Chapter 1879

Han Li and the others followed this Golden Joy girl to a great hall in the center of the Holy City, where they took their seats as host and guest respectively.

Then Golden Joy gave an order, and immediately several lovely young maidservants came in from outside the hall, holding trays of spiritual tea and spiritual fruit and the like, which they set out in full before everyone.

Up to now, this Golden Joy Elder still treated Han Li as an honored guest, showing no trace of strange 'color' on her face.

Han Li, being polite, picked up a cup of spiritual tea in a relaxed manner, took a light sip, and then nodded slightly.

"How does Fellow Daoist Han find this tea? This is our Holy City's special Fragrant Maiden Tea, of which only several tens of catties are produced each year. Moreover, this spiritual tea must be picked at dawn, and the picker must be a beautiful maiden of pure body; otherwise the fragrance will be greatly diminished." Golden Joy likewise took a small sip of spiritual tea, then suddenly smiled and said to Han Li.

"Not bad, this tea has a fragrant aroma that assails the nose; it is indeed a rare item." Han Li also praised it.

"If Fellow Daoist truly likes this tea, I can present some to you." Golden Joy's eyes shifted slightly, and she spoke with a smile at the corner of her mouth, then suddenly clapped her hands and gave a light instruction to the maidservant standing with hands bound beside her:

"Go to the tea garden and fetch the five closest batches of top-grade Fragrant Maiden Tea."

"Yes, Elder!"

That maidservant was startled, but hastily agreed and retreated backward out of the great hall.

"Many thanks, Elder, for your generous gift!" Han Li also felt a hint of surprise, but immediately resumed his usual composure and, clasping his hands slightly toward Golden Joy, expressed his thanks.

Among the other elders, Golden Joy's action also caused a hint of surprise in their hearts, though no one dared to ask what it was about.

"Besides Elder Xu and Elder Mei, the other few elders may not yet know Fellow Daoist Han. In that case, let me first introduce him briefly. No need to say anything else—just mention the human Daoist who once helped our Tian Peng clan survive, and I believe the elders will know who Fellow Daoist Han is." Golden Joy calmly introduced him to the other elders who still harbored some doubt 'puzzle'.

"What, it's this person! How could he appear here!"

"Shouldn't he have perished in the Abyss of Earth?"

……

The other few Tian Peng elders immediately stirred with a 'commotion', and upon realizing it, they all directly revealed expressions of surprise 'color'.

Only Elder Xu and the beautiful 'lady' nearby, upon hearing this, exchanged glances and revealed a hint of a wry smile.

"I had some fortunate encounters in the Abyss of Earth and managed to escape from those few demon kings' hands, so I did not return to the noble clan but went back to the human race. Elder Golden Joy will not blame me for this, will she?" Han Li's expression remained unchanged as he spoke calmly.

Upon hearing Han Li speak so lightly and carelessly, Golden Joy's eyes flickered slightly, and she gave a light laugh.

"How could I think such a thing! If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Han's efforts back then, Bai Bi and Lan Er could not have passed the trials, become our Holy Lords, and thus preserved our Tian Peng clan. Fellow Daoist fulfilled the agreement and thus regained freedom. However, Fellow Daoist, after only a few hundred years without contact, has advanced from a Soul Transformation cultivator to a Saint-level existence. This is truly hard to believe. It seems the disappearance of the Four Great Demon Kings of the Abyss is largely related to Fellow Daoist. If you have no objections, may Fellow Daoist share with us what happened?"

This Tian Peng clan Elder, however, did not let Han Li off with just a few words, but wanted to briefly gloss over the events of that year in the Abyss.

The other elders felt a stir in their hearts and also adopted the appearance of attentive listening.

"I, Han, only learned of the disappearance of the Four Great Demon Kings after entering the noble clan's territory. This matter is somewhat related to my return to the noble clan this time. It is not proper to speak frankly to Elder Golden Joy about past events. However, I can guarantee to Elder Golden Joy that the Four Great Demon Kings failed to return back then, and now it is even less likely they will return to the Abyss. As for my cultivation progress, it is merely due to some fortunate encounters I had in the barbaric world. Has not Elder Golden Joy also made great progress in her cultivation?"

Upon hearing Han Li's frank refusal, Golden Joy's original expression darkened, a cold light flickered in her eyes several times, and her voice sank as she asked:

"Since Fellow Daoist Han finds it inconvenient to speak, I will naturally not press the matter. But Fellow Daoist, this time you suddenly transformed into a great roc and appeared outside the Holy City with tremendous momentum—there must be some reason for this. Or do you feel your divine powers are now complete and intend to demonstrate them to our clan as a show of force?"

After saying these last few words, her voice turned somewhat icy.

The other elders, gazing at Han Li, also could not help but grow somewhat unfriendly.

"What does Elder Golden Joy think of the Tian Peng I just transformed into?" Han Li, seeing this situation, was not startled but laughed instead.

"Hmph, Fellow Daoist's transformation is indeed not bad; for an outsider to refine Kun Peng true blood to such an extent also counts as considerable divine power." Golden Joy, upon hearing this, had a trace of strange 'color' flash across her face, but she coldly snorted and said:

"Is that so? Does Fellow Daoist really think it's that simple?" Han Li, however, gave a hehe laugh, and his expression similarly took on a somewhat strange appearance.

