Chapter 255: Laying Low

“I have lost two matched flying sword spirit treasures in succession this time, and now I lack suitable magic tools. I’ll take these few magic tools.” Han Li pointed at several magic tools and said.

“Hehe, isn’t Fellow Daoist Jiao Fifteen cultivating the water attribute law? Most of these magic tools are metal-attributed and don’t match you. I happen to cultivate a metal-attributed technique, so they suit me quite well. Speaking of which, the jade box’s restrictions are so peculiar that it must contain something extremely precious. Let me yield it to Fellow Daoist Jiao Fifteen.” Lin Jiu’s eyes flickered as he said with a chuckle.

“What’s inside this jade box might be as precious as you say, but the restrictions on it are truly strange. If we’re not careful and it self-destructs, that would be a waste of a treasure. I think Fellow Daoist Lin Jiu has the best chance of opening this box. I’d rather take some practical magic tools.” Han Li shook his head vigorously upon hearing this.

“Fellow Daoist Jiao Fifteen, you’re mistaken. If not for you, the three of us might not have entered this valley. This shows your profound mastery of restrictions. If you can’t open this item, I have even less hope. Surely you wouldn’t force me into a difficult position?” Lin Jiu stared at Han Li and said slowly, with a meaningful tone.

“You flatter me. I know my own abilities well. After testing just now, I estimate my chance of opening this jade box is less than ten percent. In fact, given your status and cultivation, you must have many friends, including experts in restrictions.” Han Li shook his head, still unmoved.

“Fellow Daoist Jiao Fifteen, you just want to replenish a few spirit treasures to make up for your losses. How about this: besides this jade box and the waste pill, you take sixty percent of the remaining materials and I take forty. That way you won’t be at a disadvantage. What do you think?” Lin Jiu looked at Han Li, was silent for a moment, then spoke as if he had made a decision.

“Well… alright. But among those materials, the Qilong Grass and the Thunder Restraint Wood are quite useful to me. Could you let me have them? You can pick equivalent items from the materials as compensation.” Han Li’s face showed some difficulty at first, but after a moment of deliberation, he said this.

“No problem! Then, thank you, Fellow Daoist.” Lin Jiu first cupped his hands to Han Li, then waved his hand to emit a golden light, collecting the Nine Star Greatsword, the golden ancient mirror, and the other magic tools.

In truth, he didn’t care much about the other magic tools; his main targets were the Nine Star Golden Sword and the golden ancient mirror, which served as the formation’s eye. These two extremely pure metal-attributed spirit treasures matched his cultivation technique perfectly. After refining them for a thousand years, he would immediately obtain two treasures comparable to immortal artifacts, so he was determined to have them.

Han Li’s eyes flickered slightly. He gave a faint smile and waved his sleeve.

A flash of green light passed, and the purple jade box and the discarded Dao pill vanished without a trace.

The two then looked at the pile of spirit herbs, materials, and immortal origin stones, which were soon divided into two portions of different sizes. Each took their agreed share.

Thus, the three had divided all the treasures. Each got what they needed, and aside from Han Li’s slightly bitter expression, it could be considered a happy outcome for all.

“Alright, we shouldn’t delay. Let’s leave quickly.” Lin Jiu flicked his finger, sending a ball of flame to incinerate Ping Yaozi’s corpse, and said.

Seeing this, Han Li frowned slightly and sighed inwardly but said nothing.

The three soon left the valley, transforming into three beams of light and flying away.

Several months later, in the teleportation hall of Yanling Island, three cultivators walked out and arrived at a secluded spot near the square.

One was a burly man, one a green-robed scholar, and one a fair-skinned youth. They were Han Li and the other two.

“This mission took an unexpected turn, but thanks to you two, it was dangerous but without incident. Here are the agreed rewards. Please check them.” Lin Jiu took out two storage pouches and handed them to Han Li and the other.

After sweeping his divine sense over it, Han Li nodded and put the pouch away.

“No problem. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.” Lin Seventeen put away his storage pouch, cupped his hands, transformed into a yellow light, and disappeared into the sky in an instant.

“Fellow Daoist Lin Jiu, thinking back now, the mission reward doesn’t match the apparent difficulty. As the leader of this mission, you couldn’t have been completely unaware before accepting it.” Han Li said to Lin Jiu.

“What are you trying to say, Fellow Daoist Jiao Fifteen?” Lin Jiu raised an eyebrow.

“I suspect the reward for this mission is far more than this. Hehe, take care. Farewell.” Han Li said meaningfully, then transformed into a green rainbow and flew into the distance.

“Hmph, if the reward weren’t sufficient, why would I risk myself? But I didn’t expect this person, a loose cultivator of such poor aptitude, to have so many tricks. I underestimated him.” Lin Jiu muttered to himself as he watched Han Li’s departing light, then flashed with golden light and vanished from the spot.

Han Li, enveloped in green light, flew forward.

He held two items in his hands: the purple jade box and the discarded Dao pill, a slight smile on his lips.

Although the Dao pill was waste, if he took it back and studied it carefully, he might discover something.

