Chapter 899: A Business Deal

"A woman?" Madam Liuhua raised an eyebrow and asked.

Han Li nodded.

"Hmph! Have you thought it through? What you're refusing is not just the chance to become my disciple, but also the opportunity to have the Black Calamity Worm removed?" Madam Liuhua snorted coldly and said.

"Junior understands, but... since this Flame Sun Tower is a place for business, would you, senior, consider doing a fair deal with me for the sake of your friendship with Fellow Daoist Gu?" Han Li hesitated for a moment before asking.

"Get out of here now. I can't be bothered to do business with a blockhead like you." Seeing that Han Li was impervious to persuasion, Madam Liuhua grabbed a piece of animal bone with her right hand and tore at the sinew and flesh on it, while her left hand was placed beside her in a loose grip.

Han Li's gaze flickered slightly. After a moment of lightning-fast deliberation, he stood up and prepared to leave.

Gu Qianxun saw this and was about to speak when she noticed Han Li suddenly stop just as he was about to turn around.

"Senior Liuhua, how long has it been since you last had a drink?" He looked at Madam Liuhua and asked as if casually.

This seemingly random question made Madam Liuhua pause in her eating. A hint of confusion first lit up in her eyes, and her empty left hand rubbed gently for a moment before she said:

"You have sharp eyes, young man. How did you figure out that I'm an old drunkard?"

"I noticed that your right hand is covered in grease, likely from handling animal bones. But your left hand, both palm and back, are completely clean, without a trace of oil. Moreover, your left hand has been held in a loose fist, as if you're used to gripping a wine cup—a habitual gesture," Han Li said with a smile.

Gu Qianxun frowned slightly at this, not understanding why Han Li would bring this up.

"Sharp eyes, but not so sharp a mind. What does it matter if you know I like a drink? Don't tell me you have some wine stashed away?" Madam Liuhua shook her head and said.

"Ready-made wine... I don't have any, indeed. But if you're willing to wait a few days, that might not be the case," Han Li said.

"What did you say? From your words... are you planning to brew wine yourself?" Madam Liuhua raised an eyebrow, dropping the bone in her hand entirely, somewhat incredulous.

Han Li said nothing, silently nodding.

"Haha... In this Jilin Void Realm, both celestial and demonic qi are utterly forbidden. It's a barren land where nothing grows. Not to mention the spiritual herbs and dew needed to brew immortal wine, even the sorghum and grains used in mortal distillation are absent. How could you possibly brew wine? Unless you have the power to create something from nothing?" Madam Liuhua laughed heartily, as if she had heard the greatest joke.

Gu Qianxun, upon hearing this, also frowned and shook her head.

"I wonder if you've ever heard of a wine called 'Blood Plasma Wine'?" Han Li asked, unfazed.

"Blood plasma wine?" Lady Liuhua paused slightly upon hearing this.

"It doesn't matter if you haven't heard of it. In any case, I have a way to brew blood plasma into wine. The taste might be somewhat... special, but in this Scale Accumulation Void, one cannot be too demanding." Han Li said with a smile.

Han Li had learned the method of brewing blood plasma wine from Master Huyan, but because the taste was a bit too strong, he had never liked it and thus had never brewed it.

As for whether he could succeed in brewing it here in the Scale Accumulation Void using scale beast blood, Han Li himself was not very confident, but at least it was another path worth trying.

"Can you really brew this so-called blood plasma wine?" Lady Liuhua asked, subconsciously stroking his braided beard.

"If I can brew this wine, would you be willing to give us the method to break the Black Calamity Worm?" Han Li asked.

"Do you think the method to break the Black Calamity Worm is something... you can exchange for just a pot of wine?" Lady Liuhua sneered.

"Then, senior, what other conditions do you have? Feel free to state them all at once." Han Li said calmly, as if he had expected this.

"Besides the blood plasma wine, you must also exchange it for a fist-sized piece of Heavenly Scale Meteorite Crystal." Lady Liuhua waved his hand and said.

Gu Qianxun had just felt a glimmer of hope, but upon hearing this, she felt that the hope she had just conceived was dashed.

"Senior, this Heavenly Scale Meteorite Crystal is one of the highest-grade materials in the Scale Accumulation Void. Even a thumb-sized piece costs a fortune. As for a fist-sized piece, let alone whether it exists, even if it did, who would be willing to show it? We have no way to obtain it..." Gu Qianxun blurted out in desperation.

Han Li's brow also furrowed tightly upon hearing this.

"Since I have brought it up, I will naturally point you in the right direction. To be honest, I have reliable information that one of the prizes for this Five Cities Martial Meet is a piece of Heavenly Scale Meteorite Crystal. As for what rank is needed to obtain it, I am not sure. It depends on whether you have the ability to get it. However, judging from past martial meets, given your strength, it might not be enough." Lady Liuhua said slowly.

Han Li smiled helplessly upon hearing this. It seemed that he would have to fight with all his might in this martial meet.

"Can you really brew this so-called blood plasma wine?" Lady Liuhua asked, subconsciously stroking his braided beard and frowning.

"Since it concerns my life, how dare I speak falsely?" Han Li said.

"Good. If you can truly brew the wine and bring the Heavenly Scale Meteorite Crystal, I will remove the Black Calamity Worm for you free of charge." Lady Liuhua slapped his thigh and said.