"Fellow Daoist Han, what do you mean by these words? If you have something to say, say it directly—why bother with all this mystery?" Golden Joy's expression changed slightly, but her eyes immediately narrowed slightly as she coldly said:

Elder Xu and the others, upon hearing this, could not help but feel somewhat confused, and their faces showed surprise and doubt.

Han Li's lips twitched slightly, actually revealing a smile-not-smile expression, and without responding to the woman opposite, he directly flipped his wrist over, whereupon a white 'color' jade slip appeared, and he shook his wrist and threw it straight over.

"What do you mean by this, Fellow Daoist?" The white-clad woman instinctively reached out to receive the jade slip, but raised her delicate eyebrows and asked:

"Elder Golden Joy need not worry; if there is anything to say, let us first look at what is in the slip, then speak—it will not be too late." Han Li replied with an unchanged expression.

Golden Joy's expression was still not very good, but after glancing at the object in her hand, she pondered slightly and then pressed the jade slip to her forehead, directly injecting a strand of divine sense into it.

"Eh, this is……" In almost an instant, this woman exclaimed in surprise.

This caused everyone in the great hall except Han Li to naturally break into murmured whispers.

After losing her composure, Golden Joy's face was filled with ecstatic joy, and she could no longer spare attention for anything else, appearing to devote her entire mind to the jade slip.

Han Li witnessed this scene, gave a slight smile, then raised his hand again to pick up the spiritual tea on the table and leisurely began to sip it.

Thus, amidst the varied expressions of everyone in the great hall, a meal's time passed in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, Golden Joy finally exhaled a long breath, took the jade slip from her forehead, and then, with an extremely complex gaze, re-examined Han Li before falling silent for a moment and speaking slowly:

"This cultivation method, Fellow Daoist, where did you obtain it? Fellow Daoist Han, do not tell me this cultivation method was created by yourself. Although this method is profoundly mysterious, it is clearly created for our Tian Peng people."

"Elder Golden Joy truly has eyes like torches, seeing the subtlety at a glance. However, who created this cultivation method is not an important matter. What matters is whether Fellow Daoist can understand the use of this method for our noble clan." Han Li said with a smiling, narrowed gaze, as if he had long anticipated Golden Joy's question.

"Fellow Daoist produced this half method—do you intend merely to let me look at it and then forget it? Your purpose in coming to our Tian Peng clan this time—still better to say it directly." Golden Joy's eyes flashed with strange light, and suddenly a terrifying spiritual pressure burst from her body as she coldly said to Han Li.

"Haha, since Elder Golden Joy has said so, Han Li naturally obeys. However, this matter is quite important to me, and I only hope to discuss it in detail with Fellow Daoist alone." Han Li laughed heartily, but his gaze swept over the other few Tian Peng clan elders, and then he straightened his expression and said:

"Very well, I will follow your words! Elder Xu, Elder Qing, you two may temporarily withdraw. Wait until I have finished discussing matters with Fellow Daoist Han, then you may return." Golden Joy agreed without hesitation and gave an order to the others.

This lady clearly placed extraordinary importance on the half method in the jade slip!

"Yes, then Xu will take his leave first!"

"Elder Golden Joy, we will wait outside the hall for now."

……

The other Tian Peng clan elders, though feeling greatly stifled in their hearts, dared not defy Golden Joy's order, so they rose, bowed slightly, and all left the great hall one after another.

After a short while, the entire great hall had only Han Li and the white-clad woman left.

"Fellow Daoist Han, what confidential matter do you have to say?" Golden Joy said, her expression now eased.

Han Li, however, did not immediately reply, but instead suddenly shook his sleeve, causing more than ten five 'color' small flags to spray out in all directions.

Upon flashing, they turned into five 'color' strange lights, which all sank into the nearby void and disappeared without a trace.

Immediately, in the next moment, a layer of five 'color' light curtain appeared, firmly covering Han Li and the two of them under the flags.

"How so, with Elder Joy again, Fellow Daoist still afraid someone might be peeking?" Golden Joy first felt a jolt in her heart, but then realized this light curtain was merely a simple soundproof restriction, and she relaxed, though her face still flashed a hint of displeasure.

"Elder Golden Joy, please do not blame me—this matter is not trivial. I cannot help but be extra careful." Han Li replied very cautiously.

"Then it will be as you wish, fellow Daoist. However, before we discuss in detail, I must first confirm one thing: do you also hold the other half of this cultivation method in your hands?" Jin Yue frowned slightly, then suddenly raised the jade slip in her hand and asked.

"Hehe, Elder, rest assured. If I did not have the complete cultivation method in my hands, how would I dare to discuss this transaction with your noble clan?" Han Li replied without hesitation.

"Good, that will do! Fellow Daoist, you mentioned a transaction—what kind of transaction do you wish to conduct with our Tian Peng clan?" Jin Yue exhaled lightly and asked, her expression relaxing considerably.

"Han Li intends to venture into the Earth Abyss once. I ask your noble clan to arrange a trip for me! This special method for refining and refining the blood of the Tian Peng shall be my reward for this journey." This time, Han Li showed no further delay, gazing at the white-clad woman and speaking with utmost solemnity.

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