Chapter 192: Choosing Servants

"Since you're new here, you should know the rules! Just now, Senior Brother Shen told you to get lost—are you deaf or pretending not to hear?" The middle-aged man said nothing, but the gaunt, sharp-faced man beside him barked.

"A mere early Core Formation cultivator dares to act arrogant here? You must be tired of living!" Another flashy, seductive female cultivator beside the man sneered.

Han Li, however, acted as if he hadn't heard, sitting cross-legged without moving.

"Fellow Daoist, a wise man knows better than to fight when outmatched. There's no need to clash with certain people. A True Immortal would surely look down on such a temper," said the honest-looking young man named Meng Yungui, who walked over to Han Li and spoke with apparent meaning.

He deliberately positioned himself between Han Li and the middle-aged man. The round-faced fatty and the other two also followed beside the honest young man.

"Meng Yungui, if I were you, I wouldn't be so eager to stick my neck out for a stranger. Don't think that just because you've broken through to late Core Formation, I won't dare to touch you," the middle-aged man said in a hostile tone.

"Shen Biao, I've long wanted to settle accounts with you and Lu Heng for bullying the Meng family. Today seems like a good opportunity," Meng Yungui replied without backing down.

"Tsk tsk... what a show of authority. Isn't this Young Master Meng? What, you're meddling in my affairs now?" Another voice rang out.

The crowd turned to see a handsome young man, arm around a female cultivator's slender waist, approaching with over a dozen followers. His late Core Formation peak aura was unmistakable.

"Senior Brother Lu, you're finally here..." The middle-aged man's face lit up with joy.

The atmosphere grew tense. Disciples who didn't want to be involved stepped back, leaving an open space for the parties, clearly eager to watch the show.

Seeing this, Han Li touched his nose, looking somewhat helpless.

He had only chosen a random spot to sit, yet it seemed to be stirring up trouble.

The followers of the man named Lu were all above Core Formation, plus Shen Biao and his two companions, forming a considerable force. On Han Li's side, there were only Meng Yungui and his three companions.

The round-faced fatty and the other two looked somewhat fearful, but seeing Meng Yungui's refusal to back down, they didn't move away.

Just as a lopsided fight was about to break out, another voice sounded: "What, bullying the outnumbered? Senior Brother Lu, count me in, how about it?"

The speaker was none other than Sun Buzheng, who had earlier provoked Meng Yungui. With a flicker, he appeared beside Han Li, also radiating late Core Formation aura.

"Sun Buzheng, aren't you and this Meng Yungui sworn enemies? What, you want to meddle too?" Lu's voice turned cold.

"It's not meddling! Meng Yungui and I have our own issues to settle, but you openly bully someone from my Mengchi Nation—how can I stand by?" Sun Buzheng said with a fearless smile.

Seeing this, Han Li's heart stirred slightly, finding it interesting.

But then, Meng Yungui's voice transmission reached his ear: "Fellow Daoist, we'll handle this. Don't intervene, or you might get hurt."

"If you're going to fight, then fight!"

"Hurry up and start!"

"Haha, I'm placing my bets on Lu Heng winning!"

Many in the crowd were eager for a show and began to jeer.

"Go!"

Lu Heng pushed aside the beautiful woman beside him, raised one hand, and shouted.

Shen Biao and the others immediately summoned their weapons and treasures, ready to attack Meng Yungui's group.

Meng Yungui, Sun Buzheng, and the others also summoned their protective treasures and prepared to meet them.

Just then, Han Li, who had been sitting motionless, suddenly flickered and appeared between the two sides, as if teleporting, with incredible speed.

Under the astonished gaze of Meng Yungui and the others, he casually waved his sleeve. More than ten people, including Shen Biao, crashed into an invisible mountain, flew backward, slammed into the distant cliff wall, and fell unconscious.

The crowd, which had been shouting and jeering, suddenly fell silent, stunned as if struck in the chest. The area became dead quiet.

Lu Heng, still with his hand raised, stared at Han Li in terror.

He could no longer sense any aura from Han Li, as if the man before him was merely a mortal.

Even the Nascent Soul disciples sitting at the valley entrance looked shocked.

After a brief silence, Meng Yungui seemed to realize something, reacted first, and quickly bowed.

"Disciple Meng Yungui pays respects to Elder."

Then, with a rustle, thousands of people knelt down.