As for the restrictions on the jade box, though they seemed profound, he wasn’t without clues from his earlier inspection. In fact, he had already thought of a way to break them. Otherwise, why would he have agreed to take the jade box?

Of course, he couldn’t reveal this in front of Lin Jiu and the other, as it would not only cause trouble but also reduce the amount of spoils he received.

That said, he was extremely curious about what was inside the jade box. For Ping Yaozi, who was nearly a Heavenly Alchemist, to store it so carefully, it must be extraordinary.

At this thought, an unusual heat rose in his chest. He wished he could sprout wings and fly back to his cave abode to break it open and see what was inside.

…

Several months later, in the Zhongming Mountain Range.

In the main hall of the Chixia Peak residence, Han Li sat in a grand armchair, holding a green tea cup. He gently skimmed the tea leaves with the lid and took a sip.

Meng Yungui and the others were walking quickly from the left and right corridors toward the hall.

Entering the hall, after everyone paid respects to Han Li, Meng Yungui stepped forward and said, “Elder Li, Sun Buzheng is currently at a critical point in his seclusion. Aside from him, everyone else has arrived.”

Han Li swept his gaze over the nine people below. Compared to when they first arrived, their cultivation levels had all greatly improved. The highest in realm were naturally Meng Yungui and the secluded Sun Buzheng, while the fastest in improvement was Meng Qianqian.

At this moment, she stood gracefully beside Meng Yungui, staring at Han Li with big, sparkling eyes full of reverence.

“I will be leaving the sect for a while. I called you here today to give you some instructions.” Han Li said.

“Please give your orders, Elder.” Meng Yungui’s eyes showed some surprise, but he immediately clasped his fists and said.

“After I leave, Chixia Peak will be temporarily sealed. No outside guests will be received. During this time, unless necessary, you should not leave the peak either. Stay in the cave abode and cultivate peacefully, just take care of the spirit herbs in the medicine garden. As for the resources needed for cultivation, I will give them to Yungui. Alright, you may all go now.” After giving these instructions, Han Li waved his hand.

“Yes.” Everyone respectfully acknowledged and turned to leave the hall.

Meng Yungui stayed behind to receive the pills from Han Li, while Meng Qianqian hesitated for a moment before following the others out.

“Qianqian, stay a moment.” Han Li suddenly called out to her.

Hearing this, Meng Qianqian’s heart leaped with joy. She stopped, turned back, and stood quietly beside her brother.

Han Li turned his wrist, and a blue storage pouch appeared in his palm. He tossed it to Meng Yungui and said:

“This time, I will be away for a long time and won’t return soon. These pills should be enough. Distribute them every so often. Also, there are some Guyuan Pills inside. After Sun Buzheng breaks through and comes out of seclusion, give them to him to stabilize his realm.”

“Yes.” Meng Yungui quickly caught the storage pouch and nodded.

“Alright, you may go now.” Han Li instructed.

Hearing this, Meng Yungui glanced at his sister with a slightly strange expression, but still took his leave and exited the hall.

“I went to check a few days ago. You’ve taken good care of the egg. Although it hasn’t hatched yet, the vitality inside is exceptionally strong. It even startled me a little.” Han Li said with a smile.

“It’s because I haven’t done well enough that it hasn’t hatched yet.” Meng Qianqian lowered her head, a bit embarrassed.

“Hatching depends on fate. The time isn’t right yet. Don’t worry too much; just continue to take good care of it.” Han Li said.

“Rest assured, Elder Li, I will take good care of it.” Meng Qianqian nodded firmly.

Han Li smiled, waved his hand, and produced a small white jade bottle. He handed it to her and said, “This bottle of Fire Flame Pills was obtained during a previous outing. You can take them now; they will greatly help improve your cultivation speed.”

“Thank you, Elder Li.” Meng Qianqian quickly took it with both hands, beaming.

“Alright, you may go about your business.” Han Li waved his hand at her.

Hearing this, Meng Qianqian hesitated, looking uncertain.

“What is it? Feel free to speak.” Han Li asked upon seeing this.

“Elder Li, you returned not long ago, and now you’re leaving again, and sealing the mountain… I’m a bit worried. Has something happened?” Meng Qianqian said hesitantly.

“Silly girl, I’m a True Immortal. What could happen to me?” Han Li laughed upon hearing this.

“I see. That’s good… I’ll take my leave.” Meng Qianqian seemed relieved and turned to leave.

Han Li watched Meng Qianqian’s figure disappear. His smile faded, and his expression gradually turned serious.

He spoke lightly, but in truth, he felt uneasy.

It had been less than three days since he returned to the sect, but over half a year since he left the Minghan Continent.

That day, Gu Jie’s incarnation had revealed that they were members of the Wuchang Alliance, and at the last moment disclosed his identity as an elder of the North Cold Immortal Palace. This forced Han Li to be vigilant.

Han Li vaguely felt that staying in the sect at this time was unwise, so he had taken on a mission, planning to leave the sect temporarily to lay low.

With this thought, he stood up, went straight out of the cave abode, and flew toward the foot of Chixia Peak.