no leisure to lament over the *True Scripture of Five Thunder Orthodox Methods*; he turned his hand to put it away and picked up the diagram of the Heavenly Connection Sword Formation.

His brows moved slightly as he extended his divine sense, enveloping the diagram of the Heavenly Connection Sword Formation and immersing into it.

To his surprise, his divine sense effortlessly penetrated into it.

Just as Han Li was astonished, with a rumble, a vast amount of information surged into his mind.

This information was so immense that even with his soul power, it took a while to fully digest, and his face revealed a delighted expression.

This was precisely the method for setting up the Heavenly Connection Sword Formation and the method for activating the sword formation.

Han Li was no stranger to sword formations. Because he cultivated a large number of Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords, he could barely be considered an expert in sword formations and had seen many. However, the sword formations he had encountered before were on a completely different level from the Heavenly Connection Sword Formation.

To some extent, the Heavenly Connection Sword Formation was no longer a pure sword formation but a means to communicate with the great Dao of heaven and earth through the sword formation. No wonder it dared to be named 'Heavenly Connection.'

According to the information on setting up the sword formation, the Heavenly Connection Sword Formation used this diagram as its foundation. The diagram had no attribute, so it had no attribute requirements for flying swords. Any flying swords, as long as there were thirty-six of them, could be used with the diagram to set up the formation.

Of course, the quality requirements for the flying swords were also very high; otherwise, they could not withstand the immense power of the sword formation.

Han Li's lips curled upward. His Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords were sufficient in number, and their quality went without saying, absolutely meeting the requirements of the sword formation.

He closed his eyes to rest for a moment, then reviewed the sword formation information in his mind again.

The Tongtian Sword Formation was profoundly mysterious; even with Han Li's comprehension, he could not fathom it in a short time. It required careful study over time, and setting up the formation was even more impossible to achieve overnight.

At that moment, his brows suddenly twitched, and a flash of crimson light flickered on his body before vanishing.

Han Li put down the Tongtian Sword Diagram, turned his hand to take out an object—it was the Reincarnation Palace mask—and put it on.

He opened the trading interface; it turned out that someone had responded to his previous bounty request for time law items.

Delighted, Han Li formed a hand seal and pointed.

The trading interface flashed with dark red light, and a figure emerged. It appeared to be a young man, wearing a dark red robe, with slightly curly black hair. Although his face was masked, he gave an impression of elegance and charm.

The mask on his face bore the inscription "Yuan San."

"Hehe, you must be Fellow Daoist Long Wu. I've long heard of your name," Yuan San said with a cupped-fist salute and a hearty laugh.

"Indeed, I am Long Wu. Do you have time law materials?" Han Li asked directly, slightly surprised that the other seemed to have heard of him, but not beating around the bush.

"Otherwise, why would I contact you?" Yuan San chuckled, turned his hand, and took out an object—a fist-sized blue crystal in the shape of a water droplet.

Although it was only a projection, one could clearly see specks of golden light within the crystal, like patches of golden reflections formed by the setting sun on rippling water.

"Water-derived Time Crystal!" Han Li's eyes lit up as he immediately recognized the blue crystal.

"This is no ordinary Water-derived Time Crystal, but a top-grade Water-derived Time King Crystal. Though only fist-sized, it contains abundant time law power, enough to refine a fifth-grade immortal artifact," Yuan San said with a slight smile.

Han Li nodded in agreement. Although he could only see a projection, he could roughly judge that the time law contained in that Water-derived Time King Crystal was not much less than that of the Fire Year Beehive he had obtained before.

"How much are you asking for this item?" Han Li asked directly, his mind racing.

"This Water-derived Time King Crystal cost me all my savings, and I don't intend to trade it for immortal jade stones," Yuan San shook his head.

"So Fellow Daoist Yuan San wants to barter?" Han Li said without showing much surprise.

"You could call it barter, but more precisely, I want to make a deal with you using this item," Yuan San smiled.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan San, please speak frankly," Han Li said with an "oh."

"Fellow Daoist Long Wu seems to be a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush. I urgently need a batch of Time Dao Pills. I heard that you once refined Time Dao Pills. I have ten sets of materials for Time Dao Pills here. I ask you to refine five Time Dao Pills from these materials. If you can do it, I am willing to give you this Water-derived Time King Crystal as a gift," Yuan San said solemnly.

"What if I fail to refine five Time Dao Pills?" Han Li's gaze flickered.

"If you fail to refine the Time Dao Pills, or the number is insufficient, then I'm sorry, but you get nothing," Yuan San said calmly.

Hearing this, Han Li frowned slightly.

Although he had the ability of a Dao Pill master, refining five Time Dao Pills from ten sets of materials was extremely difficult, and he was not entirely confident.

"Fellow Daoist Long Wu, this deal is very advantageous for you. I provide all the materials; you only need to lend a hand. If you succeed in refining five Time Dao Pills, you get the Water-derived Time King Crystal. Even if you fail, you lose nothing. What is there to hesitate about?" Yuan San said with slight dissatisfaction upon seeing Han Li's silence.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan San, don't misunderstand. I am not hesitating; I accept this deal. But I have two questions I'd like to clarify first," Han Li said.

"Please speak, Fellow Daoist Long Wu," Yuan San said, his expression visibly relaxing.

"Do you have any grade requirements for the Time Dao Pills you want?" Han Li asked.

"Naturally. They must be at least second-grade Dao Pills. But rest assured, the main materials I give you contain rich time law. As long as your alchemy skills are sufficient, refining third-grade Dao Pills should not be a problem," Yuan San said with a smile.

Han Li's expression eased, and he nodded.

"If you have any other concerns, feel free to bring them up. This is a transaction after all; clarifying things now ensures mutual understanding and a successful deal," Yuan San added.

"I have one more question. Fellow Daoist Yuan San seems well-versed in alchemy. You should know that alchemy depends not only on skill but also on luck. Even the most experienced Dao Pill master may not be able to refine five Dao Pills from ten sets of materials. I will do my utmost, but if luck is not on my side and I fail to produce five Dao Pills, I will have worked for nothing. However, could you consider selling me the Water-derived Time King Crystal as a token of appreciation for my hard work? I am willing to pay three times the market price in immortal jade stones," Han Li said earnestly, looking at Yuan San.

"No. I never take back my words. If you want this Water-derived Time King Crystal, there is only one way: refine five Time Dao Pills. If you fail, even if you offer ten times the price, I won't sell it," Yuan San immediately shook his head firmly, his attitude resolute.