Lu Heng pressed his head tightly to the ground, not daring to lift it, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

Han Li ignored him, instead flicking his sleeve. A gentle breeze lifted Meng Yungui to his feet as Han Li said slowly, "My surname is Li. From now on, you will follow me as my servant."

Meng Yungui was startled, then his face lit up with joy, but soon a flicker of hesitation crossed his face.

"If you have any concerns, speak freely," Han Li said.

"Reporting to Elder Li, I have a younger sister, just turned eighteen, recently Foundation Establishment... Could Elder perhaps take her as a servant as well?" Meng Yungui asked sheepishly.

"The Great Dao is merciless; one must walk alone. If you cannot sever worldly ties, you cannot truly pursue the supreme Dao. Do you understand?" Han Li's expression turned cold as he spoke slowly.

"This... I understand. But my sister is still young; if left alone here... I know the request is excessive. I lack the fortune to serve Elder..." Meng Yungui, realizing his misstep, quickly cupped his hands to Han Li.

The surrounding crowd found it unbelievable—someone would give up the chance to become a True Immortal's servant?

Becoming a True Immortal's servant meant even a few scraps of grace from the immortal could bring endless gains, not to mention the chance for guidance, making their path a hundred times smoother.

That man must be either mad or stupid!

But Han Li's expression softened as he said something that shocked everyone:

"Though the Great Dao is merciless, we cultivators are not plants or stones; how many can truly achieve detachment? I'll take both you and your sister. Also, choose eight more people from this crowd for me."

Hearing this, Meng Yungui was thunderstruck, trembling all over, looking at Han Li with disbelief.

The crowd erupted like a pot of boiling oil, buzzing with whispers.

Almost everyone turned their gaze to Meng Yungui, their eyes full of pleading, as if he had suddenly become a deity controlling their fate.

After saying this, Han Li sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and seemed truly indifferent to whom Meng Yungui would choose.

"Meng Xiong..." Meng Yungui, after a moment's thought, pointed to the person in front of him.

The round-faced fatty who had been with him turned red, too excited to speak, tears welling in his eyes.

"Meng Xiong, go bring Qianqian here. Meng Yu, Meng Guang, Fang Yao..." He instructed the fatty and then called out six more names, including two other Meng family members and several friends.

Those called wept with joy and walked behind Meng Yungui.

Only then did Han Li open his eyes and glance briefly.

Except for Meng Yungui's sister, who wasn't present, the others, including Meng Yungui, were four women and four men, all Core Formation cultivators.

Then Meng Yungui walked up to someone and announced the last name.

"Sun Buzheng..."

The burly young man, hearing his name from Meng Yungui, could hardly believe it. He looked up at his former friend, full of confusion.

"Sun Hao, matters of state are beyond my control, and there are many hidden circumstances. But I've never changed my mind about being your friend," Meng Yungui said, cupping his hands.

Sun Buzheng's eyes reddened, and he laughed, "I changed my name long ago. Call me Sun Buzheng."

After the selection, Han Li said nothing more and directly led Meng Yungui and the others to register at the Puling Hall. Thousands followed behind, still unwilling to give up.

In truth, given Han Li's status and cultivation, he could have chosen dozens or even hundreds of servants, but he had no such intention.

As they emerged from Puling Hall, a clear voice called out from the crowd: "Brother!"

A young girl with a fresh, innocent face and a budding figure darted through the crowd like a little red sparrow, flying to Meng Yungui's side and grabbing his arm.

Behind her, the round-faced fatty hurried over.

"Elder Li, this is my sister... Meng Qianqian. Qianqian, quickly pay respects to Elder Li," Meng Yungui said, somewhat embarrassed.

"Qianqian pays respects to Elder Li," the girl said, letting go and bowing deeply to Han Li, her big eyes filled with curiosity.

Han Li noticed a crescent-shaped jade pendant at her waist, identical to Meng Yungui's, and nodded with a smile.

Looking at the girl, he couldn't help but think of his own younger sister, and a trace of tenderness flickered deep in his eyes.

This was one reason he agreed to take in the siblings.

"This Fire Spirit Jue is not a celestial treasure, but wearing it benefits those who cultivate fire-attributed techniques. I'll give it to you," Han Li said, producing a fiery red jade jue and handing it to Meng Qianqian.

She was momentarily stunned, then quickly took it, repeatedly thanking him.

She immediately hung the jade jue next to her crescent-shaped pendant, and they clinked together as she walked, producing a pleasant, crisp sound.

The scene made the surrounding crowd swallow hard, their hearts filled with envy.