"Then I thank you, senior. This matter requires some preparation, so I will take my leave now." Han Li cupped his hands and said.

"This kid is quite sensible." Lady Liuhua muttered to himself as he watched him leave.

After saying this, he and Gu Qianxun faced each other, silent for a long time.

"I believe you've already guessed my relationship with your mother..." Madam Liuhua let out a long sigh and said.

"Why did you leave her, leaving her alone to be harmed by villains?" Gu Qianxun asked, her eyes slightly red.

"Your mother's temper was too fierce. It wasn't that I was unwilling to stay by her side, but that she was unwilling to keep me by hers... Ah, these old tales can't be explained in a few words, and besides, it's useless to say anything now. Since Du Qingyang is dead, I'll settle the remaining accounts with Qin Yuan myself." Madam Liuhua shook her head and said somewhat bitterly.

"No need... I'll avenge Mother myself." Gu Qianxun said coldly.

"Regardless, the most urgent matter now is to first remove the Black Calamity Insect from your body." Madam Liuhua frowned and said.

"I have one thing I don't understand. Why must you insist on keeping Fellow Daoist Li as your disciple before you'll save him? If it's only because of his human identity, I don't believe it." Gu Qianxun raised an eyebrow and asked doubtfully.

"The reason I want to keep him is actually because I value his temperament and bone structure. From my experience and insight, this kid is not as simple as he appears on the surface." Madam Liuhua said with a meaningful tone.

"Then why must he exchange it for the Tianlin Meteorite Crystal?" Gu Qianxun asked again.

"Well... on one hand, it's to test whether he's as formidable as I expected; on the other hand, the Tianlin Meteorite Crystal is for you to use..." Madam Liuhua said slowly.

Gu Qianxun's expression shifted slightly at these words, and she fell silent for a long time...

After leaving the Yanyang Tower, Han Li finally found a solution, feeling somewhat relieved. He walked back slowly toward the City Lord's Villa, his steps noticeably lighter.

Returning to the City Lord's Villa, Han Li did not go to his own quarters. After a moment's hesitation, he headed toward Chen Yang's residence and soon arrived outside his door, knocking.

With a creak, the door opened, revealing Chen Yang's figure.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Li. Please, come in." Chen Yang was slightly startled upon seeing Han Li but quickly opened the door to invite him in.

There was another person inside the room—the one-horned giant named Xuan Yuanxing, the referee from the Qingyang City's Xuan Dou Arena.

The Crab Daoist was not in the room, and his whereabouts were unknown.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Yuan." Han Li was slightly surprised inwardly but cupped his hands toward Xuan Yuanxing.

Xuan Yuanxing stood up and nodded at Han Li.

"Were the two of you discussing something? If so, I'll come back later." Han Li looked at the table, where two cups of tea sat, now cold.

"Just a trivial matter; we've already finished. Since Fellow Daoist Li has come to see the City Lord, it must be important. You two talk." Xuan Yuanxing said with a smile and took his leave.

Han Li watched Xuan Yuanxing's retreating figure, his mind stirring slightly.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Li, what brings you to see me this time?" Chen Yang invited Han Li to sit down, brewed two fresh cups of tea, and asked.

"I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Chen Yang for the information on the participants from the other cities." Han Li got straight to the point without further ado.

"No problem. Wait a moment." Chen Yang immediately got up and walked toward the inner chamber.

After a moment, he came out holding a stack of papers.

"All the information collected by Qingyang City is here. I also have a duplicate copy; you can take these materials back to study carefully." Chen Yang handed the papers to Han Li, a smile appearing on his face.

Although Han Li had agreed to represent Qingyang City in the competition, he had previously been lukewarm about the Five Cities Tournament. Now that he was finally paying attention to the matches, it naturally delighted Chen Yang greatly.

He had high hopes for Han Li.

"Then I thank Fellow Daoist Chen Yang." Han Li did not stand on ceremony and accepted the materials.

"Fellow Daoist Li suddenly wants these materials—has something happened?" Chen Yang's eyes flickered as he asked.

"Since I'm participating in the tournament, I naturally want to achieve a good ranking. Does Fellow Daoist Chen Yang find that strange?" Han Li glanced at Chen Yang and countered.

Like Du Qingyang, Chen Yang now used the Black Calamity Insect to control the Xuan Fighters. It might not be a good thing for him to know about the Tianlin Meteorite Crystal.

"Haha, how could that be? I'm more than happy that Fellow Daoist Li is willing to take the competition seriously." Chen Yang laughed heartily and quickly said.

"I'll take these materials back and study them carefully." Han Li smiled faintly and rose to take his leave.

Chen Yang stood up and saw Han Li to the door.

Watching Han Li's retreating figure, he wore a contemplative expression. After a moment, he suddenly clapped his hands.

"City Lord." A figure emerged from the inner hall and knelt on one knee before Chen Yang. It was the young attendant who had once been sent to invite Han Li.

The young attendant wore a black robe. His demeanor had changed drastically, as if he were shrouded in a layer of shadow, seemingly merged with the darkness.

"Investigate where Li Feiyu went today and what he did." Chen Yang ordered in a deep voice.

The young attendant acknowledged, then his form flickered and vanished into thin air.