Chapter 545: Honored Guest

Although Han Li could not understand Tuliu's words, he saw through his intentions at a glance.

He waved his sleeve, and thousands of dark yellow bean-sized objects shot out, transforming into thousands of Dao soldiers that charged into the insect tide.

Taking advantage of this, the Gold Devouring Beetle broke free from the insect tide's entanglement, turning into a golden torrent that flashed and blocked the Gray Toad clansmen. Its two front claws swung violently, sweeping crystalline light across the area, instantly killing most of the Gray Toad clansmen.

"Spare me, spare me, my lord! Since you are of the insect kind, why do you fight us? We Gray Toads are also insect envoys, servants of the Insect Spirit Lord. We wanted to keep you only to bring you back to our insect race, so you would no longer be a pet driven by humans..." Tuliu, seeing no escape, immediately knelt and begged the Gold Devouring Beetle for mercy.

Hearing this, the Gold Devouring Beetle indeed stopped attacking. Its golden light converged, and it returned to Han Li's side, transforming back into the little girl.

"What is this 'Insect Spirit Lord' you speak of?" the little girl asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You must not speak disrespectfully of the Insect Spirit Lord..." Tuliu's expression changed slightly as he quickly said.

"Less nonsense. Answer my question," the little girl said impatiently.

"Well... I don't know either. Our Gray Toad clan is just a small tribe among the insect races. Though I am the clan chief, I have never seen the Insect Spirit Lord, only heard of his might," Tuliu hesitated.

Seeing this, the little girl turned directly to Han Li and said, "Uncle, can you directly search his soul?"

"No problem," Han Li nodded.

With that, he pointed a finger, and a crystalline thread of light probed into Tuliu's brow.

"No!"

A look of terror appeared on his face. Just as he opened his mouth wide, his head burst with a bang.

"Quite a powerful restriction," Han Li frowned.

Seeing their chief dead, the remaining Gray Toad clansmen were both shocked and enraged, charging at Han Li and the others again.

After a few breaths, the hilly clearing fell completely silent, leaving only a ground full of miserable corpses.

After recalling all his Dao soldiers, Han Li turned his gaze to the Neck-Stretching clansmen who had not dared to leave without permission.

Those green-skinned, long-necked aliens were also stealing glances at Han Li and the others, their eyes filled with both fear and confusion, extremely complex.

"Th... thank you, senior, for saving our Neck-Stretching clan from disaster," the Neck-Stretching man named Tanshi, after some hesitation, stepped forward and bowed to Han Li, speaking in the common language of the Northern Frost Immortal Domain.

"Since you understand our language, you should know that I didn't do this to save you," Han Li said slowly, looking at Tanshi.

"Regardless, senior killing the Gray Toad clansmen saved our people's lives. For that alone, we should offer a generous reward. But now, our tribe has been repeatedly attacked by the insect race, and we are truly unable to do so. Otherwise, we would invite senior to be our guest," Tanshi said apologetically.

"The beast race and the insect race—what is this all about?" Han Li had intended to dismiss these aliens, but after glancing at the little girl, he felt a stir and asked.

Tanshi hesitated, not immediately speaking.

After a pause, he continued, "The insect race and our beast race have been sworn enemies due to differing beliefs. For countless ages, we have been in constant conflict. Many large-scale wars have erupted throughout history, with victories and defeats on both sides, keeping the balance of power roughly equal."

"Beliefs?" Han Li glanced at the other Neck-Stretching clansmen, puzzled.

"Yes. Our beast race is divided into different tribes, each believing in different true spirit sacred beasts. Although there are differences among us, we generally take true spirits as our faith. The insect race, on the other hand, believes in various insect spirits," Tanshi explained.

"I see. Alright, nothing more. You may go," Han Li waved his hand.

"Thank you, senior," Tanshi quickly bowed and walked back toward his people.

"Let's go too," Han Li turned to the little girl and the White Jade Pixiu.

The White Jade Pixiu flashed with light and transformed back into a white jade pendant, hanging at Han Li's waist.

But the little girl hesitated, her expression somewhat strange.

Han Li knew it must be related to those insect clansmen, so he did not urge her.

Just then, Tanshi returned and came before Han Li again, bowing and saying...

"Senior, after much deliberation, I still feel it necessary to invite you to accompany us to the Kongling Tribe, so that we may fulfill our duties as hosts."

"If you are truly sincere, let the one who truly holds authority among your group come forward and speak." Han Li said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Tanshi's pupils contracted slightly, and he was greatly surprised inwardly.

At that moment, the Xiangjing tribespeople parted to both sides, making way, and a figure wrapped in a gray wide cloak, with a gray cloth covering his face, stepped forward.

"Young Master Yifan, you must not..." Tanshi hurriedly tried to stop him upon seeing this.

But the person paid no heed, walking straight up to Han Li, crossing his hands over his chest, and bowing to him.

Then, as he removed the gray cloth covering his face, he revealed a face that was almost identical to that of a human, exquisitely beautiful. The only slight differences were that his skin was light blue, his ears slightly pointed, and at the corners of his mouth were two sharp fangs resembling tiger teeth, giving him a rather charming and delicate appearance.

"You are not of the Xiangjing tribe?" Han Li squinted his eyes, also somewhat surprised.

He had previously noticed that Tanshi seemed to be acting on someone's orders, and had assumed that an elder of the tribe was hidden among the group, but now he saw that was not the case.

"This junior is Nuo Yifan, daughter of the chieftain of the Youchen tribe. I was originally sent here to unite the various beast tribes against the insectoid invasion, but upon arriving at the Xiangjing tribe, I encountered a joint attack by the Gray Toad and several other tribes, and was forced to flee here. Fortunately, in our moment of peril, we were saved by you, senior." The blue-skinned woman said.

"Since you are the one in charge, then it was you who invited me to be your guest?" Han Li asked indifferently.

"Indeed. I presume you, senior, have come here to hunt? The insectoids are growing increasingly arrogant. Not only do they attack us beast tribes, but it is said that a few days ago they even sent sand beasts to attack the ferry. If you are unfamiliar with the terrain here, you might easily wander into their territory. Although your cultivation is profound, you would still be in for a hard battle." Nuo Yifan said slowly.

"So, you invited me to your tribe for my own sake?" Han Li raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Aside from repaying your life-saving grace, I naturally have a selfish motive: I hope that on the journey back to the Youchen tribe, I might enjoy your protection." Nuo Yifan confessed.

"Does your tribe possess a map of the Barbarian Wilds?" Han Li nodded noncommittally and asked again.

"The Barbarian Wilds are vast, and many regions are occupied by various powerful beings and strong tribes, isolated from each other. Therefore, even our Youchen tribe only has maps of the areas where some beast tribes roam. If you, senior, are willing to escort us back to our tribe, I will do my best to gather all the maps held by the various beast tribes for you." Nuo Yifan said after a moment's thought.

Han Li thought for a moment, then nodded and said:

"Deal."

"Thank you, senior. May I ask how I should address you?" Nuo Yifan asked, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes.

"Li Feiyu." Han Li nodded and said.

Seeing Tanshi bring Han Li and the boy back to the group, the remaining Xiangjing tribespeople's expressions turned somewhat strange, with both hidden fear and obvious wariness in the depths of their eyes.

After Tanshi spoke a few words to the crowd in the barbarian tongue, the Xiangjing tribespeople finally withdrew their gazes from Han Li and began to collect the bodies of their fallen tribesmen and the driven spirit beasts, dividing the work clearly.

At the same time, some tribespeople began to swiftly gather the remains of the Gray Toad tribesmen and the insect corpses they had driven, as many of these items were quite valuable materials for them.

Before long, under Nuo Yifan's instruction, a tribesman delivered a bone ring containing many materials to Han Li.

Although Han Li did not think much of these items, he accepted them without refusal, knowing that if he took nothing, it might make the Xiangjing tribespeople uneasy, suspecting he had ulterior motives.

But no sooner had he accepted them than he gave the contents of the ring to the Pixiu and the boy, letting them divide and eat them.

Within less than a quarter of an hour, the entire team was ready and set off again, heading south through the hills.

Tanshi led the way, while Han Li and Nuo Yifan walked side by side in the center of the group, surrounded by the Xiangjing tribespeople. The boy and the Pixiu had already transformed back into the beetle ring and the white jade pendant, attached to Han Li's hand and waist.

"Senior, after we pass this hilly area, we will soon enter the territory of a hundred-eyed centipede. This beast is extremely powerful and ferocious, and dislikes anything flying over its head. Once encountered, it will open all its eyes and shoot bone-shredding light, which most Xiangjing tribespeople cannot withstand. So we can only ride spirit beasts and fly away after we leave that area." Nuo Yifan took the initiative to explain to Han Li.

"No matter. The Barbarian Wilds are dangerous; we'll do whatever is safe." Han Li said calmly.

Now deep in the Barbarian Wilds, with unpredictable risks, he naturally had no interest in provoking the local beasts unless necessary.

Nuo Yifan nodded and said nothing more.

"Little Bai, in the coming days, when you have nothing to do, teach me the barbarian tongue." Han Li's expression remained unchanged, but his mind contacted the White Jade Pixiu.

"Immortal Realm cultivators have always regarded the common language of the Barbarian Wilds as the howling of beasts, considering it a lowly tongue unworthy of refined company. Master, are you really going to learn it?" The White Jade Pixiu asked in surprise.

"Language is merely a tool for communication; there is no distinction between noble and base. Just teach me." Han Li replied.

"Very well, since you wish to learn, I will teach you." Little Bai agreed.